After Rebirth, She Becomes the Revenge Queen-Chapter 604 - 376: The Conspiracy Begins (Vote for Monthly Ticket)

The Empress pursed her lips and avoided his gaze.

Turning her head, she then realized that the Pei Family had quietly left without her noticing, leaving just the three of them in the courtyard.

She sighed, stepped down from the carriage, and pointed inside the courtyard, saying, "Since we’ve come, let’s go inside and talk."

On the other side of the wall, Fu Zhen watched the family of three enter the hall, and then glanced at Pei Yu and his wife along with Pei Zhan beside him.

No one spoke for a moment.

Finally, they exchanged a look, and everyone boarded their respective carriages, sitting quietly and waiting.

After all, the three most important people in Great Zhou were in the courtyard, how could any mishap be allowed?

The moon rose from the east, illuminating the earth. Occasionally, distant barks and meows could be heard, but gradually the sounds became sparse and finally returned to silence, with only the occasional sound of the wind.

At this moment inside the residence, guards and palace attendants filled the courtyard. The lights in the main hall were bright, casting a brilliant gleam in the Emperor’s eyes.

This ruler, long tormented by illness, at this very moment seemed to have regained boundless energy. He stood tall and straight in the middle of the room, gazing at Yang Yi for a long time.

"...That’s how the whole affair is," the Empress’s slow voice drifted through the room. The story was too long, making her voice hoarse as she recounted it, "If it wasn’t for uncovering the third prince’s lies, Yi Yi and I wouldn’t be meeting, let alone you!"

"I just came to see my son, to exert my last bit of strength to protect my ill-fated son. I thought this had nothing to do with you."

"How could it have nothing to do with me?" The Emperor blurted out, his voice ringing strong, "He is also my son! My legitimate firstborn!"

"Not anymore!" Yang Yi followed up quickly, "Since twenty-four years ago, when you sent me out as bait at Huzhou, we were no longer father and son!"

The Emperor’s throat tightened: "Do you hate me?"

"Of course, I hate you!" Yang Yi uttered without restraint. Ever since his return to the capital and becoming visible, he always maintained a calm and composed demeanor, never once losing his composure. But at this moment, all his emotions burst forth, "How could I not hate you?

"If you were not my father, just a general, a leader of the Righteous Army, a king, and you treated me like this, I might let it go.

"But you were the father I loved and revered since I could remember, whom I regarded as my sky, my role model. I always moved towards your direction, but in the end, without a word, you pushed me out as a pawn!

"If not for your actions, I wouldn’t have been captured and imprisoned by the Dayue people. My lifelong ambition is to be a man standing tall, fighting for the welfare of Great Zhou’s people!

"I never imagined that one day I would become such a pathetic prisoner! I am not afraid of suffering or hardship, but I never foresaw enduring such humiliation!

"If you weren’t my father, even if I resented you, I would still forgive you for the sake of humanity. Yet, now you still claim I am your son!

"How could I ever be your son again? The fact that I still bear the surname Yang and use the name Yang Yi is only because of my mother!"

The Emperor bit his lower lip and looked at him, unable to respond.

The sound reached outside the door, and in the full courtyard, the guards and palace attendants held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Before following the Emperor out of the palace, no one anticipated that they would meet the emperor’s eldest son, who had been missing for over twenty-four years, here. The joy of the empire having an heir, coupled with the terror of witnessing the tensions between the royal father and son, struck everyone simultaneously, tightening every heartstring.

Every word from Yang Yi was filled with grievance, filled with resentment, yet this was a son’s reproach to his father, repressed for over twenty-four years. Perhaps this accusation was already quite mild.

After an unknown amount of time, the Emperor finally uttered slowly, "It is the father’s fault for failing you."

"No need." Yang Yi’s eyes reddened, "Does saying this serve any purpose now? If you had informed me beforehand, would I not have agreed?

"Why did you have to treat me in such a manner? You made me feel not like your son, but merely your tool.

"You didn’t even need to solicit my opinion; as long as it was convenient, you could push me forth.

"Today, you only have the chance to say sorry because of my great fortune. Over these many years, I’ve faced numerous dangers, and within those five years in Dayue, I endured more than five life-threatening crises.