The cold wind lashed at his face like a knife, but Yinji didn't feel much of a chill; his mind was completely occupied by the impending upheaval.
The throne... that position, once so far away, is now within reach.
Although Pei Lun and Fan Nan's letters were worded cryptically, he understood—they wanted him to return, not merely to "temporarily assume state affairs," but to formally ascend the throne and become the new emperor of the Great Yin Dynasty.
My heart started pounding uncontrollably again.
He recalled his father's dying words: "Ji'er, my greatest regret in this life is that I never got to sit in that position..."
The struggle for the throne between Father and Yinzhao was incredibly cunning and intriguing, involving Zhao Muyun and her younger sister Yinyao.
Ultimately, Yin Zhao suddenly launched a palace coup and ascended to the throne as the crown prince!
Yinxi could only regretfully lose, as the legal principle of succession to the throne could not be overturned.
However, the blood-written edict brought by the eunuch Chen Hong, sent by Emperor Yongchang, rekindled Yinxi's hope.
Coupled with the invasion of the Tartars, Yin Zhao lost power and national humiliation, and lost the hearts of the people. Yin Xi raised an army in Jinzhou, which was justified.
However, Li Jingang cut off the Yellow River's waters, defeated Yinxi in one battle, and entered the capital.
Yinxi led his remaining troops to a small mountain village, where he fell seriously ill and died, his ambitions unfulfilled.
Now, fate seems to have played a cruel joke on him—Yin Zhao is dead, and the throne is about to fall on the head of his "loser" son!
What kind of complex emotion is this?
There was the excitement of a long-cherished wish being fulfilled, the comfort to the spirit of my father in heaven, and also a sense of bewilderment, almost like a cycle of fate.
But after the excitement comes the cold reality.
Yinji knew very well that he was able to sit in that position not because of his own brilliance and prowess, but because Zhao Muyun stood behind him.
It was Zhao Muyun who cleared away the obstacles, it was Zhao Muyun's troops who controlled the capital region, and it was Zhao Muyun's prestige that intimidated all sides.
For a long time to come, his status as "emperor" will likely remain merely a symbol, a legitimate facade that Zhao Muyun needs.
Thinking of this, Yinji's excitement cooled slightly, replaced by a sober alertness.
He must not become complacent, much less believe that he can rule the world and do whatever he wants.
At least until Zhao Muyun completely eliminates external threats and... completely trusts him, he must be cautious and show sufficient deference and dependence.
“Zhou Hong,” Yin Ji suddenly spoke.
"Your Highness?" Zhou Hong, who was following closely behind, rode closer.
"Where do you think Master should be right now?"
Zhou Hong estimated: "If the Grand Commander sets off from Shuozhou with light cavalry, he will take the Hedong official road, which is three or four hundred li further than ours. Even if his horse is fast, he will probably... arrive in Xijing later than us."
Yinji nodded: "Then let's go a little slower and let Master arrive first!"
Zhao Muyun will definitely return to the capital before him, take control of the situation, and then "welcome" him, the new emperor who is about to ascend the throne.
He couldn't arrive too late, or it would seem that he wasn't eager enough for the throne and didn't respect Zhao Muyun's arrangements; but he also couldn't arrive too early, or it would seem like he was trying to steal the limelight.
Arriving in Xijing required a suitable time—this showed his eagerness to return to the capital while also giving Zhao Muyun half a day to make arrangements.
"Yes!" Zhou Hong accepted the order and was about to pass it on when Zhou Zheng suddenly rode up ahead to report.
"Your Highness! There is a post station ten miles ahead! The garrison commander said that half an hour ago, a cavalry force of about one hundred men passed by, carrying the banner of the Grand Commander's personal guard, and sped off westward!"
Yinji and Zhou Hong exchanged a glance.
Zhao Muyun's men have already gone there.
Moreover, he deliberately left traces at the post station—this was to tell him that he had already gone ahead, and that everything in the capital was taken care of.
"Understood." Yinji said calmly. "Continue onward and change horses at the next post station for a short rest."
The convoy continued its journey through the night.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com