Chapter 204 [VIP]

Knock knock knock!

The sound of war drums grew closer, causing widespread unease.

Lu You, a merchant near the city gate, peeked through the crack in the gate and exclaimed in surprise, "Look, it really is the Emperor!"

“I saw His Majesty when he went on his autumn hunting trip last time, I can’t be mistaken!”

"The Emperor has led troops to surround the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Could it be that the Crown Prince has truly imprisoned the Emperor, intending to assassinate him and seize the throne?!"

Anxiety and fear spread like a contagious plague among the people, creating a cacophony of sounds.

"Golden Guards and Imperial Guards, heed my command!"

The Duke of Cheng'en raised a token, a jet-black token with a golden dragon soaring through the clouds.

The Imperial Guards and the Left Guards of the Imperial Guards were responsible for the defense of the Imperial Ancestral Temple during this prayer trip. Upon seeing the token, the commanders of the two guards looked at each other and took a step forward in unison.

The Duke of Cheng'en shouted, "Take down Xie Yingchen!"

His voice was filled with satisfaction, as if victory was already assured.

Zhou Mu, the commander of the Imperial Guard, said coldly, "Grandson, please forgive me!"

He stepped forward with his sword and grabbed Xie Yingchen's arm.

Xie Yingchen remained motionless.

A cold glint suddenly appeared in Zhou Mu's pupils as a sharp blade flashed past his eyes.

Zhou Mu reacted quickly and took a step back. A sharp pain shot through his neck, and a thin line of blood appeared on it. He wiped it with his hand, and a drop of blood dripped onto his fingertip.

Gu Yican stood casually beside Xie Yingchen, one arm draped over his shoulder, the other holding a knife with a drop of blood dripping from its tip.

Sigh, this kid would be heartbroken if he hurt even a hair on a girl's head. I'd better keep a close eye on him.

The soldiers drew their swords and pointed them at Xie Yingchen.

"Heh." Gu Yican sneered, lightly clapping his hands three times. A sudden commotion arose among the crowd watching the ceremony below, and hundreds of young men dressed as ordinary citizens surged forward from all directions. Each of them concealed a short knife on their person, and now the blades were drawn, their eyes filled with murderous intent, and the two sides were about to clash.

Everyone was in shock.

If these two sides were to start fighting, blood would surely be spilled.

The tension was palpable, like a taut string on a musical instrument, ready to snap at any moment.

Duke Cheng'en was taken aback when Gu Yican placed the Zhenbei Army among the common people. After a moment of panic, he pointed at the assembled civil and military officials and shouted, "The Emperor has personally led troops to punish the treacherous officials. Those who resist will be killed without mercy! Are you plotting a rebellion?!"

"Old Song, what do you have to say?" Duke Wei asked nervously as he approached Chief Minister Song.

Song, the chief minister, glanced at him indifferently and walked to Xie Yingchen's side.

Duke Wei gritted his teeth and followed.

As soon as these two men moved, nearly half of the nobles and court officials followed, forming a protective circle behind Xie Yingchen.

The people were terrified, their faces pale, unsure whether to stand or kneel.

The Duke of Cheng'en's face was terrible, his chest heaving, and his breathing erratic: "Where are the Imperial Guards..." He wanted to say, what are you all standing there for? Are three thousand Imperial Guards afraid of one Gu Yican?!

Xie Yingchen asked, "Prince Rui, have you finished reading?"

These words were spoken.

Everyone suddenly realized that they had forgotten something important. Duke Cheng'en opened his mouth, and all eyes followed Xie Yingchen's gaze to the sacrificial altar.

Xie Jing's hands, holding the imperial edict, trembled uncontrollably, and his weak legs were almost unable to support him.

"Prince Rui!" Xie Yingchen's voice rose at the end, "Read it!"

Xie Jing was so frightened he almost jumped up, subconsciously reading the line he could see: "...Prince Rong, Xie Rong, poisoned and murdered the emperor..."

The sound stopped abruptly, and the imperial edict slipped from his hand and landed on the altar.

He staggered backward, his throat tightening, his mind filled with only three words—

impossible!

That's absolutely impossible!!

The wind blew up the imperial edict, revealing dark red bloodstains that were shocking to behold.

