Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1159 - 162: Prince Han’s Wedding Date Is Set

Considering Prince Dai's distinguished military record, the Emperor spared him and Prince Yue from execution. Instead, both princes were stripped of their titles and confined for life within the Royal Mansion.

The entire household of Marquis Xuanping faced public execution. However, their collateral relatives were spared, as Marquis Xuanping possessed no such kin for the Emperor to purge.

Prince Han, who had conspired with the Xiongnu, received a cup of poison while in prison. As for the Marquis Wuping's family, the Xun clan, their extended relatives were annihilated. The Xun family did, in fact, have collateral branches.

The Xun family's existence was thus permanently erased, and they would no longer be counted among the aristocratic lineages.

Of the capital's four major aristocratic clans, only the Xie family clung precariously to survival; the other three had been wiped out by the Emperor.

Witnessing the eradication of families like the Xuns by the Emperor, the remaining aristocratic clans were gripped by fear. They yearned to resist but lacked the courage. Compared to the grand families such as the Xie and Xun, they were mere specks. Should they defy the Emperor, their fate would assuredly be more dire than that of the Xuns and the Wangs.

Though the Xie family's influence had waned significantly, their continued existence offered a sliver of solace to the other aristocratic houses. They clung to a self-deceiving hope: as long as the Xie family stood, the aristocracy would remain secure.

Naturally, should the once-dominant Xie family fall, the remaining aristocratic families would face an equally grim future. These clans were keenly aware of this, yet they were powerless against the Emperor's systematic dismantling. To resist would only hasten their demise.

They lived in quiet apprehension, understanding that the Emperor would not strike them down swiftly but would instead employ a slow, methodical approach, akin to slowly boiling a frog. This protracted process allowed them to make arrangements for their families' futures.

These lesser and mid-tier aristocratic families fervently hoped the Xie family could hold out a little longer. To aid the Xie family's endurance, they had all offered their fealty to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing, as the legitimate heir, had the preeminent Xie family as his maternal lineage. Should he ascend to the throne, these families envisioned not only their survival but potentially their elevation to elite status, wielding substantial influence.

In public, Prince Jing outwardly spurned the allegiance of these lesser aristocratic clans. He dared not associate too closely with them at this juncture. Should his father discover any collusion, his own position would be irrevocably compromised.

Prince Jing, sharp-witted, recognized the Emperor's long-standing ambition to dismantle the aristocratic families, thereby preventing them from dominating the court and exerting influence over both officials and commoners.

He surmised that Prince Han's involvement with the Xiongnu in the recent uprising had the Emperor's tacit approval. Such a rebellion served as the perfect catalyst for the complete annihilation of the Xun family.

Prince Jing's thoughts turned to the past incident where the Crown Prince and his uncle had secretly forged weapons. He pondered if his father, to utterly destroy the Xie family, might incite the Crown Prince and his uncle to rebellion. This would provide a legitimate pretext to exterminate the collateral branches of the Xie family, ensuring their complete disappearance. But why had his father refrained from such action?

He found it difficult to believe that his father harbored any genuine affection for the Xie family, making him hesitant to obliterate them.

After careful deliberation, Prince Jing concluded that the Emperor deliberately preserved the Xie family. The reasons were twofold: firstly, to placate the broader aristocratic community, and secondly, to avoid being branded as callous by the world.

The current iteration of the Xie family, a diminished force, posed no threat to his father. Instead, it served perfectly as a means to both appease and intimidate the other aristocratic clans.

In the future, upon his ascension, maintaining the Xie family in their current weakened state would be the most advantageous course.

Currently, only he, the fourth prince, and the eighth prince remained as contenders. However, his primary adversary was undoubtedly the fourth prince. As for the eighth prince, despite possessing some acumen and capabilities, he presented a considerably lesser threat compared to the fourth.

Henceforth, his singular focus would be on neutralizing the fourth prince. Once the fourth was dealt with, the eighth would follow.

Prince Jing dismissed Prince Wei as a significant threat, unaware that his own downfall was imminent at Prince Wei's hands.

The matter involving Prince Dai, Prince Yue, and Prince Han's conspiracy and subsequent rebellion was now a resolved chapter. The pervasive shadow of instability over Great Zhou had finally lifted.

News arrived that the new Modu Chanyu of the Xiongnu had been slain by General Chu, resulting in the utter destruction of the Xiongnu Royal Court and the subjugation of other tribes to Great Zhou. The citizens rejoiced exuberantly.