Not to mention that Huangpu Yun had already made up his mind, and who knows how many people would lose their heads the next day, the Longgan Dynasty was engulfed in war.
Although the four imprisoned princes had difficulty traveling, there were many experts in this world with countless means of communication, so they could still use secret methods to contact the outside world.
Meanwhile, the sixth prince, Qin Feiming, remained calm and composed in his secluded room, showing no sign of distress at being a prisoner.
What others didn't know was that there was a person from the Northern Desert Empire in his residence, whose status was also very prominent. He was the trusted spy of the eldest prince of the Northern Desert Empire.
The eldest prince was quite shrewd; he trained over a thousand experts from a young age and then sent them to various places to act as his eyes and ears.
The spy who infiltrated the Longgan Dynasty was named Li San. When he learned that Qin Li was terminally ill, he approached Qin Feiming and used the communication jade talisman to make contact with the Mobei Empire. This is how Qin Feiming obtained the Mobei Empire as his trump card.
Now that the Longgan Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles, the four princes are not worried at all, but instead are gloating and waiting to see Qin Feifan make a fool of himself.
What they didn't know was that Qin Feifan had gained the support of the royalist faction, greatly increasing his strength. Under such terrifying pressure, he was still able to fight to a standstill against the rebellion of the three kings, the invasion of the barbarians, and the simultaneous attacks of the four dynasties.
Qin Feifan looked at his sixth brother in the dimly lit room, feeling deeply moved.
“When our father was alive, he often taught us brothers to work together, but you have all been so incompetent, especially you, sixth brother, your heart is despicable.”
Qin Feiming said with a disdainful expression, "Oh? You noticed? I suppose you have spies planted in my residence, aren't you the same?"
“I planted spies in your mansion only to protect myself, but you betrayed the interests of the dynasty. You are unworthy to be a descendant of the Qin family.”
"Hehe, my fourth brother, even if I'm a worthless wretch, I still won. Soon I'll make you pay for all the pain you caused me."
"Are you so sure the Northern Desert Empire will send someone to rescue you?"
"Of course I'm sure. We've already made an agreement, and the envoy from the Northern Desert Empire is probably on his way."
Although Meng Fan had promised to take care of the Northern Desert Empire, he was still unsure of the outcome, but he couldn't afford to lose face as the crown prince.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right now? I doubt they'd make things difficult for me over a dead man if I offered the same terms."
“You won’t kill me. My Qin family’s ancestral precepts strictly forbid the blood of our own kind from being stained with our own blood. You are an upright person and would not do anything against our ancestors.”
"Sixth brother, you are too confident. Even if I don't kill you, you will ultimately fail."
Qin Feiming frowned upon hearing this and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"So you're allowed to have your trump cards, but I don't?"
"Haha, arrogant! Do you think your trump cards are bigger than those of the Northern Desert Empire? As the news spreads, the royalists will likely side with me. What do you have to fight me with?"
"Sixth brother, just you wait and see, the Northern Desert Empire can't stop my enthronement ceremony!"
"Hmph, then we'll wait and see!"
Qin Feifan was too lazy to say anything more to him and immediately returned to the palace to prepare for the enthronement ceremony.
A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. After Qin Li's funeral, he must immediately ascend the throne. With such a major event settled, not only will the morale of the army be boosted, but it will also greatly benefit the stability of the dynasty.
On the third day of the fourth lunar month, the capital of the Longgan Dynasty was filled with imperial guards, and large armies were gathered around the city. Even children knew that today was the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor.
The palace was heavily guarded, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps. Among them were many innate masters and grandmasters from the Hall of Worship, who were on high alert.
On the altar erected in the palace, Qin Feifan was paying homage to Heaven and Earth, and holding the enthronement ceremony.
Below them were numerous civil and military officials, with the four princes at the very front. However, each of them was accompanied by two imperial guards, clearly there to watch over them.
"Since the passing of the late emperor and my ascension to the throne, I have felt a great sense of responsibility. Therefore, I hereby solemnly announce this to Heaven and Earth today."
"I will certainly carry on the will of the late emperor, govern the country with benevolence, safeguard the stability of our nation, and protect the well-being of our people."
"I will follow the way of Heaven, respect nature, value harmony, maintain good relations with neighboring countries, and safeguard peace throughout the world."
"I will uphold justice and integrity as my guiding principles, severely punish corrupt officials, rectify the court, and ensure that the people live in peace and prosperity."
"May Heaven and Earth bless us, may the weather be favorable, and may the crops be plentiful. I will certainly govern diligently and love the people, live up to their expectations, usher in a peaceful and prosperous era, and create a great cause for all ages."
"..."
Qin Feifan spoke eloquently on the altar for a full hour, his words flowing naturally and without repetition, suggesting he had done his homework thoroughly.
Just as Qin Feifan was offering incense, a sudden change occurred.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the once clear sky, causing everyone to tense up.
"By imperial decree of the First Prince of the Northern Desert Empire, the Fourth Prince of the Longgan Dynasty, Qin Feifan, is tyrannical, extravagant, greedy, and tyrannical. The Celestial Empire hereby issues an edict to remove Qin Feifan from his position as Crown Prince and to appoint the Sixth Prince, Qin Feiming, as his successor. This is the imperial decree!"
Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a middle-aged scholar dressed in purple standing in the air, exuding a powerful aura. He was at least a powerful cultivator in the Void Transformation Realm.
Qin Feifan could only smile bitterly. "Brother Meng, I still trusted you wrongly. What am I going to do?"
He had always believed that Meng Fan could hold off the Northern Desert Empire, so even if something went wrong during his coronation ceremony, it would be within his control and nothing to worry about. But what he feared most came to pass.
The arrival of the people from the Northern Desert Empire was like a hammer blow, sealing the deal and leaving him with no power to resist.
At this moment, Qin Feiming walked up to the altar, and the guards around him stood there like wax figures, not daring to stop him at all.
The entire court was shocked by Qin Feiming's move. Lacking information, they could only lament the Fourth Prince's bad luck and the fact that he didn't have the same powerful backing as the Sixth Prince, but they chose to acquiesce.
It wasn't that these civil and military officials were disloyal, but rather that the Northern Desert Empire was simply an insurmountable force.
The Longgan Dynasty was a vassal state of the Northern Desert Empire. How could it resist the Celestial Empire's command?
It's just that the behavior of the Northern Desert Empire is quite disgraceful. For a dignified empire to interfere with the succession ceremony of one of its constituent states is bound to damage its reputation.
If this precedent is set, other vassal states will feel insecure. After all, the Longgan Dynasty has not offended you. It pays tribute every year and pays the most. If you interfere with their normal succession, should we also ask you before choosing who to succeed to the throne?
At this moment, Qin Feiming had already walked onto the altar and patted Qin Feifan on the shoulder with a smile.
"Fourth Brother, I told you we'd wait and see. Look at the state you've made now, you've lost face."
Seeing that things had come to this point, Qin Feifan was able to let it go. He slapped away Qin Feiming's hand from his shoulder and said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. You've won."
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