bayedsolid Chapter 413 Truly Ruthless
Chapter 413 Truly Ruthless
This winter.
It's cold.
What's colder than the weather is the hearts of the people.
The border is in dire straits, Cangzhou has fallen, and the commander-in-chief is wounded...
This great battle is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Their hopes for the return of their husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers were dashed.
Year after year, through countless seasons, I thought this year I could finally have a family reunion.
I never expected to have to keep waiting, and I don't know how long I'll have to wait.
Or perhaps we'll never get to see it.
Defeat would result in many deaths and injuries.
Not only the soldiers guarding the border, but also the people of Cangzhou.
Men were either killed or forced into hard labor, while women and children were trampled on, used as tools for sexual gratification, and even used as military rations when food was scarce.
In even worse cases, they may be completely slaughtered.
In the face of defeat, those living at the bottom of society suffer the most.
They not only had to face various taxes, but also had to pay human wages.
But even so.
The capital city remains as prosperous as ever.
Because it's almost Chinese New Year.
Even if we don't see our loved ones return, life must go on, and the New Year must still be celebrated.
Whether it's the soldiers stationed in the harsh border regions or their loved ones eagerly awaiting their return home.
Everyone is doing their best to survive.
There is hope as long as you are alive; there is something to look forward to as long as you are alive.
A few days before the New Year.
The streets were crowded with people, cars, and people.
From royalty and nobility to ordinary people, everyone was busy buying New Year's goods and preparing New Year's gifts.
East Market.
The teahouses and taverns remained bustling and lively, with the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filling the air.
The princes, nobles, and scions of aristocratic families continued to sing and dance, indulging in sensual pleasures and debauchery.
Perhaps in their view, victory and defeat are just common occurrences in war.
If we lose this time, we can just take back the city next time.
It seems that simple.
They didn't care how many cities they lost or how many lives they sacrificed.
For them, war was merely a matter of national importance as described by their fathers and brothers, something far removed from their own lives.
They have family protection and privileges.
As long as the Great Liang Dynasty doesn't fall, the achievements their fathers made will be enough for them to live off for generations.
After all, those who actually went to the battlefield were mostly children from poor families; they were the ones who suffered and worried.
Early morning today.
The emperor was in a very bad mood, with a headache and chest tightness.
According to battle reports from the frontier, a traitor in the army leaked the city's defense map, which led to the surprise attack.
Although the traitor was captured, he insisted that he was the third brother's man.
They are remnants of the Prince of Su's faction.
The three old men are all dead, and with no way to verify the facts, all sorts of accusations are being leveled against him.
The Emperor now suspects everyone.
At that moment, he had the idea of living a very long life.
She even wanted to outlive her sons.
So he recently increased the dosage of the pills he was taking.
Cui Yan looked at the emperor, who was yawning incessantly and looking listless.
Looking at the court officials, who were engaged in heated debates, not one of them could come up with a plan to repel the enemy.
They kept saying that Duke Shen was injured, but there was still General Lu. General Lu was mighty and extraordinary, and he would surely be able to repel the enemy and recover Cangzhou.
But they forgot that General Lu was no longer the General Who Guards the North he once was; he had grown old.
Now he is an old man.
Prime Minister Cui watched coldly, without uttering a word.
The court officials argued endlessly, and the Left Chancellor Yan Fu's faction eventually brought up the issue of the Crown Prince.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been ill for a long time and is unable to fulfill his duties as heir apparent. We humbly request Your Majesty to appoint another heir apparent to ensure the stability of the nation..."
"I second the proposal."
"I second the proposal..."
……
emperor:……
Although he also had the idea of deposing the heir apparent, his words just sounded so unpleasant.
This sounds like they're hoping he dies soon.
After being glared at by the Emperor, Yan Lian quickly shut his mouth.
The emperor's mind is unfathomable; he couldn't quite understand it.
This is not what the Emperor asked for or desired, so why are you glaring at him?
Isn't now the perfect time to abolish the stockpile?
The Emperor: ...I did want to depose the heir apparent, but I did not say that I wanted to establish a new heir apparent.
Quiet……
The imperial court was completely silent.
It was eerily quiet.
Then a high-pitched, drawn-out voice came from above: "Dismiss the court..."
On the way back to his palace, the Emperor asked the eunuch with a dark expression, "How has the Crown Prince been feeling lately?"
"His appetite has improved a lot, and he can eat now. He can even play with the Crown Prince for half an hour every day," Eunuch Qian reported, bowing.
The emperor also had a lot of headaches dealing with this son.
If he were in good health, that would be fine; the throne would be firmly in his hands, saving him all this trouble.
Unfortunately, with that kind of physique, even he probably wouldn't survive.
He also strongly resisted being asked to take the pills.
Both weak and stubborn.
If the crown prince dies before him, it will be easier to handle; at least the matter of choosing an heir will still be under his control.
But what if he dies after me?
Whether I can get that position, and even how long I can hold it, is uncertain.
Most of the power would likely fall into the hands of the Empress and the Cao family.
With his relatives interfering in politics and power slipping away, he will surely die with his eyes wide open in disgrace.
The Emperor continued, "And the Empress? How has she been feeling lately?"
"This morning, Her Majesty the Empress summoned all the ladies-in-waiting for a chat, advocating frugality in the harem and reducing the expenses of each palace. Consort Zhen questioned a few things and was ordered by Her Majesty the Empress to slap her."
The Emperor frowned: "How come I didn't know about this?"
In the past, Zhen'er would have come over crying and complaining long ago.
There's no one around today.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhen came by, but seeing that you were unwell, she did not want you to trouble yourself, so she did not allow me to announce her arrival."
"She is quite sensible." The emperor waved his hand and bestowed many gifts upon Consort Zhen.
The Empress hit Zhen'er, so he insisted on rewarding Zhen'er.
Of all the women in the palace, the one he feared most was the Empress. He feared her his whole life, yet he could never depose her.
He was not reconciled.
This woman absolutely cannot die after him.
He never interfered in the affairs of the inner palace, leaving them to the Empress to manage, and she has handled them very well over the years.
In their earlier years, the couple treated each other with respect and got along harmoniously.
Even on the days when the emperor led his troops on campaigns, the empress assisted the crown prince in overseeing the country, reviewing memorials, and ruling from behind the curtain.
As a result, her prestige in the court grew higher and higher.
She's almost on par with him.
He suddenly realized that his empress, Cao, was exceptionally talented, no less so than any man.
If she were a man, she would surely be a pillar of the nation.
But she was a woman, and his empress.
Therefore, the throne must absolutely not fall into the hands of a child born to Cao.
unless……
It was around that time that he began to feel a sense of crisis, regretted establishing an heir apparent so early, and began to reduce the empress's power, even suppressing the Cao family.
Now, the two of them have become bitter enemies.
Either you die or I die.
Emperor Xuan looked at the eunuchs and said, "Go and bring my little grandson here. He will stay by my side from now on, and I will raise him myself."
Eunuch Qian and Eunuch Yu exchanged a glance.
My heart is pounding.
With the Emperor in such a state, how can he possibly take care of the Crown Prince?
Most of the time, it was entrusted to Consort Zhen to take care of.
Eunuch Qian: ...
The Emperor's move to cut off the enemy's supply lines is brilliant!
Eunuch Yu: ...
If the Crown Prince cannot see the Imperial Grandson, his condition will likely worsen.
The Empress will be extremely anxious and controlled by the Emperor if she cannot see the Crown Prince.
The Emperor is truly ruthless.
……