The officials were also stunned. This imperial edict from heaven sounded like the last edict of the late emperor.

Prince Rong poisoned and murdered the emperor?

What's the meaning!

Prince Li, who was on the altar, suddenly came to his senses and pounced on the edict to pick it up.

Duke Cheng'en also sensed something was wrong, and he shouted in a low voice, "Quick, go and snatch it back!"

"Hurry up."

The Imperial Guards protecting him rushed up the sacrificial altar. They had just stepped onto the first step when someone kicked them down. Xiang Yang walked over with a smile, stepped on their legs, and with a forceful stomp, broke their bones twice.

"Anyone who trespasses on the altar of Heaven shall be put to death."

Xie Yingchen said calmly.

Whether he was previously accused of being a traitor or Duke Cheng'en pointed his finger at him and scolded him for treason, Xie Yingchen remained calm and composed.

Now, a chilling aura has been added to his eyes.

Prince Li quickly finished reading the will.

This imperial edict is indeed genuine; it is in the late emperor's handwriting!

Prince Li and the late emperor were brothers. When the late emperor passed away, Prince Li was in the capital. At that time, one imperial edict after another came, which made him dizzy and confused.

He didn't believe the crown prince had murdered his father, but the crown prince had died.

He wanted to welcome the late emperor back as soon as possible, but the late emperor had already passed away.

The contents of this will were completely different from what the Prince of Jin had presented. Why did it appear? Could it really be that the spirits of our ancestors are watching from heaven?

Prince Li held the imperial edict in both hands, lost in thought and apprehension.

"Your Highness!"

Qingping raised his whisk, and the silver strands curled up in the breeze, brushing against Prince Li's aged face.

"Since it is the will of Heaven, Your Highness may wish to read it aloud."

He sighed with deep compassion, "lest they shed their blood in vain, each for their own master."

yes.

Qingping: "You should all listen to the prince finish reading for now."

These words were spoken to the crowd below the altar of Heaven.

Prince Li shuddered and suddenly woke up.

He composed himself, held the imperial edict in his hand, and read aloud to the crowd below: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have received the Mandate of Heaven and reigned for twenty-two years..." (Note)

Prince Li's voice trembled slightly at first.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the resounding war drums outside, their sound shaking the very soul.

Prince Li's voice gradually calmed, becoming increasingly clear: "...When the case of the Crown Prince's poisoning occurred, I was furious and failed to investigate, causing the Crown Prince to be wrongly accused. I regret it and hate it. Later, it was discovered that the Second Prince, Prince Rong, Xie Rong, had hidden poison in ink to fabricate the scene of the Crown Prince murdering his father..."

Wow!

Even though the deposed crown prince's innocence has been cleared, hearing every word of the imperial edict in person is still incredibly shocking.

The late emperor had actually discovered that the crown prince had been wronged before his death!

Whispers rippled through the crowd: "So it was Prince Rong who poisoned the late emperor... Who is Prince Rong?"

"Prince Rong is... is the current Emperor!"

"No, it's all fake, fake!"

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Cheng'en turned pale and screamed loudly, trying to drown out Prince Li's voice. He had only screamed once when a sudden, sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen, and he was kicked backward, flying into the bodies of some officials behind him, where they all tumbled together in a heap.

"...I was misled by treacherous officials and wrongly killed my own son."

"I am heartbroken and regret that I cannot go to the underworld with my son."

As Prince Li read on, tears streamed down his face.

Back then, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess committed suicide in the Eastern Palace, their blood staining the palace walls, their eyes wide open in death.

He choked back sobs, his hands trembling as he gripped the imperial edict, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

Towards the end of the imperial edict, the brushstrokes became weak, suggesting that the late emperor was at his last gasp. The blood splattered on the edict further suggests that he was coughing up blood as he struggled to write these words.

Prince Li took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and said, word by word, "The Imperial Grandson Yingchen is endowed with exceptional talent and bearing, resembling his ancestors. He shall ascend the throne, inherit the imperial order, and continue the great lineage."

Before his death, the late emperor passed the throne to his grandson!

Duke Wei breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad he hadn't made a mistake and resolutely stood behind the Crown Prince.

He was the first to kneel down and shouted, "The late emperor was wise!"

