Chapter 71 — TVF Chapter 71

The Table-Flipping Old Father (11) 

Qin Jingzhou watched Fourth Prince’s departing figure and began to talk with his System. “He truly hates his father now.”

The System, still quite sympathetic toward Third Prince, commented, “At this point, there are only two sons left, and yet he insists on playing at raising gu. If the Emperor’s men have reached out to Fifth Prince, Prince Haicheng surely knows. He pretends to know nothing, neither warning the third son nor the fifth. What does this make of his sons?”

Qin Jingzhou felt he could grasp Prince Haicheng’s thinking. “He’s dying soon. The envy he feels toward his two young sons is something he can no longer suppress.” Qin Jingzhou smiled. “And I’d wager Prince Haicheng has another candidate prepared.”

The System specialized in handling commissions, liaising between patrons and the task world, and maintaining the host’s portable warehouse. Aside from that, it currently had little else to offer. “What are you saying?!”

“There’s word that Consort Yang had a miscarriage. She hasn’t shown herself for some time since.”

The System was shocked. “Does Third Prince know?”

“He must have guessed something,” Qin Jingzhou replied.

The System couldn’t help but sigh. “All royal families really are bastards.”

Qin Jingzhou chuckled. “So, when Prince Haicheng and the Emperor finally face each other soon, it would be best if both perish together.” Saying this, he glanced sidelong at his own guard.

As military advisor and martial mentor to both Third and Fifth Princes, Qin Jingzhou commanded not a single soldier. However, one colonel and fifty cavalrymen had been assigned to protect him.

Since spring, this young colonel had been stationed by his side. After three months, both the colonel and his fifty subordinates had come to treat him with the filial respect due a father.

Qin Jingzhou’s discreet signal was simply to have the colonel send word, quickly assembling his two nominal sons by his side.

This was an easy task for the colonel. So, when Prince Haicheng dismounted and stood before the Qianqing Palace gate lost in silent contemplation, Si Dalang and Si Erlang were already at Qin Jingzhou’s side.

Qin Jingzhou looked at the two sons and the young colonel’s group. “Stay close later. Don’t get separated from me.”

Everyone could see the Emperor’s power was spent and he was hanging on by a thread. Yet a dying camel is still bigger than a horse; as the Emperor staged his final stand in Qianqing Palace, bloodshed was unavoidable.

Although the outcome was fated and casualties wouldn’t be too severe, who wanted to be the unlucky one?

The two sons answered with cheerful grins. “Understood.”

Meanwhile, Prince Haicheng remained standing outside Qianqing Palace for a full quarter hour before finally waving his hand, signaling his personal guard to stride into the palace.

Upon entering, the guards saw the Emperor sitting high upon the dais, expressionless. Yet the princes that stood to either side all wore different expressions, and the hall carried little threat. There were no ambushes outside. One among the soldiers went back to report to Prince Haicheng.

Soon after, Prince Haicheng strode inside. The very first thing he said while facing the Emperor was, “Did you ever imagine this day would come?”

To be honest, the Emperor had never really considered this possibility.

He’d only ever focused on the possibility of eliminating Prince Haicheng, and what to do after. As the victor, so long as he didn’t press his luck too far, problems shouldn’t arise. Shaking his head, he said, “What’s the point of talking about that now?” He gestured at the chair before him. “Sit, and let’s talk.”

Behind Prince Haicheng stood not only his guards and confidants, but also noble clans of the imperial family and senior ministers who had hurried to witness the moment.

One had to admit, the Emperor’s resort to assassination was truly brazen, but losing the hearts of the people went beyond that. Since ascending the throne, he had ruled alone with iron fist, cold and lacking in kindness. It was impossible to share burdens with him, let alone any peace. Against enemies he was ruthless, but if his own people displeased him, he wanted them dead as well. Who could bear such a “boss”?

While Prince Haicheng wasn’t what one would call a wise sovereign, he was vastly preferable to the Emperor.

Thus, when Prince Haicheng arrived at the capital, people from all factions hurried to join him. Only then did the Emperor remember to try granting favors. Yet even with lavish rewards, only a handful answered and it was far too late to turn the tide.

Watching his own “familiar faces” step out one by one from behind Prince Haicheng, the Emperor tasted deep bitterness. “No wonder you all claimed illness and did not attend court these past days.” He noticed his Grand General of the Guards was off in his own world altogether.

The Emperor stood up and descended the steps. As he did, his general did not follow. “Now the tiger has fallen, and the dogs come to bite.” He shook his head, looked at Prince Haicheng, and said, “Royal Uncle, I hope you never end up as I have.”

Prince Haicheng just gave a light chuckle.

The Emperor turned again, glancing at his sons, none of whom would meet his eyes or moved from their place. “Did any of them reach out to you, Royal Uncle?”

Prince Haicheng coughed. “They have better judgment than you.”

The Emperor understood. “So all contacted you. I’d planned, given my willingness to abdicate, to ask Royal Uncle to treat them well. Now I see it’s just wishful thinking on my part.”

Prince Haicheng’s eyes widened with suspicion. “You’re willing to abdicate?”

Suddenly, the Emperor smiled. “I just don’t want to let others reap the reward.”

That smile did not bode well.

Qin Jingzhou subtly shifted his stance, preparing to act at a moment’s notice. He glanced at Third Prince and his group.

Sure enough, the Emperor raised his hand and pressed his wrist. In an instant, more than ten flashes of silver shot from his sleeve.

