Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 84 The most ruthless imperial family
Meanwhile, Emperor Jingtai, who was being eyed by Chunyu Shuang, was also having a hard time. Since the sudden death of his third son, memorials had been pouring into his desk like snowflakes. Although most of them expressed condolences and even proposed a grand funeral, a small number of people were secretly trying to figure out Emperor Jingtai's intentions.

The investigation into the Worry-Free Cave case has reached this point, almost without any leads. Most of those involved are dead. Shouldn't we stop here? After all, even Your Highness's own son is dead. The price has been too high. Wouldn't it be better to end it here?

But no one could see the Jingtai Emperor sitting on that cold dragon throne, chuckling coldly.

"These people really don't understand me at all."

He does love his son very much, because he suffered a lot from childhood and didn't get to enjoy most of the good things in the world. So, what's wrong with wanting his son to enjoy life when he has the means?
However, just because he could provide his sons with a life of luxury did not mean he would turn a blind eye to what his third son had done.

Were you heartbroken when your beloved son died? Of course you were heartbroken, but how can the death of one person compare to the entire world?

The current grand view is Emperor Jingtai's lifelong wish, his only achievement, and his greatest accomplishment!

At the end of the previous dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and the number of dead and wounded was more than 100,000. The people were displaced and the soldiers died far from home. At that time, he was just a teenager. He was forced to take a risk and join the rebel army because he could not survive in this world.

Of all those rebel armies, how many actually lasted? Most perished during their rise to power. Even within the rebel army, he lived in constant fear, unable to sleep soundly at night, for who knew if he might have his head chopped off in the middle of the night?

For the first half of his life, he lived in constant fear of death. Without sufficient military force to guarantee his safety, Emperor Jingtai dared not have children, for he had witnessed too many instances of rival warring factions taking their anger out on each other's families. He had an elder brother whose parents, wife, and children were all in their hometown. However, during a battle, the battlefield blocked their path, preventing him from bringing his family back. On the eve of the battle, the opposing general directly bound his parents, siblings, and entire family to the front lines, forcing him to surrender. Every ten or so men were killed. If they refused, they were killed even more!

Emperor Jingtai remembered clearly that the elder brother had bitten his teeth until they bled, but he still refused to surrender because he had a group of brothers who had entrusted their lives to him. If he surrendered, no one would survive.

In the final charge, the bodies of that entire family were trampled into a bloody pulp under the hooves of both sides' horses. They won that last, hard-fought battle. The eldest brother, covered in wounds, practically collapsed to the ground, scooping up handfuls of the blood and flesh. Because they couldn't distinguish whose remains they were, they could only build a large grave and bury the whole family together.

From then on, that elder brother fought even more recklessly, and soon died from his injuries. Before he died, he held Emperor Jingtai's hand and wept bitterly.

The scene deeply impressed Emperor Jingtai, which is why he only conceived the children after making ample preparations. As a result, these four children didn't suffer much hardship, and at the time he was very fortunate to have done so. But now, thinking back, perhaps not experiencing hardship wasn't a good thing for them. After all, the story of the third son is a good example.

The other three children seem fine now, but before this, the third son and the Prince of Peace also seemed like good children. These children have grown up in the blink of an eye. When they were little, I always felt they were like a clear spring, and I could see right to the bottom. But that's not the case anymore. Now, even he, their father, can't see what's at the bottom of the water.

It still makes me feel quite sad when I think about it.

However! There is only one thing that Emperor Jingtai will never give up.

Sweeping aside the pile of nonsensical memorials before him, Emperor Jingtai's eyes sharpened as he stared intently at the map hanging on the wall of the Hall of Nourishing Life. It was a map of the Great Jing Dynasty, the empire he had built with half his life's work, the world he was willing to give everything for!

So today, even if it is his son who died, or even if he dies one day, the world must not be thrown into chaos!
Is the imperial family truly the most ruthless? Ha! Anyone who tries to disrupt the world is his enemy!

"Jiufu, proclaim the imperial decree."

Jiufu bowed respectfully, listening to the decree issued by the person he admired most in his life, word by word.

"The commoners Jing Fengxiang and Li Ping have no merits in their lives, therefore, they will not be buried in the imperial mausoleum, but will be buried in Yuancheng. Their wives and concubines will be dismissed, and the Imperial Household Department will provide them with resettlement allowances."

"Consort Yu and Consort Li lost their sons in middle age. I felt sorry for their grief and sent them to Huangjue Temple to live out their remaining years in peace." Jiufu suddenly opened his eyes wide, but did not say a word more. He simply respectfully took the two imperial edicts and went out to announce them.

Watching Jiu Fu's departing figure, Emperor Jingtai slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his mind involuntarily recalling the Third Prince, Prince Ping, and Consort Yu.

"Dad! When I grow up, I want to be a great general and help you drive away all those bad people! So that everyone can be happy and no longer sad."

"And me! I will take good care of my younger brothers and be a good boy."

"My lord, you must be tired from your recent journeys. I've prepared two simple dishes; please come and taste my cooking..."

Those memories seemed like they came from yesterday, tangled and intricate, compelling one to linger. But Emperor Jingtai suddenly opened his eyes wide, shattering those fragments of memory, and lowered his head to continue reviewing memorials. The deceased are gone…

Those who are alive must continue to live.

When these two imperial edicts were sent out of the palace, all the words that were meant to persuade His Majesty to stop there were swallowed back.

In a particularly elegantly decorated courtyard, a person dressed in soft robes hugged a cozy hand warmer and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"Our Emperor is truly a man destined for great things."

Isn't he the kind of person who's destined for great things? His son died, and he didn't even blink an eye. He wouldn't even allow him to enter the imperial mausoleum, preferring to send him all the way back to his hometown for burial. He could also send his two concubines, who had been by his side for many years, to temples, supposedly to let them enjoy their old age. But wasn't that just a disguised form of house arrest?

It must be said that Emperor Jingtai's move completely silenced all those who were still unwilling to give up.

"Tell your subordinates to behave themselves. Don't make a scene in the coming days."

"But sir, what about our businesses..."

"Ok?"

"Yes, yes, I understand."

After his foolish subordinate left, the man pulled his cloak tighter and revealed a mocking expression.

The world is plagued by disasters and man-made calamities, and the northern and southern barbarians still lurk with predatory eyes. An emperor who seized the throne? Ha, Jing Changtai, I'd like to see how you plan to pass the dragon throne down after all this trouble. Your four foolish sons? Oh no, there are three now.

Just thinking about it makes him feel so comfortable. Hahaha...

(End of this chapter)