Chapter 42: The Ultimate Choice

Chapter 42: The Final Choice

A quarter past the hour of Chén.

The head of the Imperial Guards rushed into the grand hall, drenched in sweat and visibly panicked. "Your Highness! East Gate's commanding officer, Xu Fangshi, has opened the city gates, allowing the Southern Camp rebels to enter. He's led the East Gate garrison to defect to the enemy. They're fighting their way into the city and are now heading this way, towards the palace!"

Liang Zhen turned his head and glanced at Zhu Yunxuan, who sat calmly on a couch playing chess with crossed legs. After a pause, he asked softly, "What's the situation outside?"

"The streets are swarming with rebels clashing with the Imperial Guards. They claim... that Deputy Commander Zhou has been captured by them."

"Is that so?" Liang Zhen's expression remained calm, even though just an hour ago, that same Deputy Commander Zhou had received orders from him to deal with the rebels outside the palace.

"Your Highness, what should we do now...?"

Hearing the faint cries of battle from outside, Liang Zhen was momentarily stunned. He gently shook his head. "It's up to you. Decide for yourself. If it becomes too much, open the palace gates."

"Your Highness!"

"Dismissed."

"Your Highness, do you intend to surrender so easily?!"

Liang Zhen didn't respond further. He waved his hand and turned around, walking toward Zhu Yunxuan.

The captain of the imperial guards clenched his fists but had no choice but to withdraw.

Liang Zhen also sat on the couch, picking up the black stones in front of him. "It's no fun for the Emperor to play alone. Let this minister accompany you."

Zhu Yunxuan lifted his gaze and glanced at him. He swept all the existing chess pieces off the board and started anew.

The two played silently, neither of them uttering a sound. In the tranquil palace hall, only the occasional tapping of chess pieces could be heard, as if time would stand still in this eternal game.

At the sixth hour of the day.

Gao An rushed into the hall, nearly incoherent from excitement. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Duke Ding and the others have arrived! They're almost at the Palace of Plentiful Rain!"

Zhu Yunxuan placed his final piece calmly, stating the fact. "I have won."

A slight curve formed at the corners of Liang Zhen's lips as he murmured softly, "Unfortunately, this minister has nothing left to lose to the Emperor."

The clashing of swords and footsteps grew closer. Zhu Yunxuan looked at him calmly, "This is the last time."

The palace gates swung wide open. The southern army, who had come to rescue the emperor, finally broke through the gates of Ganlin Palace. In a blink, they subdued all the remaining guards who were still putting up a fight. He Huailing captured the head guard and was the first to rush into the hall, followed by Jiang Sheng and Xu Fangshi, the commander of the Imperial Guards who had opened the city gates for them.

He Huailing's personal guards swarmed forward to apprehend Liang Zhen. The prince did not resist. "I am unarmed, Duke Ding. There is no need to worry."

He Huailing gave him a cold glance, stepped forward, and led everyone to kneel before Zhu Yunxuan. "We are late in saving Your Majesty. Please forgive us. Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"

"Everyone, rise."

Zhu Yunxuan sat up straight, observing Liang Zhen kneeling on the ground without any change in his expression or sign of panic. For a moment, his thoughts were jumbled, leaving him unsure of what to say.

Liang Zhen suddenly spoke, addressing Xu Fangshi, who was following He Huailing. "You were also promoted by me. Are you now working for Duke Ding?"

Xu Fangshi avoided his gaze and replied in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness has been kind to this officer. However, half a year ago, my wife and children returned to Jiangnan Province to visit relatives. On their way back, they passed through Yuzhou and both children contracted the plague... They were forcibly taken to the quarantine zone by Your Highness's men and died the next day, burned to ashes. My wife couldn't bear the blow and jumped into a well..."

"...So that's how it was."

He was indeed unaware of this incident. Amidst the chaos, perhaps his subordinates had been afraid of being held responsible and didn't report the tragic death of the officer's family to him. Xu Fangshi had never mentioned it since. Even if he had known earlier that his trusted subordinate's children had also been infected, he wouldn't have shown leniency or been able to save them. Xu Fangshi might have understood this, but it was only natural for him to feel resentment and choose betrayal.

Liang Zhen looked at Zhu Yunxuan, whose expression was dark and uncertain, and chuckled bitterly. "Your Majesty, it seems I truly brought this upon myself. I risked my life to go alone into the plague-stricken area, hoping to alleviate your worries, but instead, I've incurred people's hatred. My trusted aide has turned against me, joining forces with you to deal with me and attempt to end my life."

Xu Fangshi clenched his fists, his eyes reddening. Zhu Yunxuan furrowed his brow, unable to respond. Only He Huailing coldly refuted him, "King Zhao, you're mistaken. One who accepts the king's salary must be loyal to the king's duties. You have disregarded the law and defied the emperor; you deserve your punishment. Commander Xu is merely fulfilling his duty as a subject."

Liang Zhen scoffed and asked Zhu Yunxuan, "Your Majesty, am I truly that heinous?"

Zhu Yunxuan didn't answer, his gaze shifting as if it could overflow with emotion.

