Chapter 1032 - 1027: Confrontation in the Court
The Fifth Prince looked at the Protectorate Duke with a smile that was not quite a smile and said in a low voice, "But just a moment ago, the Protectorate Duke said that this Prince deserved a thousand deaths. How come now I just need to hand over the Tiger Talisman and you would spare my life?"
"You..." The Protectorate Duke fumed and glowered, "Don’t act like you won’t take a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Handing over the Tiger Talisman is your duty, and your rebellion is proven; you cannot deny it."
"No, no, this Prince has never denied anything. I admit that, a decade ago, when the princes rebelled, I, too, harbored treacherous thoughts just like them. My question is, can I really save my life just by handing over the Tiger Talisman?"
The Protectorate Duke bellowed, "As long as you give up the Tiger Talisman, what’s wrong with sparing your life?"
"Oh?" The Fifth Prince looked up at the Emperor seated high above and chuckled, "Could it be that the world has changed now, that this Jin is not the same as that Jin, or perhaps the two Jins no longer differentiate between you and me? Has the Protectorate Duke actually begun making decisions for the Emperor? Brother Emperor, what do you say?"
The Emperor above spoke indifferently, "As long as you are willing to give up the Tiger Talisman and the complete military authority, considering the kinship we have shared over the years, it’s not impossible to spare your life."
"Hah..." The Fifth Prince found it amusing, glanced at Jin Zijin, who stood beside the Emperor without uttering a word, and suddenly laughed again.
A moment later, he said coldly, "Spare my life and then confine me in Zongrenfu to fend for myself? To forever bow and kowtow before you? Jin Moning, forgive me, but that is something I cannot do!"
The faces of the courtiers changed drastically, and the Protectorate Duke raged, "For your crimes, even a million deaths would not suffice. The Emperor is already being lenient and righteous beyond reproach. You say you cannot do it? As a subject, shouldn’t you always bow and kowtow before the Emperor?"
The Fifth Prince snorted coldly and said, "What sort of Emperor is he, Jin Moning? A Crown Prince who fell from favor, who will never be able to ascend to the imperial throne. In order to secure his position, he caused the death of our father, the death of my third brother, invalidated the late Emperor’s will—he, Jin Moning is but a thief who stole the nation. He does not deserve..."
No one dared to call the Emperor by his name in Taihe Hall, no one had ever dared to insult the Emperor like this. He was the first throughout history.