22: Yang Xiang's Rebellion (Please collect and read)

Chapter 22: Prime Minister Yang Rebels (Seeking bookmarks and follow-reads)

In the fourth year of zhengyong, on the second day of the second month, the Dragon Raises Its Head.

At the beginning of the New Year, Prime Minister Yang Xuangan submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting to hold a grand ceremony to worship the heavens!

"Ever since Our Emperor ascended the throne, the administration has been clean and clear, the seas and rivers calm, the weather favorable, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. The invasion by Wu Country was also repelled by Your Majesty, and there is even the merit of expanding our territory."

Above the court, Yang Xuangan said in a deep voice, "Our Emperor's virtue surpasses the Three Sovereigns and his achievements outshine the Five Emperors. He naturally ought to worship heaven and earth to rectify the orthodoxy of Our Great Yu's realm!"

"Your subjects second this!"

In the court, at least seventy percent of the officials knelt, pandering to Prime Minister Yang's memorial.

On the dragon chair, Emperor Zhengyong was so angered his liver hurt, and he instinctively looked toward the few people who were still standing.

But these few people merely stood there without anyone speaking.

"This matter... shall be discussed further!"

After the court was dismissed, inside the Prime Minister's residence, Yang Xuangan and several advisors were discussing.

"Prime Minister Yang, why must we have Your Majesty hold the grand ceremony to worship the heavens? Although Your Majesty is diligent in governance, he has not yet reached the level where he can hold such a ceremony..."

"What do you all know?"

Yang Kang said, "This move will allow us to secretly mobilize troops and armaments in preparation for future use, and it can also strike at his prestige and cause him to completely lose the hearts of the people."

With a 'swish', he opened his folding fan and said, "Throughout history, among emperors, those qualified to worship heaven are without exception founding monarchs or those who recreate the cosmos."

"Your Majesty... is still just a bit lacking."

"Prime Minister Yang is brilliant!"

"As expected of Prime Minister Yang!"

"Now Consort Shu has been pregnant for four months, and in half a year at most, she can give birth to a dragon son."

"Once Consort Shu gives birth to a dragon son, he will be the crown prince of our Great Yu!"

"Isn't there still the empress..."

"The empress? Heh, how can the empress compare to Prime Minister Yang's grandson?"

The subordinates chimed in one after another, and Prime Minister Yang was extremely proud.

"This move has yet another benefit; as long as Your Majesty nods and agrees, then..."

"Lord Prime Minister! Lord Prime Minister!"

Suddenly, a subordinate hurried in, ignoring the strange expressions of the several advisors in the hall, and rushed to Prime Minister Yang's side.

Prime Minister Yang frowned slightly, but he knew deeply that if his subordinate disturbed him under such circumstances, there must be an important matter.

He could only suppress his thoughts and asked suspiciously, "What important matter is there?"

"Lord Prime Minister... Consort Duan is pregnant."

"What?!"

Yang Xuangan abruptly stood up and said through gritted teeth, "Is this matter true or false?"

The subordinate said, "Lord Prime Minister, before the New Year, due to the Wu Country assassin incident, Your Majesty purged the inner palace and killed quite a few of our spies, but there are still a few hidden quite deeply."

"Early this morning, they expended a tremendous amount of effort to pass this news out... It is absolutely true, there's no mistaking it!"

"Father, what has happened?"

Yang Kang asked in confusion. Prime Minister Yang was a bit far from them, so he didn't hear very clearly.

Yang Xuangan signaled for the subordinate to withdraw and said, "Consort Duan is pregnant."

"Hmm?"

"What?"

"Consort Duan is pregnant?"

"Xu Mujun has an heir?"

The few people discussed animatedly, and someone immediately said, "Lord Prime Minister, Consort Duan being pregnant, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, is bad news for us!"

"Indeed."

Another advisor said, "In the current situation, Xu Mujun is trapped in Datong Prefecture, unable to return to the capital, and is sitting back watching us fight."

"But if Consort Duan is pregnant, there is a very high possibility that Xu Mujun will return to the capital."

"Xu Mujun is a soldier; would he still dare to abandon hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, leaving them behind in Datong Prefecture?"

"Brother Chen is wrong. If Xu Mujun wants to come back, no one can stop him..."

"Now the arrow is already on the bowstring and must be fired, Lord Prime Minister..."

"Alright, stop arguing!"

Yang Xuangan spoke up, "The top priority is to call upon all officials to submit memorials forcing Your Majesty to worship heaven!"

"Chen Yongzhi."

"Lord Prime Minister, this subordinate is here."

"You go take charge of Guang'er's Imperial Guards and have them return to the capital at the fastest speed."

"Yes!"

"Wang Guang."

