Chapter 319: Prince Duan Turns from Darkness

Chapter 319: Prince Duan Turns from Darkness

The news that the enlightened monk Master Xuanxi—whose wise eyes could see through all worldly deceptions—had been struck by lightning, reduced to a charred, unconscious state, his fate unknown, spread like wildfire across Wanxing County. Within half a day, it reached every corner of the county.

By the next half-day, wilder and wilder versions of the story emerged.

The most popular version claimed that Master Xuanxi was not a true monk but possessed by evil spirits, and divine lightning struck to cleanse evil.

Before being struck, Master Xuanxi had tirelessly preached the emperor’s benevolent governance. The more they had trusted him, the harder they now turned against him.

Even the emperor in the distant capital was tainted by Master Xuanxi’s disgrace.

The fury of betrayed followers was nothing to scoff at.

The capital.

The imperial palace.

In a rage, the emperor crumpled the secret missive and hurled it to the ground.

Master Xuanxi had been personally appointed by him as the state preceptor after his ascension. For such a man to be struck by lightning in broad daylight—did it not imply that the emperor himself was lacking virtue, inept, and rejected by Heaven?

*Mandated by Heaven, eternal prosperity.*

Yet what did he have?

Master Xuanxi had prophecied his imperial destiny of peerless nobility, destined to bring eternal peace and become an emperor for the ages.

He had already harbored ambitions to seize the throne, but with Master Xuanxi’s prophecy, his resolve had only hardened.

Burning with fury, the emperor flung everything off the desk with a furious swipe.

Inkstone.

Memorials.

Brush washer.

They crashed to the floor in a chaotic mess.

Palace servants inside and outside the hall fell to their knees, holding their breath.

Since ascending the throne, the emperor had been unusually controlled in his anger.

This was the first time he had exploded in rage—and without the slightest attempt to conceal it.

Prince Duan, who had come to report, waited outside the hall, head lowered, eyes gleaming with scorn.

His collaboration with Lu Mingchao had gone from awkward to effortless.

With Lu Mingchao in Wanxing County, she became his spy.

Truly, the wheel of karma had turned—Master Xuanxi, that so-called enlightened monk, had finally met his retribution.

A monk, yet dabbling in the tempests of power.

Master Xuanxi had made two prophecies.

The first: His father would surely become emperor.

Second, the Xie family was bound to rebel.

With Master Xuanxi's prophecy hanging over them, the Emperor dealt with the Xie family affairs with unprecedented firmness, showing no mercy.

Apart from Old Master Xie and Empress Dowager Xie, every member of the Xie family—young and old, masters and servants—was slaughtered, turning the estate into a bloodbath.

That heretic monk Master Xuanxi, who spread falsehoods to deceive the masses, should be put to death by anyone!

The Emperor must be furious.

Another loud crash of breaking objects erupted within the hall.

After a long silence.

The tightly shut doors of the grand hall were opened from within.

Prince Duan surveyed the wreckage—shattered porcelain scattered across the floor, ink splattered everywhere, complete disarray.

"His Highness Prince Duan, His Majesty summons you inside."

A pale, beardless eunuch with a bloodied forehead hurried over to Prince Duan and said respectfully.

Prince Duan subtly pushed a small vial toward him, then gestured to his forehead.

Immediately after, Prince Duan took a deep breath and marched into the hall. "Your son greets Father."

"May Father be well."

The Emperor, panting heavily, slumped in his chair, his furious glare, flushed cheeks, and twisted expression making him look monstrous.

"What are you here for?"

The Emperor’s voice was thick with malice.

To answer Father, your son impeaches Yongning Marquis for allowing his wife’s brother and nephews to lend money at exorbitant interest rates, causing immense suffering to the common people—families broken, lives destroyed."

"When the people protested, Yongning Marquis’s nephews slaughtered those unable to repay the loans, then falsely claimed military merits."

"Such atrocities defy both heaven’s principles and the law—unconscionably cruel."

