One was the Imperial Seal, the other was the late emperor’s personal seal!
Speaking of this personal seal, court ministers had seen it more or less – the late emperor liked using his personal seal when issuing secret missions.
Everyone remembered that when the late emperor died in the deep of night, Yan Da and Xiao An held the late emperor’s edict announcing Lian Yu’s succession.
That succession edict bore the late emperor’s handwriting and was stamped with the Imperial Seal, but had no personal seal.
Logically, not using the personal seal on the succession edict wasn’t improper, but an edict with an additional personal seal seemed to have extra authentication?!
Wang Lun’s eyes blazed as he continued loudly, “This slave remembers that day the late emperor was still well during the day. Since he wasn’t gravely ill, naturally he hadn’t summoned ministers to discuss succession matters. However, by evening his symptoms suddenly worsened, and he couldn’t rise from bed. The late emperor’s bodyguards and attendants were quietly transferred away. The late emperor, being who he was, still sensed something. He ordered me to tell Consort Ai not to come visit yet, lest she encounter danger and alert our enemies. He quietly wrote this secret edict, commanding me to leave the palace to find Prime Minister Quan to immediately enter the palace for an audience, to assist Seventh Prince’s ascension. Who would have thought, before I could leave, I heard the Empress and Crown Prince approaching.”
“The late emperor had once been attacked during an imperial tour. Though the palace had strict security, he still had a secret passage built in his sleeping quarters. Only he and I knew of this passage. At the time, I wanted to hide the late emperor inside, but unexpectedly he ordered me to hide instead… saying if they discovered his sudden disappearance, they would surely realize there was a secret passage in the chamber. Though the location was hidden, it couldn’t withstand careful searching, and before getting far, I would be captured. Hidden in the secret passage, I witnessed with my own eyes the Crown Prince and Empress forcing the late emperor to write a succession edict making the Crown Prince emperor. When the late emperor refused, the Crown Prince actually smothered him to death with bedding.”
Everyone looked at each other, momentarily speechless. Zhu Qiguang stumbled down from the ceremonial platform, standing there at a loss.
“That tragic scene I can still see clearly today. At the time I only wanted to rush out and fight them desperately, but bearing the late emperor’s edict mission, I dared not act rashly… Afterward, I secretly left the passage and went to the imperial garden. I hid the secret edict well and petitioned to leave the palace under the pretext of retiring. Though Consort Ai was in the palace then, as the late emperor’s personal attendant, my every move was monitored by them. Though I wanted to inform her, I never dared, fearing to implicate Your Ladyship. Fortunately, to avoid public suspicion, the Crown Prince and Empress didn’t harm Your Ladyship, Seventh Prince, or me within the palace. When I left the palace, I immediately went to find Prime Minister Quan. Unexpectedly, I encountered their assassins’ ambush on the road. I was someone the late emperor had seen before his death – they feared he had given me some instructions. My escorts were all killed. Luckily I had the foresight to hide the secret edict in the palace, thus preserving the late emperor’s true final wish. Heaven had eyes – when the attackers were about to finish me off, Prime Minister Quan with divine foresight sent people who arrived in time to rescue me, then fabricated news of my death from severe injuries. Later, finding an opportunity, he secretly brought me back to the palace to retrieve the secret edict, taking advantage of the late emperor’s grand ceremony to reveal this heinous crime before all the ministers.”
Wang Lun suddenly knelt down, tears streaming, “All ministers must uphold justice, avenge the late emperor, and support the true heir, Seventh Prince, in returning to the throne!”
Deathly silence all around.
Lian Xin, who had been standing among the women, was completely stunned. Lian Qin and Lian Jie’s faces were deathly pale, the latter’s eyes showing confusion, grief, anger, and finally overwhelming hatred directed at Lian Yu.
“You deceived me! All the brotherly affection was false! Whether I’m emperor or not doesn’t matter to me, but why did you commit regicide and patricide? Why did you use fraternal feelings to deceive and use me, when I always considered you my good elder brother!”
Beside his ear was Lian Jie’s voice full of hatred and furious accusations, but flashing quickly through Lian Yu’s mind were completely different fragments.
Like smoke and mist.
…
Outside the imperial hall, guards were heavily stationed. A cup of tea’s time ago, the Empress had been summoned inside.
Hidden behind trees outside the imperial hall with his four attendants, the Crown Prince watched ahead intently. Also a cup of tea’s time ago, the Emperor had sent an imperial edict commanding ten personal guards to escort him to the imperial study, saying he had arranged for Yan Da and the Six Ministry ministers to discuss succession matters with him. He had early commanded Qing Long and Xuan Wu to secretly guard outside the imperial hall. On the way to the imperial study, Qing Long and Xuan Wu reported that Wang Lun had been sent from the palace.
