A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 189: Eliminating the King
"Indeed, I met this man in a secret chamber. However, I did not know his identity beforehand and only thought he was a merchant from Handan City. The matter he spoke of was nothing more than overseeing the suppression of thieves in the country. Grand Censor, is that wrong?"

Liu Pengzu was unusually calm, every word of his words setting a trap. Now that things had come to this, he was going all in.

As early as the reign of Emperor Jing, he wrote to the emperor, volunteering to supervise and suppress thieves in the kingdom, and often led his soldiers to patrol the city of Handan at night.

Because of his treacherous and wicked nature, no messenger or traveler dared to stay overnight in Handan.

However, this can also be described as acting on the orders of the late emperor.

Besides, His Majesty and the Emperor have issued a decree to punish thieves. What can he do if he unconsciously communicates with a traitor disguised as a merchant from Zhao?

"So, His Highness Prince Zhao is 'loyal and devoted to the country'?" Zhang Tang sneered.

"That's true, and that's not entirely wrong."

Why didn't this person answer in the same way?

"How could the Imperial Censor believe the absurd words of a traitor and collaborator?"

Liu Pengzu looked at Zhang Tang and said calmly, "Traitors and traitors have never given up their desire to destroy our Han Dynasty. They are deliberately trying to sow discord among the Liu clan. Grand Censor, can't you even see this?"

He didn't know at what point his plot with the Xiongnu to seize the Dai land was leaked. Even if it was in a secret room, there were eavesdroppers and spies from the court. But as long as the Emperor of Han didn't want to be known as someone who monitored the princes, intended to weaken the vassal states, and was cruel and ungrateful, he couldn't prove that he and the traitors were plotting in secret.

All evidence originating from Zhang Tang, the Embroidered-Robe Censor, or others could be forged.

He can deny it.

He is a prince of the Han Dynasty, the elder brother of the current emperor, and the uncle of the supreme ruler. Which of the Imperial Prison, the Imperial Court, or the Court of Justice can torture him?

The feudal lords, ministers, marquises, and members of the royal family of both the central and foreign dynasties were deeply shocked by the shamelessness of the King of Zhao.

Where is there even a trace of kingly dignity? He's nothing but a scoundrel and a rogue.

Relying on his imperial lineage and royal status, he exploited loopholes in the laws of the Han Dynasty, attempting to force the emperor to spare him in order to preserve his sacred reputation.

His attitude of "I don't admit it, who dares to touch me?" really opened the eyes of all the princes and nobles.

Seeing that the princes and nobles were speechless and their faces were flushed, Liu Pengzu's confidence grew. He looked at the throne and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, nephew, you don't believe the lies of traitors, do you?"
If, my dear nephew, you suspect me of disloyalty to the ancestral land and its people, of disobedience to your father and to your rule, do not fabricate charges. As your uncle, I am willing to die by striking my head against the steps of your palace today!

Threat!

A naked threat!

Without evidence, it's a frame-up. If you can't clear your name in court, then die by crashing your head against a pillar in court. Just as Liu Sheng, the King of Zhongshan, "dirtyed" the emperor, you, the crown prince, will be dirtied just the same way.

A model of a wise and virtuous ruler?

Even if this dynasty is later hailed as the greatest golden age in history, he will still try to smear it.

Having freed himself from the constraints of pride, Liu Pengzu suddenly felt that the world had become much wider.

"We are willing to die together, to fulfill your wish, my nephew!" King Liu Duan of Jiaoxi pulled along the somewhat reluctant King Liu Ji of Jiaodong and King Liu Shun of Changshan, pressing forward. Including these three, almost all the surviving princes under Emperor Xiaojing's throne were present. If they all died by striking their heads against the steps on the same day, the blood of their imperial relatives would be far stronger than that of the King of Zhongshan at the Wei River execution ground. Even with eternal glory, they could still shake Liu Ju's rule.

Sitting on the throne, Liu Ju increasingly felt that the emperors of the Han Dynasty did not choose the most capable successors, but rather selected the tallest among a group of dwarfs.

