latelenovela Chapter 158 Bearing Thorns to Plead Guilty
Chapter 158 Bearing Thorns to Plead Guilty
As expected, the situation spiraled out of control and continued to escalate.
As noon approached, a shocking scene unfolded—the incomparably noble crown prince knelt on both knees, standing respectfully beneath the imperial city!
Immediately, the streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion. People were curious and speculated about what had happened that would cause the dignified crown prince to act so disregarding his dignity.
Finally, someone boldly stepped forward and asked the prince why he was kneeling there.
The crown prince, with a solemn expression, slowly began to list his three major crimes.
The first major crime was that he had betrayed the Emperor's trust in him.
Back then, Jing Sheng was imprisoned and eventually chose to commit suicide. However, the Crown Prince failed to bring down all his accomplices.
This is a dereliction of duty, which has greatly disappointed His Majesty.
The second major charge concerns filial piety and loyalty.
The late Empress has been gone for a long time, and as the only blood relative of the Emperor and the late Empress, and the future heir of Tianyuan Kingdom, the Crown Prince not only failed to share the Emperor's worries, but also caused the Emperor to work day and night and find it difficult to sleep.
Such behavior is a grave act of filial impiety and disloyalty, whether one is a son or a subject!
As for this third major charge, it is even more heartbreaking.
As the high and mighty Crown Prince, he should uphold the fairness and integrity of Tianyuan Kingdom, but now he allows those greedy and unscrupulous officials to run rampant in the world, which is a disgrace to the ancestors of the Yuan family!
After listing these three major crimes, the Crown Prince resolutely came to the capital city and bowed his head to confess his sins to the Emperor and the thousands of people of Tianyuan Kingdom.
This event was like a violent tornado, sweeping through the streets and alleys of Kyoto with lightning speed.
The topic of conversation among people during their leisure time was invariably the Crown Prince's astonishing act, with everyone speculating whether the Emperor would severely punish him.
Even more audacious, some casinos have been operating their own betting operations, offering stakes on how the emperor will deal with the crown prince.
Sang Yu is a man who always acts decisively and ruthlessly.
In a short period of time, even ordinary women and children on the street began to point and comment on the prince.
Inside the imperial study, all was silent, save for the heavy, hurried footsteps that echoed through the room.
He paced back and forth in the room, his face grim, his brows furrowed, and his expression full of anger.
Every step he took seemed to be filled with endless anger and disappointment, as if he were about to trample the gold bricks on the ground into holes.
The emperor never imagined that the usually obedient and highly regarded crown prince would commit such a treasonous act!
This was a blatant provocation against his authority and a complete loss of face for him.
He couldn't help but ask himself, where exactly did things go wrong?
Why raise a tiger only to cause trouble, and raise such a rebellious son?
Could it be that I was too lenient with everyone, which led to this situation today?
Thinking of this, the emperor's anger grew even stronger, as if a raging fire was burning in his heart, almost consuming the entire imperial study.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Immediately afterward, the emperor's personal eunuch rushed in, knelt down with a thud, and reported in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince is still kneeling outside! In the blazing sun, his body is already swaying precariously, but he still refuses to get up and leave!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor was slightly taken aback, then snorted coldly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Hmph! This unfilial son, he clearly brought this on himself! I'd like to see how long he can hold out!"
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and sat back on the dragon throne, his face still clouded with gloom, showing no sign of pity.
Throughout the entire Tianyuan Kingdom, who doesn't know the current emperor's deep and unforgettable affection for Empress Nan?
This affection is as warm and enduring as the spring sun, making it the envy of many.
However, at this critical moment, His Highness the Crown Prince, the only beloved son of the Empress and the Emperor, came to apologize, carrying thorns on his back.
Such actions are truly baffling, and naturally, they have sparked much discussion both in and out of the government.
Everyone knows that the Emperor has always placed high hopes on the Crown Prince, regarding him as the only heir to the throne.
But now that the Crown Prince has made such a grave mistake, does the Emperor really intend to cruelly remove him from the position of Crown Prince?
The Emperor recently heard from the Imperial Advisor that the mysterious elixir he had been diligently researching had yielded remarkable results.
After much deliberation, he finally gave this hot potato to the Crown Prince.
Regardless of the actual efficacy of this elixir, how could Emperor Tianyuan's short reign of a few decades possibly satisfy his boundless ambition?
Even without the aid of this miraculous elixir, the deal he made with the Dragon Lord was enough to support his grand ambition of dominating the human realm.
When the time is right, all that is needed is to sacrifice the prince's body to the Dragon Lord, and in return, he can obtain supreme magical power and ascend to the throne of the ruler of the human realm.
At that time, the world will be under his control, and no one will be able to stop his progress.
But just when things seemed to be going smoothly and without any waves, fate, like a mischievous child, suddenly threw out a huge variable!
This variable is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating huge waves and turning the originally stable and orderly situation into chaos.
Beside her, a graceful concubine was gently waving an exquisite fan in her hand, her beautiful eyes glancing at Emperor Tianyuan.
At this moment, Emperor Tianyuan's usually dignified and solemn face was now twisted beyond recognition, as if ten thousand disgusting flies had been stuffed into it, and his complexion was extremely ugly.
Upon seeing this, the concubine parted her lips slightly and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, although the Crown Prince's actions this time were indeed somewhat rash and impulsive, in the end, he was also acting with a sincere heart. If you punish him severely for this, it will probably chill the hearts of the people."
Her voice was melodious and graceful, like heavenly music, yet the profound meaning it contained was self-evident.
Upon hearing these words, the emperor's brows, which had been tightly furrowed, furrowed slightly.
How could he not understand the complex relationships involved behind this matter?
Given the current situation, it seems that we have no choice but to forgive the reckless crown prince today.
Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.
But with a cold glint in his eye, he turned his gaze to the concubine who had spoken earlier: "What? Even you think I should spare this rebellious son?"
He could forgive the crown prince, but he wouldn't allow others to guess his thoughts. He could back down for the sake of the people's hearts, but that didn't mean he had lost.