The first quarter of the hour of Chen.

Crown Prince Zhao Yanluo, wearing a yellow robe, his corpulent body supported by eunuchs, limped out from the central gate, one step at a time.

Seeing this, civil and military officials knelt and performed five bows and three kowtows.

Zhao Yanluo slowly took his seat on the throne, looking at the civil and military officials kneeling before him, the corners of his mouth imperceptibly curving upward.

After being Crown Prince for seventeen years, playing the grandson for seventeen years, through a thousand hardships and ten thousand difficulties, it was still he who sat on this dragon throne.

From now on, this empire of ten thousand miles and nine provinces was his.

Three cracks of the long whip resounded through the clouds.

The officials knelt again, performing five bows and three kowtows.

“Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

At the same time, Ceremonial Supervisor attending grand eunuch Qin Qi, holding the imperial edict, ran all the way to the End Gate to proclaim the new Emperor’s edict to the world.

The edict named Lady Zhang as Empress of the Central Palace; her legitimate eldest son, Zhao Yishi, as Crown Prince.

The reign title was changed to Taikang.

This year was also called the First Year of Taikang.

…

Evening.

The enthronement ceremony finally ended.

The new Emperor removed his heavy court robes, changed into mourning clothes, and in front of the late Emperor’s spirit hall, issued his first decree after ascending the throne.

“Go summon Minister of Rites Du Jianxue, Astronomical Bureau Director Zhu Yuanmo, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Feng Changxiu, and the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A moment later, all four knelt before the new Emperor. Du Jianxue’s expression was particularly ugly—looking closely, even his lips were trembling.

The new Emperor laughed dryly: “Does Minister Du have some opinion of me?”

Du Jianxue prostrated himself on the ground. “This subject… dares not.”

“You dare not?”

The new Emperor glanced at him.

“Eighty-one bell tolls of nine times nine, but only eighty were tolled. The enthronement ceremony was entirely the responsibility of your Ministry of Rites. I see you’re very daring indeed!”

Du Jianxue was utterly grief-stricken: “Your Majesty, this subject is wronged!”

Wronged?

The new Emperor sneered: “Someone come, remove Du Jianxue’s peacock feather cap ornament and confiscate the Du residence.”

Settling scores after the fact came so quickly.

So quickly that this morning Du Jianxue had still been presiding over the enthronement ceremony, but now he was being dragged out like a dog.

Actually, as early as when the Prince of Han was defeated, Du Jianxue had anticipated his own fate.

It’s just that people always harbor that tiny bit of wishful thinking.

What if!

“Director Zhu.”

“Your Majesty.”

“On the late Emperor’s desk were three of your resignation memorials.”

“In response to Your Majesty, this subject feels his abilities are limited and fears disappointing imperial grace, so I requested to resign from the position of Director.”

The new Emperor looked at him coldly: “You can’t even find the reason for the strange sounds in the spirit hall—your abilities are indeed limited.”

Hearing these words, Zhu Yuanmo immediately prostrated himself: “This subject requests Your Majesty’s gracious approval.”

“I approve!”

“Thank Your Majesty for your dragon grace.”

Zhu Yuanmo got up, removed his official hat himself, took off his official robes, and bowed as he withdrew.

People must understand their own worth. Being able to withdraw with his whole body intact was thanks to Miss Yan’s and Third Master’s blessing. How fortunate!

“Commander Feng?”

Feng Changxiu’s heart was about to jump out of his throat. Was it his turn?

“This subject is here.”

“The matter of the bell pavilion—have you investigated it clearly?”

“In response to Your Majesty, this subject is conducting a severe interrogation and investigation.”

“Then make it quick.”

Feng Changxiu couldn’t believe it and raised his head to look at the new Emperor, biting out: “This subject will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and clearly, giving Your Majesty an explanation.”

“Go then.”

“This subject takes his leave!”

In the spirit hall, only father and son remained—one exhausted, one handsome and dignified.

The new Emperor looked coldly at his son and suddenly said: “Crown Prince, the rebellious official Zhao Yanjin—how do you plan to deal with him?”

