C183. Escape from the Throne.

Chapter 183. Escape from the Throne.

Prince Chen made a mistake with a single sentence.

"Standing at the highest position, with seven states in hand, what is there to fear?" In the face of absolute power, everyone would keep their mouths shut.

Yuan Li openly held Chu Hechao's hand, smiling as they walked away.

At this point, he no longer needed to worry about anything.

Even people like Jia Qing, Yuan Congyun, and Gu Yue, who were unaware of their relationship, despite having a lot to say, ultimately remained silent.

They spent two days capturing the enemy soldiers and waiting for the fires in Luling City to extinguish. On the third day, they left Luling and returned to the battlefield.

Yang Zhongfa, Guan Zhihuai, and He Lang were still leading the troops, engaging in combat with the soldiers of Yangzhou. In the era of cold weapons, battles like these could last for weeks or even months.

When they presented Prince Chen's head, the soldiers of Yangzhou were in an uproar, feeling leaderless, with most of them realizing the inevitable defeat.

As Yuan Li had anticipated, there were loyal followers of Prince Chen who resisted fiercely, seeking revenge, but they were eventually subdued.

By the time everything concluded, the war had lasted for half a month.

Out of the thirty thousand elite soldiers brought by Yuan Li, twenty-three thousand four hundred had died.

Over two hundred thousand of the soldiers from Yangzhou had been killed or wounded.

In the battle along the Yangtze River, the total death toll was eighty-five thousand seven hundred.

This was a staggering number, with bodies of the fallen almost filling the entire capital of Yangzhou.

At the riverbanks of Yangzhou, the water was tainted red with blood, taking a while for the color to dissipate.

Due to the high casualties, even though they had won the war, Yuan Li felt a heavy heart.

Eighty-five thousand seven hundred lives, over eighty thousand people, each number representing a life lost. Witnessing the battlefield firsthand made these numbers seem as heavy as mountains.

Even though only twenty-three thousand four hundred soldiers died out of thirty thousand, which seemed a small number in comparison, the losses from this war were the highest since Yuan Li had recruited troops.

Each of the twenty-three thousand four hundred soldiers had been nurtured by Yuan Li with great effort. They helped achieve victory, but their names would not be remembered by future generations.

This war was destined to be recorded in history, but in the annals, the fallen soldiers would only be reduced to a cold death toll.

In this battle, Yuan Li emerged victorious, but he did not rejoice in the victory; he merely felt relieved that the war had come to an end.

Fortunately, the campaign against Prince Chen had been successful, and the war had ended early, reducing the number of casualties.

Finally, it was over.

After wrapping up the battlefield, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao went to Jiankang to find the Emperor and the two members of the Qin family, Qin Pei and Qin Meng.

Upon locating the dungeon where Prince Chen had imprisoned the descendants of the Qin family, Yuan Li discovered that Qin Pei, Qin Meng, and the other descendants had already died in the dungeon, unable to bear the humiliation.

Yuanli wasn't particularly surprised.

Since Prince Chen decided to rebel, he would have paved the way for his son. Chen Xi was mediocre, and these descendants of the Qin family would ultimately be detrimental to him.

It was expected that Prince Chen would eliminate these individuals, leaving only the Emperor as a lucky charm.

Since they were already dead, Yuan Li didn't linger in the dungeon. In no time, he found the Emperor in Chen Wang's residence.

The Prince Chen residence was transformed into a small palace for the Emperor, luxurious in every corner, showcasing the beauty of the Jiangnan scenery with artificial hills, flowing water, small bridges, and floral arrangements, each scene exquisitely crafted and elegant.

Even though the Emperor was merely a figurehead of the Northern Zhou, Prince Chen dared not imprison him in the dungeon. Instead, the Emperor was confined within the Prince Chen residence, guarded by soldiers, prohibited from stepping outside or communicating with anyone.

No one dared to speak to the Emperor all day long. Both the two Imperial uncles and other relatives were imprisoned because of themselves. They learned that Prince Chen was duplicitous and had sinister intentions towards them...

When Yuanli found the Emperor, he was trembling in fear, his spirits visibly disturbed. At the sound of the door being pushed open, he cowered in a corner behind a chair, muttering repeatedly, "Don't kill me, don't kill me..."

