Chapter 205 [VIP]
The King of Jin looked toward the city gate.
The resounding impact was met with a mocking laugh from him.
After being poisoned, the late emperor's mental state deteriorated further. In just ten days, his internal organs failed, and he was only lucid for less than an hour each day.
The Crown Prince was raised by the late Emperor, who did not believe that he would not investigate or question the matter, and would even disregard his own father's poisoning before committing suicide. The late Emperor was convinced that Prince Rong had already taken control of the capital.
He had no energy left to purge the court and the people; he only wanted to hold out until he could put his grandson on the throne.
"Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince was still poisoned and his life was in danger. In his desperation, the late Emperor vomited blood again, and this time, the imperial physicians also said that there was nothing they could do to save him."
"Knowing that things were not going well, the late emperor wrote this second edict on his deathbed."
Prince Li stared at the bloodstains on the imperial edict, his heart filled with bitterness.
"While I was attending to the ailing emperor, he entrusted his last edict to me. The late emperor said..."
"Alu, I know you are a capable person. You must assist the Crown Prince well. The Crown Prince will surely bring a prosperous and glorious era to the Great Qi Dynasty. Alu, I believe in you."
The late emperor's last words echoed in the ears of the Prince of Jin, filling him with unbearable sorrow.
Before that day, he had never known that the late emperor had such high hopes for him. Looking back, he realized that the late emperor's frequent transfers of him to various places to assume different positions were not demotions, but rather ways to cultivate him and make him a trusted advisor to the crown prince.
If he had known the late emperor's intentions sooner... he wouldn't have ended up like this.
There's no going back.
His fate was sealed the moment he slaughtered the entire city of Blackwater.
"The late emperor told me to destroy the first imperial edict and then personally hand this one to Prince Li. I was greedy and forged the edict, saying that the late emperor had appointed Xie Rong as his successor. But that's not true! The successor appointed by the late emperor was his grandson, Xie Yingchen!"
"The edict in Prince Li's possession was written by the late emperor before his death."
"The late emperor was poisoned, which affected his five internal organs and damaged his six bowels. In the last few days before his death, he was constantly vomiting blood, which was also recorded in the daily records. When the late emperor was writing his will, he kept coughing up blood, and even when he covered it with a handkerchief, the will was still splattered with blood."
"The date on the will was also five days later than the previous one."
Prince Li stood on the altar and unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, allowing everyone to see the specks of dark red blood on it.
Prince Li asked in a deep voice, "Did you hide this imperial edict?"
Everyone perked up their ears.
Of course! He feared that Xie Rong would discard him after using him, so he hid the imperial edict and the remaining ink. However, since things had come to this point, the Prince of Jin wanted to curry favor with Xie Yingchen.
He said, "I burned this edict and watched it burn to ashes with my own eyes."
"Burned?"
Gasps of surprise rose from the crowd.
"The will was burned? Then why... why is it still here?"
"Look, there are really burn marks on the edges of the will! I know now, the late emperor must have discovered Xie Rong's usurpation underground, and how he had turned the Great Qi Dynasty upside down and caused widespread suffering. He was furious. He's standing up for his grandson!"
"That's right! The Imperial Preceptor possesses immense magical power, and the Crown Prince himself came to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pray for blessings. Therefore, the late Emperor issued this edict."
right!
That must be it.
"It is the spirit of the late emperor manifesting himself!"
"Long live the late Emperor! Long live the late Emperor!!"
"The Imperial Preceptor's magical powers are powerless; he is a true immortal."
There were all sorts of random shouts and cries.
"See?" The Prince of Jin gave a self-deprecating smile. Their grandson's methods far surpassed Xie Rong's.
If he simply presents the imperial edict in court, even if the court accepts it and he wants the emperor to abdicate, it will still attract criticism from the court and even impeachment by the censors, which will inevitably waste a lot of energy.
And now.
Under the watchful eyes of the public, neither official history nor unofficial history will question his legitimacy in the future.
He was the new emperor chosen by the late emperor on his deathbed!
He was the eldest grandson of the late emperor, the eldest son of the crown prince, and the third ruler of the Great Qi Dynasty.
His succession was in accordance with the will of Heaven and was a blessing bestowed upon Daqi by Heaven.
