Chapter 2: Severing Ties of Loyalty and Affection

How great is the enmity

Li Tianci glared with a pair of fierce eyes, his whole body trembling with anger

Your Majesty! Before Li Tianci could finish speaking, Liu Qingxue interjected, "I, as a daughter-in-law, have already married the Ninth Prince. As the saying goes, 'When marrying a chicken, follow the chicken; when marrying a dog, follow the dog.' Now that he has been exiled to Liangzhou, as his wife, I shall naturally accompany him there."

Nor do I value bowing and scraping to accept the charity of others

There is no need for that! The two of us do not have the reality of a married couple, and you have no reason to do this for me. I will write a letter of divorce and send it to your residence. From now on, we shall have no further ties!

Li Tianci is unable to comprehend, completely unable to comprehend

Who exactly gave this worthless person the courage

This useless Ninth Prince is doing well, confronting the Emperor head-on.

"What are you saying?" Li Tianci widened his eyes, thinking he had misheard, "You still do not know how to repent? You still want to take away my consort?!"

Even because of having such a son, there is a deep sense of shame

Li Tianci exiled him to Liangzhou, seemingly showing him mercy outside the law, but in reality, it was merely a case of using a knife to kill someone else

This woman, adorned with a phoenix crown and a flowing veil, possesses a graceful and slender figure, her voice akin to the sounds of heaven

Li Zhan, no matter how unworthy he may be, is still the son of the emperor

Uneventful

Such a virtuous and good wife, willing to follow you, is a blessing you have earned over eight lifetimes. You, who do not recognize good fortune, are truly incomprehensible, like mud that cannot be supported against a wall

Li Tianci's anger was once again ignited

No emotions whatsoever

"I have done nothing wrong, why should I repent?" Li Zhan sneered, "I am taking my mother with me, and it is only right and proper. No one has the right to stop me."

"Hmm, does this ungrateful child deserve such treatment from you?" Li Tianci frowned and looked at Liu Qingxue

I have no objections!" Li Zhan raised his head and said decisively, "However, from now on, I am no longer your son, Li Tianci, nor do I have any relation to the Da Qi royal family, and I will leave with my mother!"

Even Liu Changqing opened his mouth in disbelief as he looked at his daughter

Ultimately, in Li Tianci's eyes, this son of his is not as good as a dog

Your Majesty, although the Ninth Prince has committed an error, it was not intentional. In a state of intoxication, he acted without clear judgment, resulting in accidental homicide. The crime does not warrant the death penalty, and I humbly request that Your Majesty consider a lighter punishment

How dare they, mother and son

Your Majesty, I am aware that you have always found me coarse and disrespectful. Since that is the case, let me return to being an ordinary commoner! Yang Fei has long been fed up with the intrigues of the inner palace

The followers of Prince Jin, Li Jian, along with several officials of both civil and military backgrounds who were resentful of evil, all expressed their agreement.

Consort Yang said little, only bowing to Li Tianci with tears in her eyes

Li Tianci waved his hand grandly

Father Emperor, I have a few words I would like to say

"In that case, how do you all think we should handle this?" Li Tianci's expression softened slightly as he scanned the crowd.

Yet her pair of eyes was as cold and serene as a bright moon over an icy lake

This woman is indeed the daughter of the Duke of Wei

Her face was covered by a veil, and although her specific features were not discernible, it was not difficult to imagine that she must be an unparalleled beauty

Indeed, Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince acted out of drunken misconduct and did not intend to commit murder. I implore Your Majesty to show mercy beyond the law

Li Zhan's fiancée, Liu Qingxue

"It is all my fault for not managing them properly; I will issue an edict to annul their engagement..." Li Tianci sighed.

Li Zhan's gaze was icy as he looked at the ambitious and spirited Prince Jin

But even a tiger does not eat its own cubs

The subject believes that the individual in question, who has repeatedly demonstrated a corrupt character and has failed to amend his ways despite numerous admonitions, should not be lightly punished merely due to "loss of virtue after drinking." On the contrary, he must be dealt with severely to quell public outrage and restore the people's trust.

Killing is to pay with one's life, firmly supporting the "Great Qi Law"

Exile to Liangzhou is indeed a matter of life and death.

If this stubborn Ninth Prince is executed, even if his daughter is not directly affected, her life will truly be ruined.

Li Jian's words are resonant and powerful

Yang Fei did not turn back either

Then it would be better to cut ties completely

Li Tianci secretly breathed a sigh of relief; these old fellows still had some discernment, otherwise he would have been left in a difficult position.

