Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 489 Ascension to the Throne (Part 7)

Emperor Jingtai stared through the thick darkness at the disheveled figure in the prison cell. Once upon a time, this man was known as the "Jade Gentleman of the Capital." But appearances can be deceiving. The world only knew him for his gentle, refined, and exceptionally handsome face, enough to captivate countless women. But they knew not the filthy heart hidden beneath that handsome exterior. Even the wise and mighty General Ying had been deceived by his appearance.
Perhaps because Emperor Jingtai had remained silent for so long, the person being stared at finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted wildly. He wasn't usually so easily agitated and enraged, but anyone locked in a pitch-black dungeon for many years would probably be driven mad.

"What exactly do you want? If His Majesty wants to kill someone, he only needs to say a few words, right? Why has he imprisoned me in the dungeon for so many years?! Speak up, speak up!"

Jiu Fu, who was standing beside Emperor Jingtai, originally wanted to reprimand the other party for his rudeness, but Emperor Jingtai stopped him by reaching out. There was no need to care so much about a dying man.

Taking a step forward, Jiufu lit a torch, and the Jingtai Emperor's face suddenly appeared before the other man's eyes. For someone who had lived in darkness for decades, such light was blinding enough that the man couldn't help but burst into tears. After he finally adjusted, deep fear flashed in his eyes.

This man knew very well that Emperor Jingtai had always forbade anyone to visit him in this prison cell, and in the eyes of outsiders, he was probably already dead. Emperor Jingtai's sudden appearance at this time likely brought no good news.

He knew he was going to die. Even though he had lingered here for so many years and had thought about suicide, when death actually came, he still felt fear from the bottom of his heart.

Looking at the ugly face of the other party, tears streaming down his face from fear and the light, Emperor Jingtai had no particular thoughts, only a feeling that everything had finally settled.

"You've lived these extra ten years, haven't you had enough... Lin Wei?"

Lin Wei stared in despair at Emperor Jingtai's bright yellow dragon robe. For the past ten years, no one had spoken to him. Aside from the initial period after his arrival, he knew nothing of the outside world. If Emperor Jingtai had imprisoned him for ten years, why was he suddenly trying to kill him now?

"Your Majesty, why do you want to punish me to death? I have indeed violated the law and deserve to be executed, but since Your Majesty spared my life before, why are you now taking my life?"

Lin Wei's voice was rough and intermittent, but he was, after all, a top-notch figure. Even after being imprisoned for more than ten years and having a sluggish mind, he was able to adjust in a very short time and tried to find a flaw in Emperor Jingtai and find a way out.

Little did he know that the more clever he appeared, the more the Jingtai Emperor feared him.

He has paved the way for that child for so many years, and he will not allow it to be ruined by someone else at the most crucial moment, even if that person is Jiu Que's real father.

“As long as you live, you will be in someone’s way. As a father, it is worth it to pave the final path for your child with your own life. You have gained countless benefits by taking advantage of General Ying’s power over the years, and it is time to pay it back.”

Lin Wei pondered deeply, and a terrifying truth suddenly flashed into his mind. He trembled with disbelief, staring intently at Emperor Jingtai, the founding emperor once considered a wise ruler by many. He simply couldn't comprehend what the emperor was thinking. He was the emperor, above all others! The Son of Heaven, the emperor of the mortal realm, able to command everything he desired—such a life, such immense power—and yet he was willing to entrust the entire empire to someone with whom he had no blood relation, and a woman at that!
After so many years in the dungeon, he finally understood: there was absolutely no romantic relationship between the other party and Ying Chongming. Didn't he know what kind of person Ying Chongming was? He was an extremely upright, even rigid, man. Even if he loathed him, he would never have an affair with another man before their divorce, not even if that man was the emperor! So, from beginning to end, Ying Jiuque's background was all fabricated by Emperor Jingtai! It was all to make it seem natural for the other party to be his daughter.

How could there be such a person in this world? How could there be such an emperor? Although Emperor Jingtai had few children, the fourth prince should still be alive before he was imprisoned! Since Emperor Jingtai is now trying to silence me, does that mean the fourth prince was already...

They looked at Emperor Jingtai in disbelief.

"The Fourth Prince..."

"Before he came here, I personally saw him off on his journey."

Even after being imprisoned here for so many years, Lin Wei remains as intelligent as ever. That is why Emperor Jingtai could not leave such a hidden danger for Jiuque.

"But Your Majesty, I don't understand why you would do this? You are already the ruler of the world, shouldn't you entrust this world to your own bloodline? Even though all four princes have passed away, the fourth prince should have had the opportunity to leave offspring before he died. Isn't raising one's own bloodline better than raising a stranger?"

Perhaps because he was seeing the other person off on his journey, Emperor Jingtai was more patient with Lin Wei and willing to answer some of his questions. Perhaps many officials had similar questions in their hearts, but they didn't dare to ask them as openly as Lin Wei was now.

Actually, the fourth brother had asked him before, and he had already answered, so he wouldn't mind saying it again now.

"It's strange, really. Is the continuation of bloodline that important? You yourself said that as the ruler of the world and the parent of millions of people, I naturally want to ensure that all the people are well-fed, clothed, and live a good life, enjoying a prosperous and peaceful era! But my four sons are simply too shallow in their talents. I'm not confident that they can produce outstanding children. Moreover, it takes at least 20 years to raise a babbling infant into a capable person. I can't wait that long, and neither can the people of the world. Besides, who can guarantee that after 20 years, we can indeed raise someone like Jiu Que, who is both benevolent and shrewd, and who truly cares about all living beings?"

"Moreover, I truly admire Jiu Que. That child possesses a sense of responsibility that is completely out of step with people of this era. As her biological father, haven't you noticed that this child doesn't actually have a strong desire for wealth, fame, or power? As long as she has enough to eat and wear, as long as she can get by, she is actually the most honest person imaginable. But it is precisely this kind of person who has extraordinary talent, as if bestowed by heaven. I believe that as long as she is given the opportunity, she is fully capable of overthrowing the Great Jing and establishing a new dynasty."

"Actually, I don't mind Jiuque doing this. But, as long as there is a change of dynasty, there is no such thing as a bloody sacrifice; it is unavoidable. If there is a way to reduce the number of wars in the world, why wouldn't I do it? After all, since ancient times, what dynasty has remained unchanged for ten thousand years? My dynasty is just ending prematurely, but in the eyes of outsiders and even future generations, Jiuque is my daughter. The Great Jing still stands tall, not only powerful but also now receiving tribute from all nations, and will surely become the center of the world in the future!"

"Isn't this enough?"