As for the emperor...
Not only did he murder the late emperor and frame the deposed crown prince, but now he even intends to lead troops to force the emperor to abdicate and kill the crown prince's grandson. These actions alone are enough to condemn him to death. Xie Rong has no chance of redemption.
"It's fake, it's fake!" The Duke of Chengen's face was ashen, and he screamed, "Xie Yingchen, Xie Yingchen, he... that's right, it must be him who colluded with Prince Jin! He made Prince Jin frame the Emperor."
Thump!
The city gate was shaking.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, come quickly!"
Cheng En Gong's mouth was half open and half closed, and a glimmer of hope welled up in his heart again.
As long as the Emperor can defeat Xie Yingchen, they haven't lost! History books are written by people; even without Xie Yingchen, the Emperor is still the Emperor!
What he could think of, the people could also think of.
Lu Youshang turned to look at the city gate. Under the continuous impact, he was shocked to find a small crack in the bolt.
However, at this moment, his previous panic and anxiety had vanished. He thought to himself: If the emperor really broke down the city gates and stormed in, he... he... he was willing to fight to the death for the Crown Prince, and would never beg for mercy!
He was from Huaizhou.
The Huai River breached its banks, yet the emperor continued to increase taxes, threatening the entire family's survival.
It was the Crown Prince who ordered a three-year tax exemption and commanded the repair of dikes and disaster relief. The family survived the most difficult period. He even found work, working for a wealthy merchant and becoming a traveling merchant under the patron. Later, he learned that the patron had specifically sent people to recruit a large number of traveling merchants from their area, also on the orders of the Crown Prince, so that they could have a way to make a living.
He happened to be passing through Yizhou a while ago and heard that the Crown Prince was going to come to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pray for blessings, so he rushed over, wanting to kowtow to the Crown Prince from afar.
It turns out that the late emperor passed the throne to his grandson.
If it weren't for this tyrannical emperor usurping the throne, the Great Qi Dynasty would surely be peaceful and prosperous, and his wife wouldn't have starved to death just to leave food for their child!
Crack. The crack on the door bolt grew deeper and longer, like the claws of a ferocious beast.
Without thinking, Lu Youshang lunged forward and braced his back against the door.
Thump!
Lu Youshang let out a muffled groan; the impact seemed to have struck his internal organs, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The people around him looked at each other; like him, they had used their backs, shoulders, and bodies as a bolt to brace themselves against the door.
Crown Prince!
Crown Prince!
Auspicious omens descend from heaven; the Crown Prince is the destined ruler!
They must protect the Crown Prince!
Even if it means death, I would not hesitate.
"See?" The King of Jin smiled sadly. The people had already chosen him and were willing to give their lives for him.
The people who came to observe the ceremony came from all over the country, including merchants and students. They would spread what they had seen throughout the Great Qi Kingdom.
With just a will, Xie Yingchen easily won the hearts of the people and seized control of the country.
There will be no upheavals in the transition of power during the Great Reign.
The people spontaneously blocked the city gate. Xie Yingchen stood in front of the ancestral temple, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing on the Imperial Guards who were still standing with their swords drawn.
He exclaimed, "Are the Imperial Guards plotting a rebellion?"
Zhou Mu: "..."
He had heard the late emperor's edict clearly. If the emperor hadn't murdered his brother and usurped the throne, the one sitting on the throne now should be the crown prince. The Imperial Guard should also be loyal to the crown prince.
He closed his eyes, made his decision, and slowly bent down to put down the sword in his hand.
"Commander!"
The soldiers all looked at him and gasped in surprise.
Zhou Mu said in a deep voice, "The late emperor's edict stripped Xie Rong of his title. Xie Rong is not the emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty. The entire Imperial Guard should obey the late emperor's last wishes, protect the grandson of the crown prince, and restore him to his rightful place."
"The Imperial Guards are willing to serve the Crown Prince faithfully, with absolutely no disloyalty!"
Yes. The soldiers gripped their swords tightly; the Imperial Guards were never anyone's private army!
Emperor Taizu established the Jinwu Guard to protect the emperor and safeguard the Great Qi Dynasty. When they joined the Jinwu Guard, they all swore solemn oaths. It is by no means possible for a token from the Duke of Cheng'en to easily make them break their oaths and beliefs.
