AWB Chapter 407 The Emperor's Son 3
Chapter 407 The Emperor's Son 3
The Crown Prince ordered his men to seize Wen Tangtang and immediately drag her away to be beaten to death.
"Wait a minute."
What was supposed to be a pleasant banquet turned into a tragedy when the Crown Prince suddenly decided to kill someone during the event. Naturally, the Grand Princess would not stand idly by.
"What does the Crown Prince mean by this? It's just a trivial matter, why the need for such a fuss?"
The Grand Princess slowly rose, her magnificent robes gleaming coldly in the candlelight.
Although she was over fifty, her eyes were still sharp as knives, staring straight at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince smiled bitterly, his gaze meeting the Princess's with one of helplessness.
“Aunt, some things are beyond our control. Instead of blaming me, why don’t you go to the palace and plead with Father?”
"what?"
The princess stopped in her tracks.
Based on the Crown Prince's words, could it be that his younger brother was involved? But why would his younger brother make things difficult for a woman?
The Grand Princess didn't understand the intricacies of the matter, but she did understand that it wasn't something she could interfere with unless she went to the palace to plead with the Emperor.
But she's just a woman; she's not worth all that trouble.
The eldest princess remained silent, turned around, and returned to her seat. Her attitude was clear: she would not meddle in this matter.
Wen Tangtang was forced to kneel on the ground by the guards, her hair disheveled. Upon hearing this, she suddenly looked up, tears welling in her eyes: "Your Highness, I have no grudge against you. Please enlighten me!"
“Even if you want to kill me, please give me a reason. Otherwise, I will not accept it. You are using your power to oppress me.”
The crown prince hesitated. He also wanted to release her, but he couldn't. If she didn't die, he would be the one to die.
"Stop your clever talk. If I say you're disrespectful, then you are disrespectful."
Wen Tangtang laughed: "Hahaha, since the Crown Prince has no concrete evidence, he wants to punish me based on just one word of disrespect. If this gets out, won't people laugh at the Eastern Palace for treating human life so lightly?"
The guests remained silent, but secretly pricked up their ears.
The crown prince slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet, but before he could speak, a soft laugh came from outside the hall—
"Your Highness has quite a temper."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Young Master Xie, dressed in a black brocade robe, leaning against the door, gently waving a folding fan in his hand, with a lazy smile.
"It's just killing someone, why make such a scene?"
This young Marquis Xie is a spoiled brat who always looks down on everyone because of his father's achievements.
Even though the emperor was lenient with him out of respect for his father, the old marquis, it was this that gave him the courage to satirize the crown prince.
Originally, this man surnamed Xie only wanted to make fun of the Crown Prince, but when his gaze fell on Wen Tangtang...
His pupils suddenly contracted, and the folding fan he was waving abruptly stopped.
—Is it her?
A barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in Young Master Xie's eyes, before he quickly reverted to his usual nonchalant demeanor.
He strolled forward leisurely. "Oh, isn't this the young lady from the Wen family?"
He casually used his fan to lift Wen Tangtang's chin, but his eyes swept over her face carefully, as if to confirm something.
Wen Tangtang was forced to look up, her eyes still glistening with tears, but she stubbornly bit her lip and remained silent.
Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince sneered, "What does Young Marquis Xie mean by this? Do you also intend to interfere in my affairs?"
Young Master Xie put away his fan and smiled casually: "Your Highness misunderstands. I just feel that it would be a pity to kill such a delicate beauty like this."
He paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "How about... I bestow her upon you?"
As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Young Master Xie: "Oh? When did Young Master Xie become interested in her?"
Young Master Xie shrugged and smiled casually: "Your Highness knows that I have always been chivalrous and tender towards women."
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled meaningfully: "Since Young Marquis Xie has spoken, I will naturally give him face."
He waved his hand, signaling the guards to release Wen Tangtang: "You can take her away. However—"
His tone suddenly turned cold: "If anything goes wrong in the future, Young Master Xie will have to take responsibility for it himself."
Young Marquis Xie lazily cupped his hands and said, "Your subject thanks Your Highness."
After saying that, he grabbed Wen Tangtang's wrist and dragged her away from the banquet without saying another word.
Since this man surnamed Xie wants to be saved, the Crown Prince should do him a favor. If the Emperor blames him later, he won't be held responsible.
This is all he can do.
A cool night breeze blew outside the palace. Wen Tangtang pulled her hand away from his and stared at him warily: "Why did you save me, Young Master Xie?"
Young Master Xie put away his smile, his eyes becoming deep: "Three years ago, I saw you. It was a fleeting glimpse, but I've never forgotten you."
Wen Tangtang was taken aback, then smiled wryly: "I see... thank you very much."
That person wasn't her; it was the original owner of this body. She had no reason to be presumptuous.
Young Master Xie gazed at the swaying palace lanterns in the distance and said calmly, "Don't worry, I will protect you."
"But the Crown Prince will not give up."
"So what?" He glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Does the Xie family fear him?"
Ok……
Don't be afraid.
That very night, all 358 members of the Xie family were exposed by the Imperial Guards.
Lord Xie had no idea that he, who had been loyal to the emperor his whole life, would suddenly suffer such a calamity.
"Why, why?"
The old marquis clutched his wound, his eyes filled with resentment.
The commander of the Imperial Guards looked at him, feeling a pang of pity, but he could not disobey the emperor's command.
"My lord, His Majesty has left you a message."
"It's all because Young Master Xie fell for a beauty."
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is, hahaha—" Before the old Marquis could finish laughing, he breathed his last.
When Young Master Xie and Wen Tangtang were brought back, they were met with corpses scattered all over the mansion.
Young Master Xie stood in front of the mansion gate, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.
His gaze swept over a series of familiar faces—
The old housekeeper who took care of him since he was a child, the cook who always secretly slipped him snacks, the master who taught him martial arts...
Finally, his gaze settled on the center of the hall.
There, his father—Lord Xie—remained kneeling, his eyes wide open, a royal sword piercing his chest.
At his feet lay his mother, lying in a pool of blood.
"Father? Mother?"
Young Master Xie's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
He staggered forward, his knees slamming heavily to the ground, and tremblingly reached out to touch the old marquis's face.
Wen Tangtang stood behind him, her face deathly pale.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
The Imperial Guard Commander stood aside and said coldly, "Young Marquis Xie, will you do it yourself, or will I deliver it to you myself?"
Young Master Xie slowly raised his head, his eyes already bloodshot: "Ah—what crime has my Xie family committed?! How could it have come to this?"
The commander met his gaze directly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Young Marquis, you shouldn't be asking me this question, but rather you should be asking yourself: What have you done?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Tangtang subconsciously took a step back.
Young Master Xie suddenly laughed.
He never imagined it would be because of her?
Just because of a woman, the emperor wanted to exterminate his entire family?
"Ah! It's the Crown Prince, it's him, what a cruel heart he has."
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, who was sitting comfortably in the Eastern Palace, had no idea what was happening and inexplicably sneezed.
The young marquis slowly stood up, picked up the sword from the ground, and turned to look at Wen Tangtang.
"Are you scared?" he asked softly.
Wen Tangtang looked at him, then suddenly smiled: "Don't be afraid."
Young Master Xie nodded and raised his hand—
The sword suddenly turned, pointing directly at the commander of the Imperial Guards!
“Tell His Majesty,” he said, enunciating each word clearly, “that the men of the Xie family would rather die standing than live on their knees!”
“The Crown Prince’s actions will surely incur the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people; he is unworthy to be a ruler.”
Before the words were even finished, the sword flashed.
All that remained were his and Wen Tangtang's corpses.
......