200: King Zhao was demoted

Prince Zhao already knew what had happened on the way here, and he felt extremely unsettled. Although many people kept secret guards, this was explicitly forbidden. All Cultivators of the Great Yong Dynasty were theoretically supposed to be loyal to the Emperor, not the master of the secret guards. Therefore, this matter could be either major or minor.

As soon as Prince Zhao arrived, he knelt on the ground without saying a word, needing to observe his Imperial Father's attitude.

The Emperor looked at his son. He had a certain fondness for Prince Zhao; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed him the capability to contend with the Crown Prince. He couldn't help but sigh first. Based on his understanding of his son, this matter was definitely his doing.

"You knelt down as soon as you arrived. Is this a direct admission of guilt?"

Prince Zhao did not answer in that manner. He stared at the Emperor with wide eyes: "Imperial Father, what are you saying? Admission of guilt? Your Son has done nothing wrong. Why should I admit guilt?"

The Emperor's heart sank. If Prince Zhao had confessed and accepted the punishment straightforwardly, he would have thought highly of him. Responsibility was certainly a fine quality for the Imperial Family. But he hadn't, which made his struggle for the succession even more difficult.

"Forget it. I (Imperial We) don't want to say anything more to you. Crown Prince, you speak."

The Crown Prince stepped forward, looking at Prince Zhao before him. He felt extremely delighted. The time for their Imperial Father to abdicate the throne was approaching, and Prince Zhao's current predicament meant that he no longer had any chance to contend with him.

"Younger Brother, you are truly muddled. Even if the Azure Scale Demon King offended you, that was merely a matter between juniors. Why did you have to get so angry and send your personal secret guards to assassinate him? Do you know how important the cooperation between the Human Race and the Yao Race is? If the cooperation fails because of you, the standing of our Great Yong Dynasty might change. You acted too impulsively."

Prince Zhao's expression changed with anger. He glared fiercely at the Crown Prince: "Elder Brother, who doesn't know that the Azure Scale Demon King has an in-law relationship with your good son? Why did I move against him? Was it not because he intervened in the matters between us? Otherwise, a newly promoted Golden Core Cultivator would not even be worth my attention. What, are you the only one allowed to use him to act against me, and I can't strike back?"

A layer of gray mist appeared in the Emperor's eyes, and his expression dimmed considerably. At this moment, he was no longer a high and mighty Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator, nor was he the Emperor ruling a Dynasty. He was merely a father, a father watching his brothers fight amongst themselves. He let out a long sigh.

"Huaizhao, it is I, your father, who spoiled you."

Huaizhao was Prince Zhao's courtesy name. The Emperor had not addressed him this way for many years. Moreover, he hadn't even referred to himself as 'I (Imperial We)'. Instantly, everyone else fell silent.

The Emperor's voice was somewhat hoarse, showing that his mood was very poor at the moment: "Huaizhao, your mother, the Imperial Consort, died early. The Imperial Consort and I were indeed childhood sweethearts. Before she left, she asked me to take good care of you. Therefore, all your living standards were set according to the Crown Prince's. It was I who fostered your ambition. In your eyes, I was indeed not good enough to the Crown Prince, but that is the proper attitude towards an heir apparent. Everything concerning him must be handled by himself, so that he can become a qualified Emperor in the future. I gave you everything you asked for because you can rely on your Imperial Father now, and rely on your Elder Brother later. Do you understand?"

Prince Zhao collapsed onto the ground instantly. He understood the meaning of his Imperial Father's words: that is, from beginning to end, all the preferential treatment he received was not because he was outstanding, nor because he had the bearing of a Crown Prince, but because his mother and the Imperial Father were childhood sweethearts, and she had died young. This was the Imperial Father's partiality towards the offspring of his childhood sweetheart. He had never been a candidate for the Crown Prince.

Unwilling, he stood up, his eyes showing a hint of madness: "Imperial Father? Why? I diligently studied and cultivated since I was young. I did everything I could do well. Why can't I become the Crown Prince? Is this fair? We are all your children, Imperial Father. Why can't I have a chance?"

The Emperor looked at him and shook his head: "If you don't even understand this simple principle, how can you manage the entire Imperial Dynasty? It's very simple: because the Crown Prince's mother, the current Empress, was the daughter of a Soul Transformation Stage powerhouse. Even though the Empress passed away many years ago, there has been no Empress in the palace since, all to maintain the bond of affection with that Soul Transformation powerhouse. His maternal grandson must be the Crown Prince. Otherwise, our Great Yong Dynasty would lose this Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator, and if Dragon Tiger Mountain and Mount Shu joined forces, they could annihilate my Great Yong Dynasty. Have I (Imperial We) made myself clear enough?"

The Crown Prince immediately knelt down at this moment. From the Emperor's words, he also heard the dissatisfaction directed towards his lineage. Indeed, how could an Emperor not feel distressed when constrained by others? Even if these "others" were the helpers he had sought out with great effort.

"Imperial Father, I can guarantee that if we are ever in danger, Grandfather will definitely not stand by."

His Grandfather was also the only Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator in the Qingyun Realm, with a Soul Transformation second layer Cultivation Base, named Floating Cloud Loose Cultivator. He did not establish a power base; he was an isolated and unconventional person, extremely aloof. In earlier years, his only daughter married the current Emperor. However, his daughter's Aptitude was very poor, and even with the position of Empress, she still failed when attempting to advance to Golden Core, resulting in her body exploded and died. Nevertheless, she left behind the Crown Prince, her only son, which bound him to the Great Yong Dynasty to a certain extent.

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince and sighed: "We are still not strong enough, Crown Prince. Remember, he can help you because he is your Grandfather, but can he help the Imperial Grandson? Can he help the Imperial Grandson's grandson? Certainly not. Therefore, you must all diligently cultivate, and strive to give birth to another Soul Transformation Stage Powerhouse."

No one had expected that a meeting to interrogate Prince Zhao would turn out like this. After the Emperor vented his emotions, he stated the result of the matter.

"Prince Zhao harbored improper intentions and committed a mistake, so he must be punished. He is demoted to Prince of a Commandery. Find a prosperous place and prepare to go to your fiefdom. Cultivate diligently in the future and treat the common people of your fiefdom well."

Prince Zhao cried out unwillingly, but the Emperor waved his hand. A burst of Magic Power blew him out. Then, the Emperor's gaze turned somewhat cold: "Crown Prince, I (Imperial We) am no fool. Look out for yourself."

After speaking, the Emperor left directly. The Crown Prince also seemed to lose all his strength, slumping into the chair: "Imperial Son, is your Imperial Grandfather angry?"

The Imperial Grandson nodded: "Imperial Father, don't worry. I never knew before that Imperial Father had such a background. If we had known earlier, we wouldn't have needed to do these things. As long as Great Grandfather is alive, you will be the next Emperor. No matter what Imperial Uncle does, your position is secure. Forget it, it's too late to talk about it now. Imperial Father just needs to do his own job well."