Their loyalty is to the Great Revelation, not to a token!
The soldiers put down their swords and knelt on the ground, including those who had pointed their swords at Xie Yingchen.
When the Imperial Guard knelt down, the Imperial Guards, Tiger Guards, and others followed suit, putting down their swords and kneeling as well.
"Should we kneel?" the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard quietly asked Zheng Si.
Zheng Si: ?
They weren't pointing swords at the Crown Prince, so why are they kneeling?
Zheng Si: "If everyone is kneeling, who will protect the Crown Prince?"
The deputy commander deeply agreed! No wonder he was only a "deputy".
Xie Yingchen looked down at the crowd prostrate on the ground. Zhou Mu dared not raise his head, cold sweat pouring down the back of his neck, as if he were being watched by a ferocious beast. He felt utterly stupid for questioning the Crown Prince and even attempting to harm him.
Xie Yingchen withdrew his gaze from him and said gently, "Pick it up."
Zhou Mu suddenly felt a huge weight lifted from his body and looked up.
Xie Yingchen offered him a helping hand: "The soldiers of Daqi have performed their duties diligently and are innocent."
The words "innocent" acted like a key, unlocking the shackles on their bodies.
In other words, the Crown Prince will not pursue their actions today, which are akin to "treason."
Very good.
Whew. Zhou Mu picked up his sword.
He stepped forward and stood beside Xie Yingchen in a protective posture.
The others also stood up, gripping their swords tightly, their eyes burning with confidence and fearlessness in the face of death.
Your Majesty... no, Xie Rong has rebelled! They will fight to the death for the Crown Prince!
"The Crown Prince!"
A young soldier ran down from the city wall, knelt down on one knee in front of him, and reported: "Xie Rong has ordered the use of rolling logs!"
Log rolling!
"Oh no!" the Duke of Wei exclaimed. "If they use rolling logs, we definitely won't be able to stop them!"
The walls and gates built around the Imperial Ancestral Temple Square were to prevent thieves from damaging the temple. In fact, while they are called city gates, they certainly cannot be compared with real city gates.
If rolling logs are used, the fire will not last even half a cup of tea, and the people blocking the gate will inevitably be seriously injured.
"Your Highness, we are willing to lay down our lives for Your Highness!" The Duke of Wei knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said, "Your subjects are willing to give their lives for Your Highness!"
He suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with unwavering determination.
"Your Highness, we swear to serve you to the death."
"Please have the Prince of Zhenbei escort you away, Your Highness."
The soldiers' shouts thundered across the battlefield. They gripped their swords tightly, veins bulging on the backs of their hands, and every young face burned with fervent loyalty and passion.
The chief minister's lips twitched. This Duke of Wei had been so eager to fight for it, and this time he had finally made a name for himself in front of the crown prince.
However, a wise person avoids dangerous places and dangerous walls. The best course of action for the Crown Prince is to leave as soon as possible!
"The Crown Prince".
Xie Yingchen raised his hand, interrupting him before he could finish speaking.
"Open the city gates."
What? !
Xie Rong brought a force of over 20,000 men, and even if more than half of them were from the Twenty-Six Guards, there wasn't enough time to turn them all against their cause before a battle broke out. No, I mean, to make them realize their mistakes and turn back from their wrongdoings.
Isn't that too risky?
"Grandson, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall."
Xie Yingchen smiled faintly: "Xie Rong is colluding with the Liang people. If the Liang people take advantage of the chaos to take him away, it will surely endanger the Great Qi Empire."
Colluding with Liang people?!
Everyone gasped in shock.
Gu Yican stood in front of him and whispered irritably, "Don't move around, don't be stubborn. If you make me get yelled at by my sister, I won't let you off the hook."
Xie Yingchen chuckled and agreed.
"Qin Su".
Xie Yingchen's voice was neither loud nor soft, but to Qin Su, it sounded like a muffled thunderclap, sending a shiver down his spine.
He slowly walked out of the crowd and knelt down on one knee.
"Your humble servant, your humble servant..."
He hesitated, his eyes darting around.
