Chapter 181: Accepting Disciples

ong Hua a chance to finish her words."Well, since Your Highness has said so, I naturally won't make things difficult for you. A gentleman doesn't take what others desire. Although I am not a gentleman..."If I had known you were so heartless, cruel, and vicious, I should have strangled you at birth. That way, you wouldn't have grown up to use the Zhao family and the Empress's power to do evil, harming so many innocent lives."

"Alas, my ancestors! My emperor forefathers! I am filled with shame. How could I have raised such a wretch, devoid of conscience and cruel to the core"

Zhao Chong wept bitterly, his eyes filled with shame. He crawled towards the emperor on his knees.

He clutched the emperor's robe tightly, crying hysterically: "Your Majesty, the old minister is guilty. Please execute this demon child, please punish the old minister severely... If possible, the old minister is willing to die to atone. Otherwise, how can I, in the future, face the late emperor, the ancestors of the Zhao family"

Zhao Qinghuai felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He stared blankly, tears streaming down his face as his grandfather wept bitterly.

So, is Grandfather also planning to give up on him

Everybody, should he die

While everyone's attention was focused on Zhao Chong, Zhou Tong walked straight to Zhao Qinghuai's side. He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the blood from Zhao Qinghuai's face.

"Master Zhao, at this point, you seem to have no way out."

"Your aunt, your grandfather, all your relatives, they all want you dead. Only when you are dead will the Zhao family be safe, and Lady Zhao Gui will regain her former glory. Only when you die will everything calm down..."

Zhao Qinghuai's eyes were filled with panic, he stared blankly at Zhou Tong.

He mumbled, "I don't want to die..."

Zhao Chong was still crying over there, and the emperor sighed: "Prime Minister Zhao, this is something Zhao Qinghuai did himself. I know it has nothing to do with you and Empress Dowager Zhao. Don't worry, I won't blame the Empress Dowager or the Zhao family for this..."

Whoever did the wrong, should bear the consequences.

Zhao Qinghuai's body trembled suddenly.

His eyes were full of despair.

Zhao Chong shook his head, his face full of shame: "Your Majesty is merciful and does not blame the noble consort or the Zhao family. The old minister's heart is filled with gratitude. But the old minister can't get over this hurdle in his heart. This wretch has harmed too many lives, and I truly cannot rest easy."

"If I could use my death to soothe those departed souls, I... would gladly die to atone for their suffering."

He said, amidst everyone's shocked gaze, quickly got up from the ground, and slammed into the wall beside him.

The Emperor was taken aback and immediately ordered Zhou Gonggong to stop Zhao Chong.

Zhou Gong was so scared that he hugged Zhao Chong tightly.

Zhao Chong's forehead was scraped open, blood trickling out.

Xiao Xuanrui's face changed drastically, he staggered forward and hugged Zhao Chong who had slumped to the ground.

"Grandfather…"

Consternation clouded Zhao Gui's eyes. She scrambled to her feet, her steps unsteady as she rushed to check on Zhao Chong's condition.

"Father, father, are you alright"

Zhao Chongqi was like a deflated balloon, his face covered in blood as he lay in Xiao Xuanrui's arms.

His eyes held a hint of guilt as he looked at Noble Consort Zhao and Xiao Xuanrui.

"Wǎn'er, Ruì'er ah, it is... it is the Zhao family who owes you, holding you back. I have only death to atone for... just let this old thing die."

"Let me die, let me go to those who have died in misery to atone for my sins..."

"All of this is the Zhao family's sin."

Empress Zhao wept uncontrollably, clutching tightly onto Zhao Chong's hand. Her eyes were filled with profound sorrow.

"No, this is not my father's fault. This is my fault. My indulgence emboldened him, leading him to commit atrocities and take so many lives."

"I should go to death, to atone for the dead..."

The Emperor's eyes flickered, he immediately stepped forward, embraced Zhao Guifei's body, and whispered, "Guifei, what nonsense are you talking about What does this matter have to do with you"

"I told you, this is all Zhao Qinghuai's fault... The Zhao family and you will not be implicated."

Zhao Guifei pursed her lips and slowly turned her head to look at the Emperor. Her eyes and cheeks were filled with tears.

She was just about to express her gratitude to the Emperor when Zhao Qinghuai suddenly sneered.

"Grandfather, the play you and your aunt put on was truly remarkable, a performance beyond compare. Hmph... as long as I die, the Zhao family can escape this disaster. Aren't you both feeling very happy, finally able to dodge this catastrophe"

"Yes, I am the one who killed those palace maids, and I was also the one who tried to force Lady Li into doing things against her will. These are my crimes, and I admit them all. But... assassinating King Mo was not something I dared to do on my own..."

Zhao Qinghuai lifted his sleeve and wiped the blood from his face. He staggered to his feet from the ground.

His eyes glistened with determination.

Since you refuse to save me and force me to die... then don't blame me for turning against you and exposing all the evil deeds you have done.

"At worst, we'll die together. It wouldn't be so bad going to hell if I had company."

Zhao Gui's eyes widened in astonishment as she looked at Zhao Qinghuai. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately cried out in a sharp voice, "Aqing, don't talk nonsense!"

Zhao Qinghuai stared at her coldly, then looked up and laughed out loud.

"Auntie, are you panicking Are you afraid that I'll expose all the things you've done"

He said, looking at the Emperor: "Your Majesty, about that jade hairpin, I just lied. It wasn't me who stole it; it was a gift from my aunt. She said that although the hairpin looks ugly, the jade is quite good. She told me to take it out and sell it for money. She said that since she is now a noble consort, her status is high, and such an ugly hairpin doesn't deserve to be worn by her."

She said it would be better to sell it than to keep it in a box and let it turn to ash. After all, she would never wear such an ugly thing anyway.

Zhao Qinghuai's words successfully changed Zhao Guifei's complexion. She took the emperor's hand and shook her head at him: "Your Majesty, don't listen to his nonsense, this hairpin was clearly stolen by him. I never said these words, I never gave him the hairpin, and asked him to exchange it for money..."

Zhao Qinghuai sneered with a smile: "Aunt, I'm almost dead. Do you think I have any reason to lie to the Emperor"

Zhao Chong's head felt dizzy. He never expected that this unfilial descendant would actually bite back at Zhao Guifei

He gritted his teeth and told Zhao Qinghuai to shut up.

Zhao Qinghuai, at this moment, was putting on a facade of having nothing to lose. He now understood that every member of the Zhao family who wanted him alive actually wished he were dead.

If that's the case, he could only fight his own way out.like he couldn't get enough of her.But the next instant, when Qingxuan raised her hand, a familiar and bone-chilling sword energy came charging towards her.Qingxuan saw that Nangong Ye's eyes, one sec...