Chapter 538: Chapter 29: The Spirit King’s Destination

When Prince Xiao saw this, he lifted his leg and delivered a flying kick.

Consort Qian, who hadn’t yet approached, was suddenly kicked by him, crashing into the wall and then falling to the ground, the dagger plunging into her heart.

She looked at the outcome after scheming for so long.

Blood could not help but spew from her mouth, then Consort Qian fixed her stare on Prince Xiao and said.

"Don’t think that with my death, you’ll have nothing to fear... Just wait and see... The Da Wei empire will fall sooner or later!"

"For a dying person, your mouth is still so foul; when the Spirit King met his end, he wasn’t as tough as you."

"You!"

Consort Qian, already gravely injured, was continually provoked by Prince Xiao.

Then he opened his mouth and said.

"To speak frankly, my third brother is not clever, otherwise how could he be deceived by your self-directed performances? He spends his days fantasizing about how Father and the Crown Prince supposedly plot against you. If he knew that all the assassinations, poisoning, and arson were your doing, what would he think?"

"Hahaha, at this point, what... what do I have to fear? If not... if not for this, how else would I stir him into rebellion?"

Prince Xiao’s lips curled upward upon hearing Consort Qian’s admission.

He shouted outside, "Bring him in."

"Yes."

Then four capable trusted aides brought in the Spirit King, who was unable to move his body at all, with eyes filled with disbelief and bitter regret from being deceived.

He could not move his limbs or speak,

but even still, Consort Qian shuddered internally.

She uttered repeatedly.

"No, it’s not! No..."

While speaking, she was coughing blood, and the blood turned from red to dark black, clearly indicating it was poisoned.

Prince Xiao glanced at the short blade, feeling that one’s own wrongdoing could lead to one’s demise.

Consort Qian wanted to explain but was powerless.

The poison spread too quickly, and her emotions were too intense, leading to her dying in the bitterness from the Spirit King’s resentment toward her.

Her eyes could not even close.

Outside occasionally echoed the calls of ravens, conveying desolation.

Once it was confirmed that Consort Qian had died thoroughly, Prince Xiao then released the Spirit King’s acupuncture point.

His body regained mobility, yet the Spirit King remained unresponsive.

Blankly staring at his mother who died tragically before him, he momentarily did not know whether to laugh or cry.

All these years, he realized he was just a chess piece in others’ hands.

He thought this was a fight to the death, only to end in such a way.

First dull, then cold laughs, and eventually, loud sobs.

A man in his twenties cried more sorrowfully than a child.

Watching him, Prince Xiao felt a fleeting moment of empathy, but he also understood that the Spirit King must die today, or there would be endless troubles.

Thus, he remained silent, letting the Spirit King vent his emotions.

Unknowingly, the night seemed to lighten, and it was approaching dawn.

The Spirit King’s swollen eyes could no longer cry much, and he now felt ultimate sorrow and heartbreak.

He gazed at the sky outside, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a while, he spoke in a low voice.

"Where’s the medicine? Bring it."

His voice was full of calmness, as if he were about to drink life-saving spiritual medicine rather than lethal poison.

Prince Xiao took the medicine bottle from his coat and handed it over, his gaze obscured.

Finally saying one last thing.

"Third brother, farewell, I will arrange for your wives and children."

Upon hearing this, the Spirit King let out a sorrowful laugh.

The truth that winners are kings and losers are bandits has been unchanging since ancient times.

Why bother leaving a life behind?

Glory, wealth, fame, and power are destined to be unrelated to them.

But at this moment, he looked upon these lightly, and perhaps he held no one close to his heart.

Tilting his head, he drank, soon feeling unbearable pain in his abdomen.

When the first ray of sunlight spread over the Ling Prince Mansion, everything returned to its original state.

Ten days later, Princess Ling submitted a memorial to the court, stating that the Spirit King had fallen ill with an abrupt disease, beyond treatment, and passed away, and Consort Qian, who had also been ill, upon hearing the news, followed.

For a time, the mother and son died together, prompting continuous discussion in the court and society.

Some suspected foul play behind the scenes and demanded the Crown Prince investigate thoroughly.

Thus, an urgent command was issued from Shengjing City.

The Zhang Family Army commander and governor of Ce State jointly investigated, and unexpectedly discovered evidence of the Deputy Commander’s attempted rebellion.

It turned out that the Spirit King’s untimely death was related to this!

The Deputy Commander, failing to recruit, sent people to poison the Spirit King.

Yet he hadn’t anticipated revealing his hand so quickly, being captured with his mouth stuffed full of cloth, unable to plea innocence even if he wanted to.

The evidence was irrefutable, and the entire Zhang Family Army was thoroughly purged, with all disloyal were exposed and punished.

The conspiring rebellion in Ce State, amidst the summer heat, finally settled.

The Spirit King’s "innocent demise" was naturally rewarded.

But since he was deceased, all rewards were given to the Ling Prince Mansion.

The Princess Consort, grateful for the Crown Prince’s benevolence and the court’s assistance to their orphaned family, magnanimously transformed these rewards into various grains and oils, distributing them in Ce State in the name of the court and the Crown Prince.

For a while, the people became increasingly thankful to Da Wei.

In the Eastern Palace of Shengjing City, the Crown Prince looked at the secret report sent by his brother Prince Xiao, his lips involuntarily raised.

"My three sister-in-law is indeed smart."

Aside from Zeng Konghou, accompanying him were naturally Lin Ying, who returned healed, and several others.

They are the future backbone ministers of the Crown Prince, so this was not kept from them.

"Send orders to the sixth brother to have the Dark Guard Camp monitor the Ling Prince Mansion. If they make no moves, I promise them a lifetime of peace. If they do, show no mercy."

"Yes."

The Emperor’s heart should indeed be as hard as stone.

And the Crown Prince, at this moment, did what he was supposed to do based on his position.

Lin Ying took the order and left the Eastern Palace study, and the others, noticing the strange atmosphere between the Crown Prince and Mr. Zeng, followed suit.

Zeng Konghou was still silent, refusing to say more, while the Crown Prince had changed from his sternness to a new demeanor, with a flattering look directed at Zeng Konghou.

"These days, I’ve been busy handling matters in Ce State, and haven’t visited the Zeng Mansion for several days. I wonder how Lingshuang is doing?"

Zeng Konghou calmly replied.

"Thank you, Your Highness, my sister is well."

"Hmm, that’s good. Father and Imperial Consort sent a letter from Lushan Academy, asking when I would bring Lingshuang to the Eastern Palace. What do you think, Mr. Zeng?"

"This matter is probably your jest, Your Highness. The Emperor is insightful, and the Imperial Consort is understanding. How could they possibly ask such a question?"