Regarding the matter of establishing a new Crown Prince, the court officials argued back and forth without reaching any conclusion.

The Emperor vomited blood once again in court and fainted. This matter could only be postponed for later discussion.

Everyone in the palace knew that the Emperor’s health was deteriorating… establishing a Crown Prince had indeed become the most pressing priority.

Yun Chu sat in the Office of the Heir Apparent, waiting quietly.

Before long, those who had just left court came to discuss matters. Yun Ze was the first to arrive.

Grand Tutor Lu, the most crucial person in assisting the Crown Prince, did not come. Only Minister Nie and Minister Xiang were present, along with several Vice Directors of the Office of the Heir Apparent.

Yun Chu could understand Grand Tutor Lu’s choice. He could serve the former Crown Prince, could serve Chu Yi, and could serve a new Crown Prince as well. He was someone who was loyal only to the court itself.

As for Nie and Xiang, they had been personally promoted by Chu Yi from the Six Ministries. Besides being Junior Guardian and Junior Preceptor, they also held responsibilities in the Six Ministries—truly second-rank officials wielding real power.

“Minister Nie, Minister Xiang.” Yun Chu stood and curtsied to them both, then looked at the others present. “Thank you all for coming.”

“The Crown Princess speaks too formally,” Minister Xiang hastily bowed with clasped hands. “We were promoted by His Highness the Crown Prince, so we are His Highness’s people. Even though His Highness has passed away, we still bear heavy responsibilities, and thus have come specifically to discuss important matters with the Crown Princess.”

Yun Chu’s brows furrowed slightly.

Minister Nie spoke: “Now that His Majesty wishes to establish a new Crown Prince, the most suitable would be the Seventh Prince. However, Consort Shu’s maternal family is too weak, Consort Shu herself does not compete or strive, and the Seventh Prince is unwilling to wade into these muddy waters. If the Seventh Prince becomes Crown Prince, he will either die at Chu Rui’s hands or become Chu Rui’s new puppet… As for the Ninth and Tenth Princes, they are even younger and need not be considered at all. Last night, Minister Xiang and I talked through the night. Our proposal is to support the Imperial Grandson as the new Crown Prince!”

As his words fell.

The other Vice Directors all spoke up.

“The Imperial Grandson is worthy of being Crown Prince!”

“The Imperial Grandson has the Crown Princess’s protection and the Yun Family as backing—he can surely secure the position of Crown Prince!”

“Only this way can we break free from Chu Rui’s control!”

“We beseech the Crown Princess to agree!”

Yun Chu raised her eyes to look at everyone and spoke a single word with resounding force: “Agreed.”

This Chu Rui was extremely deep in his schemes and ruthless. To legitimately ascend to the throne, he would certainly kill off all other heirs one by one.

It was better to face the challenge head-on and confront Chu Rui directly—firstly to protect Yu’er, and secondly, to avenge Chu Yi…

“Good!” Yun Ze spoke. “Chu Rui is a poisonous insect who has made His Majesty into a puppet and caused His Majesty’s health to deteriorate day by day. If Chu Rui doesn’t die, our Great Jin Dynasty’s imperial family will surely fall into chaos… Since we’re going to support the Imperial Grandson as Crown Prince, we must first eliminate that scoundrel Chu Rui. I can come forward and persuade the commander of the garrison troops in the suburbs to bring soldiers and surround the Imperial City…”

Minister Xiang’s face turned pale with shock: “This—this would be tantamount to rebellion, wouldn’t it?”

Minister Nie shook his head: “You’re mistaken. This is clearly purging the Emperor’s inner circle, removing the unworthy people around His Majesty to preserve the prosperity of our Great Jin Dynasty!”

“Well said—purging the Emperor’s inner circle!” Yun Chu said slowly. “However, we are still too few. Before taking action, we need—”

Before she could finish her sentence.

Suddenly—

Deep, powerful bell tolls rang out.

“CLANG—CLANG—!”

“CLANG—CLANG—!”

Everyone present froze, mouths agape in shock, all looking toward the direction from which the bell tolls came.

Since ancient times, the bell was only rung when the highest ruler passed away.

“His Majesty… His Majesty has passed away?” Yun Ze’s face was filled with disbelief. “How could this be, how is this possible…”

Just one hour ago during court, though His Majesty’s body was frail, he didn’t look like someone on the verge of death. How could it be so sudden…

Yun Chu lifted her skirts and rushed toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, before even entering, she could hear mournful crying—the cries of the imperial consorts and the imperial princes and princesses.

Walking in, the courtyard was filled with kneeling eunuchs, palace maids, and officials, all prostrated on the ground, weeping bitterly.

Above the Hall of Mental Cultivation, mourning clouds hung heavy.

Yun Chu walked step by step toward the main hall. The closer she got, the clearer the heart-wrenching cries became—those consorts who had lost their support were crying their hearts out.

She crossed the threshold and finally reached the inner chamber.

She saw Chu Hongyu and Chu Changsheng also prostrated beside the dragon bed, crying loudly.

The Imperial Academy had just dismissed for the day. The two children had heard the bell tolls. Naturally they didn’t understand what the bells meant, but everyone was heading to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so they followed along…

“Imperial Grandfather is gone…” Chu Hongyu threw himself at Yun Chu, his voice choked with sobs. “Mother, how could Imperial Grandfather just be gone…”

Chu Changsheng also threw himself into Yun Chu’s arms: “Mother, I feel so sad…”

Yun Chu stroked both children’s hair and gestured for Tingshuang to comfort them.

Then she walked toward the dragon bed.

Reaching the side of the dragon bed, she saw the Emperor’s face was ashen gray with a tinge of black, and on the beard around his lips were traces of dried black blood.

Four palace maids knelt on the dragon bed, cleaning the Emperor’s face, re-grooming him, and changing his dragon robes…

Above the dragon bed stood Prince Regent Chu Rui.

“It was you!”

Yun Chu stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar.

She truly wished she could kill this man before her.

“The Crown Princess is too emotional. I won’t hold the Crown Princess’s breach of etiquette against you,” Chu Rui’s lips curved into an arc. “Yesterday when news of the Crown Prince’s death came back, you weren’t this out of control. Does this perhaps prove that there wasn’t much affection between you and the Crown Prince?”

Yun Chu’s chest heaved violently.

She pressed her lips together and forcefully suppressed her emotions.

The facts were already as they were. Anger and rage served no purpose. She should calm down and think about why Chu Rui had suddenly killed His Majesty…

She knelt before the dragon bed.

Tears naturally fell down her cheeks.

Though she was crying, her mind never stopped working…

Chu Rui’s eyes revealed gloom.

He had used that fool Li Jingshu to plant poison insects in the Emperor, naturally intending to exploit him long-term.

But he hadn’t expected that due to grief over Chu Yi’s death, the Emperor would continuously vomit blood… This morning, he had manipulated the poison insects to force the Emperor’s body to hold up enough to attend court, intending to establish a new Crown Prince. He never expected the Emperor to collapse in court and, after returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, continuously vomit black blood. Gradually, he exhaled more than he inhaled…

Last time when he forcibly awakened the Emperor, it had cost him twenty years of his own lifespan. The Emperor’s health must have started its rapid decline from that moment…

If he was dead, then so be it.

It conveniently cleared the position.

Chu Rui raised his eyes to look at the officials kneeling in the main hall.

“Before His Majesty passed, we were the ones accompanying him,” a Grand Secretary raised his head. “His Majesty knew his time was ending and orally dictated an imperial edict, determining the selection of the new sovereign. In the presence of His Majesty’s remains, we shall proclaim the imperial edict. Everyone, receive the edict!”