Quick Transmigration Hoarding: My Selfishness Leads to a Killing Frenzy

Chapter 413 The Emperor's Son 9

"Guards, drag the Third Prince away and behead him."

The third prince was shocked and exclaimed, "Father, why...?"

Qingmo sneered, "You hesitated for so long just now, your heart was already biased. I don't have a son like you who betrays my promises."

"Hmph, you can even abandon the woman you love. I'm afraid that one day you'll even want to kill me for this position?"

"Execute him. I don't need a coward like you."

Third Prince: "...?"

No, is that right?

The second brother chose a beautiful woman, and he was imprisoned.

He chose the throne, so he's going to be executed?

"Father, I refuse to submit..."

Qingmo waved his hand, and had someone drag him away.

Who cares if you submit or not? Even if the Heavenly King himself comes, she'll still chop him down without hesitation.

As for the second son? Consider him lucky; we'll decide whether to cut him off depending on our mood.

When news of the Third Prince's anger towards the Emperor and his execution reached the Eastern Palace, the strategist slapped himself hard across the face.

Why aren't you running? Why aren't you running?

I clearly had a bad feeling, and now look what's happened.

It's all over! It's all over! Years of planning have come to nothing in a single day. Fame and fortune are all just fleeting clouds.

Unlike the strategist's dejection, Wan Niang sat calmly in the room after hearing the news, without saying a word.

Then, as the guards rushed into the East Palace to arrest people, she suddenly drew her sword and committed suicide.

She left only one sentence: "Your Highness, it was Wan Niang who ruined you."

It wasn't that Wan Niang was truly willing to die for the Third Prince; she simply knew she couldn't escape.

The emperor killed even his own son, so how could he possibly let her go?

Rather than being imprisoned and subjected to torture, they still could not escape death.

It would be better to end it all myself; at least I could preserve my last shred of dignity and leave behind a beautiful story for her and the Third Prince.

It can be described as a poignant love story.

It might just move countless noble ladies in the capital to tears, who would sing praises of her boundless love.

All I can say is that she is a smart woman.

Unfortunately, he encountered Qingmo, who doesn't play by the rules.

We have many sons, even if they all die, we're not afraid, we still have fifteen princesses.

This world is really absurd, what kind of setting is this?

The original owner's sons are all great ladies' men; they probably think her blade isn't sharp enough.

With drums and gongs, we welcome the next 'victim'.

Bah! No, the next crown prince—the fourth prince.

Upon receiving the imperial edict establishing the heir apparent, the fourth prince felt his legs tremble and he could no longer smile.

Perhaps it's because he's not naturally inclined to smile.

"Your Highness, please accept the imperial decree. This is a testament to His Majesty's great favor upon you."

Jue Er, speaking in a high-pitched voice, looked at him with a half-smile.

"No, no, I don't want to." He took several steps back, his eyes filled with terror.

The fourth prince had no ambition to become the heir apparent; he only wanted to be a carefree prince.

His mother, Consort Xian, was also a woman who did not like to compete for favor; she only hoped that she and her son could live peacefully.

But now that the imperial decree has been issued, what should we do?

Jue Er raised an eyebrow, "Your Highness, are you perhaps defying the imperial decree?"

The fourth prince's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

He knelt down in a panic, his voice trembling: "Father...why did you choose me? Your son is truly unworthy of this great responsibility."

Jue Er's lips curled into a mocking smile. "How could you or I possibly fathom His Majesty's thoughts?"

"Your Highness, please accept the decree as soon as possible. Don't keep me waiting. I still have to go back and report to His Majesty."

The fourth prince closed his eyes in despair, lamenting his unfortunate fate.

This is no crown prince position; it's a deadly blade.

His three elder brothers serve as a cautionary tale.

Forced to accept the imperial decree, the fourth prince couldn't help but curse the third prince as a fool.

If I'm going to die, I'll die. How can I let him become the crown prince because of me?

I beg Heaven to judge who is loyal and who is treacherous! He really didn't want this! Help!

Consort Xian, who was worshipping Buddha in the Buddhist hall, received the news and hurriedly went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

She couldn't let her son get involved in this hot potato.

"Your Majesty, the virtuous concubine requests an audience."

"pass."

After the Consort Xian curtsied, she went straight to the point and earnestly said, "Your Majesty, my son has no desire to be the heir apparent. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."