Liang Zhen stared unblinkingly at him. It was Zhu Yunxuan who meticulously plotted, sending secret orders out of the city to summon reinforcements to wipe out Liang Zhen's faction. Yet, just an hour ago, the person who silently shed tears in his embrace was also him. His emperor was so contradictory – clearly having already bet everything, yet still couldn't resist revealing his vulnerable side at the last moment, making it impossible for anyone to hate him.

Zhu Yunxuan issued a hoarse command, "Detain King Zhao and hold off on further interrogation for now."

"Your Majesty, I wish to speak with you alone."

After a moment of silence, Zhu Yunxuan instructed the others in the hall, "Please wait outside for now."

"Be cautious, Your Majesty," He Huailing warned, worriedly.

Zhu Yunxuan replied calmly, "It's alright. You may step back first."

He Huailing had no choice but to instruct his men to release Liang Zhen and lead them out of the hall. They didn't go far, instead waiting just outside the door, listening for any signs of trouble. If anything went wrong, they could rush in at a moment's notice.

The grand hall returned to silence. Liang Zhen simply sat on the ground, his expression devoid of any fear of impending death. There was even a faint, barely perceptible smile on his lips as he asked Zhu Yunxuan, "Your Majesty, is my crime truly punishable by death?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied, "…Since you already know, why ask again?"

"Does Your Majesty wish for my death?"

Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes fluttered slightly. "I have already given you a chance."

"You do not want me to die," Liang Zhen stated with certainty. "You cannot bear to part with me."

Zhu Yunxuan's gaze darkened. "Liang Zhen, you are too arrogant."

"If Your Majesty truly intended to kill me, then I would accept my fate. But since you cannot bear to see me die, I cannot die either. I would rather not witness Your Majesty suffer from regret after executing me today."

"Liang Zhen! Do you still have a choice now?!"

Liang Zhen let out a soft sigh. "Your Majesty, in the two years since your ascension to the throne, every action I have taken did have personal motives. However, I have always acted in your best interest, never once harboring intentions to harm you."

"I've told you, your arrogance is excessive..."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I admit my conceit. I believed I could control everything with my own power, but in truth, I can't even control those closest to me. You once said that I wouldn't give you what you desire. These past days, I've been pondering what it is you truly want. Today, I seem to have understood, but alas, Your Majesty, you won't grant me the chance, will you?"

Liang Zhen spoke earnestly, his eyes revealing undeniable disappointment. Zhu Yunxuan averted his gaze and replied coldly, "Why bother, Prince Zhao? As I said, you have no way out."

"In the past, I mentioned to Your Majesty that the late emperor gave me a secret edict before he passed away..."

Zhu Yunxuan's pupils constricted. "What do you mean by that?"

Liang Zhen smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, the late emperor's edict not only granted me noble status but also allowed me to depose the new emperor at any time..."

"You intend to threaten me?" Zhu Yunxuan seethed. "Do you believe that with a secret edict from the late emperor, you can now touch me? I could easily declare it a forgery. Now, you're merely a traitor to be hunted down. Who would support you, and who would dare to support you?!"

Liang Zhen continued smiling. "Your Majesty, this edict alone cannot shake your throne, but don't forget how you initially acquired it. Even though Eunuch Feng Sheng is no longer alive, there are other witnesses and evidence regarding the false edict. Even if I were to die, the truth would eventually come to light. Remember, Ninth Prince is still alive. Once the truth surfaces, the people's voices cannot be silenced. How many can you kill? Even if you manage to maintain your throne, an unjust path remains unjust. In this vast world, anyone can legitimately challenge you. You might never find peace in this life, and your name will forever bear the stigma of infamy after death."

"F-you! You...you..." Zhu Yunxuan was consumed by fury. "So you've had this backup plan all along, right from the beginning..."

Liang Zhen shook his head. "Your Majesty, when you didn't trust me, I naturally couldn't trust you. I had to keep something to protect myself. But now, whether or not I live is of little concern to me. Until today, I was prepared to die in order to accompany you through this final act. However, Your Majesty, you can't bear to part with me. If that's the case, I'd rather you despise me utterly than spend the rest of your life regretting killing me."

"I wish I could slay you this instant!"

Zhu Yunxuan's eyes blazed with fury. Liang Zhen sat up and spoke soothingly, "Your Majesty, there's no need for anger. I'll dispose of those pieces of evidence and return the secret imperial edict to you. I'll leave this place, leave Great Yan. If Your Majesty wishes never to see me again, I swear never to set foot in this land for the rest of my life. You can tell the world that I'm dead, and treat me as if I already am. This way, I won't pose any further threat to you, nor will I ever haunt you again. Since you won't have truly killed me, you won't be plagued by thoughts of me. Eventually, your lingering attachment will fade and be forgotten. Then, Your Majesty will truly become an unshakeable monarch."

"Do you think... I'll be grateful to you for this?!"

"I don't seek Your Majesty's gratitude. I only hope that... you'll spare the life of the child in your womb and raise him well. It doesn't matter if he never knows about me, his father."

Tears began streaming down Zhu Yunxuan's face. Liang Zhen fell silent, stood up, and gave him a deep, sorrowful look before turning and walking away, step by step.

Pushing open the grand hall's doors, he was met not just with blinding sunlight but also countless swords at his throat. Liang Zhen closed his eyes and accepted his fate calmly.