The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 270 The Road to the Throne: One Step to Heaven, One Step to Hell

A thousand cups of wine are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend!
Although the three brothers had different thoughts and could not be considered close friends, they were still brothers after all, especially since their dispute had just been resolved.

So this drinking session lasted for more than an hour!

Shen Ye was a little drunk.

The eldest prince had a good capacity for alcohol, but he couldn't resist his fourth brother's insistence on making him drink. After a few cups, he was a little dizzy.

The fourth prince himself was also quite drunk—he was unhappy but had nowhere to vent, so he dragged the eldest prince into a drinking contest. As a result, the eldest prince did indeed pass out, and the fourth prince himself was also swaying unsteadily.

However, after a few rounds of drinks, the grudges between the brothers seemed to have really been resolved.

The fourth prince finally received the crown prince's decree and could go to the Infantry Commander's office to pick up Mr. Wu.

Of course, even though he accepted the blows, he still had to be beaten twenty times without fail. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince was allowed to watch over him from the side.

That way, there's no need to worry about hurting the precious Mr. Wu.

The fourth prince could still accept this outcome.

After he left Yuqing Palace, he went straight outside the palace.

The eldest prince went straight back to his residence, while Shen Ye simply lay down in the study of Yuqing Palace.

Although Shen Ye has not yet received any specific news from Mr. Wu, he believes that his boss, who is decisive and efficient, will not delay anything.

In any case, he had already completed the task that Emperor Qianxi had entrusted to him.

As for what happens next, that's not his concern.

Was Wu Sidao a little pitiful? Shen Ye didn't care at all.

Since he has gotten involved in this struggle for the throne, he must be prepared to be attacked at any time.

After all, participating in the struggle for the throne is a matter of life and death!

While Shen Ye was fast asleep, the Fourth Prince had already arrived at the Infantry Commander's Office.

When the officers of the Infantry Commander's Office saw it was him, they dared not be negligent and quickly ran over to pay their respects.

The fourth prince was still slightly intoxicated, but he managed to control himself very well.

He asked the approaching commander, "Where is Narch?"

"Reporting to the Fourth Prince, Narkh has finished his shift!" the commander replied respectfully.

Upon hearing that Narch had slipped away, the Fourth Prince took a deep breath. He had another purpose in coming here: to reprimand Narch.

He couldn't lay a hand on Narch; he had to consider the Crown Prince's feelings.

However, he felt that giving him a good scolding was more than enough.

But unexpectedly, Narch actually hid!
It's really hateful!

However, revenge is a dish best served cold. Since Narch dared to offend me, he should pay the price for it.

I will make him wish he were dead!
Suppressing his anger, the fourth prince asked coldly, "Where is Mr. Wu, whom Narch arrested from the Ministry of Revenue today?"

"The Crown Prince has already issued an edict to give him twenty strokes of the cane and then send him back to his hometown."

"Go and do it now."

The commander-in-chief cursed his bad luck, wondering why such a thing had happened to him.

No wonder the commander didn't come to the yamen today, and none of the other bigwigs who should have been there were present either.

It turns out that all these important figures have gone into hiding!

I can't avoid it myself, so I have to take the fall here.

He could only force a smile and say, "This servant will send someone to invite him right away!"

Although Mr. Wu is a criminal, since he is a distinguished guest of the Fourth Prince, it is not unreasonable to say "please".

The fourth prince looked at the respectful commander and nodded slightly.

A few minutes later, the messenger rushed in, flustered: "Lord He, something terrible has happened!"

The commander-in-chief and Fu Zheng chatted enthusiastically with the fourth prince. Although he came from a noble family and had no close relationship with the fourth prince, he still understood social etiquette. The two of them felt like they had known each other for a long time.

Abruptly interrupted, He Fu's expression hardened: "What's the matter that you're so flustered? Speak slowly! Didn't you see the Fourth Prince is here?"

The fourth prince stood up abruptly from his seat, the effects of the alcohol instantly vanishing.

His heart tightened—something must have happened, and it was probably related to Wu Sidao!

"What happened to Mr. Wu?!"

The constable stammered, "Mr. Wu... Mr. Wu got into a fight with a fellow prisoner and has been beaten so badly... he's barely clinging to life!"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's eyes instantly turned red. Forgetting all about his composure, he hurriedly said, "Quick, take me there to see!"

Seeing the Fourth Prince's murderous look, He Fu dared not say a word.

In the past, he might have dared to offer some advice, but now, he is truly afraid!

Judging from the Fourth Prince's posture, it looks like a fight could break out at any moment!

If you anger this person, then...

He immediately yelled at the constable, "Lead the way now!"

In just a few minutes, the fourth prince had rushed into a clean room outside the prison.

Wu Sidao was still wearing the clothes he had worn when he left the Ministry of Revenue, but he looked disheveled.

Not only were his clothes tattered, but his face was also bruised and swollen, and there were streaks of blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, making him look incredibly creepy.

Even his eyes were unfocused!

At this moment, someone was trying to feed Wu Sidao water, but they couldn't get it down his throat at all!

