Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Chapter 176: The Honest and Reliable Emperor! (1 / 2)

The old emperor also laughed—not a cold laugh, nor a mocking one, but a hearty, genuine laugh.

“Prince of Jibei…” the emperor roared with laughter, “It’s been so long since I’ve laughed this hard!”

The Jinyiwei loosened their grip on the Prince of Jibei’s mouth. After a moment of silence, the Prince erupted in rage. “Gao Jianyi! What are you laughing at!”

The old emperor: “Hahaha! You—someone with your intellect and military capabilities—actually thought you could rebel? Hahahaha!”

Truly, at this point, he wasn’t even angry about the rebellion anymore.

“When I first heard of this, I spent three whole days and nights wondering how you even summoned the courage to rebel. Hahahaha!”

“Gao Jianyi! A gentleman may die but must not be humiliated! Laugh again if you dare!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

The old emperor couldn’t hold it in and didn’t even try. He had no intention of sparing the Prince of Jibei’s pride.

The Prince of Jibei believed he was glaring coldly at the emperor. His tone turned icy. “Gao Jianyi, do you know what these past thirty years…”

“Pfft!”

“Gao Jianyi!”

“Hmm? Go on. I just couldn’t help but laugh at someone who spent thirty years plotting rebellion only to be defeated in less than a day.”

The Prince of Jibei: “…” He gritted his teeth, his expression twisting into something ferocious.

“Gao Jianyi, you tyrant, despot! Do you know how many officials defected to me over these thirty years?”

At this, a smug look crept onto his face.

The emperor spoke casually, “Are you referring to the Court of Judicial Review assessor who turned a blind eye to your excessive taxation and exploitation in your fief? Or the Sichuan Surveillance Commissioner you exchanged concubines with? Or perhaps…”

The Prince of Jibei was incredulous, “How do you know?!”

—These were officials who had previously avoided impeachment by Xu Yanmiao and Huang Yong.

The emperor pulled out a notebook, thick and slightly yellowed with age. He tapped it leisurely on the armrest and said with a faint smile, “It’s all recorded in the ledgers. Easy to look up.”

The Prince of Jibei widened his eyes. “Where did you get the ledger?”

“Oh, from your son’s residence.”

The Prince of Jibei’s expression became indescribable. He wanted to say something but hesitated, unwilling to speak openly in such a setting, biting down hard on his molars.

The emperor glanced at him and “kindly” filled in the blanks, “Foolish, isn’t it? I think so too. Any sensible person, sensing impending danger, would hide or destroy the real ledger in advance. But your son? Not him. He couldn’t bear to part with such leverage and tried to have the ledger sent back to Jibei. Naturally, my people intercepted it.”

The Prince of Jibei didn’t respond, but the rage burning within him was palpable. If his heir were in front of him right now, he’d probably slap him across the face.

The emperor observed his expression, his interest growing. “Do you know what your son has been doing in the capital with the gold you gave him?”

The Prince of Jibei grew suspicious but refused to let the emperor mock him. “I don’t want to know!”

The emperor chuckled, “Your son spent part of the gold meant to bribe court officials on promoting his favorite courtesan to the position of top courtesan. He threw money around like a prince of charity. What’s wrong? Isn’t he just a young man enjoying romance? You should be proud of him. Why aren’t you smiling?”

The Prince of Jibei: “…”

The officials quietly glanced at the Prince of Jibei, concerned that his labored, heavy breathing might lead him to collapse.

The emperor appeared to show some sympathy. “I understand. Who doesn’t have a troublesome son?”

The crown prince nodded in agreement.

True, even the princes in this palace are quite the handful.

The emperor continued, “But unlike you, I have a different situation. My crown prince, while not perfect…”

The crown prince: “?”

“When has this prince ever been a problem?”

The crown prince’s subordinates wanted to interject but held back due to the hierarchical decorum.

Meanwhile, the emperor, unfazed, turned his gaze back to the Prince of Jibei with a thoughtful look. “Well, I probably don’t need to elaborate. After all, for the past thirty years, you’ve been fixated on the crown prince. You’re probably more aware of his brilliance than I am as his father.”

“I… I…”

The Prince of Jibei raised his hand, gasping as he pointed at the emperor. His face turned ashen, then suddenly flushed bright red before he coughed up a thick pool of blood onto the floor.

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“Someone, escort the Prince of Jibei to the prison, and call for a physician,” the emperor said calmly as he settled back into his throne.

“Since the entire clan is to be executed, there’s no need to deny him this courtesy. Oh, and as for the heir—spare his life.”

The Prince of Jibei, utterly defeated, looked up suddenly at the emperor, gratitude flashing in his eyes. However, the gratitude lasted no more than two or three breaths before it morphed into a far more complicated expression.

It was hard to tell if it was surprise or ridicule.

“Gao Jianyi…”

To think I lost to someone like you, so soft-hearted and foolish. What a joke! Cutting the weeds without digging up the roots—after this ordeal, my child will surely change his ways, rise again, and seize your throne!

The emperor: “?”

Why was this man suddenly standing so confidently again?

He didn’t understand.

He turned and instructed the Commander of the Jinyiwei: “Send the Prince of Jibei’s son to the Nanfeng Pavilion. After delivering him, let that courtesan know that I, the emperor, always keep my word.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”