9: Chapter 9: Slaughter until no one dares to object!

A moment later.

Emperor Xuande slowly opened his eyes, but his gaze did not fall on anyone.

Instead, he gave an extremely slight nod to Eunuch Gui standing beside him.

Seeing Emperor Xuande's reaction, Eunuch Gui seemed to have received some instruction; he first took a small step forward.

Then, taking a deep breath, he solemnly drew a bright yellow silk scroll from his wide sleeves.

That was the highest specification of Imperial Decree in the Tianxuan Dynasty!

Holding the Imperial Decree high with both hands, he slowly unfurled it and began to read aloud with a trembling voice.

"By Grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have inherited and guarded this great undertaking for seventeen years, working diligently day and night, fearing I might not be up to the task."

"However, the Mandate of Heaven is inconstant, and the Divine Artifact must find its proper owner. My fifth son, Chen, possesses natural brilliance and extraordinary talent. His virtue matches Heaven and Earth, and his achievements cover the universe. He has the grand talent to stabilize the state and the great power to sweep across the eight directions."

"Now, after careful consideration for the sake of the empire and the welfare of the common people, I specially issue this decree to abdicate the throne to the Fifth Prince Wang Chen!"

"From this day forward, the Fifth Prince Wang Chen shall succeed to the throne and be crowned Emperor! I shall retire as the Retired Emperor to enjoy my remaining years. All officials should assist the new monarch with all their hearts to ensure the eternal prosperity of our Tianxuan Dynasty! Respect this!"

What the hell is this?

An Abdication Decree?

And it's for the Fifth Prince?

This earth-shattering news was like a bolt of lightning from the Nine Heavens, striking hard upon the heads of everyone in the Golden Throne Hall!

Everyone was stunned, their minds going completely blank!

Abdication?

And to that notorious playboy prince of the Imperial City?

How is this possible?

Furthermore, Your Majesty is in his prime; why the sudden abdication?

Most importantly, what kind of thing is that Fifth Prince?

What right or ability does he have?

And what was that about 'natural brilliance'?

'Extraordinary talent'?

'Achievements covering the universe'?

Is this really talking about the Fifth Prince they know?

What a load of bullshit!

Absurd!

This is simply too absurd!

However...

That bright yellow decree, the serious expression of the Seal-holding Eunuch, and... below the Imperial Steps, that Fifth Prince who stood with his hands behind his back, remaining calm and composed even under the horrified gazes of the officials.

And those two unfathomable attendants behind him, as well as... the abnormal reactions of the princes in front...

All of this.

Everything pointed toward an unacceptable yet unavoidable fact.

This decree is likely real!

The sky is truly falling!

"Your Majesty!!"

The first to jump out and object was a white-haired Old Censor.

He belonged to the Qingliu Faction, known for his bluntness and integrity, and was a firm supporter of the 'governing by benevolence and righteousness' philosophy.

He fell to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face as he cried out in grief and indignation.

"Your Majesty is in your prime and has been working hard to make the country prosperous; why these words of abdication? The Fifth Prince... the Fifth Prince... he is young and unruly, neglecting virtuous governance. How can he shoulder the heavy burden of the empire?"

"This decree... this decree surely cannot be Your Majesty's true intent! I implore Your Majesty to retract this order! The laws of our ancestors cannot be violated, and the Dao of benevolence and righteousness cannot be abandoned!"

"I concur!"

Another Civil Official stepped forward; he was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who also spoke excitedly.

"The heir should be chosen based on virtue and seniority! The Fifth Prince has neither merit nor virtue and has made zero contributions to court affairs. If he ascends the throne so abruptly, how will he convince the masses? This is not a blessing for the nation, but a path to disaster! I pray Your Majesty reconsider!"

"Your Majesty! This must not be! The Fifth Prince's character is flawed; how can he be a model for the world?"

"In all of history, an abdication has never been so hasty! We do not accept this!"

"Please clarify, Your Majesty, is this decree the result of coercion by treacherous people?!"

"I concur!"

"I concur!"

...

For a time.

