Chapter 59 - The Fall

"How dare you!" the emperor roared, his voice cutting through the chamber like a clap of thunder. "By what right did you make such a consequential decision without my consent?" His eyes blazed with fury as he stared down at Cheng, who stood before him with his head lowered in silence and contrite.

————

Prince Guo stared blankly at the maid, unable to recall where he was or why. The maid smiled and moved closer to him. "My prince, why are you here? The royal court meeting has started long ago, you should be present by now."

Guo scratched his head in confusion, "The royal court meeting, why am I not there?"

"You should go now or your father will be greatly displeased with your absence." The maid continued calmly and stared at him. Guo started to walk but he seemed unable to get the right direction to the palace then the maid stepped forward. "Let me direct you there my prince," then she started walking beside him.

"It seems the royal court has turned its favor toward your brothers, my prince." The maid lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"That is what I have overheard from the others within the palace walls." Her tone was light and deliberately soothing, she knew all too well how delicate his mind was.

Guo's eyes widened in disbelief, the word abandon lodging itself in his thoughts like a thorn. "Why would they...?" He recoiled, clutching his head as if he was trying to keep it from shattering.

The maid stepped closer and she placed a hand on his arm. "Please, my prince,"

"Do not distress yourself. If there are plans unfolding in secret, it is only because they think you unaware. If you act now, you can show them your strength. Prove that you are more than worthy to stand as a pillar of this empire.

"Perhaps by attending their council, you can remind them of the prince they so easily forget."

As they neared the grand palace, she came to a stop, turning to face him. Her hands enveloped his trembling ones. "Look there," she said softly, pointing toward the great hall where the meeting was taking place.

"It would be best if you went on alone from here," she continued. "This way, they will see you as a man in control—someone who commands his own destiny."

Guo hesitated for a heartbeat, then followed her gesture. His steps were slow, but he didn't look back as he made his way to the hall.

The maid moved quietly through the halls, careful not to be seen. She reached Lady Xia's quarters without drawing so much as a glance, slipping through the doors.

Once inside, she sank to her knees before the imposing figure, her head bowed low in submission. "It is done, my lady," she announced.

Lady Xia's crimson lips curved into a satisfied smile as she looked down at the maid.

———The Royal Palace

The Grand Secretary read aloud the proposed reforms for the communities and the court listened in silence, their attention fixed, until the heavy doors were suddenly opened.

Every head turned sharply toward the source of the interruption. There, framed in the doorway, stood Prince Guo, his hair disheveled, his wild, haunted eyes darting nervously around the hall. A low gasp spread through the assembly, and shock was visible on every face. None had expected the prince, long confined to his quarters, to appear at court, let alone in such a state.

Guo strode forward, oblivious to the whispers spreading through the crowd. The officials glanced at each other, their quiet words showing confusion and worry.

The emperor, sitting high upon his throne, squinted his eyes and leaned forward, his forehead wrinkling as he took a closer look at the messy figure coming toward him. Then he saw him and slumped back in shock.

Cheng shifted uncomfortably, remembering he had ordered Guo to be returned to his quarters earlier that morning. Yet here the prince was.

The emperor straightened in his chair, that alone was enough to command silence. "What is the meaning of this?" his voice sliced through the tense atmosphere.

The room fell deathly quiet, all eyes now fixed on the trembling prince and the emperor.

"I asked—what is this?!" the emperor repeated, louder and sharper this time with much authority, the force of his words startling those gathered.

Guo froze mid-step, his confusion giving way to visible terror. His lips started trembling, and he mumbled incoherently. "No… no… don't speak... don't speak like that...

A suffocating silence gripped the hall.

Finally, Cheng stepped forward carefully, sinking to his knees in front of the emperor in a solemn display of deference.

The emperor frowned even more, his eyes full of disapproval. "Why was I not informed that the prince had left his quarters?"

Cheng kept his head down, speaking calmly even though his heart raced with fear. "Your Majesty, Prince Guo has been under my supervision these past days. In an effort to ease his suffering, I authorized his freedom several days ago. It was—"

"How dare you?!" The emperor's voice thundered, silencing Cheng mid-sentence. "By what right do you make such a consequential decision without my permission?!"

Cheng lowered his head further, his forehead almost touching the floor. "None, Father. I overstepped,"

The emperor rose from his throne, his towering form exuding fury. "Who gave you the authority to act like you rule in my place?!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the chamber. Every soul present fell to their knees, awestruck by the sheer force of his anger.

Amid the chaos, Guo collapsed into a trembling heap. "They lie in wait for me, Father!" his voice cracking with terror. "The shadows... they want my blood! They whisper of sacrifices!" His agitation mounted as he began scratching at his arms, leaving angry red marks that drew gasps from the onlookers.

The emperor's eyes darted back to Cheng, his expression full of anger and disappointment. "You think yourself fit to wield power because you are Crown Prince?!" he spat. "You have shown arrogance and recklessness, and your actions have brought chaos upon this court. Until you prove yourself worthy, you shall carry no such weight."

Everyone in the room gasped as the emperor pronounced his sentence. "By my command, Cheng is stripped of his title as Crown Prince. From this moment on, he is only Prince Cheng!"

The words struck Cheng like physical blows. He remained on his knees, his head low, his face expressionless. But inside, he felt shame burned like fire. "I accept your judgment, Father," he said quietly, almost inaudible.

A deep silence descended over the hall, no one dared to speak or even breath loudly.

The emperor's gaze shifted sharply to the side, and with a curt motion, he signaled to the guards. "Return him to the Western Tower,"

"And double the watch. We cannot afford another disruption."

The guards moved swiftly to obey, seizing Prince Guo by the arms. He thrashed and screamed in fear. "No! You don't understand! They'll come for me in the dark! The darkness will take me!" His cries rang through the chamber as he was dragged away, his wild protests dwindling into the distance.

The court remained still in fear, some glanced at each other nervously, while others looked away, their expressions hardened with disdain.

The emperor allowed the silence to linger, his rage barely contained. At last, he rose from his throne with a sharp sweep of his robes. "This council is dismissed," he declared, leaving no room for argument. Without another word, he strode out of the hall in anger.

The chamber buzzed with the chatter of subdued voices, though none dared speak too loudly.

Cheng remained motionless, as the court slowly began to leave around him, his head still bent low. The scene had unraveled with a swiftness he had not foreseen, leaving him shaken and vulnerable in its aftermath.