Law of the Devil

At this moment, Prince Chen's voice sounded very soft, his delicate voice was like the romantic prince who had not taken power back then, and there was warmth in his eyes.

Du Wei, I know that now, although I am high above and everyone surrenders, it is inevitable that some people will scold me behind my back. I am a traitor who killed my brother and deceived my father. Although the elder brother rebelled that day, he died after all, and I promised He fulfilled his request before he died, did not deprive him of his royal status, and gave him the treatment of a flag burial. It's just that people will always receive some sympathy when they die, and besides... Although I seem to be beautiful now, this 'regent' 'The identity, it's a little embarrassing to say... My father, hmph! His old man may not have been so peaceful in the palace for the past two years. I also know that the public opinion outside does not praise me unanimously. There are always some rebellious officials and thieves who want to talk nonsense. Say that I killed brother, well, I admit it, although I didn't kill Brother Dahuang with my own hands, but that day, under such an occasion, I did force him to death. Say I bullied my father... Hmph, what a 'bully'! Brother Dahuang and I finally met each other in battle, and the situation where we never die is all he has done all these years!

The last sentence made Du Wei's face change... Is there any hidden secret of the royal family?

According to the current normal logic, the conclusion of the coup d'etat in the imperial capital two years ago has already been reached. The mainstream view is: Augustine VI appointed the eldest prince as the crown prince in his early years, but in his later years he favored his youngest son, Prince Chen, which made the eldest prince feel that the position of heir was in danger, so he decided to coup d'état.

Isn't that the case?

The land is indeed not like this! Prince Chen laughed. Looking at Du Wei's surprised look: Du Wei, I can probably guess what you think. How can I not know what the rumors are like? It's just...it's a pity, I'm fine, too. Whether it's the emperor's brother, it's nothing more than a victim of the father!

Speaking of this, Prince Chen suddenly turned around, and shouted at a few golden armored court warriors in the distance: You all go down, I want to talk to Duke Tulip. Everyone leave the garden! Who dares to listen to half a sentence, Shoot and kill immediately!

After those golden armored warriors obeyed. He bowed and saluted, turned and left.

Prince Chen showed a trace of exhaustion on his face, and suddenly sat down on the floor. It is winter now. The lawn standing in the palace garden has withered, his majestic master of the empire. Just sitting casually on the dry grass. Then he glanced at Du Wei and patted the ground around him.

Du Wei hesitated for a moment, and then sat down, sitting next to Prince Chen.

Du Wei, do you want to hear a story?

These words made Du Wei laugh even more weirdly.

Damn... In the past few days, I seem to always listen to people telling stories. Maximus told himself a story, and qq told himself another version of the story.

Now to the imperial palace. Does Prince Chen want to tell himself a story?

But whether Du Wei is willing or not. This story still needs to be heard: the majestic Regent of the Empire wants to tell you a story. How can you refuse?

Besides, Du Wei is really curious...

Prince Chen sighed lightly. He stretched out his hand casually, and pulled out a thorny branch from the nearby flowers, with slender and slender fingers. Pull out the thorns on the thorns one by one. Then slowly said: That was when I was ten years old...

I've always thought that since I was little. I'm probably the happiest person in the world.

The glory and honor of being born into the royal family, the noble lineage and status, the title of the royal family...

When I was very young, people around me liked to praise me for being smart, saying that I was a rare gifted prince in the royal family, smart and wise. In fact, I know that most of these words are just hypocritical compliments.

As for me, it's just that I was sensible earlier than other children.

Everyone thinks that my father likes me very much... well, he should be considered like me. Because I am his youngest son, who was born when he was fifty years old, so of course I should be more precious. It is said that he had always wanted to have another son, but unfortunately other concubines gave birth to him several princesses in succession, and he even killed a concubine in a fit of anger... Hey!

Finally, when my mother gave birth to me, she was relieved.

But... When I was very young, for some reason, I always had a strange feeling. This feeling comes from my dear father!

