MCSCPM -Chapter 164 You, Prince Jing!

Xuan Guan returned in utter defeat and immediately rushed to the imperial study.

“Your Majesty, Lord Xuan Guan requests an audience!”

“Send him in.”

Nangong Lin’s face lit up. In less than the time of a tea ceremony, Xuan Guan had returned—his efficiency was impressive.

“I pay respects to Your Majesty,” Xuan Guan said.

“Come, come! Rise, my minister. It must have gone smoothly, right?” Nangong Lin smiled.

“Your Majesty, this mission was unsuccessful. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!” Xuan Guan bowed his head low.

“You’re so modest. And what about the maid? When will the sacrificial rites take place?” Nangong Lin laughed. He had never imagined that hundreds of imperial guards under Xuan Guan’s command could be utterly defeated, when the opposing forces numbered only a few dozen!

“Your Majesty… Prince Jing’s subordinates are too powerful, and he himself is even stronger!”

“I gave you so many troops, yet you couldn’t even capture a maid! You’ve utterly embarrassed Xize. How will others view us?” Nangong Lin couldn’t help but curse. The imperial guards were the strongest in the palace—being so easily defeated by Prince Jing was unimaginable.

“It was Prince Jing who was arrogant. Before I could even tell him to surrender Mei’er, he struck first!” Xuan Guan said in a wailing tone.

“You insolent Prince Jing! I gave you chance after chance. I even considered betrothing my daughter to you, yet you treat her so poorly. You wouldn’t even look at an ugly girl, let alone my daughter. Don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Nangong Lin sneered.

Now that the letters had been sent, once Beihou received them, even if Xize had to pay a huge price, he would make Prince Jing understand that Xize was not to be trifled with.

“Enough, leave! I don’t want to see you!” Nangong Lin restrained his anger. If he lost his temper again, his chronic illness might flare up—without a doctor, it could be dangerous.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please take care of your health,” Xuan Guan said, fawning.

Outside the imperial study, Nangong Xiao had been waiting for some time.

“Your Highness is here too? Could it be that you’ve come to confess? Letting the maid go… did you change your mind?” Xuan Guan immediately shifted his expression, sneering.

“Lord Xuan Guan, your favored position will not last long,” Nangong Xiao said coldly, his gaze sharp. From the moment he stepped into the study, he had made his choice.

“I, your son, pay respects to my father.”

Nangong Lin stood silently by the window.

“What is it?”

“Father, some matters are not suitable for outsiders. I ask that Eunuch Li step outside first.”

Eunuch Li immediately understood and walked toward the door. His gaze inadvertently scanned Nangong Xiao. The sacrificial rites were of utmost importance—what could make the Crown Prince so tense?

“Father, now with the floods in Jiangnan and the plague spreading, can sacrificial rites really solve this?” Nangong Xiao said solemnly.

These words had long been in his heart, hidden away. Had it not been for Yin Qingyue’s appearance, he would never have dared to voice them.

“Are you saying the sacrificial rites were wrong?” Nangong Lin shouted sharply.

Nangong Xiao had never been so defiant. Now, with the rites incomplete, the plague unresolved, and disasters in Xize frequent, his son’s defiance seemed only to create more chaos.

“Then explain yourself!”

“Father, do you think that if these women die, the plague will truly end? That Xize will not face disaster?” Nangong Xiao spoke each word with authority.

“Occult practices only harm people—they cannot save lives. How many Jiangnan citizens await your aid, yet you watch them die? Would that satisfy you?”

“Who told you to speak this way? Was it that sorceress confusing your mind? If you repent now, it’s not too late; I’ll pretend you never said it.”

“No, these are my own thoughts. All along, I have followed your orders and missed too much—so much so that the woman I love has been lost and cannot be saved. Occult practices cannot stop disasters—they are all lies!”

“I give you one chance. If you cannot cherish it, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Nangong Lin slammed his teacup to the ground. The sharp crash echoed through the room for a long time.

“What’s going on?” Eunuch Li panicked.

“Today, I have made a decision. Please, Father, abandon these occult practices. Even if the women die, the plague will not end. Don’t be stubborn any longer!” Nangong Xiao said firmly.

“Stubborn? Am I wrong? Then tell me—where did I go wrong?”

Nangong Xiao slowly stood and walked to the table.

“Look at this—these are all memorials reporting the emergency in Jiangnan. What have you done? Sacrificial rites? Ha! If they worked, why would we need all these officials?” He threw the memorials to the floor, stomping on them with disdain.

“Enough!”

“If the sacrificial rites do not move you, then I’ll say one more thing.”

Outside the door, Eunuch Li broke into a cold sweat. In all his years serving the Emperor, he had never heard the Crown Prince speak like this.

