A sliver of dawn light appeared on the horizon.

The palace gates underwent a large-scale shift change. The incoming guards presented their tokens and began the handover.

An hour after the shift change, the Second Prince led two thousand troops from the North City. The iron cavalry galloped along the stone-paved road, creating a thunderous sound like war drums. They soon appeared before the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The gate guards, seeing the Second Prince’s banner, immediately opened the gates.

Two thousand troops entered the first palace gate unimpeded.

The guards at the second gate, alarmed by the approaching army, immediately prepared for battle.

“Halt!” a guard at the gate shouted.

However, the approaching forces showed no sign of stopping.

“His Majesty has passed away. Second Prince, please disarm and enter the palace!” The guards coldly blocked the way. The current situation was clear – the Second Prince was attempting a coup. These guards had been temporarily replaced with the Crown Prince’s men, so naturally, they showed no goodwill toward the Second Prince.

Both sides were poised for conflict. Some ministers who had just arrived at the gate, fearing collateral damage, stopped their carriages at a distance to observe.

The second Prince, Zhao Huan, sat straight-backed on his horse, looking down at those blocking his path.

A rider stepped forward from behind him. The officer on horseback produced a token, saying, “Shift change.”

The token presented was indeed the standard one. However, these were the Second Prince’s men. Once the shift changed, this gate would fall under the Second Prince’s control. In such extraordinary times, how could the guards willingly hand over control?

Zhao Huan was merely making a gesture, never expecting to easily control the second gate. “You block my path and refuse to change shifts. What are your true intentions?!” he shouted sternly. “I have Father Emperor’s last edict. Who dares to stop me!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a sword flashed out of its sheath. Before the guard could react, blood sprayed three feet high.

This action served as a signal. Both sides clashed, weapons meeting in fierce combat.

A messenger rushed back to report.

In the Dragon-Riding Hall, white mourning cloth hung everywhere. The Crown Prince, dressed in mourning attire, stood in the hall with bloodshot eyes. Many civil and military officials paid their respects and urged him to restrain his grief.

“Report!” A guard rushed to the hall entrance and bowed. “Your Highness, Second Prince has led troops in. They’ve already reached the gates of Baohua Palace.”

The hall fell suddenly silent.

“Hmph, he truly dares!” The Crown Prince sneered, then raised his voice, “Mobilize all inspectors. Summon the Tianwu Army to meet them in battle!”

The Tianwu Army was an imperial guard unit, divided into South and North Camps. The Northern troops led by the Second Prince belonged to the Tianwu Army.

“Yes!” The chief inspector accepted the order and left to mobilize the troops.

An elderly eunuch who had been kneeling before the coffin slowly stood up, his eyebrows and hair snow-white. “Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince turned, his expression softening slightly.

“This is the Crane Control Decree. His Majesty has passed, and it should now be kept by the new emperor.” The old eunuch took a brocade pouch from his sleeve and handed it to the Crown Prince.

Prime Minister Hua glanced at the Grand Marshal. The two exchanged a quick, knowing look but made no move.

“Did His Majesty leave any last edict?” someone asked.

The Crown Prince gave the speaker a cold look.

The old eunuch said, “His Majesty has passed. Naturally, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne. Does anyone object?”

Everyone knew this old eunuch’s identity. He was Feng Shi, who had served the previous emperor since childhood and then continued to serve the current emperor. He held a pivotal position in the palace.

The person who had asked the question broke out in a cold sweat. “This subject has no objection. I beg Your Highness to understand.”

“I know you have no objection,” the Crown Prince’s gaze slowly swept across the officials in the hall. “Those who truly object wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get themselves killed like you.”

White mourning clothes fluttered, and the hall fell deathly silent.

Feng Shi broke the silence, “Your Highness, with the Crane Control Decree in hand, the Crane Control Army will obey your command with a single word.”

The Crown Prince, having frequent access to state secrets, understood the Crane Control Army far better than the Second Prince. He knew their strength was no longer what it once was, so he didn’t place too much hope in this unstable force. However, it was a symbol of authority. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, only the emperor could control the Crane. So, holding this small token, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but feel excited, a slight smile appearing on his face.

An Jiu and Chu Dingjiang concealed their presence, hiding in a side hall.

Through a crack in the door, An Jiu observed the Crown Prince standing in the center of the crowd. His noble and graceful bearing showed no trace of his private debauchery. Even his gestures exuded a steadiness that inexplicably inspired trust.

An Jiu mused silently that, setting aside talent, these emperors certainly had the right demeanor!

However, her attention didn’t linger on the Crown Prince for long. It was quickly drawn to the snow-haired old eunuch beside him.

The old eunuch’s gaze was deep, with a hidden sharpness. He appeared to be in his seventies, but his movements showed no sign of advanced age. An Jiu knew this must be the master cultivator hidden within the inner palace…

To avoid alarming anyone, An Jiu refrained from using her spiritual sense to probe further. She could only observe this much from the surface, so her gaze soon moved on. After scanning the hall, she finally spotted a familiar figure in the corner.

Elder Zhi was at least ten years younger than Feng Shi, but his thin, twig-like frame made him appear even older.