Chapter 76 (1/2)

Chapter Seventy-Six

Pei Zhang entered the palace in the middle of the night.

The emperor waited many days for his sons to make a move. Finally one of his sons dared to unlock palace gates after curfew. He got out of bed and wore his outer robe.

‘Your majesty, seventh prince asked to see your majesty,’ an imperial guard said. ‘Seventh prince said it was important.’

‘I understand,’ the emperor said.

The emperor was disappointed it was only one of his sons.

Pei Zhang entered his father’s chamber and bowed. ‘Imperial father, have you recovered?’

The emperor feigned a cough. He didn’t believe Pei Zhang’s filial son act. ‘Seventh son, what is so important that you needed to see me in the middle of the night?’

‘Imperial father, I found out ninth brother is prepared for a rebellion!’ Pei Zhang said.

The emperor assessed Pei Zhang. He needed to see for himself if Pei Jin truly intended to rebel as Pei Zhang reported.

‘Imperial father, my guards have followed ninth brother’s suspicious activities for many days,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘Ninth brother is hiding Huang Guo’s men in his manor. Imperial father, what are you going to do?’

‘Do what?’ the emperor asked.

Pei Zhang shivered to see his father’s intimidating aura.

‘Imperial father, I have a request,’ Pei Zhang said.

‘Say it,’ the emperor said.

‘Imperial father, if ninth brother truly wants to rebel… imperial father please forgive ninth brother for his ignorant offence,’ Pei Zhang said.

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

‘Imperial father, I believe others are forcing ninth brother to rebel,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘This is why I wanted to report to imperial father so imperial father can persuade ninth brother not to commit treason. Imperial father… I don’t want to lose another brother.’

Pei Zhang was satisfied he looked like a loving and forgiving older brother.

‘Come with me to your ninth brother’s manor!’ the emperor ordered coldly.

Pei Zhang anticipated Pei Jin’s fall and death.

The emperor didn’t care about Pei Zhang’s ulterior motives. He knew he wasn’t young anymore and if one of his sons wanted to rebel then he needed to uproot their resources before a rebellion.

The emperor commanded an army of soldiers he hid nearby the palace to follow him to Pei Jin’s manor.

Pei Zhang finally understood why his father wasn’t scared of leaving the palace, his father was always secretly prepared for a rebellion.