The night seemed to be torn apart.
The clamor came in waves, now distant, now near.
Then the night seemed to congeal, like an omnipresent barrier blocking out the noise and chaos.
The Third Prince lifted his hood and asked the messenger in disbelief: “What did you say?”
The messenger was a cold-blooded assassin the Third Prince had cultivated for many years, but at this moment, his face was pale, as if he had been frightened.
“His Highness the Crown Prince,” he said again in a trembling voice, “is dead.”
The Crown Prince’s death was something the Third Prince had fantasized about countless times. Moreover, at this very moment, he was racing through the night precisely to send the Crown Prince to his death.
But—
“Who made the move?” the Third Prince asked urgently. “I haven’t given the order yet!”
“It wasn’t us. We didn’t make a move,” the messenger said hastily. “It seems to have been—an accident.”
An accident? The Third Prince was stunned again.
“We didn’t dare get close. Things suddenly erupted into chaos over there. Some went to mobilize the Capital Guard Camp, some came toward the capital. There were eunuchs, guards, and they arrested many people. Martial law was declared—”
“We took a risk and snuck in, captured a eunuch and questioned him. He said His Highness the Crown Prince was crushed to death lifting a cauldron.”
The messenger recounted how everything had happened so suddenly, so suddenly that they were caught completely off guard, at a loss for what to do.
Lifting a cauldron. The Third Prince and Uncle Zhao beside him exchanged glances.
Uncle Zhao suddenly laughed, his laughter growing louder and louder—
“His words became prophecy!” He laughed uproariously. “Your Highness, do you still remember what His Majesty said—that the Crown Prince was all brute strength, that he had raised a wastrel prince?”
The Third Prince said: “Of course I remember.”
More than remember—he had cursed more than once for the Crown Prince to die just like that wastrel prince.
Who would have thought that actually—
“Is this heaven’s will?” the Third Prince said, then also burst into unrestrained laughter.
This was heaven’s will!
Heaven wanted him to become Crown Prince!
This could only be called heaven’s will. Uncle Zhao couldn’t dispute it, but he asked cautiously: “Are we certain it’s true? Our people weren’t exposed, and the Crown Prince isn’t using misdirection?”
Though the Crown Prince was brutish, he wasn’t stupid. Moreover, there were so many devoted followers from the Yang and Xie families.
The Third Prince also calmed down.
The messenger’s expression was uncertain: “It shouldn’t be. The chaos at the hunting ground doesn’t seem fake, but—this subordinate didn’t personally see the Crown Prince’s corpse.”
The Third Prince and Minister Zhao exchanged glances.
What should they do? Take a gamble, hold their troops and observe the situation, or proceed with the plan and still attack—
Who would have thought that something with no choices suddenly had choices.
If they didn’t need to act as the villains and could naturally become Crown Prince, that would of course be best.
But once they bet wrong, there would be no second chance. Moreover, it would bring backlash—they would be the ones to die.
Minister Zhao made an immediate decision: “Kill!”
He looked toward the ink-black night ahead, his refined, scholarly face filled with cold menace.
“The Crown Prince must die. His son must die too. When cutting grass, eliminate the roots.”
The Third Prince made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded.
“That’s right. That little brat—Father Emperor treasures him immensely, brought him to study at such a young age. When I studied, Father Emperor would only laugh dismissively—” He smiled coldly. “If the Crown Prince is dead but this little thing remains, Father Emperor still won’t give me a second glance.”
With that, he pulled the hood over his head.
“At the hunting ground, aside from wild beasts, leave not a single living person!”
……
……
The sounds of slaughter set this part of the night ablaze, but ultimately a breach was torn open.
“They’re His Majesty’s eunuchs,” Minister Zhao said, returning at full gallop from the site of battle to the Third Prince who stood observing from high ground. “Going back to the palace to deliver news to His Majesty. They mobilized troops from the Capital Guard Camp as escort. Our side couldn’t intercept in time—they got through.”
The Third Prince’s expression was cold: “So what if they got through?”
He looked toward the direction of the capital.
“It’s so late—no need to disturb Father Emperor. His elderly body can’t withstand such repeated shocks.”
“Report once that the Crown Prince was crushed to death, then report again that the Crown Princess and young prince have died—how troublesome. Better to wait until everyone is dead, until dawn breaks, until His Majesty has slept well and is in good spirits, then learn all the bad news at once and suffer one shock. How much better.”
Minister Zhao laughed heartily: “Your Highness is filial and benevolent.” He looked toward the capital and instructed his men, “No need to pursue them. Even if they enter the capital, they’re as good as dead.”
If they dared act outside, naturally arrangements had already been made inside. The capital, the imperial palace—both were dead ends.
He raised his hand toward the hunting ground.