Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the gold and jade were resplendent, and the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious, with wine cups clinking and toasts being exchanged.
The melodious music of silk and bamboo instruments filled every corner of the palace, and the dancers, with their long sleeves and graceful figures, added endless splendor and joy to this grand banquet for the Emperor's Longevity.
The Emperor and Empress sat side by side on the throne. Emperor Xiao Che's face remained pale, and he coughed lightly every now and then, appearing weak and sickly from being drunk. Lin Wanwan mostly handled the social interactions on his behalf with a smile. The Empress was graceful and dignified today, displaying the demeanor of a queen mother in every gesture. The rumors of "marital discord" between her and His Majesty seemed to have vanished in the harmonious atmosphere of this grand banquet.
The officials frequently raised their cups, offering congratulatory wishes such as "May His Majesty live ten thousand years, and may His Majesty enjoy a thousand years of good fortune." The imperial family members chatted and laughed, while the envoys from all directions admired the magnificent grandeur of the Celestial Empire with expressions of amazement.
Everything was normal.
It was perfectly normal, just like a carefully choreographed play.
Regent Xiao Yuan sat at the head of all officials, a smile playing on his lips as he surveyed the scene of revelry and prosperity before him. In his eyes gleamed an almost greedy excitement. How wonderful! This golden age, this splendor, this supreme power… soon, it would all belong to him.
He glanced at his nephew on the throne, who looked as if he might collapse at any moment, and then at the woman beside him who was pretending to be calm. The smile on his lips grew even wider.
Enjoy it to the fullest, enjoy your last glory in this world.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
As the song and dance performance in the center of the hall reached its climax, Regent Xiao Yuan finally slowly stood up.
His gesture instantly drew everyone's attention. Everyone knew that the Regent was about to present a gift. As the highest-ranking prince of the dynasty, his gift was bound to be extraordinary.
Xiao Yuan bowed respectfully to the throne, a smile of utmost sincerity and respect on his face, and said loudly, "Your Majesty's long life is a great joy to me. To wish Your Majesty a long and prosperous life and a lasting dynasty, I have prepared a small gift to add a touch of joy to Your Majesty's birthday celebration!"
As he spoke, he clapped his hands.
Two guards from the Prince's residence carried an enormous brocade box covered in bright yellow brocade as they strode in from outside the hall. The box was about three feet long and two feet wide, and extremely heavy, causing sweat to bead on the foreheads of the two strong guards.
Everyone craned their necks, curiously guessing what kind of rare treasures were inside the brocade box.
Xiao Che sat calmly on the dragon throne, merely picking up his wine cup and taking a small sip, seemingly unconcerned. Beside him, Lin Wanwan gripped the cold dagger hidden in her sleeve.
She knew the real drama was about to begin.
Xiao Yuan personally walked to the center of the hall and gestured for his guards to put down the brocade box. He didn't open it immediately, but instead kept it a secret for a moment, then addressed Xiao Che again, speaking with great emotion:
"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have worked tirelessly day and night for the country, which I have witnessed and deeply regret. I have often pondered how to share Your Majesty's burdens and difficulties, and finally came up with this item. I believe that this item is the most suitable congratulatory gift for Your Majesty in the world!"
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and ripped off the yellow brocade covering the box!
In an instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the brocade box, causing everyone to instinctively squint!
As the light subsided, everyone looked closely and couldn't help but gasp in surprise!
"This...this is..."
Inside the enormous brocade box lay neither mountains of gold nor silver, nor rare jewels.
Inside was a small and exquisite piece made of pure gold—
Dragon throne!
Although the dragon throne was only the size of an ordinary chair, its shape and carving were exactly the same as the one the emperor sat on! Nine dragons coiled around it, lifelike, and the whole body shimmered with the unique light of gold, symbolizing supreme power!
The hall was deathly silent!
If everyone was merely curious before, at this moment, an extreme sense of horror and fear instantly gripped everyone's hearts!
A gift?
Who would offer a dragon throne as a gift?!
This isn't a birthday celebration, it's a rebellion! This is a blatant coup!
Everyone was stunned by the Regent's earth-shattering move. The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the melodious music continued to play inexplicably, sounding utterly ironic.
Xiao Yuan, on the other hand, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the horrified expressions on everyone's faces.
He slowly took the heavy golden dragon throne out of the brocade box. He held it high, as if displaying a peerless work of art, or as if announcing the arrival of a new era.
He turned to face the throne, the fake smile on his face vanishing completely, replaced by an undisguised expression full of ambition and pity.
He spoke in a loud voice, his words like heavy hammer blows striking everyone's hearts:
"Your Majesty, you are frail and often ill. You have worked hard for the country for many years, and your body is already beyond repair!"
"As the head of the imperial clan, I cannot bear to see Your Majesty grow increasingly haggard! I cannot bear to see our Great Liang Empire shaken by Your Majesty's declining health!"
He paused, then raised the golden dragon throne in his hands even higher, his voice suddenly rising, filled with unquestionable authority and "compassion":
"Therefore, Your Majesty, I am willing to bear this burden in your stead!"
"I am willing to sit in this chair on behalf of Your Majesty!"
"For my Great Liang, let us create a true and everlasting peace!"
Boom!!!
If bringing up the dragon throne was a thunderclap, then these words were a doomsday divine punishment capable of turning the world upside down!
The true intentions are revealed when the truth is finally revealed!
A brazen rebellion!
He wanted the emperor to personally "abdicate" to him in front of all the civil and military officials and envoys from all directions!
What a humiliation! What utter arrogance!
The illusion of peace and prosperity at the banquet was completely shattered at this moment, revealing its most ferocious and bloody fangs!
The old royalist ministers trembled with rage, pointing at Xiao Yuan, their lips quivering, but they couldn't utter a single word due to their extreme anger. Many other officials, however, were ashen-faced, so terrified they could hardly breathe.
On the throne, Xiao Che's pale face finally revealed an expression of shock and anger. He abruptly stood up, pointed at Xiao Yuan, and shouted in a trembling voice, "Uncle! What...what do you mean by this?!"
His performance was so realistic, as if he were truly a pitiful king betrayed by his most trusted elder and utterly powerless to fight back.
Seeing his blustering yet cowardly appearance, Xiao Yuan felt a surge of pleasure. He sneered and slowly placed the golden dragon throne on the ground, as if he had already trampled the entire empire under his feet.
"Your Majesty, I am doing this for your own good, for the good of the Xiao family's empire. You should rest now."
His words had barely faded when...
An astonishing scene unfolded.
Behind him, dozens of his core henchmen, who had been planted among the guests, all left their seats and walked to the center of the hall.
Then, they knelt down in unison before Xiao Yuan!
Their movements were so practiced, as if they had rehearsed them hundreds of times.
They shouted at Xiao Yuan with a thunderous roar:
"Your Majesty, please abdicate and yield the throne to a worthy successor!"
"We are willing to support the Regent as the new monarch!"
"Your Regent, please ascend the throne!"
The sounds converged into a torrent, stirring up the most rebellious and deadly echoes within the magnificent Hall of Supreme Harmony!
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