Rome.
Shortly after Marcus Aurelius's death, four Janissary legions mobilized by Penes stormed into the city and surrounded the residences of the Senate and a host of noble officials.
Squads of soldiers patrolled the streets, prohibiting anyone from moving around freely.
The Janissary's large-scale operation immediately made the nobles realize that Augustus might be on his deathbed, and that Commodus was preparing to seize the throne by force.
Despite their resentment, the Senate and the nobles were powerless to do anything about it.
After making sure everything was settled, Penis, who was in charge of the army, also rushed into the palace.
However, after entering the palace, Penis did not go to find his new master, Commodus, but instead went to a side hall and found Zhang Bao resting there.
"Penis, pays respects to the Celestial Master!"
Upon entering the side hall, Penis bowed and paid his respects to Zhang Bao.
"Get up. You shouldn't have rushed over here at this time!"
Zhang Bao glanced at Pennis indifferently, his words carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Penis: "Master, there is something extremely important that I am very anxious about, which is why I have come here without warning!"
Zhang Bao raised an eyelid: "Is it Marcus Aurelius who wants to make a move against my Taiping Cult?"
Pennis was slightly taken aback: "How did you know...?"
Zhang Bao chuckled lightly: "Heh~, this Celestial Master already knew, otherwise, how could this Augustus have died so young?"
Upon hearing this, Pennis was startled and looked at Zhang Bao in disbelief.
He never imagined that Augustus's death would actually be related to the Taiping Church.
As a confidant of Marcus Aurelius and a member of the Church of the Peace, he had not realized it at all before.
The power of the Taiping Cult is truly terrifying—they were able to kill an emperor so silently!
"You don't need to overthink it. Marcus Aurelius wasn't going to live much longer anyway. If it weren't for our medicine prolonging his life, he would have died two years ago."
Now it's simply time for him to die.
Just as Pennis was in shock, Zhang Bao's words drifted into his ears.
"So that's how it is!"
Hearing this, Penis felt much more at ease.
Then, Penis respectfully asked, "Master, what should I do next?"
Zhang Bao said in a low voice, "Help Kang Maode up first, and while you're at it, kill a few people from the Senate!"
"yes!"
Pennis agreed, then bowed and left.
After leaving the side hall, Pennis rushed to Marcus Aurelius's bedroom.
A flicker of joy crossed Pennis's mind as he looked at the people kneeling on the ground, weeping.
Marcus Aurelius is dead, Rome is about to descend into turmoil, and he himself will seize territory and become king.
Forcibly suppressing his secret joy, Penis approached Commodus with a sorrowful expression and then bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, His Majesty left a will stating that the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day. We urge Your Highness to succeed to the throne and exercise the powers of the sovereign!"
"Your Highness, please ascend the throne and exercise the powers of the monarch!!"
The soldiers following behind Penis, along with the palace guards, bowed and shouted in unison.
Hearing the crowd's shouts, Commodus, who was weeping, also stood up and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
After glancing at everyone, Kang Maode said with a sorrowful expression, "I am a person without virtue and am not qualified to inherit the throne. However, my father suddenly passed away, and there is no one else in the country to rely on."
To prevent my father's life's work from being ruined, I have no choice but to temporarily assume the throne, and abdicate in favor of a more worthy successor in the future!
With that, Commodus turned and bowed deeply to the body of Marcus Aurelius: "Father, rest assured, I will follow your will and make Rome great!"
Upon seeing this, Penis, who was behind him, immediately kowtowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!!"
The crowd joined in the shouts.
Kang Maode turned around and hugged the people who were prostrate on the ground. Although there were traces of tears on his face, the slight upturn of his mouth revealed the joy and excitement in his heart.
Commodus looked at Penis and said solemnly, "Penis, immediately begin preparations for the late emperor's funeral. Tomorrow morning, invite all the nobles in Rome to the palace to bid farewell to the late emperor and read his last will and testament!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Pennis agreed and immediately led people to change Marcus Aurelius into new clothes and begin setting up the mourning hall.
Meanwhile, Kang Maode, with the help of palace servants, changed into the new emperor's clothes.
Unlike the bustling activity inside the palace, the mansions of the nobles outside the palace were unusually quiet.
Everyone is waiting, waiting for the dawn to break.
As the first rays of dawn touched the sky above Rome, the soldiers of the Praetorian Guard began to move.
Squads of Imperial Guard soldiers knocked on the doors of a group of nobles and officials, then "invited" them into the palace, eventually leading them to Marcus Aurelius's bedroom.
Seeing the corpses lying in the palace, the nobles and officials also broke down in tears, behaving in a similar manner.
While weeping, many nobles also kept secretly looking around, searching for Commodus's figure.
The absence of the late emperor's son on such an important occasion made them feel uneasy.
Just then, Penis, the adjutant of the Royal Guard, led a squad of armored soldiers to the body of the late emperor.
After glancing at the crowd, Penis took out a decree and held it high in his hand.
"The late emperor's edict is here; all ministers, receive the edict!"
The crying stopped abruptly, and everyone looked up at the edict in Penis's hand, their eyes filled with doubt and confusion.
Just as everyone was filled with doubt and surprise, a disgruntled voice came from behind:
"Hmph... Penis, His Majesty never mentioned a will before, and he suddenly died last night. Now you produce a will today. Who knows if this will is a forgery?"
Upon hearing this, Penis's face immediately darkened, and he looked up.
There, an elderly man with gray hair was staring at Pennis with a face full of resentment.
This person is a member of the Senate and the current head of the Kelling family.
The reason he stood up was to make it clear that he did not want to accept the imperial edict.
After all, Pennis, as a henchman of Marcus Aurelius, had always been at odds with their Senate, so the contents of the will must have been very unfavorable to them.
Once they accept the offer, they will be in a very passive position.
Looking at the head of the Kelling family, Pennis remembered Zhang Bao's instructions, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
Pennis pointed at the head of the Kelin family and said coldly, "He roared loudly before the late emperor's spirit and openly questioned the late emperor's edict. This is a great disrespect and he should be executed according to the law. Take him away and lock him up in prison!"
As soon as Pennis finished speaking, two armored soldiers immediately stepped forward and walked towards the head of the Kelin family.
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