Not Playing by the Rules

In the main hall, Emperor Wen had urgently summoned all the court officials to discuss countermeasures regarding the Northern Huan Kingdom's request for food.

At present, Emperor Wen was really troubled.

Giving food to the Northern Huan Kingdom would be equivalent to providing support to the enemy of the Great Qian Dynasty.

However, if they didn't give food, the Northern Huan Kingdom, which couldn't survive the upcoming winter, would surely march south to plunder. By then, the northern region, which had just recuperated for a few years, would once again be plunged into war.

The Great Qian Dynasty had just experienced the Crown Prince's rebellion case, and the internal situation was extremely unstable.

At this time, if they fought against the Northern Huan Kingdom, the chances of winning were too slim.

Even if they won, it would probably be a Pyrrhic victory.

While Emperor Wen was troubled, the war faction and the peace faction were also arguing heatedly.

However, the peace faction clearly had an absolute upper hand.

Emperor Wen was so dizzy from the noise that he couldn't make up his mind.

Just at this moment, Concubine Shu, ignoring the obstruction of the guards outside the hall, rushed in crying, "Your Majesty, you must avenge Li'er! Wuwu..."

"Cough cough..."

Emperor Wen coughed gently and gave Concubine Shu a meaningful look, "I'm currently discussing important matters with all the court officials. My beloved concubine, please step back for now. We can talk about it later if there's anything!"

Instead of stepping back, Concubine Shu cried even louder, "Your Majesty, Yun Zheng kicked Li'er's vital part. Maybe Li'er won't even be able to be a man anymore! Wuwu..."

"What?"

Emperor Wen's face changed drastically. He was about to lose his temper but suddenly calmed down.

After a moment, Emperor Wen said with a smile, "My beloved concubine, don't talk nonsense. I still know what kind of temperament the Sixth Prince has! He doesn't have the guts to do such a thing!"

Duke Jingguo Xu Shifu also stepped forward and said with a smile, "Lady Concubine Shu, Your Majesty is busy with numerous affairs every day. Don't joke with him! His Highness the Sixth Prince is gentle and kind-hearted by nature. How could he do such a thing?"

"Gentle and kind-hearted" was just a euphemistic way of putting it.

The Sixth Prince was timid and cowardly and was simply a useless wretch.

Concubine Shu was slightly stunned and then cried even louder.

Emperor Wen didn't believe her words. Didn't even his own elder brother believe her?

But what she said was absolutely true!

Just at this time, the guards outside the hall reported, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Sixth Prince requests an audience!"

The Sixth Prince?

Emperor Wen was slightly stunned and immediately asked, "What does he want?"

The guard lowered his head and replied somewhat guiltily, "His Highness the Sixth Prince said that he kicked His Highness the Third Prince's... private parts and has come here specifically to plead guilty..."

Hearing the guard's words, the faces of all the court officials twitched.

Could it be true?

That useless wretch, the Sixth Prince, actually really kicked the Third Prince's private parts and injured him?

Emperor Wen was also shocked by the guard's words, and his face changed again. He sternly growled at the guard, "Bring this unfilial son in here immediately!"

Soon, Yun Zheng was brought into the hall.

Yun Zheng quietly looked at his nominal father sitting on the imperial throne.

Not bad. Although he was over fifty years old, he didn't look particularly old.

Unlike what he knew about ancient times, when the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty ascended the throne, he would give himself a honorific title, which was somewhat similar to a posthumous title.

The honorific title of his nominal father Yun Qi was Emperor Wen.

"Unfilial son!"

Emperor Wen stared at Yun Zheng with eyes blazing with anger, "Did you really kick your Third Brother's private parts?"

Even now, Emperor Wen still couldn't quite believe this fact.

The Sixth Prince usually didn't even dare to speak loudly. How could he dare to harm his elder brother like this today?

"Yes!"

Yun Zheng nodded slightly.

Getting an affirmative answer, Emperor Wen's face suddenly became extremely ugly.

"Unfilial son, how dare you do this to your Third Brother?"

Emperor Wen glared angrily and roared, "Don't you know that the last thing I want to see is you brothers harming each other?"

The frost on Xu Shifu's face grew heavier. He bowed and said, "I think that His Highness the Sixth Prince has shown no respect for his elder brother and has seriously injured His Highness the Third Prince. We must not tolerate this! I request Your Majesty to demote the Sixth Prince to a commoner to serve as a warning to others!"

He was Yun Li's uncle!

Since Yun Li had suffered a great loss at the hands of Yun Zheng, how could he let Yun Zheng off?

"His Highness the Sixth Prince actually dared to inflict such a cruel blow on His Highness the Third Prince. His crime is truly unforgivable!"

"Your Majesty strictly prohibited the princes from harming each other as soon as he ascended the throne. We must not set this precedent!"

"I request Your Majesty to demote the Sixth Prince to a commoner to serve as a warning to others!"

"I second the motion..."

Xu Shifu's words immediately got the support of the Third Prince's faction.

Everyone played the request to Emperor Wen to demote Yun Zheng to a commoner.

Even those who didn't speak were just watching coldly.

In the entire court, there wasn't a single person who spoke up for Yun Zheng.