Third Prince threw himself forward, pinning his own father to the ground. The silver streaks shaved the top of his head and struck down several attendants behind them.

At the same time, Qin Jingzhou stepped forward, kicking the Emperor square in the chest. The Emperor grunted and flew backward.

With a thousand people or more packed inside and outside Qianqing Palace, there were always those eager to take advantage of chaos. The entire palace plunged into uproar.

It wasn’t until evening that order was finally restored.

Of the Emperor and his sons present, only one survived. According to the imperial physician, that one’s wounds were so serious that his days were numbered.

Prince Haicheng looked a bit battered, but suffered only superficial injuries, some not even needing to be bandaged.

Third Prince fared about as well as his father saw it. Most of his injuries were minor, aside from a fractured arm. With care, it would heal and leave neither disability nor chronic illness.

The imperial clans and noble families, however, paid a heavier price. For after Qin Jingzhou kicked the Emperor to the floor, the Emperor, gritting his teeth against the pain, fired off every sleeve blade he had tied to his arm. As for court officials who had been standing at a distance, they escaped unharmed, this included Senior Grand Secretary Dugu, father to the famed Dugu sisters who both the Emperor and Prince Haicheng still remembered with longing.

But the combined casualties among imperial guards and Prince Haicheng’s personal troops exceeded five hundred.

Among the fallen, over a dozen were trusted aides Prince Haicheng had intended to rely on in the future. Their deaths pained and troubled him deeply.

That night, when he went to visit his courageous third son, some of that complicated emotion showed through.

After seeing his father out, Third Prince sat alone, lost in thought. Even the joy of being permitted to temporarily stay in the Crown Prince’s Residence had faded. He turned the slip of paper someone had pressed into his hand over and over, reading it again and again before sending his confidant to invite his master.

Qin Jingzhou, having rendered meritorious service, was likewise permitted to stay in the palace. His skills as a bodyguard were beyond question.

However, the place where he stayed was quite some distance from Third Prince’s residence, so his trip across the palace to visit him drew much attention.

When he saw the haggard Third Prince, he spoke frankly. “Your Highness is troubled.”

Third Prince knew, deep inside, that his master was truly on his side. “Yes, Master. I am beset with worries. If I was not my father’s only remaining son, I would be afraid my father would try to ruin me with praise.”

Qin Jingzhou instantly saw that Third Prince had understood. “How can Your Highness be sure you are the prince’s only remaining son?” He reminded him, “Forgive my bluntness, but since Consort Yang appeared, the prince’s favor for you has waned markedly.”

Third Prince covered his face and laughed, though the sound was bitter. He handed his master the slip of paper, now blurred from being folded and unfolded so often. “You see things more clearly than I do, Master. My father did not start to resent me only when I fought openly and secretly with my fifth brother.”

On the slip, four words were written: Beware of Consort Yang.

Qin Jingzhou nodded. “When the side consort died with her unborn child, it seemed there was little to suspect. But there’s something too deliberate about Consort Yang’s miscarriage. And who truly saw her after?”

Third Prince pressed his forehead, “Master, I also think the child may have survived. Perhaps, it was a son.”

Prince Haicheng was on the verge of taking the throne. Even if his own days were numbered, by rights he should select his eldest son as heir. Yet he stubbornly overrode this, choosing to depose the older son and potentially install a very young boy who might not even be able to speak clearly. After his death, he could leave the young Empress Dowager as regent. It wasn’t impossible. In fact, it seemed very likely.

Of course, Third Prince had already thought of this, and there was no need to say it aloud just to cause pain. Qin Jingzhou couldn’t help but let his imagination run loose. “For the prince to be so infatuated, could Consort Yang have made him believe she is the reincarnation of Dugu?”

Third Prince clenched his fists. “Master, if only my maternal grandfather could expose her.”

His own mother was the illegitimate daughter of Senior Grand Secretary Dugu.

Qin Jingzhou shook his head. “It may be worth a try, but it won’t do much. I do not believe Consort Yang can truly be flawless, but the prince will believe her anyway.”

Third Prince deliberated for a long time before exhaling heavily. “Master, help me.”

Qin Jingzhou smiled. “Gladly.” After exchanging a look and a smile, he volunteered, “Your Highness, let me take a look at your arm.”

Third Prince’s arm was fractured, along with several sprains and bruises. He assented without hesitation. “Thank you, Master.”

While massaging and soothing the pain, Qin Jingzhou conducted a rudimentary examination. Well, so “Beware of Consort Yang” was a double warning after all.

He would not warn Third Prince himself. At the very least, it would not be him who did so.

Meanwhile, Prince Haicheng spent half a month in the palace, settling the various factions. At last he decided he would ascend the throne the following year.

Prince Haicheng’s Princess consort, in collusion with the former emperor, had rebelled. She was executed immediately after the plot failed. Of the two side consorts, one died a double death with her unborn child due to the principal consort, while the other, Third Prince’s mother, was on her way to the capital but had not yet arrived.

Thus, the current mistress of the inner palace appeared. Sure enough, Consort Yang suddenly emerged, carrying a swaddled infant.

That day, as Third Prince exited Qianqing Palace, he happened to meet Consort Yang dressed immaculately. He courteously cupped his hands and, with a promise of ample reward, brushed past her.

Consort Yang smiled subtly, unafraid. So what if the third had found out? It was already too late.