Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1193 - 177: Eliminate the Roots (Part 2)

"I have the ability to save Fourth Sister-in-law and them, but I deliberately ignored what was happening in the capital, which led to Fourth Sister-in-law and them..." Zhao Yao’s eyes were red from crying, his face full of remorse and guilt, "Bao Bao and they were so obedient and well-behaved, yet... I caused them to die tragically... I let Fourth Sister-in-law down..." Fourth Sister-in-law always treated him well, even like her own son, and yet he watched as they were harmed to death. "I shouldn’t have ignored it..."

As Zhao Yao spoke, he slapped himself.

Tong Xi hurried to stop him and held him in his arms.

"Your Highness, it was Lord Wei who killed them, not you, it’s not your fault..."

"It’s my fault, it’s my fault for not saving them..." Zhao Yao collapsed to the ground, crying helplessly like a child, "I let Fourth Brother down, let Fourth Sister-in-law down..." He had the ability to stop Eighth Brother from killing Fourth Sister-in-law and them, but he did absolutely nothing.

"Your Highness..." Tong Xi, who had served and cared for Zhao Yao since childhood, had never seen him so helpless and sad before.

Princess Han hurried over when she heard the crying. Seeing Zhao Yao sitting on the ground, crying like a child, she rushed to hug him.

"Si Yun, I caused the deaths of Fourth Sister-in-law and Bao Bao..."

On his knees beside them, Tong Xi explained to Xiao Siyun, "Lord Wei sent people to kill Princess Consort Chu and the Princely Heir, and Your Highness blames himself for it."

Xiao Siyun was shocked: "Fourth Sister-in-law and them... were killed by Eighth Brother?"

Tong Xi nodded slightly: "They were all killed by Lord Wei."

"Why would Eighth Brother..."

Tong Xi shook his head and then quietly withdrew, leaving Xiao Siyun to comfort Zhao Yao.

At this time, far away in the capital.

Lady Liang sent Gui Xing to the death row to visit Prince Chu, and she brought some food and medicines.

The jailers of the death row did not stop her when they heard she was a palace maid from Lady Liang’s side, allowing her to enter.

Lord Wei had long instructed the jailers of the death row that if Lady Liang sent someone to visit Prince Chu, they should not obstruct them.

The death row was lifeless, and the sound of walking was like a clap of thunder.

Gui Xing, frightened and trembling, followed the jailer to Prince Chu’s cell doors.

The cell holding Prince Chu was kept very tidy and clean, with no offensive smell. Inside the cell were tables and chairs, bedding, and a bed.

Prince Chu leaned against the bed, his hair disheveled, his face pale, his body thin and frail, looking on the verge of collapse.

The jailer opened the cell door and let Gui Xing in.

Gui Xing first bowed to Prince Chu, then placed the food box she brought on the table.

"Your Highness, this is food specially made by Lady Liang, and she asked me to specifically bring it to you." As she spoke, she opened the food box, "Her Ladyship has made medicine for you to strengthen your body, you must drink it."

Prince Chu seemed to regain his senses and turned to look at Gui Xing.

"Your Highness, Her Ladyship said that no matter when, a person must eat, only then can they live on, and only then have strength." Gui Xing held the medicine in her hands and walked to Prince Chu, "This is herbal medicine sent by Prince Han from Lingnan, brewed specially for you, you must drink it."

Prince Chu spoke hoarsely, "Thank you, Lady Liang..."

"Your Highness, let me help feed you."

"Thank you for the trouble."

"It’s nothing." Gui Xing carefully fed Prince Chu the medicine. Seeing Prince Chu’s current miserable state made her feel very sad.

"Miss Gui Xing, how is my mother?" Prince Chu, locked in the death row, was unaware of the happenings outside. He still did not know that his wife and children were no longer alive.

"Rest assured, with Lady Liang, Princess Li will be fine." After Prince Chu got into trouble, Princess Li fell ill, and with no one in the palace daring to care for her, Lady Liang took her to Kunde Hall to care for her. Lord Wei had no reaction to this, seemingly approving it tacitly. "Princess Li can’t let go of you the most, so you must take your medicine and meals well."

"I will listen to Lady Liang." Prince Chu thought of his maternal grandfather and hurriedly asked, "How are my maternal grandfather and them?"

"Mr. Li and the others are held in the large prison." Gui Xing comforted Prince Chu, "Rest assured, Prince Han will definitely come back and save you and Mr. Li." Her Ladyship said that only His Highness can save Prince Chu and the Li Family.

Hearing this, Prince Chu felt a little more at ease. He then asked, "How is Father Emperor?"

"The Emperor cannot speak yet." After the Emperor had a stroke, he couldn’t speak or move. "Don’t worry, Lady Liang has been taking care of the Emperor."

"Thanks to Lady Liang for her trouble."

Lady Liang had to care for both the Emperor and the seriously ill Princess Li.

After feeding Prince Chu his medicine, Gui Xing fed him his meal.

Prince Chu’s body was too weak, and the medicine brewed for him contained herbs to calm him. After eating, Gui Xing helped to put him to bed.

Gui Xing returned to Kunde Hall and reported Prince Chu’s condition in detail to Lady Liang.

After hearing this, Lady Liang’s eyes slightly reddened, and she said, "As long as he is willing to take medicine and eat, it’s good." She was really afraid Prince Chu would be disheartened, only thinking of seeking death by not eating or drinking or taking medicine.

"Her Ladyship, I took the liberty of telling His Highness that he will return to save him and the Li Family." Gui Xing asked, "Your Ladyship, will His Highness come back?"

"Even if Lord Wei doesn’t allow Yao Yao to come back, Yao Yao will also come back." Yao Yao couldn’t let Lord Wei annihilate the whole Li Family.

"It will be good when His Highness returns."

"Yao Yao knows about these events in the capital, I’m afraid..." Yao Yao would likely blame himself once he learned about the deaths of Princess Consort Chu and others.

No one knows a son better than his mother.

Zhao Yao indeed blamed the death of Princess Consort Chu and them on himself. After crying hard in Xiao Siyun’s arms, he regained his senses. He must return to the capital, not only to save Fourth Brother and the Li Family but also for Eighth Brother’s sake.

The Li Family cannot be killed. The Li Family holds a lofty position in the hearts of scholars across the world. Should Eighth Brother annihilate the whole Li Family, the scholars across the world would not stand idly by. Moreover, the Li Family represents academic endeavors; eradicating the Li Family is equivalent to ruining all the students’ motivation to study.

And Father Emperor, he didn’t believe Father Emperor would suddenly have a stroke. Father Emperor had always been healthy, though he carried some residual injuries from his youth, they would definitely not result in a paralytic stroke.

He suspected that Father Emperor’s stroke was Eighth Brother’s doing. Eighth Brother wouldn’t commit patricide, but he would render Father Emperor speechless and unable to manage state affairs, allowing him to legitimately oversee the government.

He cannot leave Fourth Brother in the capital, he has to bring Fourth Brother back to Lingnan. Lingnan has many witch doctors and miracle medicines, surely they can cure Fourth Brother.

If Eighth Brother still refuses to spare the Li Family and doesn’t let him take Fourth Brother away, then he can only...