583: The King of Chu's last words: The King of Yan rebelled

Great Chu, Imperial Capital.

The atmosphere was eerie. Since the Chu Emperor issued an edict to abdicate three days ago, the entire Imperial Capital, while seemingly normal on the surface, was rife with undercurrents.

Prince Yans Mansion.

Deep within the mansion, more than a dozen generals stood, all with solemn expressions.

"Your Highness, everything is ready. Sixty percent of the Imperial Palace's Forbidden Army are our people, and the seven major camps outside are ready to assist."

"I have consulted a master from Heavenly Destiny Observation, and the Chu Emperor will surely die at midnight tonight, without any variables," Liu Rushuang said softly from the side.

"Very good!"

Prince Yan nodded, his gaze fixed on the Imperial Palace, where a nearly transparent Luck Golden Dragon resided. He said coldly, "This Supreme position can only be held by me. Only I can make the Great Chu Dynasty regain its former glory. Prince Jin is indecisive, Prince Qi is wavering, and the useless Crown Prince is mad. How can they ascend to the great throne?"

"Only I can control this world."

What Jixia Academy, Demon Suppression Division, all must submit to his feet.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

More than a dozen generals bowed in unison. They were already tied to Prince Yan; they would prosper or suffer together. Once the Dynasty changed, they would be the New Emperor's staunch meritorious officials.

Their status would skyrocket.

"Before midnight tonight, seize power."

The throne was completely out of his reach, so he could only strike first.

"Yes!"

Subsequently, Prince Yan walked towards the Golden Luan Hall in the Imperial Palace. The Chu Emperor's time was up, and all the princes and cabinet members in the entire Imperial Capital had to wait outside the Golden Luan Hall.

Inside the Golden Luan Hall.

Li Fangzhong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, held a bowl of medicinal soup and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine!"

"This is the King of Medicine's Life-Extending Broth, prepared for you by Xuanhuang Alchemist. It can help you hold on a little longer."

The Chu Emperor, sitting on the Dragon Throne, waved his hand slightly, indicating refusal.

"Let Prince Jin enter the hall!"

"Yes!"

Li Fangzhong could only put down the medicine bowl and leave the Golden Luan Hall.

Outside the Golden Luan Hall, many people had already gathered.

Prince Jin, Prince Yan, Prince Qi, and more than a dozen other princes, big and small. The Crown Prince was absent. Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet Yan Zheng, Vice Grand Secretary Han Fei, Former Right Chancellor, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and the chief officers of key government offices were also present.

Seeing Li Fangzhong come out, everyone eagerly inquired about the Chu Emperor's condition.

"Eunuch Li, how is my Imperial Father? I have searched the world for the past two days and finally found a sixth-grade blood spirit stone, which can extend Imperial Father's life. Please hand it over on my behalf."

Prince Yan was the first to speak.

"I also have…"

…

The princes spoke one after another.

Han Fei, Former Right Chancellor sighed inwardly. These sons of His Majesty were truly performing artists, clearly wishing for him to die sooner.

Even if there truly was some miraculous life-extending medicine, it was impossible for them to produce it.

Given the Chu Emperor's condition, let alone a sixth-grade blood spirit stone, even a seventh-grade blood spirit stone would have very little effect on him.

It showed filial piety without actually allowing the Chu Emperor to truly recover.

"All Your Highnesses are very filial, but His Majesty now refuses to take any life-extending treasures."

"I am here to convey His Majesty's verbal decree, summoning Prince Jin to enter the hall!"

Li Fangzhong said.

"Your son, obeys the decree!"

Prince Jin nodded.

Immediately, he followed Li Fangzhong into the Golden Luan Hall.

The scene fell into a dead silence.

The Chu Emperor's death was certain today.

The first person summoned definitely carried an unusual meaning.

Most likely, the throne would be passed to him.

This explained Prince Jin's recent abnormal behavior. The throne was his, so how could he not perform well?

Indeed.

Prince Jin stayed for a full half an hour before leaving the Golden Luan Hall.

"Bastard!"

"Damn old man, it's a good thing this Prince prepared in advance. The throne can only be mine."

Prince Yan was hysterical inside. This old geezer actually planned to pass the throne to Prince Jin, that indecisive wretch.

The next moment, Li Fangzhong's voice rang out again.

"Summon Prince Qi to enter the hall!"

However, Prince Qi stayed for less than a quarter of an hour before leaving.

"Summon, Thirteenth Prince!"

"Summon, Ninth Prince!"

"Summon, Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, Yan Zheng!"

"Summon, Vice Grand Secretary, Han Fei, Former Right Chancellor!"