He glanced at Chief Minister Song and winked at him: "You got there first this time, didn't you?"

Chief Minister Song: "..."

That old guy has a keen eye; I really can't compare.

The Grand Secretary Song lifted the corner of his robe and knelt beside the Duke of Wei.

One, two, three...

The will was written very plainly, and the people all understood this sentence—

The Crown Prince ascended the throne!

A large group of people knelt down in a flurry.

Only a small group of people remained standing there, bewildered and at a loss. Most of them hesitated and looked at the Duke of Chengen and the Prince of Jin.

This turn of events was beyond everyone's expectations.

The late emperor actually passed the throne directly to his grandson, who was only fourteen years old at the time!

And what about the current emperor?

Why is the person sitting in this position the current emperor?

"Fake!"

The Duke of Cheng'en was writhing in pain in his lower abdomen, but he still managed to scream at the top of his lungs, "This is a forged imperial edict! Don't be fooled!!"

His forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, some from pain, some from fear.

"It's fake. Don't believe Xie Yingchen!"

"Does he not even know if it's true or false?!" Prince Li glanced down at him and continued reading: "Prince Rong, Xie Rong, poisoned and murdered the emperor. He is stripped of his title and handed over to the Three Judicial Offices for joint trial and sentencing according to the law."

Xie Jing's eyes widened in disbelief, even though he had already read the will once.

How could the emperor be the one who poisoned and murdered his father?! That's impossible!

He was almost unable to stand and was swaying precariously.

His arrogance and self-confidence over the years have become a huge joke at this moment.

"...Heaven bears witness, and the mountains and rivers bear witness. This is the imperial decree." Prince Li finished speaking in one breath, his aged voice saying, "On the 28th day of the 11th month of the 22nd year of Taiyuan, the imperial brush was personally affixed."

The square, which housed tens of thousands of people, was completely silent.

On the contrary, the war drums beat louder and louder, each beat causing people to feel restless and uneasy.

The square around the Imperial Ancestral Temple has been surrounded.

This is not a city after all; even if the four gates are tightly closed, it won't last long.

Just a little while ago, when I was about a hundred paces away, I could still hear the noise and shouting inside. Now, why is there no sound at all?

"What happened?!"

The emperor asked impatiently, "Why is there no sound?"

"Why haven't you opened the door for me yet!"

The Imperial Guards accompanying the Emperor during the sacrificial ceremony, along with the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Household Guards stationed there, obeyed only the Emperor's orders and would never betray him to a traitor. He had even given the token to the Duke of Cheng'en; surely he couldn't deal with this rebellious scoundrel, Xie Yingchen?!

You're so useless!

"emperor."

Gong Hai became more cautious, "Should I send someone in to investigate again?"

Logically speaking, His Highness the Third Prince should have already made a move by now. Whether he wins or loses, there should be no silence!

Why didn't even Qin Su come out?

"I'm not exploring anymore." The emperor was impatient. "Break down the door!"

"emperor……"

Smash it!

The emperor shouted loudly.

“Rebellious officials and traitors, and those who resist, shall all be executed.”

Ha. He has 20,000 men now, and he can't even handle Xie Yingchen?

Gong Hai: "Yes."

He ordered a soldier to wave the flag.

semaphore--

Break down the door.

The Golden Guards charged ahead, ten men in a group, forcefully ramming the city gate.

Knock knock knock!

The gate banged loudly as it was being rammed, and the people inside the ancestral temple finally came to their senses.

Someone shouted, "The late Emperor has appeared!"

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Thump.

It was then swallowed up by the dull thud of the impact.

They knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in ecstasy, their heightened excitement making them want only to fight for the wise ruler they believed in.

"Take down the Duke of Cheng'en."

Xie Yingchen gave the order, and the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army, disguised as ordinary civilians, immediately responded. Two junior officers stepped forward and pulled the Duke of Chengen out from the heavy protection. Just as the Imperial Guards behind him were about to move, Xie Yingchen said loudly, "The Imperial Guards are responsible for protecting the imperial city and are the emperor's personal guards."

"The late emperor's edict is here; Xie Rong is the one who murdered the emperor and usurped the throne."

"Golden Guards, do you intend to break your oath and become accomplices to the wicked?"