Too young, too impulsive, and too unaware of what is good or bad

This person is indeed the Grand Prince of the Great Qi.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting my son and me our freedom

Li Tianci was momentarily taken aback, his eyes flashing with slight surprise: "You say!"

Li Tianci lowered his voice, resembling a man-eating tiger

Seeing that there were many supporters, Li Jian shifted his tone once again and said with a light laugh: "However, considering that the Ninth Prince had not committed any major offense before, and this time it was indeed unintentional, I, as a son, suggest that the Ninth Prince be exiled to Liangzhou, never to return to the capital for all eternity"

Liangzhou is the most remote and desolate area of the Great Qi, frequently plagued by warfare.

Even if we have to beg on the streets, we would rather do so than live under someone else's roof, suffering humiliation and injustice

How could the emperor possibly harm his own son?

Li Tianci suppressed the raging anger within him, his eyes fixed intently on Li Zhan and Yang Fei

You... Li Tianci was so furious that he felt like his lungs were about to explode, "Get lost, get out of my sight, go to Liangzhou, and never come back!"

Li Zhan's expression was equally cold, and the last shred of hope in his heart had been shattered

Li Zhan, a prince who has been accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort since childhood, faces only two possible outcomes upon arriving in the war-torn Liangzhou: either he will die of hunger and thirst, or he will be killed by bandits, robbers, or the savages of the grasslands

Alright, then let us exile to Liangzhou

Upon the utterance of these words, everyone was once again taken aback

"Mother, let us go!" Li Zhan's expression was indifferent as he stepped forward to assist Consort Yang to her feet

Are you really not afraid of losing this identity and ending up on the streets begging

From beginning to end, Li Tianci did not give him any opportunity for explanation, except to demand accountability.

This young man bears some resemblance to Li Zhanbo in his facial features

Having said that, Li Tianci then coldly glanced at Li Zhan

"You are exiled to Liangzhou, do you have any objections?"

Let us go!" Li Zhan paid no attention, supporting Yang Fei, and turned to walk towards the palace exit

What?

This ungrateful child has committed numerous wrongdoings over the years and has achieved nothing. There is fundamentally no place for him in this world. Would you rather go beg on the streets with this ungrateful child than stay behind?

Duke Wei, Liu Changqing, let out a long sigh, standing out with a mournful expression, deeply fearing that his daughter might have offended the emperor

Li Zhan walked with determination

What the Prince of Jin said is absolutely correct

Prince Jin, Li Jian

Li Zhan also looked at Liu Qingxue in bewilderment, this exceptionally enchanting woman, perfect, noble, and ethereal like a fallen immortal

At this moment, a young man dressed in a golden python robe and wearing a purple gold crown, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, stepped forward

"It is entirely up to Your Majesty's decision!" Wang Zhong deeply glanced at Li Zhan and knelt down with a bitter smile

The mother and her child, step by step, walked out of the Golden Throne Hall

Since Li Tianci does not regard him as his son at all

Several of the Wei Duke's followers, as well as some senior ministers, pleaded for mercy

A single remark stirred up a great uproar

Everyone looked at Li Zhan, followed by shaking their heads and sighing

This is her attitude

He does not care to be the son of an emperor

You ... ...

The Dangxiang people, Khitan people, and Tubo people are eyeing the city of Liangzhou with intent, ready to attack and annihilate this isolated fortress at any moment

Li Tianci nodded and looked at the Minister of Revenue, Wang Zhong, who had just lost his daughter and wore a face of grief and indignation: "Minister Wang, what do you think of the proposal from Prince Jin"

"And wait, there is one more matter," Duke Liu Changqing of Wei suddenly spoke, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has been exiled to Liangzhou, and the marriage between that young lady and him..."

These ministers are seasoned veterans who have been entrenched in the officialdom for many years, and they are well aware of the situation

Your Majesty, think thrice!

There is still hope of returning to the capital, as there is the identity of a prince. As long as one endures, who knows when there might be a general amnesty, allowing for a return. At the very least, one could become a carefree and well-fed useless prince.

Li Zhan does not need to be insincere; it is still uncertain whether the other party is an enemy or a friend

"The prince and the commoner should be equally punished for the same crime; this cannot remain mere rhetoric. The Ninth Prince must be severely punished"

His elder brother is trying to put him to death

He indeed does not like Li Zhan very much

He is not yet inclined to issue an edict to execute this rebellious son, thereby leaving behind the infamous reputation of a parricide

"You all..." Li Tianci did not expect that Li Zhan would leave so decisively. "Yang Fei, do you and your son truly wish to sever ties with me? Have you thought this through? Without me, you will lose your current identity and status; you will become nothing."