"Count, what is the purpose of your visit this time? Please be direct, no more beating around the bush," QinTian asked with a neutral expression. He no longer wished to waste any more time.
Moltke glanced at QinTian, then said, "Prince Oscar, I come under His Majesty's orders. He commands you to enter the palace immediately. There are matters he wishes to personally relay to you."
"What?" QinTian was taken aback. Prime Minister Bilo, Foreign Minister Vashit, General Hindenburg, and the others were equally stunned. No one had anticipated such a request. At this critical juncture, sending QinTian into the palace was as obvious as sending a lamb into the lion's den!
"Your Highness, you must not agree! This is far too dangerous," General Hindenburg implored.
"Indeed, Your Highness," said another officer, "The palace has been overrun by the rebels. If you enter, you will surely fall into their hands."
"Your Highness, issue the command. In half an hour, we can secure the palace," urged another officer.
It was clear that the imperial ministers all felt that entering the palace now would be an extreme risk, and none of them approved.
Moltke's heart raced with anxiety. If QinTian refused to enter the palace, wouldn't all their plans fall apart? If that happened, they would have no more chances.
"Prince Oscar, this is His Majesty's direct order. Do you intend to disobey His Majesty's command?" Moltke said, his tone firm.
"Hmph! His Majesty's command?" QinTian sneered. "I suspect this is merely a pretext. Some people are using His Majesty's name to make this demand. If the rebels inside the palace are willing to leave, we will gladly take over the palace's defense," General Hindenburg retorted sharply.
"No! Prince Wilhelm will never agree to this. Prince Oscar, you must think this through carefully. Prince Wilhelm is in an emotional state. If he feels threatened, there's no telling what extreme measures he might take," Moltke said, pressuring him further.
"Scoundrel!" Prime Minister Bilo and others burst out in anger. "Moltke, how dare you threaten His Highness with His Majesty's safety! This is utterly shameless!"
Moltke's face flickered with a mixture of shame and anger, but he refrained from engaging in a quarrel with them. Instead, he turned his gaze back to QinTian, waiting for a response.
QinTian, however, was caught in a dilemma. He could easily guess what Prince Wilhelm and his faction had in mind. For his own safety, he certainly didn't wish to enter the palace at this moment. If he did, and if someone from Prince Wilhelm's side took a shot at him, he doubted he would be invulnerable. His dreams of inheriting the throne would be shattered in an instant.
But if he refused outright, it would seem as if he cared nothing for the life of Wilhelm II. Such a refusal would certainly stir up much trouble if it reached the ears of the wrong people.
"Your Highness, have you made up your mind?" Moltke pressed on, closing in.
QinTian frowned. He genuinely didn't know what to do.
"Your Highness, don't fall into their trap!" General Hindenburg implored.
Other imperial officials also voiced their concerns. Their advice was unanimous—QinTian should not take the risk.
Just then, an unexpected person arrived.
"Your Highness, Mr. Jonalait requests an audience," an officer announced.
"Mr. Jonalait? Let him in immediately," QinTian ordered.
In walked Essen von Jonalait and his son Karl von Jonalait, and the sight of them, particularly Essen, made Moltke's face turn pale. After the rebels had entered the palace, they had been searching for Essen, but they had never found him. Essen von Jonalait, the palace steward, had tried to evade capture when the Imperial Guard stormed the palace, and he had managed to slip away. Now, here he was. Moltke felt an ominous sense of dread.
"Your Highness, grave news," Essen von Jonalait said, his voice trembling. "His Majesty has been killed. Prince Wilhelm personally fired the shot."
"What?" QinTian's eyes widened in disbelief. "My father has been killed... by Prince Wilhelm himself?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The other imperial officials were equally stunned, unable to comprehend the reality of the situation.
Though they had speculated that Wilhelm II might be in danger after being taken by the rebels, no one had expected that they would go as far as to kill him. And to think that it was Prince Wilhelm himself who had done the deed. It was unfathomable.
However, Essen von Jonalait, as the emperor's steward, was a credible witness, and his testimony carried significant weight.
"Utter nonsense! Jonalait, you're spreading lies!" Moltke shouted angrily. "Prince Oscar, if you don't wish to enter the palace and ignore His Majesty's life or death, you needn't fabricate such a dramatic story!"
Moltke, ever cunning, tried to control his panic. But even in his frustration, he knew he could not admit that Wilhelm II had been killed. If QinTian were to launch an attack on the palace in a fit of anger, the rebels would be powerless to resist. The outcome would be disastrous for them.
"Hmph!" QinTian gave Moltke a cold glance and sneered. Moltke's agitation did not escape his notice. He could almost be certain now—Wilhelm II had indeed been killed.
Although Wilhelm II's death might seem advantageous to QinTian, for he was his nominal father and had assisted him in many ways, as the son of Wilhelm II and heir to the empire, he could not let this act of treachery go unpunished.
"Mr. Jonalait, tell me everything," QinTian demanded.
"Your Highness," Essen von Jonalait said, "I was hiding outside the hall by the window when I heard it all. Prince Wilhelm forced His Majesty to issue an abdication edict, giving the throne to him. When His Majesty refused and even slapped the prince in anger, Prince Wilhelm, in a fit of rage, drew a pistol and shot His Majesty dead."
"Damned! Prince Wilhelm killed Father—he's nothing less than a beast!" QinTian roared in fury.
With a sudden movement, QinTian strode forward and, before anyone could react, slapped Moltke across the face, his palm leaving a swollen mark on the traitor's cheek.
"You despicable coward, you're an accomplice! Guards, take him into custody!" QinTian ordered. "General Hindenburg, give the order to seize the palace. In half an hour, the palace must be ours. None of the ringleaders of this rebellion are to be allowed to escape!"