readytorunbook Chapter 934 Issue an edict of self-reproach!
Chapter 934 Issue an edict of self-reproach!
Every word Zong Huai uttered was like a knife.
It pierced deeply into Zong Lin's heart.
He stared blankly in Zong Huai's direction, and when he heard the words "But you killed her," he could no longer hold back and angrily retorted, "No! I didn't!"
However, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, and Zong Lin's forward-leaning body could no longer support him. He fell forward, his knees slamming heavily to the ground.
"Someone! Someone!" Zong Lin clutched his chest, his voice strained as he called for help.
He was breathing heavily, his breathing becoming labored, as if an invisible hand was slowly stripping away his life force.
His vision blurred, and the veins on the back of his hand, pressed against the floor, stood out.
He suddenly realized that his hand had become so old without him noticing.
An unprecedented panic suddenly engulfed him at that moment.
No one came to the Taiji Hall.
Zong Huai looked at Zong Lin. Over the years, he had enough time to ponder many things over and over again, including every detail. Every forgotten glance would be magnified infinitely.
When he was the crown prince, he never imagined he would have so many conflicts with his brothers. His father and grandfather had fought together to establish the empire, and his grandfather was already quite old when he ascended the throne. Since his father's ascension, he had been the crown prince. The position of heir apparent had been decided long ago, and his relationship with his brothers was generally amicable.
Furthermore, he had an excellent relationship with his father, the emperor, and there was no mutual suspicion between them. If it weren't for that incident, his position as crown prince would have been very secure, and there would have been almost no chance of anything going wrong.
Therefore, before this, he had not been too wary or suspicious of his brother.
It wasn't until the two countries went to war that Shunhe was defeated and Da Yan proposed that he go north as a hostage. At that time, the court was in an uproar over this. Once Da Yan's army crossed the Shun River, the capital of Da Zhao would inevitably fall.
The moment he chose to go north as a hostage, he had already given up the throne.
But he wasn't really stupid.
Every unusual event has a reason.
The situation was just too urgent and chaotic, catching everyone off guard, and he didn't have time to make any more arrangements.
Later, as I recalled and reviewed the events, many things that couldn't be explained gradually became clear.
He ultimately lost because of internal strife among his brothers.
“Ah Lin,” Zong Huai sighed softly, “I lost the dispute between you and me back then, and I admit it. The moment I decided to head north, I had already given up the throne. This was the path I chose.”
"The throne of the Great Zhao has been handed over to you, and this is the responsibility you should bear. Regardless of whether the process was glorious or not, as an emperor, you should be worthy of your ancestors and the common people. You have failed to do so."
"You colluded with Empress Dowager Dugu and took advantage of the war between the two countries to seize power, which is your first crime. In the Battle of Chenzhou, in order to prevent Rong Che from going north, you instructed Xiao Chong to collude with the enemy army, resulting in the deaths of nearly 200,000 soldiers, civilians, and soldiers from Jinzhou, which is your second crime. In order to eliminate any potential threats, you had someone slander a loyal minister, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred members of the Rong family, which is your third crime. In order to resolve disputes through suspicion, you murdered your first wife, which is your fourth crime."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Zong Lin shouted at Zong Huai in a frenzy, his eyes bloodshot.
He tried to rush over and cover Zong Huai's mouth, but he couldn't muster any strength and couldn't even get up. He spat out another mouthful of blood.
“I don’t know what happened after that, but you know it in your heart.” Zong Huai didn’t stop. “They are your people, your subjects, and your first wife.”
"Issue an edict of self-reproach."
"Hahaha!" Zong Lin laughed loudly, forcing out his last bit of strength as he roared, "I am not wrong! I am innocent! Who dares to say I am guilty!"
"Who dares!"
“Before we entered the capital, the Court of Judicial Review sent us a suspect,” Zong Huai said. “It was Lu Jibai.”
"Back then, he discovered your relationship with Empress Dowager Dugu and wanted to tell A-Yue about it. You were worried that if A-Yue found out, you would use Consort Xiao to kill her. Lu Jibai told me that he didn't have time to tell A-Yue about it, but I think that with A-Yue's intelligence, she must have understood many things in the last days of her life."
"I came to see you alone because I wanted to tell you that going north as a hostage was my choice, even though you were the one who made it happen, I never resented you for it. It's just that you lost yourself first, and you have to face the consequences eventually."
The great war between Northern Yan and Great Zhao twenty-five years ago was not something Zong Lin could have instigated.
From its inception, the Northern Yan state aimed to annex the Great Zhao and unify the world.
Zong Lin used that great battle to fight him for power; it was a dispute between brothers. He will take responsibility for his choice and accept it.
However, Zong Lin's gradual loss of control over imperial power and the unforgivable crimes he committed will ultimately require him to give an explanation to the world.
All the crimes have been proven to date.
He either has to issue a self-criticism edict voluntarily, or he has to wait to be forced to do so by his civil and military officials.
After Zong Huai finished speaking, he turned around calmly and walked out of the hall.