Chapter 1162: Chapter 998: His Decision

Gu Chengyu hastily descended the steps, "Thank you for valuing me, Your Highness. I will certainly do my utmost to serve the court!"

The Crown Prince was suddenly displeased with the latter half of Gu Chengyu’s sentence. Serve the court? Why not serve him, the Crown Prince?

"So, I ask you, what did Father say on his deathbed? Could it be Father..." The Crown Prince stared intently at Gu Chengyu, his eyes narrowing.

Then he continued, "Could it be that Father wants to pass the throne to another Prince?"

Gu Chengyu was taken aback by the words and asked with a look of surprise, "Why do you say such things, Your Highness? You are the Crown Prince, and you should inherit the legitimate rule of the nation."

In truth, Gu Chengyu was shocked inside. He hadn’t expected the Crown Prince’s thoughts to be so astute.

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh mockingly, "Should? Yes! I, being the Crown Prince, indeed ought to inherit the throne. But who knows what Father is thinking? Even on his deathbed, he wasn’t willing to tell me his will. Isn’t that a sign of dissatisfaction with me?"

Before, he only thought that his father looked down on him because he disliked his temperament. But now he felt his father was simply biased. Father liked the eldest brother because he thought the eldest was most like him—equally wise and decisive.

Father also had some fondness for the third brother, even though the third was impulsive and easily angered, acted ruthlessly, frequently messed up tasks, and was less strategic than their brothers. But Father loved him because the third was Consort Xian’s son.

And the fourth? Perhaps the fourth and he shared the same fate?

But the difference between him and the fourth was that he was the Central Palace Legitimate Son, while the fourth was born of a palace maid. When Father was the Crown Prince, his mother’s family had exhausted their efforts for Father’s sake.

But look now? It’s laughable that he ascended to the position of Crown Prince at the cost of his mother sacrificing the Li Family’s Red Book Iron Certificate and power.

Initially, Father respected Mother greatly, but as her beauty faded, Father began to disdain her.

It got worse year after year, and in recent years, Father only visited Guangning Palace on the first and fifteenth days of the month.

Were it not for the ancestral rules, Father wouldn’t even step into Guangning Palace.

Driving these painful past memories out of his mind, he smiled and said to Gu Chengyu, "Perhaps you didn’t know, Father named me Crown Prince for the sake of the Red Book Iron Certificate. The Li Family gave up a century of glory and power, exchanging them for my position as Crown Prince."

"Do you still think I’m valued by Father?" At this point, the Crown Prince’s expression darkened.

Gu Chengyu was, of course, informed of this matter. "Regardless of why the Emperor initially appointed you as Crown Prince, isn’t it you who is the Crown Prince now? It’s an unchangeable fact. Since you are the Crown Prince, why bother with past matters? They are all in the past."

The Crown Prince gave Gu Chengyu a surprised look. Right! It’s all in the past. No matter who Father favored before, the one who became Crown Prince is he.

"The Crown Prince is inherently the nation’s Crown Prince!"

Gu Chengyu wore a faint smile. This was his stance!

Upon hearing Gu Chengyu’s words, he suddenly laughed heartily. Was this Gu Chengyu’s choice?

No matter whom Father wanted to pass the throne to, as long as the final Emperor was him, it was fine. Now it wasn’t Father’s decree, but Gu Chengyu’s choice.

"I will certainly not disappoint Father’s and Mr. Gu’s expectations!"

The heavy stone in the Crown Prince’s heart finally fell. He and Gu Chengyu exchanged a smile, neither exposing the other’s thoughts.

Gu Chengyu smiled outwardly but was contemplating inside. It seemed the Crown Prince already confirmed that the Emperor’s will was in his hands. The Crown Prince still needed him now, so naturally, he treated him with some courtesy.

But what about after the Crown Prince ascends the throne? By then, he would be the Emperor. Would he try every means to obtain the will from him?

The Crown Prince’s strategies were not low, and Gu Chengyu didn’t want to live under constant scrutiny and scheming from those in power.

For now, the Crown Prince still relied on him to help secure the Emperor’s position, but Gu Chengyu was worried once it was all settled, wouldn’t the Crown Prince find a reason to dispose of him?

Just like the Xue Family before!

No one would tolerate allowing leverage that could threaten them to fall into others’ hands, or they wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

"Before you came, Kuang Zhao Ying was here, and he reported the information extracted from Xia Qing. That Tianji Taoist and Xia Qing indeed had a deep relationship, but they weren’t actually familiar with each other."

Gu Chengyu was startled and quickly regained his composure.

"Wasn’t it said that Tianji Taoist was recommended by Xia Qing? I thought this person must be colluding with Da Xing. Xia Qing recommended him with ill intentions. Surely he’s had dealings with Da Xing. Your Highness, did you gain anything from searching Xia Qing’s residence?"

Gu Chengyu focused back on Xia Qing. Such a person who always wanted him dead, if he didn’t stomp on him while he was down, wouldn’t that be a great injustice?

Besides, his reasoning was well-founded, not just wild speculation.

"No, there was no evidence of collusion with Da Xing. But just now, Kuang Zhao Ying handed something over to me. Pang Chu! Guard the outside; don’t let anyone in, and don’t report to anyone." The Crown Prince called out to Pang Chu, who was guarding outside.

Gu Chengyu was somewhat puzzled. The Crown Prince was so cautious; could it be Xia Qing’s confession?

He had a hunch that with Xia Qing’s cunning nature, he wouldn’t come to the palace to pay respects without any backup plans.

After all, everyone knew it was Xia Qing who recommended the Tianji Taoist, and now the Emperor had perished because of Tianji Taoist’s elixir. Xia Qing should be fleeing far away instead.

If Xia Qing colluded with Da Xing, was his return to the palace to cooperate with Da Xing’s people inside and outside?

Those men in black came to mind, and Gu Chengyu thought it very likely. But Xia Qing didn’t expect the Crown Prince to confine him and his disciples in the dungeon without listening to his explanation at all.

Pang Chu quickly responded, puzzled why the Crown Prince reiterated his orders again. It seemed that the Crown Prince truly valued Mr. Gu!

The Crown Prince, not avoiding Gu Chengyu, directly turned a magpie relief on the desk, and a secret compartment suddenly appeared.

Gu Chengyu was speechless, had the Crown Prince trusted him this much? Not even hiding such an important mechanism.

Cough! Was he overthinking it? Perhaps they intended to replace the desk anyway?

The Crown Prince brought out an irregular piece of silk cloth from the secret compartment, with some dark red bloodstains on it.

Hmm? Could it be what he was thinking?

"Have a look!" The Crown Prince handed the silk cloth to Gu Chengyu, who looked suspiciously at the Crown Prince before reaching out to take it.

As he opened the silk cloth, it turned out to be a blood letter!

Gu Chengyu was shocked. Had Xia Qing committed suicide out of guilt? He hastily glanced at the signature below.

Criminal Zhang Shuo!

Gu Chengyu’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was going on?

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