It's another case of internal strife.

Everyone present understood that something was about to happen, and they all held their breath, waiting for the King's decision.

Whether he had grown senile or his vision had failed him, he did not clearly see who was in the hall.

Maha Thihathura actually announced his decision without summoning the nobles and ministers from outside the hall.

I know that my days are numbered and I can no longer bear the heavy burden of the nation. Therefore, I announce my abdication and pass the throne to my eldest son, Bayinnaung...

Maha Bandula could not bear to listen to the rest; his hands clenched tightly, as if suppressing the agitation within him.

At this moment, Bayinnaung's birth mother, the Noble Consort, had already excitedly thrown herself beside the bed.

Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will certainly take good care of my son and ensure that Toungoo emerges from this predicament to regain its former glory...

Everyone in the hall was staring at the bedside, completely failing to notice that the Queen and Maha Bandula had already retreated to the side.

my son, what are we to do now? If that bastard truly returns to inherit the throne, you and I will have no place to be buried.

Maha Bandula looked at the bed in the distance with cold eyes and squeezed a sentence out from between his teeth:

Rest assured, Mother. I will not let such a thing happen.

Although Maha Bandula was a pleasure-seeking playboy, he was by no means useless.

On the contrary, he had an infinite yearning for that position, and he had a group of capable people assisting him.

He and his subordinates had not been idle while staying in the royal capital; they had been constantly networking and winning over those neutral nobles and officials.

He even had his own people among the palace servants, eunuchs, and even the Imperial Guards around Maha Thihathura.

At this moment, it was not just Maha Bandula whose hopes were dashed, but also those who supported him.

Slowly, more and more people gathered around Maha Bandula.

Your Highness, what can we do?

Indeed, Your Highness. If Bayinnaung takes the throne, we will have no place to be buried.

Maha Bandula hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind.

Since that is the case, we must strike first...

As he spoke, Maha Bandula swung his hand down like a blade.

Everyone was shocked, and someone almost cried out, but fortunately, a companion covered their mouth.

An Imperial Guard commander leaned over to Maha Bandula.

Your Highness, this is patricide and regicide. If people find out... and what about the Noble Consort?

If you don't say it and I don't say it, who else will know? Outsiders will only know that the King died of illness—no, that he was angered to death by the traitor Bayinnaung!

Since the decision had been made, Maha Bandula no longer hesitated. He straightened his back, his tone becoming increasingly firm.

As for that bitch, just find a dry well in the cold palace and throw her in.

Seeing that some were still hesitating, Maha Bandula became ruthless.

Everyone, think clearly. The day Bayinnaung takes the throne will be my end, and by then, you will all be accomplices...

Everyone shuddered, immediately realizing they had no way out, and their eyes became resolute.

In front of the bed, the Noble Consort was still kneeling before Maha Thihathura, listening to his instructions, when she was suddenly gagged from behind.

The woman struggled frantically, but her feeble strength could not cause even a ripple.

Maha Thihathura barely lifted his eyelids to see his Queen and son standing by the bed, holding a pillow.

You... what are... what are you doing?

Maha Bandula's face was flushed, and he said in an excited tone:

Father, I didn't want this. I wanted to be a filial son, but you forced me to do this.

Que... Queen, have... have you forgotten the bond we shared as husband and wife?

I have not forgotten. It is you, Your Majesty, who forgot. You wanted to put our mother and son to death...

Father, you are senile. It is better to leave this country to me...

As he spoke, Maha Bandula lunged forward and pressed the pillow onto Maha Thihathura's face.

Even a dying old man, when faced with death, could unleash astonishing strength.

Moreover, Maha Thihathura was a monarch who had risen to power on horseback; the strength he unleashed was not something a playboy steeped in wine and sex could contend with.

Seeing that Maha Bandula could not hold him down, the Queen also lunged forward, helping to press down on the pillow.

Maha Thihathura struggled frantically like a dying hog, but his strength gradually diminished until, finally, he stopped moving.

Maha Bandula carefully lifted the pillow and saw his old man's expression, his eyes wide open in death.

He collapsed backward onto the floor, gasping for breath, his expression complex—both fearful and excited.

The Queen, however, having been the mother of the nation, had seen it all.

She immediately reacted, signaled for the unconscious Noble Consort to be carried away, and then threw herself onto Maha Thihathura's body, wailing loudly.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Why did you leave so suddenly? What am I to do now that you are gone?

Maha Bandula finally came to his senses, lunged to the bedside, and began to wail loudly.

Father! Father! Wake up! Your son does not want to be the King; I just want my father...

It was truly heartbreaking for those who heard it and tear-inducing for those who saw it; for a time, the entire hall was filled with weeping.

The nobles and ministers of Toungoo who rushed over upon hearing the news also began to wail after confirming the King's death.

Maha Thihathura had left no written will, so according to custom, the new King would naturally be elected by the nobles of the nation.

Most of the nobles and ministers in Toungoo had already been won over by Maha Bandula.

Furthermore, Bayinnaung's declaration of independence had infringed upon the interests of many, so even fewer people supported him.

Most importantly, Maha Bandula was born to the Queen and was the legitimate eldest son.

Everything went smoothly, and Maha Bandula ascended the throne he had dreamed of.

As for Maha Thihathura, he received the posthumous title of King Wu of Toungoo, which was not bad.

At the coronation ceremony, Maha Bandula promoted his meritorious ministers, rewarding them with fiefs and populations; it could be said that everyone in the court and the public was satisfied.

He then impatiently proclaimed to the world that Bayinnaung had betrayed the country, declared independence, and angered the late King to death, announcing him a traitor and calling on all subjects to suppress the rebellion.

After the coronation ceremony ended, Maha Bandula, emboldened by alcohol, swaggered with his men into a remote palace within the royal grounds.

Opening the palace doors, he saw the woman being guarded by several burly women inside.

The woman had long since fallen into despair; she stared at Maha Bandula with dull eyes and said through gritted teeth:

You traitor who killed your father and your King, you will not come to a good end.

Heh, I don't know if I will come to a good end, but you and that bastard son of yours certainly won't.

It is just death. I have long been prepared for it.

Death? I won't let you off so easily...

Maha Bandula crouched down and lifted the woman's chin.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. You know, you really are something. Even though you are over forty, you are still so beautiful and moving. No wonder that old fool liked you so much.

The woman seemed to understand something; her eyes widened, and she covered her chest with her hands, saying in terror:

You... you... what do you want to do? I am your...

What do I want? Naturally, I want to make your life worse than death!

Maha Bandula lunged forward with a sinister laugh, and the woman began to struggle frantically.

Still so fiery, I don't believe I can't tame you!

Maha Bandula was sweating profusely and, unable to subdue her for a moment, became angry and embarrassed.

Are you all dead? Don't you know to come and help me?

The burly women on the side hurriedly stepped forward, helping to grab the woman and pinning her limbs to the ground.

Maha Bandula revealed a sinister smile.

Hahaha! Don't you like to serve men with your beauty? Today, let me taste just how beautiful you are! Hahaha!

As he spoke, he pounced like a beast, beginning to vent his primal desires.

That night, in the cold palace of the Toungoo royal palace, a woman's screams continued for most of the night.