Upon hearing the emperor speak, Zhao Heng, the Minister of Rites, immediately said, "Your Majesty! We learned of the Fourth Prince's rebellion and, overcoming numerous obstacles, rushed to the palace immediately..."
The emperor opened his cloudy eyes and interrupted the man's voice: "Who saved me?!"
Yuan Yuan glanced at the man, his sword-wielding hand behind his back, his voice, which he had never concealed, was soft and gentle: "Yuan Yuan greets Your Majesty."
“Yuan Yuan…” The old emperor’s cloudy eyes lit up: “You… are A Yuan?”
A cold glint flashed in Yuan Yuan's eyes: "It's me."
The emperor, dazed, asked, "Where... is Jiang Chi?"
Yuan Yuan said coldly, "Jiang Chi and the Hai family have kidnapped the emperor and are plotting to usurp the throne. I have dared to take them down."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes dimmed.
Not far from the bedchamber, Zhao Heng straightened up and cried out in a sorrowful voice, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty is unaware of something..."
The Fourth Prince... he actually massacred the capital and the palace!
"Of the Emperor's bloodline, I fear few will survive..."
Suddenly, the minister's voice came to an abrupt halt.
He gripped his neck tightly with both hands, but couldn't make a sound.
Zhao Heng's eyes widened, his gaze almost bursting.
The emperor was terrified, his blood surging.
How many of his bloodlines are left?
"puff……"
A mouthful of blood spurted from the old emperor's mouth.
Inside the bedchamber, another cry of surprise rang out—
"emperor!"
"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"
"Imperial Physician! Quickly, examine the Emperor!"
"..."
The imperial physician was flustered and tried to grab the emperor's wrist with trembling hands.
Upon taking his pulse, the imperial physician's expression changed drastically.
He suppressed his panic, his face pale, and subconsciously looked at Yuan Yuan.
Seeing this, Yuan Yuan understood what was going on.
He gave Zhao Heng, who was kneeling on the ground, a cold glance.
Oh……
Yuan Yuan lifted his foot, bypassed the imperial physician, and placed one palm on the emperor's back, which was so thin that it was only skin and bones, and channeled his internal energy into it.
The powerful internal energy, once it entered the emperor's body, seemed to vanish without a trace.
Yuan Yuan frowned.
At this moment, the emperor stirred and spoke weakly and hoarsely, "A-Yuan..."
Yuan Yuan coldly replied, "I am here."
The emperor spoke, "A-Yuan, I...I'm sorry to your aunt."
Yuan Yuan froze.
The emperor continued, "I know that Chanyi is the kindest person. How could she do something that harms people?"
It's because I...it's because I'm incompetent, I couldn't protect her..."
Yuan Yuan's hand, hanging to one side and gripping the hilt of his sword, tightened forcefully.
At this moment, the emperor raised his hand: "Don't waste your energy... I'm going to see Chanyi..."
Yuan Yuan: "..."
He decisively withdrew his internal energy and pulled his hand back.
Then, he said coldly, "Does Your Majesty still have the face to see her?"
The emperor was taken aback upon hearing this.
Then, he gave a bitter smile, his voice growing softer and softer: "Chanyi... perhaps she doesn't want to see me? She's dead, and I can't even protect her family..."
Yuan Yuan: "..."
God knows how much he wanted to kill the old emperor with a single blow!
After holding back, Yuan Yuan looked at the emperor, whose breath was growing weaker and weaker: "Does Your Majesty still remember Consort Jing?"
"Consort Jing?" The emperor's cloudy eyes darted around slightly.
After a long pause, he finally spoke: "She bore me a daughter and a son..."
The sound was almost inaudible.
Fortunately, Yuan Yuan was a martial artist with excellent hearing.
Yuan Yuan then asked, "So, does Your Majesty still remember the names of those two children?"
name?
The emperor's lips moved slightly.
After a while, he said in a hoarse voice, "The little princess's name is Liuyue, and the prince... the prince's name is Xian'er..."
Yuan Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Which prince?"
The emperor's cloudy eyes stopped moving, his cracked lips parted and closed, and he used almost his last bit of strength to say, "Sixth Prince... Jiang Xian!"
"Thump!"
A very faint clattering sound came from beside the dragon bed.
