The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 139 Fratricide

Xu Jiaojiao was slightly taken aback. She looked up at the man whose eyes were full of guilt, and her heart trembled.

The man's chin was covered with stubble, and the bloodshot eyes and dark circles under his eyes revealed his exhaustion and weariness.

Recalling the danger of that night, Xu Jiaojiao could imagine the hardships and difficulties that Prince Chen had endured these past few days.

From the moment she fell in love with Prince Chen, she understood that the man she loved was an eagle, not a koi in a pond, and that if she wanted to be with him, she would inevitably face trials and tribulations.

She truly didn't blame him...

Just thinking about lotus leaves still makes her feel uncontrollably heartbroken.

That cheerful girl, the girl who cared so much for her, will never be by her side again…

Thinking of this, Xu Jiaojiao's eyes reddened slightly.

She knew that Lianye's life was insignificant to Prince Chen. The burden of the nation and its people was already heavy enough, and she could not and did not want to cause him any more worry.

She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, raised her hand to gently stroke his cheek, and smiled tenderly: "Your Highness has lost a lot of weight; you must have suffered far more than I have..."

Zhao Yunzheng was deeply moved, and he could not suppress his heartache and pity for Xu Jiaojiao.

That night, he carefully held Xu Jiaojiao as she drifted off to sleep.

Looking at the delicate girl in his arms, breathing evenly and looking peaceful, he gently curved his lips, his tense nerves relaxing for a moment.

The next day, it was dawn.

Yingyi knocked lightly on the door and stepped into the room: "Master, Eunuch Wang from the Emperor's side has arrived."

Zhao Yunzheng, who was a light sleeper, opened his eyes.

Through the window curtains, he softly replied, "Understood. Go and wait outside. I'll be there in a moment."

Yingyi responded and withdrew.

Zhao Yunzheng looked at Xu Jiaojiao, who was still fast asleep in his arms, and carefully withdrew his hand to get up.

He had just visited the Fifth Prince and the Su family father and son in the imperial prison yesterday, and today the Emperor wanted to summon him.

His father, the emperor, really has an impatient nature.

Now that the balance of power between him and the Su family has been broken, his father must be feeling very uneasy. This time, he has been summoned to the capital, and he will surely be reprimanded.

After Zhao Yunzheng finished dressing, he glanced at Xu Jiaojiao on the bed one last time, his eyes filled with longing, before turning and leaving.

Outside the door, Eunuch Wang stood there, his face bearing his usual obsequious smile.

Upon seeing him emerge, Eunuch Wang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness Prince Chen, the Emperor is waiting for you in the Imperial Study. Please come with me!"

Zhao Yunzheng nodded slightly and headed towards the Imperial Study.

Before long, they arrived at the Imperial Study.

Zhao Yunzheng pushed open the door and entered.

The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was just as he had imagined: dull and oppressive, making it hard to breathe and making him not want to stay for even a moment longer.

To his surprise, the Crown Prince was also there.

He bowed and said, "Your subject greets the Emperor and elder brother."

Unlike the Crown Prince's gentle nod, the Emperor's face was ashen, and he remained silent for a long time.

Zhao Yunzheng seemed not to hear, standing there with his eyes downcast and his mind at ease.

After a moment, the Emperor slammed down the memorial in his hand, his expression even more displeased: "Yun Zheng, do you know why I summoned you today?"

Zhao Yunzheng naturally knew the truth, but how could he tell the truth when his father asked him like this? "Your subject does not know, please enlighten me, Father."

The Emperor snorted coldly: "Fifth Prince, weren't you going a bit too far with your dealings with the Su family? The situation in the court is currently turbulent. Aren't you afraid that your ruthlessness will cause chaos in the court?"

Although the Emperor's voice was deep, it was like a thunderclap in the quiet Imperial Study. Every word was filled with authority and doubt, as if Zhao Yunzheng was the culprit who had disrupted the stability of the court.

Zhao Yunzheng sneered inwardly.

If it weren't for upholding the dignity of the imperial family, the fifth prince would have already become a victim of his sword. The emperor's words sound so grand, but in the end, it's just that he's afraid that political turmoil would endanger his imperial power.

Thinking of what the fifth prince had done, his eyes darkened: "The fifth prince secretly colluded with the Su family and the Qiang and Wu people, plotting a rebellion. Your subject was only acting in accordance with the law to ensure the stability of our dynasty, and had absolutely no intention of disrupting the court!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned and stared intently at Zhao Yunzheng, as if trying to discern a flaw in his expression.

However, Zhao Yunzheng remained calm and his gaze was firm, showing no sign of backing down.

"Act according to the law?" The Emperor sneered, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. "You make it sound so easy. No matter how bad the Fifth Prince is, he is still my son, your brother! Aren't you afraid that the world will talk about you for being cold-blooded and ruthless, and for killing your own brothers?"

Thinking of what Zhao Minghuai had said in prison yesterday, Zhao Yunzheng found it all laughable.

Sure enough, his father will definitely use the phrase "fratricide" to punish him.

But Zhao Minghuai was the one who started it. He was just retaliating. Was he wrong?

Perhaps in the face of imperial power, who is right and who is wrong is ultimately unimportant...

Now that things have come to this, he has no way out.

"Father, please understand." Zhao Yunzheng knelt down heavily and slowly said, "Your subject is not a heartless person, but the Fifth Prince colluded with foreign enemies and plotted a rebellion. This is a heinous crime! If Your Majesty does not punish him severely, how can you deter the court and the people? How can you appease the hearts of the people? Your subject's actions are all for the sake of our dynasty and its people, and he has no selfish motives!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face darkened further, and he tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, producing a dull sound. The atmosphere in the Imperial Study grew increasingly oppressive, as if even the air itself had solidified.

The Crown Prince stood to the side, never speaking, his gaze shifting back and forth between his father and Zhao Yunzheng, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He knew that today's events were not only a reprimand from his father to his second son, but also a test of his son's attitude.

With the collapse of the fifth prince and the Su family, the second prince of the Yan Dynasty now holds absolute power. He understands his father's worries, after all, the image of the second prince charging into Yongning Palace with a sword is still vivid in his mind.

But the Emperor forgot that he was already old and that his son, the Crown Prince, was frail and weak. Even if the second son didn't seize the throne, it would surely fall into his hands in a few years. Why should the second son do something so pointless as to rebel and only bring more infamy upon himself?

"What a fine excuse, 'for the sake of the country'!" The Emperor suddenly raised his voice, his tone tinged with anger. "Then tell me, with the current turmoil in the court, the downfall of the Su family, and the imbalance of power, how do you plan to clean up this mess?"

Zhao Yunzheng lowered his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then respectfully cupped his hands: "Father, I believe that the downfall of the Su family is a good opportunity to rectify the court."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly: "What do you mean?"

Zhao Yunzheng continued, "The previous battle in the northern border severely weakened the Qiang and Wu people, and they will be unable to launch an invasion against our border for at least ten years."

With no external threats, what is there to fear from mere internal troubles?

The imbalance of power in the court is only temporary. As long as Father Emperor sits firmly on the throne, your son is willing to do everything in his power to assist you, restore order to the court, eliminate treacherous officials, and restore a peaceful and prosperous era to our dynasty!

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in the Emperor's eyes.

Everyone knows the bravery of his Zhenbei Army. Zhao Yunzheng made an indispensable contribution in the battle in the northern border.

The second brother is using his military achievements to pressure him...