Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1150: Chapter 157: Prince Yue Actually Conspires with Prince Han for Rebellion (Part 2)

Chang Xiao listened to this and finally understood Prince Yue’s plan.

"Your Highness is wise."

Prince Yue smiled with pride, "Everyone thinks I’m foolish, but I’m actually very clever. Using this opportunity, I’ll make it so my brother soars to the top directly, saving him from having to fight with the Fourth and Seventh Princes."

"Your Highness, when Prince Dai knows how you’ve helped him, he will surely be very moved."

"Helping my brother is only right and proper." Prince Yue was upset thinking about how his brother hasn’t been appointed Crown Prince after the former Crown Prince was deposed. "Father has been getting more confused over the years. Since he won’t give my brother the throne, I’ll help my brother seize it."

"Your Highness, you truly are a good brother."

"I’ve always been my brother’s good sibling." Prince Yue stood up and stretched, "Prince Han’s collusion with the Xiongnu to rebel is an opportunity we need to plan carefully."

"Your Highness, perhaps you should inform Prince Dai?"

"Telling him now would ruin the surprise." Prince Yue said seriously, "I want to give my brother a surprise."

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Come, let’s consult them." Since we’re taking on such a big task, it must be meticulously planned.

Two days later, Prince Han and the Xiongnu army attacked Yanmen Pass. Prince Yue led the soldiers in a fierce resistance for three days and nights, but ultimately could not withstand the Xiongnu’s Iron Cavalry, allowing the Xiongnu army to breach Yanmen Pass.

After Prince Han and the Xiongnu army broke Yanmen Pass, they did not immediately attack the capital.

The capital is guarded by ten thousand Imperial Army, and most importantly, defended by Song Weikang and Zhang Gong. Breaking through the capital is no simple task.

To invade the capital, someone inside must act as an accomplice. Thus, Prince Dai must first rebel inside the capital, then they can coordinate from inside and outside to successfully take the capital.

After breaking Yanmen Pass, Prince Han wrote to Prince Dai, urging him to stage a rebellion soon.

Prince Dai received the letter and was preparing to report the matter to the Emperor when he received a secret letter from Prince Yue. After reading Prince Yue’s letter, he was so angry he nearly fainted. He never imagined Prince Yue would be involved in this.

Prince Yue’s letter left Prince Dai feeling anxious, angry, moved, helpless, and delighted all at once...

"Fu Zhong, call Uncle."

Fu Zhong saw Prince Dai’s serious expression and hurried to seek out Marquis Xuanping without delay.

Marquis Xuanping rushed over upon hearing Prince Dai had an urgent matter. Upon seeing Prince Yue’s letter addressed to Prince Dai, he trembled fiercely, nearly falling to the ground in shock.

"Your Highness, this... this... this..." Marquis Xuanping was trembling all over.

"Ninth brother made decisions on his own, I only just learned he’s involved in this matter." Prince Dai was aware that his brother’s intentions were for his good, but was very angry that his brother had acted without consultation. With the current situation, he was at a loss. "Uncle, what should we do now?"

Marquis Xuanping was equally at a loss, sinking weakly into a seat.

"Your Highness, let me think."

Prince Dai’s mind was also in chaos, unable to clear his thoughts for the moment.

The uncle and nephew sat in silence, looking troubled.

After a while, or perhaps after a long time, Marquis Xuanping sighed deeply, "Sigh... Your Highness, what do you think?"

Prince Dai smiled bitterly, "Before receiving my brother’s secret letter, I was ready to enter the palace and confess everything to Father, but now I don’t know whether to go."

Marquis Xuanping was aware of Prince Dai’s feigned cooperation with Prince Han, "Prince Yue’s courage is truly immense."

"I didn’t expect my brother to be so reckless, but he’s doing it for me." Prince Dai was both angry and helpless with Prince Yue. "If I were to enter the palace and explain everything to Father now, would my brother be blamed by Father?"

"Your Highness, Prince Yue has committed treason, how could the Emperor not blame him?" Marquis Xuanping looked anxious, "Treason involves the extermination of entire families, the Emperor might even execute Prince Yue."

"If I plead with Father, he should not kill my brother."

"Even if the Emperor spares Prince Yue’s life, he will be demoted to commoner status, and then imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple dungeon for life, never to see daylight again."

"Once I ascend to the throne, I will release my brother."

"Your Highness, at present, will the Emperor trust you if you go to the palace and reveal everything? After all, Prince Yue truly colluded with Prince Han to rebel alongside him." Marquis Xuanping’s brows furrowed deeply, his expression extremely serious, "You are Prince Yue’s full-blooded elder brother, how can you convince the Emperor you weren’t involved in the treason?"

"Father knows what kind of person I am. He won’t believe I would rebel."

"Your Highness, the Emperor favors you, but concerning rebellion, all emperors would rather kill wrongly than let go." Marquis Xuanping said sternly, "Especially now that the Emperor is gravely ill. Sick emperors are always more suspicious, and rebellion touches the Emperor’s closest concerns. With Prince Yue’s involvement now, it will be hard for the Emperor to trust you are innocent."

Listening to Marquis Xuanping’s words, Prince Dai’s expression grew somber: "Uncle, are you suggesting that I rebel with my brother?"

"Your Highness, is there another path currently?" During the moment of silence earlier, Marquis Xuanping thought of various possibilities. After careful consideration, he realized a rebellion might still have a fifty percent chance of success. If they don’t rebel, Prince Dai will forever be overshadowed by Prince Yue and feared by the Emperor, never gaining the throne.

"Uncle, I am the son Father values most, I have no need to take such risks."

"Your Highness, if you are the child the Emperor values most, what about Prince Chu?" In recent years, the Emperor has heavily entrusted Prince Chu, which unsettled Marquis Xuanping, "Compared to Prince Chu, do you feel the Emperor still values you most?"

These words brought silence to Prince Dai. Indeed, in recent years, he noticed Father’s clear favoritism towards the Fourth Prince, but he refused to acknowledge it.

"Your Highness, if the Emperor truly valued you, you would have been asked to replace him for ancestral and heavenly worship ceremonies this year. As the eldest son, the Emperor instead chose Prince Han. Though on the surface it seems insignificant, in reality, it was for Prince Chu." Marquis Xuanping felt that Prince Yue’s actions might not be a bad thing, "Your Highness, perhaps the Emperor already chose Prince Chu. The secret edict behind the plaque in Zichen Hall names Prince Chu, not you."

Prince Dai was silent, and after a long pause, he spoke hoarsely, "Uncle, let me think it over."