flstandardbreds Chapter 139 Throne
Chapter 139 Throne
However, the princes never expected that the capital city had long become a cannibalistic trap.
The princes had barely stepped into the palace gates when a group of elite imperial guards suddenly appeared from all sides. Each of them was highly skilled, and amidst the flashing swords, the princes were like lambs to the slaughter, powerless to fight back, and were detained without any explanation.
Emperor Xia was never a soft-hearted person; his methods were always decisive and ruthless.
Before the princes who were arrested could even cry out for justice, they were dragged to the execution ground and beheaded in front of the entire court and the people of the capital. Their blood stained the streets and completely shocked everyone.
Inside the imperial study, candlelight flickered.
King Kang stood in the hall, looking at the figure in a bright yellow dragon robe behind the desk.
His heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm.
The Xia Emperor was much thinner than when they last met, his face was frighteningly pale, and even the hand holding the vermilion brush was trembling slightly.
His eyes revealed a chilling coldness as he slammed the vermilion brush on the table, his expression displeased.
"Your Majesty," Prince Kang bowed respectfully, his voice tinged with sarcasm, "what brings you here today?"
Emperor Xia raised his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at King Kang, and said in a cold voice, "You know the answer in your heart."
"Your Majesty, I am foolish," Prince Kang sneered. "I only know that my elder brothers have come to the capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, but I do not know why they all disappeared overnight..."
He paused, then said, "They all died suddenly."
The Emperor Xia's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Sudden death? Prince Kang, you certainly know how to talk."
He put down his vermilion brush and slowly stood up. "I want to ask you, they secretly colluded and plotted treason, shouldn't they die?"
King Kang's pupils constricted slightly.
He had long known that the princes were making moves in secret, but he never expected the Emperor of Xia to be so ruthless as to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
"And what about my brother?" King Kang looked directly at Emperor Xia. "Why was my brother left alone?"
“You are different from them,” the Xia Emperor sneered. “You are my own brother, born of the same father and mother.”
Emperor Xia walked to the window and looked at the palace walls in the distance.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the palace walls, turning them a golden-red hue; but when it fell on the face of the Xia emperor, it revealed a sickly flush.
A complex look flashed across the Emperor's eyes, and he suddenly said, "My days are numbered."
King Kang was startled.
"The imperial physician says he has at most six months left." Emperor Xia turned around and looked at Prince Kang with a complicated expression. "I know you've always felt that my throne was not obtained legitimately."
Prince Kang pursed his lips and remained silent. Before the late emperor passed away, he had intended to pass the throne to his more favored youngest son...
This matter has always been a thorn in his side.
Similarly, this matter remained a thorn in the side of Emperor Xia.
"But over the years, I have believed I have lived up to this position," the Xia Emperor continued. "The borders are stable, the people live in peace, and the national treasury is full..."
"So?" King Kang interrupted him, "Does Your Majesty intend to abdicate in favor of your younger brother?"
The Xia Emperor smiled, but that smile sent a chill down the spine of King Kang.
"No, you will die too."
King Kang suddenly took a step back, looking at Emperor Xia in disbelief.
"Why?" His voice trembled. "Since Your Majesty believes that I am qualified to inherit the throne, why..."
"It is precisely because you have this right that you must die." The Xia Emperor's gaze grew cold. "I have no heirs and have decided to pass the throne to Changning."
King Kang was struck dumb.
He then realized that the Xia Emperor spared him not to pass on the throne, but to... eliminate him completely.
"Your Majesty!" Prince Kang knelt on the ground. "Changning is my daughter. You pass the throne to her, yet you want to kill her father?"
"It is precisely because she is your daughter that you must die," the Emperor's voice was icy. "I cannot allow anyone to threaten her throne."
King Kang trembled and looked up at Emperor Xia.
That face, which bore a striking resemblance to his own, was now filled with unwavering resolve.
"Someone come here," the Xia Emperor called out.
The palace gates opened, and several top imperial guards filed in.
Prince Kang stood up, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Does Your Majesty truly intend to be so heartless?"
"For the sake of the Great Xia Dynasty, I have no choice but to do this." The Xia Emperor waved his hand. "Take him away."
As Prince Kang was being escorted out of the imperial study, he looked back one last time.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, the figure of the Xia emperor appeared particularly lonely.
He suddenly remembered a scene from many years ago when he and his brothers were playing in the Imperial Garden.
Back then, the Xia emperor would still call him "Second Brother" with a smile.
“Changning…” King Kang murmured to himself, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes.
His biggest worry was his daughter.
As night deepened, King Kang was imprisoned in the imperial prison.
He sat on the cold stone bed, reflecting on the events of the past few years.
Princess Changning's instructions, and the power secretly accumulating... everything will vanish with his death.
"Father!"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out. Prince Kang looked up abruptly and saw Princess Changning standing outside the prison gate, her eyes filled with tears.
"Changning?" Prince Kang stood up in disbelief. "How did you get here?"
"I begged my uncle, and he agreed to let me see you one last time," Changning said, her voice choked with emotion.
King Kang was heartbroken. He reached out to touch his daughter's face, but was stopped by the cold iron bars.
"Father, I'm so sorry..." Changning sobbed uncontrollably, "If it weren't for me..."
"No, this is not your fault." King Kang fought back tears. "Your father only hopes that you can be alright."
Changning shook her head: "I don't want the throne, I just want my father to live..."
“Silly child,” Prince Kang said with a wry smile, “This is your royal uncle’s decision; we have no choice.”
Changning gripped the iron bars tightly: "Father, I will definitely find a way to save you..."
"Don't do anything foolish," King Kang interrupted her. "Remember, you are the future emperor of Great Xia. You must prioritize the well-being of the nation."
Changning burst into tears, but couldn't utter a single word.
King Kang took out a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to Changning: "This is a birthday gift you gave to your father when you were a child. Now it is returned to its rightful owner."
Changning accepted the jade pendant and burst into tears.
"Go." King Kang turned around, unable to bear seeing his daughter crying any longer. "Remember your father's words, live well."
As the footsteps faded into the distance, King Kang leaned against the wall, tears finally streaming down his face.
He knew this would be the last time he and his daughter would see each other.
As night deepened, only King Kang remained in the imperial prison.
He gazed at the bright moon outside the iron bars, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was willing to die for his daughter Changning.
He only hoped that Changning could be safe and that he could become a good emperor.
King Kang slowly closed his eyes, his expression filled with sorrow.
He knew far more than the Xia Emperor had imagined.
The secret that Emperor Xia had been trying so hard to conceal for so many years was one that he had actually known all along.