Princess Consort Ji was indeed well prepared, and smoothly took Prince Min out of the mansion and toward the palace—only, the Imperial Army escorted them all the way.

The Princess Consort of Prince Min was somewhat surprised. Sitting in the carriage, she could not help thinking that the saying "foolish people have foolish luck" really wasn’t wrong.

"My Lady, I never thought the Dowager hid so deep—she actually has a Death Exemption Token bestowed by the late Emperor. It seems she really was greatly favored back then," Wan Chun whispered.

The Princess Consort of Prince Min very much agreed: "The late Emperor really racked his brains to ensure her and the Prince’s safety."

First a posthumous imperial edict, and now a Death Exemption Token—if he hadn’t put thought into it, how could he have made such preparations?

Having gotten such a good thing, Princess Consort Ji also had some ability—she actually hid it this tightly, not letting a single word slip, only taking it out when it could truly be put to use. Was this truly foolishness, or the stubborn obedience of someone who listens too well?

The Princess Consort of Prince Min watched the street scenes on both sides flash past, then slowly lowered her eyelids and closed her eyes to rest, so as to be ready to deal with what was to come.

Wan Chun, meanwhile, was busy tying thick tiger-skin knee pads around her legs, lest she catch a chill when she knelt on the ground later.

...

On this side, Princess Consort Ji brought the Princess Consort of Prince Min into the palace; on that side, Prince Min had long been kneeling before Yangxin Hall for who knew how long, as a show of pleading guilty.

"Emperor, he has been kneeling for half the day already. In this deep winter, if he keeps kneeling I fear it will be unseemly. Those Imperial Censors and historians will surely submit impeachment memorials again," Eunuch Zhou said softly.

Emperor Chu slanted him a glance and said, "Kneeling for half a day won’t kill him. Isn’t he still perfectly fine? Back then, when Imperial Mother fainted and lay unconscious, compared to that, what is it for him to kneel a bit?"

His tone carried undisguised anger.

Eunuch Zhou felt a chill in his heart and said, "Indeed. This servant also hates it. I fear nothing else—only that the histories will write nonsense and wrong Your Majesty. After all, that screen has only just been set up. If those death-row prisoners are to show any reaction, we may still have to wait."

Emperor Chu gave a heavy snort.

In the end, he was saying that surrounding Prince Min Mansion was unjustifiable, was he not?

He was the Emperor; what was this "justifiable" or "unjustifiable"?

If the ruler wants a subject dead, the subject must...

"Emperor, if the ruler wants a subject dead, the subject must die—but you must at least let your subject die understanding why."

Outside, Prince Min’s loud, ringing voice carried in.

Emperor Chu’s expression instantly turned icy and unsightly. A domineering aura of authority burst forth, making one’s heart tremble.

Eunuch Zhou wished he could shrink into himself and become invisible.

Emperor Chu stood up, threw down the brush with which he had been annotating memorials, stepped down from the white jade steps, and actually looked about to go out.

Eunuch Zhou hurriedly grabbed the tiger skin cloak and ran after him, tiptoeing to drape it over his shoulders, saying, "Emperor, at least put on the cloak first."

Emperor Chu let the cloak fall over his shoulders and walked out of the great hall. Seeing the man kneeling before the hall, he slowly walked up to him.

Prince Min lifted his head, revealing a face frozen bluish with cold, and gave a bitter smile. "Imperial Brother, you are finally willing to see your younger brother."

Emperor Chu looked down at him from on high and said, "You kneel here so that the historians can write me down as domineering and lawless, arbitrary and autocratic, is that it?"

"Your subject younger brother would not dare."

"Then what is the meaning of you kneeling here?"

Prince Min said, "Emperor, you have surrounded the Prince Mansion—has your subject younger brother done something to displease Imperial Brother?"

Emperor Chu clasped his hands behind his back, bent down slightly, and stared straight into his eyes, clearly seeing his own reflection in the other’s pupils. His lips curled coldly. "You don’t know what you’ve done?"