"Your son humbly requests Father to convene the Three Courts to thoroughly investigate this matter and give justice to the suffering people."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly steadying his breath and clearing his throat, which was scratchy from his fury. "Is this true?"

"It is true," Prince Duan replied calmly and respectfully.

"While touring the provinces on Father’s behalf, your son encountered victims who sought me out, denouncing the crimes of Yongning Marquis’s relatives. Upon preliminary investigation, every word of their grievances was substantiated."

"Your son deemed this matter too grave to delay and thus came to report to Father."

"Father in his wisdom will see the truth."

"Killing innocents to claim merit?" The Emperor sneered, his killing intent fully exposed.

"The nerve!"

The Emperor gave Prince Duan a meaningful glance. "Fei Er has chosen quite the opportune moment."

In his furious rage, he thrust the Yongning Marquis forward.

Prince Duan remained as reverent as ever. "Father, as soon as I had gathered the evidence and drafted the memorial, I came to the palace without delay."

The Emperor looked down coldly from his lofty position, his gaze fixed on Xiao Fei. "Fei Er, do you wish to become the Crown Prince?"

Xiao Fei replied, "Your son would never dare."

"If Your Majesty wills it, I shall obey Your Majesty's decree."

"If Your Majesty does not grant it, I would never presume."

"All I have comes from Your Majesty—past, present, and future."

"Then, in Fei Er's opinion, what if I were to appoint Xiao Fu as Crown Prince and establish him in the Eastern Palace?" the Emperor pressed further.

"Whatever Your Majesty commands, I would never object," Xiao Fei declared firmly.

He knew his place all too well.

Though he carried the Xiao name, the blood of the Chu Clan flowed in his veins.

No matter whom the Emperor chose as Crown Prince, it could never be him.

Thus, free of delusions, he stayed calm.

"How clever you are," the Emperor remarked darkly.

"Would you truly never defy me?"

Hearing this, dread coiled in Xiao Fei’s gut, but he steeled himself and replied, "Yes."

The Emperor raised his hand and waved his sleeve. "All of you, withdraw."

The servants hurried out.

"Fei Er, I command you to go to Wanxing in Yicheng."

"Over these past three years, you have traveled extensively in my stead, seeing much of the world and accumulating vast knowledge of wonders and tales, always full of clever schemes."

"Go to Wanxing, and use whatever it takes to bring Master Xuanxi back to the capital with fanfare."

"Remember—with fanfare."

"As for the foolish and rebellious commoners of Wanxing who dare question imperial authority..."

Here, the Emperor paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Heaven’s wrath is pitiless, and human strength has its limits. It weighs heavily on me."

Since Lu Minghui's prophecy foretold that the people of Wanxing would be burned alive within the sealed city, it meant heaven had claimed them.

If heaven demanded their lives, he could not—and should not—spare them.

Prince Duan recoiled in horror, barely able to believe his ears.

Was his father truly willing to sacrifice an entire city's populace to vent his wrath?

"Father, please reconsider!" Prince Duan dropped to his knees, his plea raw with desperation.

According to Lu Mingchao's intelligence, the remaining citizens of Wanxing had been working tirelessly to reinforce embankments, dredge river channels, and do everything in their power to prepare for the impending storms and floods.

The people are struggling to survive, yet Father Emperor intends to destroy the lives of an entire county?

"You would have me reconsider?" The Emperor's expression grew increasingly dark and inscrutable.

"Does Fei Er truly believe that My dignity and reputation are worth less than the lives of those who defied authority?"

"Or were those earlier words of loyalty from Fei Er nothing but empty flattery?"

"First deceiving your sovereign, then defying his decree?"

"For your sake, We have given the Chu Clan a chance to survive."

Xiao Fei lowered his head, clenching his jaw so tightly it ached, his fists clenched in his sleeves.

The lives of those who defied authority?

He thought bitterly: His dear Father Emperor was threatening him—forcing him to choose between the people of Wanxing and the Chu Clan.

Truly, what a wonderful father he had!

Master Xuanxi had drawn Heaven's wrath upon himself.