Yuan Li and Chu Hechao exchanged a glance. Yuan Li softly called out, "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor shuddered, cautiously turning his head. When he saw Yuan Li, he hesitated momentarily, relieved as if seeing a savior, "Yuan...-"

But the next moment, the Emperor caught sight of Chu Hechao's intimidating aura. Instantly, he buried his head, trembling, "Don't kill me, don't kill me..."

Furrowing his brow, Chu Hechao said, "Your Majesty?"

This time, the Emperor dared not speak, his face drained of color, looking as if he might faint.

Yuan Li gave Chu Hechao a nod, indicating for him to leave and wait outside.

Chu Hechao lazily glanced at the eunuchs in the room and ushered them out as well.

Once the door softly closed, it took a while before the timid Emperor dared to look back, finding only Yuan Li in the room.

Finally mustering courage, he stood up and grasped Yuanli's hands, tears streaming down his face, "Yuan Li, are you here to save me? Please take me away, to Youzhou, Bingzhou, even to the grasslands where we eat raw meat and drink blood – I don't want to stay in Yangzhou anymore... Please, I don't want to be the Emperor, I truly don't want to be the Emperor. Yuan Li, please save me!"

Yuan Li's eyes flickered, gently soothing him, "You are the Emperor, how could you not be the Emperor?"

The Emperor shook his head desperately, crying pitifully, "No, I don't want to be the Emperor. Yuan Li, can I not be the Emperor?"

Despite Yuan Li's efforts to calm him, the Emperor could not regain composure. Yuan Li carefully observed the Emperor's expressions and demeanor, confirming that the Emperor's panic was genuine, not an act.

It seemed that Chen Wang's actions had indeed traumatized the Emperor.

As darkness descended, the Emperor continued clinging to Yuan Li's arm, seeking help desperately, tears flowing uncontrollably. Eventually, he fainted, muttering "I don't want to be the Emperor, don't kill me" even in unconsciousness.

Rubbing his temples, Yuan Li instructed the eunuchs to attend to the Emperor.

Approaching quietly, Chu Hechao asked, "Has he gone mad?"

"Not mad, but on the verge of madness," Yuan Li replied with a wry smile, "He keeps pleading not to be the Emperor."

Arched eyebrows hinting at something, Chu Hechao commented, "That might not be a bad thing."

A faint smile played on Yuan Li's lips in the darkness, barely visible. He winked subtly at Chu Hechao, "Guo Mao is eloquent. Let him come tomorrow to soothe the Emperor."

Chu Hechao made a mocking sound, a mischievous grin forming on his lips, "You have quite a devious mind."

Yuan Li pondered for a moment, earnestly saying, "I learned it all from you."

Chu Hechao, unperturbed, reached out to touch Yuan Li's face, playfully pinching his lips, adopting a bandit-like tone, "You've learned well. Keep learning more next time."

The following day, Guo Mao was appointed to meet with the Emperor.

Disappointed not to see Yuan Li, the Emperor's expression betrayed a hint of disappointment.

Guo Mao keenly noticed this and approached with a smile, offering polite words to establish a rapport with the Emperor.

One of the reasons why Yuan Li personally recruited Guo Mao was his eloquence, as well as his cunning nature. Guo Mao was not bound by moral standards, daring to deceive even the Emperor.

Unable to resist his sweet words, within days, the Emperor confided all his worries to Guo Mao, considering him a confidant.

The Emperor was never suited to be an Emperor. He was hastily thrust onto the throne as a prince at the age of twelve after his elder brother's murder. Due to his actions, other members of the royal family were demoted or harmed, leaving only him from the Qin clan.

In his dreams, the Emperor often envisioned the ancestors' reprimands and the deaths of other royal family members, fueling his paranoia that he would be next.

Guo Mao feigned difficulty, saying, "You are the only one left among the royal family. If you don't become the Emperor, who else can?"

Startled, the Emperor's eyes widened, shrinking back, "But I, but I..."

Sighing, Guo Mao continued, "As the Emperor, you must fulfill your duty. With no one else left from the royal family, the responsibility falls on you. Do you wish to abdicate the throne like Yao and Shun did?"

The Emperor hesitated, contemplating abdication.

Guo Mao shook his head, speaking earnestly, "Please refrain from such thoughts. The country is in turmoil, the people are suffering, bandits are rampant – this is a time that requires your leadership. In managing affairs in Youzhou alone, I have toiled incessantly. When the governance of all thirteen states is placed in your hands, it will be even more exhausting. But this is the duty of an Emperor. Please prepare yourself, bear the burden of the crown."