Xie Yingchen stepped onto the white marble steps and looked ahead.

The Imperial Guards hesitated for a moment, Zhou Mu raised his hand, but the others ultimately did not move.

As imperial guards, they were supposed to obey the emperor's will and protect him with their blood and lives. But what if the emperor had usurped the throne? Nobody told them whether they should still be loyal.

The Duke of Cheng'en turned pale with fright and cried out in despair, "No, it's not like that!"

"The imperial edict is fake; it was forged by Xie Yingchen. This is a conspiracy, a conspiracy!"

impossible!

They saw the wooden box fall from the sky with their own eyes; how could it be fake?

The Crown Prince has yet to even touch this imperial edict!

"Prince Jin, Prince Jin!" Duke Cheng'en frantically pulled people around to implicate him, "Tell them quickly, tell them it's fake!"

"Back then, it was you who received the late emperor's edict and established the current emperor as the ruler..."

"It's true."

The Prince of Jin looked ashen, but said with absolute certainty, "This imperial edict is genuine."

"Before the late emperor passed away, he established his grandson as the successor to the throne. I was at the late emperor's bedside at that time."

These words have been weighing on my mind for so long, and I'm finally saying them.

These days, he was truly tormented, unable to sleep day and night. On one hand, he knew perfectly well that he had no way out, but on the other hand, he always hoped that he might be lucky and that the emperor might win?

With everything settled, he actually felt relieved.

"What did you say!?"

Prince Li's gaze was as cold as ice, and a thousand questions choked in his throat.

During the interrogation of Changfeng that day, Prince Li had already suspected something, but instinctively he was unwilling to think about it in detail.

The fig leaf was finally ripped off.

Prince Jin silently lowered his curtain and continued speaking, one sentence at a time: "Didn't Your Highness once ask why Changfeng, a perfectly good Taoist priest, would give up his life to poison the late Emperor?"

"It was Prince Rong who instigated it."

"After the news of the Crown Prince's death arrived, the late Emperor was devastated. He discovered that the poison was not in the calming soup offered by the Crown Prince, but in the ink stick that Prince Rong presented as a birthday gift to the late Emperor. The late Emperor used it every day, which led to his decline in health. Only then did he realize that he had wronged the Crown Prince."

"The late emperor deeply regretted it."

The Prince of Jin would never forget what happened back then.

The late emperor was a human emperor, the ruler of destiny. Even if Changfeng used evil magic in Blackwater Fortress, its impact on the late emperor was not as lasting as they had anticipated.

The crown prince died.

Grief and guilt brought the late emperor to his senses.

He was in unbearable pain and began to suspect that someone had used witchcraft on him. He couldn't believe that he would suspect the Crown Prince without reason and force him to his death.

The late emperor remained calm and simply summoned Prince Rong to Xuzhou.

Even Prince Jin didn't realize that the late emperor was already suspicious of Prince Rong.

Xie Rong is an idiot.

What a vicious and ruthless idiot!

Thump.

The Prince of Jin was in a daze for a moment, then, recalling those years, he said bitterly, "Later..."

"The late emperor discovered that the poison was in the ink stick. He originally wanted to arrest Prince Rong immediately, but the grandson of the crown prince was still alive and in the capital. The late emperor was not in the capital and could not reach him. Fearing that Prince Rong would fight to the death and kill the grandson of the crown prince, he issued an imperial edict to allow Prince Rong to succeed to the throne as a way to appease him and coax Prince Rong to Xuzhou."

"The late emperor was just waiting for Prince Rong to arrive in Xuzhou before ordering him to be arrested and punished on the spot. Then he would invalidate that imperial edict."

To prevent anyone from tipping them off, the late emperor ordered the Eastern Depot to monitor all incoming and outgoing letters and carrier pigeons, and no one was allowed to leave the Xuzhou Palace.

I see.

Grand Secretary Song nodded silently to the side. That made sense. He had also seen the imperial edict appointing Prince Rong, and it was indeed the late emperor's handwriting.

At that time, the King of Jin thought he had won, but...

Ha, it was all stolen after all, whether it was luck, power, or wealth.

Thump!

The sturdy city gate was on the verge of collapse.

A note from the author:

Note: Some of the wording and formatting in this chapter's will are from Baidu.