Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity

Chapter 1227 - 1063: Treason and Rebellion

At Li Chang An’s command, the Imperial Guard swiftly moved in, firmly locking down the Empress and Prince Gong, among others.This sudden development shocked everyone present, even Liao Wu stopped turning his Buddha beads, his face full of confusion.

The Empress was even more stunned, her face changed dramatically, "Commander Li, I order you to confine the people to the Dali Temple. Why are you surrounding us?"

Li Chang An sneered, "Empress, can’t you see? How foolish indeed."

With that, he walked behind Prince Gong, using his long sword to loosen the ropes tying Prince Gong. Then he turned and bowed to Prince Gong, saying, "Apologies, Your Highness, for the inconvenience. It was due to the situation. I ask for your forgiveness!"

Prince Gong rubbed his numb hands and smirked slightly, "Mr. Li, no need to dwell on it. You’ve done well!"

The Empress collapsed into the rose chair, finding it hard to believe that the situation had turned around.

"You, how dare you commit treason?" The Empress pointed at Prince Gong and Li Chang An, her eyes filled with not rage but panic.

"Big brother, was it you who kidnapped our second brother?" Prince Jing’s pale face was full of disbelief, then he gave a bitter laugh and shook his head.

"Big brother, you really calculated well, little brother was almost fooled by you."

"Humph! Treason? The Empress wanted me dead, how could I remain indifferent? I was merely trying to protect myself, there was no other choice?"

Prince Gong sighed, then looked at Prince Jing, "As for the matter of kidnapping the Crown Prince, fourth brother has wrongly accused me, I did not do it."

Hearing this, Prince Jing couldn’t help but cast a suspicious glance at Prince Gong. If it wasn’t Prince Gong, then who?

He quickly turned his head to look at Liao Wu, who was standing calmly to the side. Could it be Liao Wu?

"Amitabha Buddha! Prince Gong, put down the butcher’s knife, lest you create further bloodshed!" Liao Wu clasped his hands in prayer, his eyes clear and bright.

Prince Jing stared at Liao Wu for a long moment, feeling that the other was just pretending. At this point, the eldest brother wouldn’t need to lie. If the Crown Prince was truly in his hands, he’d have more leverage, no need to refuse to admit it.

And he himself, it was even less likely. Knowing there would be action today, if he wasn’t absolutely sure, he wouldn’t rashly interfere. How could he have kidnapped the Crown Prince?

So who was left, it was self-evident.

Prince Gong couldn’t help but laugh coldly, "Third brother, do you really believe your own act? Don’t think that your trivial tricks can deceive me, and fourth brother, when I entered the Capital, was it you who sent someone to assassinate me halfway?"

The wound on his waist still faintly ached; the sword had gone too deep, causing him a lot of pain.

Prince Jing was taken aback, "Big brother has wronged little brother, this was definitely not done by little brother. Little brother didn’t know your whereabouts, how could I have sent someone to assassinate you? Besides, when little brother came to the Capital this time, I was also attacked. Fortunately, little brother is blessed with great fortune, so there was no harm done!"

This matter was nothing to hide, Prince Jing’s mind was full of questions. Regarding the assassination, the eldest brother couldn’t be lying, could it have been the third or second brother’s doing?

They simultaneously cast their gaze on Liao Wu, eyes filled with suspicion.

Liao Wu shook his head, "I am a monk and have left worldly affairs, I will not participate in the struggle for succession. If you still don’t believe, I have nothing more to say."

"Prince Gong, have you thought this through? This is usurpation, punishable by death according to the law!"

Shen Shikang and several courtiers finally snapped out of their shock. They hadn’t expected such a development; was Prince Gong truly plotting a rebellion?

"Yes, there’s still time to turn back. If Your Highness lets us go, the Empress will surely not pursue past grievances."

Qian Licao’s face was very grim. If Prince Gong succeeded in ascending, they, as members of the Crown Prince Faction, would surely meet a dire fate.

Yang Shiqi hid in the shadows, his gaze faltering, chaos! Only through chaos could he take advantage and slip in!

"Let bygones be bygones? You think I am that naive? An arrow shot cannot be retrieved; there’s no backing out halfway."

Prince Gong glanced at a few of them, who was truly naive?

"Have the Jade Seal and Tiger Talisman been found in the Eastern Palace?" Prince Gong looked at Li Chang An. These two items were crucial. Without them, even sitting on the Dragon Throne was meaningless.

"Reporting to Your Highness, they have not been found!" Li Chang An had already ordered the Eastern Palace to be thoroughly searched, yet these two items were not found.

Humph! Prince Gong’s face darkened, indeed the Crown Prince wasn’t so foolish. But no matter who took the Crown Prince, everything was almost set for him.

As long as he obtained these two items, whether the Crown Prince lived or not was of little concern to him.

"Search Guangning Palace thoroughly," Prince Gong thought for a moment, not believing the Jade Seal, being so large, could be carried around by the Crown Prince?

Then his face darkened again. Perhaps it had been gotten by that person; thinking of the Crown Prince’s disappearance, Prince Gong couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

He didn’t want to be the praying mantis, exhausting all means only to pave the way for someone else.

"Yes!"

"How dare you!?" The Empress erupted in anger, that base-born wretch’s offspring dared search her bedchamber?

"I am the mistress of the harem, and your legitimate mother. You dare act so rebelliously, aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"

The Empress was trembling with rage; she couldn’t believe Prince Gong’s audacity to even covet the Jade Seal and Tiger Talisman.

"Empress, precisely because the Crown Prince has been abducted, your son must conduct a thorough search of the harem to prevent any harm coming to you. Please, do not get upset!"

Prince Gong snorted coldly. At this point, she still dared flaunt her authority as the mistress of the harem.

Seeing Prince Gong so assertive, even tearing away any pretense with the Empress, those inside dared not obstruct. This was clearly a coup; anyone who dared intervene would be risking their life.

These courtiers were wise enough, not immediately becoming turncoats, but naturally needed to be sensible for the sake of their lives.

About two sticks of incense later, Li Chang An returned, "Your Highness, nothing was found!"

Prince Gong’s expression was terrifying; he turned abruptly to Liao Wu, "Third brother, hand over the Jade Seal and Tiger Talisman!"

Liao Wu was somewhat surprised, "Why would Prince Gong say such a thing?"

"Third brother, how long do you plan to play innocent? Where is the Crown Prince? Where are you holding him? Don’t think you can escape; even if you’ve kidnapped him, this palace is entirely under my control. Do you think you can get out?"

As Prince Gong spoke, he cast a glance at Prince Jing’s face. Though there had been no movements from the fourth brother’s end, he dared not be careless.