Chapter 255: All Deserve Death!

Chapter 255: All Deserve Death!

Xiao Huai's suggestion of "a blood test for kinship" brought a sudden silence to the imperial study. Consort Min looked at him in astonishment, then turned to the emperor with tears and said, "Your Majesty, how could you possibly harm your sacred body!"

The emperor's expression was inscrutable; he was initially hesitant. After all, to verify whether his son was indeed his own through a blood test for kinship was an embarrassing matter. But Consort Min's panicked expression only strengthened his resolve.

He turned his gaze to Xiao Huai, who had, after all, been the one to suggest the blood test.

Receiving his look, Xiao Huai said, "Your Majesty, I read about this method in an ancient tome. The blood test can verify blood relations, but whether or not to proceed is for Your Majesty to decide."

The implication was clear: I'm just making a suggestion; the final decision is yours.

Having said this, he returned to his seat, picked up his cup, and began to drink his tea. The emperor squinted at him for a moment, then said, "Proceed with the test. Jiao Kangsheng, bring some water."

Jiao Kangsheng hurriedly complied, but as he had never witnessed a blood kinship test, he was unsure of the water to use and turned to ask Xiao Huai, "Duke Dingguo, this servant does not know what water should be used."

Xiao Huai set down his teacup and said casually, "Naturally, the cleanest water."

As he finished speaking, his gaze drifted outdoors. A heavy snowfall had occurred the day before, and though the area outside the imperial study had been cleaned thoroughly, the branches and roof ridges were still blanketed in white, looking exceptionally pure and sacred under the sunlight.

Following his gaze, Jiao Kangsheng said immediately, "This servant understands."

What water could be cleaner than the pristine snow water?

He quickly stepped outside, fetched a jade bowl, and then had someone set up a ladder for him. Climbing to the rooftop, he carefully gathered some snow into the jade bowl. The icy chill sent shivers down his spine.

He carefully carried the jade bowl down, then hurried back into the imperial study. But upon seeing the snow in the bowl, he felt perplexed; the snow needed to melt into water before it could be used!

He glanced at Xiao Huai again, but Xiao Huai was deep in thought, his eyes downcast. Not daring to disturb him, Jiao Kangsheng could only hold the jade bowl with snow close to his chest, watching as the snow slowly melted into water.

The process was lengthy, but everyone present seemed patient, waiting in silence. After a while, Xiao Huai stood up and bowed to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, it may be more impartial to summon the imperial physician."

The emperor remained silent for a moment after hearing his words, then said, "Summon the imperial physician."

Jiao Kangsheng hurriedly carried the bowl to the entrance of the Imperial Study and instructed a young eunuch to summon the imperial physician. He then returned to continue warming the snow water. Several charcoal basins were placed in the Imperial Study, maintaining a warm temperature, and with the addition of Jiao Kangsheng's body heat, the snow in the jade bowl slowly melted.

Just then, two imperial physicians arrived. Without any explanation from the emperor, they were directly ordered, "Check that water for any issues."

Though clueless about the situation, the imperial physicians needed no further hints upon seeing the Grand Tutor, Consort Min, and the Crown Prince all bound and kneeling in the Imperial Study — a clear sign of a serious affair.

Approaching Jiao Kangsheng, the physicians carefully examined the water in the jade bowl, even tasting a bit with their fingers. Apart from its chill, nothing was amiss.

Having completed their examination, the physicians bowed and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the water is untainted by any anomalies."

With a grunt of acknowledgment, the emperor took a needle and pricked his index finger, allowing a droplet of blood to seep out. Jiao Kangsheng quickly extended the bowl, capturing the drop of blood as it fell into the water.

Next was the Crown Prince's turn, but he shrank back, shaking his head in refusal. Seeing this, the emperor nearly confirmed his suspicions of betrayal, his anger erupting as he commanded loudly, "Guards, restrain him and draw his blood."

At his command, two guards entered, seizing the Crown Prince by each arm. As Jiao Kangsheng handed the jade bowl to one of the imperial physicians, they grabbed the prince's hand, ready to pierce it with the needle.

"Your Majesty," Consort Min pleaded, crawling a few steps to the emperor's desk, tears streaming down her face, "Please, you cannot do this. If the Crown Prince undergoes this blood test, his royal lineage will forever be questioned. How can he face anyone ever again, Your Majesty?"

"If he's proven to be my son, why would he be unable to face anyone?" replied the emperor, his face clouded with darkness.

Consort Min crawled to the emperor's feet, imploring, "Your Majesty, truly, you cannot test him... Your Majesty..."

As Consort Min continued to weep and beg at the emperor's feet, Jiao Kangsheng was at a loss. Everyone else in the room seemed to be waiting for the emperor to speak.

Xiao Huai, who had been sipping tea, appeared impatient with the chaotic scene. Placing his tea cup on the table with a crisp snap, he drew everyone's attention.

Then a young eunuch entered, approached Jiao Kangsheng and the imperial physicians, and offered to hold the bowl, bending down to speak to the physicians.

The physician handed the bowl to the young eunuch, who then extended it towards Jiao Kangsheng. Glancing at the emperor, who remained silent with a grim face, Jiao Kangsheng hesitated for a moment before grabbing the Crown Prince's hand and piercing it with the needle.

A drop of blood fell from the Crown Prince's finger into the bowl, and they watched as it slowly diffused, not mingling with the emperor's blood.

Jiao Kangsheng, the young eunuch, and the imperial physicians looked on in disbelief. Seeing their expressions, the emperor kicked Consort Min aside, stood up, and demanded, "Well?"

The young eunuch hurriedly brought the bowl to the emperor. Looking down, the emperor saw two distinct drops of blood, clearly separated in the water.

What more was there to understand?

"Death! They all deserve death!" In a rage, the emperor swept everything off his desk onto the floor, pointing at Consort Min and the Crown Prince, he decreed, "Death, remove them from my sight!"

Consort Min was in such a panic that she didn't know what to do. In fact, she wasn't even sure herself whose child the Crown Prince was.

The Crown Prince sat collapsed on the ground, utterly dumbfounded. Having lived for decades, he realized he was a child born out of wedlock. He had once been so confident that he would ascend to the throne.

"Jiang Xiuming has plotted treason; within his family of nine generations... execute them all!" The Emperor had lost all reason in this moment.

The Grand Tutor slumped to the ground; he had not expected that the affair of Consort Min years ago would implicate him now. The lives of his entire family were at stake. He was the sinner of the Jiang family.

"Your Majesty," the Imperial Censor Li knelt down and said, "Jiang Xiuming has committed heinous crimes and deserves to die. However, there is no precedent for executing nine generations. Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler; please reconsider!"

The Emperor's impulsive mind regained a trace of sanity. He angrily looked at Jiang Xiuming, the Crown Prince, and Consort Min who were all slumped on the ground, and took a deep breath, saying, "I am not a regicide. Kill the adult males in the Jiang family, castrate the underage males and make them eunuchs in the palace. Send all the females of the Jiang family to the music bureau."

"Rise, my loyal subject Li," said the Emperor to the Imperial Censor Li, then added, "Ministers Xiao and Li, you may leave for now."

Xiao Huai rose to his feet, bowed to the Emperor, and left the Imperial Study with the Imperial Censor Li.