"As a prince, these over twenty years of experience are a tremendous advantage for you.

"Even if you only act as a prince, as a titled prince, you can work within the realm of power to seek fortune and benefit for the people, changing the destinies of many.

"Over twenty years of hearing and seeing among the people, you know clearly what they need, what kind of decisions can genuinely help them.

"I believe you know how to act, can directly soothe our citizens in the shortest time, so that the Great Zhou, in the years to come, strides faster towards prosperity.

"So how can you not yearn for power? You yearn for it a lot!"

The Emperor lifted his hand, gently tapping his temple.

His every word echoed in the empty hall, this resonant tone was entirely unlike that of a once sickly elder. He had regained his strength; the majesty of a king returned to him.

Yang Yi’s breath was ragged: "Stop talking nonsense!"

"How could I be talking nonsense?" the Emperor replied softly, pacing slowly in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back, "If you truly didn’t want it, you wouldn’t have entered the palace.

"You wouldn’t have lost your composure because of the Yi Family’s actions.

"In this period of time, you’ve already wavered. You might not even realize it yourself, but you’ve prepared to take the reins.

"You are my son. You’re not a mere rabbit, you’re an eagle! You have ambition, for what you’ve set your eyes on, you won’t permit others to covet.

"When the second once held the position of Crown Prince for so many years, you never felt uneasy about him. At that time, you truly didn’t want it.

"But once you do, how can you allow others to touch it?

"So a mere Yi Family, an act which you know very well is destined to fail, can easily drive you into the palace.

"Tell me, how can you not want it? How can you possibly have no desire for power?"

The Emperor stopped in front of him. His eyes gleamed like those of a fox.

Yang Yi turned his body to avoid his gaze, clenched his fists, and said, "I don’t want to discuss this with you, my purpose in coming is only to make you understand that the Yi Family cannot bring unrelated people into the palace tomorrow.

"I don’t care what you think, but I don’t want these people coming to disrupt Mother’s birthday banquet!"

"You’re still avoiding it." The Emperor sneered lightly, "Have you not tangled enough over these twenty-odd years? Are you still a man with such hesitation? If you want it, why not just say it wholeheartedly? Why not show your ambition?

"The Yang Family’s descendants, including the second, have never been cowards!"

"Enough!" Yang Yi gritted his teeth, glaring at him, "Is mocking me amusing to you?!"

The Emperor’s gaze was sharp as a thorn: "Do you admit that what I said was true? Tell me, do you want to be the Emperor of the Great Zhou or not?"

Yang Yi’s eyes were already red.

He clenched his teeth tightly, speaking word by word: "Indeed, I want it! I’ve indeed changed my mind, I want your power, I want to be the new monarch of the Great Zhou!

"I’m not being fussy, nor tangled by anything else, I just want you to taste the bitter fruit of your own making!

"No matter how benevolent you are as Emperor, since the battle of Huzhou, you are no longer a gentle father!

"If you hadn’t treated me like that back then, the second wouldn’t have had reservations about me, he wouldn’t have needed to guard against me! Because from birth he would know he has a brother, that imperial power is not his to solely enjoy, he would naturally accept all this!

"Thus, you wouldn’t face the fate of being threatened by your own son. If everything was ordained since birth, who would so easily risk life and limb?

"Twenty-four years ago you turned a weapon against your eldest son, twenty-four years later you stabbed your second son with a sword!

"No matter how detestable the second might be, you were the one who set it all in motion!

"This is also the consequence you deserve!

"You’re destined to be solitary! I also want you to become solitary!

"I know if you need me, I know the Great Zhou needs a legitimate person to sit on the throne, I can do anything for the great realm of Great Zhou, bear any responsibility. But if it’s you—I’m not reconciled! I want to see you taste all the world’s loneliness! This is my revenge as a victim, as a son you heartlessly abandoned, against you, my biological father!"