“Father, you still don’t understand. What we care about is not the throne, but the world.”

"Bullshit! All bullshit! What 'empire'? You're all just power-hungry!" The emperor glared at Jiang Ming. "Do you think he'll treat you well just because you let Jiang Jin succeed to the throne? It's all the same who sits on this throne. No one is unafraid of being forced off the throne, especially after how you treated me today. He'll definitely suspect someone else is doing this to him in the future. None of you will have a good end!"

He looked at everyone with a nasty expression, which made many court officials feel uneasy.

“I won’t.” Jiang Jin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. “Father, I am not you.”

“I also believe that my elder brother wouldn’t,” Jiang Ming’s firm voice made his stance clear, followed by Jiang Rui and Jiang Gu, none of them showing any hesitation or doubt in their expressions or words.

"Father, please abdicate and write an edict. From now on, I will focus on cultivating your immortality technique."

"Jiang Jin, you forced your father to abdicate. When you die and face your ancestors, won't you feel afraid and guilty?"

"If you continue to run rampant in this court, Father, I will be ashamed of our ancestors and the people of the world."

The emperor was utterly despondent: "What kind of bewitching have you all been? What kind of spell did that wicked empress cast on you? I merely imprisoned her, yet you forced me to abdicate!"

"Our mother taught us brotherly love, compassion for the common people, and a broader perspective on the world. She said that as princes, we should bear greater responsibilities than others since birth. Father, the court should not become a pawn for the royal family to play power games."

Jiang Jin's words resonated deeply, stirring the hearts of the court officials. To be able to follow such a wise ruler was their blessing! It was a blessing for all the people!

Even if the eldest prince becomes as suspicious as His Majesty in the future, at least he is sincere now, and who knows if he will change in the future? There are also the second prince and other princes watching! The empress, who has raised such outstanding six princes, will not let the eldest prince run wild.

"Your Majesty, I request that the throne be passed to the eldest prince!"

"Your Majesty, I request that the throne be passed to the eldest prince!"

"Your Majesty, I request that the throne be passed to the eldest prince!"

The courtiers spoke one after another, all respectfully, but their words were utterly treasonous!

The emperor stared at them, pale-faced, unable to believe that the court he had cultivated for so long had all betrayed him!

He slumped weakly onto the dragon throne, and Jin Hui went to help him up with great concern: "Your Majesty, please take care of your health."

"Get out." The emperor weakly shook off his hand. "Did you betray me too? Did you know all along?"

"Your Majesty, this servant truly did not know. Please do not be discouraged. Even if the eldest prince ascends the throne, you will still be the Emperor Emeritus. As long as you cultivate diligently and take good care of your health, this empire will still be yours."

These words were like a lifeline for the emperor, who struggled to his feet: "Yes, I have cultivated the art of immortality. These people will not outlive me. They are all mortals. I will always be the ruler of the world!"

Jiang Jin and the others listened to his self-talk without their expressions changing.

The emperor, however, was extremely smug: "So what if you can force me to abdicate today? Only I am the one favored by the immortal sects!"

"Father, please write the imperial edict!"

Around noon, Song Xia looked at the sky and guessed that it should be about time. Sure enough, just as she had someone bring the meal, news from the court arrived: "His Majesty has already written the abdication edict, passing the throne to His Highness the First Prince."

"I won!" Consort Zhuang pushed the tiles aside, her face beaming with joy. "A pure suit of all tiles, pay up."

Song Xia watched them; those playing cards continued playing, and those watching didn't say anything, as if what she had just said had no effect on them at all.

The day turned out somewhat abruptly, even outside her expectations, but the outcome was good; the children had all grown up and had become people who could protect them.

Has the auspicious date for the coronation ceremony been set?

"The eldest prince said that they would set an auspicious day after the third and fourth princes returned to the capital."

"It's time for the brothers to witness this together."

Song Xia didn't ask any more questions. Eight years had passed, and she could finally relax. She had taught them everything she needed to, and now it was up to the six brothers.

Before long, Jiang Jin, Jiang Ming, Jiang Rui, and Jiang Gu arrived at Fengyi Palace. Seeing that Song Xia and the others were eating, they bowed and asked the palace servants to add more bowls and chopsticks before sitting down to eat.

"Slow down, everyone. It's like you haven't eaten."

"I haven't eaten. I've been busy since last night, and that's when I started to feel hungry."

Song Xia quickly ordered the imperial kitchen to send over a few more dishes, and only after they had almost finished eating did she ask, "Where is your father?"

“He enjoyed practicing cultivation at Taiji Palace, and he lived there from then on.”

"Aren't you afraid he'll live forever?!"

"Immortality? I truly don't believe it." Jiang Ming scoffed. "That Daoist Qingfeng hasn't changed at all in these eight years."

When everyone thought back, they realized that they didn't have much of an impression of what Master Qingfeng looked like. They only remembered that he had a white beard and white hair, and looked like a hermit.

Song Xia coughed at this moment: "There's something I haven't told you yet."

Everyone looked at her, wondering if this was related to Master Qingfeng.

"In fact, before Master Qingfeng entered the palace, he had visited the Prime Minister's residence."

Hmm? It really is related? Was Master Qingfeng arranged by the Prime Minister?

"What was the story behind Master Qingfeng's rain-seeking ritual? And what about those three thunderclaps?"

"I don't know about that. When Master Qingfeng came to my house, he told my grandfather that I had an extraordinary destiny and that I was a turning point for Xuan Kingdom. Perhaps he really is capable, but he is definitely on the side of the common people."

When everyone thought back, it seemed that every time Master Qingfeng spoke, he was helping the Empress out of trouble. First, he helped the Empress gain power in the harem without any trouble. Then, he smoothly took over the power to raise the princes. Later, he handled political affairs... It seemed that whenever His Majesty had any questions, Master Qingfeng would stop him on the grounds of cultivation and the Phoenix Fate.

As it turns out, the Empress was indeed a turning point for the Xuan Kingdom. If it weren't for the Empress, the six princes would never have been as harmonious as they are now. Their harem would have been locked in a fierce battle, and the court officials would have been vying for power. It's hard to imagine what the Xuan Kingdom would have become.

Looking at it this way, it is indeed the Empress who turned everything around, and Master Qingfeng's words are true.

Jiang Jin was very happy: "In other words, even if Father Emperor has some kind of affinity with the immortals, the fate of the nation rests on Mother Empress, so we don't need to worry about him."

“Indeed.” Jiang Ming raised his wine cup. “Mother, it is my good fortune to have your guidance.”

Jiang Rui and Jiang Gu also felt the same way. As the youngest, they feared that without their mother, they would have become cannon fodder in the power struggle. So they also raised their wine glasses.

Song Xia chuckled: "You're still young, just this one cup."