Looking at these clowns, Yun Zheng couldn't help but secretly rejoice at his own decision.

What was the point of staying in the imperial city if he didn't run away?

If he stayed in the imperial city, he would only end up being killed!

He had to run away!

Emperor Wen's gaze was cold and stern, and he stared at Yun Zheng with a frosty face, "Unfilial son, why don't you say anything? I allow you to speak and give you a chance to explain!"

Yun Zheng faced Emperor Wen's anger and bowed, "Your son doesn't want to explain and doesn't think it's necessary to explain! Anyway, since I kicked Third Brother like that, it's a serious taboo! Your son pleads guilty!"

Hearing Yun Zheng's words, Xu Shifu couldn't help but secretly snort.

A useless wretch is a useless wretch!

He couldn't even make use of the opportunity given to him!

However, even if this useless wretch was given a chance to explain, it would be useless!

He was determined to make Emperor Wen demote this useless prince to a commoner.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Shifu bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, since His Highness the Sixth Prince has already pleaded guilty, I request Your Majesty to approve the request of all the court officials and demote His Highness the Sixth Prince to a commoner to serve as a warning to others!"

"I request Your Majesty to demote the Sixth Prince to a commoner to serve as a warning to others!"

The Third Prince's faction chorused their request.

Yun Zheng remembered these bastards in his mental notebook and bowed to Emperor Wen again, shouting loudly, "Your son knows that his crime is heinous and requests Father Emperor to punish him!"

"Punish you?"

A cold light flashed in Emperor Wen's eyes, "Then tell me, what punishment do you think you deserve?"

"Death penalty!"

Yun Zheng bowed without hesitation and said, "I beg Father Emperor to sentence your son to death!"

Boom!

As Yun Zheng's words fell, the hall suddenly became silent...

Sentenced to death?

Yun Zheng actually took the initiative to ask Emperor Wen to sentence him to death?

Was his head scared out of his wits?

Everyone stared at Yun Zheng in a daze.

No one expected that Yun Zheng would ask for death as soon as he opened his mouth.

Even Xu Shifu and Concubine Shu, the brother and sister, were completely stunned.

Although Yun Zheng had no power base and no status, he was still a prince after all.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, as long as the princes didn't rebel or commit extremely heinous crimes, they basically wouldn't be sentenced to death.

Yun Zheng's kick to Yun Li's crotch wasn't enough to make Emperor Wen sentence him to death.

Even they didn't dare to think of such a request, but Yun Zheng actually brought it up himself?

Emperor Wen was also shocked by Yun Zheng's words.

After a long silence, Emperor Wen sternly asked, "Do you really want me to sentence you to death?"

"Yes!"

Yun Zheng nodded solemnly, "Your son can only atone for his crime with death!"

Emperor Wen's heart twitched violently.

He couldn't figure out why Yun Zheng was so determined to seek death.

Although he didn't like this son either, he was still his son after all.

Even if he was afraid, he wouldn't be afraid to this extent, would he?

Among all the court officials, who would dare to say that he should be sentenced to death?

After thinking for a moment, Emperor Wen sternly asked, "Has someone threatened you?"

As he spoke, Emperor Wen's gaze inadvertently swept over Concubine Shu.

Concubine Shu was startled and cried out that she was wronged.

She hadn't even had time to talk to Yun Zheng. How could she threaten him?

"No!"

Yun Zheng shook his head.

"Then why are you so determined to seek death?"

Emperor Wen suddenly raised his voice.

Instantly, all the court officials were as silent as cicadas in winter.

"Your son's crime is extremely serious and should be atoned for with death!"

Yun Zheng said with a sad look on his face, "Your son has no other requests. I just beg Father Emperor to grant your son a small request!"

"Speak!"

Emperor Wen said with a dark face.

"Your son has been a useless wretch for so many years. I don't want to die in a useless way even when I die!"

Yun Zheng put on a look of grief and indignation and gritted his teeth, "I beg Father Emperor to allow your son to go to the border. Your son is willing to hold a three-foot-long sword and die a heroic death in battle!"

Die in battle?

A cold light flashed in Xu Shifu's eyes.

He understood!

Yun Zheng was trying to escape from the imperial city!

"His Highness the Sixth Prince is very brave, but I don't think it's appropriate,"

Xu Shifu immediately jumped out to oppose, "After all, the Sixth Prince is a prince. If even a prince of our dynasty dies on the battlefield, won't those barbarians laugh at our mighty Great Qian Dynasty for having no one?"

He couldn't give Yun Zheng the chance to escape from the imperial city!

He had heard about the blood letter from Yun Li.

They must get the blood letter!

Yun Zheng shook his head, "I don't agree with what Duke Jingguo said!"

"Oh?"

Xu Shifu looked up at Yun Zheng, "What's your high opinion, Your Highness the Sixth Prince?"

Yun Zheng straightened his back and said in a firm voice, "Even the children of common people can fight to the death for our Great Qian Dynasty. As princes, we should set an example for all the people in the world!"

"However, since the founding of our dynasty, there has never been a prince who died on the battlefield. This is why our country hasn't thrived.

"If there has to be one, let it start with Yun Zheng!"