Chapter 149 Deposing the Crown Prince and Establishing a New Heir Apparent
King Cheng's eyes widened instantly, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.
He had painstakingly planned and endured for many years, thinking victory was within his grasp. However, at the most crucial moment, Li Long, whom he regarded as his greatest reliance, had already betrayed him!
He looked up at the sky and howled a few times, letting out a mournful cry, his eyes bloodshot.
"Well done! Well done, Li Long! You guys..."
He pointed at Chu Yan and Li Long, "You... I really underestimated you!"
In his despair, all his hatred erupted at that moment. He became like a madman, raising his long sword recklessly and charging towards the emperor.
"Even if I die, I will drag people down with me!"
"Father, be careful!"
At the critical moment, Chu Yan suddenly drew the long sword from the waist of a guard beside him and thrust it fiercely at the charging Prince Cheng!
"Pfft..."
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out.
King Cheng's forward momentum suddenly froze. He looked down in disbelief at the long sword piercing his abdomen, its hilt held in Chu Yan's hand.
He looked at Chu Yan's face, so close to his, filled with coldness and sternness, and something flashed through his mind.
The next second, King Cheng's eyes widened, "You...you..."
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his blood rushed to his head, and he could only utter indistinct syllables.
Chu Yan's eyes were icy cold. Without the slightest hesitation, he suddenly drew his long sword and, just as King Cheng bowed, delivered two more vicious blows, piercing right into vital organs!
"puff……"
"puff……"
King Cheng's tall body was now bent over like a shrimp, and he convulsed violently on the ground. The light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and finally, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness, he fell into a pool of blood, his breath gone.
After dealing with King Cheng, Chu Yan slowly withdrew his hand, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the bloodstains from his hand.
The ministers present turned pale and stared wide-eyed at the sight.
He was, after all, a prince.
He just...died like that?
Was he killed by his own nephew, the Third Prince?
After wiping his hands, Chu Yan stepped over the corpse of King Cheng and coldly ordered Li Long, "Commander Li, King Cheng committed treason and deserves to die. Leave no one alive among his remaining private soldiers. Make sure to clean it up completely and do not defile Father Emperor's hunting grounds."
"Your humble servant obeys."
After dealing with all this, Chu Yan straightened his robes, turned to look at the emperor who had been silent, bowed, and spoke in a tone that was no longer respectful.
"Father, you have been frightened. The traitor has been executed and the chaos has been brought under control. This place is bloody and filthy, and I fear it may disturb you. I will arrange for someone to escort you back to your tent to rest. You may leave the rest of the matters to me."
The emperor looked at the still-warm body of Prince Cheng, then at his son, a man of decisive action and deep thought. His lips moved, but he said nothing. He took Shen Guangnian's hand and left the tent.
After the remnants of the king's faction were eliminated, the officials of the Third Prince's faction all congratulated Chu Yan:
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Today, you remained calm in the face of danger and slew the rebellious King Chu Cong before the Emperor, thus quelling the rebellion. This is an unparalleled achievement in protecting the Emperor. Your Highness's wisdom and bravery are truly a blessing to the nation!"
As soon as Minister Du spoke, the other officials echoed his sentiments:
"Your Highness is courageous and decisive; you are truly a pillar of the nation!"
"If His Highness had not seen through the treacherous officials and acted decisively, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"
Amidst the chorus of praise, a cunning censor stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Your Highness has rendered such an unparalleled service, and your prestige has reached its zenith. It's just a pity that the Crown Prince is now... Alas, how can the heir apparent remain bedridden for long? We will soon submit a joint memorial to Your Majesty, earnestly requesting that you prioritize the well-being of the nation, depose the Crown Prince, and appoint Your Highness as the new heir apparent, so as to appease the hearts of the people!"
Upon hearing these words, Chu Yan's face was filled with smug satisfaction, as if his ambitions had been fulfilled.