Yes, it is the father!

I was sensible early, and I showed my intelligence very early. So I hired a first teacher earlier than other children. Whether it is a court scholar, an astrologer or a court magician, they all praise me for being smart and say how talented I am...

But, is it probably my hallucination? Because every time, I always felt that when the teachers praised me in front of my father, the eyes my father looked at me—well, those eyes were a little strange. It's not like the way a loving father looks at his excellent son he likes.

Those eyes were like... like an aging male lion looking at a cub that had already opened its teeth and claws! It's as if one sees a potential threat in the future!

Those eyes made me feel a bit of instinctive anxiety, a bit of instinctive danger!

Although... the emperor hid such eyes very deeply. But I have vaguely understood one thing:

In fact, my father doesn't really like me and dote on me like the outsiders say.

Perhaps, his liking and doting towards me is just a deliberate appearance.

As a child, I didn't understand why.

When I was ten years old, I finally understood!

That year was my father's sixtieth birthday.

Although he is the supreme emperor of the empire, the ruler of the mainland, and the most powerful man on the mainland. But when a person reaches the age of sixty, he will inevitably age a lot. But this world happens to be like this, the older people are, sometimes, the more they want to cling to something and refuse to let go!

I was only ten years old that year. As a result, the night after my father's birthday dinner, my mother came to my bedroom. She had a look of joy. Then he told me one thing: the father seems to intend to change the crown prince, and intends to make me the crown prince!

only. at the dinner party. When he showed his intentions a little bit, he met with fierce opposition from the noble ministers. This matter was strictly prohibited from being publicized, so very few people knew about it.

It is rumored that when my father was seventy years old and I was twenty years old, he wanted to make me crown prince and was opposed by his subjects—in fact, this happened ten years earlier. My father had wanted to do this since I was ten years old. .

good. Let me go back to the night I was ten years old...

Mother she is not a wise woman. She just instinctively thought that if I could become the crown prince, I would become the future emperor. That is naturally an excellent thing. So she's happy. After all, the emperor had this intention. Maybe it will be successful in the future. Moreover, the mother is not a scheming woman. She was happy. I couldn't bear to tell me that night.

But. Just that night, I sensed danger!

It was a kind of chill that penetrated the whole body! !

Everyone is right. I am indeed smarter than my peers. Because I was sensible earlier.

At that time, I already understood a truth: there is no good for you for no reason in the world!

Yes, I was young and smart, and the teachers who taught me praised me. Even many noble ministers would praise me for being young and wise at the banquet...

But. A ten-year-old child. No matter how smart you are, and how talented you are. Could it be possible to make the father change his mind and want to establish another crown prince? ? Is it possible? ?

To know. At that time, my elder brother Yawen. Already in his thirties. Eldest brother in his thirties. There are already means to do things. He also participated in the Northwest War in his early years. Although the performance cannot be said to be amazing. But it is also a small contribution. And those years. He is already the crown prince. Gradually he has his own team, and he does things quite well. At his age. Also very well. Some government affairs. He also dealt with everything.

A ten year old boy. No matter how smart you are, it's just a talent shown in studying and studying, such a performance. Can it overwhelm an adult in his thirties who has already mastered a certain amount of power and is doing things well? ? ?

At least I don't believe it myself!

Father, he would not believe a mature son in his thirties who was doing things steadily and maturely. Instead, he firmly believes in a ten-year-old kid? Normal people probably wouldn't think so!

Funny, my mother thought it was a good thing. But in fact... the danger is coming!

From that day on, everything changed.

The attendants and maids around me, as well as the court teacher, all treated me with a lot of respect, as if in their eyes, I was no longer a simple Prince Chen, but a Chen who might become the emperor. Prince!

More importantly... even my dear brother, the eldest prince Yawen, has changed his attitude towards me!

When I was young, my elder brother even hugged me. I even vividly remember him teaching me to ride a horse when I was little. He hugged me and sat on a white horse, and then said to me, Our Augustine family won the domination of this continent through martial arts. As a man of the Augustine family, you must have a martial spirit!

