Chapter 1796: Wang Chong Appears! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Buzz!

Li Ying's pupils constricted, and his heart quivered. He had always believed that he had kept the matter of Li Heng a secret, and there was no evidence pointing to him. Moreover, the Sage Emperor had never questioned him on the matter, much less criticized him.

But to Li Ying's surprise, the Sage Emperor's sharp insight had long ago seen through it.

”When you were seventeen, Wang Zhongsi was in command of Longxi and was at the very pinnacle of his career. You hoped to use his influence to firm up your own position, so you attempted to recruit him, but he refused. You developed a grudge, and in order to suppress his edge, you colluded with the Ü-Tsang Empire, sending them a secret message that revealed the situation in Longxi as well as the distribution of Wang Zhongsi's soldiers. This allowed the Tibetans to be ready, and so when Wang Zhongsi attempted to take Ü-Tsang's Stone Fortress, he was forced to turn back in frustration. Did you think you could hide this from Us?”

Bang! The First Prince staggered backward like he had been struck by a lightning bolt.

”Impossible!”

Li Ying opened his eyes wide as he fearfully stared at the Sage Emperor.

The incident from that time had been his greatest worry and fear. This crime alone was enough to lock him up in the Imperial Clan Court and strip him of his right of succession.

But to think that the Sage Emperor had known about it for so long…!

”This incident caused Wang Zhongsi to plunge from the pinnacle of his fame, but you were still not satisfied. You set up a feast in your residence and invited Wang Zhongsi. Exploiting his honest and frank personality and his relationship with Us, you claimed that We feared him, that his achievements had shaken the sovereign, and that he should know when to courageously back away. After that, you went to Us and requested that Wang Zhongsi be made your Crown Prince's Junior Guardian.

”Did We say anything wrong?” the Sage Emperor coldly said.

In the back, the kneeling Zhu Tong'en was already drenched in cold sweat. Although he was one of the First Prince's closest aides, the First Prince had not told them everything.

He had known that the Eastern Palace had some connection with the Ü-Tsang Empire, but he had not known when this alliance had begun.

And for the First Prince to have even sent intelligence to the Ü-Tsang Empire was an unforgivable crime!

”There was no firm evidence, so We did not question you at the time. We gave you one chance, two chances, three chances, and many more. Although you had so many problems, you were still Our eldest son. We poured a great deal of effort into you. Even if you had many faults, you were still one of Our most outstanding children.

”When you were nineteen, when Jiangnan was afflicted by flooding, you volunteered yourself and spent six months rectifying the problem.

”When you were twenty-two, the borders of Beiting were being raided. You volunteered yourself, saying that as a Prince, you should shoulder the same worries as the people and experience the suffering of the subjects on the border. You also said that you desired to study the style of Us and Taizong and sweep away the foreigners. We permitted you to go.

”You spent one year on the border, personally leading your soldiers in charges on the enemy. You pushed back multiple attacks from the Western Turkic Khaganate and did not let down Our expectations.

”For these reasons, We did not investigate your past wrongs, but similarly, We did not make you the Crown Prince.”

All was silent. Li Ying's eyes were wide, his teeth were clenched, and his body was constantly trembling.

”Impossible! Simply impossible!”

He had always believed that he was a wise and shrewd character who had managed to hide his schemes from everyone, even the Sage Emperor. Little had he expected that the Sage Emperor had known everything, even his greatest secrets.

”This was Our last chance to you, but in the end, you wasted it. You stripped yourself of the right to succeed the throne! We are very disappointed!” the Sage Emperor said.

”I don't believe it! I refuse!

”You must be deceiving me! There was no intent to make me Crown Prince, no last chance! This is all a trick!”

Li Ying's eyes were streaked with blood as he bellowed.

”You're wrong. The Sage Emperor never deceived you. You were simply deceiving yourself while trying to deceive others!” A voice came from within Taiji Palace, and then another person emerged from within.

”Who? Who is it?!”

Li Ying savagely turned on this newcomer, and a moment later, he saw a familiar figure coming from behind the Sage Emperor.

”Wang Chong!!”

Li Ying's face froze in disbelief.

And it wasn't just Li Ying. Zhu Tong'en and all the other Imperial Army soldiers were similarly stunned.

There were cries of alarm from all sides. Even the Dragon Guards didn't know what was going on.

The previous intelligence reports had said that Wang Chong was outside with Hou Junji, but he had appeared here, and he had emerged from Taiji Palace.

This was probably the one place in the Imperial Palace that Wang Chong was least likely to appear.

”It's you!”

But after his initial shock, Li Ying exploded in fury and hatred.

Everyone watched as Wang Chong confidently and slowly walked out from Taiji Palace.

Fire and smoke covered the Imperial Palace, and he could see corpses everywhere he looked. Wang Chong could not help but sorrowfully sigh at this sight.

Even though this was still a rather heavy price, it was much smaller than the price that had come with the rebellion in his memories.