Chapter 91. Did you hear that? The throne will be passed to the First Prince...

Seeing the unwritten imperial edict bloom like bright red plum blossoms, a commander angrily grabbed Emperor Shunren by the hair and dragged him off the desk, shouting, "Replace it immediately!"

Another commander unfolded a brand new document and threatened, "If His Majesty doesn't want to make a will, then cooperate. We don't have much patience."

"Don't even think about it."

"Come on, ghostwrite for me."

The guards brought over a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial and a scribe, ordering him to draft the imperial edict on behalf of Emperor Shunren.

"Originally, I wanted to ask Chief Minister Zhou to write it for me, but that fellow is bedridden and refuses to see guests. I guess he heard the news but dares not show himself and plans to change his mind depending on the wind. Once His Majesty becomes the retired emperor, he must not let such cowardly people who dare not enter the palace to protect the emperor get away with it."

Emperor Shunren coughed violently, and the commander behind him grabbed his hair and pressed him to the ground to prevent him from soiling the imperial edict.

"We then approached the top scholar Sun Wei and the third-ranked scholar Shi Hongliang. These two young cabinet ministers gave the exact same reasons as Zhou Yujin for refusing. Hahahaha, you cowards! Your Majesty must not let them off the hook."

"Even as a vengeful ghost, I will not let you go!"

The commander gritted his teeth, raised his iron-hard fist, and was about to smash it down on Emperor Shunren's head when he was stopped by a slow, deliberate voice.

"What are you doing? With that punch, His Majesty would be dead. The Crown Prince should be the one to commit regicide."

Another commander of the Twelve Guards, surnamed Yan, walked in unhurriedly.

The commander, who had raised his fist, gestured with his chin, "Have you brought the inner court under control?"

"When I make a move, I'm almost certain to win."

The supervising eunuch in charge of drafting imperial edicts asked, "Who set off the fireworks just now?"

Commander Yan shook his head. "Fu Zhongcai has already escaped. Perhaps he set it on fire in an attempt to call for help."

"The reinforcements that old eunuch can bring are nothing more than Dong's henchmen." The commander who was supervising the drafting of the imperial edict twisted his wrist and looked at Emperor Shunren, who was slumped on the ground unable to get up. "Your Majesty, where is the imperial seal?"

Emperor Shunren was preoccupied with coughing up blood.

The two commanders exchanged a glance and then began punching and kicking Emperor Shunren.

If the imperial seal cannot be found, all the work will be in vain.

Commander Yan stood to the side, his prominent cheekbones trembling slightly. He did not step forward, remaining silent until Wei Xichen was "escorted" over by three other commanders.

Commander Yan laughed and said, "Your Highness has figured it out. You're a smart man. But what can you do if you oppose us? We're all in the same boat."

The blatant sarcasm sounded somewhat inappropriate to the other leaders.

"Old Yan, go stand over there."

"Your Highness, please."

Several people gestured "please" to invite Wei Xichen to sit on the dragon throne in the bedchamber.

"The traitor..."

The dying Emperor Shunren cursed, then spat out a mouthful of blood after receiving a heavy blow to his back.

It almost stained the tip of Wei Xichen's boots.

The white-clad man, caught in a dilemma, clenched his fist hidden beneath his sleeve. These brutes dared to force the emperor to abdicate today; tomorrow they might just hold him, the new emperor, hostage to command the other lords.

He made another wrong gamble, heavily relying on Zhou Yujin while neglecting Jiang Song. If Jiang Song were still under his command, he wouldn't have allowed these generals to run rampant.

"Father, where is the Imperial Seal?"

"You unfilial son!" Emperor Shunren roared with all his might, "Don't even think about forcing me to abdicate in your favor! This throne can belong to Wei Yihe, it can belong to Wei Yangwan, but it cannot be yours! Ah!!"

Emperor Shunren felt as if his bones were cracking and his tendons were breaking when a commander kicked him hard in the waist. He struggled to lift his head, sweat beading on his forehead. "Wei Xichen, I order you to protect me."

Before Wei Xichen could reply, the five commanders burst into laughter.

"How will the Crown Prince protect the Emperor? What about his soldiers?"

"His soldiers are us!"

The five men burst into laughter, when one of them suddenly noticed that Commander Yan was somewhat aloof.

"Old Yan, why aren't you smiling?"

"Is it funny?"

