Li Xi'an · Conversa

In front of the Xuanwu Gate, the servants and retainers of the Eastern Palace knelt in a sparse, scattered crowd. The rain poured down heavily. The Crown Prince lay on the ground, his lower body soaked in blood, while the eunuch delivering the decree stood on high ground, looking down with an indifferent gaze. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The deposed Crown Prince, Li Xi'an, has formed factions for private gain, embezzled border military rations, raised private troops, and accepted bribes of tens of thousands of taels of gold and silver. He is hereby exiled to Bianzhou, never to return without imperial summons." The decree-bearing eunuch placed the imperial edict beside Li Xi'an's hand and looked at the crowd from the Eastern Palace. "Those who are willing to go into exile with the Crown Prince, step forward to depart together tomorrow. Those who are unwilling will be sold off elsewhere." The crowd below fell into a dead silence. No one dared to speak, and no one stepped forward. The decree-bearing eunuch sneered. "It seems His Highness the Crown Prince's benevolence has only earned him such a sight in the end." The rainwater pooling around Li Xi'an had turned crimson. He said nothing, quietly watching the eunuch walk away into the distance.