At that time, he was like a real elder brother. After all, although my father has many children, there are only our two sons, and the others are all daughters. So when I was young, Brother Dahuang was very close to me.

But it was because of what my father revealed at that birthday dinner that Brother Dahuang's attitude towards me also changed.

He never came to see me again, never came to see me. He never came to take me to ride a horse again, and never accompanied me to see court warriors practicing martial arts. I even remember that he originally promised me that he would secretly take me out of the palace to drink in a month. However, he never fulfilled that promise...until he was defeated and died!

It was the father who changed everything!

It is because he expressed his intention to change me as the crown prince, and the result made the eldest brother treat me as an enemy!

But is it really that simple? Did father really like me, so he said he wanted to make me the crown prince?

Since then, I have been skeptical!

Like I said, no normal person would choose to give up a 30-year-old calm adult. But to a little hairy kid who doesn't understand anything—although that little hairy kid is a little smart.

Therefore, I believe that the father did this. It is intentional!

certainly. Such a complicated thing, I was only ten years old at that time. Of course I can't figure it out. But I also know. It's impossible for me to ask my father about this kind of thing... More importantly, at that time, I had instinctively developed a kind of fear of my father. Although I didn't understand it at the time, it was probably a natural instinct.

I couldn't think of an answer myself, so I had to ask someone else.

Remember it was three months later and there was a great opportunity. The court teacher who taught me told me that there is a new thing in the imperial capital. There is a scholar named Blue Ocean. This scholar is smart and knowledgeable, as if there is nothing in the world that he does not understand. Astronomy, geography, medicine, flower history...he seems to know everything.

And at a conference that gathered scholars from all over the imperial capital. He even used his superb wisdom in the debate. Blame him for being jealous of his opponents. He was speechless. Everyone thinks that he is the most intelligent scholar in the imperial capital.

After the court teacher told me about this matter. I'm very curious, and I've always wanted to see what the most intelligent scholar in the legendary imperial capital looks like.

finally. The teacher told me that day. There will be another debate in the imperial capital. Probably some of the people who lost to Lan Hai last time were not convinced. Several well-known scholars from other provinces were recruited.

I admire that Blue Ocean in my heart. So I begged my court scholar teacher to take me to see it. He is also very interested in this matter. just take me there...

I was young at that time. It is not convenient to leave the palace. So when the teacher figured out a way to take me out and arrived at the conference site, the debate was over. I didn't see the process of the blue ocean scholar dumbing down the opponent's words. But I saw the cheers of the onlookers outside. I saw those people in civilian clothes. His sincere respect and admiration for that scholar named Lan Haidi.

I noticed that blue ocean scholar, he is indeed an extraordinary person, although he is dressed very ordinary.

This is the way the world is. A lot of pretentious people. Desperately put on gorgeous clothes. Instead, it revealed the shallowness. And people like Lan Hai. You don't need gorgeous clothes to set off yourself.

Just a few quick glances and I'm sure. This man named Lanhai must be a smart scholar.

Later... After the meeting, I ignored the objections of the court teacher. He led someone to secretly follow behind Lan Hai, and followed him all the way back to his home. .

Then, I asked the palace teacher to wait outside, and I knocked on the door and went in alone to find this blue ocean scholar.

I didn't hide who I was, and he wasn't surprised by who I was. I can feel that his calmness is not fake, but real.

Lan Hai is that kind of person... This kind of person, when you stand in front of him, you seem to be facing the vast ocean, and you will feel that his wisdom seems to be unfathomable. And standing in front of him, you will instinctively feel your own insignificance.

At that time, when I was young, I made a request to him. I wanted to ask him a question, but I hoped that he would keep it a secret for me.

Lan Hai thought for a while, and then said to me, If it is five years later, I will refuse your request. But now, I promise you.