This must be to summon Quan Feitong!
He immediately struck, leading two trusted subordinates to kill all the personal guards, then changed course to the imperial hall.
“Someone come! This Empress consort attempts to assassinate me!”
The Crown Prince had remained as still as sunken water until a sinister laugh came from the hall, then he leaped out. His sword rose and fell, and an Imperial Guard’s head immediately rolled beside his boots.
“Annihilate them all. Even at the cost of your lives, don’t let them call for help. Don’t let a single person leave here.”
Before pushing open the door to enter the imperial hall, the Crown Prince’s voice was like ice and snow.
“Yes!”
The four attendants received orders. Xuan Wu flew to the courtyard gate, sword crossed to block the way. The remaining three fought with dozens of Imperial Guards in the courtyard.
Everyone knew this was a battle requiring swift resolution – not a whisper could leak out.
So none defended, only focused on killing enemies.
Blades flashed and blood flew. For every few Imperial Guards that fell, the four men gained another sword wound.
Inside the room, the Crown Prince’s gaze swept around. The Emperor stood before the bed, hands gripping the Empress’s throat. This was a man nearly fifty years old, face somewhat waxy yellow, thick brows and eagle eyes, mustache on his lips, looking very fierce – not like an emperor but like a military general. But the deep, cunning light flickering in the man’s eyes revealed his extraordinary status.
This sovereign practiced martial arts with considerable skill. Even ill in bed, his strength far exceeded the Empress’s. The Empress’s feet dangled in air, her face red and purple, eyes filled with tears and hatred, tongue slightly protruding.
The Crown Prince’s gaze was cold as winter wind, without a trace of warmth.
He strode forward, striking the Emperor’s chest with his palm. Caught off guard, the Emperor’s eyes flashed quickly with disgust and fury before falling onto the couch, blood foam seeping from the corner of his mouth.
The Crown Prince supported the Empress. Her eyes now showed none of her usual dignity, only a cavity of blood-red and a touch of gray defeat. That despair aged her ten years instantly.
“After years as husband and wife, my Murong family helped you ascend the throne, I’ve been your first wife for many years, yet you want to kill me?” The woman’s injured throat squeezed out a hoarse voice, filled with endless sobbing.
The Emperor slowly sat up from the couch, smile lines appearing at his eyes as he called the Empress by her childhood name, “A Yuan, how could I want to take your life? I was confused by illness and thought you were an assassin. Come, don’t be afraid, come keep me company and talk. Yu’er, why are you here?”
He spoke with a light sigh, his peripheral vision showing some surprise as it fell on the Crown Prince, as if only now noticing his arrival.
The Crown Prince’s lips curved in a thin smile full of mockery. This expression had never been shown before the Emperor in the past. But now, he seemed to see through everything and no longer care.
The Crown Prince didn’t speak, but the Empress said coldly, word by word, “Your Majesty, it’s time for you to write your final edict. The Crown Prince is here too.”
The Emperor paused slightly, then smiled, “A Yuan, I was just thinking the same thing. Otherwise why would I have the Crown Prince go to the imperial study to meet the high ministers?”
“Yu’er, hurry over. They’re all waiting. They’re all Great Zhou’s veteran ministers. Though your status is noble, it’s not good to keep them waiting long.”
“Father Emperor, if you truly intend to pass the throne to your son, just summon your son and the ministers here for discussion. Why must your son make a trip to the imperial study? The one with power to transfer the throne isn’t your son, much less them – what’s there to discuss? What awaits your son in the imperial study is probably a squad of elite soldiers, right? If your son were a few years younger, he would have gone. But your son has grown up. These years dealing with ministers and handling local affairs, he’s seen too much of worldly affairs.” The Crown Prince spoke flatly, pointing at his own forehead. “What you think of, what one in power thinks of, is naturally well-considered. But your son isn’t stupid.”
The Emperor’s gaze darkened slightly, but he didn’t scold. Unlike his usual court ferocity, he still smiled, “The Crown Prince overthinks. I’m tired and don’t wish to be disturbed by them, but since you have this suggestion, fine – let them come here.”
Before the Crown Prince could answer, the Empress suddenly drew the Crown Prince’s sword from his waist, pressing it to the Emperor’s neck, “Your Majesty, this consort doesn’t want to waste more words with you. This succession edict – you’ll write it today whether you want to or not! Otherwise, this consort nearly died just now, her heart and soul trembling. If her hand accidentally shakes and wounds you, that wouldn’t be good.”
