I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

They secretly usurped the prince's position, while the court officials engaged in factional strife, embezzled money, and oppressed the people.

On the path to immortality, there must always be someone to serve as a stepping stone.

Since that's the case, let's make the common people suffer first.

After all, there is no ruler or father who is not good.

He looked down at the faintly visible Crimson Sky Sword Qi in his palm, and his smile grew even deeper.

Just as Zhu Houcong was deep in thought, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly came from outside the hall, abruptly interrupting his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jing requests an audience."

A glint flashed in Zhu Houcong's eyes, and the sinister look on his face instantly receded like a receding tide.

He straightened his clothes and a warm smile returned to his lips.

"Announce."

The palace doors slowly opened, and Xiao Jingyan strode in.

He knelt on one knee and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Get up quickly."

Zhu Houcong looked closely and suddenly revealed a look of shock and anger.

"Jingyan, what happened to your face?" He stood up abruptly, furious.

"How dare they! Whoever dares to harm my son, I will exterminate their entire family!"

Xiao Jingyan quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It was my own carelessness that caused this."

"Own?"

Zhu Houcong feigned shock and pointed at his cheek.

"You slapped yourself in the face?"

Xiao Jingyan's ears turned slightly red, and he quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, I have come here today to report an important matter."

Seeing this, Zhu Houcong shook his head, feigning helplessness.

He instructed the eunuch beside him, "Someone, bring some ice for Prince Jing to apply to his face."

After the eunuch left to carry out his orders, he said gently, "You child, you're always so impulsive."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Xiao Jingyan felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at Zhu Houcong's caring gaze.

He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I believe that it is too hasty to finalize the marriage agreement in the Fengtian Hall today?"

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but sneer inwardly after hearing this; it was indeed about this matter.

It must have been Princess Nihuang who told him something.

"Silly child!"

He suddenly sighed, got up and walked to Xiao Jingyan's side, personally straightening his collar.

"I did all this for you!"

"For your son?" Xiao Jingyan looked up in astonishment.

Zhu Houcong said earnestly, "You have been upright and incorruptible since childhood, and you have been leading troops in the field for many years."

"Although he has now been granted the title of a Five-Bead Prince, which of the key positions in the Six Ministries of the court isn't held by Jingxuan and Jinghuan?"

As he spoke, he stared intently at Xiao Jingyan.

"Tell me, you have no foothold in the court, how do you intend to establish yourself?"

"this......"

Xiao Jingyan's throat bobbed, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Houcong suddenly chuckled and patted him heavily on the shoulder with his broad palm.

The force was neither too light nor too heavy, yet it made Xiao Jingyan feel a heavy weight on his shoulders.

"As soon as I announce your marriage to Princess Nihuang to the public, you will immediately become the most sought-after and powerful prince in the court."

He squinted and waved his hand in front of Xiao Jingyan, as if he were painting a magnificent blueprint.

"When the time comes, people will naturally come to you for help. You only need to select those to recruit as your allies, and you will have no trouble establishing yourself in the court."

"Your subject wouldn't dare!"

Xiao Jingyan immediately knelt down, implying that taking him under his wing meant getting involved in factional strife.

Even if he really wanted to participate in the struggle for the throne, he wouldn't dare to show it in front of the emperor!

"Foolish!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly shouted angrily, his voice booming in the empty hall, startling the eunuchs standing outside.

But in an instant, he reverted to his patient and persuasive demeanor.

"Nowadays, the states under heaven are frequently at war with each other. What the next generation of the Great Liang needs is a wise ruler who is both learned and capable in both literature and military strategy."

"The Crown Prince is not up to the task; you should encourage him."

Chapter 22 Mei Changsu Spits Blood

The Crown Prince is not up to the task; you should encourage him!

These words struck Xiao Jingyan like a thunderbolt.

His pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and he even paused in breathing for a moment.

These words carry immense weight.

It was as if he carried the weight of the entire Liang Dynasty's two rivers and forty-nine prefectures on his shoulders.

If Zhu Houcong knew what Xiao Jingyan was thinking at that moment, he would probably laugh himself to death.

