Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 183 Both Passed Away

Only after watching the eldest prince slowly close his eyes did Consort De suddenly stop talking, cover her mouth, and after a long time, suddenly burst out with a painful and shrill scream.

"Son--"

Emperor Jingtai slowly closed his eyes, everything went black, and he seemed to hear a constant roaring sound. He quickly covered his mouth and nose with his hand, then quietly put it back. Jiufu, kneeling beside him, suddenly narrowed his eyes. There was a glaring bloodstain on the sleeve of His Majesty's bright yellow dragon robe!
“Send Consort De to Huangjue Temple.”

The guards beside him were about to carry out His Majesty's orders, but the somewhat crazed Consort De suddenly raised her head, her eyes piercing the Jingtai Emperor like sharp arrows!

"Your Majesty personally forced your own son to his death. Are you satisfied now?! Are you happy?!"

"...Consort De was devastated by the loss of her beloved son and became mentally imprisoned in Huangjue Temple, never to be released again."

The people around her fell silent, but Consort De couldn't care less about anything else. She held her son, whose body was gradually growing cold, and her expression was frantic.

"Your Majesty, you are indeed wise and powerful, a rare founding emperor! Have you considered the consequences of your cold-heartedness?!"

"Consort De has gone mad! Quickly, take her away!"

Jiufu quickly spoke up. Under normal circumstances, he would never have dared to utter such disrespectful words. But seeing Consort De about to speak disrespectfully to His Majesty because of the loss of her beloved son, he couldn't just stand by and watch, could he?
However, Emperor Jingtai waved his hand, signaling the guards who were caught in a dilemma to leave.

"Let her speak."

"Your Majesty, you possess the entire world, but how can anyone live forever? The burden you bear must eventually be passed on to the next generation. The Third Prince is dead, and the First Prince was forced to his death by you. Now only the Second and Fourth Princes remain. In terms of literature, martial arts, riding, and archery, in which aspect can they compare to my sons? The Second Prince is sickly and pedantic, and the Fourth Prince is as timid as a mouse. Which one of them is capable of shouldering the great responsibility? Are you really going to hand over the empire you have painstakingly built over decades to such people?"

"continue."

“Your Majesty, you are old, and one cannot deny the passage of time. You promote your ministers without discrimination based on rank or status, so why do you overlook our child? He has worked so hard since he was a child, staying up all night to memorize a poem. To improve his archery skills and please you, his hands were calloused, yet he never complained. He is such a filial child, and it's one thing for you to ignore him, but why must you kill him?”

"I understand you. I've been by your side for decades, how could I not know your ambitions? If you're determined to kill our child, then I might as well do it myself, at least I can give him some dignity."

Consort De slowly pulled out the hairpin. It was merely a gold-plated hairpin; the inside was a sharpened iron hairpin. Perhaps she had foreseen this outcome from the beginning, and therefore felt no fear.

However, the guards around her were extremely nervous after hearing Consort De's resentful words and seeing her pull out the hairpin, fearing that she might harm His Majesty.

"Your Highness, please don't act rashly—"

"Your Majesty, please step back..."

Emperor Jingtai didn't move an inch, simply staring quietly at this woman who was usually so virtuous and kind. He seemed to be no good emperor, no good husband, no good father. After sharing a bed for so many years, he still couldn't see through this woman's inner thoughts.

Consort De glanced disdainfully at the tense guards around her and said loudly.

"Your Majesty, do you think only my son has done wrong? Take a closer look at your other two sons. And this court is far from as stable as you imagine. There are plenty of people in this world who want the throne to fall to another!"

"Your Majesty, my son and I will take our leave first. We will wait and see how you intend to maintain the stability of this realm and what kind of future ruler you will choose for it!"

"De Cheng! Mother has come to join you—" Consort De, clutching the golden hairpin that had taken her son's life, plunged it into his throat without hesitation! The hairpin was specially made; large gushes of blood gushed from it, soaking Consort De's exquisite sky-blue dress, before slowly dripping onto the eldest prince. Consort De's consciousness gradually blurred, and scenes of her youth with her husband and son seemed to reappear before her eyes.

Her husband was tall and handsome, his bravery renowned throughout the land. Her son was obedient, filial, intelligent, and adorable. How happy they were back then…

With her last bit of strength, Consort De held the Crown Prince's now cold body and uttered a few indistinct words.

"Decheng, don't be afraid, Mother is here with you..."

For a long time, the surrounding guards were still unable to recover from the bloody and bizarre scene. Emperor Jingtai, however, slowly opened his eyes, stared at the dead mother and child, and waved wearily.

"Take them away and bury them."

"Your Majesty, should we bury him according to proper rites?"

Emperor Jingtai closed his eyes.

When a person dies, all things cease to exist; this will not cause the mother and son any unease after their deaths.

"Let the Ministry of Rites handle it."

"Avoid extravagance."

"Yes."

Jiufu respectfully agreed. In the past, when a member of the royal family passed away, His Majesty would specially grant a set of rules and bestow upon them the greatest posthumous honors. Since His Majesty had said not to be extravagant, then he would simply follow the proper etiquette and not deviate in the slightest. This showed that even in his anger, His Majesty still held some compassion for Consort De and the First Prince. Alas, it was a pity that the mother and son could not understand His Majesty's good intentions.

Rubbing his temples, Emperor Jingtai took one last look at the blood-soaked mother and child, then turned and strode away. Whether in life or death, he had done his duty as husband and wife, father and son. If you have any knowledge in the afterlife, may you be reincarnated soon, and not be born into an imperial family…

When the news of the deaths of the eldest prince and Consort De spread, everyone in the hall was shocked.

Especially Chen Mo, the Minister of War, had just returned to his residence to discuss with his wife and children the Crown Prince's shameless desire for his precious daughter to become a concubine. Before they could reach a conclusion, they received this news, and the entire Chen residence fell silent.

Even Chen Mo looked towards the palace in shock. Although he had openly and secretly reported the First Prince and Consort De, surely His Majesty wouldn't execute the mother and son? Wasn't this action too swift? Or did he hold such a high position in His Majesty's heart? How come he himself didn't know?
Madam Chen tugged at Minister Chen's arm in surprise, almost pulling him down, her eyes fixed on her husband with suspicion.

"Are you saying His Majesty is so angry because of our daughter? But even though the mother and son's methods weren't exactly honorable, they didn't deserve to die, did they?"

Or do you have some shady relationship with His Majesty that makes him value you so much?

Seeing the doubt in his wife's eyes, Minister Chen was practically ready to swear an oath to the heavens.

I'm having minor surgery today, and I'm a little nervous. To be honest, I really want to run away right now.
However, the updates these past few days have been posted on a schedule. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a message first, and I'll read them when I'm more alert.
Finally, I wish you all good health and all the best!
Health is truly the foundation of everything...

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(End of this chapter)