The moment Ye Xuening’s words fell, the officials in the hall began whispering among themselves in agitation.

“Could it be that the Di Family still has descendants left?”

“Impossible—back then, weren’t all the people of the Di Family already…?”

“The Great Emperor’s edict is right there—how could it be impossible?”

“Who exactly is it? Who from the Di Family has survived?”

“…”

The officials were a mixture of excitement and doubt, but none dared step forward to ask.

Zhan Yuheng stood motionless in the distance, watching Ye Xuening, saying not a single word.

Ye Xuening swept her gaze over everyone present, took half a step forward, and took Zhan Lingtian’s hand.

“That’s right! Back then, the Great Emperor rescued an orphaned survivor of the Di Family, and that survivor is Lingtian.”

“Lingtian was, at the time, the Crown Prince of the Di Family—Di Wu Ya. Today, I am conveying the Great Emperor’s wish that the throne be returned to the Di Family, to Di Wu Ya.”

“From this day forward, the rule of the House of Di shall be restored.”

Ye Xuening’s voice rang out, forceful and clear—so much so that even the soldiers outside the hall could hear it.

At once, the entire hall fell utterly silent.

Everyone stared at Zhan Lingtian, their faces filled with disbelief.

Pitying Zhan Yuheng, the Grand Eunuch drew a deep breath and knelt down.

“Grand Empress Dowager, this old servant attended the late emperor for many years and never once heard that the Great Emperor had left behind an edict. Might this old servant and the assembled officials be permitted to view it?”

“This old servant means no disrespect—it is only that the fate of the entire imperial house is at stake. Without seeing it with my own eyes, this old servant could not rest even in death!”

Behind him, the two rows of officials murmured among themselves for a while before someone finally stepped forward.

“Grand Empress Dowager, what the Grand Eunuch says is reasonable. This humble official, and the others, would also like to view it. What does the Grand Empress Dowager think?”

“What objection could there be to that?” Ye Xuening waved a hand. “Little Deng, bring the edict for the Grand Eunuch to examine.”

“Back then, the Great Emperor spent his days consumed by grief over the massacre of the Di Family, and yet, even on his deathbed, he never managed to find a single clue.”

“He took up the throne in a moment of crisis, never intending to keep it for himself. It was only on his deathbed that he left behind this edict, returning the throne to the one legitimate heir the Di Family had left.”

“This edict has been in my keeping for a long while now. Whether it is genuine, I know full well in my own heart. If you are all still uneasy, then by all means, pass it around and see for yourselves.”

Ye Xuening gave her sleeve a flick and sat back down.

Zhan Lingtian sat down not far from Ye Xuening, and from beginning to end, he did not say another word.

He had always been like this—just as the Eighth and Ninth Princes once had been—achieving remarkable feats yet never seeking credit for them.

A man of such capability—in the minds of more than a few, he was perhaps even more fit to be emperor than Zhan Yuheng.

“Yes, Grand Empress Dowager.” The eunuch holding the letter nodded, walked over, and presented it with both hands to the Grand Eunuch.

The Grand Eunuch took the letter, examined it closely for a moment, and grew visibly agitated himself.

He drew a deep breath, turned, and passed the letter on to the Prime Minister.

The Grand Eunuch returned to Zhan Yuheng’s side, not daring to say a word.

In the end, the letter made a full circuit and returned at last to Little Deng’s hands.

Little Deng took the letter, knelt in the hall, rose again, stepped forward, and returned the letter to Ye Xuening.

Holding the letter, Ye Xuening stood. “Now, does anyone still doubt the authenticity of the Great Emperor’s edict?”

Everyone in the hall, save for Zhan Yuheng, knelt down at once.

“We would not dare!” the Prime Minister answered solemnly.

The Grand Eunuch knelt prostrate on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Zhan Lingtian glanced at Zhan Yuheng, then stood and took the letter from the Grand Empress Dowager’s hands.

“Back then, the Great Emperor came to me many times, saying he wished to pass the throne to me. But the enemy of the Di Family had not yet been found, and I had no time to spare—I could only refuse.”

