"Hold, wait!" The Crown Prince's voice arrived before he did.
Ye Feisheng's arrow flew towards Hua Chaofei. Xie Jiayan, unsure how many archers were outside, warned, "Be careful," and leaped forward to catch the arrow.
Hua Chaofei dodged, his sword losing its force. Zhang Ying, in his dying moments, clutched the sword tightly, preventing it from piercing Emperor Yong'an behind him.
"Crown Prince, you've arrived at the perfect moment! Kill these two traitors for me!" Emperor Yong'an roared hysterically, his body swaying precariously before he collapsed onto the dragon throne.
Hua Chaofei sneered. He had witnessed human depravity before, but compared to this, it was nothing.
As he drew his sword, blood splattered Emperor Yong'an's face. The dripping sword tip pointed at the Emperor's throat. "You can try to see if the arrows outside are faster than my sword!"
"Father, let them go!" Xiao Che's expression was filled with pain.
"Impossible!" Emperor Yong'an shouted.
He was indeed the greatest calamity for Great Wei. If he were allowed to leave, with such formidable experts by his side, he would eventually bring ruin to the realm.
He would not let them leave today, even if it meant his own death.
"Father!" Xie Jiayan had contributed greatly to the country, had shown him kindness, and was his... brother. It was wrong to engage in fratricide, to turn father against son.
Xiao Che glanced at Xie Jiayan, his eyes complex. "Brother!"
The address of "Brother" stunned Xie Jiayan.
Xiao Che was the first to acknowledge him.
He had never considered reclaiming his identity, nor had he ever thought of vying for the throne with Xiao Che.
But he could feel Xiao Che's sincerity.
He had been taught by Emperor Yong'an since childhood, yet his heart was not as heartless as his father's.
He would be a good ruler in the future.
They had crossed paths a few times in the capital before, but their interactions had not been deep. None of them compared to the impact of this moment.
"Brother, ask Young Master Hua to sheathe his sword." After the first address of "Brother," this second one was even more genuine, carrying a hint of pleading.
Father had already made a mistake; he could not let his brother bear the infamy of patricide, for it would haunt him like a nightmare for the rest of his life.
Before Xie Jiayan could speak, the Emperor laughed heartily. "Che'er, there's no need to beg him. He is unworthy of being a descendant of my Xiao family. I will not acknowledge him."
Hua Chaofei laughed, his face filled with mockery. "As if he's eager to be related to you. He is Xie Jiayan, and he has nothing to do with you."
The evil in human hearts was vividly displayed in this dog emperor.
"Your Highness, this commoner's actions are out of desperation, not a desire for rebellion. However, there is a way to resolve this situation."
"What way?"
"The Sage abdicates, and the Crown Prince ascends the throne," Xie Jiayan stated gravely.
Xiao Che looked at Emperor Yong'an on the dragon throne. His father was truly old. Even if he did not abdicate, his body could not hold on for much longer.
He had grown up with his father and had witnessed him wake from nightmares more than once, seen him sit alone in the darkness until dawn.
At those times, his father was lonely, fearful, and beyond redemption.
The path of an emperor was always bloody. His father had borne too much for this throne.
Seeing the Crown Prince's soft heart, the Sage commanded Ye Feisheng, "Ye Feisheng, kill them for me!"
Ye Feisheng, however, silently retreated behind the Crown Prince. The Sage's expression turned ferocious. "You dare betray me."
"Father, we cannot continue to err," Xiao Che said with deep sorrow.
The Emperor's recent actions had already caused widespread discontent among the ministers, who had repeatedly petitioned for his ascension.
Although he was reluctant, if his father continued to make such mistakes, the ministers would become restless, and the court would be unstable.
The imperial bloodline was already dwindling. He could not allow his father to harm his own family in the name of the empire.
"Che'er, even you defy me!" The Sage was so enraged he could barely breathe. "To let the tiger return to the mountains is to invite endless trouble. We cannot let them go."
"Father," Xiao Che suddenly knelt. "This son implores Father to abdicate."