usurpation
Upon hearing that Cui Shenzhi only wanted the throne, the princes all curled their lip in disdain.
Choi Shin-ji's prestige was already higher than Choi Suk-gong's, and after the trip to Nanzhou, it soared to unprecedented heights. Whether he seized the throne or not, it would be his sooner or later. Besides, what difference would it make if Choi Shin-ji seized the throne? Choi Suk-gong would still be the supreme Emperor Emeritus. What kind of revenge would that be?
Cui Shenzhi had anticipated this situation and chuckled lightly: "My fellow princes, I never said I would take good care of His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Prince Duan asked in bewilderment, "Instead of properly caring for Cui Sugong, are you planning to kill him?"
“Uncle, you are joking. The Emperor is my sovereign and father. How could I do such a rebellious thing? What I mean is that I will imprison His Majesty for life and allow no one to visit him except for my uncles.” Cui Shenzhi’s eyes flickered. “As long as His Majesty’s life is not harmed, whatever my uncles do is His Majesty’s own fault and no one else is to blame.”
Everyone in the room gasped in shock.
Does Choi Shin-ji mean that... as long as Choi Suk-gong is alive, they don't care how they treat him? Does Choi Shin-ji have such deep feelings for a mother he's never met? How badly has Choi Suk-gong treated Choi Shin-ji all these years to force a well-known, kind crown prince to make such a decision?
Prince Duan exchanged glances with the other princes and stammered, "Good nephew, this matter... is quite serious. Please allow us to think about it."
"No rush, Uncles, you can take your time to think it over. But there's something I need to remind you all: this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you miss it, there won't be another chance."
After saying that, Cui Shenzhi turned and left cleanly and decisively without waiting for anyone's reply.
Just as he reached the top of the stairs, he heard Prince Duan's voice behind him.
"Good nephew, as long as you keep your word, we'll do whatever you ask!"
Choi Shin-ji turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Then please wait for my news, Uncles."
*****
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Cui Shenzhi had Huang Yuandao summoned.
Cui Shenzhi had been busy with matters in Nanzhou for over a month, and after returning, he was busy with various complicated matters for another month, so the master and apprentice had not seen each other for almost three months.
Despite this, their relationship remained completely unchanged.
Huang Yuandao smiled with satisfaction as soon as he saw Cui Shenzhi.
“You have done a great job in the affairs of Nanzhou, far better than I expected. This is what a monarch should do.”
"I'm glad you didn't think I acted rashly."
"How could that be? Although making a promise rashly is a bit reckless, you did it so that the millions of disaster victims in Nanzhou wouldn't go hungry, so it's not wrong."
"That's good."
After that, Cui Shenzhi didn't say anything, but quietly led Huang Yuandao to the study.
Upon arriving at the study, Cui Shenzhi instructed Qi Kang to lead everyone away. Under Huang Yuandao's questioning gaze, he closed the study door and knelt down with a thud.
This startled Huang Yuandao.
"Shen Zhi, what are you doing?"
“Sir,” Cui Shenzhi raised his head and looked at Huang Yuandao with a serious expression, “I need your help.”
"That's not necessary."
Huang Yuandao stepped forward and tried to pull Cui Shenzhi up from the ground, but he couldn't get him up no matter what he did.
He quickly realized that the favor Choi Shin-ji wanted him to do was probably quite significant, and not something respectable.
He straightened up, frowned, and asked with a grim expression, "Shenzhi, what do you need my help with?"
"I want you to speak to your disciples and ask them to campaign for me among the people and support my right to succeed to the throne now."
Upon hearing this, Huang Yuandao felt his blood rush to his head. His disciple actually wanted to usurp the throne?!
"Cui Shenzhi! Have you forgotten everything I taught you?!" Huang Yuandao, his face dark, picked up the book beside him and threw it at Cui Shenzhi. "Do you know this is usurpation?! Do you know how much turmoil this will cause in the world?! Do you know how much the people will be affected by this?!"
“I know, I know everything, but sir, do you know that Cui Sugong killed my mother? He killed my birth mother! He is my sovereign and father, but he is also my mother’s killer! How can you expect me to bow down and submit to such a tyrannical ruler?!”
Huang Yuandao froze.
Cui Shenzhi quickly pressed his advantage.
“Sir, I did not act impulsively; I have considered it carefully.”
"Needless to say, I am confident that I can handle the affairs of the court better than His Majesty; among the royal relatives, my uncles have already agreed to support me; the ministers in the court, especially the few who have considerable influence, have always been on my side; and my reputation among the people has long surpassed His Majesty's, which is why His Majesty has been disliking me all these years."
"As the crown prince, I am only one step away from the throne. What I lack now is just a title. I just need someone to bring it up and spread the word."
Huang Yuandao threw down the book in his hand, feeling somewhat helpless.
“Shenzhi, I know you feel wronged, but this is not a glorious method. Once you do this, it will definitely be recorded in history books. Think about Emperor Taizong of Tang, such a wise and powerful figure, how many years has he been criticized because of the Xuanwu Gate Incident?”
“I know, but I don’t care. I just want to seek justice for my mother and for myself while His Majesty is still alive. But His Majesty is also well aware of his character. As long as he sits in this position, he will never let me get justice. I can only get it myself.”
