I've been bullied and humiliated for thirteen years; when I wake up, I'll be bloodthirsty.

Chapter 476 Even a cripple is enough

Zong Yujing burst into laughter as if he had heard a hilarious joke.

"Ah Que, you're still as funny as ever. Yes, that's right, we're all crazy? But what about you? You share the same blood as us, so how are you any better?"

Zong Yujing found it extremely amusing. The last time he saw Zong Que was when Yingzhou Port had just opened. At that time, Zong Que was on official business in Yingzhou and made a special detour to Yuzhou to see him. He was hiding in his mansion at that time, drowning his sorrows in alcohol all day long, neither human nor ghost, and completely unaware of what day it was.

He was still somewhat dazed as he looked at Zong Que, wondering how that little boy from years ago had grown so tall and handsome in the blink of an eye. He seemed to combine all the best qualities of Zong Lin and Yan Chengyue, resembling them yet not quite. It was difficult to describe who he resembled. He had heard people say that the Crown Prince had some of the demeanor of the former Crown Prince Chongwen, but anyone who had seen Crown Prince Chongwen would find it hard to connect the two when they saw Zong Que. Zong Que was Zong Que. And Crown Prince Chongwen, Zong Huai, had a more gentle and refined air.

Zong Yujing suddenly couldn't help but scrutinize Zong Que. "I heard you injured your legs and can't stand up anymore. Was it Zong Lin who did it? Hahahaha, I knew it, I knew it. He wouldn't even spare his own brother, so how could he spare his own son? He must both like and hate you. When you were little, he always held you in his arms and showed you off everywhere, but after showing you off, he would look at you and fall into deep thought. He must be very conflicted. He wants you to grow up according to his ideas, but he's also afraid that you'll become another version of himself. So he doesn't know who he really wants you to become—someone mediocre or someone outstanding. He must have thought about it a lot, but you've never grown up according to his wishes."

"No one in this world understands his thoughts better than me, Ah Que. Look, what's the difference between you and me?"

"So what if you do so well? You're still seen as a thorn in his side, and he'll get rid of you sooner or later."

"These past few years haven't been easy, have they? Hmm? Instead of trying to persuade me, you should advise yourself to think more positively and leave this troublesome place, Da Zhao, as far away as possible. Go by boat and never come back, just like Sister Jing. There aren't many women like her in this world. Your mother couldn't let go, and that's why she ended up like that. Xin Xin too, if only she could come with me..."

Zong Yujing seemed to be lost in memories once again. He stared blankly at the huge glazed wall and the faces behind it that resembled Rong Xin but were not Rong Xin.

How could he not know that it wasn't her?

But he was already almost forgetting what she looked like.

I only remember her clean and elegant appearance, like a pure white cloud in the sky, ethereal and beautiful, untouched by any dust.

After arriving in Yuzhou, he enjoyed lying on the deck of the ship for a while, drifting in the sea and watching the clouds. As he watched, it was as if he could see her face.

But day after day, he grew tired of the sea, tired of the light, tired of everything and everyone. He just wanted to hide away, alone with his increasingly faint memories, drifting in solitude.

Zong Que walked towards him and drew a thin sword from his cane, thrusting it into his body without hesitation.

At the same time, he flung the round bamboo he used as a sword sheath out, which swirled and scattered in the air, transforming into slender, sharp weapons resembling bamboo arrows, which pierced towards the black-clad man flying towards him.

Several men in black were hit by unsuspecting projectiles and fell to the ground.

As Zong Yujing's body veered slightly when the slender sword was thrust out from Zong Que's hand, he was stabbed in the abdomen. At the same time, he struck out with a palm, causing Zong Que to slide back a great distance while still holding the slender sword. Unable to support himself, he collapsed to his knees with a thud and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Zong Yujing, clutching his wounded abdomen, laughed loudly: "A-Que, look at yourself now, you're really pathetic. The once invincible Crown Prince, what are you now? I was no match for you before, but now with just a light slap, you can't even get up. Don't you feel sad?"

"A-Que, you know I like you the most. How about we join forces, kill Zong Lin, I'll become emperor in his place, and you'll still be the crown prince? What do you think?"

Zong Yujing seemed to think the idea was absolutely brilliant, even ignoring his abdominal injury. He covered the wound with one hand, turned around, and walked back to the dragon throne, stroking it with a look of ecstasy: "Look, isn't this position wonderful? Everyone wants to sit here, and you want to sit here too, don't you? Let's go together, let's get it together, isn't that great?"

Zong Que gripped his sword tightly, trying to get up, but he had already exhausted a lot of his strength and had just been struck by Zong Yujing's full-force palm strike, so he could hardly hold on.

Zong Yujing rested his arm on the dragon throne, tilting his head to admire Zong Que's disheveled state: "Why are you so stubborn? You are nothing but a cripple now. Zong Lin doesn't want you to live. He can't be at ease as long as you live. That's how he got rid of Rong Che. So even if you survive this time, he will definitely get rid of you. I'm different. I won't kill you. I can't bear to kill you."

Zong Que tried a few more times, but completely lost his footing and fell heavily to the ground.

Seeing his appearance, Zong Yujing laughed again, laughing so hard that his wounds ached: "Stop struggling, join forces with me, let's kill Zong Lin together and take the highest position in this world."

Zong Que lay on the ground, chuckled softly, then suddenly gripped his sword tightly. As he stood up, the tip of the sword scraped against the jade on the ground, creating a piercing sound.

Zong Yujing seemed completely unconcerned about his struggles, as if he was certain that the boy couldn't get up or walk to him.

But the next moment, his smile vanished. He looked down in disbelief at the thin sword that had pierced his body and Zong Que, who had flown to him like a ghost. His lips trembled. "How...how is this possible? Weren't you...already crippled?"

Zong Que gripped his sword tightly and thrust it forward forcefully: "Zong Ke told you, didn't he? He didn't lie to you. I'm crippled, but that's enough to kill you. A cripple is enough."

"No, no, you can't kill me, A-Que! I am your own uncle, I have the same blood as your father, and you are like a son to me. How can you kill me? Don't you know why Zong Lin didn't kill me? How could you kill me?" Zong Yujing murmured, still unable to believe that Zong Que would really kill him.

He thought Zong Que was just joking with him because he was angry.

Zong Que looked down into his eyes: "Didn't you say that I also have the same blood as you, so how could I be any better?"

“You’re right. That’s why they don’t dare kill you, but I do.”

"The fact that I listened to all that nonsense you said is the last bit of respect I can show you, Imperial Uncle."