Liu Ju saw some of the style of Emperor Gaozu in the King of Zhao, the King of Jiaoxi, the King of Jiaodong, and the King of Changshan. That's right, it was the style of Emperor Gaozu before he fought for the world.

He let out a soft sigh, full of helplessness and regret.

And this was also the clarion call for the attack agreed upon by the monarch and his ministers. Prime Minister Gongsun Hong slowly stood up from the embroidered stool. "Your Highness, if the words of the traitors are not credible, then can the words of your beloved son, Liu Chang, the Prince Marquis of Zhao of the Great Han Dynasty and Marquis of Wushi, be trusted?"

Can you be credible that your own handwritten order commanded Marquis Wushi to lead powerful clans from Zhao to the Dai region to create chaos and sabotage, thus paving the way for a Xiongnu invasion?

As the old prime minister's voice faded.

At the head of the two dynasties' ranks, Chancellor Zhu Maichen and Chancellor Wang Chao, on the left and right respectively, displayed the blood-stained confessions of Marquis Wu Shi and the powerful figures of Zhao, as well as a letter written by the King of Zhao himself.

In the letter, Prince Zhao explained in detail to his beloved son the meaning of "Heaven's Mandate bestowed upon him" and the contents of the hexagram "Heavenly King." Only then did the princes understand what Liu Pengzu was interested in and what his purpose was in colluding with the Xiongnu.

He followed the example of Emperor Xiaowen, who ascended the throne as a prince!

Some hot-tempered princes spat in Liu Pengzu's direction, "You dog, how dare you compare yourself to Emperor Xiaowen?"
"My...my son..." Liu Pengzu stammered, lost in thought.

As a king, he would not face torture, but he forgot that his son, a prince, was not entitled to such treatment.

Looking at the bloody handprint under the confession, he couldn't even imagine how much torture his beloved son had suffered.

He had dozens of sons, but he truly loved only two: Liu Dan, the former crown prince of Zhao and now the King of Nanhai of the Han Dynasty, and Liu Chang.

Liu Chang was the son of his most beloved concubine, Nao Ji. Because of his love for Nao Ji, he loved Liu Chang no less than he loved Liu Dan. After Liu Dan was made a king, he even submitted a memorial to the court requesting that Liu Chang be made the crown prince of Zhao, hoping that he would sit on the throne in the future and then naturally make Liu Chang the crown prince of the Han Dynasty.

All of this vanished in an instant. Liu Chang was caught red-handed in Daidi, and the handwritten letter that he had instructed Liu Chang to read and then burn was also found.

Liu Pengzu collapsed to the ground.

Liu Duan, Liu Ji, and Liu Shun could no longer hold on. Creating chaos in the country was a mistake that could be considered minor or major, but following Liu Pengzu in his false defense in court was the crime of deceiving the emperor. Furthermore, following Liu Pengzu in his attempt to force the emperor to abdicate was the crime of treason. Under these multiple charges, the three kings felt as if they were standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, vaguely feeling the cold wind. Their bodies stiffened, and they fainted straight backward.

"Since I came to power, I have deeply felt the hardship of Emperor Gao's founding of the dynasty, and I am even more aware of the importance of blood ties. Even if I hear that my relatives have committed crimes, I cannot bear to strip them of their titles or humiliate them. However, some lawless kings regard my tolerance as weakness and my affection as being easy to deceive. They even disregard the foundation of our ancestors and collude with foreign tribes to plot outlandish things."

Liu Ju slowly stood up, looked at the assembled vassal kings, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "In front of all you nobles, I have a few words for you: Be loyal to the country, and even your enemies will be rewarded; harbor treacherous schemes, and even your relatives will be executed!"

The feudal lords trembled with fear.

"Someone is coming!"

"Strip the crowns of the King of Zhao, the King of Jiaoxi, the King of Jiaodong, and the King of Changshan, and remove their royal robes!"

(End of this chapter)