"Summon, Minister of War, Sun Wu, Minister of War!"

…

As Li Fangzhong's sharp voice rang out continuously, princes and important officials were summoned one by one.

Only Prince Yan was ignored.

At this moment, Prince Yan's face grew increasingly ugly, and his hatred for the Chu Emperor reached its peak. As one of the Three Kings, he had not been summoned for a long time.

After Prince Jin and Prince Qi, it should have been him. But even some transparent princes were ahead of him.

All the Ministers of the Six Ministries were summoned, and it still wasn't his turn.

This was naked humiliation.

A dignified Prince, not even as good as a third-rank official. Damn it.

When the last official was summoned, it was almost midnight.

Li Fangzhong's voice rang out again.

"Summon, Prince Yan to enter the hall!"

Ah—

Damn it.

This old geezer actually arranged for him to be the last one. He suppressed his anger to the extreme, lest he explode.

"Your son, obeys the decree!"

Prince Yan bowed.

Inside the Golden Luan Hall, the Chu Emperor's aura was extremely weak, his face devoid of color. He looked at Prince Yan calmly, showing no emotion.

"Your son, greets Imperial Father!"

Prince Yan's face was expressionless, with a hint of perfunctoriness.

Anyway, his supporters were already seizing power, so it didn't matter. The Chu Emperor wouldn't live for another half an incense stick's time. It didn't matter who the throne was passed to; it would ultimately be his.

"Yuxiang, do you resent me!"

The Chu Emperor said.

Yuxiang was Prince Yan's real name, Xiang Yuxiang.

Prince Yan said, "Thunder and rain are all divine grace. Your son has no resentment. What does Imperial Father mean by this?"

The Chu Emperor's ancient well remained undisturbed. He coughed lightly and said, "If I ask you to assist Prince Jin in ascending the throne, would you be willing?"

What?

Prince Yan's eyes grew even more somber. This old geezer really intended to pass the throne to Prince Jin.

And he even wanted him to assist Prince Jin. He was dreaming a spring and autumn dream.

"Your son…"

"Willing!"

Prince Yan suppressed his anger. Once you die, this Prince never said he agreed to this. Assisting Prince Jin was utter nonsense.

The Chu Emperor's breathing was intermittent, and his tone suddenly became sharp. He said, "Not bad, you already have the qualifications to be an Emperor."

"Impatience in small matters confounds great plans!"

"As an Emperor, there are too many places where one needs to compromise. Many things do not go as you wish."

"Listen, among my sons, although Prince Jin widely gathers talented individuals, he is indecisive on major issues and lacks the aura of an Emperor."

Prince Yan was stunned. What did this old man mean? Was he not passing the throne to Prince Jin? He was still belittling him here.

"As for Prince Qi, he has a reputation for being virtuous, seemingly not vying for anything, but in reality, who knows how many people in the entire Imperial Capital are his pawns, and he has the support of the entire Jixia Academy behind him."

"Becoming Emperor would only upset the balance."

The Chu Emperor gasped for a moment, his voice turning sorrowful. He said, "Other princes, some are good at warfare, some are good at governing a region, but none are well-rounded…"

He stroked the Dragon Throne, then suddenly let go. "This Dragon Throne, after all, needs someone who is not afraid of offending people to sit on it firmly."

"Imperial Father…"

Prince Yan's eyes were somewhat complex.

"These years, I deliberately neglected you because I didn't want you to become a target, to be noticed prematurely, and to be easily framed."

"I have already spoken to your brothers. They will no longer participate in the struggle for the throne. I also hope that you can treat your brothers kindly, and not… cough cough… harm them."

The Chu Emperor looked directly into Prince Yan's eyes, his breath as thin as a wisp of smoke, as if he could perish at any moment.

"Imperial Father, then why did you still appoint a Supervisor!"

Prince Yan felt his mind could barely keep up with the pace. The Chu Emperor had, from beginning to end, intended to pass the throne to him.

And he himself had tried to kill him multiple times.

But, since he was passing the throne to him, why would he create an obstacle for himself?

"The Great Chu Dynasty, entrusted to your hands, I can rest in peace and do what you want to do without any worries."

The Chu Emperor did not respond, his voice growing weaker. In just a few breaths, his entire body became completely still.

Outside the Golden Luan Hall, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

"Ang—"

The Luck Golden Dragon let out a wail.

And dissipated.

Everyone was about to enter the Golden Luan Hall.

An Old Eunuch, flustered, ran to the entrance of the main hall and said tremblingly:

"Prince Yan, Your Highness, has rebelled! The Imperial Palace has been taken over by his people…"