Led by the Civil Official group, especially those who revered 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust' and emphasized legitimacy and order, officials stepped forward and knelt one after another, beginning to object vehemently.

Each of them spoke more eloquently than the next.

If one didn't know the inside story, they would truly think these were loyal ministers of the Qingliu Faction who were wholeheartedly dedicated to the country.

But the truth?

They were merely a group of hypocrites who were terrified of death.

It was precisely because Emperor Xuande trusted these fellows too much that the Imperial Dynasty had fallen into decline. In a dignified Xuanhuan world, thinking they could rely on 'governing by benevolence and righteousness'—isn't that just a load of bullshit?

The reason they objected was nothing more than wanting to protect their current status.

Because Emperor Xuande valued them, but no one could guarantee that a different emperor would still value them.

They didn't dare to take the risk, so they could only object with all their might...

Meanwhile, Wang Chen stood at the very front, his back to these agitated ministers, his face calm and rippleless as if he couldn't hear the clamor behind him at all.

Beside him, Ge Nie and Ji Gang also stood like two statues, focused and still.

On the throne, Emperor Xuande saw this scene, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

However.

When his gaze met Wang Chen's calm yet bottomless eyes, he ultimately chose to remain silent.

He stayed silent...

The wave of opposition below grew louder and louder, and some radical Civil Officials even began to strike their heads against the floor, weeping blood in their protest; the scene was once quite chaotic.

Right then.

Wang Chen finally moved; he slowly turned around to face the assembled ministers.

He didn't speak, but merely cast an indifferent gaze over those kneeling, emotional officials.

The Old Censor who had been the first to jump out happened to meet Wang Chen's gaze.

At this moment, he still didn't realize the danger and continued his impassioned speech.

"...If the Fifth Prince succeeds the throne, he will surely be a faint and tyrannical ruler, and the world will fall into chaos! I would rather die..."

"How noisy."

Wang Chen lightly uttered two words.

Without any visible movement from him, the Old Censor's impassioned voice came to an abrupt halt.

*Puff!*

A cloud of blood mist erupted without warning from the Old Censor's chest, and he immediately collapsed to the ground, his life force completely gone!

The Golden Throne Hall instantly fell into a deathly silence!

All the cries and protests were stuck in their throats.

"You... how dare you murder a high-ranking official of the court in the Golden Throne Hall?! You... you tyrant!!"

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was both shocked and furious; he pointed at Wang Chen, his finger trembling.

*Puff!*

Equally without warning, a cloud of blood mist exploded from the Vice Minister's chest, following in the Old Censor's footsteps as he died on the spot!

"Who else feels that this Prince is unworthy of this position?"

Wang Chen's voice remained flat, devoid of any joy or anger.

However, the domineering aura revealed in his words, which looked down upon all living beings, deeply shocked everyone present.

After a brief, deathly silence, an even greater backlash occurred!

A scholar's 'integrity' and their persistence regarding 'status' could sometimes overwhelm their fear of death.

"Tyrant! Such indiscriminate killing will surely invite heavenly retribution!"

"We scholars do not fear death! Today I shall use my blood to stain your atrocities!"

"Your Majesty! Look at this! This is the person you want to abdicate to! Slaughtering ministers—how is he any different from a beast?!"

...

Another seven or eight Civil Officials stood up in indignation.

They cited classics and spoke with pained hearts, trying to use the power of morality and words to overwhelm Wang Chen.

However.

They were overthinking it!

Responding to them were only series of soft, muffled thuds.

*Puff!*

*Puff!*

*Puff!*

...

Whenever someone stood up to accuse him, no matter what they said, the next moment, their chest would explode into a mist of blood, and they would die on the spot!

Clean.

Swift.

Without the slightest hesitation, and without any explanation or argument.

Wang Chen just stood there, watching with a calm gaze, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.

With every death, his gaze grew a fraction colder.

One.

Two.

Three...

Ten...

When the thirteenth minister who stood up to object also turned into a corpse on the floor.

In the entire Golden Throne Hall, not a single person dared to make even the slightest sound...