It was only later that I understood what he meant by his words: If it were five years later, I would have grown up to the age where I could be cruel for the sake of power, and maybe I would kill someone after asking him. But fortunately, I was only ten years old at that time, a ten-year-old child, and I would not do that kind of thing.

That day, in the Blue Ocean Scholar's hut, I think he asked the question that has always been in my heart:

Father, why on earth would he suddenly want to make me the Crown Prince? Does the emperor really think that a ten-year-old child like me must be better than a thirty-year-old adult?

After the blue ocean scholar listened to my question, he thought for a while.

Then, he finally gave me the answer.

And that answer, after listening to it, really gave me a creepy feeling! For the first time in my life, I suddenly felt that being born in the royal family may not be such a blessing!

Lan Hai's answer is not complicated, there is only one sentence: If you want to blame this matter, you can only blame your father's health is too good now, and your elder brother has grown up too fast!

When Lan Hai said this, I couldn't understand it. He didn't mean to explain to me, and I, it was getting late at that time, and I wanted to go back to the palace immediately.

That night, I was in the room and thought about it all night alone! I thought of my father's love for me, the way my father looked at me when I was young, when others praised me for being smart and wise, and the helplessness that my big brother occasionally showed...

When it was dawn, I suddenly figured everything out!

Lan Hai was right! The biggest reason for this matter is that the father's health is too good, and the eldest brother grows up too fast! !

His father, Augustine VI, was an emperor who had an almost extreme possessive desire for power. In his eyes, there is no family relationship between father and son, only the throne! The throne is the only thing that holds weight in his heart! The supreme throne and the power to dominate the continent are the only things in his eyes!

Therefore, even though he is sixty years old, he still looks energetic, as if he has no intention of letting go. He is such a very happy person, he is even planning to set up a fleet to go to Nanyang again, and he even wants to start a war against the Northwest again... These fanatical thoughts are in his mind all day long, and he holds With power, he wants to become the greatest emperor in the Augustinian Dynasty. He still has so many grand plans that have not been carried out, and so many great wishes that have not been realized!

At such a time, how could he be willing to let go of the authority in his hand? ?

He himself feels that he is not old yet, and he feels that he still has a lot to do. He probably thought that if possible, he hoped to be the emperor until he was a hundred years old! ! snort……

But the problem is... In reality, he is already in his early sixties! Sixty years old should be considered an old age. However, his son, his legal heir, my elder brother, is already in his thirties!

Thirty years old is the age when a man is at his peak, most mature, most energetic, and most motivated! It can be said to be the most golden years of a man! ! !

And men of this age, no doubt, desperately hope to vent their energy on their careers to achieve their own great revenge...

But this is where the contradiction lies!

In those two years, Brother Dahuang already had quite a team. The King City Guard Legion already has his direct descendants. In the military, Earl Raymond of the Rowling family is his young friend. There are also those in the Financial Secretary and the Supervisory Office, all of whom are directly related to him. It can be said that a political clique of the crown prince has formed around the elder brother.

Such a small political group is quite mature...to the point where it can take over! !

Brother Da Huang is waiting for his father's succession! Even eagerly waiting!

And the sixty-year-old father, who is still energetic and ambitious, still doesn't want to let go at this time, and no one is allowed to covet his throne—even his own son! !

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Today's update was posted just now, and it's a little short, 6,000 words.

Today, dancing, I set off to Shanghai to attend the author's annual meeting, and more than 60 great writers participated.

The train departs at noon today, so there can only be so much more today.

Moreover, in the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, I will also attend this annual meeting in other places. Updates will not be interrupted, every day. But if you are in other places, you will definitely write less. It is estimated that 5,000 words per day should be achievable, but there is no guarantee for more. Say hello to everyone first, and invite Haihan.

The annual meeting ends on Monday, and when I get home on Monday night, I can work hard to type.

Don't worry, I will work hard to compensate for the few updates in the past two days. Next week, I will work hard every day, so that everyone will enjoy watching it.

Dance and talk, never break your word. .