Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 388 - 238 The Emperor Flees!_4

Chapter 388: Chapter 238 The Emperor Flees!_4

Therefore, after today’s court discussions, some officials adept at "reading the emperor’s mind" secretly requested an audience with the Emperor and spoke of the possibility that the Emperor had been anticipating at the court meeting, but no minister dared to publicly mention.

Escape.

Thus, after a solemn presentation of pros and cons, the Emperor, under the instigation of some cunning eunuch, decided to stage such an ugly farce.

Under the cloak of night, the Emperor’s carriage was unusually low-key, not employing the usual pomp of street outings, but dressed like an ordinary high-ranking official, quietly yet somewhat hurriedly heading toward the side gate.

The Qi Dynasty was a dynasty without curfews, which had some historical reasons.

Originally, Da Liang had many markets that would lock up at night, and citizens were not allowed on the streets without cause. However, as the commercial economy of the Qi Dynasty gradually developed, the boundaries of the markets were quickly breached, making it very difficult to enforce curfews at night, thus keeping the city lively throughout.

After several unsuccessful attempts to restore the curfew, the capital by this time had effectively abolished it and had become a true city that never sleeps during its most prosperous times.

However, during this period, because of the Jin soldiers moving southward, the entire capital had become panic-stricken. Hence, the Emperor issued an edict to strengthen the night patrols. Under such tense atmosphere, fewer people were willing to walk the streets at night, so the capital seemed somewhat deserted at this time.

The Emperor deliberately avoided the busier streets and hurriedly headed toward a side entrance.

Inside the spacious carriage, Emperor Yingzong’s frame swayed slightly with the jolts. But a joy of escaping the cage was somewhat undeniable.

And in this joy, there might have been some spite: My father could flee, so why can’t I?

The relationship between this father and son among the emperors was actually not as harmonious as people might imagine.

Although he was abdicated, Emperor Yingzong was not the favorite among the many princes of Emperor Qihui. This was something both father and son were keenly aware of.

Moreover, born into the imperial family, there was scant room for affection.

The imperial power only allowed one to enjoy it, and neither Emperor Qihui, now the Supreme Emperor, nor the newly enthroned Emperor Yingzong wanted to share power with anyone.

Whether this person was his father or his son.

For Emperor Yingzong, when he first learned that he was to become the Emperor, his heart was initially filled with surprise and some excitement. But after the ascension, various overwhelming responsibilities made him develop more complex emotions.

Why could his father safely flee the impending siege by the Jin soldiers on the capital, leaving this mess to him while he could only share life and death with the capital?

I am the Son of Heaven, why should I risk my life, why should I be controlled by the civil and military officials?

This thought would naturally arise in anyone the moment they became the Son of Heaven and would continue to ferment under the escalating tension, gradually becoming a strong conviction dominating the mind.

If imperial power acts as a potent medicine that enables talented rulers to soar like a tiger with wings, for those emperors of lower intelligence, morality, and ambition, it resembles an addictive drug that inflames dark privacies within without stimulating any ambition for achievements.

Therefore, Emperor Yingzong believed he could play a "Strike first, report later" gambit, seeking first to escape the capital and deal with subsequent matters later.

Just as those cunning eunuchs had said, he was now the Emperor, the revered one. Even if he made some decisions, they were for the greater good. In case the capital fell, the Emperor could not risk his life...

Even if he left, the capital still had Li Boxi and other senior officials. If they couldn’t defend the city, it would be their fault.

Who would dare accuse the Emperor?

Just after a short while, Emperor Yingzong of Qi, who was in the carriage, began to sense that something was amiss.

The carriage came to a halt, and noises of commotion arose ahead.

He slightly lifted the curtain and asked in a low voice, "What is happening?"

The eunuch serving him hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, it is Li Boxi with Li Hao and others, blocking the carriage, saying, saying..."

Before he could finish, the Emperor had already heard Li Boxi’s voice coming from ahead.

Li Boxi’s carriage obstructed the front of the Emperor’s convoy, and at that moment, this robust old official knelt unhesitatingly in front of the carriage, loudly saying, "With a formidable enemy at our doorstep and the threat of battle looming, how can Your Majesty consider abandoning the capital?"

Behind Li Boxi, there was also Li Hao, played by Chu Ge, along with many pro-war officials summoned overnight, who all knelt down and loudly said, "We beseech Your Majesty to stay in the capital and share fate with the army and people of our dynasty!"

These officials did not use the more common private address "Your Majesty" but instead used "Your Majesty," adding a layer of solemnity to the situation.

Emperor Yingzong’s expression changed several times, and his gaze swept over these kneeling officials, as if committing each of their faces to memory.

After wrestling with the situation, Emperor Yingzong finally realized that it would be difficult to proceed and reluctantly said, "Why must my loyal officials do this? I am not fleeing southwards, just, just... just inspecting the defenses at the city gates. You are all perhaps overly alarmed.

"Indeed, how could you think of me as someone afraid of dying?"

Li Boxi, leading the entourage, immediately said loudly, "We are culpable of grave offenses. But given the critical situation, we implore Your Majesty to return to the palace, lest the hearts of the capital’s citizens be unsettled!"

Emperor Yingzong’s mouth twitched, but he managed to squeeze out a forced smile, "What Chancellor Li said is very reasonable. Since that is so, I will no longer continue my inspection and will return to the palace!"

With that, he angrily closed the curtain of the carriage.

Watching the Emperor’s caravan finally turn back towards the palace, the various ministers, who had intended to leave the city together, also silently dispersed.

Li Boxi shook his head quietly and sighed.

Then, he looked towards Chu Ge, "Chengzheng, had it not been for your timely notification, a great disaster might have ensued... I thank you on behalf of all the common people!"

Chu Ge quickly said, "Chancellor Li exaggerates. This was merely my duty. Please, expend more effort on the defense of the capital. Now more than ever, Qi’s ministers need to work in harmony to overcome this crisis."

Li Boxi nodded, bid farewell to Chu Ge, and hurriedly went to continue planning the capital’s defenses.

Jin soldiers could move south at any time, and during this period Li Boxi was incredibly busy, relentlessly mobilizing citizens, Rebel Army, and reinforcing the city’s defenses, while also coordinating the flow and distribution of various materials.

Even with utmost caution, the idea that the Emperor might have slipped away had startled Li Boxi.

Thankfully, they had intercepted him, reducing the likelihood of the Emperor attempting to escape again.

However, what both men did not know was that shortly after Emperor Yingzong’s return to the palace, he had summoned his personal eunuch.

"Who dares to surveil me, and to muster the officials to pressure me in such a short time? It’s outright lawlessness!

"Get to the bottom of this!"

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