In the great hall of the Northern Yan Imperial Palace.
It was still dark in the Northern Yan, so most of the palaces were gloomy and depressing.
But today, the atmosphere in the Northern Yan Imperial Palace was even more depressing, because Xiang Long was on the verge of collapsing.
Dozens of core members of the Northern Yan Xiang royal family were gathered in the palace. Xiang Long lay on the bed, his breathing extremely low. Several imperial physicians were in a flurry, sweating profusely from exhaustion. But they didn't dare to stop, afraid that they would be dragged to the grave with him.
Among the Northern Yan royal family present, except for his younger brother who hated Xiang Long, the others didn't seem sad. In fact, they were very indifferent.
The Emperor and the royal family were two different concepts.
In Northern Yan, only the direct descendants of Xiang Long's bloodline could take over the throne. Even if the people of his bloodline were all trash, they still had to let a trash take over the throne, because they were the direct descendants.
As for the other Northern Yan royal families, they might have been direct descendants of the royal family, but since their ancestors were enfeoffed, they were only members of the Xiang royal family.
To them, the so-called royal family was more like a noble family.
They worked hard for the Xiang royal family and contributed their strength, while the Emperor had to use the power of the entire royal family to support them in order to maintain his position. That was the simple relationship between the two sides.
So seeing Xiang Long die, they didn't feel sad or happy. After all, as long as the next Emperor could bring them enough benefits, it was enough.
But just because they weren't sad didn't mean that Xiang Chong wasn't sad.
Xiang Chong had never been a cold-blooded person, so when he saw Xiang Long and his elder brother fighting for the throne, he was very sad and hated Xiang Long. But now, seeing Xiang Long on the verge of death, although he still hated Xiang Long, he was still sad.
After working for half a day, the imperial physicians looked at each other and said to Xiang Chong, "Your Highness, we have exhausted all our strength. His Majesty is like a lamp that has run out of oil, and his spirit is starting to dissipate. It's not something that can be cured, even with the Nine Revolutions Divine Pill."
"Can Imperial Brother speak again?" Xiang Chong asked, suppressing the pain in his heart.
One of the imperial physicians nodded and said, "That's possible, but forcibly stimulating His Majesty's spirit will cause His Majesty's spirit to dissipate even faster."
Xiang Chong hesitated for a moment, but he still nodded and said, "Go, let Imperial Brother leave a few final words."
The grand physician nodded. He took out a silver needle and pierced several major acupoints on Xiang Long's body. Xiang Long, who had originally seemed like a dead man, coughed twice. His lifeless gaze turned to Xiang Chong. The corners of his mouth curved as he weakly said, "You finally call me Imperial Brother again."
Hearing Xiang Long's first words, Xiang Chong's eyes immediately reddened.
"Imperial Brother, what else do you want to say?" Xiang Chong grabbed Xiang Long's hand and asked.
Xiang Long weakly shook his head. "It's all been arranged. There's nothing more to say. We have already done our best. Once Chong-er ascends to the throne, we will have to rely on him."
At this point, Xiang Long suddenly grasped Xiang Chong's hand tightly. As if using all his strength, he spat out his last words, "We are not willing! But I don't regret it! "
As his voice fell, Xiang Long's vitality completely dissipated. Xiang Chong could no longer hold back his tears.
"Imperial Brother!"
The merits and demerits of Xiang Long's life were no longer clear.
As an elder brother, he had killed his own brother to seize the throne, showing no mercy to his elder brother who shared the same mother. He could be said to be cold-blooded to the extreme.
As a father, because he was busy with the affairs of the empire, even his most beloved son, Xiang Chong, had not received much guidance from him. This had also caused his sons to be at odds with each other on the surface and in their hearts, causing the brothers to turn on each other.
But as the Emperor of the Northern Yan, he was qualified, even outstanding.
The Northern Yan had originally been just one of the many small kingdoms in the world. If not for Xiang Long, even if Eastern Qi had a useless emperor, the size of Eastern Qi alone would have been enough to sweep through the world, destroying all the small kingdoms and unifying the world.
But because of the existence of the Northern Yan, Xiang Long was able to unite the Northern Yan Pugilistic World, West Chu, and any other forces that could be allied with. In the end, they managed to block the expansion of Eastern Qi, creating a tripartite balance of power in the world.
He was unwilling because the current emperors of the world were all mediocre. As long as he was given time, Eastern Qi could not sweep through the world, but he could! Eastern Qi could not unify the world, but he could!
He had no regrets because even if he, Xiang Long, was despised by millions of people, even if he was treated as an enemy by his own younger brother for the rest of his life, he would still make the same choice if he was given the chance to do it again.
Whether it was his merits or demerits, it was up to the later generations to judge. In any case, he, Xiang Long, had no regrets in this life!
In the 62nd year of the Northern Yan Zhaowu, Xiang Long passed away.
Before Xiang Long's death, the Northern Yan experienced a period of peace. But following his death, the entire Northern Yan began to stir.
