Chapter 0242: One Man Worth a Thousand Soldiers, Truly Drunk on Xie Chengze
Cao Qingran strode forward in a dignified golden phoenix robe, her head held high with an imposing demeanor.
The veteran court officials fell silent, their gazes turning to Cao Qingran as they bowed their heads in unison. “Your subjects pay respects to the Empress. May the Empress live a thousand years!”
Beside Xie Chengze, a minister frowned at the imperial guards following the Empress into the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. “What does Her Majesty mean by this?”
Cao Qingran’s sharp gaze swept past Xie Chengze before settling on the speaker. She stated calmly, “Having arrived late, I have already investigated thoroughly. His Majesty did not pass away due to a sudden illness but was deliberately murdered!”
A wave of murmurs swept through the officials as they exchanged whispers. One minister stepped forward and asked cautiously, “What leads Her Majesty to say this? Has evidence been found?”
“Correct.” This time, Cao Qingran’s gaze fixed on Xie Chengze.
Xie Chengze’s heart sank.
He felt a massive accusation looming over him.
Sure enough, Cao Qingran spoke slowly and gravely, “The Second Prince, in his attempt to ascend the throne, bribed the imperial physician to poison His Majesty, worsening his condition until recovery became impossible. As Empress, I will never allow such a treacherous individual to claim the throne!”
“Guards! Seize the Second Prince!”
Her voice sharp, the imperial guards behind her immediately advanced toward Xie Chengze. Combining authority with mercy, Cao Qingran addressed the ministers behind him, “Considering your ignorance and non-involvement in this matter, leave the palace at once. I shall pretend I never saw you here today!”
The ministers grew panicked. Seeing the imperial guards draw their blades and point them their way, they floundered like headless flies, uncertain what to do.
If the Second Prince had truly poisoned the Emperor to hasten his ascension, should they stay or go?
At this moment, Sheng Shihai stepped forward, his voice clear and resonant as he asked, “Your Majesty claims the Second Prince bribed the imperial physician to administer poison. Do you have evidence?”
Cao Qingran scoffed lightly and waved her hand. An imperial physician was brought forward, trembling as he knelt on the ground.
“The imperial physician has confessed and admitted that the Second Prince bribed him to poison His Majesty!”
Sheng Shihai stared at the physician and smiled. “Your Majesty believes the Second Prince poisoned His Majesty based solely on this physician’s empty words? That seems rather rash. If I were to claim without proof that this is a scheme orchestrated by Your Majesty herself, would that make it true?”
“Indeed, that’s right.”
“Some tangible evidence is needed.”
“If no evidence can be produced, it may well be a scheme by the Empress.” Sheng Shihai cupped his hands slightly, his words piercing. “And the purpose is obvious—to defy the late Emperor’s decree and conspire with the Crown Prince to stage a rebellion!”
“Preposterous! The throne rightfully belongs to the Crown Prince. How can there be talk of rebellion?” Cao Qingran sneered, unwilling to engage further with Sheng Shihai. She raised the military tally in her hand and declared forcefully, “The evidence is here! Since you remain obstinate, I will not show mercy! Guards, arrest these traitors at once!”
The imperial guards obeyed, drawing their swords and advancing to restrain Xie Chengze and the others.
Just then, a low, meaningful voice tinged with amusement whispered in Xie Chengze’s ear from Sheng Shihai, “Your Highness, would you like to know what it means for one man to be worth ten thousand troops?”
Xie Chengze froze for a moment, then looked up at him in confusion.
What did he mean by that?
Was he about to display his martial prowess?
Sheng Shihai possessed exceptional martial aptitude, though few knew of this. Having trained secretly since childhood, and perhaps bolstered by the author’s character design buff, he could likely escape unscathed even when facing Wuhen and Wuji.
But even so, the idea that one person could hold off an entire army seemed far too exaggerated!
Wouldn’t it be more practical to take the Crown Prince hostage and force these soldiers to retreat—Wait, what?
As Xie Chengze was lost in thought, he suddenly felt the cold edge of a blade press against his neck.
Caught completely off guard, Xie Chengze was speechless.
Seriously, man—?
