Chapter 2403: Not Leaving

At this moment, all parts of the palace seemed to have received the news. Panicked screams and hurried footsteps echoed faintly from outside.

The commander of the imperial guards, trusted ministers, the former Honored Princess Mei, now the Empress Dowager, and the current Empress had all gathered.

“Emperor, what should we do? We must escape quickly!”

“Your Majesty, how did the rebels get here so fast?”

“That damn Shao Yunduan! We should have killed him earlier!”

“Your Majesty, there’s no time to lose. Let’s leave the capital at once!”

“Yes, Emperor, let’s go!”

The Fourth Prince’s mind was buzzing. The faces before him were so familiar, yet now they all wore expressions of fear and panic.

They were flustered and terrified. Their mouths moved rapidly, speaking anxiously. He couldn’t make out their words clearly, but he didn’t need to. He already knew what they were saying.

Even at this moment, he still refused to believe it…

However, there were too many people who wouldn’t joke with him at the same time!

The Fourth Prince suddenly smiled. His gaze slowly swept across everyone as he said calmly, “If you want to leave, leave. I’m not going.”

“What!”

“The Emperor!”

“No way!”

The Empress Dowager grew angry. “Emperor, this is not the time for stubbornness. As long as there is life, there is hope. If we leave the capital and gather loyal ministers and generals, we can fight back one day. But if we fall into Shao Yunduan’s hands, it will be over!”

The Empress nodded repeatedly, wiping her tears from time to time. She was truly frightened.

She had only been the empress for a few years and had not lived comfortably for even a few days. She could not accept becoming a captive, especially after humiliating Qiao Xuan in public. Now that Feng Shui had taken over the capital, Shao Yunduan would not forgive her.

“Mother, there is no chance for us to make a comeback,” the Fourth Prince said, calm and clear-headed. “You know that very well! Where can we go? The south is Shao Yunduan’s territory, most of the Central Plain belongs to the second son, and the Northwest Army controls the northwest. The interior and Nanyue are occupied by rebels and bandits. Mother, if we lose the capital, we lose everything!”

The Empress Dowager felt dizzy. She staggered and shook her head. “No! It can’t be! For the rebels to invade the city, there must be a traitor! It’s not that you failed; it’s that there are traitors! Many ministers are still loyal to the emperor! Emperor, you can’t give up so easily!”

It was not easy for him to occupy the capital. How could he lose it so easily?

Back then, the three princes had a chaotic battle. In the end, the Fourth Prince won with an advantage and occupied the capital. He chased the Second Prince and the Third Prince out of the city. At that time, the mother and son were so proud and glorious!

Compared to today, how could he be willing to give it up?

The Empress, Eunuch Li, the commander of the imperial guards, and other trusted aides persuaded him bitterly, all agreeing with the Empress Dowager’s words.

The Fourth Prince shook his head and said calmly, “You can leave if you want. I am not leaving. I will stay here and wait for Shao Yunduan.”

He wanted to see how powerful Shao Yunduan was and how he would treat him.

“Emperor!”

“Emperor, if you stay like this, you won’t have any chance at all! Are you willing to accept that?!”

The Fourth Prince simply closed his eyes and remained silent.

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