"Mr. Wu, Mr. Wu!" The Fourth Prince's voice trembled. To the Fourth Prince, this Mr. Wu was his most capable assistant, and now, such a good assistant had come to such an end, which made him extremely sad.

Faced with the Fourth Prince's anxious calls, Wu Sidao, who seemed to be on the verge of death, actually managed to open his eyes with difficulty.

He glanced around twice, his gaze slowly focusing on the Fourth Prince's face.

"Your Highness, you're...you're too late!"

Upon hearing this, the fourth prince's eyes turned red.

He roared angrily, "Who did this? I'll kill him! I'll kill him no matter what!"

He Fu and the others were so frightened that they retreated repeatedly, even though they knew very well that they hadn't done it.

However, this matter ultimately originated from their Infantry Commander's Office.

If the Fourth Prince insists on pursuing this matter, no one will be able to escape responsibility.

"Fourth Prince, this...this is..."

Wu Sidao's breathing grew weaker and weaker, and the Fourth Prince quickly put his ear close to Wu Sidao's ear, barely managing to hear his voice.

"This is... the price of participating in the struggle for the throne!"

"I...I was assassinated."

"Those who harmed me... Although the eldest prince was among them, he... he was merely a tool used by others... a tool to be used."

"You...you should just let go!"

After saying this, Wu Sidao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, then his head lolled to the side and he fell silent.

At this moment, the fourth prince's eyes were bloodshot, and he felt a chill all over his body.

He believed that what Wu Sidao said was true.

After all, Wu Sidao was a smart man.

And now, this is a lesson he learned at the cost of his life!

But should I let go?

This is easy to say, but really hard to do!

There's no turning back once the arrow is released; he's already come this far, how can he give up halfway!
Once he chooses to give up, not only will all his previous efforts be in vain, but he himself will also become meat on someone else's chopping board, at their mercy.

No matter how you try to control it, it's still up to them.

For this reason alone, he cannot easily give up!

Wu Sidao's death angered him, but he felt helpless.

This anger, this helplessness, stirred within him a sense of brutality, resentment, and powerlessness...

"He Fu, my men have died in your Infantry Commander's office!"

"Tell your commander that if he doesn't give me an explanation, I will never let him live under the same sky!"

After saying this, the Fourth Prince turned to his attendant Su Peisheng and said, "Let's go, collect Mr. Wu's remains, and come with me to meet the Emperor."

Looking at the Fourth Prince, whose eyes were red, He Fu knelt on the ground, feeling his legs trembling.

After all, this was the emperor's fourth son, a prince who was known for his strictness.

When he uttered such irreconcilable words, even a Grand Secretary would tremble with fear.

Fortunately, it wasn't about himself!

"Fourth Master, I will report this matter to the Commander immediately. Please wait for me. I believe the Commander will give you an explanation."

He Fu knelt on the ground and said, trembling.

However, the Fourth Prince didn't care about any of that. He kicked He Fu and walked straight out of the Infantry Commander's Office.

The already chilly autumn wind quickly blew onto the fourth prince's face.

His furious mood gradually calmed down.

The words Wu Sidao spoke on his deathbed echoed repeatedly in his mind.

Wu Sidao was murdered through a plot, and in Wu Sidao's eyes, the eldest prince was merely the one who carried out the plan.

Who then used the Crown Prince's sword?
Who knew Wu Sidao's position in their lives?

And who arranged this matter so flawlessly?

Your Majesty?
His Majesty, who seems to have known about Wu Sidao for some time, does indeed have the possibility of taking action against him.

But if His Majesty is going to take action, does he really need the eldest prince as a weapon?
If it's not the Emperor, is it the third prince? The eighth prince? The fifth prince? Or... the Crown Prince?
Thinking of the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince felt a chill in his heart—could it be that the Crown Prince found out about his report on the Suo'etu family's theft of ginseng?
Is the Crown Prince going to silence Wu Sidao?

The thought sent chills down his spine.

However, upon further reflection, it seemed unlikely—the Crown Prince probably didn't know of Wu Sidao's existence, and he had always disdained using others to do his dirty work; he preferred to handle his own affairs.

If it's not the crown prince, then who else could it be?
The fourth prince couldn't help but recall Wu Sidao's last words: "This is the price of participating in the struggle for the throne."

The struggle for the throne can lead to instant succession or instant damnation.

Wu Sidao died without ever knowing who had killed him. What about himself? Could he possibly evade all the open and hidden attacks?
The fourth prince felt a chill in his heart; he wasn't sure.

Outside the Qianqing Palace, the anxious Fourth Prince only received one sentence from Liang Jiugong: "It's better that he's dead."

Emperor Qianxi clearly did not intend to make a big fuss over a criminal.

The fourth prince was filled with resentment, yet there was nothing he could do.

The day after Wu Sidao died, Emperor Qianxi led Shen Ye and other princes and ministers to Rehe Palace, where he was to hold a grand meeting with the grassland tribes.

Of course, he also celebrated his birthday in Rehe!

(End of this chapter)