Chapter 6 — The Golden Crow Reclaims Her Fate

Seeing the Crown Prince speak so vehemently on behalf of Jiang Rou, I could no longer suppress my disdain. I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the heavy air:

"The Crown Prince only seems to perceive what suits his own agenda. Moments ago, those servants lacked the eyes to recognize the truth, kneeling before a common imposter while treating me—the true Princess—with utter contempt and scorn. They insulted me, spat upon my station, and subjected me to endless indignities. Do they not deserve to be punished?"

"Or does the Crown Prince truly believe that it is a capital offense for a member of the Imperial bloodline to discipline a menial servant?"

My expression hardened, and I continued, my gaze steady:

"I have heard it said that you, Crown Prince, have executed countless servants in your own retinue solely for the sake of Jiang Rou. Furthermore, you often did so without cause or reason; whenever your mood soured, you would lash out and take lives on a whim."

"If my memory serves me, there were times you even condemned them to total annihilation, ensuring their souls would be scattered to the winds, denied the mercy of reincarnation forever."

The Crown Prince’s face flushed a deep, mottled red. He stared at me, breathless and trembling, his chest heaving as my words struck true. Yet, he lacked the integrity to admit his own hypocrisy. Instead, he pointed a finger directly at my face, his voice trembling with fury:

"I am the eldest Crown Prince of the Heavenly Emperor! You dare to slander me? You are truly courting death!"

Watching his hysterical, wide-eyed rage, I could only sigh in my heart. Once, my nine elder brothers had sworn to protect me for all eternity; now, they treated me as their greatest enemy. If I had not learned to fight back in this life, I would surely have perished at their hands. It was they who had indulged that garden slug, allowing her to usurp my identity and permitting their servants to trample upon my dignity. Had I not struck back at those who dared disregard me today, my fate would have been even grimmer. Now, they bite back, using my defense of my own honor as a weapon to assault me. It is only natural, I suppose. In their eyes, that slug from the mortal realm is their beloved sister, while I am lower than a minor spirit, utterly unworthy of the Heavenly Court.

We stood there, locked in a bitter stalemate, glaring at one another like mortal enemies. Even the Heavenly Emperor, who governs the three realms and the four continents, the nine heavens and the ten directions, seemed momentarily at a loss. He took a long, heavy breath before speaking:

"I am no longer the man I was in my youth, and you have all grown into your own. I never wished to govern your affairs so strictly, but there are lines that must not be crossed, and you have dared to strike at your own kin. Furthermore, Jiang Ning is my only daughter, and your only sister."

My father looked at the sight of nine grown men hovering over a garden slug, fussing over her as if she were a precious jewel, and a profound, weary sadness filled his eyes.

"Guards, take this creature who has usurped the Princess’s identity to the Demon-Slaying Platform. Let her soul be scattered, never to be reborn!"

Upon hearing Father’s command, Jiang Rou’s face drained of all color. She looked on as the heavenly soldiers began to close in, then scrambled to the Crown Prince’s feet, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Crown Prince Brother, you promised to protect me forever. If you do not save me now, I shall truly die!"

Jiang Rou wept, her face wet with tears, even going so far as to kneel before me and beg for mercy. The deities who had conspired with her also threw themselves to the ground, crying out for her life to be spared. If Jiang Rou died, the status and influence they had spent lifetimes cultivating in the heavens would vanish, casting them back into the dirt.

The Crown Prince and my other brothers fixed their gazes upon me. Seeing that I remained unmoved, perhaps even finding a trace of amusement in their desperation, their rage ignited. Veins bulged on his forehead as he completely lost his composure.

"Father, why do you refuse to believe us? I was merely trying to temper Jiang Ning’s spirit; I never intended her any harm!"

"If anything happens to Rou today, I shall cast aside this title of Crown Prince and resign the throne!"

The Crown Prince’s fury did not earn him Father’s pity; instead, it only deepened the Emperor’s rage. Everyone remained on their knees, deathly silent. Those standing near the Crown Prince scurried backward, desperate to distance themselves from his explosive outburst. But the Second Prince, standing tall and projecting a facade of righteousness, spoke up:

"Father, the Eldest Brother is the future Sovereign of the heavens and earth, heir to the nine skies. If he abandons his position, what will become of you?"

"Surely you would not cast aside your own Crown Prince over a matter that is so unclear?"

Yet, Father remained unmoved by their threats. He looked at them with a terrifying, icy calm.

"You have truly disappointed me. You have grown up, yet you dare to threaten me? I am not yet blind nor deaf. I know exactly what you are thinking. I still hold the power of this realm, yet you already lust for my throne?"