The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 26

The emperor frowned, unsure why the sixth prince had come to the imperial study at this hour.

Seeing that the emperor did not immediately summon Xie Zhili in, the court astrologer spoke up at the right moment, “The sixth prince must have urgent business to come at this hour. It might be best to let him in.”

The emperor waved his hand, and only then did Eunuch Li go to invite Xie Zhili in.

To everyone’s surprise, after entering and paying his respects, Xie Zhili did not state his purpose outright. Instead, he glanced at the court astrologer, signaling something with his eyes.

The astrologer gave a slight nod, and visibly, Xie Zhili relaxed.

The emperor didn’t notice the astrologer’s subtle gesture but was puzzled by Xie Zhili’s immediate focus on the astrologer. “Did you come to the imperial study just to look at the court astrologer?”

Xie Zhili smiled, the picture of a dutiful son, and approached the emperor with reverence in his voice. “Of course not. I heard Your Majesty has been unwell recently and came to pay my respects.”

Did paying respects require coming to the imperial study late at night?

Clearly, it was a lie.

The emperor felt another headache coming on as he looked at him, his physical discomfort fueling his irritation. “Speak plainly if you have something to say. If not, get out!”

After the outburst, the emperor could clearly feel the pain in his head worsening, as if countless silver needles were stabbing into his skull.

Xie Zhili and the court astrologer exchanged a glance, they knew the drug was taking effect.

It was about time. After all, the emperor had been taking it for over half a year. Though the dosage had been kept small to avoid detection, it had been gradually increased in recent days.

“Your Majesty seems unwell. The more discomfort you feel, the more you should avoid agitation lest you collapse,” Xie Zhili said with a smile that held no hostility, though his next words carried an entirely different meaning. “After all, you haven’t yet written the abdication edict.”

“If you were to pass just like that, my ascension to the throne would lack legitimacy.”

Eunuch Li, witnessing the scene, quickly stepped forward. “Your Highness, such words are treasonous! How could you speak like this?”

Hearing his son openly demand succession, the emperor’s eyes widened in fury. He grabbed the remaining memorials on the desk and hurled them at Xie Zhili, who dodged effortlessly.

At this moment, the court astrologer also stood. Wiping a trace of blood from his forehead, he smiled faintly. “Your Highness, why waste your breath on a dying man?”

However…

He glanced at the blood on his hand, picked up the scattered memorials from the floor, and hurled them back with force.

Eunuch Li rushed to shield the emperor, but age and years of pampered authority had dulled his reflexes. He could only block some of the memorials, while many struck the emperor’s face and body, leaving bruises and faint streaks of blood on his forehead, temples, and cheeks.

Xie Zhili said nothing. The fact that he had orchestrated a coup and poisoned his father was proof enough that there was little familial affection between them.

The thought of this old man looming over him for over twenty years first neglecting his mother in favor of the so-called Virtuous Consort, and then, after her death, replacing her with the Noble Consort filled Xie Zhili with resentment.

His mother, the rightful empress, had been stripped of all authority in the rear palace, left to languish in her chambers in sorrow.

With these thoughts, Xie Zhili’s gaze toward the emperor grew increasingly hostile.

The emperor sensed the danger and immediately shouted, “Guards! Protect your sovereign!!!”

Eunuch Li also hurriedly joined in, “Protect the emperor! The Sixth Prince is attempting to usurp the throne! Guards!!! Imperial Guards! Imperial Guards!”

Seeing the two of them shouting so desperately, Xie Zhili and the Grand Preceptor made no move to stop them, merely watching quietly as if observing some pitiful clowns.

Yet no matter how loudly they yelled, there was no response from outside.

Realizing something was amiss, the emperor glared at Xie Zhili. “What have you done?!”

Xie Zhili shrugged, finding it somewhat amusing. “Father, surely you didn’t think I’d come unprepared?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the imperial seal on the emperor’s desk. He glanced at the Grand Preceptor, who nodded and stepped forward.

The emperor, too, realized what was happening and lunged for the seal. With the advantage of proximity, he easily snatched it first.

The Grand Preceptor moved to seize it, but the emperor knew that if the seal fell into their hands, his life would be forfeit. He clung to it desperately, all the while trying to reason with Xie Zhili. “Sixth Prince, if you desire the throne, I can name you Crown Prince immediately! Once I pass, the throne will still be yours!”

Even as he spoke, he endured the Grand Preceptor’s blows. Eunuch Li rushed forward, attempting to intervene.

The emperor’s headache grew worse, and his heart clenched as if scorched by flames. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead, but he persisted in his efforts to persuade Xie Zhili. “I know you’ve been misled by the Grand Preceptor! He seeks to kill me for the sake of his own son! But you, you are my child! Don’t you remember how good I was to you when you were young?!”

At the mention of his childhood, Xie Zhili recalled scenes of paternal warmth his father cradling him after he injured his leg, soothing him with gentle words. It had been a tender moment.

But as the harem expanded with more consorts, princes, and princesses, he was gradually forgotten, and his mother was cast aside.

Xie Zhili scoffed. “Father, do you take me for a fool?! If I spare you now, I’ll be the one dead tomorrow!”

Having committed such an act of treason, he knew that if the emperor walked out unscathed, he would be the first to pay the price.

“Guards! Remove my father and Eunuch Li!”

Unlike the emperor’s futile cries, Xie Zhili’s command was answered instantly. The commander of the Imperial Guards appeared with several soldiers.

Though he had braced himself for this, the emperor had still hoped the guards had been incapacitated rather than turned against him.

Never had he imagined the Imperial Guards would betray him.

Coldly, he demanded, “When did you pledge yourself to the Sixth Prince?!”

The commander, though remorseful, stood firm for the sake of his future and the Grand Preceptor’s favor. “I have merely chosen the path I believe to be right.”

Xie Zhili approached the emperor, producing a pre-written edict. He patted the emperor’s bruised face. “Father, you’ve grown old. It’s time to abdicate. Rest assured, I am not so ungrateful as to let you die so soon.”

He chuckled lightly. “You’ll simply need to remain bedridden for a few months.” Whether he lived or died after that was of no consequence.

The emperor, overwhelmed with rage, immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. Xie Zhili swiftly dodged the spray, his brows furrowing in slight disgust as he eyed the crimson stain on the ground. “Father, don’t get too worked up. You can’t die just yet. Wait until your son ascends the throne then it won’t be too late.”

As he spoke, he reached out to snatch the imperial seal tightly clutched in the emperor’s hand. But the moment his fingers brushed against it, a woman’s voice, clear and melodious like a mountain spring, rang out from behind him.

“So, the Sixth Prince is this confident?”

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