Chapter 201: Boundless Longevity

“Duan’er, you led troops to raid my Princesss Residence tonight; do you intend to kill your Paternal Aunt?”

In the front courtyard of the Princesss Residence, the Soldiers who had surrounded Chen Duan tightly parted to create a path.

Princess Xingguo approached slowly, all alone.

.

The first time Chen Duan looked at her, a flash of guilt crossed his eyes.

He hadn’t truly intended to kill his Paternal Aunt.

Because of the conflicts between their fathers, several of the older Princes had lost their fathers at a young age.

In all honesty, his Paternal Aunt had treated them quite well in their early years.

However, there was always some bias; regardless, Chen Yi and even Chen Hong seemed to be more favored by his Paternal Aunt.

Worrying not about scarcity but about inequality had warped their mindset.

But now that things had come to this, the pride in Chen Duan’s bones made him unwilling to argue or explain these things further.

He took a deep breath and, for the first time in his life, stared directly at Princess Xingguo’s graceful face in a disrespectful manner, his lips curling into a self-destructive sneer.

“Now that things have come to this, why must you still put on this facade of a loving elder to question your nephew?

Imperial Grandfather is aged and has long been weary of state affairs.

The power of Great Wu has been held by you, a woman, for many years!

Since you act on behalf of the state, you should have long ago established the foundation of the nation to ease the hearts of the world!”

“But what about you?

You delay establishing an heir, sitting idly by while we brothers fight, suspecting one another, and even resorting to armed conflict!

Is this not exactly what you wanted to see?

Letting us struggle against each other, weakening one another, all to satisfy your own desires!”

In the entire front courtyard of the Princesss Residence, aside from Chen Duan’s increasingly agitated accusations, there was dead silence.

Princess Xingguo did not argue, only gazing quietly at Chen Duan.

Chen Duan felt there was no hope of survival, so he decided to go all out.

“Paternal Aunt! You are so attached to power and position, refusing to return the government to a successor of the Chen clan.

Could it be that you wish to emulate the Wu clan of the Great Xia from five hundred years ago and attempt to rule as an Empress?”

He dared to say these words, but the people around him dared not listen.

The officers all around lowered their heads, pretending not to hear.

Yet, even in the face of such malicious words, Princess Xingguo showed no sign of anger.

She simply raised three fingers and said slowly, “With the ancestors of the Chen clan as my witness, if I, Chen Tang, ever have the desire to ascend the throne as Empress, may my sacrifices be cut off and may I never find peace for all eternity!”

.

Chen Duan was slightly stunned; he had not expected his Paternal Aunt to swear such a poisonous oath in public.

But a moment later, he threw away the sword in his hand, looked around, and laughed maniacally, “Hahaha, Paternal Aunt, there is no need to continue acting in front of your nephew.

I, Chen Duan, am willing to accept the outcome of the gamble.

Whether I live or die, Paternal Aunt, you may decide my fate!”

The night was as dark as ink, and the atmosphere in the front courtyard of the Princesss Residence was almost frozen.

“Wait~ Your Highness, wait~”

Princess Xingguo’s eyes were deep, as if she were contemplating how to deal with Chen Duan, when a series of urgent calls came from far behind.

Following the sound, two palace lanterns led the way as Eunuch Duan, the Emperor’s close attendant, hurried over.

When he reached them, he didn’t even have time to catch his breath before bowing respectfully to Princess Xingguo.

Then, he glanced at Chen Duan and said, “Your Highness, Your Majesty has given a verbal decree to summon Prince Anping to the palace for an audience immediately~”

In the vast front courtyard that had remained dead silent, some indistinct noises finally broke out.

Could there still be a variable in tonight’s events?

Chen Duan was stunned at first, and then new brilliance suddenly erupted in those eyes that had been filled with despair and madness, as if a dying man had grabbed a piece of driftwood.

He almost stumbled forward one step and knelt down in a rush, saying, “Your grandson accepts the decree!”

Imperial Grandfather summoning him at such a critical moment was undoubtedly giving him a glimmer of survival in the face of certain death!

He even subconsciously straightened his back, and the Aura of facing death unflinchingly was instantly replaced by a desire to survive.

On that side, Chen Duan left for the imperial palace with the guards.

Before leaving, Eunuch Duan, who had remained behind, specifically leaned in close to Princess Xingguo and whispered, “Your Highness, Prince Anping has committed a grave error, but Your Majesty is, after all, considering the reputation of the royal family and cannot deal with him in public.”

“Mm, please convey to Father Emperor that Tang’er understands Father Emperor’s painstaking efforts~”

The two exchanged brief words, and after Eunuch Duan bowed, he turned and disappeared into the night.

After Princess Xingguo’s gaze lingered slightly on Eunuch Duan, she turned to look at the looming silhouette of the imperial palace, her brows knitting together almost imperceptibly.

Imperial City, Jinshen Hall.

The palace lanterns were dim.

Deep within the vast, shadowy hall, Emperor Wu sat like an ancient Buddha sitting in the shadows, sunk into the large Dragon throne.

“Imperial Grandfather, your grandson is unwilling to accept this!”

Below the imperial steps, Chen Duan kowtowed repeatedly.

When he looked up, he was already streaming with tears and snot.

“If I hadn’t been forced into a desperate situation, how would I dare to stage a military remonstrance!

Paternal Aunt, she controls the government, isolating the inside from the outside.

Your grandson has repeatedly sought an audience with Imperial Grandfather to state the major affairs of the nation’s foundation, but I have always been blocked by the lackeys under her command!

She wants to exterminate the descendants of our Chen clan so that she can continue to monopolize power!”

“Your Paternal Aunt also has the surname Chen.”

