Chapter 5: Bloodstained Murder

“Haha…” Zhao Su let out an angry laugh.

He had never expected that a mere commander of the Imperial Guards would dare behave so insolently before him. “Just a fourth-rank dog, and you dare act up in front of me?”

The assembled civil and military officials all remained silent, as though the matter had nothing to do with them, content to watch the spectacle unfold. Most of them supported the Emperor’s intention to install another crown prince. If not for their persistent remonstrations, the Emperor today would not have been driven to coughing blood and falling unconscious.

Now, seeing that the prince who had always been considered foolish had apparently recovered from his illness, they were shocked. Still, they were willing to let Xiao Lin test whether the prince’s recovery was genuine or feigned.

A trace of anger appeared on Xiao Lin’s face. Though his rank was not high, as a personal guard responsible for the Emperor’s safety, everyone treated him with respect. Now, the prince had called him a dog in front of all the court officials—how could he not be furious?

“Your servant would never dare offend Your Highness, but it is my duty to protect His Majesty. I beg Your Highness not to make things difficult for me, or else…”

“Or else what? Do you mean to kill me, the Crown Prince?” Zhao Su mocked, paying Xiao Lin no heed.

Xiao Lin straightened his back, unafraid of the prince’s authority, and declared, “I would never dare harm Your Highness, but if you try to force your way into the palace, then I have no choice but to offend you.”

“I am here by imperial order. Out of my way,” Zhao Su’s anger blazed in his eyes, murderous intent swirling within.

Xiao Lin did not budge, raising his hand. “If Your Highness is here by imperial order, then show me the decree, and I will let you pass.”

“Eunuch Wang,” Zhao Su suppressed his fury and called out.

The eunuch who had followed behind hurried forward and said, “Commander, I have come by His Majesty’s verbal command to summon the Crown Prince into the palace.”

“Now that the command has been delivered, why do you still bar my way?” Zhao Su pressed.

But Xiao Lin remained unmoved, even responding, “I’m sorry, but you cannot enter.”

“You dare defy an imperial command?” Zhao Su’s gaze seemed to spit fire, as if he wished to tear Xiao Lin to pieces.

Yuchi Wei pointed his spear at Xiao Lin and shouted, “Impudent Xiao Lin, do you dare disobey the imperial command?”

“Ha… a verbal order from His Majesty?” Xiao Lin sneered, then suddenly his expression turned stern as he pointed at Eunuch Wang. “Who knows if he’s falsely delivering His Majesty’s words? I recognize only written decrees, not verbal orders.”

“You…” Yuchi Wei was beside himself with rage, wishing he could stab Xiao Lin then and there. “Eunuch Wang just came from the Hall of Heavenly Purity. All the officials saw him. Are you blind?”

“I’m afraid I truly didn’t see it,” Xiao Lin retorted mockingly, his eyes full of scorn.

“Come now, speak up! Did Eunuch Wang not just come from the Hall of Heavenly Purity?” the Duke of Wei demanded of the officials present.

The officials exchanged glances but remained silent, like wooden statues, coldly observing.

Yuchi Wei, exasperated, pointed at them and cursed, “A pack of treacherous villains! To share the court with you is an insult to me!”

“Men, seize this eunuch who dares falsely deliver the Emperor’s command!” Xiao Lin ordered, pointing at Eunuch Wang.

Several Imperial Guards stepped forward and pinned Eunuch Wang to the ground. Terrified, the eunuch wailed, insisting he was acting on the Emperor’s orders and not falsely conveying them.

Tension crackled in the air before the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who would yield first in this standoff.

Zhao Su’s stern eyes swept over the assembled officials. He understood now: none of them wanted him as crown prince; they sought to change the course entirely.

But that would not do.

If he had not crossed over to this world, so be it; but since he was now the crown prince, they could not hope to unseat him.

Gripping his long blade, he strode to stand face to face with Xiao Lin. “The Emperor’s verbal command has been delivered. I’ll ask you one last time: will you yield or not?”

Xiao Lin met him head-on, refusing to back down, his voice hoarse, “Without a written decree, no one—”

Before he could finish, he felt a coldness at his throat. Clutching his neck, he found hot blood spurting forth, soaking his hands and chest in an instant.

His strength ebbed rapidly, his eyes widening in disbelief. How could this once cowardly, foolish prince dare to strike him down?

His body grew heavy, his consciousness faded, and darkness claimed him. The once arrogant commander of the Imperial Guards, who moments before had shown no regard for the prince, now lay lifeless in a pool of blood.

In full view of the court, the prince had wordlessly cut down a fourth-rank military officer, leaving everyone in shock. Even the Grand Preceptor, Li Chengyun, was left gaping in disbelief at what had just transpired.

As for the Fourth Prince, Zhao Yu, his face was deathly pale with fear.

The Sixth Prince, on the other hand, looked surprised, a mocking smile playing at his lips. He thought to himself, “Elder brother, you are truly becoming more and more of an enigma.”

To kill the commander of the Imperial Guards before the gates of the Hall of Heavenly Purity, protector of the Emperor himself—this was tantamount to treason. Dozens of Imperial Guards immediately surrounded Zhao Su, Yuchi Wei, and the others, but none dared raise a hand against the prince.

After all, this was the crown prince, the Emperor’s own son. Without explicit orders, who would dare lay a finger on him?

Even Yuchi Wei was stunned. He had thought his grandson had merely recovered from illness; never had he imagined the boy would dare kill the commander of the Imperial Guards. Yet, after the shock, he was filled with boundless pride, barely restraining the urge to laugh out loud. “Daughter, do you see? Our Su’er has finally grown up. You can rest easy in heaven.”

When he saw the Imperial Guards surround the prince and his group, he shouted, “How dare you encircle His Highness the Crown Prince! Do you mean to commit treason?”

Zhao Su surveyed the crowd, his body spattered with fresh blood, exuding an aura of death that sent chills down every spine.

He addressed the Imperial Guards, “The commander defied imperial command and committed treason. I executed him according to the law. If you do not stand aside, you will meet the same fate.”

The guards glanced nervously at one another, then hurriedly parted to the sides, kneeling on one knee to show their submission.

“Grandfather, come with me to see Father,” Zhao Su said, turning to the old commander who had always protected him.

From his memories, he knew this was his maternal grandfather, who had always doted on and believed in him wholeheartedly.

Li Chengyun recovered from his shock and tried to step forward to rebuke him.

At that moment, Eunuch Li emerged from the Hall of Heavenly Purity and announced, “An imperial command from His Majesty!”

All the civil and military officials stood respectfully, bowing slightly toward the palace, listening intently.

Eunuch Li had just been inside, witnessing everything that had transpired. Not only had the crown prince recovered, but he had become so resolute—it stirred a tempest within the eunuch’s heart.

Having seen the prince kill the commander, he came forth to deliver the imperial decree. “By order of His Majesty: The Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Duke of Wei, and the three Grand Preceptors are summoned to audience.”

Everyone wondered in their hearts what the old Emperor intended, summoning so many to his presence at once.