The Sage leaned back slowly against the dragon throne, his gaze fixed on Xie Jia'an. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You cannot be unaware of the principle that an innocent man is condemned by the treasure he possesses."
"Jia'an, a mere sparrow in the mountains, harbors no ambition of a swan. I seek not the heights of the court, nor do I concern myself with the King's joys or sorrows. I wish only to be lost in the beauty of nature, day after day."
"The Sage's concern is the smooth ascension of the Crown Prince. Why then stir up trouble and invite further vexation? The Ministry of Personnel has petitioned for the new King's enthronement. Why would the Sage not be pleased?"
"Currently, Great Wei dominates the other nations, and the people are united. Jia'an is but a commoner, less than a pawn on the Sage's chessboard. If the Sage expends so much effort, is it out of apprehension, or a desire to erase shame and deny the past?"
Xie Jia'an's words seemed to plunge the Sage into a daze. Shame?
Indeed, it was shame.
He had watched, with an innocent facade, as they murdered his brother, his father, until he became King.
He, the dignified Emperor, was manipulated by his ministers, his every step fraught with difficulty.
He was enraged!
He transferred his anger over the deaths of his father and brother onto his mother.
The bird's nest soup she consumed daily was poisoned by his own hand.
Crucially, she had known all along.
She had secured his imperial throne, fulfilled his desires, but also driven him to madness, making him a matricide.
His throne was built upon a foundation of corpses, drenched in blood.
Besides those ministers, there were his father, his brother, his mother, and now, it seemed, not even a son was spared.
Anyone who could threaten the throne could not be allowed to live.
To ensure the eternal reign of Great Wei, what was the death of a single person? As a descendant of the Xiao family, to die for this cause was an honor.
The Sage coughed, his smile appearing benevolent, yet his eyes held only coldness. "Clever words and flattering looks. My merits and demerits need not be judged by posterity, nor do I care. My only concern is the eternal stability of Great Wei's empire."
"Killing Jia'an will ensure the empire's eternal stability?"
"Yes!" The Sage coughed more violently, but his eyes remained fixed on Xie Jia'an like a viper's.
Xie Jia'an smiled, "I fear the Sage's torment is not Jia'an, but a demon in his heart. The Sage can kill Jia'an, but he cannot kill his own inner demons. The Sage is simply afraid, afraid that his past deeds will backfire, affecting the future Son of Heaven, affecting Great Wei's empire. The Sage also fears meeting those people, for he knows his body is already failing..."
"How dare you! Do you believe I cannot kill you right now?"
Xie Jia'an smiled, "This commoner believes it. The Sage is the supreme ruler of the world, Jia'an is but an ant. Taking Jia'an's life is as easy as lifting a hand. But does the Sage not fear the Crown Prince knowing? The Crown Prince, with his literary and martial prowess, his ability to discern and employ talent, and his compassionate heart that the Sage lacks, is destined to be a wise ruler, a blessing to the world. If the Crown Prince were to know, would he kill Jia'an, as the Sage claims?"
"Presumptuous!" The Sage roared in anger.
He knew the Crown Prince was too kind-hearted, and had always kept Xie Jia'an's identity from him. Besides Empress Wang, only he and Zhang Ying knew Xie Jia'an's true identity in the palace.
Zhang Ying would not, and dared not, tell the Crown Prince.
"The Crown Prince is more astute than the Sage imagines," Xie Jia'an continued calmly, "and possesses a greater capacity for tolerance."
The Sage's expression shifted, "You dare tell him?"
"This commoner dares not, nor will I. From beginning to end, I am merely Xie Jia'an, and I only wish to be Xie Jia'an."
The Sage narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xie Jia'an, as if weighing the truth of his words. Besides himself, who else would reveal this secret to the Crown Prince?
Could it be... Empress Wang?
The Sage closed his eyes. Should he have shown mercy and spared her life in a moment of weakness?
Why could she not be content and obedient? She was his legal wife, why did her heart always lean towards the Empress Dowager, towards unrelated people?
She had truly disappointed him.