Chapter 638 The Plight of Francis (Part One)


    While still in poor health, Francis entered the Imperial Pce and broke into the Golden Hall where


    Felix and the courtiers were having the regr imperial court session. All of the courtiers were


    shocked. They didn''t expect that Francis would be so bold to go against Felix at such a time.


    Felix red at Francis and stated, "Francis, what are you doing here? Since you''re not feeling well, you


    should stay in your mansion. Tell me, why did youe to the Golden Hall?"


    Although Francis looked pale, he walked toward Felix with strong and firm footsteps. "Felix, why didn''t


    you ask your men to deal with the locust gue in the Orchid City? On top of that, there''s also a deadly


    gue in the Golden City right now. Not only did you fail to send someone to cure it, you even closed


    the city off. Don''t you realize that you''re just letting the people in the city die? They''re defenseless and


    left to fend on their own. Is this what the crown prince of this country should do?"


    With those words, Felix pounded the arms of his chair in anger. "How dare you! Francis, Father is


    seriously ill. I''ve tried my best to do everything I can. But now, we''recking in financial support and


    human resources. I literally don''t have the power to do anything more! I''m helpless!"


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    Francis sneered, before responding, "You''re helpless? Father is in a critical condition and you won''t


    allow anyone to visit him. We don''t have a single clue about what''s happening to him right now.


    Everything that we knew about him and his condition came from you. Are you cing Father in a house


    arrest in the Tranquil Hall so the other courtiers will obey your everymand? And when the time is


    right, will you rebel and seize power to im the throne?"


    "Nonsense! That''s utter nonsense!" Felix eximed.


    Francis then raised his voice a little and argued with Felix even more, "Am I wrong then? Father''s


    condition is getting very serious. And as princes and his sons, we have the right to visit him! I would


    even go as far as to say that it''s our responsibility to stay by his side and take care of him. But you


    forbid us and the courtiers from visiting Father. The Tranquil Hall is closed and not even a fly could get


    in. So you can see how easy to believe that you don''t have the purest of intentions."


    Understandably, Felix became even more furious at that. Even if he was indeed up to something, he


    wouldn''t want others to reveal it so openly. "Francis! Disasters are happening everywhere right now.


    The people are constantlyining to us. Instead of concerning yourself with the people and the


    country, you''re throwing usations at me. Do you really think I would hesitate in punishing you?"


    At that, Francisughed quite loudly and sarcastically said, "Wow! Felix, you''re so powerful now. First,


    you now control the court. Second, you imprison our father. Who would dare to oppose you, now? Well,


    now that you mentioned my supposed crimes, I''m trembling in fear that you''ll kill me!"


    Felix narrowed his eyes at Francis. He was so annoyed with how Francis'' unreasonable judgment was


    causing so much trouble. "I think you''re the one who is nning all of those heinous things. It''s true,


    Father''s condition is getting worse, but Mother is taking care of him. She stays by his side day and


    night. The imperial physicians said that Father needed to have a good rest, so I refused all visits in


    order to help him recover faster. And you barged in here, distorted the facts and imed that


    everything I did was only to seize the throne and try to make all the courtiers obey me? Francis, do you


    really think that I would take an unfortunate event as an opportunity to im the throne? Have you


    forgotten that I''m the crown prince? Even if I don''t do anything, the throne will still be mine anyways."


    "I didn''t say that!" Francis argued back.


    Felix was even more furious with that. "I think that''s exactly what you mean! Guards,e and arrest


    Francis. Put him in prison at once. When Father wakes up, he''ll judge everything that you did."


    "Felix, are you upset because I just described what exactly you are doing? Do you want to get rid of me


    so your n can continue as you wish? Is that it?" Francis broke free from the guards and eximed,


    "Don''t touch me. I''ll go by myself!"


    "Stubborn!" Felix reproached.


    "Before I go, there''s one thing I wish to remind you, Felix. When you are doing every single thing, even


    in secret, always remember that the higher being is watching. Father may be sick now, but it doesn''t


    mean that he will be ill forever. Once he finds out what you''ve done, can you imagine what he will do to


    you?" After taking onest look at Felix, Francis turned and left the hall in big strides. His body was still


    a little weak but his posture didn''t waver in the strong breeze. Just like how he was no longer afraid of


    people''s words or their power that could suppress him.


    Felix grinned wickedly while he watched the guards take Francis away. While he had been racking his


    brain on how to deal with Francis, the man himself came to him! Now, his troubles had gone away.


    Meanwhile, Harper had been lying on the Golden Hall''s roof with Matthew. Witnessing the farce below,


    she couldn''t help butugh silently. She turned to Matthew and whispered, "Darling, what''s wrong with


    Francis? Why did hee here and argue with Felix just now?"


    "Just watch and you''ll know. Francis hasn''t been involved in the imperial affairs for a long time, but


    there''re a lot of people in the court who support him. If Francis didn''t do this, Felix can''t find any other


    sound reason to take Francis down," Matthew exined slowly in a low voice. "But we can go and add


    fuel to the fire."


    A smile appeared on Harper''s face before she said, "You mean, to spice things up?"


    Matthew said in a mocking tone, "Of course. Lady Sherry has only one son, and she cares about him


    so much. Now that her son is in prison, she must plead for mercy. If she doesn''t, it will ruin her image


    as a loving mother. The grand show in the pce is getting more and more interesting."


    "It''s fascinating indeed. Let''s go to the Tranquil Hall to see how the emperor is doing," Harper


    suggested.


    "Sure, let''s go." Matthew said while he reached out his hand to Harper.


    The Tranquil Hall was heavily guarded. It was said that the empress was taking care of the emperor,


    but in reality, she was indulging in all sorts of entertainment and pleasure. In fact, it was Andy who was


    doing all the chores and serving the emperor.


    "Andy was a loyal and devoted eunuch. During these trying times, he remains by the emperor''s side all


    the time," Harper eximed. "I didn''t expect that this old, cunning eunuch would be so loyal."


    "Well, after all, everyone in the pce must be wise. They must not act too harshly or reveal their ill


    intentions if they do have those. The emperor is in a critical condition, but he is not dead." Matthew and


    Harper sessfully sneaked into the Tranquil Hall. While Andy went out to fetch the emperor''s


    medicine, Harper tried to make a diagnosis and give some treatment for the emperor. Even though they


    didn''t have much time, it was enough.


    When Andy was back, Harper and Matthew were already in their hiding ce. Matthew lifted his


    eyebrow and quietly asked Harper how the emperor was doing.