Are you kidding me? Instead of taking the Crown Prince hostage, you target me? Aren’t we on the same side?
Xie Chengze was stunned, but he soon realized Sheng Shihai’s intention.
The moment the blade touched his throat, Xie Jinyu, who had been watching indifferently from across the way, paled drastically and shouted sharply, “Everyone, halt!”
His gaze fixed on Xie Chengze before shifting to Sheng Shihai’s face, his eyes already treating the latter as a dead man. “Drop the blade! I’ll spare your life!”
A faint smile curled Sheng Shihai’s lips as he toyed with the blade, moving it slowly from Xie Chengze’s throat to the side of his neck. The cold metal sent a shiver down Xie Chengze’s spine.
“Your Highness,” Sheng Shihai whispered into Xie Chengze’s ear, his eyes brimming with mockery, “the Crown Prince truly does protect you.”
Xie Chengze: …
So this is what it means for one person to hold off thousands of troops? But isn’t this overestimating my importance…
“Sheng Shihai, do you really think taking a traitor hostage will ensure your safe escape?” Cao Qingran narrowed her eyes and directly issued the order, “Seize them both!”
“Mother!” Seeing the blade press against Xie Chengze’s throat once more, Xie Jinyu’s eyes trembled. He immediately drew a sword from the belt of a nearby imperial guard and held it to his own neck, his tone dark and threatening, “If my Second Brother suffers even a scratch, I will inflict three times the harm upon myself!”
Cao Qingran’s eyes wavered in response. The watching officials were equally shocked, utterly confused by the unfolding situation.
Why was the Crown Prince protecting the Second Prince?
Weren’t they always at odds?
“Xie Jinyu!” Cao Qingraan angrily called him by his full name, her tone filled with bitter disappointment. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!”
Xie Jinyu let out a cold laugh. His usually gentle moon-like eyes now overflowed with obsession and madness, like a trapped beast glaring fiercely at its hunter, sending chills down everyone’s spines. “I’ve told you before, Mother—Second Brother must live. Otherwise, I will not live on alone.”
“It seems Mother has grown old and her memory fails.”
Or perhaps she truly thought he was joking.
She had seen him lose his mind before.
Xie Jinyu had never been a kind soul. Even as a child, he was cunning and manipulative, using his authority to drive everyone away from Xie Chengze and threatening Cao Qingran with his own life to ensure Xie Chengze’s safety.
She knew that his sole obsession with the Crown Prince’s position was to wield imperial power and keep Xie Chengze trapped within the palace walls.
“Xie Jinyu, do you truly believe you can threaten me?” Cao Qingran’s gaze darkened. “You are not the only candidate for the throne.”
It was merely that she was unwilling to see her efforts go to waste.
It was merely a lingering trace of maternal affection.
It was merely because he was the most convenient choice, allowing her to swiftly become Empress Dowager and escape the palace in pursuit of true freedom.
“Otherwise, she could have simply selected any young boy from the Cao family, claimed him to be of imperial blood—an illegitimate child of Emperor Jian—and then taken control of the court herself.”
“But I am the optimal choice.” Xie Jinyu mercilessly exposed her. “Mother Empress, let them go.”
Cao Qingran tightened her grip on the tiger tally, her heart torn with conflict. She stared fixedly at Xie Jinyu, and when she saw Sheng Shihai break Xie Chengze’s skin slightly while Xie Jinyu immediately drew a cut across his own neck, she finally relented.
So be it.
Where could they possibly escape to?
If they fled, it would only confirm their guilt in poisoning His Majesty. She would announce it throughout the land and then immediately install Xie Jinyu as the new emperor.
She wouldn’t need to worry—Xie Jinyu would be the first to urgently seek Xie Chengze’s return.
“Let them go.”
Cao Qingran withdrew the military order and looked indifferently at Xie Chengze.
Xie Chengze breathed a slight sigh of relief, enduring the burning pain in his neck, and said to Sheng Shihai, “Let’s hurry and leave.”
This hurt like hell.
Damn that Sheng Shihai—he’d actually dared to harm him!
“Leave?” Sheng Shihai raised an eyebrow slightly, showing no intention of departing. Instead, he calmly stated, “We can’t leave anymore.”