The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Li Ji’s voice pulled the Emperor back from his thoughts.

"It seems Your Majesty recognizes the name Wu Zimu."

The Emperor looked away, his expression turning cold again. "I have never heard of this person."

But Li Ji continued as if he hadn’t heard the Emperor’s denial, speaking his mind.

"I have Li Qi under control now.

No matter how tough he is, I can make him talk.

It will just take a little more time and effort.

In the meantime, Your Majesty might want to think long and hard about how you’re going to clean up this mess."

The Emperor’s gaze returned to Li Ji, and he asked in a hoarse voice,

"Are you suspecting me?"

Li Ji looked him straight in the eye and admitted frankly, "Yes."

The Emperor scoffed as if he had heard a ridiculous joke.

"I’m already in this state. How could I possibly harm anyone?

Besides, I have no grievance with the Heir of Prince Yu or the Heir of Prince Qing. Why would I plot against them?"

Li Ji spoke unhurriedly.

"You may be paralyzed, Your Majesty, but there are still many in this Imperial Palace who are loyal to you.

You could easily have those people leave the palace to contact Li Qi and do your bidding.

As for your motive, it has nothing to do with grudges. You simply want to use this opportunity to sow discord between me and the Vassal Kings.

Those Vassal Kings are already ambitious.

Once they learn their heirs have met with trouble in the capital, they will surely use it as a pretext to unite and attack me.

And all you would need to do then is fan the flames a little.

For instance, you could have someone leak the news that I’ve put you under house arrest.

The Vassal Kings would immediately march north on Tianjing under the banner of ’purging the court and rescuing the Saint.’

With the Vassal Kings keeping me occupied, my control over the court would weaken.

Then you could take advantage of the opening to seize back control of the imperial court."

The Emperor listened quietly, his expression unchanging.

"You tell a very compelling story.

But don’t forget, I am already a cripple.

Even if I could truly snatch back control of the court, what could I do?

The Great Zhou Dynasty cannot let a cripple continue to be Emperor."

Li Ji replied with complete composure.

"You may not be able to continue as Emperor, but you can support the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne.

The Crown Prince is only six years old. He is still a naive child, easily manipulated by you.

Then, even confined to the palace and unable to move, you could still hold the reins of power firmly in your hands."

The Emperor shook his head and sighed.

"This is all just your speculation. I have never thought of doing such a thing."

Li Ji knew he wouldn’t admit it.

’Anyone in his position would deny their ambition at a time like this.’

Even though Li Ji could hear his thoughts and knew this was indeed his plan, he had no concrete evidence and could do nothing to him.

Taking a huge step back, even if Li Ji did have evidence, he couldn’t convict the Emperor.

The man was the King of a nation, his status incomparably noble.

Whatever he said, even if it was wrong, had to be right.

The Emperor began to cough softly.

His voice grew even hoarser.

"For all these years, I have always regarded you as my own son.

No matter how others slandered you, I stood firmly by your side.

I trusted you so much. Why must you doubt me?

In your heart, am I truly that untrustworthy?"

Li Ji stood up. The fine fabric of his robes brushed against the couch, making a soft rustle.

He looked at the gaunt, aged Emperor on the bed and said in a low voice,

"Your Majesty surely knows the truth of the matter better than anyone."

The Emperor looked at him as an elder would look at a willful, impudent junior, his tone full of indulgence and helplessness.

"You’re always like this, dwelling on wild fancies. In the end, you’re still too young, too impatient."

Li Ji gave a slight, mocking smile.

"Compared to your profound cunning, I am indeed far too naive.

After all, you are a man who would even exploit his own sons.

My decisiveness is nothing compared to yours."

The Emperor’s gaze instantly turned sharp and icy.

Li Ji walked slowly toward the door, speaking as he went.

"I originally thought that after watching your own sons die one after another,

you would have an awakening and understand the value of family.

But the reality is the exact opposite. Not only did you fail to appreciate the value of kinship, but you have come to value power and status more and more.

Perhaps in your eyes, anyone in this world might betray you.

Only the power in your hands and the throne beneath you will never betray you.

When you put it that way, you’re actually quite pathetic."

The Emperor’s face was ashen as he sneered.

"And you’re any different? You lost the woman you loved most in your struggle for power."

In the past, Li Ji would have certainly flown into a rage upon hearing those words.

But now, he just smiled faintly and replied with composure,

"No, I am not like you at all."

The Emperor thought, ’He’s just being stubborn.’

Li Ji had reached the doorway.

He looked out at the deep courtyard beyond and said slowly,

"I have heard that the kings of old called themselves ’the Solitary One.’ I feel this title suits Your Majesty perfectly.

For you, Your Majesty, are now truly all alone."

With that, Li Ji stepped over the threshold and into the sunlit courtyard.

A palace attendant closed the doors.

The bedchamber once again fell into darkness and silence.

The Emperor lay on his bed, his gloomy gaze nearly merging with the surrounding darkness.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress the rage welling up inside him.

’That brat came here just to provoke me.’

’I can’t fall for it.’

When the Emperor opened his eyes again, his composure had returned.

"Someone."

Zuo Ji pushed the door open, entered, and bowed respectfully. "What are Your Majesty’s orders?"

The Emperor: "What is the situation at the Prince Zheng Mansion?"

Zuo Ji answered truthfully, "The Heir of Prince Zheng has been placed under house arrest. No outsiders are allowed to see him, so this servant does not know his current condition."

He carefully observed the change in the Emperor’s expression and asked tentatively,

"Should this servant send someone to find an opportunity to see the Heir of Prince Zheng? We can’t have him speaking recklessly."

The Emperor frowned in thought.

’Given Li Ji’s character, for him to come to the palace specifically to say those things, he must have been fully prepared.

He has likely already stationed men near the Prince Zheng Mansion.

The moment anyone I send appears, they’ll be caught red-handed.

Then, with both the person and the evidence seized, I won’t be able to clear my name no matter what.’

The Emperor thought to himself, ’I must not fall for this trap.’

’For me now, the best course of action is to bide my time and see how things unfold.

So what if Li Qi really rats me out?

I am the Emperor. Who would dare convict me?’

With this in mind, the Emperor made his decision.

"No need. For now, we will wait and observe."

Zuo Ji immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

It was already dusk when Li Ji left the Imperial Palace.

Chen Wangbei asked, "Prince, will you be staying in the city tonight?"

Li Ji swung himself onto his horse. "No. I’m going home."

He had a mansion in Shangjing City, of course.

But that was just a residence.

For him, only a place with Manman in it could be called home.