Chapter 77 Prince Rui, you have big ambitions! [42]

Half a month later, on a very peaceful night, the emperor suddenly died in the bed of a newly appointed concubine.

The incident happened suddenly. When the funeral bell rang, all the officials and princes thought that His Highness the Crown Prince had finally passed away.

Only after counting the number of times the death knell tolled did they realize that it was the emperor who had passed away!

Everyone was shocked and incredulous.

After all, the emperor was only in his early forties and was usually in good health. How could he suddenly die without any warning?

All the civil and military officials and princes rushed to the palace immediately, except for Si Jinye, who was still 'unconscious', and the sixth prince.

The imperial physician examined the emperor and concluded that he had died suddenly due to excessive emotional fluctuations.

To put it simply, it's like having a stroke.

The cause of death is not exactly honorable.

But in fact, the emperor did not die from this cause; he was poisoned.

The masterminds behind all of this were Consort Jiang and Si Jinxuan.

Consort Jiang, after years of scheming, used a young concubine to poison the emperor for half a month.

After the poison takes effect, the symptoms appear to be immediate stroke.

Consort Jiang also colluded with a senior eunuch close to the emperor to forge a will.

After all, the emperor felt he was still young and hadn't even considered making a will.

In front of all the civil and military officials, princes, and concubines, the chief eunuch read out a false imperial edict, saying that the throne would be passed to Prince Rui, Si Jinxuan.

Upon hearing this news, some people were happy that they had chosen the right side.

Those who had previously opposed Si Jinxuan were naturally worried and uneasy, fearing retribution later.

Of course, some people doubted the authenticity of the will.

But now that Si Jinye is about to die and the Crown Prince is about to pass away, among the princes, Si Jinxuan does seem to be the best candidate to succeed to the throne.

Si Jinxuan knelt down in front, his feigned grief almost unable to conceal his excitement.

He was about to receive the imperial decree.

However, at that moment, the Sixth Prince, Si Jinyan, arrived with the Imperial Guards: "Prince Rui has committed treason and regicide! He forged the imperial edict! His crimes are unforgivable!"

Those who heard the Sixth Prince Si Jinyan's words were all in an uproar.

Consort Jiang and Si Jinxuan's expressions changed slightly.

Si Jinxuan stood up, his face cold as he rebuked, "Sixth brother, it's your wicked intentions that are causing this nonsense!"

Si Jinyan sneered, "I have witnesses and physical evidence!"

Si Jinyan had been keeping an eye on Si Jinxuan for a long time, and he felt that it was probably divine help that he obtained the evidence of Consort Jiang and her son's plot to usurp the throne without lifting a finger.

He presented the evidence, and the Imperial Guards arrested Si Jinxuan and Consort Jiang.

Si Jinxuan was surprised that Si Jinyan actually had evidence, and he panicked.

Fortunately, he was prepared. With a single signal, the imperial guards who had long since submitted to him came out.

The civil and military officials seemed to have split into three groups, one of which was on Si Jinxuan's side.

One option is to support Si Jinyan or remain neutral.

The neutral civil officials without military power, the concubines in the harem, and the princes who had no intention of vying for the throne were frightened and hid in the back.

Military officers like the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness took the lead and stood in a protective posture.

Si Jinxuan and Si Jinyan clashed, and the next moment they were locked in battle.

The two sides were evenly matched in terms of strength, and for a time it was difficult to determine a winner.

But then, some people from who-knows-where joined Si Jinyan's side. Those people were highly skilled in martial arts and could take on ten opponents at once.

Soon, Si Jinxuan's side began to struggle.

Seeing that victory was within reach, Si Jinyan couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

The Crown Prince is going to die, and Si Jinxuan, who plotted to murder the Emperor, will also die!

This world will soon be his!

It's truly heaven's help!

However, at that moment, a series of rhythmic hoofbeats and the clanging of armor came from the sky.

