Chapter 1232: Chapter 1068: Where Is Your Benevolence?

Prince Jing watched as the sword tip approached his chest and couldn’t help but shout anxiously.

"Big brother, it would be better to keep me and third brother alive; we could still be of some use. I wouldn’t dare act rashly, but I can’t guarantee third brother will be as obedient as me."

Prince Jing smiled faintly, his body neither dodging nor retreating, and soon enough, Li Chang An’s sword tip pressed against his chest.

"Wait!" Prince Gong slightly curled up his lips, "What you say makes some sense!"

The sword tip pierced Prince Jing’s chest, and blood instantly spread on his plain mourning clothes, resembling a blooming peony.

Prince Jing only felt a stab of pain in his chest and cursed Prince Gong in his heart, loosening the silver threads tightly gripped in the sleeve.

"Just hijacking the Empress isn’t enough; who knows whose man He Chaoguang is? If I have you all under control, there’s no fear he won’t obey. You might be of some use, so let’s kill later!"

A sinister smile appeared on Prince Gong’s face; don’t accuse him of disregarding brotherly bonds. He was certain that if he was one of them today, he would have been killed long ago, so how could he have lasted until now?

Prince Jing sighed with relief and pushed away the sword stabbed in his chest by Li Chang An.

A faint smile appeared on his pale face, "Big brother also knows that I am weak, if you keep poking me with the sword, I won’t even make it out of the palace before I die."

Prince Jing caressed his chest, looking particularly frail, his complexion even paler than before.

At this time, the Empress wasn’t focusing here; she was still wondering to whom He Chaoguang belonged. Had He Chaoguang really pledged allegiance to the Fourth or Third?

Liao Wu immediately lowered his right hand and made another gesture.

"Fourth brother’s skills in acting and recitation are impressive; you’re not worse than an opera singer. How long will you keep pretending? Have you fooled yourself like the third brother?"

Prince Gong couldn’t stand Prince Jing’s posturing. Before, he had found some clues, though not confirmed yet. The Fourth’s illness might have been cured long ago.

Prince Jing’s face twitched, comparing him to an opera singer? This arrogance would soon lead to suffering.

Liao Wu remained calm, "Amitabha Buddha! Why, Prince Gong, are you so stubborn? Even if you kidnap us, it doesn’t mean you’ll successfully leave the palace."

"How can you know without trying?" Prince Gong glanced at the ministers in the corner, thought for a moment but chose not to kidnap them too.

They were all civil servants, unlike those hereditary nobles in the Capital, whose houses kept Hidden Guards.

Kidnapping them would be useless and would only be a burden.

Seeing Li Chang An tying Prince Jing and Liao Wu, Prince Gong ordered, "Let’s go!"

"Big brother, where are you going?"

A low voice sounded from outside the hall, and Prince Gong’s face darkened.

Prince Jing’s eyes lit up; hadn’t he waited long enough? He was even injured.

Liao Wu was slightly startled, a look of surprise flickered across his face.

"Crown Prince?" Prince Gong gritted his teeth and called out, the one he couldn’t find before now appeared unbidden.

"Dundun!" The Empress suddenly felt relieved; fortunately, Dundun was safe.

"Mother?" The Crown Prince just led his people into Guangning Palace, intending to see the look of surprise on Prince Gong’s face. Who knew he’d immediately see his mother held at swordpoint?

"Big brother! What are you doing? The Empress is your rightful mother; how could you commit such treachery?"

The Crown Prince glared at Prince Gong. He had already stationed many men around Guangning Palace, so how did his mother get captured?

Little did the Crown Prince know that Prince Gong would appear here; much credit went to the Empress.

"Enough, second brother! At this point, you still wrap yourself in this false exterior. I won’t argue with you; winners are kings, losers are bandits. I miscalculated today; let’s see what tomorrow brings."

Prince Gong’s eyes were filled with sarcasm; the Empress was indeed the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Could the Crown Prince truly disregard her safety?

Moreover, the Crown Prince always spoke of benevolence and righteousness, played the part of a benevolent heart, and now, in front of everyone, he had no choice.

"Second brother, don’t act rashly, or I can’t guarantee the Empress won’t get hurt."

Li Chang An pressed the sword on the Empress’s neck tighter, immediately leaving a thin, long wound.

"Don’t hurt mother!" The Crown Prince immediately panicked, his eyes wide with rage and deep hatred in his heart.

Regardless of everything, his mother and he had been relying on each other; their bond was undeniably strong. Moreover, if he showed no concern for his mother’s safety, he would face the scorn of the world.

"Then make your people back off; once we leave the city, the Empress will naturally be released!"

Prince Gong was desperate; if he didn’t leave now, he might never have the chance. Since today’s plan failed, he wouldn’t hesitate any longer, or he couldn’t escape unscathed.

The Crown Prince’s face sank; he was indecisive. Letting Prince Gong go was as releasing a tiger back to the mountain.

Initially, things were under wraps, but now everyone had torn their masks.

Prince Gong would certainly have his escape route planned. He knew well that Prince Gong had significant power, with General Pei controlling fifty thousand elite soldiers.

Moreover, in recent years, while in the Capital, Prince Gong had accumulated considerable silver, both openly and secretly.

"Everyone praises the Crown Prince for his loyalty and virtue, with a broad mind, so why are you hesitating now? Where is your integrity? Your kindness? The world should see how hypocritical you are. You, like me, are ruthless but pretend to be purehearted. Is it to live up to your name, Zhao Dun?"

Prince Gong’s words hit the Crown Prince’s heart like pearls, and he felt as if his heart had been exposed, with its filth revealed to the light.

Suddenly, he dared not meet the Empress’s eyes and felt everyone’s gaze in the hall was fixed on him, those burning stares seemingly piercing him.

"The Empress is your birth mother; can you watch her die with open eyes? If you don’t let me go, I won’t spare any mercy. Dying while taking a few with me would be worth it!"

The Empress’s eyes gradually deepened as she looked at the Crown Prince, unsure of what to say. Even an ant clings to life; she couldn’t bring herself to sacrifice for righteousness.

After a moment, the Crown Prince suddenly laughed.

"I’ve never known big brother had such eloquence; isn’t stirring trouble the Fourth’s specialty? Turns out big brother is equally gifted. Do you think you can sow discord between me and mother? My bond with her is deep, but what about you, big brother? Do you know Princess Consort Jing is anxiously waiting for you?"

Prince Jing: How can you say that?

...

The sky had reached dusk, and surprisingly, snowflakes began to fall. The cold wind gusted, and the drifting snow added a touch of desolation to the scene.

No matter how beautiful the landscape, it couldn’t overshadow the biting power of the wind. The icy gusts felt like knife blades slicing through skin, painfully so!

Gu Chengyu looked up at the sky, then glanced at the opposing black-clad figures standing by.

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