The Emperor trembled, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, suffocating him.

He didn't want to deal with official documents, nor did he want the endless toil and responsibility of quelling conflicts and soothing the people.

Restless, the Emperor's eyes suddenly lit up, cautiously asking, "But I have never dealt with official documents before. Can I delegate them to someone else?"

"Of course not," Guo Mao replied solemnly, "These tasks require the Emperor's personal attention. How can you refuse? Your Majesty, do not worry. No one is born knowing how to do these things, but you must learn quickly. May I ask, have you studied the Four Books and Five Classics? Have you learned the laws of the Great Zhou?"

With a grim expression, the Emperor shook his head, admitting, "I have not studied them. I do not enjoy reading or writing."

Guo Mao sighed again, "As the Emperor, these are essential. If you have neglected these matters, what have you been doing?"

The Emperor meekly responded.

His days were filled with sleep, food, entertainment, and indulgence in various pleasures - from watching performances to tending to crickets and chickens. He had enjoyed the scenic hot springs of Yangzhou to the fullest.

If it weren't for Prince Chen's sudden show of aggression, causing the Emperor distress, he would have been content to remain in Yangzhou.

Prince Chen's intentions were clear - to keep the Emperor idle. And the Emperor did enjoy this lavish lifestyle.

Who wouldn't enjoy a carefree life?

Therefore, the thought of handling official documents and studying the classics as Emperor was off-putting to him.

"Please...," Guo Mao's expression grew solemn, his brow furrowed, "Your Majesty, please do not continue in this manner. The country is still unsettled, facing external threats and internal turmoil. The people are suffering. It is time to put aside the frivolous activities and focus on the well-being of the nation. If an Emperor fails in his duties... think of the rebels, the power-hungry individuals like Li Li, Wu Shanshi, and Prince Chen. They will do everything to seize the throne, leading to a fate similar to your father's and brother's..."

As Guo Mao's words struck fear in the Emperor, his body trembled even more.

Visions of his father's death, his brother's murder, and the scheming faces of the royals flashed before his eyes. The Emperor's face grew paler, sweat collecting on his brow.

Suddenly, the Emperor stood up, eyes shining with excitement, gripping Guo Mao's arm, "I can abdicate! I can pass on the throne to someone else!!!"

Taken aback, Guo Mao stammered, "Abdicate?"

Excitedly nodding, the Emperor's face flushed with joy, "I can hand over the throne to someone else! I can't do it, but someone else can!"

Desperate for Guo Mao's approval, the Emperor continued, "I know I cannot stabilize the realm, rescue the people from peril, or command the talented individuals. I am nearing the age of adulthood, yet I struggle with basic literacy, have not studied the classics, nor learned how to govern. Having me as Emperor would be a disaster for the people. This position should be filled by someone capable and virtuous, ensuring stability in the realm! Although ignorant, for the sake of the people, for the Great Zhou, this is what I, as Emperor, should do!"

Guo Mao silently agreed with the Emperor's statement.

Becoming incompetent Emperor would indeed be a disaster for the people who support Yuan Li, it is the right thing to do, to let Lord Yuan ascend the throne without any stain, to take over Northern Zhou and rule in its place.

Guo Mao pretended to be convinced, hesitated for a moment before asking, "So, who do you want to abdicate to?"

The Emperor was momentarily stunned.

Guo Mao casually mentioned, "As the Emperor, if you truly wish to abdicate, you must find someone loyal, virtuous, compassionate, and able to command the people, ideally someone who is capable and caring towards you, allowing you to continue living carefree, just like before. After abdicating, if this person can grant you a noble title, it would be even better, providing you with endless wealth and land, shielding you from all dangers and conspiracies, ensuring a life of abundance and enjoyment."

The Emperor couldn't help but show a longing expression.

Yes, in that case, he wouldn't have to worry about being assassinated as Emperor one day, nor would he have to learn the classics to govern and handle affairs of state. He could simply enjoy life happily.

Isn't this the life he had always dreamed of?

But who could provide him with such a life?

The Emperor had a sudden realization and excitedly exclaimed, "I have decided, I will abdicate in favor of Lord Wen!"