Liang Xinran acted in a fit of shock and anger.
After the man was killed and his hot blood splattered onto his hands, his anger gradually subsided.
He then realized that the situation was not good.
He instructed Cao Xing not to stop, but to continue cutting.
Thus, Cao Xing continued the execution on Kongshan's corpse.
A total of three thousand six hundred cuts were made, taking a full two days.
However, Kongshan, who had been screaming incessantly before, could no longer utter a sound.
When everyone looked, seeing his head hanging down, they initially thought he had fainted from the pain of the slicing.
They paid it no mind.
But later, when Cao Xing continued to cut him without any reaction, people gradually began to feel that something was amiss.
However, the entire Chang'an Street was blocked by a long row of wooden stakes, with soldiers every three steps and sentries every five steps.
No matter who it was, they were unable to get closer to see what was happening.
The fact that the object of the slicing had gone silent made the onlookers feel bored.
After watching for a while, they began to leave one by one.
Among them, someone started a rumor: "Could this Silver Monk have been stabbed to death by the Crown Prince?"
"It looks like it. Warden Cao's skill is passed down through generations, so there must be no mistake.
The last time I saw him perform a slicing execution was a year ago; he made nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one cuts, taking three days and three nights."
"Good heavens, that's terrifying.
Why would His Highness the Crown Prince stab someone to death?
Didn't he request at the court session that the man be subjected to slicing?"
The last speaker knew a little too much, startling the two he was chatting with.
However, after just one glance, the man explained: "Isn't that what's being spread throughout the court? The tea houses in the alleys of the East and West Markets all know about it.
How is it that you still don't know?"
With that, everyone no longer doubted him.
It seemed it wasn't that his information was particularly timely, but rather that their information was too limited.
What was hotly debated outside the palace was also being hotly debated within.
Emperor Xing Zhao learned of Kongshan's death slightly later than the Crown Prince.
It was Eunuch Feng Bao, who served him, who informed him.
And it was Xiao Dengzi who was responsible for bringing the news.
"Crown Prince, well done, Crown Prince! I am not dead yet, and not only is he coveting my throne, but he dares to cause trouble right under my nose."
Emperor Xing Zhao was so angry that his beard bristled, wishing he could send someone to tie the Crown Prince up and discipline him severely to quell his anger.
Eunuch Feng repeatedly said:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. That is, after all, His Highness the Crown Prince. He must have been thinking of Your Majesty's reputation..."
Emperor Xing Zhao interrupted angrily: "Thinking of my reputation? Is he afraid that the rumors outside are not fierce enough?"
In the past few days, his health had improved somewhat.
But every time he attended court, something would happen that made him furious.
He was unable to rest and recuperate peacefully.
Eunuch Feng persuaded him a few more times.
However, the former Emperor Xing Zhao was not an easy person to deal with.
Now, suffering from a long illness, he had become even more inscrutable and sinister.
His thoughts and personality had become more sensitive and fragile.
Initially, this matter was only discussed among those around Emperor Xing Zhao.
But the palace was vast, and there were no secrets.
Soon, it was passed to the Crown Prince by those with intentions.
Even some influential concubines in the palace knew about it.
The Emperor was becoming increasingly suspicious of the Crown Prince.
He was about to lose the Emperor's favor.
Upon learning all this, Liang Xinran was about to go mad. He clenched his fists in anger and punched the golden-thread nanmu screen, which was carved with a picture of court ladies.
The screen fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces.
This scene only made Liang Xinran more agitated.
This was once his favorite screen.
He shouted in anger, "Guards, you useless fools, useless fools!"
When a person loses their reason and their emotions get the better of them, they easily lose their judgment.
This was the case for Liang Xinran at this moment.
"Your Highness, you cannot just be angry now. You must quickly think of a solution.
Otherwise, if His Majesty..."
Liang Xinran raised his hand to stop his subordinate's unfinished words.
He did not want to hear what he did not want to hear.
However, even though his ears could not hear it, his heart could not stop itself from thinking about it.
So, in his mind, he completed his subordinate's unsaid words: "Perhaps His Majesty will depose the Crown Prince."
No, it's impossible, absolutely impossible!
"Guards, please invite Miss Zhao."
Under the guidance of those with intentions, Liang Xinran had completely lost his judgment.
He now just wanted to grasp at the last straw.
However, this straw was not something he could grasp just by wanting to.
Zhao Xiaohua could not be brought.
Liang Xinran had just downed a cup of Huadiao wine, his eyes bloodshot. Seeing that his subordinate was empty-handed behind him, he clenched his fists, his knuckles turning pale.
"What is going on?" His voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.
If it weren't for his accompanying eunuch being accustomed to his speaking style, he would hardly have understood.
"Miss Zhao said, 'Your Highness, do not rush. It is not the final moment yet. To resolve the current predicament, why not repeat the old trick.'"
"Repeat the old trick?" Liang Xinran was stunned.
Seeing that his master did not understand, the eunuch quickly emulated Zhao Xiaohua's tone and demeanor:
"Your Highness, consider this: if Prince Duan were to commit treason at this moment, and a dragon robe were found in his residence, thereby confirming Prince Duan's intention to usurp the throne, would Your Highness not be able to resolve the situation in one fell swoop?"
The eunuch's words were very clear, but he spoke them with trepidation.
Even a single sentence of these words was enough to cost someone their life.
Liang Xinran finally understood. His eyes lit up: "Hmph, repeat the old trick. Good, very good."
He immediately ordered someone to prepare.
In fact, not much preparation was needed.
Because the dragon robe was readily available.
All that was needed was to find someone to secretly place it in Prince Duan's residence.
While Liang Xinran was busy, in an elegant room in Chongming Garden, a person hurried into the private room.
The door opened, and Liang Jingning, the heir of Prince Duan's residence, was present. Liang Jingyu, the Crown Prince's residence's young master Yu, was also present.
Unlike other red-light districts,
These two cousins were not embracing women, but men.
"Young Master, there is an urgent matter. Please return to the Prince's residence immediately," the guard whispered into Liang Jingning's ear.
His eyes were somewhat anxious, and he couldn't help but glance at Liang Jingyu from time to time.
"What is it?" Liang Jingning grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Ever since the incident on the Dragon Boat Festival, he had been very displeased with Prince Duan and often harbored resentment.
Because since that time, he had felt that his father, Prince Duan, had been giving his heart to his younger brother, Liang Jingchen.
He was no longer the good father who wholeheartedly planned for him as before.
No matter what he did, he would think of Liang Jingchen.
Whether it was food, drink, or toys, whatever he had, his father would proactively reserve a portion for Liang Jingchen.
Regardless of whether he was present or carrying out official duties thousands of miles away, he never forgot him.
He, his once most beloved son, had long become a misnomer.
Fortunately, he had his confidante Su Yuru to console him.
But that was not enough.
His nature was to seek novelty.
Facing only Su Yuru daily, no matter how beautiful she was, he would eventually grow tired of her.
Therefore, he found his most debonair and pleasure-seeking cousin in the royal family, Liang Jingyu.
He didn't know until he came, and when he did, he was shocked.
Liang Jingyu truly knew how to find pleasure; he had even turned to men!