Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 694 - 634: Dugu’s Sacrifice!

Chapter 694: Chapter 634: Dugu’s Sacrifice!

After the morning court session had ended, the Princess Consort of Jin waited for King Jin, and then the couple went together to see Empress Dugu.

Everyone believed that to vie for the position of Crown Prince, one needed to put more effort into cultivating relationships on the Imperial Court.

This was also why the Crown Prince, upon discovering King Jin’s intentions, had begun to network with various factions within the Court to have them on his side.

But King Jin knew that the Great Sui was unlike any dynasty in history.

Although the harem was forbidden from engaging in politics, and indeed his own backers from the Dugu Clan rarely interfered in affairs of the Court,

throughout the whole of Great Sui, the Emperor had only one woman, his mother, meaning that all five sons were legitimate, making it normal for the Empress to pass the throne to anyone.

Her favor, as well as her influence in the presence of Emperor Kaihuang, would inevitably have a significant impact on the position of the Crown Prince.

This was also one of the reasons why King Jin had consistently had Princess Consort Xiao Meiniang visit the Imperial Palace frequently to maintain her presence before Empress Dugu.

He knew that unlike many imperial couples in history, his parents shared a deeper affection and depended more on each other.

This was where he had an advantage over the Crown Prince.

At this time, King Jin and the Princess Consort of Jin arrived at Empress Gudu’s living quarters and heard that Empress Dugu was alone in a small room at the back of the palace, which sparked their curiosity about what she was doing.

The Princess Consort of Jin gently knocked on the door, softly calling out, "Empress, King Jin and I have come to see you."

However, there was no response from the room.

King Jin vaguely sensed something was wrong and immediately pushed the door open.

With this push, King Jin realized that the door could not be opened.

King Jin immediately charged at it.

With a loud bang, as the door was forced open, King Jin and the Princess Consort of Jin noticed a huge Rune Array on the floor inside the room.

At that moment, Empress Dugu was sitting in it.

Although King Jin had limited study in Rune Arrays, he could easily see that there was something eerie about this array.

Especially concerning his mother’s temples, which had, unbeknownst to them, grown much whiter.

King Jin immediately rushed over and lifted his mother out of the array.

"Empress, how are you? I just felt that this array seemed to be absorbing the vitality of the person inside it. Are you alright?" he asked.

Only then did Empress Dugu slowly open her eyes, looking up at King Jin with a smile, and whispered softly, "I’m fine. I had this array set up."

As she spoke, Empress Dugu tried to stand, but her current weakness made her struggle before collapsing back down.

The Princess Consort of Jin immediately came over to support Empress Dugu.

Empress Dugu sighed, looking at the array, and whispered, "This array was set up by me. It can absorb my life span to replenish the Emperor’s life span. He, as the Great Sui Emperor Kaihuang and a Red Dust Immortal of the Imperial Path, was originally just a Court Official and not a cultivation prodigy. Even with the enhancement of the Imperial Path’s position, his power is limited."

"In the recent battle of the Longyun Path, he was injured. Though his injuries are now suppressed, I know it’s just the Imperial Path’s position on him that is helping to keep the injuries at bay. In reality, his body isn’t what it used to be."

"In this world, how many men are there like your father, who in his entire life loves only me, marries only me, and is kind only to me? Only him! Only him..."

"So, sacrificing a little of my lifespan to help him recover sooner is only natural. Don’t worry, your mother has plenty of lifespan left," she assured.

Empress Dugu said this and attempted to walk back into the Rune Array, but King Jin pulled her back.

"Empress, as your son, how can I allow you to sacrifice your life while I stand by and watch? Let me do it!"

King Jin said, stepping towards the array.

As soon as he walked in, King Jin felt his own lifespan being voraciously devoured.

Although King Jin knew that maintaining the semblance of a filial son before his mother was necessary.

But he had never imagined that the side effects of the Rune Array would be so severe.

Just then, a figure dashed over and pushed King Jin out of the formation.

King Jin fell to the ground and turned to see that it was Princess Consort of Jin, Xiao Meiniang, who had pushed him out, and then she stood within the Rune Array herself.

"Prince, you have revered Kaihuang since your youth, and you hold the world in your heart. You need to live long to make the lives of the common people better. Let me do this. However, this..."

Although Xiao Meiniang entered the formation, she found that the vitality being drawn from her was minuscule.

Empress Gudu watched King Jin and Princess Consort of Jin, her eyes filled with tearful emotion.

"My child, there’s no need. The formation only works with the life sacrifice of a close relative. You are just a daughter-in-law; your vitality won’t offer much."

Xiao Meiniang immediately knelt before Empress Gudu, criticizing her own uselessness.

Although King Jin knew this was just a tactic to ingratiate herself with the opportunity, his mother indeed fell for this behavior.

At this moment, Empress Gudu, somewhat recovered, stood up, helped Xiao Meiniang up, and also asked King Jin to rise.

"Mother indeed knows that you are all doing well and knows that you are a loving couple. Sometimes, I just feel regretful. If Quan had been born earlier, then he would have been the Crown Prince. With such a Crown Prince, your father the Emperor could rest easy. The Great Sui could last thousands of generations. What a pity..."

Hearing this, King Jin knew he finally had the chance to bring up the topic he had always wanted to mention to his mother but had not dared to discuss.

With a thump.

King Jin immediately knelt down, and Xiao Meiniang also knelt down beside him.

"It’s my fault, Mother. I’ve always thought my elder brother was not the most suitable person, and after subjugating Southern Chen, seeing the suffering of the people due to the war, I felt I should do more. Gradually, I began to harbor thoughts I should not have. I will go now to take leave of father the Emperor and return to my fief, leaving the Capital."

Empress Dugu glanced at her second son, Yang Quan.

If Yang Quan said he never harbored thoughts of becoming the Crown Prince, she would only think this son was somewhat hypocritical.

But since Yang Quan admitted it, she felt assured that she hadn’t misjudged him, Yang Quan and his father the Emperor alike, both were men of responsibility and loyalty.

"Quan, you and your elder brother are from the same mother. If you become the Crown Prince, would you treat your elder brother harshly?"

Hearing this, Yang Quan immediately understood his mother’s implications.

He silently marveled that today he had originally planned just to support Zhang San in court and then visit his mother, but it really had turned out to be the right decision!

Zhang San, my lucky star!

"Mother, rest assured, if I become the Crown Prince, I will treat my elder brother and other siblings without partiality."

"I am old, and your father the Emperor is also old, the future of the Great Sui is yours."

Empress Dugu said, looking at King Jin and Princess Consort of Jin kneeling before her, and couldn’t help but remember herself when she first married Yang Jian.

How many men in the world can truly love only one woman all their life, can truly prioritize the welfare of all under heaven?

Only my husband Kaihuang!

Only my son Yang Quan!

"With you here, Mother is at ease."

Empress Dugu said, then turned and walked into the formation beside her.

Xiao Meiniang wanted to stand up and grab Empress Dugu, as this was a sacrifice of her own life, but Yang Quan subtly held her back.

Xiao Meiniang wondered why, at this moment, King Jin didn’t continue to play the role of a filial son.

But King Jin knew what his father’s love for his mother was like.

The greater the sacrifice the Empress made, the more easily her requests would be granted by the Emperor.