"Lord Prime Minister, this subordinate is here!"

"Go contact the major martial arts schools in the capital, have them contribute personnel and effort, and listen to my commands."

"Yes, Lord Prime Minister!"

"Kang'er."

"Father."

"Tell the Heavens Mandate Sect that if they want to rule over Great Yu, they must send one... no, two Grandmaster experts! Otherwise, don't bother coming to find this old man."

"Yes, Father!"

"Zhai Fang!"

"Prime Minister Yang."

A man who clearly did not look like a Central Plains person, with a short stature and a somewhat darkened complexion, stood up.

"Your Gu... are you certain they are effective?"

"Heh heh heh..."

Zhai Fang sneered, "My Gu are naturally effective. As long as your people put them inside the food Emperor Zhengyong eats, the Gu will gradually devour his energy. In three months at most, he will die a sudden death, and no one will be able to trace the cause of his death!"

"If it were up to me, we should directly give him the most fierce Gu, and I guarantee he will drop dead within a quarter of an hour!"

"No!"

Prime Minister Yang frowned and said, "In a short period of time, Emperor Zhengyong cannot die. This prime minister is still waiting for him to abdicate, hahahaha..."

Under Yang Xuangan's arrangements, the advisors present successively took their leave and departed.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace, Emperor Zhengyong was incomparably excited.

"Imperial Physician Liang, is what you said true? Is Consort Duan pregnant?"

The old imperial physician knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true!"

"Consort Duan is already one month pregnant, and this old man guarantees it with his life!"

"Good, good... cough, cough cough..."

Emperor Zhengyong suddenly started coughing, instinctively covering his chest, almost unable to catch his breath.

Imperial Physician Liang hurriedly stepped forward to support Emperor Zhengyong, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

"I am fine!"

"Eh..."

Imperial Physician Liang happened to press down on Emperor Zhengyong's wrist and said in confusion, "Your Majesty, your pulse is very strange. This..."

"What is going on?"

Emperor Zhengyong frowned and asked, allowing Imperial Physician Liang to continue taking his pulse.

After a few breaths, Imperial Physician Liang knelt and said, "Your Majesty, have you felt drained of energy, extremely sleepy, as well as dizzy, experiencing heart palpitations and bodily chills for a period of time recently?"

"How did you know?"

"Your Majesty, you have truly been overworking yourself these past days; I hope you will rest more."

"I know. Write me a prescription to refresh the mind and withdraw."

"This... Yes, Your Majesty!"

Imperial Physician Liang withdrew, and Emperor Zhengyong let out a long sigh of relief.

"Consort Duan is pregnant; this is truly wonderful!"

"Yang Xuangan... Let's see what other tricks you have left, hahahaha...!"

zhengyong Year 4, the third day of the second month.

Thirteen officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue submitted a memorial stating that Our Emperor's virtue surpasses the Three Sovereigns and his achievements outshine the Five Emperors, and he naturally ought to worship heaven.

Emperor Zhengyong did not consent.

zhengyong Year 4, the eighth day of the second month.

Thirty-two officials from Dali Temple submitted a memorial for Our Emperor to worship heaven.

Emperor Zhengyong did not consent.

zhengyong Year 4, the fifteenth day of the second month.

Seventy-six professors from the Imperial Academy jointly submitted a memorial for Our Emperor to worship heaven.

Emperor Zhengyong did not consent.

At the same time, over two hundred students from the Imperial Academy gathered to oppose Emperor Zhengyong worshipping heaven, and were dispersed by the Imperial Guards.

zhengyong Year 4, the twenty-eighth day of the second month.

All officials submitted a memorial for Our Emperor to worship heaven.

An old scholar smashed his head against a pillar and died, and that night a heavy snow fell from the sky, covering everything in silver attire.

zhengyong Year 4, the second day of the third month.

Emperor Zhengyong issued an imperial decree to worship heaven!

That night, some Imperial Guards secretly opened the city gates, and countless soldiers swarmed in.

There were also Martial Forest figures who swooped out from the shadows, taking the lead to slaughter the guarding Imperial Guards.

Prime Minister Yang shouted loudly, "Your Majesty is muddle-headed and has been hoodwinked by villains!"

"I received the previous emperor's injunction to assist Our Emperor."

"Now there is Wang Zhongyi and a bunch of eunuch factions bewitching Your Majesty, presumptuously discussing the worship of heaven, which is truly a grave disrespect."

"Clear the ruler's side and execute the eunuch faction!"

"Clear the ruler's side and execute the eunuch faction!"

"Clear the ruler's side and execute the eunuch faction!"

Amidst the continuous loud shouts, countless Imperial Guards poured in from the Meridian Gate, charging toward Jiaotai Hall!