At noon, the sun was blazing like fire. In front of the city gate, officials stood solemnly on both sides of the official road under the scorching sun. Although it was early autumn, the officials' faces were already covered with sweat.
As the officials waited anxiously, a bright yellow ceremonial procession finally appeared on the horizon.
"Here they come, here they come. Someone, go and report to Lord Xiao!" The leading eunuch standing in front of all the officials hurriedly ordered someone to report the news, and finally a relaxed expression appeared on the faces of all the officials.
Damn, I’ve been standing there for the whole morning and finally it’s here.
If you don't come soon, the court of the Wei Dynasty will probably be empty.
These old guys are bound to be sunburned to death!
Gazing at the approaching procession, the old men sighed. This was the standard for the Crown Prince's procession! The Emperor, absorbed in alchemy, neglected state affairs, and his health deteriorated… The Crown Prince hadn't been seen in days, and now Prince Cheng Hui was returning to the throne using the Crown Prince's procession… Was the Emperor trying to tell the world that the Crown Prince of the Wei Dynasty was about to be replaced?
The carriage slowly approached. Lai Siyu parted the curtains and looked at the court officials kneeling on the ground, chanting "Long Live the Emperor!" She turned to Wu Mingliang and said teasingly, "Not bad, isn't it? So impressive!"
Wu Mingliang sneered, and was also confused in his heart, wondering what Xiao Hanshan meant by making such a scene.
"The Emperor has issued an order, Prince Chenghui shall receive it!"
When the carriage arrived in front of the ministers' welcoming team, Xiao Hanshan, dressed in a black python robe, held up the bright yellow imperial edict and spoke loudly.
Yue Daikui, Subuqi and a group of attendants quickly knelt down, and Wu Mingliang also quickly got off the carriage and knelt down to receive the order.
Looking at Wu Mingliang, whose head and face were wrapped like a mummy, the ministers were puzzled. How could King Cheng Hui be in such a state after going out? His head and face were wrapped tightly. Could he be fake?
Xiao Hanshan's eyes, as sharp as a knife, swept towards Yue Daikui who was kneeling beside him. Yue Daikui felt a chill on his back. He raised his head slightly, and his eyes met Xiao Hanshan's.
It’s terrible!
Yue Daikui's heart trembled.
However, he still understood the inquiry in Xiao Hanshan's sharp eyes.
"Sir Xiao, when we found King Chenghui... he was injured by a small beast. Fortunately, we brought a military doctor with us, so we were able to bandage his wounds..."
Wu Mingliang snorted in his heart. Even if my head and face were blocked, you, Xiao Hanshan, and I grew up together. How could you not recognize me? You are doing this just to make me look bad in front of all the ministers!
After Yue Daikui finished his trembling speech, Xiao Hanshan's expression finally relaxed. He unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud, "By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Since ancient times, emperors have succeeded Heaven and established the throne, governed the country, and always established a crown prince to strengthen the foundation of the nation and ensure the prosperity of the clan and society. I, as the successor of this great legacy, work diligently and diligently, admiring the heroic deeds of our ancestors. I have entrusted you with the most important task. The succession and celebration of the family line rests squarely on Yuanliang. My legitimate son, Mingliang, is increasingly distinguished and gifted, and he embodies my own destiny. I appoint him Crown Prince to oversee state affairs... I hereby inform Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temple, and the country..."
Clang~Clang~Clang~
When the imperial edict came out, jaws dropped to the ground.
Even if the crown prince has been replaced, why wasn't there any news about it before?
Wu Mingliang was also puzzled. What was going on? Why did his father suddenly appoint him as the crown prince? Could it be that Xiao Hanshan had let him go because of this?
"Your Highness, why don't you accept the order?"
Xiao Hanshan's voice brought Wu Mingliang's wandering thoughts back from the sky.
"Your son and subject receive the order, long live the emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Your Highness, Xiao Hanshan, respectfully welcomes the Crown Prince back to the palace! Your Highness, please go to the Crown Prince's Mansion!" Xiao Hanshan bowed and asked.
"I will go to the palace to thank my father in person!" Wu Mingliang stood up and bowed in the direction of the palace.
Xiao Hanshan looked at him with some embarrassment: "Your Highness, you should return to your residence first, and then go to the palace to see the emperor after your injury is healed..." If you go into the palace in this state, your father will be scared to death.
Wu Mingliang was stunned. He raised his hand to touch his face. He looked disheveled and couldn't enter the palace to see his father. Forget it, he would talk about entering the palace in two days.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Xiao, to accompany me back to the palace first. The rest of you may disperse. I'm injured and need to return home to recuperate. When I recover, I will definitely host a banquet for all the officials..."
"...Your Highness the Crown Prince is respectfully seen off!"
In the carriage, Lai Siyu poked Wu Mingliang's shoulder and teased, "Not bad, Your Highness the Crown Prince is so majestic. Now that you've become the Crown Prince, when is it time to repay the debt you owe me?"
"Prince..." Wu Mingliang gave a sarcastic smile and shook his head without saying anything. Everything happened so fast that his brain couldn't even process it.
Even if he became the crown prince, no one in the court would be his. Ever since Xiao Hanshan had torn off his face in front of him, he realized how much influence Xiao Hanshan had built up in the palace and the court over the years by leveraging the power of the former crown prince...
Seeing Wu Mingliang ignoring her, Lai Siyu got angry: "Hey, it's only natural to pay back your debts. Don't think you can default on your debts just because you're the crown prince!"
The red squirrel crawled out from her sleeve and, in line with Lai Siyu's bad tone, bared its teeth and claws to protest against Wu Mingliang.
"Don't worry, I won't default on my debt, but your debt can only be repaid after I ascend the throne." Wu Mingliang sighed. He was only a prince now, and he didn't have the final say in the Wei Dynasty. His confidants had been uprooted by Xiao Hanshan, and now he had no one available to help him find the spirit stones that Lai Siyu mentioned.
"What? When you ascend the throne, you're not hinting at me helping you kill your father, are you?" Lai Siyu looked at Wu Mingyuan with disdain. "Are you a black heart? It really is true that the royal family lacks family affection!"
Wu Mingliang was furious: "Who said I wanted to kill the king? Are you crazy? I meant after I ascend the throne."
Lai Siyu scoffed at his words: "Tsk! In the end, you're just hoping your father dies. If your father doesn't die, how can you ascend to the throne?"
The red squirrel nodded its furry head in agreement, and gave Wu Mingliang a free smack in the eye.
Wu Mingliang: "..." There's no way to communicate, there's really no way to communicate. Talking to this woman is simply an insult to his IQ!
Lai Siyu thought about it and said, "Don't expect me to help you kill your father, such a treasonous thing..."
Wu Mingliang: I just don’t want you to do anything good!
Lai Siyu: "But as long as you're willing to pay, I can help you abdicate and become the emperor..."
Wu Mingliang lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and unclear: Who the hell asked you for help? It's you who wants me to be the emperor, right?
Lai Siyu suddenly leaned over and put her arm around Wu Mingliang's shoulders, grinning wickedly, "Since you're silent, it means you agree with what I say. Don't worry, I'll definitely help you with this matter... Hahaha..."
...
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