His eyes were half-closed, and his full head of silver hair had become the most prominent marker of his aged body.

.

Chen Duan paused, then hardened his heart.

“Your grandson dares to report one thing to Imperial Grandfather!

When my father was in charge of the East Yamen, he heard rumors that in her early years, Paternal Aunt traveled the world in disguise and had an illicit affair with someone… even giving birth to an offspring!

Your grandson believes that Paternal Aunt sits idly by while we brothers fight, intending to let our Chen clan Bloodline slaughter each other.

After we are both wounded and the imperial clan has withered, she can… she can let that illegitimate bastard of unknown origin take our place and steal the Chen clan’s empire!

Imperial Grandfather! Her heart is punishable!”

“Shut up!”

The old Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, his emaciated body leaning forward due to rage.

His fingers, like withered branches, gripped the armrests of the Dragon throne tightly, and a low, rumbling sound of anger issued from his throat.

“Rebellious son, how dare you slander and frame your Paternal Aunt like this!”

It was already said, anyway.

Chen Duan’s forehead banged against the gold bricks with a thud, but he still said, “Imperial Grandfather, when Paternal Aunt traveled in disguise, she had guards with her.

Sun Tiewu, the inspector of the West Yamen, was one of them.

If Imperial Grandfather does not believe me, imprison Sun Tiewu and use torture; you will certainly be able to find out some clues!”

“Shut your mouth!”

The old Emperor’s chest heaved violently, and his aged face, covered in deep wrinkles, flushed red with extreme anger.

Eunuch Duan hurriedly stepped forward to stroke his back.

Chen Duan lay on the ground, listening to his Imperial Grandfather’s heavy, angry breathing.

The heart he had hardened finally began to be gripped by fear.

He realized that his desperate accusation had not only failed to shake his Paternal Aunt but might also have pushed him into an abyss from which there was no return.

Sure enough, after Emperor Wu caught his breath, he waved his hand as if he had lost all hope.

“Issue a decree: Prince Anping, Chen Duan, has framed his elder, recklessly used armed force, and acted in a rebellious manner without repentance.

Bestow poisoned wine upon him and his wife to allow them to keep their bodies intact, and demote their children to commoners.”

Chen Duan was struck by lightning.

He suddenly raised his head, all color drained from his face, and his expression instantly changed from madness to despair.

He no longer cared about the dignity of a Prince, using his knees to desperately move forward, his forehead slamming heavily against the cold, hard gold bricks—once, twice—and in an instant, his skin split open, and trails of blood wound down his nose and cheeks.

“Imperial Grandfather, Imperial Grandfather! Your grandson is guilty, your grandson knows he was wrong.”

Tears and blood mixed together, his voice sounding shrill and distorted.

At this moment, he was not worried about himself, but about his son.

Once his son was demoted to a commoner and lost his status in the imperial clan, let alone Chen Hong, the nobles he had offended tonight would not let his son go either.

“Jun’er has just turned ten years old.

He is your great-grandson, and his name was given by Imperial Grandfather himself—the ‘Jun’ from ‘holding the balance of power’!

Imperial Grandfather, I beg you to spare Jun’er.”

Chen Duan cried out his son’s name; it was the only straw he could grasp at this moment, the only trace of love Imperial Grandfather had once shown to his newborn great-grandson.

Emperor Wu watched him quietly, the monstrous rage seeming to have disappeared entirely at this moment.

“Duan’er, Imperial Grandfather can protect Jun’er, even bring him into the palace to raise him, but you must do one thing for Imperial Grandfather.

Can you?”

“Your grandson is willing!”

Chen Duan replied without hesitation.

The next day.

In Jinshen Hall, sandalwood incense curled in the air.

Emperor Wu sat on the Dragon throne, his voice tired but unusually clear as he instructed Eunuch Duan, who was standing by.

“Draft a decree: Prince Anping, Chen Duan, was deceived by others and, in a moment of confusion, committed a grave error.

However, he deeply understood his guilt and regretted it bitterly.

He has already committed suicide in the palace last night to atone for his crimes.

My heart is in great pain.

I order his princely title to be posthumously revoked, and he shall be buried with the rites of a Duke.

His wife, having followed her husband, is permitted to be buried with him.

His legitimate son, Chen Jun, is young and innocent; he shall be temporarily raised in the palace.”

Eunuch Duan bowed to accept the order, and with a flourish of brush and ink, he drafted the decree that would set the tone for the future.

He gently blew the ink dry and immediately presented it.

While Emperor Wu was reviewing the decree, Eunuch Duan turned to the side and whispered an instruction to a young eunuch nearby.

Before long, a bronze mirror, clear enough to reflect one’s image, was respectfully brought up by the young eunuch.

Eunuch Duan took it himself and carefully presented it before Emperor Wu, his voice filled with just the right amount of surprise and respect: “Your Majesty, please take a look~”

Emperor Wu lifted his eyes, and his gaze fell into the mirror.

The deep, knife-like wrinkles on the face of the person in the mirror had actually smoothed out quite a bit, revealing a tightness and luster different from the past.

The originally withered complexion also faintly revealed a layer of imperceptible ruddiness, as if parched land had just been nourished by a timely rain from heaven.

The most eye-catching thing was his full head of silver hair; right at the roots, a line of dense, new black hair had grown out, like grass sprouts in early spring.

Although not thick, it formed a sharp contrast with the surrounding frost-white, stubbornly declaring that some kind of Heaven-Defying vitality had returned.

Emperor Wu watched himself in the mirror quietly, his fingers lifting unconsciously to gently touch the newly grown black hair roots at his temples, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Eunuch Duan offered his congratulations at the appropriate moment: “Congratulations to Your Majesty; may Your Majesty enjoy boundless longevity and reign for ten thousand years.”