135: Force him to abdicate

"Prince, this is..."

Li Chen was utterly shaken by the scene before him.

He could tell that these strange, mysterious Black Shadows were all under Sheng Changge's command!

"Someone unworthy of the throne sitting on it will only lead Sheng Country to ruin."

Sheng Changge's eyes were slightly closed.

"Is Prince planning a rebellion?!"

Li Chen instantly understood the meaning of Sheng Changge's words.

"If forcing him off the throne counts as rebellion, then so be it."

Suddenly turning around, Sheng Changge thought of Hei Sha, who had been taken away by Third Prince Sheng Tianlong, and took a deep breath: "I want him to be the Emperor with the shortest reign in Sheng Country's history!"

"Prince, I will follow you!"

Qiushan City Lord, Qiu Qing did not hesitate at all.

Anyway, he was a lone wolf; if he died, he died!

Li Chen, who was standing nearby, hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Since Fifth Prince has such lofty ambitions, I, Li, shall lend Prince a hand."

Everyone who had delivered the imperial decree was dead.

Li Chen understood.

Even if he had no connection to Sheng Changge, he would definitely be executed along with his entire clan by Third Prince Sheng Tianlong!

Since that was the case, it was better to follow Sheng Changge; at least there was a chance of survival.

"Host, you still have one more brilliant plan. Would you like to open it?"

Ye Tian's voice was perfectly timed.

"Open it."

"Ding~ The brilliant plan has provided Host with some useful information. It is hoped that Host can devise a strategy on their own."

As he spoke, Ye Tian displayed a screen of light before Sheng Changge's eyes.

Character relationship chart.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's biological father was Li Yuanyuan.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong had a great general—Broken Sword.

Emotional relationship network.

Consort Shang, Lady Wu, Consort Yao, and over a dozen other women in the harem all had affairs with Third Prince Sheng Tianlong.

Thirty percent of the officials in the imperial court were deeply dissatisfied with the current Emperor.

...

The information provided by the brilliant plan refreshed Sheng Changge's understanding.

What was most shocking was that Third Prince Sheng Tianlong was not of Royal Family blood!

Li Yuanyuan's son? His and Noble Consort Yang's son?

Browsing through this information, one idea after another surfaced in Sheng Changge's mind.

It seemed that this so-called rebellion was unnecessary.

The System revealing Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's numerous misdeeds was far more useful to Sheng Changge than hundreds of thousands of soldiers!

"Li Chen, I have a task for you."

Hearing Sheng Changge's words, Li Chen straightened his posture: "Prince, please speak."

"Help me spread some news. It needs to be widespread and fast, even if it costs ten thousand taels of gold, it's not too much!"

...

Capital.

Compared to the Northern Region, the weather here was pleasant, and there was an air of peace and harmony.

In the vast Imperial Palace, a long queue had formed.

The entire queue was made up of beautiful young ladies from noble families.

In the Moon Gazing Pavilion.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong, wearing a dragon robe, saw the lively scene and nodded slightly.

Selecting a thousand women to fill the harem immediately after ascending the throne wasn't his requirement.

It was proposed by an official in the court.

Thinking of this, Sheng Changge felt like he should promote that official.

"Emperor, this is bad! This is bad!"

A Eunuch ran over anxiously, kneeling on both knees.

"What is it?"

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's brow furrowed.

"News has arrived saying that Fifth Prince is not dead! Not only is he not dead, but he also killed Eunuch Hai and the entire group who delivered the imperial decree!"

"How is that possible? Sheng Changge isn't dead?!"

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong stood up abruptly, feeling it was absurd.

He had personally seen Sheng Changge die yesterday! How could he not be dead?!

After this thought surfaced, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong suddenly recalled the chessboard he had looked at before going to sleep last night.

Thinking of the white piece with the characters 'Changge' written on it... he was suddenly shaken.

"Are you sure what you said is true? Is Sheng Changge really not dead??"

"Your Majesty, the news is absolutely true!"

"Someone!"

"Your Majesty."

The guard beside him knelt on one knee.

"Pass down my order: mobilize the garrison troops in every city. Within one day, bring me Sheng Changge's head!"

Ignoring all other factors, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong just wanted to see Sheng Changge truly dead.

"Yes."

Seeing the guard receive the order and leave.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong glanced at the women in the distance, his mood gone.

