Chapter 106: Central Star Incident
The Shadow's engine drew a light blue trail in the starry sky. As it was returning to the Red Shadow Base at full speed, the Central Star was shrouded in a sudden power storm.
Outside the Imperial Palace's medical cabin, the gilded corridor was crowded with solemn-looking ministers, attendants hurried back and forth, and there was an indelible tension in the air.
The old emperor lay on the suspended bed, his face as pale as paper, his breathing so weak that he could hardly see the rise and fall of his chest.
On the bedside life monitor, all indicators were hovering on the edge of the warning line.
Three days ago, a sudden illness caused the old emperor to suffer from heart and lung failure. Even the medical cabin was of no use. The monarch who had ruled the empire for thirty years collapsed completely.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Third Prince has arrived." The eunuch reported softly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Karen Thorne walked quickly into the medical cabin. His silver-white prince's uniform made his face look even more handsome, but there was a hint of anxiety in his eyes that was difficult to conceal.
He walked to the bedside, held the old emperor's hand with feigned concern, and said in a voice that was deliberately choked with sobs:
"Your Majesty, how are you feeling? The doctor said you're just tired and you'll be fine with some rest."
The old emperor opened his eyes with difficulty, and his cloudy gaze fell on Karen.
His fingers moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he could only make a few breathy sounds.
The minister standing aside hurried forward and whispered:
"Your Highness, His Majesty's current condition is not suitable for further discussion. His Majesty has already instructed you to temporarily manage state affairs and hand over authority to him after he recovers."
Karen Thorne's eyes flashed with ecstasy for a moment, but he immediately hid it and bowed deeply to the old emperor:
"My lord, I obey the order,"
As he left the room, he could no longer hide the smile on his face and walked quickly towards his mansion.
There, Lin Zhixiong had been waiting for a long time.
In the study, the warm yellow light illuminated Lin Zhixiong's face, which was full of calculation.
He sat upright on the rosewood chair, tapping the tabletop lightly with his fingers.
Seeing Karen Thorne coming in with a cheerful face, he immediately stood up and went forward to greet her, his tone of congratulations just right:
"Your Highness, congratulations on getting your wish. This is a godsend."
Karen Thorne waved her hand, then walked to the desk and sat down, stroking the table with her fingertips, her tone hesitant.
"The old man just asked me to take over temporarily. When he recovers, I will hand over the power back."
"Temporarily?" Lin Zhixiong sneered, took a step forward, and said in a low voice,
"Your Highness, are you really willing?"
Karen Thorne frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and then he looked at his father-in-law.
Lin Zhixiong looked at his reaction and lowered his eyelids to cover up the flash of ridicule:
"The doctor told me privately that His Majesty's physical functions have been severely weakened. Even if he survives this, he will no longer be able to govern the country."
"Regardless of whether His Majesty can recover or not, everyone in the government and the country is looking to you. If you are only temporarily in charge,
When His Majesty is truly no longer able to do so, those old ministers will surely choose another prince. By then, won’t everything you’ve worked so hard for become someone else’s wedding dress?
After hearing this, Karen Thorne's fingers clenched suddenly, and her knuckles turned white.
Of course he knew his situation. Among his brothers, the eldest prince, who was originally the crown prince, had been excluded from the line of succession for some reason.
Behind the Second Prince stood the two great armies of the Empire, and the Fourth Prince was deeply supported by the Central Star Family.
If he hadn't gotten involved with the Lin family, he would have had no chance of touching the core of power.
Lin Zhixiong's words just hit the deepest desire in his heart.
"But...but the emperor is still here. If I rashly seize power, will it give people something to criticize me?"
Karen Thorne still had some concerns. After all, the crime of plotting to usurp the throne was enough to bring him to eternal damnation.
Lin Zhixiong took out a document from his sleeve and placed it in front of Karen Thorne, with a sinister smile on his face:
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I have already made preparations for you.
This is the Empire's fiscal deficit report for the past six months, as well as secret reports on rebellions in border star regions.
As long as you order the legions behind the Second Prince to suppress the border rebellion under the pretext of stabilizing the empire,
They then took back control of the mines from the Fourth Prince's family on the pretext of filling the financial gap, and they had no time to care about the emperor.
When the time comes, you can promote a group of officials who are loyal to you and gradually undermine the power of the old ministers. After a hundred years of Your Majesty's reign, this empire will naturally be yours."
Karen Thorne looked at the densely packed data on the document, her heart beating faster and faster.
