novelden Chapter 2294 You've Miscalculated
Chapter 2294 You've Miscalculated
Chu Xuan's blatant and outrageous remarks, which tore apart the royal family's facade and pointed directly to the bloody nature of the power struggle, were like venom splashed into the night sky above the city walls.
He not only denied the legitimacy of Chu Ning's succession, but also exposed the unspeakable dark methods used in the succession of emperors throughout history.
Finally, he put himself in a seemingly fearless position by provoking others with the statement, "You've already killed your brothers, what harm is there in killing one more?"
In reality, they were trying to gain a distorted sense of tragedy by adopting the roles of "whistleblower" and "victim," and to push Chu Ning onto the moral judgment seat for being mean-spirited and ungrateful, and harming his own brother.
A deathly silence fell upon the city wall, with only the torches flickering uneasily in the night wind, making a "whooshing" sound.
Feng Mulan's eyes were already as cold as ice. Her hand was on her waist. If Chu Ning hadn't given the signal, she would have almost immediately ordered the mouth of this arrogant traitor to be gagged.
Generals Zhao Yu, Ma Chao, and others had ashen faces and gripped their weapons tightly. Had they not been in front of the emperor, they would have already shouted angrily.
Xue Huaide lowered his eyelids, as if studying the patterns on the bricks on the ground, but his taut jawline betrayed his inner turmoil.
Su Tingmei had already turned her head away, gazing at the deep night outside the city. Her profile appeared unusually pale in the firelight, and her lips were tightly pressed together.
After Chu Xuan's final roar of "Kill me if you want," Chu Ning's expression gradually calmed down from its initial livid rage.
The raging anger seemed to be frozen, replaced by a bottomless chill and a cold, all-knowing clarity belonging to an emperor.
He didn't explode immediately, but quietly, with a gaze that almost pierced through people's hearts, he examined his brother who had fallen into madness, yet in that madness, a last trace of calculation was revealed.
Silence is more suffocating than a roar. This silence lasted as if an eternity, until even Chu Xuan's panting breaths after his maniacal laughter could be clearly heard.
Finally, Chu Ning spoke slowly, his voice no longer loud, but unusually calm and clear.
Every word seemed to have been forged through countless trials, carrying an undeniable power of judgment, echoing across the city walls:
"Chu Xuan, you colluded with foreign enemies and let wolves into the house, causing the people of the northern frontier to suffer and the Jianghuai region to almost fall."
"You raised an army in rebellion, coveted the imperial artifacts, disregarded the fate of the nation, and plunged the common people into the flames of war."
"This is a heinous crime of treason, the evidence is irrefutable, it is intolerable to Heaven and Earth, and unforgivable to our ancestors!"
"In the name of the Emperor of Chu, in accordance with the laws of our ancestors and the hopes of the people, I hereby sentence you to immediate execution for treason!"
The three words "execute immediately" were like three thunderclaps, splitting the stagnant night sky.
It was not imprisonment, nor was it demotion; it was the most direct and thorough death sentence!
Chu Xuan's body jolted, and the crazy, provocative smile on his face froze instantly.
But to everyone's surprise, the freeze only lasted for a moment.
It then transformed into an even more distorted and deafening burst of maniacal laughter, as if it had heard the most ridiculous thing in the world:
"Hahaha! Execution on the spot! Good! What a fine execution on the spot!"
"Chu Ning, you finally said it! Kill! Kill them all!"
"Right here on the city wall of Jianghuai, right here in front of everyone, I will cut off your own brother's head!"
"Let the whole world see how you, this benevolent and magnanimous emperor, can so righteously put righteousness before family!"
"Historians will record this scene, and future generations will celebrate this moment—Emperor Chu Ning, on the city tower of Jianghuai, personally ordered the execution of his elder brother, Prince Xuan, Chu Xuan!"
"Hahahaha! You're destined to be infamous for all time!"
He laughed so hard he was doubled over, the shackles rattling, looking like a madman.
It was as if death was not the end, but rather a grand finale, meticulously planned by him, to tarnish Chu Ning's reputation.
He attempted to use this method to place a heavy moral shackle on Chu Ning in the final moments of his life.
This lawful execution has been twisted into a tragic tale of fratricide.
However, Chu Ning's face did not show the anger, hesitation, or embarrassment that Chu Xuan had expected.
His eyes were sharp as knives, as if he had already seen through the weakness beneath Chu Xuan's final, frenzied performance.
That steady voice rang out again, drowning out Chu Xuan's laughter:
"What are you laughing at? Do you think that by using such childish provocation and threatening me with so-called eternal infamy, I will hesitate and let you go, you traitor?"
A faint, cold sneer even appeared on Chu Ning's lips.
"Chu Xuan, you keep saying you're not afraid of death, putting your life and death aside, how brave and fearless you appear!"
"But deep down, you're more afraid than anyone else! You're afraid of failure, afraid of losing power, and even more afraid—of death!"
He took a step forward, staring intently into Chu Xuan's suddenly contracted pupils, his voice like an ice pick piercing his heart:
"If you are truly not afraid of death, why didn't you commit suicide to preserve your honor when you were defeated and captured? Why didn't you sacrifice yourself for your ambition when you were besieged at Luoyan Gorge?"
"You've survived all this time, struggled until now, and even spout nonsense and act arrogantly here, all because you still harbor illusions!"
"You still hope someone will plead for you? You still expect me to spare your life out of consideration for the so-called blood ties that you have long since trampled on!"
"Your outrageous and paradoxical words are nothing but your last fig leaf to cover your fear of death, a clumsy trick to try to confuse me and buy yourself a chance to survive!"
Chu Ning's words were like a precise scalpel, peeling away all of Chu Xuan's arrogant facade to reveal the pale, fearful core beneath.
Chu Xuan's maniacal laughter froze completely, the color drained from his face, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.
For the first time, a shadow of fear was clearly reflected in those eyes that had always burned with resentment and provocation.
He was right!
He was indeed afraid of dying!
Ultimately, all his performances stemmed from the fact that he didn't want to die!
"But unfortunately,"
Chu Ning's voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation: "You've miscalculated."
"Today, I will kill you! Not for personal grudges, but for justice!"
"If I spare you, how can I face the tens of thousands of soldiers who fought and died on the battlefield at Changting Slope?"
"How can you face the people of the northern frontier whose families have been destroyed because of the barbarian cavalry you brought? How can you face the country and its people whose world has been turned upside down by your ambition?"
"The laws of the land are as firm as a mountain; traitors—die!"
The final word "death" was like the final gavel falling, sealing Chu Xuan's fate.
Chu Xuan's last psychological defense finally collapsed completely at this moment.
His feigned fearlessness was shattered, and the fear of death overwhelmed him instantly like a cold tide.
He could no longer maintain his frenzied state; his body began to tremble violently, and his eyes darted around in a panic.
Finally, as if grasping at the last straw, he suddenly turned his gaze to Su Tingmei, who was standing silently to the side!