He returned to Yuanlong Hall with the palace maids and Eunuchs who served him.

In just one day.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong had basically sorted out the handover of things.

And the chessboard, which was most important to Third Prince Sheng Tianlong, was also here.

When the chessboard was uncovered.

Seeing the appearance of the chessboard, Sheng Changge's gaze suddenly narrowed.

The white pieces on the chessboard had turned into eight!

And the positions of these eight white pieces were actually on the eight absolutely crucial star points!

Enclosing from within, balancing from without.

In an instant, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong found that he couldn't understand the entire game!

Immediately returning to the hall, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong was already somewhat agitated: "Pass down my order: whoever brings Sheng Changge's head to see me will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"

"Your Majesty, this is bad!"

"What is it now?"

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's voice was filled with anger.

"Someone in the city is spreading false news, saying that you and Consort Shang have an affair!"

As the Eunuch said this, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong suddenly froze.

"Who is spreading the news?!"

"Too many people are discussing it, Old Servant... doesn't know either."

"Since the source cannot be found, then kill those who are spreading it!"

Regarding topics of this level, Third Prince Sheng Tianlong would not allow anyone to discuss them!

"But, there are so many people discussing it... If we really start killing..."

The Eunuch expressed difficulty.

"Do as I say! This is not up for discussion!"

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's tone was telling everyone that this matter had to be dealt with!

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The Eunuch, kneeling on the ground, was extremely frightened.

The action was implemented quickly.

Under Third Prince Sheng Tianlong's brutal methods, the topic of the Emperor having an affair with the previous Emperor's concubines quickly subsided.

All the officials sighed and shook their heads at this, feeling sad.

Being involved in such a scandal on the first day of ascending the throne, and suppressing the rumors in the most cruel way.

This caused the disappointment in the eyes of many officials to rise.

However, just as the topics about Third Prince Sheng Tianlong and the consorts subsided.

Another topic, perfectly timed, ignited everyone's hearts.

"Third Prince Sheng Tianlong is not a Child of the Royal Family; he is the Child of Li Yuanyuan and Noble Consort Yang!"

"No wonder he is so brutal! How could the Bloodline of our Sheng Country's Royal Family be like this!"

If there were a network in this era, this news would definitely explode and spread throughout the World!

Some husbands didn't even set up their pancake stalls, busy running home to share this major event.

Storytellers opened secret private rooms, making explosive revelations to the crowd secretly gossiping below.

The situation had completely spun out of control!

Sheng Changge, who had traveled for a day and was hidden in the Capital, saw this situation and underestimated the public's attention to these matters.

However, these things, in the mouths of the common people, were just passed by word of mouth and wouldn't have much effect.

Sheng Changge needed to add fuel to the fire now.

He arrived at the entrance of Prime Minister Yu's mansion.

With a flip, Sheng Changge slipped into the mansion.

Compared to before, he had now improved as if reborn.

In the study.

Prime Minister Yu held a book, sighing deeply.

Third Prince Sheng Tianlong had only been on the throne for one day, and he had already begun to strip away his power.

The days ahead would likely be even more difficult.

He didn't know if the news he had received earlier about Fifth Prince being alive was true or false.

If Fifth Prince was still alive...

Unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now.

"Prime Minister Yu, are you troubled?"

In the quiet study, the sudden appearance of A Man's voice made Prime Minister Yu's gaze shift abruptly.

"Fifth Prince?!"

Seeing the person who appeared, Prime Minister Yu even thought he was dreaming.

"It's really you!"

"It's me."

Sheng Changge smiled reassuringly.

At least the person before him did not seem to have submitted to Third Prince Sheng Tianlong.

"I came to ask you for a favor."

As he spoke, Sheng Changge took out the beautiful jade pendant.

This jade pendant was given by Prime Minister Yu back then, promising that as long as this token was presented, he would help with one matter.

"Fifth Prince, whatever it is, please say so!"

"I want you to unite with the other officials and force Third Prince Sheng Tianlong to abdicate tonight!"

"This..."

Prime Minister Yu's face showed difficulty upon hearing this sentence: "Prince, we officials, I'm afraid we cannot do that."

"What if he is not the Fake Late Emperor's Bloodline? Can someone with the blood of an outsider be called Emperor?"