Immediately following, the man's deep, imposing voice rang out: "Prince Rui, Si Jinxuan, plotted to murder the Emperor and forged an imperial edict. Arrest him!"

Everyone turned around in shock, only to see the Crown Prince, who was rumored to be dying, dressed in golden armor and sitting high on a black steed.

His exceptionally handsome face had sharp and resolute eyes; there was not a trace of sickness or weakness in him.

Behind Si Jinye were thousands of well-trained soldiers.

They joined the battle and quickly achieved a complete rout.

Si Jinxuan, Consort Jiang, and the Grand Eunuch who read the false imperial edict.

Everyone who had been standing with Si Jinxuan earlier was taken into custody.

"Si Jinye! You're faking it!"

Si Jinxuan was roughly forced to kneel on the ground by the soldiers, looking up at Si Jinye in a very disheveled state.

He only just realized what was happening, his eyes wide with rage.

Consort Jiang had long realized that this was probably a trap, and she lost.

So her face turned ashen, and she remained silent.

Si Jinye dismounted from his black horse and looked down at Si Jinxuan.

A slight smile curved his thin lips: "Why should I pretend? I vomited blood and fainted in court a month ago; my life was indeed in danger."

"Thanks to Doctor Wu's perseverance in treating me, and the Crown Princess's daily whispers in my ear, I was finally awakened."

"After I woke up, all the toxins in my body were gone."

"But I never expected that when I woke up, I would hear about your rebellious deeds."

"Prince Rui, you have great ambitions!"

Si Jinxuan didn't believe Si Jinye's words.

But Si Jinye didn't expect him to believe her.

He said these things only for the civil and military officials to hear.

For a moment, everyone had different feelings.

Si Jinye leaned down and whispered in Si Jinxuan's ear in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Good fifth brother, thank you so much. You've made me wake up so I can ascend the throne."

Upon hearing this, Si Jinxuan was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His eyes were bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Si Jinye, roaring, "Si Jinye! I'm going to kill you! Kill you!—"

Si Jinye straightened up and took two steps back, completely disregarding Si Jinxuan.

He ordered, "Take the rebellious Prince Rui and Consort Jiang and the others to the imperial prison to await their fate!"

"yes!"

The group of people were taken away.

Si Jinye turned to look at the Sixth Prince, Si Jinyan.

Si Jinyan wasn't stupid; he knew he was being used as a tool.

He exclaimed, "When did my men become so capable that they were able to obtain evidence of Consort Jiang and Si Jinxuan's rebellion?"

So that's where he was waiting!

Si Jinyan was also annoyed, but he was still quite pragmatic.

Suppressing his resentment, he knelt down first and begged His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne in accordance with the will of Heaven.

Everyone else also knelt down.

Si Jinye sighed, seemingly saddened.

"I never imagined that when I woke up, I would be separated from my father forever."

"Very well, you are right, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day."

Therefore, after the late emperor was buried in the imperial mausoleum, Si Jinye ascended the throne and became emperor.

The first thing Si Jinye did after ascending the throne was to make A Chu his empress.

The second thing was to deal with the traitor Si Jinxuan and others.

Consort Jiang and the chief eunuch were executed.

Those officials and their entire families were exiled, and their families were forbidden from entering the capital for three generations and from serving as officials in the court for five generations.

Si Jinxuan was demoted to a commoner, but Si Jinye, mindful of their brotherly bond, only imprisoned him for life in the Prince Rui's mansion.

Si Jinye was also very kind. Considering that Prime Minister Fang did not act as an accomplice to Si Jinxuan's rebellion on the night of his rebellion, he allowed Prime Minister Fang's daughter, Fang Ming, to divorce Si Jinxuan.

This made Prime Minister Fang very grateful to Si Jinye.

Si Jinye then bestowed the title of prince upon several of his other brothers and granted them fiefdoms.

From then on, all threats disappeared, and his empress could rest assured and focus on her pregnancy!