The Supreme Divine Doctor: The Emperor Wants to Marry Down
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Chu Liuyue naturally did not know what Rong Xiu was thinking at this moment.
His hot breath brushed against her neck and behind her ears, making her feel a slight itch.
A gentle breeze blew, swaying the bamboo forest.
Chu Liuyue snapped awake instantly.
No wonder Rong Xiu had been constantly observing the military distribution of the entire Imperial Capital; it turned out he had been preparing for this day all along!
Rong Jiu had stayed in the Imperial Capital for several months without even leaving the city walls.
Now, the sudden decision to raise an army for rebellion clearly meant someone had been fanning the flames!
And that person—was Rong Xiu!
"Your Highness, how... how long ago did you begin planning this?" Chu Liuyue couldn't help but ask.
Rong Xiu's deep voice drifted from beside her ear.
"...Mm... quite a long time... When did Third Imperial Brother head to the Northwest Army?"
His tone was casual and composed, as if this were nothing more than a trivial matter.
Chu Liuyue was startled. She gave him a sudden push and tilted her head back, her ink-jade eyes staring at Rong Xiu in disbelief.
"Does Your Highness mean... but didn't he volunteer to go back then—"
Chu Liuyue's words cut off abruptly.
An utterly absurd thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Seeing her rare expression of shock, a trace of a smile flickered in the corners of Rong Xiu's eyes.
*It isn't easy to see her show such an expression...*
Seeing his expression, Chu Liuyue opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.
What was there left to say!?
This was clearly an admission!
For all these years, every single move Rong Jiu made had actually been under Rong Xiu's control!
Whether it was his determination to join the army after being bullied by the Empress and the Crown Prince, or his subsequent accumulation of immense military merit that threatened the sovereign, and now being backed into a corner with no way out...
It was all clearly part of Rong Xiu's plan!
But—it was like raising a tiger to create a disaster!
Right now, the one Rong Jiu intended to deal with was Emperor Jiawen, but in the end, it would inevitably turn toward Rong Xiu!
A massive storm surged in Chu Liuyue's heart, and she finally couldn't help but ask
"The news of the Third Prince's intention to rebel... was it you who told His Majesty?"
Rong Xiu's brow twitched slightly.
"You underestimate Father Imperial too much. Since Third Imperial Brother has done this, how could Father Imperial be completely unaware? This Prince has very little to do with this matter."
*I'd be a fool to believe you!*
Chu Liuyue grumbled inwardly.
It was highly likely that even if Rong Jiu intended to revolt, Rong Xiu had given him a push!
"The Third Prince doesn't know about this?"
Rong Xiu raised a sword-like eyebrow.
"What does Yue'er think?"
Chu Liuyue let out a sharp hiss and slapped her forehead.
Her brain had short-circuited.
If Rong Jiu knew, how could the situation have turned out like this today?
"The five thousand elites of the Northwest Army are nearing the Imperial Capital." Rong Xiu spoke nonchalantly, his hand gently stroking her slender, soft waist. "As for when the fighting will break out, that depends on the intentions of Father Imperial and Third Imperial Brother."
Given Rong Jiu's personality, he shouldn't be able to wait much longer. Moreover, Father Imperial would issue a ruling regarding Rong Jiu within the next few days.
Chu Liuyue lowered her hand and opened her eyes to look at him gloomily.
"Aren't all of these things merely within Your Highness's whim?"
To this day, everything was under the control of Rong Xiu alone!
Rong Xiu let out a low laugh.
"If I heard correctly, is this—Yue'er praising this Prince?"
Chu Liuyue: "..."
Was whether it was praise more important than the matter itself?
The Kingdom of Yaochen was about to undergo a massive upheaval!
Yet, looking at Rong Xiu's demeanor, he truly didn't seem to care!
Seeing her face full of shock and confusion, Rong Xiu laughed for a while before finally speaking
"Rest assured, Lord Chu Ning will lead a troop out of the Imperial Capital today to investigate some matters. Even if the Imperial Guard and the Northwest Army clash, Lord Chu Ning will not be implicated."
Was he intentionally sending her father away for her sake?
This conversation with Rong Xiu contained too much joy; Chu Liuyue's thoughts raced, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
She looked at Rong Xiu with a complex gaze.
This man possessed demonic looks, extraordinary talent, and his schemes and methods were terrifyingly powerful.
Yet, he was so candid with her that she didn't even know what kind of emotion to use to face him.
To orchestrate such a grand game, calculating for years, and then to tell her so easily?
"Your Highness... are you not worried that I might tell others about these things?" Chu Liuyue asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
Rong Xiu looked at her with slight surprise, as if she had asked an incredibly foolish question.
"Is there any woman in this world who would place the man she deeply loves in danger?"
Chu Liuyue: "...?"
That didn't seem wrong, but why did it sound so strange?
"You—I—"
Chu Liuyue stammered. Her usually silver tongue felt as if it had been tied in knots.
After a long while, she finally decided to give up and stop obsessing over that.
However, she still had one more strange and most important question.
"Your Highness, why are you doing this after all?"
One was his father, and the other was his brother.
In their very bones, they flowed with the same blood.
Rong Xiu's actions were almost equivalent to personally instigating the conflict between Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jiu.
A war was on the verge of breaking out!
In the end, regardless of who won or lost, what meaning did it hold for Rong Xiu?
Rong Xiu pondered for a moment and gave a light laugh.
"Oh, this Prince simply feels that fighting and snatching is too much trouble, so I am merely finding someone to do it on my behalf."
Chu Liuyue was dumbfounded.
Do—do it on his behalf!?
He was referring to the struggle for the throne, right!?
Is there even such a thing as an "alternative" for this kind of matter!?
Furthermore, most importantly, if Rong Xiu truly wanted that throne, why would he have feigned illness for so many years?
Given how much Emperor Jiawen valued and doted on him, as long as Rong Xiu showed his true strength—no, even if he only revealed a small fraction—Emperor Jiawen would surely appoint him as the Crown Prince!
Chu Liuyue actually wanted to ask a question, but for some reason, she had a strong intuition—it was best if she didn't.
Rong Xiu must have his own reasons for doing this.
After reacting for a long while, Chu Liuyue finally found her voice
"But if that is the case, wouldn't that position ultimately belong to the Third Prince?"
A very faint smile appeared between Rong Xiu's brows, but his eyes carried an indescribable, domineering pressure!
He said slowly—
"Does Yue'er think it was someone else who helped Third Imperial Brother contact the Northwest Army, and gave him that final reassurance to resolve his doubts and commit to the rebellion?"
"Naturally, it was this Prince's people."
Emperor Jiawen summoned his ministers to collectively discuss the disposition of Rong Jiu.
After intense debate, a final verdict was finally reached.
—The Third Prince, Rong Jiu, has committed high treason. Taking advantage of the opportunity when Emperor Jiawen entrusted him to look after the Empress, he harmed the Empress and attempted to destroy the evidence. His crimes are heinous and intolerable by heaven and earth. He is sentenced to—
Beheading at the Meridian Gate!
(End of Chapter)