Chapter 345 Tears Falling
Flames soared from the Star-Picking Tower, thick smoke billowed. Burning wooden pillars crackled and fell from the upper floors, some crashing against the white jade railings, others breaking in two, still burning, and igniting many small fires on the ground.
Figures moved in and out of the flames below, pouring buckets of water onto the Zhaixing Tower. The fire was burning from the roof downwards, and people were afraid to enter the building, so they could only pour water onto the second floor, which was unable to stop the spread of the fire.
In the midst of the panic, a man on fire burst out of the building. Soldiers fighting the fire saw him and shouted loudly. Immediately, more than ten people gathered and poured water on the man on fire to put out the flames, sending up plumes of green smoke. The man ran a few steps and fell to the ground. A long, rectangular object fell out of his arms and rolled on the ground a few times before coming to a stop.
Xiao Beiheng's expression changed and he dropped the bow in his hand and rushed forward.
The one who ran out of the building was Song Zhen, whose face had been burned beyond recognition. Xiao Beiheng rushed to him, put his finger under his nose to test it, then stood up and looked at the items that Song Zhen had dropped.
Someone picked up the things Song Zhen had dropped, came to Xiao Beiheng, knelt down and presented them with both hands: "Prince Ping, here is the emperor's decree."
Xiao Beiheng stared at the blackened iron box, his body swaying twice. The two sergeant leaders nearby thought he was sad because Song Zhen had been burned to death, and hurried forward to support him.
This one said, "Your Highness, Prince Ping, the Emperor has assigned Minister Song to guard the imperial edict. He died in the line of duty, Your Highness, there is no need to grieve."
The other said, "Your Highness, fortunately the imperial edict was kept in an iron box and was spared from damage. It is truly a blessing."
Xiao Beiheng shook his shoulders, causing the two people who were supporting him to stagger, and stepped forward to grab the iron box from the soldier's hand.
The iron box was still a little hot, but he had no time to care. He opened the box, took out the imperial edict inside, threw away the empty box, and unfolded the imperial edict with trembling hands.
When his eyes swept over the words on the imperial edict, he froze.
The people around him looked like a clay sculpture or a wooden carving. They didn't know what was wrong with him and didn't dare to ask. They all stood by and watched with torches.
After a long time, Xiao Beiheng raised his face to the sky and burst into laughter. After laughing, he knelt down again, touched the ground with his forehead and cried loudly. After crying for a few times, he raised his head and laughed. He stood up, clasped the imperial edict in his hands, and walked towards the Golden Palace in a daze.
The fire at Zhaixing Tower began at 5:15 AM. Although Emperor Ming of Qi had gone to the Anzhou hunting grounds and had not held a morning court, some officials were accustomed to waking up at this time. Upon hearing that the fire had broken out in the palace, everyone rushed to investigate. Word spread quickly, and the entire capital was awakened, questioning each other.
When the first people passed by the Golden Throne Hall, they noticed from afar that the hall was brightly lit and guards holding golden gourds, cauldrons and axes were standing outside the hall.
The Golden Throne Hall was used by the emperor to meet with his ministers, so this could only mean that Emperor Ming of Qi was inside. Everyone was surprised. Emperor Ming of Qi was a diligent emperor, but he usually waited until all his ministers were present before attending the morning court. Why was he here first this time? Besides, he hadn't even given anyone a heads-up since returning from the Anzhou hunting grounds.
Complaints aside, keeping the emperor waiting was a crime of disrespect. The ministers, unable to even consider the Star-Picking Tower, hurried into the court to straighten their attire and prepare their memorials. After a flurry of activity, the ministers filed into the Golden Throne Hall according to their shifts, with General Zhao Mu, the military commander, leading the way.
He went up the jade steps and saw from afar that the person sitting on the throne was not Emperor Ming of Qi.
