Chapter 497：The Pure-Clad Dark Heir 47

Hearing King Lin’s words, Jiang Yuantong slightly curled his lips.

“Grandfather, rest assured. Your grandson knows what to do.”

Some people say that only the dead can keep secrets.

But can the dead truly keep secrets?

Not necessarily.

Even if a person dies, as long as their resentful soul remains and their memories persist, there will always be a chance for those secrets to surface.

When he had been a wandering soul, that fragment of his spirit had devoured nearly all the lonely ghosts in and around the capital. Among them, the place where he had consumed the most resentful souls was the imperial palace.

Because of this, he now knew countless secrets—many of which even past emperors had never discovered.

With that knowledge…

He let out a silent, cold laugh.

Those who had harmed the Lin family—none of them would escape.

…

Half a month later, the head of the Eastern Depot was discovered secretly hiding a dragon robe. Enraged, the emperor ordered his immediate execution.

At the same time, secret correspondence between him and Consort Li was uncovered—including love poems written more than a decade ago.

In an instant, the emperor felt as though a green hat had been placed upon his head.

Soon after, suspicion fell upon Zhou Shixi’s identity.

After secretly ordering an investigation, the emperor discovered something chilling—Zhou Shixi’s blood did not match his own.

In other words, the son he had cherished for years, the one he had raised as crown prince, was not his child at all.

He had nearly allowed an outsider to inherit the Zhou dynasty.

Though furious, the emperor quickly suppressed his rage.

The next day, he began entrusting Zhou Shixi with several important matters of state.

Zhou Shixi was overjoyed.

He believed this was a test from the emperor—a sign that power would soon be handed over to him.

But his joy did not last long.

Every task he was given, he mishandled—badly, and beyond repair.

What confused him even more was that when he tried to admit his mistakes, the emperor suddenly declared coldly:

“Zhou Shixi is incompetent and unfit to rule. To protect the Great Zhou, I hereby depose him as crown prince and appoint the Fifth Prince as heir instead!”

Zhou Shixi was stunned.

The ministers immediately stepped forward to plead for him, but the emperor ordered several of them executed on the spot.

After that, no one dared to speak in his defense.

…

When Consort Li heard the news, panic gripped her.

Had the emperor discovered the truth?

Before she could make sense of it, the emperor arrived at her palace.

“Ai, do you know which color I hate the most?” he asked coldly.

Li Guifei’s body trembled slightly as she forced a smile.
“Is it… black?”

“No. It’s green.”

The emperor’s expression twisted with fury.

He had favored this woman since the day she entered the palace.

And in return, she had betrayed him long ago.

At his words, Li Guifei’s heart sank. Her legs gave way as she collapsed to her knees.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me! I was forced! I was truly forced!”

But the emperor had no interest in her explanations.

“Guards. Grant her a swift end.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Two eunuchs quickly seized her.

She struggled desperately, pleading with tear-filled eyes.

But the emperor simply sat on the couch, resting his head against his hand, watching her coldly as her cries gradually faded.