Chapter 449: Willing to Abdicate
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Empress Jia looked straight at Prince Huaiyin.
“I do not consider myself a virtuous empress.
“After dealing with Concubine Chen, in order to eliminate future troubles, 1 did order people to take action on you.
“But all those people failed.” At this point, Empress Jia displayed a regretful expression.
When she saw Prince Huaiyin’s eyes flickering, she continued, “The reason these attempts failed was not because the people I arranged were unreliable. Neither was it because you were lucky, Huangfu Wudi. It was because…” Empress Jia suddenly paused.
Prince Huaiyin frowned slightly again.
Empress Jia sighed and continued, “It’s because of your Emperor Father.”
Prince Huaiyin looked at the Emperor upon hearing these words.
The Emperor’s eyes revealed an uncharacteristic look of affection, and his gaze was filled with conflicting emotions.
Prince Huaiyin’s heart shuddered slightly when he saw that expression.
Empress Jia continued, “Your Emperor Father knew that 1 would take action against you, so he stopped me repeatedly.
“In the end, when he saw that I refused to give up, he sent you to the border.”
At this point, the corners of Empress Jia’s mouth curled up into a sarcastic smile.
“So, Huangfu Wudi, the reason you can live until today and be invincible in the world is not because you’re really powerful or lucky. It’s your Emperor Father who has been protecting you in secret.
“If you want to deal with me, who killed your mother, I have nothing to say.
“But if you want to deal with your Emperor Father, that’s not allowed by the laws of the heavens!”
Empress Jia’s words were like a heavy hammer that struck the heart of Prince Huaiyin.
It made Prince Huaiyin unwittingly recall those difficult times.
It was indeed impossible for him to have survived all the “accidents” and assassinations by sheer luck.
There were indeed some possibilities that he had speculated about before.
However, he refused to think that his Emperor Father had anything to do with those possibilities.
It was fine to just retain the hatred. If he didn’t hate her, how could he face his Concubine Mother in the netherworld?
Yet today, Empress Jia highlighted all these matters.
Moreover, she said it in front of all the officials.
Prince Huaiyin had no choice but to face it.
After a moment of silence, Prince Huaiyin finally looked at the Emperor.
“Is what she said true?” he asked in a deep voice.
The Emperor had a conflicted look on his face, but he still nodded.
“Even though Concubine Chen was at fault first, you were innocent. It has been hard on you all these years, Lin’er.”
Prince Huaiyin was astonished.
Lin’er was the pet name that his Emperor Father and Concubine Mother used to call him when he was young.
Before Empress Jia appeared, he was the prince most favored by his Emperor Father.
His Emperor Father named him “Wudi” meaning “invincible” and called him “Lin’er” which meant “outstanding.” The Emperor had high hopes for this son.
Back then, almost everyone thought that his Emperor Father would make him the Crown Prince.
However, Empress Jia’s appearance changed everything.
Not only did Emperor Father alienate Concubine Mother, but he also alienated the young Prince Huaiyin.
His Concubine Mother, who used to be gentle and kind, seemed to have changed into a different person, becoming irritable and violent. She even ordered the palace servants to be beaten up or killed.
When Empress Jia said that his Concubine Mother had framed her, Prince Huaiyin did not doubt her.
His Concubine Mother hated Empress Jia so much that he had even seen her sticking pins on a voodoo doll with Empress Jia’s name stuck on it.
However, so what if his Concubine Mother did all this? All the misfortune that he and his Concubine Mother suffered came from Empress Jia.
As he suppressed the emotions in his heart, Prince Huaiyin’s face quickly regained its iciness.
“Just because Your Royal Highness and Your Majesty say that Concubine Chen made a mistake doesn’t mean that she had really made a mistake.
“Concubine Chen is not someone you two can convict just because you casually say so.”
The Emperor thought that Prince Huaiyin did not believe him and wanted to continue explaining.
However, Empress Jia grabbed his hand.
When he saw Empress Jia shaking her head at him, the Emperor gave up on explaining.
Empress Jia then looked at Prince Huaiyin.