"So I must do this, and I have no other choice but to do this, even if it means being infamous for eternity, even if it means seizing the throne by force like Emperor Taizong of Tang!"
Seeing the resolute expression on Cui Shenzhi's face, Huang Yuandao knew that he had made up his mind. After a heavy sigh, he finally agreed.
Cui Shenzhi quickly stood up and helped Huang Yuandao to sit down to the side.
"Sir, please believe me. I just want justice. I assure you that after I succeed to the throne, I will never act recklessly. I will care about the people and their livelihood just as I did in Nanzhou. I will never become a disciple who brings shame to you."
“I trained you, so of course I’m not worried about that. I’m worried that you’ve taken your position illegitimately. No matter how well you do in the future, there will always be people who will talk about it.”
“Isn’t this a good thing?” Cui Shenzhi’s eyes were firm: “When people talk about this, it’s a constant reminder that I’ve not rightfully ascended the throne, so I have to do a better job on the throne and treat the people better. This is not a bad thing.”
Huang Yuandao didn't know what to say.
A few days later, the secret guards handed the information they had found to Cui Shenzhi.
Upon hearing the news that a family of nine outside the city had been wiped out by bandits who broke in, killed them, and set the city on fire, Cui Shenzhi wore a smile that was both mocking and sorrowful.
really.
Sure enough, none of his family members were left.
That made him even more determined to continue.
In the days that followed, Choi Shin-ji continued his actions discreetly.
He went to Chengqian Palace, but not to see Cui Lingxian. Instead, he went to see Shen Meiwu. He didn't answer Shen Meiwu's previous suggestion, but acted very conflicted in front of her. As soon as he heard that Cui Lingxian had arrived, he fled in panic.
He still went to the slums outside the palace, but unlike before when he would stay for a whole day, he would stay for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then change his clothes and visit those important court officials.
Coincidentally, Cui Lingxian and Lu Fengping's relationship was developing rapidly at this time. The two of them thought that Cui Shenzhi was creating opportunities for them, so naturally they would not tell Shen Meiwu about it.
*****
Half a month later, voices began to emerge among the people calling for Cui Shenzhi to become emperor.
Another half month later, the first memorial appeared in the court requesting that Cui Sugong abdicate and give the throne to Cui Shenzhi.
On the day he received the memorial, Cui Sugong flew into a rage, summoned Cui Shenzhi to the Qianqing Palace and berated him for a long time. He also punished him by making him kneel in the Qianqing Palace for a full hour. No one could plead for him, not even Shen Meiwu and Cui Lingxian.
But this was meaningless, because from that day on, Choi Suk-gong received more and more memorials demanding his abdication, and the voices from the people wanting Choi Shin-ji to take the throne grew louder and louder. The snow disasters and earthquakes that occurred during this period also became evidence that Choi Suk-gong was unworthy of the throne.
Just as Cui Sugong was so angry that he was about to reveal Cui Shenzhi's identity, the royal relatives appeared. They brought all of Cui Sugong's descendants, both those who could be seen and those who couldn't, and said with sarcasm, "Brother/Royal brother, Shenzhi is so disloyal and unfilial. What are you waiting for? You don't need to worry about the succession to the throne. My son is your nephew, and he will definitely be very filial to you."
Cui Sugong choked on his breath and quickly dismissed the idea.
Even if Cui Shenzhi is not his son, he has watched him grow up. After he takes power, he will definitely take good care of him. But if it were this pack of jackals and tigers, he would definitely skin him alive!
*****
Cui Sugong endured pressure from the royal family, princes and ministers, and ordinary people for over a month, but finally could not hold on any longer.
They had no choice but to call in Choi Shin-ji.
As soon as Cui Shenzhi arrived, Cui Sugong snorted coldly.
"You've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?"
"Your subject dares not."
"You dare not? If you dare not, how could you knowingly oppose me at every turn, knowing that I am the emperor? How could you dare not, how could you knowingly defy me despite knowing that your actions will cause dissatisfaction among the people? How could you dare not, how could you dare not, how could you knowingly join forces with the court and the people to force me to abdicate, knowing that you are not my son?!"
Cui Shenzhi's reply was still the same respectful four words: "Your subject dares not."
Cui Sugong was furious and picked up the teacup beside him, intending to throw it, but considering the current situation, he could only angrily throw it aside.
He turned his head and said with resentment in his voice, "I can issue an edict to abdicate the throne to you, but only after you marry Ling Xian."
Choi Shin-ji denied this.
"Father, I think this is inappropriate."
"If you want me to marry Ling Xian, you must announce to the world that there is one of my children with Ling Xian who is not your child. Since you intend to abdicate the throne to me, then that person must be Ling Xian."
"But have you thought about this? Now the public is outraged and demands your abdication. They even believe that your lack of virtue is the reason for the series of natural disasters. At this time, you say that Ling Xian is not a princess, yet she has been raised by the world for more than ten years. What will the world think of her? Do you want her to end up in the same situation as you?"
Cui Sugong frowned.
"So when do you want to marry Ling Xian?"
"I can't say for sure, but I can assure you that the next emperor after me will be your blood relative. Otherwise, I will be despised by the people of the world and fall into the Avici Hell after death, never to be reborn."
Cui Sugong then agreed.
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