readsfreenovel Chapter 404: Excessive Grief
Chapter 404: Excessive Grief
The Third Prince's excessive grief was also, in the eyes of the Shenwu Emperor, indiscriminate and profoundly muddleheaded. In that dream, the Third Prince was ultimately crowned emperor, protected by the Shi Clan. However, due to the deaths of Concubine Yang and the Second Prince, he began to suspect Concubine Wen and the Shi Clan. Events spiraled out of control, largely due to the Third Prince's shallow cunning, weakness, and vulnerability, suffocating him under the thumb of mere ministers. He disrespected the innocent Empress and favored concubines instead. Furthermore, Concubine Wen manipulated and sowed discord, leaving him without a single surviving child. The harem was a chaotic mess, with several children aborted through schemes, and those who died in infancy. The dignified emperor was left without an heir. Under Concubine Wen's instigation, he even feared the First Prince, whose arm had been severed. Ultimately, after years of fighting powerful ministers, the Third Prince was exhausted and died young.
When Emperor Shenwu thought of this, and then looked at the dejected Third Prince, he became upset. He rolled up his sleeves and walked out of the mourning hall. The Third Prince looked at Emperor Shenwu's back and wanted to call out to his father, but in the end he did not speak.
After seven days, Concubine Yang's mourning hall could no longer be kept in the palace, and Emperor Shenwu ordered her to be buried in the concubine's tomb.
Lan Qingwu was recuperating in the Qianzheng Palace, and Emperor Shenwu rarely summoned him.
A few days later, the third prince went to pay a visit to Emperor Shenwu, and saw his wise and powerful father busy reviewing memorials. The eldest prince, the second prince, and the sixth prince were also in the hall.
After the Third Prince paid his respects, he watched the father and son chatting and laughing, with a warm and affectionate look between them.
The eldest prince was asking about the Sixth and Second Princes' affairs outside. "I heard you encountered some trouble when you returned. I wonder what it was?"
The Second Prince replied, "Big Brother, they are some ignorant people who don't know how to live or die. Don't you know that Sixth Prince's skills are so good that he can sweep them away with just one sword..."
Emperor Shenwu asked them where they had been and what they thought, and the Sixth Prince and the Second Prince answered one by one.
The third prince stared at the scene in a daze. When he came to his senses, he saw Emperor Shenwu looking at him with a frown.
The eldest prince said from the side, "Third brother, father is asking you a question. How is your work at the Ministry of Works going recently?"
The third prince stammered and couldn't say anything.
Emperor Shenwu waved his sleeve impatiently: "Forget it, you can leave now!"
The Second Prince hurried to ease the atmosphere: "Father, Third Prince must still be grieving and not in the mood to do his job."
Emperor Shenwu said gravely, "Regardless of the time, place, situation, or reason, if you continue to dwell on your sorrow, will the people of this world wait for you? Since you have already assumed responsibility, you must be responsible for the people of this world. I will not blame you today. Please control your emotions and leave!"
The Third Prince's hands clenched into fists, trembling constantly. He raised his head regardless and said, "Father, my mother has passed away. Have you ever felt the slightest bit of sadness?"
Emperor Shenwu said coldly, "Sad? I am the emperor, the ruler of the world. There are so many things in this world waiting for my decision. So many subjects are watching me with their eyes. I don't have time to be sad! Zhou Chengluo, I am an emperor first, and then another identity! Back off!"
The Third Prince reluctantly withdrew. He couldn't help but want to ask, "What would you do if it was the Empress?" But when he met the Emperor Shenwu's cold and clear eyes, he didn't dare to say it out loud.
Emperor Shenwu sighed imperceptibly. It seemed that his son's cowardly character had not been developed in a day or two.
After a while, Emperor Shenwu only left the Sixth Prince behind: "You all leave! The prince stay."
The eldest prince and the second prince retreated.
When the father and son were alone, the Emperor's face darkened. "You were assassinated. Does your son have any guess as to who did it?"
The Sixth Prince's mind raced. He knelt and said, "Father, those men were all assassins. They left no clues, and no one is alive. I really don't know who did this! I can handle all of this on my own, but Mother, always gentle and kind, was poisoned in Fengqi Palace. Their methods were so quiet that I'm terrified! I only ask Father to help Mother!"
Emperor Shenwu's expression grew even colder. "I know this well! You've just returned, so go spend more time with your mother. She's been away for so long, and she's been worried about you the most."
The Sixth Prince agreed, and the Emperor Shenwu asked again, "I heard you also subdued a martial arts master? What's going on?"
The Sixth Prince spoke the truth, and Emperor Shenwu was very pleased after hearing it.
After the Sixth Prince left, Emperor Shenwu pondered for a moment, his eyes sweeping across the memorial on the imperial desk. He reached out to take it, but gradually exerted force with both hands until the memorial was wrinkled beyond recognition. Li Xiang glanced at it and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Your Majesty, you..."
Emperor Shenwu released the memorial and said softly, "You are stirring up trouble in the two places I care about most!"
One is the woman whom he regards as a treasure, and the other is the legitimate son whom he regards as his heir. The person behind the scenes has truly and accurately stepped on Shenwu's bottom line.
The Sixth Prince tiptoed into the bedroom of Qianzheng Palace. Lan Qingwu was leaning against the head of the bed with his eyes closed. When he heard the noise, he opened his sparkling eyes.
The Sixth Prince had already knelt on the ground, "Mother, be well! Have I disturbed you?"