Dream of the Red Chamber: After being exiled, I went on a killing spree in Liaodong.

Emperor Yuankang was reviewing memorials when he heard this and suddenly looked up, his gloomy expression vanishing instantly.

"Good! Good! Jia Yi is back. The weight on my heart has finally been lifted."

Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent a warning of the Mongol invasion of the south, he has been unable to sleep at night and could not find a place to rest.

Now that our pillar of support has returned, I can finally get a good night's sleep.

"Now that Jia Yi has returned—" he sneered, tapping his fingertips heavily on the dragon table, "then I should settle some old scores with the Emperor Emeritus."

Prince Zhongshun colluded with the Zhen family, secretly plotting a rebellion... If Jia Yi hadn't found irrefutable evidence during the raid on the family's property, he would still be kept in the dark!

His murderous intent had long been irrepressible.

However, due to the Mongol invasion, they had no choice but to endure and wait for the right opportunity.

Today—the time has come.

"Let Jia Yi go home and rest first."

Emperor Yuankang rose with a flick of his sleeve, clutching the correspondence tightly in his hand, his face ashen. "I must go see my father."

-

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is coming this way."

Dai Quan reported in a low voice, his tone heavy.

"I understand."

The retired emperor leaned back on the soft couch, rubbing his temples, utterly exhausted.

The intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived in time, and he knew his son was already aware of it.

I knew that this day was inevitable.

On one side is the country and its people, and on the other side are one's own flesh and blood.

King Chungshun was his grandson whom he had raised himself. It was easy for him to say harsh words, but actually to carry them out... was difficult.

But now that Jia Yi has returned with irrefutable evidence, how could Emperor Yuankang let this go?

Dai Quan stood with his head bowed at the corner of the hall, silently sighing in his heart:

King Zhongshun... is probably doomed.

Even if they manage to save their lives, they cannot escape being imprisoned for life.

Once the Emperor Emeritus passes away, his family will inevitably die in an "accident" sooner or later.

Footsteps approached from outside the door.

"Father!"

Emperor Yuankang strode in, his eyes piercing.

"My son, I am aware of the matter," the Emperor Emeritus spoke first, his voice weary yet pleading. "For the sake of what hasn't been accomplished and what hasn't caused disaster... spare his life. He is still young."

"Young?" Emperor Yuankang sneered. "He already has grandchildren, and Father still treats him like a child?"

"He colluded with foreign officials, conspired with treacherous officials, and plotted rebellion—such crimes would not have spared him, no matter which emperor he was!"

If Jia Yi hadn't investigated so thoroughly and seized so ruthlessly, who would have thought that even a prestigious family like the Zhen family would have been secretly dragged onto the pirate ship by him?

The retired emperor remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

If he were on the throne... he would probably have ordered the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan long ago.

But now, he can only watch helplessly as the storm approaches the boy who once fawned over him.

"Then... could you spare the life of Prince Zhongshun's family and simply demote them to commoners, confining them to the palace for life?"

"Please, don't hit me."

For the first time since he ascended the throne, the retired emperor asked for a favor—the first time he had lowered his proud head, his voice hoarse and his eyes almost pleading.

Emperor Yuankang was stunned.

How could my father speak to me in such a tone?

He looked at the old man before him, who had once been a powerful and influential figure, now hunched over, his hair white, and his eyes bloodshot. In that instant, his heart felt as if it had been struck a heavy blow.

That's it.

He was old after all, and couldn't bear the pain of losing his son.

King Chungshun... spare his life for now.

It's not too late to let his soul return to the underworld after Father Emperor passes away.

"Alright." Emperor Yuankang finally nodded, his voice low but clear.

"By the way, you can make the decision about rebuilding the Jiangnan Grand Camp yourself." The Emperor Emeritus waved his hand, his tone weary, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Yes, Father!" Emperor Yuankang's eyes lit up.

