Chapter 159 The Shackles of Power (Torture of Chu Huaiyu 3)

Chapter 159 The Shackles of Power (Torture of Chu Huaiyu 3)

Chu Siheng's gaze swept over the assembled princes and ministers, and he said loudly, "Gentlemen, today I, Chu Siheng, am escorting the traitor Chu Huaiyu back to the capital, not to usurp the throne, but to expose a shocking bloodbath and to comfort the spirits of the late Emperor and my mother in heaven!"

These words caused an uproar in the court, and the officials looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.

Didn't the late Emperor Mingwu pass away three years ago? And what about Empress Dowager Yu?

Chu Siheng's gaze turned deep, then he looked up at Lu Huaimin beside him and said coldly, "Lu Huaimin, tell everyone what Chu Huaiyu has done."

Lu Huaimin first bowed deeply, then raised his head, his eyes filled with darkness: "Do you gentlemen know that the late Emperor Mingwu did not pass away before?"

As soon as he said that, a gasp of surprise and astonishment erupted in the hall.

Before everyone could recover, Lu Huaimin continued, each word ringing with conviction: "The late emperor was placed under house arrest by Chu Huaiyu in a temple in the Taihang Mountains until half a month ago, when Chu Huaiyu ordered him to be given poisoned wine, and he died!"

"Even worse, Empress Dowager Yu was also poisoned to death by Chu Huaiyu with the same poison. After Empress Dowager Yu's death, the news was kept secret!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, instantly turning the faces of the assembled princes and ministers ashen.

Some people moved their lips for a long time but couldn't utter a single word, while others trembled all over, their eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

After Lu Huaimin finished speaking, the hall fell silent, with only the heavy breathing of the crowd remaining.

Chu Siheng looked up at everyone, then took out a black iron certificate from his sleeve.

The gilded characters on the iron certificate gleamed in the candlelight. Chu Siheng proclaimed, "This was written by the late emperor himself."

After saying this, he paused for a moment, then his gaze swept over everyone in the hall again, and he read out word by word, "Chu Huaiyu is a traitor who plotted to murder his father. He is an unrighteous and immoral person, and heaven and earth cannot tolerate him."

"I have decided that Prince Chu Siheng of Mo Nan shall ascend the throne. You ministers must do your utmost to assist him and support the nation, so as to comfort my spirit in heaven."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Siheng handed the imperial edict to the guard beside him and said in a deep voice, "Take it down and let the officials take a look."

The guards carried the iron certificates with both hands and walked from the front of the hall to the back, handing them to each minister in turn.

After the last minister finished reading, everyone in the hall had no more doubts.

Someone suddenly knelt down with a thud, shouting, "Your subjects pay homage to the new emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Immediately afterwards, a wave of kneeling and worship swept through the entire hall, and everyone prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Chu Siheng stood on the high seat and said calmly, "All of you may rise and dismount."

Then, his gaze suddenly changed, and he said sternly, "Chu Huaiyu murdered his father and mother, a heinous crime!"

"Today, I hereby proclaim to the world that Chu Huaiyu is deposed from the throne and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison! He shall be kept under strict guard and await further judgment!"

Upon hearing the commotion, the imperial guards outside the palace rushed in, their armor clanging loudly.

Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu slowly raised his head. Beneath his disheveled hair, his eyes still held a hint of arrogance.

He looked at Chu Siheng on the steps, and at the shocked officials, and suddenly chuckled softly, but the laughter sent chills down everyone's spine.

...

Deep within the prison, a damp, chilling atmosphere, carrying the smell of mildew, assaulted the senses, piercing to the bone.

Chu Siheng slowly descended the stone steps, the hem of his black brocade robe sweeping across the moss-covered ground, making a soft, rustling sound.

The torches on both sides crackled, and the leaping flames cast Chu Siheng's shadow long and cold, which fell on the heavy prison door in front of him like a heavy shackle.

The prison door was slowly pushed open by the guards, and the jarring creaking sound echoed in the silent dungeon.

Chu Siheng looked up and saw Chu Huaiyu huddled on a pile of straw, his prison uniform filthy and his long hair tangled in strands, obscuring his face.

The once noble and unparalleled emperor has now fallen so low as to be a beggar on the street.

Only her eyes, peeking out from under her hair, remained strikingly bright, carrying a hint of mockery.

Chu Siheng waved his hand to dismiss those around him, and his footsteps faded into the distance in the empty prison.

He walked slowly to the prison bars, looking down at Chu Huaiyu with hatred in his voice: "Chu Huaiyu, your father has wronged you, but my mother has never harmed you. Why did you poison her?"

Chu Huaiyu slowly raised his head, revealing a pale and thin face.

He looked at Chu Siheng and suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and dry, making one's heart tighten.

"Chu Siheng, you are really naive."

Upon hearing this, Chu Siheng frowned and his eyes darkened.

Chu Huaiyu struggled to sit up slowly, the wound on his shoulder blade aggravated, making his face even paler, but he didn't care, just staring at Chu Siheng.

"From the very beginning, my father never intended for me to sit firmly on the throne. What he wanted me to be was your knife, your sword, an executioner to eliminate your dissidents."

“I, Chu Huaiyu, have been nothing more than a stepping stone for your imperial ambitions, Chu Siheng, and a pawn on Father Emperor’s chessboard that can be discarded at any time.”

"You should know what's going on in your heart, right? As for your mother... I killed her, so what? Why ask so many questions?"

"I've given you a reputation for virtue and a peaceful and prosperous world without you lifting a finger. Shouldn't you thank me?"

I see……

Even though Chu Siheng had already guessed some of it, he still felt a chill in his heart when he heard Chu Huaiyu's words.

Chu Siheng's lips moved, but no sound came out.

Did he really win?

He has now defeated Chu Huaiyu, won the throne, and won the world.

But why did he feel no sense of pleasure?

Chu Siheng slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and brooding, a smile of endless sorrow curving his lips.

Power has trapped them all within it, gnawing at their hearts beyond recognition.

Father Emperor, Chu Huaiyu, and his mother...

In this game of power, no one is a true winner; everyone becomes a slave to power, a demon consumed by desire.

To consolidate his imperial power, the emperor did not hesitate to scheme against his own son. In order to escape his fate as a pawn, Chu Huaiyu did not hesitate to kill his father and mother.

Chu Siheng slowly closed his eyes, and the dungeon fell silent once again.

A moment later, Chu Siheng opened his eyes and looked at Chu Huaiyu, who was emaciated in the prison. There was no joy of victory in his heart, only boundless desolation and sorrow.

He slowly turned around and walked heavily toward the stone steps.

Behind him, Chu Huaiyu's laughter rang out again, shrill and ironic, echoing for a long time in the depths of the prison, lingering there.

To stand by and watch coldly, or even tacitly approve...

The moment Chu Siheng stepped out of the prison, the sunlight poured down, so bright that he couldn't open his eyes.