Chapter 428

428 Kill each other

Lóng Wei wore an overcoat and pinned his hair into a hair bun at the top of his head. He did not find Li Hua around and buttoned the overcoat. He once again looked at herself in the mirror and left for the King’s manor.

Xiaoming and Tianjie had also come at the same time as him. The trio walked into the private hall, where their father was waiting for them.

Qiu Zedong asked them to take their seats after they formally greeted him. They found the other three princes had already arrived there. Hei Chengxi and Kang Xi were also present in the hall.

Xiaoming stood up and again bowed before informing the King how Wu Zihao planned a rebellion against the King. Also, why Wen Yazhu killed him instead of informing the authority there?

“Who is Wen Yazhu?” Qiu Zedong inquired.

“A fourth-rank official in Qijiang, Father,” Xiaoming answered. “Father, we have solved the entire matter there. Brother Lóng Wei had devised the plan and thanks to it, we were able to solve the matter in such a short time,” Xiaoming looked at Lóng Wei and gave him the credit.

“Prince Lóng Wei has delighted me with his work. I am glad that he worked along with his brothers,” Qiu Zedong stated and smiled. He praised the three princes for their coordinated work.

Xiaoming took his seat and asked his father what happened in Qinping. “The message Father has sent us showed that something big happened here. I also found out my uncle, Ye Yujin, is no more,” Xiaoming said with a worried look.

A grim look appeared on Qiu Zedong’s face. “Ye Yujin had found out about Qiu Qizhen,” He informed his three sons.

.....

Lóng Wei knitted his brows to hear his father’s words. Ye Yujin’s death was blamed on Qizhen. Yuze decided to do that. This was what Li Hua told him. But why did Yuze do that?

“Wasn’t the elder uncle dead long ago?” Xiaoming asked his father.

“He had fallen from the cliff. We could not recover his body,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

“Now, he has returned to take revenge on us. Ye Yujin was such a great warrior. He had come out as victorious in every war he led,” Kang Xi stated and narrowly gazed at Hei Chengxi.

“We have to find Qizhen and kill him,” Qiu Zedong stated and looked at Lóng Wei.

“Prince Lóng Wei is the governor of Qinping. I want him to take responsibility to find Qizhen. He can take the help of the Crown Prince and the other princes,” Qiu Zedong ordered Lóng Wei.

Hei Chengxi and Gao Bing gazed at Lóng Wei, wondering what he would say.

“I will search for him, Father,” Lóng Wei assured the King. “What does Qizhen look like? I would like to know about that, Father,” he requested.

“Prime Minister Kang Xi will provide a sketch to Prince Lóng Wei,” Qiu Zedong assured him.

“Father, can you answer my one question?” Lóng Wei queried.

“Sure.”

“Why did Father kill Qizhen?” Lóng Wei asked a question that was unexpected to everyone. However, the other two princes were also curious to know about it.

“His policies were not good for the Kingdom. Also, when someone deprives you of your right, you must take it by hook or crook. I did the same for the better future of this kingdom,” Qiu Zedong answered.

“Does that mean if any of us princes want the throne in the future, then we must kill each other?” Lóng Wei asked as he gazed with a menacing look at his father.

Xiaoming and Tianjie looked at each other. Lóng Wei was not supposed to ask their father such a question.

“I never deprived any of the princes of their rights,” Qiu Zedong proclaimed.

“I don’t think so, Father,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“Does Brother Lóng Wei want to take over the throne?” Tianjie questioned him and they both glared into each other’s eyes.

“What about the Third Prince? Does he not feel deprived of the power? When you are a concubine’s son, your rights get limited on their own,” Lóng Wei opined. His tone was stern and that small conversation brought a sudden coldness in the hall.

Xiaoming was puzzled to see this side of Lóng Wei. He was again acting mysterious and at the same time, intimidating too.

“Prince Lóng Wei, I trust my sons. You all might have differences in opinions, in characteristics, but you all are united by your hearts. The day any of you rebelled, I won’t hesitate to punish that prince,” Qiu Zedong stated while looking deeply into Lóng Wei’s eyes. “The punishment will not be simple. I will give death sentence if any of the princes rebelled,” he affirmed.

“That will be great, Father,” Lóng Wei said with a wide smile. “I know many of here are feared of me because of the prophecy. But I assure them all, I will not be the one who will rebel,” Lóng Wei confidently said.

Mingquan wondered why Lóng Wei spoke this way in front of everyone. It could bring him into danger. He decided to talk with Lóng Wei later about it.

“Did General Hei find out who try to kill my wife?” Lóng Wei asked as he scrunched his brows in fury.

“It has yet to be revealed, Your Highness,” Hei Chengxi replied.

“Hmm.”

“Prince Lóng Wei has made numerous enemies in the kingdom. Maybe after he left, someone tried to take advantage of the situation,” Kang Xi opined.

“I heard your son threatened my wife in the market and minutes after that, she was attacked,” Lóng Wei stated and it made Kang Xi gulp.

“Prince Lóng Wei, do not trust the rumors. Li Hua is safe,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

“Father, I want to make a request to you. Do not trust Kang Xi and his son,” Lóng Wei did not even flinch to say that. “Since the meeting has ended, I must leave. I am hungry and tired.” He rose to his feet and bowed before leaving the hall.