Xiao Beiheng sat on the throne, draped in a dragon robe, his hair disheveled. He gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, the scabbard resting on the ground between his legs. He looked cheerful and seemed quite happy. But his reddened, swollen eyes were filled with a deep weariness, as if exhausted. Seeing the ministers entering the hall, Xiao Beiheng straightened his body, as if ready to receive an audience.
"Prince Ping!" Zhao Mu was furious, raising his finger and pointing at Xiao Beiheng, "How dare you wear the dragon robe and sit on the throne!"
Only Emperor Ming of Qi could hold this position. Xiao Beiheng actually dared to commit treason. Could he be plotting a rebellion?
The ministers who saw this scene were all panicked, not knowing what to do, and all turned their eyes to the Prime Minister with gray hair on his temples. But the Prime Minister did not understand what was happening, and in accordance with the principle of "too much talk will lead to mistakes", he kept silent.
Xiao Beiheng grinned and said, "General, this is my seat. Why can't I sit here?"
As he spoke, Xiao Beiheng threw down the imperial edict in his hand and said, "Prime Minister, please read it to all the ministers as soon as possible to avoid any doubts."
The Prime Minister was still hesitating, but Zhao Mu could not wait any longer and stepped forward to pick up the imperial edict and stuffed it into his hand, saying, "Prime Minister, please read it quickly." Seeing that both of them were urging him, the Prime Minister had no choice but to unfold the imperial edict and read it:
"My eldest son, Xiao Beiheng, is the heir apparent of the imperial clan, destined by Heaven's will. I hereby declare to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temple, and the altar of state that I bestow upon him the imperial seal and designate him as Crown Prince, to strengthen the rule for eternity and inspire the hearts of the people. I order the Crown Prince to ascend the Wenhua Palace with the imperial seal, to oversee the affairs of state, to comfort the army, and to oversee the state. All matters submitted by the various ministries shall be submitted to the Crown Prince for his decision. This announcement shall be made throughout the land, for all to know."
After hearing this, everyone didn't know how to answer and looked at Zhao Mu.
Zhao Mu asked, "Prime Minister, was this imperial edict issued by His Majesty?" The Prime Minister handed him the edict and said, "It is indeed written by His Majesty himself, and the seal is correct."
Xiao Beiheng stroked his sword and laughed, "General, you are too careful. Did I have to use a fake imperial edict to deceive you? It's real, haha, my father appointed me as the crown prince, hahaha."
Zhao Mu read the imperial edict and raised his head, saying, "Although His Majesty has appointed you as the Crown Prince, His Majesty is still alive. How can you refer to yourself as 'Immortal'?"
Xiao Beiheng smiled and shook his head, saying, "Father...he has passed away."
Upon hearing this, the ministers were stunned, their manners disregarded, and they began to whisper among themselves. Zhao Mu's face turned pale. He had once been a close personal friend of Emperor Ming of Qi, who had even shown him favors. Hearing this unfortunate news was like a thunderbolt.
"His Majesty has passed away?" Zhao Mu trembled and took a step towards Xiao Beiheng. "Is it true? What happened?"
Xiao Beiheng had been smiling, but after hearing this, he looked flustered. Although he tried his best to remain calm, Zhao Mu could still see his panic. Xiao Beiheng's hands were especially trembling.
"Prince Ping, why are you so panicked?" Zhao Mu took another step forward. "Could it be that His Majesty's death has something to do with you?"
Xiao Beiheng didn't answer, but stared blankly ahead, his thoughts unclear. Zhao Mu was furious and was about to press him further when the Prime Minister stopped him, saying, "Wait a minute, General. His Majesty's decree regarding the succession is here. If His Majesty truly passes away, Prince Ping will naturally ascend the throne. You must not be disrespectful to His Majesty."
Before Zhao Mu could argue, an official came up to the hall and said, "My lords, General An Guo has brought the Empress's imperial decree." Upon hearing this, everyone looked down the stairs.
Qi Shengjue, dusty and exhausted, strode into the palace with great strides. He unfolded his imperial decree and addressed the courtiers, "Your Majesty was assassinated by the traitor Xiao...Xiao Zhuo at the Anzhou hunting grounds. The Empress has issued an imperial decree ordering General Zhao Mu to swiftly lead his army to suppress the traitor."
