Isolated town in northern border region

"It's the third day..."

"It seems my uncle is unwilling to bow his head..."

On the third day, as night fell, Xiao Lie practiced his sword under the moon as usual. The blade sliced ​​through the night wind, revealing his murderous intent!

"Since you don't want to be dignified, then I, the king..."

Xiao Lie slashed horizontally with such ferocity that even the leaves on the trees a meter away were shaken by the wind from his blade.

Just then, Xu De rushed in in a panic.

"Your Highness! Great news! A truly joyous occasion!"

"The Emperor of Chu... the Emperor of Chu has issued an edict of self-reproach!"

The Chu Emperor's edict of self-reproach was hung outside the palace gates. Although it was already night, the curfew had not yet been imposed, and the news spread like wildfire...

In just half an hour, the entire main street of the palace was packed with people.

The writing on the white silk was hasty and heavy, with some strokes broken and intermittent due to dried blood, but every word was clear.

The death of the eldest prince Xiao Yu, and the ambush plotted by Bingzhou to kill the King of the Northern Frontier, were all written down in detail.

The rolled-up white silk fluttered gently in the morning breeze, like a surrender flag signifying submission.

A crowd gathered at the palace gate; those who could read read aloud, while those who couldn't stood by and listened.

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I, Xiao Mu, with my mediocre nature, have inherited the legacy of the late emperor and usurped the throne for ten years.

When he first ascended the throne, mindful of the late emperor's achievements and the weight of the nation's fate, he wept blood before the late emperor's spirit and swore an oath: when the late emperor's eldest son comes of age, he will return power to Lie.

However, as time went by and power eroded my resolve, I gradually lost my original heart, forgot my vows, and strayed from the right path, ultimately leading to today's disaster.

My first sin: My eldest son, Xiao Yu, was intelligent from a young age, and I should have loved and cherished him.

However, since I ascended the throne, I have only known the art of power and have not understood the affection between father and son.

I gave him poison and ordered him to poison the King of the Northern Frontier as a drug to deceive him.

Yu'er had her doubts and refused to comply, ultimately drinking the poison and dying.

…………

My second crime: Xiao Lie, the Prince of the Northern Frontier, was the eldest son of the late Emperor. He restored the five prefectures of the Northern Frontier, stabilized the three prefectures of Qing, Yong and Bing, and was the support of all the people and a blessing to the nation.

However, I feared his great achievements and powerful influence, so I set up an ambush at Langgu Mountain in Bingzhou, intending to kill him in order to preserve my power.

The King of the Northern Frontier fought the secret guards alone with his own flesh and blood, and was poisoned to the point of almost losing his life. Instead of showing him any compassion, I wanted to use this to cover up the truth and deceive the world.

…………

I now know my crime, and I know it is unforgivable.

However, Heaven and Earth will not allow me to deceive them, and history will not permit me to escape.

Therefore, this edict was written in blood and hung on the palace gate to proclaim it to the world, so that everyone in the world would know...

I, Xiao Mu, have failed the late emperor, failed the nation, and failed the people.

I am unworthy to be a ruler, unworthy to be a father, and unworthy to be the brother of the late emperor.

…………

An elderly man with white hair stood at the front of the crowd. After hearing those words, he showed no anger or tears, but simply said something softly.

"When the late emperor was alive, the world was not like this."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Those around him watched his retreating figure, shaking their heads and sighing.

The news seeped into every crack in the brickwork of the capital city like water.

The next morning, people were already talking about it on the streets of Kyoto.

"Even tigers don't eat their cubs, yet he drove his own son to his death."

"The King of the Northern Frontier recovered the Northern Frontier, stabilized Qingyong and the three states, and protected half of the country for the Great Chu. Yet he actually wants to kill him."

"How come the King of the Northern Frontier is still alive?"

Someone responded.

"That's because the prince is incredibly lucky!"

"We've managed to conquer the northern frontier and brought order to the three prefectures of Qing, Yong, and Bing. Now that we're back, it's time to settle accounts."

Someone smashed a cup in the teahouse, someone slammed their fist on the table and cursed at the entrance of the tavern, and someone stood silently on the street listening to those sounds before turning around and going home.

The people were outraged, and Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu's reputation was getting worse and worse. Jiang Min keenly sensed an opportunity!

Jiang Min wrote a proclamation in the study of the post station.

She didn't write much; her pen moved swiftly across the paper, like a sharpened knife.

She listed out the crimes of the Chu Emperor one by one!

Suspected of poisoning the late emperor, the fact that he forced his own son to death, and plotting to harm meritorious officials!

His brushstrokes were as sharp as a knife cutting through wood, showing no mercy.

She did not sign her name, but secretly sent people to scatter the copied pages throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

That very night, people in teahouses and taverns began reading the proclamation aloud.

After someone finished reading, they slammed their hand on the table.

"Who wrote this? That's satisfying!"

"His writing is phenomenal! He's definitely not an ordinary person!"

The person next to him lowered their voice.

Don't ask!

"Who else could possess such literary talent and suddenly appear in Kyoto...?"

"Besides, what good would it do to know who wrote it?"

"Anyway, that makes sense, and they weren't lying!"

The winds of change in the imperial court shifted faster than a waterwheel.

The next morning at court, Xiao Lie, wearing a sword and shoes, entered the hall and stood before the assembled officials.

The Chu Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen, like that of a zombie.

The second prince, Xiao Zhang, was the first to step forward. His voice was loud and clear, and his words were beautiful. He recited Xiao Lie's achievements from beginning to end, and concluded with the sentence, "I beg Your Majesty to abdicate for the sake of the country and the people."

His voice echoed in the empty hall, as if he were speaking for all the civil and military officials in the hall, saying what they wanted to say but dared not say.

Following closely behind, officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of War stepped forward to second the motion.

Memorials piled up on the emperor's desk. Some were worded tactfully, some were blunt, and some had already drafted the edict of accession for Xiao Lie.

All the officials in the hall had their eyes on the person on the dragon throne, waiting for him to give up his position and create more opportunities.

The Chu Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen, showing neither anger nor sorrow. His gaze was slightly lowered, as if he were watching a game of chess that had nothing to do with him.

His voice was flat, even carrying a hint of deliberate subservience.

"King of the Northern Frontier, my edict of self-reproach has been proclaimed to the world."

"I have repaid the debt owed by the First Prince."

"you……"

His gaze fell on Xiao Lie.

Are you satisfied?

Xiao Lie looked into his eyes.

There was no anger, no shame, no relief in those eyes, only a repressed madness!

It's like a gambler cornered, staking out everything and waiting for the last card to be revealed, and then going into a frenzy.

It's too quiet...

The Chu Emperor is too quiet!

Knowing full well that he is destined to be infamous for eternity, he can still remain so quiet...

It's a trap!

Xiao Lie did not answer his question.

He glanced around the hall at the civil and military officials. Those faces that had just been scrambling to take sides were now all bowing their heads, none daring to meet his gaze.

"snort!"

"So, it seems this website is now in charge of the Great Chu?"

Xiao Lie's tone was very light, as if he were joking with an old friend.

The Chu Emperor nodded repeatedly.

"certainly!"

"Although the formal abdication has not yet taken place, it doesn't matter."

"Lie'er has rendered great service and is wise and brave; he should surely build our Great Chu into the most prosperous and powerful nation in the world!"

"I'm old and useless..."

"To see Lie'er so young and accomplished, this life has not been in vain!"