HLnovel Chapter 159 Keeping a Calm
Chapter 159 Keeping a Calm
Upon hearing this, the concubine trembled violently, like a startled rabbit, and hurriedly prostrated herself on the ground.
Her forehead struck the ground with a crisp sound, and she cried out repeatedly, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I had no such intention!"
His voice trembled with fear, as if a candle in the wind might be extinguished at any moment.
However, how could the emperor not know what she was thinking?
His deep eyes had already seen through everything, but at this moment, his disgust grew even stronger.
He hated anyone who dared to guess his thoughts, especially this woman in front of him, whose face was quite similar to that of the Empress Nan, which made him feel even more disgusted.
In this vast harem, which woman could completely escape the shadow of the Southern Empress?
They either have similar eyebrows and eyes or similar expressions, and more or less they all bear some traces of the Southern Empress.
Even so, the Emperor had no affection for Empress Nan whatsoever.
"Heh... I don't love her at all..." Emperor Tianyuan muttered to himself, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness and self-mockery.
Then, he suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the palace, sending chills down everyone's spine: "But I must make all the people of this world believe that I deeply love her! Only in this way can I become that affectionate and beloved emperor, revered by all! Hahahaha..."
At this moment, Emperor Tianyuan seemed to have fallen into a state of madness, and even the eunuchs and palace maids serving him could not help but tremble with fear.
They knew all too well that the consequences of this emperor's madness were unimaginable. In the past, whenever Emperor Tianyuan lost his composure and went mad in the Imperial Study, everyone on duty there the next day would be murdered without exception.
Therefore, everyone in the palace avoided serving in the Imperial Study like the plague, fearing that they might lose their lives if they were not careful.
Even the concubine who was kneeling and begging for mercy was terrified, her body trembling uncontrollably.
This magnificent palace, though seemingly resplendent, is in reality a terrifying prison that devours human lives.
She already regretted saying those things.
This statement, seemingly a way to save face for the emperor, actually challenges his authority. Why did she only realize these things now?
She's really lost her mind just because she's become a favored concubine!
At this moment, she was filled with remorse, and endless regret surged into her heart like a tide.
In truth, she knew very well that even if she hadn't said those words, she probably wouldn't have survived.
Because she had witnessed the emperor's terrifying appearance firsthand, how could such a ruthless monarch spare her life?
Looking back on her first time entering the palace, she felt it was a nightmare.
Looking back now, going to the palace was undoubtedly a huge mistake!
At this very moment, the Crown Prince had been kneeling beneath the imperial city for several hours, and the sun was gradually setting.
The Crown Prince clenched his fists tightly, thinking to himself, "Could this Imperial Uncle be deceiving me? I have already knelt down and begged for mercy, so why has Father not sent anyone to deliver a decree of pardon? How can I, the dignified Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, kneel here in front of everyone like this? Don't I care about my dignity at all?"
Meanwhile, in a nearby teahouse, General Nan had already disguised himself and quietly hid inside.
He took in everything that was happening before his eyes, without missing a single detail.
Seeing this, the trusted aide beside him asked anxiously, "General, so much time has passed, why is there still no movement from the palace? Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince is truly beyond saving? Alas, I should never have listened to the Regent's plan!"
However, General Nan remained silent in the face of his confidants' concerns and doubts.
In his opinion, Murong Qian's idea was brilliant!
Although the Crown Prince has suffered some physical pain, he firmly believes that the Emperor will eventually forgive the Crown Prince's sins.
After all, blood is thicker than water, and the bond between father and son is ultimately difficult to sever.
Even though there was no affection between the father and son, he knew very well that even if it was just to maintain the image of deep affection that he had painstakingly cultivated, he would never pursue the mistakes made by the crown prince!
For a monarch, what is the most crucial factor? Without a doubt, it is winning the hearts of the people!
For so many years, he has used any means necessary to win the hearts of the people, even going so far as to exploit his own sister for decades.
Even though his sister has passed away, he still refuses to let go and continues to use her reputation to achieve his goals!
How can we so painstakingly win the hearts of the people and give them up so easily?
At this moment, General Nan clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with grief and indignation.
From the moment his sister passed away, he secretly vowed to protect the only bloodline she left in the world.
However, reality is cruel and unforgiving. He had to admit that his abilities were really limited. Just as Murong Qian said: "Perhaps I can protect you for a while, but can I really ensure your safety for a lifetime?"
Faced with the current situation, General Nan felt extremely confused and bewildered.
He began to question his long-held belief—was the position of crown prince really that important?
This throne has driven people to madness, disregarding family ties and abandoning all moral principles...
At this moment, General Nan was not the only one deep in thought in this teahouse.
The person who offered advice and strategies to General Nan was also among them.
Murong Qian and his friend Sang Yu were in the side room next door.
Everything that happened downstairs was seen by Murong Qian without any omission.
"This emperor is truly astonishing! How can he be so patient? Things have already progressed to this point, yet he still refuses to forgive the crown prince!" Sang Yu said, taking a sip of her fragrant tea, her face revealing undisguised sarcasm.
The tea slid slowly down his throat, but it did not seem to calm his anger in the slightest.
“Hmph…” Murong Qian, who was sitting to the side, snorted coldly, then picked up the teacup in front of her, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.
After putting down his cup, he said with a cold smile, "If he hadn't let the situation continue to ferment and spread, thereby arousing public anger, how could he have appeared at just the right time to maintain his so-called image of a deeply affectionate emperor?"
"This method is truly ingenious!" Sang Yu slammed the cup in her hand heavily on the table.
"It's not just brilliant, it's also incredibly useful!" Murong Qian closed her eyes and recalled a few more past events.