Xiang Long did not summon any princes before his death. His posthumous edict had already been written. If nothing went wrong, the next step would be Xiang Chong's ascension to the throne. But how could things go so smoothly?
In the Crown Prince's Palace, Xiang Chong was overjoyed despite his sorrow. This day had finally come!
Xiang Li was in his residence. When he heard the news, he immediately locked himself in a dark room and refused to see anyone.
The final moment had finally arrived. If he succeeded, he would reach the peak. If he failed, he would kill himself as soon as possible. Xiang Chong would even make sure he died a horrible death.
In the Zhenwu Hall, Chu Xiu was expressionless because he had been planning for this day for a long time. Victory or defeat, success or failure, all depended on this one move!
After Xiang Long's death, the funeral had to be held first.
After the funeral, it would be Xiang Chong's ascension ceremony.
In the palace, the Northern Yan royalty, the military, and some noble generals had all gathered.
As the Governor of the Zhenwu Hall, Chu Xiu naturally stood at the head of the table.
Other than the Northern Yan people, Xi Yunzi, Mako Mori, and Xu Yan from the Chunyang Dao Sect had also come.
However, both parties were still injured and had yet to recover. This time, they had come purely to watch the ceremony. They were still hostile towards each other.
The dragon throne was suspended in the air. On the high platform, an old man with white hair and beard walked out slowly with Xiang Long's posthumous edict in his hand.
He was the oldest member of the Xiang royal family. Although he was not very strong and was nearing the end of his life, he still needed to preside over this kind of occasion.
Xiang Chong knelt on the ground. As the thirteenth prince, he was kneeling in front of everyone. The other princes looked at Xiang Chong with complicated gazes.
Although the thirteenth prince was special and was the favorite of Xiang Long, no one had thought that he would be the one to ascend to the throne in the end.
Of course, other than jealousy, they had no other thoughts.
Among all of Xiang Long's sons, Xiang Li had the greatest advantage previously. Even if Xiang Li couldn't get the position, it wouldn't be their turn anyway. Therefore, the princes present were only jealous, but not resentful.
At this moment, although Xiang Chong also lowered his head, there was only one thing in his eyes. It was the dazzling dragon throne at the front, the position that would soon belong to him!
Although the dragon throne was not beautiful or luxurious, because it had been used for years, some of the dragon patterns on the throne had even been worn away.
However, that position represented power. The power to control the entire Northern Yan Emperor!
Previously, all of this was only in his dreams. Now that it had appeared in front of him, how could Xiang Chong not be nervous? He was so nervous that he was trembling slightly.
The ancestor of the Xiang royal family stood at the front and said in an old but powerful voice, "Xiang Chong, His Majesty has passed away. Before he left, he appointed you as the Crown Prince. I hope you will not disappoint him.
Among the three countries in the world, Northern Yan doesn't have the right time, the right place, and the right people. But under the leadership of His Majesty, we've managed to protect this land.
Now that His Majesty has passed away, the burden will be on your shoulders. Are you confident? "
Xiang Chong hurriedly bowed and said, "Of course I am confident. With father's will before me, I will definitely inherit father's will and lead the Northern Yan to sweep across the world and unify the Central Plains!"
The ancestor of the Xiang royal family nodded and was about to read out Xiang Long's posthumous edict for Xiang Chong to officially ascend to the throne.
However, at this moment, a voice rang out at an inopportune time, "Your Highness is confident, but I am not. Sweep across the world? I am afraid that within a few years of your ascension, the Northern Yan will be destroyed by you! "
Everyone raised their heads and looked in the direction of the voice.
Chu Xiu casually stepped forward without the slightest hesitation, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Mako Mori and Xu Yan raised their heads at the same time and looked at each other.
Had Chu Xiu gone mad? He openly opposed Xiang Chong's ascension and interfered in the affairs of the Northern Yan royal family. He was making an enemy of the entire Northern Yan Dynasty!
Xiang Chong shouted angrily, "Chu Xiu! What are you trying to do? This is the imperial court's coronation ceremony, not a place where you can talk nonsense! Are you trying to rebel? "
Chu Xiu said coldly, "Rebel? Your Highness, the Xiang royal family is the Northern Yan royal family and the ruler of Northern Yan, but don't forget that we also live in Northern Yan and are part of Northern Yan!
I am not rebelling. When His Majesty was still alive, even if I had some differences with His Majesty, have you ever seen me say no?
His Majesty is a great ruler, and we can rest assured that the Northern Yan is in his hands.
However, this Crown Prince is not a good ruler. Letting him control Northern Yan will be a disaster.
I have no intention of rebelling, and I will not rebel. However, I would like to ask all of you to consider this carefully. Is such a person really suitable to inherit the throne?
His Majesty's eyes were failing him before his death, and he could not see through a person's heart. That is why he chose such a person.
A good ruler can lead the Northern Yan from a small barbarian kingdom to the point where they are now fighting against Eastern Qi.
But what about an unqualified emperor? That is a disaster!
Don't forget how Eastern Qi replaced the Jiang family in the past.
The Emperor's surname can be Xiang, but it does not have to be Xiang Chong! "
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