Gu Yican snorted coldly. He thought he had hidden well. On the surface, the Imperial Guards were deployed in the Temple of Heaven, but in reality... Gu Yican narrowed his phoenix eyes.
If he makes a mistake, the whole game will be lost. How could he be careless? There is no way he can hide anything from his eyes and ears.
He knew as soon as Qin Su arrived.
Xie Yingchen looked at him from afar and said, "Go open the door."
Qin Su did not hesitate.
The outcome is already decided; the winner must be the Crown Prince, otherwise, since A-Liao and A-Man are surnamed Gu, their lives will be in danger.
"This subordinate obeys the order."
Qin Su stood up and took out a carrier pigeon. The pigeon's wings were tied and it was hidden in his wide sleeve. There was a red cloth strip and a blue cloth strip on the pigeon's leg. He tore off the blue one and threw the pigeon away.
The carrier pigeon flapped its wings, took flight, and flew over the city gate.
"Admiral Zuo, there's a carrier pigeon."
Upon hearing this, Gong Hai squinted and looked over. A gray carrier pigeon flew overhead, with long red ribbons hanging from its claws and fluttering in the wind.
It means that everything is going well.
smoothly? !
Gong Hai looked at the spire of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the intermittent noise inside making him very uneasy.
Even though the sounds were muffled by the drumbeats, he could vaguely hear phrases like "the late emperor," "long live the emperor," and "sworn to serve to the death." If the emperor hadn't insisted, Gong Hai would have preferred to send someone to investigate more thoroughly.
"how's it going?"
The emperor also heard the sound of pigeons flapping their wings and asked nervously, "Is it red or blue?"
"red."
Heh heh heh. The emperor's chest trembled as he burst into wild laughter, the sound growing louder and faster, the war drums mingling with his laughter. For some reason, it sent chills down Gong Hai's spine.
"Open the door!"
"Why haven't you opened the city gates yet!"
The emperor asked impatiently.
As soon as he finished speaking, "click—" was the sound of the city gate opening.
Qin Su stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Cheng'en has captured Xie Yingchen. Please take charge of the situation."
The emperor was so excited that his muddled eyes stared intently ahead, only able to see a few blurry lights and shadows.
"quick!"
He was eager to go inside, but Gong Hai stopped him.
Through the open city gate, Gong Hai gazed at the scene inside.
Qin Su stood in front of the gate, where the commanders of the Jinwu Guard and the Fujun Guard each led more than a hundred men to guard the city gate, kneeling on one knee.
The entire square was filled with people kneeling, and some were even secretly gazing upon the holy countenance.
Just like the countless times before when they welcomed the emperor.
Qin Su shouted, "Welcome, Your Majesty!"
"Welcome, Your Majesty!"
"..."
It went too smoothly. This smoothness made Gong Hai somewhat uneasy.
He thought there would be at least a fierce battle, but there wasn't! Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
"emperor."
He wanted to say to wait a little longer.
The open door before him, like the gaping maw of a ferocious beast, made him very uneasy.
But the emperor was no longer willing to wait.
He had waited long enough. He had had enough of being held captive by Xie Yingchen and unable to move an inch!
“Left Admiral.” Ur was from Liang, and Duoleng had specifically arranged for him to accompany the emperor. He said impatiently, “You’ve been dawdling and being afraid of everything along the way. Isn’t that enough?”
"You're afraid whether the city gates are open or closed. Do men without roots even have the guts?"
Gong Hai's face darkened, but he barely managed to suppress his anger. He grabbed Qin Su and asked, "Are you sure there's no problem?"
"Yes," Qin Su replied, "This subordinate confirms!"
"Where is Xie Yingchen?" Gong Hai asked. "Where are the Third Prince and the Duke of Cheng'en?"
"I'm here!" Duke Cheng'en shouted, "I..."
With a drawn sword at his waist, the Duke of Cheng'en wanted to show his loyalty and fearlessness by urging the emperor to leave, but the words came out in a wronged tone: "I'll stay here and watch over Xie Yingchen to prevent him from playing any tricks. His Highness the Third Prince is still on the altar of Heaven."
"Your Majesty, Xie Yingchen is finished!"
Is that alright with you? Could you please hold the knife a little further away? He's scared.
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