Before the man could raise any questions, the seventh commander of the Twelve Guards rushed into the bedchamber, slapping his thigh in frustration, "I've messed up!"

"!!!"

The five were shocked. How could they have failed after sending out so many assassins?

"Quickly, while the eldest prince is in the palace, find the imperial seal!"

The soldiers searched high and low, leaving nothing behind.

"Your Majesty, a wise man submits to circumstances! Where is the Imperial Seal?!" Enraged, the commander grabbed Emperor Shunren by the head and slammed it repeatedly against the ground, causing the emperor's head to bleed profusely. "Will you talk or not? Talk now!"

The others grabbed Wei Xichen, who was about to step forward, and forced him to sit on the dragon throne.

"Report!" A guard rushed into the palace, panting. "The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince has led his men in! They're almost at the bedchamber!"

The inner palace is heavily guarded by elite troops from the Twelve Imperial Guards, and it will not be easily breached.

One of the commanders turned to Commander Yan and asked, "Old Yan, what's going on? Didn't you make all the arrangements?"

As they were asking questions, the sounds of fighting could be faintly heard outside the hall, growing louder and louder as they approached.

Commander Yan lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "How should I explain this?"

"Old Yan, what are you up to?!"

At the same time, an order came from outside the palace: "Yan Chi, the vanguard of the Imperial Guard, is to immediately escort His Majesty on the orders of the Crown Prince! No delay is permitted!"

Commander Yan suddenly looked up and said loudly, "Yan Chi obeys the order!"

At a command, the Golden Guards filed in. They had originally been assigned by Commander Yan to the inner palace to counterbalance the Twenty-Four Offices, but now, with a sudden turn of their blades, they caught the other twelve guards off guard.

Internal strife could erupt at any moment.

"Yan Chi!!"

Yan Chi, father of Yan Yi.

Chaos reigned inside the bedchamber.

Jiang Song emerged from the darkness, clad in breastplate armor, wielding a long sword and slashing left and right, carving a bloody path through the darkness. "Except for the Golden Guard Vanguard and the Imperial Guard Command, all the other twelve guards are rebels who have taken the emperor hostage. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Minister of Justice Jiang Song has come to rescue the emperor!"

A large number of officials from the Ministry of Justice, imperial guards, and secret police rushed into the bedchamber.

"Grand Tutor Cui Shengzhi has come to the rescue!"

A large number of Cui's entourage rushed into the sleeping quarters.

"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Xie Xun, has come to the rescue!"

Dali Temple soldiers stormed into the sleeping quarters!

Together they besieged and suppressed the rebels.

Torches lined up, illuminating the daytime and also highlighting the golden python patterns on the body of a man in black robes.

The tall young man gripped a goose-feather saber, pointed it towards the palace gate, and declared in a resounding voice, "Your subject, Wei Yihe, has come to Your Majesty's rescue!"

Surrounded, Wei Xichen closed his eyes, losing all strength. The rightful crown prince and the hidden, wicked prince finally proved the saying, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."

Wei Yihe finally saw his turn for the better.

A splatter of blood landed on Wei Xichen's face; it was the blood of a commander.

The man fell to the ground, lifeless.

Emperor Shunren, lying on the ground, struggled to lift his head and stared at his eldest son, who was slaughtering the rebels. Tears streamed down his face, but it was too late.

Once a father and son become estranged, no amount of compensation can bring them back together.

"Wei Yihe, protecting the emperor is just your excuse, isn't it?"

You're not here to protect the emperor, you're here to seize the throne.

Exhausted, Emperor Shunren was helped to sit up by Jiang Song. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

"Jiang Song, save me... save me..."

Jiang Song wasn't concerned about Emperor Shunren's safety. He grabbed the emperor's chin and asked, "Four years ago, my daughter was nearly murdered. Was that Your Majesty's doing? Was it just to sow discord between the Crown Prince and the Jiang family?"

Emperor Shunren was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into a blood-stained laugh, with blood flowing down the corner of his mouth.

Jiang Song's eyes changed drastically, and his hand gripping the hilt of the knife trembled uncontrollably. He was pulled away by Cao Angui, the old mastermind who arrived later.

"This old servant has dared to draft the imperial edict of succession, and begs Your Majesty to inform me of the location of the Imperial Seal!"

"Cao Angui, how dare you force me! I trusted you so much...trusted you so much..."

