Chapter 1302 - 1138: Beyond One’s Control
Chapter 1302: Chapter 1138: Beyond One’s Control
Lang Ping spat silently, fearing exactly what happened!
Just now, in the Imperial Study Room, the Emperor and Empress Dowager were fine; where did this assassin suddenly come from? He glanced at the assassin dressed in eunuch uniform and realized this was another person disguised and mixed in.
"Put down the swords. What? Do you dare disregard the Emperor’s life?" This person appeared quite young, yet his expression was utterly ferocious.
"What do you intend to do? You better not harm the Emperor!" Qin Baolin shouted angrily at the person.
"Mr. Lang, I am grateful for the mission accomplished!" This person suddenly addressed Lang Ping, startling him considerably.
"Lang Ping!" The Emperor was burning with rage; he never imagined Lang Ping harbored such ambition.
"Emperor, do not heed his slander; I am loyal and could never commit such treason!" Lang Ping glanced at the eunuch, not recognizing him, and wondered who was framing him.
"Humph! Lang Ping, this person has already confessed. Do you still wish to argue? The Emperor has indeed misjudged you!" Qin Baolin’s gaze flickered, and he looked at the eunuch holding the Emperor, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"Emperor, I am innocent! I do not know this person nor could I rebel. If I truly had such thoughts, why did I not act earlier in the Imperial Study Room? Emperor, someone is indeed attempting to frame me."
Lang Ping felt utterly wronged; when did he ever have such thoughts? Even if given a hundred guts, he would never dare.
"It’s, it’s you? It’s the Duke of Qin, yes! It must be you." A sudden flash of insight struck Lang Ping’s mind. Yes! It must be Qin Baolin.
Since Qin Baolin entered, Lang Ping felt his way of speaking was odd. Now, upon further reflection, Qin Baolin seemed highly suspicious.
The Emperor’s penetrating gaze shifted to Lang Ping, whose shocked expression seemed genuine. The Emperor then turned his eyes to Qin Baolin, seeing the anger on his face yet feeling that his brother-in-law’s attitude today was rather strange.
Lang Ping was also suspicious; earlier in the Imperial Study Room, he was accompanied by five Hidden Guards. It was impossible for Lang Ping to overpower five Hidden Guards.
The Emperor felt conflicted, unsure who to believe. His elite Hidden Guards were handpicked, yet unexpectedly defeated quickly. Especially the person beside him possessed extremely high martial arts.
"What? Is Mr. Lang trying to play both victim and blame others? Uncovered and now trying to accuse me? Utterly shameless!"
Qin Baolin sneered, then rallied the guards and soldiers behind him, "Men, seize the traitor holding the Emperor!"
"Do you dare? I advise you not to act recklessly, or my sword will show no mercy!" The assassin in eunuch attire glanced at everyone, and the Emperor instantly felt a burning sensation around his neck.
"Nobody move!" The Emperor shouted sternly.
"Emperor! If you let such treacherous scoundrels escape today, they will undoubtedly return in the future; you can’t let the tiger return to the mountain!" Qin Baolin gestured behind him, and the soldiers and guards immediately became agitated.
"Protect the Emperor quickly!"
Lang Ping and the Emperor realized things were worsening. Several factions once again descended into chaos, and the Emperor was forced towards the Imperial Study Room by the assassin.
"Dundun!" The Empress Dowager, with a sword pointed at her, sat immobile in a chair. Seeing the Emperor’s neck begin to bleed, she exclaimed in shock.
"Second Brother!" A gentle call echoed in the Imperial Study Room, startling everyone present.
"Third!" The Emperor gritted his teeth, looking at the person suddenly appearing in the study room, realizing he should have expected this; how could the Third Brother be content?
"Second Brother doesn’t seem surprised to see younger brother!" Liao Wu smiled slightly, still in his simple gray monk’s robe.
Perhaps the Buddhist Law of the past two years refined Liao Wu, immersing him in an aura of elegance and detachment. Yet beneath the refined exterior lay undeniable ambition.
"Naturally not surprised, merely regretful!" The Emperor sighed deeply, facing the robed Liao Wu again, his inner complexity was evident.
"Regretful about what? Regretful that when father inquired, you didn’t choose to kill younger brother?" Liao Wu laughed softly, yet his words deeply pierced the heart.
"Yes! If I had hardened my heart back then, you wouldn’t stand here threatening me now!" There’s no need for false words; he wasn’t merely somewhat regretful, but deeply regretted his inaction.
"Second Brother! You don’t remember younger brother’s words back then? Compassion achieves nothing great! You were too soft-hearted, to elder brother, to younger brother, and even more so to Fourth Brother!"
Liao Wu laughed with trembling body; as a child of the Imperial Family, they were either destined to be the next Emperor or pave the way for the next Emperor.
It was laughable that the Second Brother showed mercy, leading himself to ruin.
"Yet back then, you spared younger brother not out of softness, but to show your benevolence as Crown Prince!" Liao Wu shook his head; regardless of reason, now the Second Brother was caught.
"To kill you would be easy over these two years, but I didn’t wish to do so. Third Brother, having become a person outside of worldly matters, why involve yourself again? Is power truly so irresistible?"
The Emperor shook his head resignedly; realizing his body was poisoned with no cure, he understood life was brief, young or old, and power was ultimately transient.
"Second Brother speaks easily with power in hand! You’ve enjoyed riches, empire within grasp, effortlessly attained; naturally you don’t understand our suffering. Yet we mortals cannot fathom your sentiment; if Second Brother now relinquishes the throne, would you be willing?"
Liao Wu mocked looking at the Emperor; he couldn’t believe such noble words, but if he were asked to relinquish the throne, only a fool would agree.
"Moreover, could younger brother survive hiding in a remote temple? If anything werefall Second Brother, suspicion would naturally fall on me, and on the surviving Fourth Brother. Second Brother wouldn’t tolerate younger brother long; one spark and younger brother could face execution. Thus, why not take a chance!"
The Emperor hesitated; there seemed some logic. Poisoning incident aside, regardless of Third Brother’s involvement, he’d be suspected and eventually eliminated.
Perhaps, it’s circumstances beyond control, each with their own difficulties!