“Does Father really believe the Empress’s coma is genuine? The entire capital, the palace, all say it’s a lie—a rumor! How could such a rumor arise?” Nangong Xiao’s lips curved into a faint, cold smile.

The only way he could protect Yin Qingyue was to make his father abandon the occult practices. Not just for her, but to save the people of Xize from calamity.

“Are you saying I am foolish? That I cannot see this?” Nangong Xiao grabbed his father’s robe. Were it not for their familial bond, he would have killed Nangong Xiao then and there.

Nangong Xiao sneered. “As Yin Qingyue said, Father makes mistakes but cannot admit them. You would kill to cover them up. I see now, the true disaster of Xize is your obstinacy!”

“Traitorous son!” Nangong Lin violently shook Nangong Xiao’s face, testing limits, but restrained himself.

“Still unwilling to admit it! The Empress’s coma—was it really for sacrificial rites? The divine physician has not treated her promptly—was it fear of her?”

Eunuch Li trembled.

Although Nangong Xiao was not He Minmin’s biological son, the Empress had raised him for many years. And yet, he dared speak like this, turning the tables—it was unimaginable.

“Father, you dare not admit it, right?” Nangong Xiao’s eyes were red as he laughed up at the sky.

Eunuch Li’s heart tightened. If this matter spread, it could greatly benefit him. But better to remain cautious—if the Emperor and Crown Prince discovered his thoughts, he would suffer.

“Since your mother has been gone since your youth, I have spoiled you, which is why you dare speak so. Today I give you one last chance—if you admit your fault, I will forgive you. The Crown Prince title remains yours,” Nangong Lin said, eyes half-closed, believing the threat of losing the title would make his son repent.

“Where did I go wrong? It is Father who is wrong, yet dares not admit it!” Nangong Xiao’s gaze was icy.

“Fine. Today I give you three chances, and you wasted them all. Since you do not want the Crown Prince title, I will strip you of it immediately!” Nangong Lin said coldly, eyes sharp, pushing his son to his limits.

“Father, all you know is to use such despicable means to force submission. I will not obey,” Nangong Xiao said and walked out of the study, leaving Nangong Lin stunned.

To make him abandon occult practices, he even gave up the Crown Prince title.

“Ta… Crown Prince…” Eunuch Li stammered.

Inside the imperial study, a splatter of fresh blood stained the floor.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“This traitorous son! Traitorous son!” Nangong Lin clutched his chest in fury.

“Bring me a brush. Since he despises the Crown Prince title, I will strip it from him!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t blame me for being ruthless! I will never give up occult practices—they are the only way to save Xize!”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince only acted in haste, that’s why he angered you.”

“Out, all of you!”

The imperial study fell silent, only Nangong Lin sat alone on the dragon throne.

“Nangong Xiao, how have I wronged you? I made you Crown Prince, gave you the best teachers, had the Empress raise you, yet you dare defy me!” Nangong Lin’s eyes were red as he looked at the imperial edict, tears streaming.

Memories of the past flashed before him. Since Nangong Xiao’s mother passed, he had always felt guilty. Had he not personally caused her death, none of this would have happened.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Because Crown Prince Nangong Xiao has defied the Emperor’s orders… the Crown Prince title is hereby revoked. The Third Prince is instructed to return from Jiangnan immediately; the former Crown Prince shall go to Jiangnan for flood relief. By imperial decree!” Eunuch Li’s voice echoed in the Eastern Palace.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity!” Nangong Xiao received the edict, expression calm.

“Your Highness, the Emperor is still angry. Admit your fault and it may not be too late,” Eunuch Li said.

“No need. I willingly go to Jiangnan for relief!” Nangong Xiao said resolutely, eyes shining.

“Think carefully, Your Highness! These past events have agitated the Emperor. Some words were harsh. You must consider father-son relations!” Eunuch Li emphasized the “father-son relations,” speaking earnestly.

“Eunuch Li, you may leave. I am no longer the Crown Prince. Show the guest out!” Nangong Xiao said, face desolate. To him, the Emperor was just a shameless liar, claiming to benefit Xize while being blind to corruption.

“Your servant takes leave,” Eunuch Li said helplessly.

Outside the imperial study:

“What did the Crown Prince say?”

“Your Majesty, I have said all that I should. The Crown Prince insists on this course,” Eunuch Li replied helplessly.

“So stubborn! Fine, let him go to Jiangnan to learn, so he may realize his mistake and return,” Nangong Lin said coldly.

“Don’t expect him to return. The Crown Prince said he would rather go to Jiangnan and never come back!”

“I want to see—without the palace, how long can he survive outside? If he lacks ability, the Crown Prince title is meaningless anyway!” Nangong Xiao said, each word carrying authority.