Zhao Yishi contemplated for a moment. “In response to Your Majesty, according to our nation’s laws, he should be executed!”

“Unfilial wretch, he’s your own uncle!”

The new Emperor cursed him harshly. “You can say such things, but I cannot bring myself to do it.”

Zhao Yishi said solemnly: “Your Majesty yourself called him a rebellious official. Since he’s a rebellious official, Your Majesty cannot be softhearted due to brotherly affection. The whole world is watching.”

“The late Emperor was alive and didn’t kill him. Did the late Emperor not know the whole world was watching? A father killing his son, an elder brother killing his younger brother… what human relationships would remain?”

The new Emperor’s face was full of gloom. “Crown Prince, don’t be too ruthless in your conduct.”

In that instant, Zhao Yishi’s entire body froze, unable to speak a single word for a long time.

The new Emperor waved his hand in disgust. “Go kneel outside for two hours and properly reflect on your words and conduct.”

Zhao Yishi looked at the sneer at the corners of the new Emperor’s mouth, slowly clenching his fists. A tremendous exhaustion slowly rose from his entire meridian system.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

…

On a pleasure boat on the Yongding River.

Xie Zhifei looked at a table of cold food and drink, muttering to himself in his heart.

Today the new Emperor ascended the throne, and it was also a good day for Huairen to be named Crown Prince. By rights, after the morning ceremony was finished, there should be nothing for Huairen to do.

How had it been delayed until now with still no sign of him?

“Mingting?”

Xie Zhifei looked toward Pei Xiao beside him, but unexpectedly this person’s head was lowered, ignoring his words, looking like his soul had left his body.

Just then, Zhu Qing came aboard the boat, his expression grave: “Master, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is making big moves.”

“What happened?”

Zhu Qing came forward and said in a low voice: “This morning at the Meridian Gate bell pavilion, the bell was supposed to be tolled eighty-one times of nine times nine, but one toll was missing. The people from the bell and drum pavilion have all been thrown into the great prison.”

How could one toll be missing?

“Which bastard did such a thing? Too damned bold.”

Just thinking about it, Xie Zhifei found it inconceivable. “This is His Majesty’s enthronement ceremony—what does eighty tolls count as?”

Zhu Qing: “His Majesty issued a decree for severe investigation. From top to bottom in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, no one dares slack off. Commander Feng is personally overseeing it.”

“There must be someone pulling strings behind this.”

Xie Zhifei frowned: “Otherwise the people from the bell and drum pavilion couldn’t possibly be bold enough to this degree.”

“It’s also possible it just didn’t make a sound.”

Pei Xiao, propping up his chin, didn’t even raise his eyelids, muttering quietly.

This was truly cursed. Yan Sanhe had also rejected him before, but he hadn’t felt particularly bad—after a few days of sadness he’d gotten over it.

But this time, he couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. No matter how he tried to recover, he was still severely damaged.

Huh?

Why was no one speaking?

Pei Xiao raised his head and saw everyone’s eyes fixed on him.

“What are you all doing?”

“You just said the bell didn’t make a sound.”

Xie Zhifei looked incredulous. “Pei Mingting, is your brain broken? How could a bell not make a sound?”

Your brain is what’s broken!

Pei Xiao was already in a bad mood, and he slapped the table. “Why not? At Jietai Temple, the last toll made no sound. The abbot told me himself.”

Xie Zhifei: “When was this?”

Pei Xiao: “After the late Emperor passed away, the bell was tolled for three days. The last toll each day made no sound.”

Xie Zhifei stood up with a start. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Hey!

“Why should I have said so earlier? Isn’t this kind of thing about making big problems small and small problems disappear? What, should I have shouted about it for the whole world to know?”

“You…”

Xie Zhifei was so angry his chest rose and fell. “Besides Jietai Temple, where else did bells not make sounds?”

“How would I know?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Pei Xiao himself felt something was wrong.

“…Wait, you mean there were other temples and monasteries where the last toll didn’t make a sound?”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes showed a deep dread.

“Pei Mingting, I advise you to investigate this thoroughly.”

—

Sure enough, after the fourth heart demon ended, you all ran off without a trace!