TRBDM -Chapter 218 Deposing the Crown Prince

On the day of Zhao Kuang’s funeral, the princes and imperial grandsons dressed in heavy mourning robes, the consorts of the harem, and the royal dukes and nobles all wept bitterly, their cries rising and falling in waves.

The Crown Prince stood at the very front of the procession, crying as if his heart were being torn apart. He was as thin as a bamboo pole and weak to the point that the wind could knock him over; two servants had to support him for him to walk.

Other princes either wept loudly or suppressed their grief, their shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Whether genuine or performed for appearances, at least the display was convincing.

Along the road to the imperial mausoleum, everyone wore the highest-grade plain mourning robes, heads bowed low, footsteps heavy and solemn.

When the enormous, weighty sealing stone of the mausoleum was locked into place with a dull thud, the kneeling crowd erupted into earth-shaking, heart-wrenching wails:

“Your Majesty—!”

“Father—! Your son has been unfilial—!”

“Emperor—! Please walk slowly—!”

The most heartrending cries came from the Empress herself.

The Third Prince pressed forward relentlessly; today was likely the last day Zhao Jingxuan would remain Crown Prince.

She wailed for herself and for the Crown Prince.

All the struggles of over twenty years had ultimately been a mirage.

With the late emperor formally laid to rest, the state could not be without a ruler even for a single day.

The next day, all the ministers gathered at the Hall of State to discuss the matter of deposing the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince Zhao Jingxuan sat atop the grand hall in his crimson Crown Prince ceremonial robes, his body trembling beneath the long gown. He looked down at the scheming figures in the hall, feeling utterly incapable of holding himself together.

“You are insolent! Jingxuan is the Crown Prince, the new emperor, and you dare defy the late emperor’s decree?”

The Empress shouted hoarsely, pleading on principle. Behind her stood the few remaining members of the Crown Prince faction—her last, painstakingly fought-for supporters.

Originally, the Crown Prince’s allies had been three times as many.

But some had been eliminated, some had defected, and some feigned illness; their losses were severe.

“Your Majesty, we act for the sake of the realm and in accordance with the late emperor’s will. I beg you to speak cautiously.”

Prime Minister Gao Yong raised his head, his rough voice carrying a clear threat: “The Crown Prince is weak in body, indecisive in action, and easily misled by those around him. He is truly unfit to rule the realm!”

“Those around him,” naturally, referred to the Empress.

If the Crown Prince ascended the throne with the Empress controlling state affairs from behind the curtain, the realm would inevitably fall into harem chaos—he should be deposed.

“I agree to depose the Crown Prince and establish a new emperor.”

“I second that motion.”

“I second that motion.”

One after another, the ministers’ agreements cornered both the Crown Prince and the Empress toward certain ruin.

“You… you are committing treason!” The Empress pointed at the pack of ravenous wolves before her, almost screaming in fury.

“We act for the realm.” Gao Yong raised his left arm high, prompting other ministers to follow suit.

“For the realm!”

“For the realm!”

The echo of their voices reverberated through the hall. The Empress stepped back in anger, nearly falling until she was supported from behind.

Witnessing this, Zhao Jingyan felt extremely satisfied.

He was full of ambition, determined to claim the throne.

“Brother, at a time like this, you still hide behind the Empress?”

Zhao Jingxuan could not utter a single word. For some reason, seeing Zhao Jingyan filled him with fear.

Zhao Jingyan looked at Zhao Jingxuan’s pathetic state and snorted coldly: “A hopeless fool. Recognizing reality sooner is the only wise choice for you.”

Before the words had even left his mouth, the commander of the imperial guards and his armored soldiers blocked the hall doors.

Zhao Jingxuan raised his head abruptly, meeting Zhao Jingyan’s blade-sharp gaze, and forced out a few words: “I am the Crown Prince personally appointed by Father—”

“Father is dead.” Zhao Jingyan reminded him. “Your shield is gone, do you understand?”

The Crown Prince clawed at the dragon throne as if trying to tear it apart.

Outside, the imperial guards watched like tigers; Zhao Jingxuan glanced at his few remaining allies and felt a bitter despair.

“Brother, if you cooperate, I guarantee you can live as a carefree prince from now on. Your health is poor—you may retire to the outskirts of the capital, where the mountains and rivers are beautiful, perfect for your recuperation.”

Zhao Jingxuan thought he was magnanimous; in someone else’s hands, he would have executed them outright. There was no way he would be so generous as to allow the Crown Prince to become a leisurely prince.

Zhao Jingxuan was both fearful and angry, but powerless to resist, he timidly called out, “Mother.”

The Empress, having fought to this point, was utterly exhausted.

Yet she still refused to surrender: “This is treason. I will have the Ministry of Justice arrest you!”

Zhao Jingxuan did not flinch; a bloodthirsty madness hid in his eyes:

“No rush. Once I ascend the throne, the Ministry of Justice will settle the accounts slowly.”

At this point, the Crown Prince was steadily retreating, with nowhere left to fall back.

Gao Yong stepped forward, taking a new imperial edict from his sleeve and raising it high above his head: “We, by the mandate of Heaven, uphold the state above all! Now, we depose Crown Prince Zhao Jin and establish—”

“Stop!”

Before he could finish, Zhao Lingchen entered the Hall of State with her elite bodyguards.

The imperial guards did not dare block her and could only allow her to enter.

Accompanying Zhao Lingchen were Zhao Jingheng, Jiang Yuelin, and the General of Nanyang.

“Eldest Princess, why are you here?” Zhao Jingyan felt a bad premonition.

“A matter as serious as deposing the Crown Prince, of course I must be present.”

Zhao Lingchen gave no one a glance and sat down in a chair: “Prime Minister Gao, where do we stand now?”