“Guilty or innocent, it doesn’t change the fact that I punished Concubine Chen.”
A hint of relief suddenly appeared in Empress Jia’s eyes.
“I am willing to die, but I only ask you to let your Emperor Father off. And…”
“Don’t let your hatred continue.” As she spoke, Empress Jia looked at the Crown Prince, who was panic-stricken, and Princess Xiangyang, whose face was covered with tears.
Previously, Empress Jia was still bitterly disappointed with the Crown Prince that he did not live up to her expectations, but now… Perhaps it was a good thing that the Crown Prince turned out like this.
As a Crown Prince without ambition, even if he was deposed, as long as he could live a stable, peaceful life, he would not be unhappy.
“Empress Mother…” The Crown Prince and Princess Xiangyang were both moved as they called out to her.
Empress Jia appeared reluctant, but she quickly looked away.
She closed her eyes and was prepared to let Prince Huaiyin take action but the Emperor hurriedly interjected.
“Lin’er, don’t touch the Empress!”
Empress Jia opened her eyes and saw the Emperor looking anxiously at Prince Huaiyin.
“Don’t you want the throne?
“I agree to abdicate! I’ll pass the throne to you! As long as you let the Empress off!”
The moment he said this, the entire court was in an uproar again.
The Emperor had actually abandoned the kingdom for a beauty.
Prince Huaiyin’s eyes flickered as he looked at the Emperor.
There was no joy in his eyes. Instead, they appeared rather chilly.
The Emperor ignored that look and continued, “I was prepared to pass the throne to you in the first place anyway.
“These years, you have developed very well at the border. You are so outstanding that you have even exceeded my expectations. 1 am fully aware of all your accomplishments.
“I feel very reassured if the Great Jin State is in your hands. I believe you will do even better than me.”
As he spoke, the Emperor looked at the Crown Prince.
“Crown Prince, as for you, your personality is too weak and not suitable to sit in this position.
“My decision today is a good thing for you.”
The Crown Prince looked at the Emperor and hurriedly bowed.
“Emperor Father is right!” he replied.
In this situation, how would he dare to fight with Prince Huaiyin?
Not only must he not fight, but he had to show his submission. And it had to be the wholehearted and sincere kind of submission.
Moreover, the Crown Prince had always lived under the oppression of his Empress Mother, so he did not really have that much desire to ascend to the throne.
After all, Prince Huaiyin’s surname was also Huangfu. It was better for him to be the Emperor than for the Jia family to usurp the Huangfu family’s kingdom.
When he saw that the Crown Prince had no intention of objecting, the Emperor felt more at ease.
He looked at Prince Huaiyin again.
“Lin’er, I will depose the Empress as you wished. Let her live and 1 will take her away, is that alright?” At this point, the Emperor’s eyes were already filled with pleading.
Prince Huaiyin’s expression was so callous that no one could tell what he was thinking.
He simply stared at Empress Jia icily, and the two of them locked eyes for a long time.
“Haha!” Suddenly, Prince Huaiyin laughed.
The Emperor and Empress Jia’s hearts shuddered.
“Emperor Father is really infatuated!” Prince Huaiyin said icily.
The Emperor looked embarrassed. He could only silently endure his son’s ridicule.
“Good! Emperor Father actually gave up the kingdom for a woman. It was indeed not suitable for you to continue sitting on the throne,” Prince Huaiyin finally said.
The Emperor was instantly relieved.
At this point, he didn’t even feel it was a big deal to be mocked.
When he saw this, a hint of disappointment flashed across Prince Huaiyin’s eyes.
However, it was soon replaced by indifference.
“However, though 1 can let the Empress off, she can not leave the palace.”
He still wanted to bring that woman out of the palace to have fun? His Emperor Father had oversimplified matters.
The Emperor instantly frowned.
Prince Huaiyin continued, “The Empress has committed a grave mistake. The Jia family has committed so many heinous crimes because of her. If Emperor Father deposes her and banishes her to the Cold Palace, it is already the lightest punishment..”