Xiao Beiheng had said that His Majesty had passed away, and now Qi Shengjue had brought the same news, which must have been true. Several of the ministers, quick to react, immediately fell to the ground and wept bitterly.
After hearing Qi Shengjue's words, Xiao Beiheng seemed to come back to his senses. He slammed the table and stood up, saying, "My father has passed away. For the sake of Great Yan, I ascend the throne today. Why are you still standing there? Don't you recognize me as the new king?"
When Xiao Beiheng spoke, everyone looked at the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister hurriedly straightened his clothes and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor has passed away. According to etiquette, you should first bring the Emperor back for burial..."
Xiao Beiheng was furious and swept the items on the imperial desk to the ground with a wave of his hand. "Your Majesty, I will go and greet him myself. The traitor Xiao Zhuo is rampant now. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and yet you are so fussy."
He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, pointing at the Prime Minister and saying, "Am I the Son of Heaven? Am I the Son of Heaven? Huh?"
"Yes, yes." The prime minister was sweating profusely and agreed repeatedly.
Xiao Beiheng pointed his finger at the Minister of Rites who was standing beside the Prime Minister and asked, "Am I the Son of Heaven?"
The Minister of Rites quickly bowed and said, "The late emperor has passed away. According to the laws of Great Yan, and with the late emperor's decree, ahem... Your Majesty... is of course the Son of Heaven."
"Then what are you still doing standing there!" Xiao Beiheng shouted sternly.
This stern shout made everyone's ears buzz. The Prime Minister knelt first, and the others followed suit, with a large group kneeling. Only General Zhao Mu did not kneel. Qi Shengjue, who was standing beside him, saw this and quickly pulled Zhao Mu's sleeve.
Zhao Mu shook off Qi Shengjue's hand and said to Xiao Beiheng, "Prince Ping, was it really Prince An who caused His Majesty's death?"
Xiao Beiheng sat back on the throne and said, "Do you even doubt the Queen Mother's will? General An Guo, please let him verify the Queen Mother's will."
Qi Shengjue stood up and said, "General, His Majesty was indeed killed by Xiao Zhuo. The Queen Mother has ordered you to lead the army to attack the rebels. Please put national affairs first. Obey the order immediately and attack the rebels."
He was fully aware of Xiao Beiheng's actions, but he had also learned from Pei Jingyun that the Empress and her son were in cahoots. At this point, it would be unwise to hastily accuse Xiao Beiheng of killing Emperor Ming of Qi, so he kept trying to persuade Zhao Mu. However, Zhao Mu was not smart enough to understand his intentions.
Zhao Mu glared at him fiercely, ignored Xiao Beiheng, turned around and walked quickly out of the Golden Palace.
"General, wait a minute." Xiao Beiheng called out.
Zhao Mu turned around and stopped, then asked Xiao Beiheng unhappily, "Does Your Highness the Crown Prince have any further instructions?"
He was not like other ministers. He had a military spirit and refused to call Xiao Beiheng the emperor.
Xiao Beiheng didn't take it seriously and said, "General, you are a master of military strategy. I rely on you greatly. Please go back and quickly prepare your troops to fight against the rebels."
Zhao Mu didn't reply, but just bowed and walked down the stairs quickly.
"General Anguo, the news you brought is very timely," Xiao Beiheng turned to Qi Shengjue and said, "Where is the Queen Mother now?"
Qi Shengjue saw Zhao Mu leave angrily, but couldn't follow him, so he turned around and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother escorted the Emperor's body out of the Anzhou hunting grounds, saying she was going to an old place and didn't come to Zhongzhou."
"Oh, you didn't come to the capital?"
Xiao Beiheng muttered to himself as he sat back on the throne, touched the dragon pattern carved on the armrest of the throne, and chuckled.
As I laughed, tears started to fall.
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