Just yesterday, an urgent report came from Jiangnan—the body of Jiedushi Sun Hai had been found, his head mutilated and hanging on a withered willow by the canal, pecked beyond recognition by crows.

Today, the Jiangnan Grand Camp is a disorganized army with no commanders; it is nothing but an empty shell.

Now, the retired emperor has personally handed this mess over to him.

On the surface, it's an entrustment of important responsibilities, but in reality, it's a complete delegation of power.

Even if it's just an empty shell, it's still the first step towards the iron cavalry of Jiangnan!

Just as he was about to leave, a palace attendant announced from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Consort Zhen has arrived."

Before Dai Quan could finish speaking, the Emperor Emeritus frowned deeply.

It's her again!

Ever since learning of the Zhen family's annihilation, this woman has gone mad, storming the palace daily, crying and making a scene, her hair disheveled, acting like a madwoman. If it weren't for their past relationship, he would have had her dragged out and beaten to death long ago!

"Father, I take my leave." Emperor Yuankang's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned and left with crisp, clean steps.

He couldn't be bothered with such sordid affairs of the imperial harem.

"Waaaaah—! Your Majesty, I am suffering so much!!"

A heart-wrenching cry tore through the air, and Consort Zhen appeared at the palace gate, dressed in plain white, her face as pale as paper, her eyes bloodshot.

Upon catching a glimpse of Emperor Yuankang's back, her pupils constricted sharply, and hatred surged in her eyes, almost spitting fire.

it's him!

It's all because of this Emperor Yuankang! He ruined my Zhen family, leaving not a single one alive!

One day... I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!

"Your Majesty—!" With a wail, she lunged at the Emperor Emeritus, clutching his dragon robe tightly, her fingernails almost tearing through the gold thread.

Emperor Yuankang didn't turn his head, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.

A disgraced imperial concubine is like a grasshopper in autumn; she won't last long.

"Xia Shouzhong." He stepped out of the palace gate, his voice as cold as frost. "Go to the Prince Zhongshun's residence to deliver the imperial decree."

The imperial edict in his hand had already been written; the jade seal and vermilion stamp were bright red and dazzling, each word like a knife, each sentence dripping with blood.

His face was filled with an undisguised smile, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The taste of revenge is sweet.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xia Shouzhong received the imperial edict, his hands trembling, almost choking with emotion.

Prince Zhongshun? The enemy who once stepped on his neck and mocked him as a "castrated dog"?

Today, it's finally my turn to come and smash the signboard!

……

At this moment, inside the Prince Zhongshun's residence.

Prince Zhongshun was embracing his son Chen Ze in a side hall, spitting as he cursed Jia Yi's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Ever since he was stripped of his manhood and became a laughingstock among eunuchs, he felt uncomfortable every day if he didn't curse Jia Yi a few times.

This is the only "fun" they have left now.

"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!" The head steward stumbled in, his face ashen.

"What's the panic!" King Chungshun kicked him. "I'm not dead yet, what are you wailing about!"

Since the destruction of the Zhen family, his temper has become increasingly volatile, and he kills people at the drop of a hat to vent his anger. In just over a month, more than ten corpses have been carried out of the mansion, and the blood has soaked through the blue bricks of the backyard.

"But... this time it's His Majesty's personal decree!" The steward knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.

"That damned emperor again?" Prince Zhongshun spat. "It's always either a reprimand or a lecture. How annoying!"

He cursed under his breath, but his heart skipped a beat.

Could it be... that the confinement period will be extended again?

"Quickly set up the incense table and receive the imperial decree!" he roared, leading his entire family to the main hall.

Xia Shouzhong stood before the steps, dressed in a python robe, a cold smile on his face. Behind him stood dozens of imperial guards in imposing armor, their swords gleaming in the sunlight.

King Chungshun's heart skipped a beat.

Something is wrong!

Why is this guy laughing like a vulture eyeing carrion?

And these Imperial Guards... Could it be...?

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—"