He knew that his father-in-law always had his own ideas, but he didn't expect that he would give him such a big gift just after he got the agency rights.
"But will the Second Prince's army obey? If I give an order, he may not follow it."
"Your Highness has forgotten?" Lin Zhixiong's eyes flashed with calculation.
"The reinforcements you sent to the Red Shadow Base in the Sphenoid Bone Galaxy were intercepted by Ye Heng. This is a great disrespect to the Empire!
As long as you give those two legions a death order under the pretext of suppressing the Red Shadow Rebellion and send them to the Sphenoid Bone System,
If he disobeyed, he would be disobeying the order; if he obeyed, both he and Ye Heng would suffer losses.
Whether Chi Ying is destroyed or the Second Prince is harmed, it will be a hundred times more beneficial to you than anything else."
Karen Thorne slammed the table and stood up suddenly:
"Okay! I'll do as you say! I'll announce the first decree tomorrow!"
Just as he finished speaking, someone knocked on the door and came in to tell him that the Third Prince's wife was feeling a little unwell.
Karen Thorne seemed to suddenly remember something, the anxiety on her face faded a little, and her tone softened:
"Father-in-law, it's getting late. I have to go see Ruhui. She's pregnant and hasn't been sleeping well lately. She must be worried when I'm not around."
When talking about his youngest daughter Lin Ruhuiwei, the calculation in Lin Zhixiong's eyes faded a little, and he showed a little more of the gentleness of a father.
He waved at Karen Thorne and slowed down his tone:
"Go ahead. Huihui is pregnant with our Lin family's grandson, so you should take better care of her.
Don't be too anxious to deal with government affairs. I'll keep an eye on everything for you. Once the situation is stabilized, there'll be plenty of time to plan for the follow-up."
"Thank you for your understanding, father-in-law." Karen bowed and showed genuine gratitude on her face.
If Lin Zhixiong had not married his youngest daughter to him and helped him to gain control of the family power, he would not have been able to get to where he is today.
With the support of his father-in-law, he felt more at ease.
Lin Zhixiong looked at him and reminded him, "Huihui loves crystal cake. If she doesn't like to eat, you can make this for her.
If anything happens, please let me know."
"I understand, father-in-law." Karen responded, turned around and walked out of the study quickly with light steps.
It was not until Karen's back disappeared at the end of the corridor that the gentleness on Lin Zhixiong's face completely faded away, replaced by bottomless ambition.
He slowly walked to the window, looked at the bright lights outside the palace, and gently stroked a jade pendant engraved with the word "Lin" in his sleeve.
Karen Thorne thought he was the one controlling the game, but he didn't know that he was just the most useful chess piece in his hand.
Her daughter's marriage is a bargaining chip, and Karen Thorne's desire for power is a springboard.
After his good son-in-law completely undermines the imperial power, he will secretly control the army and finances. By then, the entire empire will fall into the hands of the Lin family.
The next morning, the Empire's holographic news spread to every colonized planet.
The old emperor is seriously ill, and the third prince Karen Thorne is temporarily in charge of state affairs. From now on, all military and political affairs of the empire will be decided by Karen.
When the news reached the border star region, the second prince of the Xuanjia Corps, Vikthorne, was inspecting the star map in the command room.
After seeing the news, he suddenly threw the coffee cup in his hand to the ground, and then his facial expression went out of control:
"Karen is such a villain!"
The fourth prince Leo Thorn, who was also on the Central Star, was even more angry. He was clearly on the Central Star, but he didn't receive any information.
Karen is really great!
Far away in the starry sky on the Shadow, Lin Yao and Ye Heng were hurriedly checking and organizing the information brought back from the Lin family laboratory.
Lin Yao's terminal suddenly popped up a news push from Central Star. His face suddenly changed, and he immediately handed the terminal to Ye Heng:
"Ye Heng, look! Something happened on the Central Star, and the Third Prince is in charge of state affairs!"
Ye Heng took the terminal and looked at Karen's figure on the news, his brows instantly twisted into a knot.
He immediately called up the Central Star's intelligence channel. His expression quickly became serious, and his voice was filled with worry:
"We have to hurry back to Chiying Base. Once the Third Prince attacks us, Chiying will be in danger."
The Shadow's engines accelerated again, and its trail in the starry sky became longer.
The power shift on the Central Star was like a stone thrown into a lake, instantly causing ripples throughout the empire.
And the Red Shadow Base will face a greater crisis.
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