He raised his hand to help the censor up, saying, "Gentlemen, you flatter me. Please rise. Today's quelling of the rebellion is entirely due to the Emperor's great blessings and the concerted efforts of all of you. How could I dare to claim this credit for myself?"
Upon hearing this, all the ministers gave Chu Yan a thumbs up.
Several shrewd ministers exchanged knowing glances and decided that they would petition the emperor first thing tomorrow morning to change the crown prince.
Chu Yan took in everyone's reactions but smiled without saying a word.
-
The following day, when the emperor appeared in the main tent, several ministers indeed submitted a joint memorial.
"His Majesty!"
An imperial censor was the first to volunteer, his voice rising: "His Highness the Crown Prince was seriously injured in a fall from his horse and has not been able to rise to attend to state affairs since. The country cannot be without a heir for even a day! During this autumn hunt, the Third Prince first saw through the treacherous officials, and then personally executed the rebel king before the emperor, quelling the rebellion and establishing an unparalleled merit in protecting the emperor! Moreover, His Highness is benevolent, filial, and intelligent. During his tenure as regent, he has handled all matters properly and methodically, earning the respect of all officials and the praise of the military and the people. This is the will of heaven and the will of the people!"
"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you depose the Crown Prince and appoint His Highness the Third Prince as the heir apparent!"
As Imperial Censor Chen spoke, he immediately knelt down before the emperor with a solemn expression.
The emperor had come despite his illness, and his face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes had regained their usual calm and majesty.
But upon hearing this, he still couldn't help but get angry.
"presumptuous!"
The emperor slammed his hand on the armrest, his chest heaving violently with rage, his voice booming with thunderous fury.
"You...you're cursing the Crown Prince's leg so he won't heal?! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, and you want to force me to depose him just because of a temporary injury?! What are your intentions?!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Minister Du hurriedly stepped forward and pleaded.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! We had no such intention! His Highness the Crown Prince is Your Majesty's legitimate son. We feel the same pain and sorrow as you, His Highness, who has suffered such a great calamity! However, the responsibility of the Crown Prince lies in inheriting the ancestral temple and ruling over all the land."
His Highness's health... truly prevents him from fulfilling his duties. His Highness the Third Prince possesses both virtue and talent, and has rendered outstanding service; he is the only suitable candidate to fulfill his filial duties in place of his brother and share the nation's burdens! This is not a curse, but rather... to alleviate the worries of the Emperor and Father, and to lay a solid foundation for the dynasty's long-lasting prosperity! We humbly beseech Your Majesty to understand!
Afterwards, several other ministers stepped forward and echoed their sentiments.
"Yes, Your Majesty. In recent days, the people of the capital have been praising the Third Prince's achievements, and many noble families have also asked us to convey their wishes that the Third Prince should be enthroned as the crown prince! We risk our lives to offer our advice, all for the sake of the stability of the Great Chu!"
The ministers' meaning was clear: the crown prince had been deposed and it was time to replace him.
The emperor looked down at the ministers who were pleading for their lives, and then swept his gaze over the officials who were silent or looked troubled. He knew all too well that this was something that wicked Chu Yan had planned all along.
The emperor's face turned ashen, and he felt a dull pain in his chest.
At this moment, Chu Yan stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"Father, please calm your anger. All the officials are loyal to the throne. Your son has no intention of coveting the crown prince position. It is my honor to be able to share your burdens and manage state affairs for the Crown Prince. Please do not blame the officials and do not bring up the matter of changing the crown prince again."
Chu Yan's strategic retreat positioned him as humble, loyal, filial, and sensible.
The ministers who offered their advice became even more enthusiastic.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince is benevolent and filial, and will certainly not mistreat his elder brother. This is a policy that benefits both sides. We humbly request Your Majesty's permission."
For a time, the situation inside the tent was almost one-sided, with only a few ministers, led by the Marquis of Yongning and the Duke of Dingguo, yet to express their opinions.
The emperor's gaze fell on Xiao Dingshan: "Minister Xiao, what do you think of this matter?"
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