Qingmo listened, and couldn't help but smile a few times.

Sorry, she really couldn't help herself.

Judging from Consort Xian's deep love for her son, it seems as if she could chop the fourth prince up at any moment.

That's really interesting.

He cleared his throat: "Ahem..."

"My mind is made up. Since ancient times, the eldest son has been the heir apparent. Now, the fourth prince's elder brother..."

"Cough cough, they're all so useless—it's his turn to take this position."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian was struck dumb.

What does that mean? Is her son next to die?!

No, that won't do at all.

Consort Xian's face turned deathly pale, and she suddenly knelt down, her voice choked with sobs:

"Your Majesty! The Fourth Prince is mediocre and truly unfit for such a great responsibility! If he makes a mistake in the future, wouldn't he be failing Your Majesty's expectations?"

Qingmo narrowed her eyes, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the dragon throne, a half-smile on her face: "Oh? Then, in my opinion, who should I appoint as the crown prince?"

Consort Xian froze, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

How could she dare to name names? That would only create enmity.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty was merely worried that the Fourth Prince was not up to the task, and had no intention of interfering in court affairs..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Qingmo snorted coldly: "Since my beloved concubine also thinks the fourth prince is unsuitable, then why not—"

Consort Xian's heart jumped into her throat.

"Why don't we let him try it out first?"

"If it really doesn't work out, I can always find someone else," Qingmo said lightly.

Consort Xian: "..."

Is this even worth a try? If it goes wrong, you could lose your life!

She wanted to say something more, but Qingmo waved her hand impatiently: "Alright, I'm tired, my beloved concubine, you may leave."

Consort Xian had no choice but to grit her teeth and take her leave. As she walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, her steps were unsteady and she almost fell.

Her personal maid quickly supported her and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, has His Majesty agreed to withdraw his decree?"

Consort Xian shook her head with a bitter smile, her eyes filled with despair: "I...I must quickly think of a way to get His Majesty to withdraw the decree."

Meanwhile, the fourth prince slumped in the main hall of the East Palace, staring at the imperial edict in his hand, on the verge of tears.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? Being named Crown Prince is an incredibly joyous occasion!"

The young eunuch beside him asked, puzzled.

The fourth prince gave him a long, sullen look: "A happy occasion? Ha... Go ask my three older brothers if they still think it's a happy occasion."

The young eunuch immediately fell silent.

The fourth prince sighed deeply and muttered to himself, "No, I can't just sit here and wait to die... I have to think of a way..."

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he stood up abruptly: "That's it! Pretend to be sick! As long as I'm sick enough, Father Emperor can't force a sickly son to be the Crown Prince, can he?"

Without hesitation, the fourth prince immediately ordered people to prepare cold water, intending to soak himself in it to make himself sick.

However, just as he took off his outer robe, Jue Er walked in with the imperial physician, all smiles.

"Your Highness, His Majesty was worried about your health, so he specially sent the imperial physician to examine your pulse."

The Fourth Prince: "..."

Qingmo listened to Jue Er's report in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and laughed so hard she almost fell over.

"Hahaha, that fourth son of mine actually tried to fake illness? He's still too green to mess with me."

Jue Er couldn't help but chuckle: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is terrified."

Qingmo wiped away the tears of laughter and waved her hand: "Issue the decree that, effective immediately, the Crown Prince will oversee the country, and all memorials will be sent to the Eastern Palace for review first."

Jue Er was taken aback: "Your Majesty, isn't this... a bit too hasty?"

Qingmo smiled and said, "In a hurry? I think he's just bored. Let's find him something to do so he won't be thinking nonsense all day."

Qingmo would never admit that she was a tyrant.

As long as the fourth son behaves himself, she doesn't necessarily want him to die.

When the fourth prince received the imperial edict, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

After examining the prince, the imperial physician reported tremblingly, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince... is truly ill."

Qingmo raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What illness?"

The imperial physician swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "He is too frightened and has a lot of emotional distress. He needs to rest for a while."

Qingmo couldn't help but laugh again: "Alright, then let him 'rest' properly."

"By imperial decree, during the Crown Prince's illness, the Fifth Prince shall temporarily assume the duties of regent."

Upon hearing this news, the fourth prince, who had just awakened, was immediately moved to tears.

"Fifth brother! I'm so sorry!"

But my brother has no regrets.