Free Web NovelChapter 381: Chapter 383: Fight to the Bitter End
The Emperor sent men to bring the Fifth Prince to Yuqing Mountain.
However, what awaited them was the devastating news of the Fifth Prince’s death.
The Emperor, as if struck by lightning, froze in place, unable to believe it was true.
Even though Consort Liu and Liu Ze had made mistakes, Li Yan was still the Emperor’s own son. The Emperor had watched him grow up; it was impossible for him to feel nothing for the boy.
The Emperor had originally planned to grant Li Yan a princely title and a prosperous fiefdom in the future. He would have sent him far from Shangjing to live out his days as a carefree prince, safe and sound.
But he never expected that Li Yan would just be gone.
’He was only fifteen this year!’
’His life had only just begun.’
’How could he just...’
’How could he be gone?!’
The Emperor felt a sharp, wrenching pain in his chest.
He clutched his lapels tightly, bending over in agony. His breathing became labored, his face pale.
Zuo Ji’s face fell in alarm. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty’s heart condition is acting up!"
The Imperial Physician rushed over and skillfully administered acupuncture to the Emperor.
After some emergency treatment, the pain in the Emperor’s chest finally subsided. But his spirits remained extremely low and his mental state was terrible, making him look several years older.
He said weakly, "I want to return to the Imperial Palace. Immediately."
The Imperial Physician tried to dissuade him.
"Your Majesty, you are very weak right now and should not go out. It’s pouring rain outside, and in your current condition, you must not be exposed to the wind and cold."
Zuo Ji also pleaded, "Your Majesty, please wait a little longer. Your health is what’s most important. You should rest for a couple of days first.
Once you feel better, the rain will likely have stopped. It would be much safer to return to the palace then."
The Emperor’s face was ashen as he said,
"Hao’er has killed Yan’er! With something so major having happened, how could I possibly have the mind to recuperate? I must go back now."
Just then, Wu Wang stepped forward and said respectfully,
"Your Majesty, please do not be hasty. The Fifth Prince may not have been killed by Prince Dongyang."
"Why don’t you first send someone back to the palace to summon Prince Dongyang here? You can get the story straight from him face-to-face."
"You and Prince Dongyang share a deep bond as father and son. I’m certain that once you see each other, the truth will come to light."
Zuo Ji immediately chimed in.
"That’s an excellent idea! Have someone bring Prince Dongyang here. That way, Your Majesty won’t have to endure the arduous journey. It’s the best of both worlds!"
The rain roared outside.
It didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon.
The Emperor could only settle for the next best thing and accept Wu Wang’s suggestion.
He said to Wu Wang,
"Since you were the one who proposed it, you shall be the one to bring Prince Dongyang here."
After a pause, the Emperor lowered his voice and added a few instructions.
"When you see Hao’er, speak to him gently."
"No matter what has happened, I am still his father. Tell him not to do anything foolish."
"As long as he is willing to sincerely admit his mistake, I will not deny him a way to live."
Both Li Hao and Li Yan were his own flesh and blood.
As long as there was even the slightest possibility, he didn’t want to give up on either of them.
Wu Wang replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."
He turned and walked out, the sounds of the Emperor’s suppressed coughs and Zuo Ji’s comforting words trailing behind him.
"Your Majesty, don’t worry too much. Prince Dongyang will surely understand your difficult position. He will come to see you soon."
The corners of Wu Wang’s lips curled up slightly.
’Originally, we just wanted to exploit the Emperor’s suspicious nature and put Prince Dongyang in a position where he couldn’t defend himself. We never expected that Prince Dongyang would actually kill the Fifth Prince.’
’This is truly a godsend!’
...
「Inside the Imperial Palace.」
After some comforting words from Xianfei, Li Hao finally began to calm down.
Xianfei ordered people to prepare for the Fifth Prince’s funeral arrangements. She said to Li Hao,
"This was an accident. No one wanted this to happen."
"When your father the Emperor returns, explain it to him properly."
"Knowing your father’s temperament, he will be grief-stricken and furious, but it’s unlikely he’ll go so far as to take your life for this."
"As long as you can stay alive, you’ll have a chance to make a comeback. Do you understand?"
Li Hao replied obediently, "I understand."
In just one day, the sharp edge of his arrogance had been completely worn away.
He was now like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring; any little disturbance could frighten him.
Xianfei rubbed her weary temples. "It’s getting late. You should go back for now and get a good night’s sleep."
How could Li Hao possibly sleep after something so monumental had happened?
He said, terrified, "I want to stay in the palace."
Xianfei frowned. "That is against the rules."
Seeing the disappointment on her son’s face, she softened her voice to soothe him.
"You must rest up to have the energy to face what’s coming. Be good now, go back."
Li Hao returned, full of reluctance.
After returning to the Dongyang Prince Mansion, Li Hao’s mind was in turmoil. His head was filled with the image of Li Yan covered in blood.
He housed many Guests in his mansion. Most of them were highly skilled in martial arts, but a few were especially sharp-witted. Usually, when he ran into trouble, those few would help him come up with ideas, serving as his advisors.
Li Hao summoned those few advisors, hoping they could help him think of a solution.
When they learned that Prince Dongyang had accidentally killed the Fifth Prince, the advisors were all terrified.
Why on earth would Prince Dongyang kill his own brother?!
Meeting Prince Dongyang’s bloodshot eyes, the advisors didn’t dare ask a single question. They all racked their brains and began to offer suggestions.
Just then, the butler came to report.
"My Prince, a visitor has arrived."
Li Hao was in no mood to see visitors.
"I’m not seeing anyone!" he said impatiently. "Tell him to get lost!"
The butler said, trembling with fear, "The visitor claims to be from the Saint’s side, here on orders to arrest you, my Prince."
Hearing the word "arrest," Li Hao instantly panicked.
’Has Father Emperor found out already?’
’He’s already sent men to arrest me.’
’What should I do? What should I do?’
Li Hao’s heart burned with anxiety, his thoughts a chaotic mess.
He looked at his advisors and demanded, his eyes red.
"Why haven’t you come up with a plan yet? Do I feed you all for nothing?"
The advisors flushed with shame and embarrassment from the scolding.
One of the advisors spoke up, his voice trembling.
"My Prince, why don’t you see the visitor first?"
"You can gauge his attitude and see how the Saint intends to deal with you."
"If the Saint is still willing to consider your bond as father and son, that would be for the best."
"But if the Saint wants to avenge the Fifth Prince, then you can only... you can only..."
Li Hao pressed him urgently, "Only what? Spit it out!"
"Then, my Prince, you can only prepare for the worst."
Li Hao didn’t understand at first. "What’s the worst?"
The advisor seemed to steel himself, bit down, and spat out four words.
"We fight to the death."
A clap of thunder flashed across the sky, its roar shaking the heavens.
Li Hao stood there stunned, muttering in a daze.
"’Fight to the death...’"
Everyone present lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe.
They all understood what "fight to the death" meant.
Li Hao gritted his teeth. "Go and gather all the able-bodied men in the mansion. Await my orders."
With that, he strode out of the study and headed straight for the front courtyard, braving the heavy rain.