“Yet, unexpectedly, years later, there came those who falsely claimed to be of the Di Family, intent on storming the imperial city.”

“On the advice of the Grand Empress Dowager, I have agreed to make the Great Emperor’s letter known to the world, to ascend the throne, to stabilize the imperial house, and to restore the rule of my own family, the House of Di.”

The Prime Minister stood, and the other officials gradually rose as well.

“But everyone outside has been saying that it is the Ninth Prince who is the Di Family’s orphaned heir, Di Wu Ya. This…” The Prime Minister looked at the figures in the hall, his brow furrowed.

“Who the Great Emperor rescued back then and named Wu Ya—this old woman knows better than anyone else.” Ye Xuening looked at the Prime Minister, her tone growing somewhat heavier.

“Even I never imagined that Old Nine would do something like this.”

“I suppose, from the very start, when he occupied several cities in the south, his intentions were never simple.” Speaking of Zhan Qingcheng, Ye Xuening’s face filled with regret.

“In the end, he marched north after all, wanting to claim the entire state of Bei Mu for himself.”

“To win the people’s submission, he even went so far as to impersonate a descendant of the Di Family—it’s truly bewildering.”

Ye Xuening shook her head, let out a faint sigh, and turned her gaze back to Zhan Lingtian.

“Wu Ya, now that the throne has returned to you, you mustn’t address me so formally any longer—and above all, you must not let the people of Bei Mu down!”

“You must be sure to drive out every schemer with ill intentions from our kingdom, and give the people back a peaceful home.”

“Yes, Mother.” Zhan Lingtian turned his head, giving Ye Xuening a look meant to reassure her.

He turned back, holding the edict, and looked at Zhan Yuheng.

“Your Majesty, for now, you still wear the dragon robe, you are still the sovereign—but I’m afraid that, from this moment, you must abdicate.”

“In consideration of the Great Emperor’s kindness toward the Di Family, once I take the throne, I will appoint you as Prince Shezheng. What do you say to that?”

“And if I refuse to abdicate—what then?” Zhan Yuheng stared at Zhan Lingtian and asked in a low, steady voice.

“Your Majesty.” Ye Xuening called out softly. “This throne rightfully belonged to the Di Family all along. The Great Emperor, too, only took it up in a moment of crisis.”

“And later, when your father ascended the throne, wasn’t that also because Wu Ya yielded the position to him?”

“This old woman knows it has been only a short time since you took the throne, and asking you to step down now must be hard for you to accept. But this is the truth, and it is the Great Emperor’s edict—how could you possibly disobey it?”

Zhan Yuheng wanted to say more, but the Grand Eunuch immediately stood and tugged at his sleeve.

“Your Majesty, you should listen to her. The edict is genuine—in this old servant’s view, you should listen to her.”

“There’s nothing wrong with becoming Prince Shezheng. Listen to this old servant—you should listen to her.”

Emperor Qiwen had shown the Grand Eunuch great kindness, and the Grand Eunuch had failed to protect him. Now, at the very least, he hoped to do something for him—to preserve what remained of Emperor Qiwen’s bloodline.

Zhan Yuheng stared unwaveringly at Zhan Lingtian, his brow knit tight.

The Grand Eunuch tugged at his sleeve once more, murmuring low, “Your Majesty, you really should listen to this old servant.”

“Prince Shezheng isn’t so bad—after all, wasn’t the Great Emperor himself once a Prince Shezheng? And besides, there’s chaos and war outside right now.”

“This grievance rightfully belongs to the Di Family—it isn’t right for someone of the Zhan family to interfere. Do you understand, Your Majesty?”

Zhan Yuheng closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. With his own hands, he removed his crown and placed it in the Grand Eunuch’s hands.

Before all the assembled civil and military officials, he stripped off the dragon robe, his gaze falling once more upon Zhan Lingtian.

“Today, I hand this realm over to you. I hope you will give the people of Bei Mu a beautiful future.”

With those words left behind, Zhan Yuheng, now dressed in plain robes, strode out of the great hall.