Emperor Shunren fell to the ground.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?" Cao Angui reached out to check Emperor Shunren's breath, his old eyes darting around. "You all heard that, didn't you? His Majesty said that the throne will be passed to the eldest prince, Wei Yihe!"

"I heard you!"

"I heard you clearly!"

"It couldn't be clearer!"

As the rebels were cut down one by one, the victorious side, holding blood-stained swords, revealed victorious smiles.

Emperor Shunren died with his eyes wide open, unable to close them in peace.

The imperial seal was no longer important, nor was the imperial edict of succession. Emperor Shunren had passed away, the crown prince had lost power, and the prince was guilty of murdering his brother and forcing his father to abdicate.

Wei Qin looked at Wei Xichen, whose neck was held by a knife, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked something silently.

Wei Xichen closed his eyes and smiled, his voice low and soft.

"Bang!"

A huge explosion rang out, halting the advance of the remaining tens of thousands of Twelve Guards soldiers towards the inner palace.

Commander Cui Wei of the Shenji Battalion raised his musket, "If any of you dare to take another step forward, you will be reduced to ashes. Lay down your weapons, atone for your crimes, and perhaps on the day of the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, you will be pardoned."

Tens of thousands of soldiers hesitated to advance. Some put down their swords, and soon more and more soldiers put down their swords and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

Cui Wei put away the musket and ordered his subordinates to set off the remaining fireworks.

Cui Wei was the one who lit the fireworks not long ago, so where did Fu Zhongcai go?

As the Crown Prince was being led to the Imperial Prison by officials from the Ministry of Justice, dozens of dark figures sprang out of a dry well.

They flung handfuls of unknown medicinal powder at the Ministry of Justice officials.

"Oh no!"

"Seal your mouth and nose!"

But it was too late.

A chubby figure struggled to climb out of the dry well, supported the white-robed man who was about to collapse, and choked out, "This old servant will take Your Highness away from the palace!"

It's much better to escape like the Third Prince than to become a prisoner!

Fu Zhongcai helped Wei Xichen jump into the dry well.

The bottomless dry well conceals a secret passage leading out of the palace, known only to a handful of people.

After falling into the damp and cold well, Wei Xichen, who had lost all strength, was helped by the old eunuch to the entrance of the secret passage.

He noticed the old eunuch's limping legs. "You're injured."

"This old servant is unharmed."

Why bother?

"Your Highness, don't say discouraging things. As long as we're alive, we can always make a comeback. Let's learn from Consort Xian and her son and live a carefree and happy life, detached from worldly affairs."

"But you're injured."

In the instant of the fall, the old man used his plump body as a cushion. Now, not only were his legs injured, but his internal organs were also impacted, and blood was flowing continuously from his eyes and nostrils.

Wei Xichen stopped. "I can't leave. My mother and maternal grandmother are in their hands."

“The Crown Prince is not a despicable person and would not use women to threaten Your Highness. The Empress and the Old Madam will at most become commoners and lose their wealth and status, but Your Highness is different. If you stay, you may not be able to save your life.”

The old eunuch wept uncontrollably, "It is the old lady's will. These men in black are the most elite members of the Dong family. They will escort Your Highness away from the capital. Please, Your Highness, do not hesitate any longer!"

hesitate......

Wei Xichen ultimately succumbed to his own hesitation.

He nodded and was carried away by the man in black. During the long evacuation, he gradually regained his strength, but his chief steward walked slower and slower and collapsed at the back.

"etc."

The man in black advised, "Your Highness, do not turn around."

"I want you to stop!"

Wei Xichen jumped off the man in black's back, staggering as he turned back, "Fu Zhongcai..."

Fu Zhong suddenly remembered something and took out a small, furry creature from his sleeve. "Your Highness's little tabby cat, from now on, let it accompany Your Highness... This old servant... will take his leave first..."

Wei Xichen hugged the old man, slowly knelt down, and wept silently.

Dozens of men in black knelt down one after another.

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences."

**

At the other end of the secret passage leading to the dry well, someone was already waiting there.

Madam Dong's final escape plan for her grandson was anticipated by Wei Qin.

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Author's Note: Commander Yan appeared in Chapter 72—that was foreshadowing.

There's about one more chapter until the main story ends. After that, it'll be all sweet daily life and the ending for the side couple. It won't be long, just a few chapters.

50 small red envelopes~