The Emperor’s eyes finally lost all false smile, his gaze instantly turning completely sinister, “You want to commit regicide? Someone come!”
The Crown Prince laughed, “Father Emperor, why continue this pretense? Just now you maneuvered with us two, surely knowing in your heart that if your son could enter, he must have already controlled your door guards.”
“Lian Yu, don’t dream foolishly. I will never pass the throne to you. If you’re sensible, immediately admit your error now, and I can still spare your life and not deprive you of future glory and wealth.” The Emperor said coldly.
“Father Emperor, do you truly believe passing the throne to Seventh Brother is the best choice? You had Wang Lun leave the palace to find Quan Feitong for face-to-face instruction, making him chief minister to assist Seventh Brother’s ascension, right? You didn’t call Consort Ai to your side because though you love her, you hesitated – if one day the ambitious Qiu Jing’s external relatives monopolize power and usurp your Lian family’s empire, what then?”
“You would tell Quan Feitong to eliminate Qiu Jing at the appropriate time.” At this moment, the Crown Prince’s eyes were deep as a pool. “But have you considered that Quan Feitong would be the next Qiu Jing? You have shown him great kindness, and your son believes he will repay you. But power is the sweetest wine in this world. Once tasted, few can resist its temptation. Quan Feitong’s gratitude will slowly change in nature. Sooner or later he’ll replace Seventh Brother.”
The Emperor’s originally disgusted gaze showed some change, rarely revealing a trace of appreciation, “You have indeed grown up.”
“Yes, I don’t trust Qiu Jing, but I showed great kindness to Quan Feitong. He won’t betray me. That’s all just your speculation. If I don’t pass the throne to your Seventh Brother, should I pass it to you? You’re just a child born to a lowly concubine. Your blood flows with the filthiest, most base things, like pig swill and yellow mud. Empress, her Murong family contributed to my ascension, but I just don’t like her self-important, gloomy, rigid manner. I did want to kill her just now to prevent future trouble. Quan Feitong will arrive soon. Well, you’ve both followed me for many years after all. As long as you two behave yourselves, I can spare—”
Before he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly bulged out, looking at the Empress in disbelief, “You… you…”
The other end of the sword in the Empress’s hand was buried in his heart.
“Your Majesty, you’re lying to us. When Quan Feitong arrives, you absolutely won’t spare us mother and son, and that bitch Ai won’t spare us either. Since you refuse to pass the throne no matter what, this consort can only refuse to spare you first.” The Empress smiled tragically, tears flowing down both cheeks as she spoke slowly.
The Emperor was also fierce, actually grasping the blade with both hands, trying to pull out the sword. His lips moved as if trying to call for help in his death throes. The Empress panicked and was about to press the sword down hard when the Crown Prince’s hand swept out. The Emperor’s neck tilted, blood beads seeping from his neck like a thread.
He could no longer move, falling on the pillow with only half a breath left.
The Crown Prince’s pale, slender fingers gripped a small dagger. Unlike the Empress’s trembling hands, his were steady, only his face showing some desolation.
“Yu’er,” the Empress had been relatively calm before but now was greatly alarmed, “why did you do this? With no one entering outside, controlled by your people, even if mother hadn’t given him that final sword thrust, with no one coming to rescue and excessive blood loss, he wouldn’t have lasted long either…”
The Crown Prince sighed, his lips again floating with a slight smile, “Mother need not say more. You only wounded him – the one who killed him was your son.”
The Empress’s eyes grew sour. She naturally understood the Crown Prince’s intention. He knew she wasn’t afraid of future judgment, but the inner terror would accompany her entire life until death. He was taking on this sin of regicide and patricide for her!
At this moment, she saw him speak to the man on the couch who still glared at them with eyes full of hatred, “Father Emperor, if your son and mother fell into Ai and Quan’s hands, there would be absolutely no chance of survival. Seventh Brother cannot control them. At best he’d be a puppet emperor in the future, at worst he’d be pulled down and killed by Qiu Jing and Quan Feitong. But with Seventh Brother and Consort Ai in your son’s hands, your son dares swear to heaven that he’ll ensure their lifetime of glory and wealth. Father Emperor, today you wanted to kill us – we had no choice but to act. It was either you die or we perish. Though your son has committed this treasonous act, whatever retribution comes will be heaven’s will. But you were never a good husband or good father, much less a good emperor. Constantly waging war, imposing harsh taxes, tyrannical governance year after year while people dare be angry but not speak – though your son feels guilty, he has no regrets.”
Whether the Emperor was enraged to death or severely injured, the fierce light in his eyes gradually scattered, leaving only resentment and a trace of indescribable sudden understanding.