In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 870: Holding the Emperor to Command the Princes

Chapter 870: Chapter 870: Holding the Emperor to Command the Princes

The figure was exceptionally fat and pale, with a pair of not-so-large squinty eyes surrounded by deep black circles, and the moment his panicked gaze met Qin Zitong’s, he burst out screaming.

"Father, Father, please save your son! Father, please save me, they are about to kill me!"

Qin Ru cried out loud, struggling hard.

This was his most beloved crown prince, how had he come to this dire situation?

Qin Zitong’s inner heart suddenly panicked!

But in a moment, he forced himself to calm down again, "Release the crown prince! Qin Hong, you unfilial son, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Qin Hong sat on his horse, silently taking in Qin Zitong’s facial expression, his eyes growing even deeper.

So many years had passed, he had thought he wouldn’t care, that he had long since forgotten this matter. But upon seeing that worried face again, his heart was still torn apart.

"What do I want to do? That’s what I should be asking you, Father, isn’t it?"

Qin Zitong stumbled back in panic.

Then he felt that his action was somewhat superfluous, and he quickly straightened his spine again.

He spoke with emotion, "After all these years, I granted you a fief, named you King Heng, gave you the prosperous and wealthy lands around Jiangning Mansion for you to flourish and procreate. Haven’t I been good to you? Hong’er, one should cherish their fortune. Do not stray further and further down a path until it harms others and yourself, understand?"

"Father, Hong’er has also had a knot in his heart for many years that he couldn’t untangle. I ask for Father’s help to clear my doubts!"

Qin Hong, with a crooked smile, said indifferently. From beginning to end, he had never once called Qin Zitong ’Father Emperor’.

"What is it?"

Qin Zitong was curious.

Qin Hong folded the horsewhip in his hand, holding it tightly, "My mother is your rightfully wedded queen, and I am your legitimate eldest son. Why, from my earliest memories, have your eyes always been on Qin Ru, blind to anything I do?"

Qin Zitong was taken aback!

He quickly tried to rectify, "Hong’er, what are you talking about? Don’t you know how I’ve treated you these years? Both you and Ru’er are my flesh and blood. The palms and backs of my hands, all are flesh; I treat you both the same!"

"If we are truly the same, why did you deliberately use words to drive me out of the house that year? And while I was away, why did you order your personal guards to hunt me down? After the assassination attempt failed, why did you falsely accuse my study companion and make me lose that last bit of warmth? Why do you always fail to see me, your legitimate eldest son, and for the sake of your Ru’er, arrange for a killer to board the ship and murder me? And then on several occasions, attempt to poison me, each time trying to put me to death?"

Qin Hong’s words were blood-soaked, yet firmly targeted Qin Zitong, "You don’t need to lie to me, I will point it out now, as I naturally hold irrefutable evidence!"

Qin Zitong’s mouth hung open, unable to answer for a long time.

Seeing that Qin Zitong would not even say a few words to placate him, the last sliver of hope in Qin Hong’s eyes shattered!

He suddenly laughed, his laughter filled with mockery.

"How laughable, how truly laughable! For so many years, I have respected you as my father, yet all you have ever wished for is my death! Wishing for my death... Father, oh Father, if it be so, why did you not just kill me when I was born? Why leave me alive? Why!"

Qin Hong shouted loudly!

Venting the resentment he had harbored for many years.

"Why? Do you want to know?"

Qin Zitong suddenly burst into laughter, a sinister chuckle that was particularly chilling. He had understood that there was no possibility for him, Qin Zitong, to survive this day!

The hatred in his eyes was so evident, piercing into the eyes of Qin Hong and everyone else: "What a pity, what a pity, I won’t tell you! If you want to know, go to the Underworld and ask your dead mother!"

The excitement in Qin Hong’s eyes slowly settled, and he retreated gradually, tilting his head and giving Ye Han a salute with a fist clasped.

"Great General Ye, my thanks to you!"

He was handing over the decision on what to do with Qin Zitong to Ye Han.

Ye Han had been silent from the beginning to the end. Upon hearing this, he also gave a salute with his fist clasped, gestured with a wave to the people behind him, and immediately, they swarmed forward...

Qin Zitong and Qin Ru were captured, leading to turmoil in the Great Zhou Dynasty’s political scene, and chaos spread throughout the land, making life miserable for the commoners.

Qin Hong entrenched himself in Longxing Mansion, using the emperor to command the princes, attempting to monopolize power.

Meanwhile, as Qin Hong was preoccupied with his coronation, Qin Yi was busy exterminating the remnants of the Wumeng King’s forces! He harbored hatred for the Wumeng King’s treachery right in his heart. As more and more troops gathered around him, he led his forces right into Wumeng Department. As his Great Army advanced, the defenders of the various cities were terror-stricken and often fled their posts without a fight!

By the time the news of Qin Hong using the emperor to command the princes reached Qin Yi’s ears, Qin Yi just scoffed.

"Strictly speaking, I should thank Qin Hong! Had he not been stationed in Jiangning Mansion, holding Qin Zitong’s Great Army at bay, my forces would probably have been defeated by Qin Zitong’s herd by now! But him, wanting to ascend to the throne? I’m afraid he lacks the capability!"

At the moment, Qin Yi’s popularity among the commoners far surpassed Qin Hong’s. With Great General Ye also by Qin Hong’s side, even if Qin Hong wanted to ascend to the throne, he would struggle to achieve anything on his own, truly unable to succeed!

A number of strategists had already gathered around Qin Yi, nodding in agreement upon hearing his words.

"Your Majesty, you have the Imperial Edict from the late emperor. You are the legitimate successor in a just and proper sequence, the true Dragon Emperor! As long as you make a high call, giving orders to the whole country, there will undoubtedly be countless armies coming to join you voluntarily! Even if Qin Hong seizes Shengjing first, he will still be uncertain and ill-grounded, unable to secure the throne securely!"

Everyone was talking at once, chattering, and continuously advising a campaign to conquer Qin Hong on the journey northward.

But Qin Yi had another idea in mind: "Qin Hong has the intention of using the emperor to command the princes, trying to monopolize power—that’s probably true, but he must also understand that he lacks the ability to do so. Why not have someone reach out to him personally? If I can capture him without a single soldier or horse being spent, that would of course be preferable!"

Qin Hong was indeed a capable man. If Qin Hong was intent on becoming the emperor, engaging in a direct clash with him would likely prolong the wars for years to come.

Over these years, Qin Yi, marching from east to west, had seen the suffering of the commoners deeply imprinted in his heart, and he understood well that all the commoners really hoped for was simple: a daily meal, a peaceful and stable home, and a warm life with their spouse and children. He could not bear to see the commoners continue to suffer such harsh days; he wanted to end this war as soon as possible!

His intentions were evident to the many strategists around him.

They all felt in their hearts that Qin Yi truly lived up to the late emperor’s choice, no wonder he was so capable.

They all offered their suggestions and strategies, formulating a detailed plan.

With high morale, the people rushed towards Longxing Mansion. Passing by Taohua Valley, Qin Yi only took a group of his personal guards, secretly splitting off from the main force, rushing to Taohua Valley during the night.