Palace (1)
Inside the palace, it was as if it had been attacked by a ferocious beast. The four gates were heavily guarded and replaced by Prince Yi's men.
All the important paths to the palace were under his control.
The torches illuminated the originally brightly lit palace. Orange light filled the air, making it seem as if one was in a sea of fire.
At this moment, it was drizzling. The raindrops hit the green tiles of the palace, creating a thin layer of white fog that shrouded the solemn atmosphere of the palace.
Armored soldiers raised their swords and surrounded the palace so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.
Not even a mosquito could enter.
A huge storm was quietly approaching.
At a quarter past seven in the morning, the sky was still dark. Jing Yi wore long boots and stepped on the dirty rainwater as he braved the rain to enter the palace. His hair and brocade were covered in a layer of cold rainwater. It looked as if sharp silver needles were piercing through his body.
Behind him, there were more than ten courtiers and several guards holding torches.
Everyone braved the rain and stopped outside Fuyang Hall.
They stood in front and back, no one making a sound.
Jing Yi straightened his back and raised his head. The rainwater hit his face, sharpening it like a knife. A pair of cold eyes stared at the closed door in front of him, his body overflowing with an extreme thirst for power.
Now, victory was in his hands.
The cold wind howled around him. The torches struggled to burn in the rain and wind, but they did not go out. The light from the torches shone on the solemn and tense Fuyang Hall, as if the final outcome was already decided.
After an unknown amount of time, the door slowly opened and a young eunuch shouted, "The Emperor is ill. Summon Prince Yi into the hall."
Jing Yi's expression was grave and stern. He lifted his drenched robe and walked up the steps, step by step entering the hall.
Inside the hall, there were several heating stoves in the surroundings. The warmth hit him in the face, wrapping around his body that was originally boiling with blood, but instead made him feel cold.
He reached out to pat the rainwater off his sleeves and entered the inner hall.
There were several people standing in the inner hall: Concubine Xiao, who was always by the bed, a few young eunuchs, Minister Liang of the Imperial Clan Temple, Minister Jiang, and the cabinet minister who was reading out the edict …
Lying on the bed, Qi Zhen Emperor was already beyond cure. His face was as pale as a sheet of white paper. His hollow eyes were wide open as he panted heavily.
Presumably, he wouldn't be able to endure for much longer.
"Son greets Imperial Father." Jing Yi bowed respectfully.
Qi Zhen Emperor gave him a sidelong glance and coughed a few times. He wanted to prop himself up, but Concubine Xiao hurried forward to help him up, but he forcefully pushed her away.
He shouted, "We are not dead yet."
Concubine Xiao looked at her hand awkwardly hanging in the air after being flung away. She wasn't annoyed and only smiled before retreating to the side.
Old fart, you won't live much longer either.
Qi Zhen Emperor struggled to get up. He leaned against the bedpost and scanned the people around him. Now, he was like a tiger in a cage, waiting to be slaughtered.
After a long time …
"Where's Zhang Quan?" he asked.
A young eunuch beside him answered, "Replying to Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang isn't feeling well and sent this servant over to attend to him."
Who would believe that!
He wasn't stupid. He glanced at the carved window. The sky was still dark outside, but a few rays of orange light seeped in. Presumably, the outside … was already surrounded.
He laughed bitterly.
He said, "We really raised a good son."
His voice was desolate and sorrowful.
Jing Yi stood there as straight as a ramrod, not saying a word.
Qi Zhen Emperor raised a finger and pointed at him. "When Jing Hua surrounded the palace, We should have thought of it. With his courage, how could he dare to do so? We can only blame ourselves for trusting you and being an incapable ruler. "
"Imperial Father …"
"There's no need to defend yourself. We know what you've done." He pressed on his chest and coughed again. "Now that you've surrounded the palace, why don't you cut us down?"
Jing Yi lowered his eyes. Even though victory was already decided, he still respectfully replied, "Son doesn't dare."
"Don't dare?" Qi Zhen Emperor said, "It's not that you don't dare. You're worried that if you kill us in the palace, even if you ascend to the throne in the future, the people will say that you've 'murdered an unfilial son'."
His thoughts had been seen through, so there was no need to hide anything. He directly confessed, "Since Imperial Father already knows, then this son will say it directly. This son doesn't want to follow the Crown Prince's example of besieging the palace to commit regicide. After all, Imperial Father treats this son very well, and I really can't bear to do so. Thus, I only wish to implore Imperial Father to issue an imperial edict. Now that the ministers of the Imperial Cabinet are here, if Imperial Father issues an edict to pass the throne to this son, this son … can let Imperial Father enjoy the rest of his life and become an emperor emeritus."
Pfft!
A wolf's ambition!
An emperor emeritus!
Qi Zhen Emperor was disdainful. He angrily rebuked, "An emperor emeritus? How dare you say that. "
"This son is thinking for Imperial Father's sake." He raised his head and met the fiery eyes. He continued, "This son has already deployed troops both inside and outside the capital, as well as inside and outside the palace. If Imperial Father doesn't issue an edict, this son will issue an order. At that time, there will be countless deaths and injuries in the palace. However, as long as Imperial Father agrees to issue an edict, the palace will be safe and sound the gongs to call off the troops. Imperial Father can then rest in peace and recuperate, killing two birds with one stone."
"Are you threatening us?"
"Does Imperial Father have a choice now?"
That's right!
What choice does he have?
This isn't a multiple-choice question.
Qi Zhen Emperor's veins popped on the back of his hand. He gripped his clothes tightly as if he was about to tear them apart.
Seeing this, Concubine Xiao, who had been silent at the side, stepped forward to persuade him. "Your Majesty, you are currently unwell and busy with state affairs. Yi 'er is in power, and everyone in the imperial court listens to him. Why don't Your Majesty hand over the empire to him?"
Qi Zhen Emperor glared at her and gritted his teeth. "If we live, I will definitely cut you into a thousand pieces."
"…" Concubine Xiao was speechless.
"Do you think we don't know? If you hadn't drugged the tremella soup, would we have ended up like this? "
"…" She couldn't defend herself.
At this moment, Jing Yi glanced at the Cabinet Master.
The Cabinet Master immediately took out an imperial edict that he had prepared earlier from his sleeve and presented it to Jing Yi.
Jing Yi said, "I hope that Imperial Father will grant my wish."
His tone was filled with murderous intent.
The Qizhen Emperor grabbed the imperial edict and opened it. Written on it was the edict to pass the throne to Prince Yi.
Now, all he needed to do was to write and stamp the imperial seal, and Jing Yi's plan would be a success.
The eunuch at the side brought over a tray with a brush, ink, and a jade seal on it.
He asked him to sign and stamp it.
Qi Zhen Emperor sneered, but his laughter was weak. He coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood, dyeing the imperial edict in his hand red.
The next moment, Concubine Xiao hurriedly took the imperial edict from his hand and placed it on the tray. She advised, "Your Majesty, please sign it. All the ministers are waiting outside."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