The emperor's withered hand rested limply on the edge of the bed.
Seeing this, the imperial physician mustered his courage and reached out to check the emperor's breathing.
Upon hearing this, he knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling as he said, "His Majesty... has passed away!"
Inside the sleeping quarters, more than a dozen civil officials knelt on the ground.
A mixture of genuine and feigned wailing echoed throughout the Haoran Hall...
Yuan Yuan coldly glanced at the crowd of people who were crying with sorrowful faces, and asked, "Just now, did everyone hear the Emperor's edict clearly?"
"An...oral edict?" Cao Qin raised his plump, white hand to wipe the corner of his eye before asking, "What oral edict?"
Yuan Yuan scoffed: "Naturally, it's an oral edict to pass on the throne."
A verbal order of succession?
The bedchamber fell silent immediately.
Two turbid tears hung from the corners of Zhao Heng's eyes, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his cloudy eyes: "Does the Emperor intend to pass the throne to Jiang Xian?"
"Insolence!" Yuan Yuan said coldly, "How dare you, a mere subject, address the Crown Prince by his name?"
Zhao Heng's forehead veins bulged, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Yuan Yuan..."
Yuan Yuan, holding a soft sword, stood directly in front of the dragon throne, coldly staring at the kneeling civil officials: "My lords, you should prepare for the national mourning as soon as possible!"
The emperor's death is a major event.
A new ruler has not yet been appointed, and everything is still subject to change!
Several civil officials wiped their eyes with their sleeves, exchanging glances in the process.
This little trick, of course, did not escape Yuan Yuan's notice.
He coldly curled his lips and said to the imperial physician, "Tonight, the palace suffered heavy casualties. This general still has to go and rescue other princes and princesses."
"I'll trouble you, Imperial Physician, to come with me."
The imperial physician knew that if he stayed, he would be silenced tonight.
He quickly packed his medical kit and said to Yuan Yuan, "Saving lives is the priority, let's go right away!"
After saying that, he picked up the box and ran.
Yuan Yuan's lips twitched slightly as he coldly looked at the kneeling ministers: "Which of you will go and announce the late Emperor's edict of succession?"
The words fell silent, and no one dared to respond.
Yuan Yuan scoffed inwardly, then curled his lips and said, "What, are you gentlemen keeping yourselves here to be buried with the late Emperor?"
After speaking, he slightly moved his fingertips, channeling his inner strength into the sword.
The sharp, soft sword, after being infused with internal energy, emitted a clear and melodious sword cry.
The chilling light, imbued with a bloody aura, sent shivers down one's spine.
At this point, the group of people finally became afraid.
Cao Qin was the first to get up, and said, "I! I'll go deliver the imperial edict, and while I'm at it, I'll also visit the Empress..."
Tonight, chaos erupted in the palace, resulting in heavy casualties.
The Empress, no one knows where she was taken by Jiang Chi and the Hai family...
Cao Qin was the Empress's cousin.
Seeing Cao Qin move, the others also stood up—
"I'll go find the little prince and princess too..."
"I'm going to help too!"
"I will stay in Haoran Palace to guard the Emperor."
"..."
Seeing this, Yuan Yuan did not linger and stepped out of Haoran Hall.
A large, chestnut-colored horse was waiting at the door.
After leaving Haoran Hall, Yuan Yuan mounted his horse and prepared to go to Ruyi Palace.
Just as he was about to leave, the imperial physician called out to him, "A-Yuan..."
Yuan Yuan turned his head.
The imperial physician, his eyes red-rimmed, choked out, "A-Yuan, I'm so sorry I couldn't help Shang Lu back then, nor could I help you..."
From tonight onwards, whatever you want to do, I'll be on your side.
Yuan Yuan, riding on horseback, remained silent for a long time before raising his hand to pull the person onto the horse's back. He said coldly, "If you want to stand on my side, then you'd better live well!"
Tonight, the late Emperor left his will, bequeathing the throne to the sixth prince, Jiang Xian. Do you remember?
The imperial physician, trembling all over, nodded vigorously as he sat on his horse: "I've got it!"
Yuan Yuan raised his lips: "Giddy up!"
The horse reared up and galloped wildly towards the Ruyi Palace.
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