To be precise, at this very moment, everyone's attention was completely focused on that mysterious royal decree.
Immediately afterwards, Chief Minister Zhang cleared his throat and loudly proclaimed in a clear and solemn voice: "By imperial decree, the throne of the Great Hua Kingdom is hereby passed to the eldest prince, Hua Long, and I am hereby appointed to assist him in governing the country. So be it!"
As the last word fell, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the voice of the Chief Minister Zhang still echoing in the air, its lingering sound never ceasing.
"Wait!"
Just then, the Second Prince Hua Yu, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly stood up and shouted loudly.
His sharp gaze shot straight into the court, instantly drawing everyone's attention to him.
"What? Does the Second Prince intend to openly defy the King's decree? Or perhaps, the Second Prince no longer wishes to be a subject of Great Hua?"
Upon seeing this, Chief Minister Zhang's face darkened, and he angrily rebuked him.
His voice was as loud as a bell, echoing throughout the court, carrying an unquestionable majesty.
However, the second prince showed no fear when questioned by the chief minister.
He straightened his posture and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Lord Zhang, your words are too serious. I, of course, would never dare to disobey my father's decree. But if this decree did not come from my father, then I will investigate it thoroughly and show no leniency!"
Upon hearing the Second Prince's words, Chief Minister Zhang was slightly taken aback, a look of doubt appearing on his face.
After a moment, he came to his senses and asked, "Oh... what do you mean by that, Second Prince?"
The second prince took a deep breath, looked around, and then slowly said, "As you all know, my father has always been in good health and has always been energetic in handling state affairs. However, just half a month ago, my father suddenly fell ill."
"This illness came on very strangely, not only rendering Father King bedridden but also immobile his hands and unable to speak. Now, even his daily meals and water require meticulous care from a dedicated person. How could Father King, in such a serious condition, possibly write such an important royal decree?"
The moment the second prince finished speaking, the court erupted in an uproar. Everyone was shocked by his words and began whispering amongst themselves. Clearly, this news was far too unexpected for them.
"I believe you all share the same doubts as me now, right?"
The second prince surveyed the crowd and slowly spoke again. His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry an invisible pressure, instantly silencing the entire hall.
At this moment, the second prince raised his voice slightly and continued, "The death of our father is a momentous event, especially since our father was the ruler of a country! Such a sudden departure is truly heartbreaking."
"In my opinion, my father's death was no ordinary event. There must be something fishy about it. I'm afraid someone harbored ill intentions and dared to commit such an unforgivable crime as patricide and usurpation of the throne!"
At this point, the second prince suddenly turned to look at Minister Zhang beside him, his tone serious and sharp: "Minister Zhang, I order you to thoroughly investigate this matter and not let any clue go unnoticed! You must bring the real culprit to justice to comfort my father's spirit in heaven!"
The second prince's words caused a huge stir, and the already tense atmosphere immediately became even more strained.
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