Seeing this Rank 9 soul tool, Xu Tianran grew even more furious. Allowing Yuwen Tuo to reside in the Mingde Hall before was one thing; after all, as an imperial prince, it was normal for Jing Hongchen to feel awkward refusing such a small request as merely staying in the Mingde Hall for a short period.
But now, he had even given him the Rank 9 soul tool, Mortal Dust Protection. Wasn't this clearly taking Yuwen Tuo's side? Could he possibly be helping Yuwen Tuo in the succession struggle?
Xu Tianran speculated that Yuwen Tuo must have informed Jing Hongchen of his eunuch status, prompting Jing Hongchen to swiftly switch allegiances. If that were the case, then Jing Hongchen could not be allowed to live in the future.
Just as Xu Tianran was about to deliver another blow, the Emperor finally arrived, roaring, "Both of you, stop!"
The next moment, the one who moved before the Emperor was a middle-aged man whose appearance bore some resemblance to Xu Tianran. It was Xu Tianyuan, the commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineering Corps.
"You, as imperial princes, one with an unbridled tongue, wantonly insulting your elder brother in the imperial palace, and the other mercilessly attempting to kill his own blood brother what kind of decorum is this? Do you intend to completely disgrace the imperial family of the Sun Moon Empire?" Xu Tianyuan coldly reprimanded the two.
"Clan Elder Brother, Tianran knows his mistake. It's truly Prince Yan who has gone too far. As the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, he repeatedly spreads rumors that I am a eunuch.
How can I, as the Crown Prince, tolerate this?" Towards Xu Tianyuan, at least at this moment, Xu Tianran was quite respectful.
After all, Xu Tianyuan was not only his clan elder brother but also one of the Sun Moon's Protector Hands and the commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineering Corps, holding high power and prestige. Offending him would not benefit his bid for the throne.
"Prince Yan, do you have an explanation for this matter? No matter how the Crown Prince may have offended you, considering sentiment, he is your elder brother. Considering righteousness, he is the Crown Prince.
As a younger brother and a subject, if you do not provide a reasonable explanation for such an offense, even with your unparalleled talent, I cannot tolerate you!" Xu Tianyuan, like the Emperor, was more biased towards Xu Tianran. It was only natural; after all, Xu Tianran was someone they had watched grow up, while Yuwen Tuo was merely someone they had recently taken in.
"Whether it's a rumor or not, wouldn't you know if you just investigated it yourself? I'm actually thinking for the sake of the Sun Moon Empire. After all, the future Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire can't possibly be a eunuch, right?" Yuwen Tuo said without the slightest fear.
"How about this, Your Eminence? You personally step forward and inspect him. I am a divine physician. From my observation, he likely suffers from damaged lower body meridians, leading to impotence. If, after your own examination, it's not the symptoms I described, then I'll let you do as you please."
Yuwen Tuo was a master of medicine. Xu Tianran's condition was clear to him at a glance, and he could even cure it. But even if he were bored to death, he wouldn't treat him. Wouldn't it be better to just let him be a eunuch for life?
"Hmm?" Xu Tianyuan frowned. Yuwen Tuo spoke with such conviction, even making an oath to accept any punishment. Could it truly be real? If it were indeed true, then Xu Tianran absolutely could not become Emperor. Just as Yuwen Tuo said, how could the Emperor of the Empire be a eunuch?
The Emperor arrived a step slower than Xu Tianyuan, but he still overheard their conversation. He immediately sent away his attendants and ordered the army to seal off all areas of the Eastern Palace, allowing no one to approach. Whether this matter was true or false, no one could be allowed to know.
Previously, Yuwen Tuo had repeatedly cursed Xu Tianran. The Emperor could still dismiss it as a mere conflict between brothers and casual slander. But if it were to be truly investigated, outsiders absolutely could not know, otherwise, the imperial family would lose all face.
"Tianran, is what Prince Yan said truly fact?" The Emperor looked at Xu Tianran with sharp eyes.
"Imperial Father... Your son... your son..." Xu Tianran didn't know how to explain himself for a moment. Should he say Yuwen Tuo was talking nonsense? It was easy to say that, but now that the Emperor and Xu Tianyuan were already suspicious, they would undoubtedly conduct an examination afterward. What good would a denial do?
Indeed, the hardest thing to refute in this world was the truth. He now utterly detested Yuwen Tuo. If it weren't for him, how would Imperial Father and Xu Tianyuan know this biggest secret?
Hearing Xu Tianran's evasive answer, the Emperor and Xu Tianyuan knew that this matter was, more likely than not, true. Thinking of this, the Sun Moon Emperor almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
The Crown Prince he had painstakingly chosen, the Crown Prince he was unwilling to replace even with his crippled legs, was actually a eunuch. He felt his already limited lifespan had been shortened by several more years.
"Tuo'er, I command you, regardless of the truth of this matter, you are not to spread a single word of it outside from now on." The Emperor looked at Yuwen Tuo with sharp eyes. Other matters, he could tolerate Yuwen Tuo's wanton behavior, considering his talent and background.
But this matter was of utmost importance; a single slip could cause turmoil in the imperial court. The Crown Prince had cultivated his influence in the imperial court for many years, his foundation was deep, and his forces were intricately intertwined. Even if he truly was a eunuch, he couldn't be replaced overnight.
So, the Emperor's first thought now was to conceal this secret, and then see if there was a way to cure Xu Tianran. Only when there was truly no other option would he make further plans.
"Alright, I've cursed enough today anyway," Yuwen Tuo chuckled. "Actually, Your Majesty, I came here today not for this matter, but to deliver a gift. It's just that I called out for a long time outside the Eastern Palace, and this cripple ignored me, so I had no choice but to resort to this."
"A gift?" Only then did everyone notice that Yuwen Tuo had been carrying a wooden box in his hand. Was this his gift to the Crown Prince? Their relationship was far from good; this was most likely nothing good.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Let me ask you something, what is the crime for assassinating an imperial prince?" Yuwen Tuo asked the Emperor.
The Emperor answered without hesitation, "Of course, it's a death sentence, leading to confiscation of property and extermination of the clan."
"Hmm, that's right then. I imagine His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also thinks so. On my way back from the Evil Spirit Forest, I was ambushed and killed by such a scoundrel. However, his strength was too weak, and I counter-killed him. This box contains his head.
Assassinating an imperial prince is certainly an act of treason. I'm presenting the head of this traitor to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who is so concerned for the nation and its people.
I'm sure it will fill His Royal Highness with joy. I just wonder how His Royal Highness will reward me?" As he spoke, Yuwen Tuo opened the wooden box, tossed the head, and then performed a curved shot reminiscent of Ozora Tsubasa.
"Go!"
The head landed in front of Xu Tianran in an arc. Xu Tianran focused his gaze and instantly recognized the familiar, wide-eyed face of the deceased.
"Shadow Douluo, Xue Chen?"
This was indeed Xue Chen, his only personal Titled Douluo. He had sent him to monitor Yuwen Tuo, with instructions to kill Yuwen Tuo instantly if he found him alone. But now, it wasn't Yuwen Tuo's head that was thrown before him, but his own.
Yuwen Tuo chuckled, "Dead eun... Oh, no, I mean, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Do you like this gift?"
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