1537: The Strike (3)

The Strike (3)

The chief steward wasn't the only one who thought that way.1

Everyone stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, hoping that the empress dowager would show up out of the blue, save the day, and end this terrifying confrontation.

But what the chief steward told them only made them despair.

"Her Majesty is still unconscious?"

"What do we do now? What are we going to do?"

"Who else can stop this fight? This is a disaster!"

"Oh god… The empire… What's going to happen now…"

-

Meanwhile, Emperor Wu was glaring at Jun Linyuan with eyes that could spit fire.

Of course he knew that everyone was watching.

Because of that, he felt utterly ashamed!

It was already humiliating to fight his son in public, but the brat wouldn't back off, and acted so stubborn.

Emperor Wu was furious.

Even if he wanted to stop, he still needed an excuse.

But —

With the empress dowager unconscious and Empress Dugu hiding away, none of the officials dared to move any closer. No one was there to provide Emperor Wu with a proper excuse.

He glowered at Jun Linyuan and pointed his sword at him. "You brat! Are you going to keep doing this?!"

It was a very obvious hint. All the brat needed to do was admit his fault and back off. That way, this could end.

But Jun Linyuan was as dauntless as ever.

"Of course!" he said without hesitation.

Emperor Wu almost had a heart attack.

What a defiant son!

With everyone watching, he would lose all his authority as an emperor if he couldn't keep his son under control.

Emperor Wu was forced to keep going.

"Fine! If you really have a death wish, I'll give that to you!"

Emperor Wu pointed at Jun Linyuan with his Emperor Sword, and spiritual essence instantly gathered around him.

Immediately, all the spiritual essence around him rushed toward him until it was absorbed by the sword.

The same thing happened to Jun Linyuan as well.

Murderous intent filled the air.

The battle felt like a sword hanging over everyone's head which could fall at any moment.

"Your Majesty, please don't —"

Yuan Qian, the head of the Pavilion of the Imperial Library, knelt down first and pounded his forehead on the ground as he cried, trying to persuade the emperor and the crown prince.

Yuan Qian was an influential court official. He was already advanced in his years and a respected figure. Apart from Grand Secretary Fang, he was almost the most highly-ranked civil official.

Therefore, his pleading was very significant.

Behind him, all the other officials and their family members knelt down as well.

"Your Majesty, please forgive His Royal Highness…"

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness is still young…"

"Your Majesty, you're much more magnanimous than this…"

"Your Majesty…"

Everyone begged Emperor Wu to stop.

Only then did Emperor Wu feel better, but before he could end the confrontation, something Master Dugu said made him flare up again.

Master Dugu said, "Your Royal Highness, you're His Majesty's subject. How can you point your sword at the emperor? Are you trying to take the throne by force?!"

Immediately, a hush fell over the crowd.

It was so quiet that they could hear the sound of falling leaves.

Everyone had been trying to look past that and didn't dare bring it up, but Master Dugu had other plans. What a schemer!

Emperor Wu felt a throbbing pain in his chest.

This brat! Did he really want to usurp the throne?!

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