Chapter 448: Concubine Chen’s Cause of Death
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Song Que’s words were like a heavy hammer that struck down on everyone’s hearts.
This fellow Song Que was indeed bold.
Then again, he was genuinely qualified to be so bold today.
“How dare you!” The Emperor was furious and pointed at Song Que.
However, just as he said this, he was instantly greeted by Qin Xiaoyao’s sharp glare.
When he saw this, the Emperor’s bearing quickly weakened, and he did not even dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que anymore.
Song Que’s expression was calm, and he even smiled.
“Your humble official’s words are merely a factual analysis.
“Your Majesty’s reaction only served to confirm my earlier conjecture.”
The Emperor was furious. He looked at Empress Jia beside him, but he did not dare to speak again.
Empress Jia gave the Emperor a reassuring look and looked at Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao again.
“Other than committing suicide, is there any other way out for me?” she asked. There was even a faint smile on her face.
After saying that, she looked at Prince Huaiyin who was sitting in a relaxed manner not far away.
When he saw Empress Jia’s gaze on him, Prince Huaiyin leisurely raised his wine cup to her.
Then, he started to enjoy the wine in a laid-back manner.
Song Que followed Empress Jia’s gaze and also saw Prince Huaiyin.
The corners of his mouth then curled up.
Thereafter, he turned around and bowed to Empress Jia.
“There is,” Song Que said.
“Oh?” Empress Jia raised her eyebrows.
“Why don’t you tell me?” she prompted.
Song Que raised his head, glanced at the Emperor, and cupped his hands again.
“It depends on whether His Majesty is willing to abdicate.”
As soon as he said this, the entire place was in an uproar.
Some smart people had already realized something and looked at Prince Huaiyin.
However, Prince Huaiyin was still as calm as ever, as if everything happening in front of him had nothing to do with him.
The Emperor hadn’t noticed these exchanges yet. After hearing Song Que’s words, his face turned downright ominous.
“Traitor! How dare you usurp the throne!” he bellowed at Song Que.
However, Song Que was not afraid at all. He was still smiling breezily.
He once again cupped his hands at the Emperor and bowed.
“Your Majesty has misunderstood. 1 have no intention of usurping the throne.” The Emperor was taken aback, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face. Before he could ask, Song Que continued, “I’m only asking Your Majesty to abdicate and become the retired Emperor, and let a talented and virtuous prince take over the throne.”
As he spoke, Song Que turned around and looked at Prince Huaiyin.
Obviously, the talented and virtuous prince he was referring to was Prince Huaiyin.
The Emperor looked at Prince Huaiyin.
At this moment, the realization finally dawned on him.
How could everything happening today be a rebellion by Empress Jia’s elder brother or Marquis Xiaoyao and her husband?
It was clearly a coup planned by his second son.
The feud between his second son and the Empress had been going on for a long time. He had always been worried that the two of them would fight to the death one day.
Now, this day had finally come.
When he saw that everyone was looking at him, Prince Huaiyin could no longer pretend.
He stood up and walked to the center.
He bowed to the Emperor.
“Emperor Father,” he called out.
The Emperor looked down at Prince Huaiyin with an expression full of conflicting emotions.
“What happened to Concubine Chen back then was not entirely Empress Jia’s fault…” the Emperor spoke up.
The Emperor had wanted to say something more, but when he saw his second son looking at him, the Emperor stopped.
Upon seeing this, Prince Huaiyin smiled.
“I have my own judgment on what happened back then.
“Everyone says that Emperor Father is deeply in love with the Empress.
“Marquis Xiaoyao and Lord Song have already given Emperor Father a way to save Empress Jia’s life. It all depends on whether Emperor Father wants your kingdom or the beauty.”
When he said “beauty”, Prince Huaiyin glanced at Empress Jia.
He thought to himself, “It’s really hard to think of the present Empress Jia as a ‘beauty’.”
The Emperor’s expression became even more conflicted.
After staring at Prince Huaiyin for a while, he finally sighed.
“If I pass the throne to you, will you really let the Empress off?” he asked.
The moment he said this, all the civil and military officials were shocked.
The Empress also looked at the Emperor. A hint of panic finally appeared on her face, which had remained calm up to this point.
“Your Majesty…” She grabbed the Emperor’s hand and shouted.
At the same time, she stared at the Emperor and slowly shook her head. She was indicating to the Emperor that he should not do this.
The Emperor turned his head and patted the back of Empress Jia’s hand, giving her a reassuring smile.
“1 have long wanted to abandon everything and take you on a sightseeing tour. “If abdication can save your life, what is there for me to hesitate?”
At this moment, all the officials were astounded. Even Empress Jia was deeply moved.
However, Prince Huaiyin felt that this scene stung his eyes.
Empress Jia looked into the Emperor’s eyes for a while and was finally convinced by the affection in the Emperor’s eyes.
Thus, she nodded.
Following that, a relieved smile appeared on her face.
Thereafter, she turned her head and looked at Prince Huaiyin.
“Huangfu Wudi, whether you believe it or not, Concubine Chen’s death was her own fault.
“Even today, 1 do not regret executing Concubine Chen.”
Prince Huaiyin’s face clouded over as he looked at Empress Jia with a sinister expression.
When he saw this, the Emperor instinctively raised his hand, intending to shield Empress Jia behind him.
However, Empress Jia pushed his hand away.
“Back then, in order not to affect you, the Emperor did not announce the cause of Concubine Chen’s death to the public.
“Today, you want to take revenge on me. 1 have no need to hide this matter anymore.”
Prince Huaiyin frowned.
Empress Jia continued, “Back then, His Majesty doted on me and neglected many consorts in the harem. However, he did not completely neglect the concubines who had given birth to princes and princesses. One of them is your mother, Concubine Chen.
“Concubine Chen has a prominent background and is the best candidate to become the Empress as she was supported by the ministers of the previous Imperial Court.
“Back then, although His Majesty wanted to make me empress, he didn’t force his will on anyone.
“At that juncture, if your Concubine Mother didn’t do anything wrong, she would have been the Empress.”
Prince Huaiyin frowned and looked at the Emperor.
A look of conflicting emotions flashed across the Emperor’s eyes as he nodded.
Before meeting the Empress, Concubine Chen was the one he liked the most among the beauties in the harem.
After Concubine Chen gave birth to his second son, he treasured the mother and son even more.
This lasted until the Empress appeared and occupied his mind and heart.
Even so, the Emperor had never thought of deposing Concubine Chen and alienating their children.
However, Concubine Chen shouldn’t have…
Empress Jia glanced at the Emperor and continued, “Back then, both Concubine Chen and I became pregnant respectively.
“Because Concubine Chen was afraid that 1 would give birth to a prince, she harmed herself to frame me.”
The moment she said this, everyone was shocked again.
Imperial Palace secrets!
Prince Huaiyin frowned.
“Unfortunately, her plan didn’t succeed. In the end, both my child and hers were not saved.” At this point, Empress Jia appeared very sorrowful.
A moment later, a stern look flashed across her face once more.
“That was my first child. Flow could 1 not hate her?
“Therefore, the first thing 1 did after ascending the throne was to deal with her.
“I knew that if His Majesty found out, he would definitely try to stop me.
“So, I acted quickly.
“By the time His Majesty found out, Concubine Chen was already dead.” At this point, Empress Jia actually smiled.
It was as if she recalled the scene of herself taking revenge for her unborn child.
A sinister glint flashed across Prince Huaiyin’s eyes.
The Emperor was terrified when he saw his son’s reaction.
He stretched out his hand to try to stop Empress Jia.
However, he was pushed away by Empress Jia..