When they entered the palace, they saw that the entire interior was covered with a layer of snow-white cloth, and the ground was covered with a dense crowd of people kneeling.
The cries of these people rose and fell, weaving together into a mournful chorus of utter desolation.
Among them, the second prince, Hua Yu, who was at the very front, was the most heartbroken. His once handsome face was now submerged in tears, filled with endless sorrow and grief. His cries were as mournful as the cry of a cuckoo, deafening and earth-shattering, moving everyone who heard them.
However, amidst this somber atmosphere, a sudden sound of hurried footsteps could be heard.
It turned out that the eldest prince had rushed in. He ran frantically to the body of King Hua Qi of Great Hua, then collapsed to the ground, bursting into tears: "Father! How could you leave us like this? Your son is too late, too late! I couldn't even see you one last time. Your son is truly unfilial..."
He cried and screamed, pounding the ground with his fists, looking as if he was in unbearable pain.
Without hesitation, he slammed his head against the hard ground, again and again, the sound of the impact seeming to shatter the heartstrings of everyone present.
Before long, everyone saw that the eldest prince's once smooth forehead had become a bloody mess, with blood flowing down his cheeks and staining a large area of the land red.
However, faced with such a tragic scene, no one felt any pity. Instead, they all praised the eldest prince, saying that his filial piety was touching.
Standing aside and observing coldly, the Second Prince Hua Yu thought to himself, "Hmph! Boss, you're going a bit too far with this act! You're going all out! But I won't let you steal the spotlight all by yourself!"
Thinking of this, a cunning and ruthless glint flashed in Hua Yu's eyes. Then, he opened his throat and let out a cry that was even more shrill and mournful than that of the eldest prince. At the same time, as if he had gone mad, he repeatedly slammed his head against the ground with even greater speed and force.
A series of loud bangs rang out, and the second prince's forehead was instantly torn open, blood splattering everywhere. Even the solid ground beneath his feet couldn't withstand the impact, cracking open and sending debris flying everywhere. The scene was horrific, almost unbearable to watch.
At this tense and solemn moment, a sprightly old man with a slightly worried expression whispered to another old man with a similarly serious expression not far away, "Eunuch Wei, do you know if the King left any important decrees before his death?"
It should be noted that this old man was no ordinary person; he was Zhang, the chief minister and a veteran official of the Great Hua Dynasty who had served three emperors! He held a prestigious position, was highly respected, and was deeply loved by the people and revered by the court officials.
The old man standing opposite him, known as Eunuch Wei, was even more extraordinary.
This Eunuch Wei was the Grand Eunuch who served three generations of emperors in the inner palace for decades. His knowledge of palace secrets and his understanding of royal affairs were far beyond what ordinary people could match.
For this reason, both of them enjoyed the full trust of the emperor at the time.
However, before Eunuch Wei could respond to Chief Minister Zhang's question, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly approached.
Immediately afterwards, a group of princes dressed in magnificent attire filed in, quickly filling the entire palace hall.
The arrival of these princes made the already oppressive atmosphere even heavier.
It is worth mentioning that the princes' positions were very distinct.
Led by the eldest and second princes, each led their trusted supporters to kneel neatly on either side of the hall. They faced each other, their gazes seemingly sparking animosity.
At this moment, among all the princes, the youngest, Hua Yuan, knelt quietly alone in an inconspicuous corner.
He neither chose to join the eldest prince's side nor approach the second prince's camp. He knelt there quietly, as if everything happening around him was none of his concern.
In fact, to the eldest and second princes, Hua Yuan was indeed a harmless and dispensable figure.
In this fierce power struggle, Hua Yuan seems to be unable to attract their attention at all.
Perhaps that's why neither the eldest prince nor the second prince reacted in any particular way when they saw Hua Yuan kneeling alone in that secluded corner.
Just then, Eunuch Wei spoke slowly, his lips trembling, "As always, this old servant has meticulously prepared to serve Your Majesty in the morning."
"However, to my utter surprise, when I went to the palace full of joy to wake His Majesty, I found that His Majesty was already..."
Before he could finish speaking, Eunuch Wei could no longer suppress his grief, and his voice choked with sobs, making it almost impossible for him to continue.
After a brief pause, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and continued, "But there is a royal decree placed beside the king."
After saying this, Eunuch Wei carefully took out the royal decree and presented it to everyone.
At this moment, the Grand Secretary Zhang, who had been silent all along, stepped forward and solemnly said, "Since His Majesty has left an edict, and all the princes and concubines are here now, as the Grand Secretary of the court, it is only right and proper for me to read the royal decree on his behalf."
After speaking, Chief Minister Zhang solemnly reached out and took the royal decree handed to him by Eunuch Wei, then gently unfolded it.
In an instant, the vast palace, which had been filled with wailing and noise, fell completely silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Chief Minister Zhang.
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