You think you're a weightlifting champion?!

Unfortunately, neither of them knew what the other was thinking.

At this moment, Xiao Jingyan felt a ringing in his ears and even experienced a brief moment of dizziness.

He never expected that his father would be so blunt.

This is clearly an implication... no, it's a direct statement.

The Crown Prince should be deposed and replaced with another prince.

"Father, Father Emperor..."

Xiao Jingyan's voice trembled; this was the first time he had used this title since the death of Prince Qi.

He felt a numbness on the tip of his tongue, and his entire facial muscles became unresponsive.

"Your subject... Your subject..."

Seeing that he was somewhat incoherent, Zhu Houcong said seriously, "Remember, I have high hopes for you."

"Your subject...will certainly not fail Your Majesty's grace!"

Xiao Jingyan knelt down on the ground and kowtowed heavily, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick.

"Um."

Zhu Houcong nodded in satisfaction and helped him up.

Suddenly, the tone shifted, and he teased, "That slap on your face, was it from Princess Nihuang?"

Seeing Xiao Jingyan stiffen, he smiled and shook his head, "This girl has a fiery temper. You need to train her more. As the dignified Prince Jing, she should show some manly spirit."

"My son understands."

Zhu Houcong's eyebrows immediately relaxed, revealing a fatherly smile.

"Jingyan, you've been back in the capital for some time now, haven't you gone to pay your respects to your mother yet?"

As he spoke, he gently patted Xiao Jingyan's shoulder, his tone filled with concern.

"Go quickly, your mother has been talking about you a lot these days, she must miss you terribly."

Upon hearing this, a hint of tenderness flashed in Xiao Jingyan's eyes.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject will now go to pay his respects to His Majesty. Your subject takes his leave."

Even after leaving the Fengtian Hall, Xiao Jingyan still felt unsteady on his feet.

The afternoon sun was so bright that he couldn't open his eyes.

In a daze, he saw his shadow stretched very long, extending all the way to the bluestone slabs outside the palace wall, like a winding dragon.

On the other side, the charcoal fire inside the snow hut was barely extinguished.

Mei Changsu staggered into the inner room, and as soon as his pale fingers touched the edge of the table, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The blood splattered on the snow-white Xuan paper was like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow, a shocking sight.

Then he swayed and fell to the ground.

"metropolitan!"

Li Gang's eyes were bloodshot, and he rushed forward to support the person.

Seeing that the person in his arms was breathing as weakly as a candle in the wind, he quickly took out a celadon medicine bottle from his bosom.

This was the life-saving medicine that Young Master Lin Chen had repeatedly instructed him to carry with him before his departure.

"Swallow it quickly."

Li Gang lifted Mei Changsu by the back of his neck and put the pill into his mouth.

Just as he was channeling his inner energy to prepare to transform the elixir and activate its effects, the door was suddenly blasted open by a strong gust of wind.

"Xiao Shu!"

Meng Zhi's towering figure burst in, and upon seeing the scene on the bed, his two tiger-like eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

"How is he?"

Li Gang said urgently, "Commander Meng, the Sect Master just took the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill prepared by Young Master Lin Chen, and I am about to use my true energy to enhance its effects."

"I'll do it!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Meng Zhi knelt on one knee before the bed.

He placed his right hand on Mei Changsu's chest, and a surge of powerful internal energy rose from his palm, seeping into the eight extraordinary meridians.

The force was precisely controlled, ensuring that it would not damage the delicate meridians while also helping the medicine to quickly circulate throughout the body.

As the internal energy circulated, the medicinal effects were quickly activated.

A trace of color finally returned to Mei Changsu's pale face.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he finally slowly opened his eyes.

"Brother Meng!"

His voice was so weak it almost disappeared into the air, yet he forced a smile onto his lips.

"Why are you here?"

The worry in Meng Zhihu's eyes was almost overflowing.

"I was worried about you, so I rushed over as soon as I finished my shift."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"It's alright."

Mei Changsu shook his head and tried to sit up, but Meng Zhi pressed him down.

"Don't move!"

Meng Zhi said with a worried expression, "Let's talk about it after you've recovered."