Chapter 198 – Mourning Across the Realm! Zhu Wushi's Opposition!
Three thousand tolls of the mourning bell. The realm cloaked in white.
Winter had yet to arrive, but the capital was already blanketed in snow.
No one knew how the Emperor had suddenly died in the middle of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and truth be told, most common folk didn't care. They just cried and went through the motions.
They held little affection for this Emperor. In fact, the wayward Virtuous Prince appeared in their lives far more often than the sovereign himself.
Within the Hall of Supreme Harmony, sobs echoed without pause.
The princes were grief-stricken. The ministers, too, were in mourning. But no one cried harder than Yan Song—his weeping resembled that of a man who'd lost his own father. Among all the civil and military officials, no one wailed louder.
Anyone witnessing the scene couldn't help but sincerely praise,
"Grand Secretary Yan is truly loyal to the Emperor and devoted to the realm."
Whether Yan Song truly loved his country or monarch, no one could say—but his sorrow was undeniably genuine.
His son had died at the hands of the demon race, and now the Emperor who had favored him had abruptly passed. Within a matter of days, he had lost everything. Anyone in his position would be wailing uncontrollably.
When it came to factional struggles, circumstances changed in an instant. No matter how capable Yan Song was, if the new ruler disliked him, he'd still have to step down obediently.
Especially with someone like Xu Jie waiting in the wings, someone even more capable.
At this point, Yan Song had countless political enemies. If the court truly decided to purge its ranks, he might not make it out of the capital alive.
Compared to the civil officials, the military officers were more composed—none sobbed and wailed like Yan Song.
Among the Two Marquises and One House, and the Two Bureaus and One Guard, only three men stood in the court.
The Iron-Guts Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi, the Divine Marquis Zhuge Zhengwo, and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zheng Dongliu.
The three stood still, eyes lowered, minds calm, like statues carved from stone a thousand years ago.
Many officials were secretly observing them. The court's future stability now depended on the attitudes of these six powerhouses.
If everyone sat down to negotiate peacefully, all would be well. But there was always the fear that someone might try to profit from the chaos.
Of the three, Zhu Wushi stood out the most.
The Emperor had died without naming an heir. In theory, as the Emperor's uncle, Zhu Wushi had every reason to vie for power.
After all, the situation with the Ten Thousand Demons Nation had made everyone anxious. A strong Emperor could at least provide a sense of security.
Even if Zhu Wushi didn't take the throne, by custom he'd be appointed as a regent to support the young successor, helping to eliminate threats and restore imperial authority.
In short, with the Emperor's death, Zhu Wushi stood to gain the most.
And precisely because he was the greatest beneficiary, people naturally began suspecting the Iron-Guts Divine Marquis had something to do with the Emperor's mysterious demise.
Now murmurs began to rise among the officials.
No matter how quietly they whispered, their words were still picked up by the ears of the three martial grandmasters.
The white-haired Zhuge Divine Marquis didn't resemble a warrior. He looked more like a sage or Daoist cultivator. Slowly opening his eyes, he spoke softly,
"Marquis, won't you say something? The rumors are getting a bit loud."
Zhu Wushi replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Divine Marquis. I have nothing to refute. The innocent need not defend themselves."
Zhuge Zhengwo studied Zhu Wushi and found his expression calm and natural, not at all like someone hiding something. He nodded slightly.
"If not Zhu Wushi, then it could only be..."
The image of Chu Yang flashed through Zhuge's mind, and he sighed quietly. He knew Chu Yang had entered the palace to admire the moon, and had heard some details about him from Sheng Yayu.
But the notion that Chu Yang could assassinate the Emperor seemed far-fetched. Even Zhuge himself couldn't breach the imperial dragon vein's protection—how could Chu Yang?
And more importantly, how could someone who killed the Emperor sit on the dragon throne?
Who in the realm would accept such a ruler?
If he truly sat on the throne, uprisings would flare up across the land, all in the name of restoring order.
Zhuge turned to Zheng Dongliu and asked,
"What's the situation with the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Lord Zheng, did you receive any intelligence?"
Zheng Dongliu sighed, "The Imperial Guards blocked the Embroidered Guard outside the palace. We couldn't get in, so we know nothing."
"The Imperial Guards?" Zhuge frowned deeply. "Who is leading them now?"
"Vice General of Liaodong, Li Chengliang," Zhu Wushi said with a cold laugh. "Though now he should be the official commander. The Emperor issued an edict before his death."
"Li Chengliang..." Zhuge nodded. He knew of this man—he had been stationed in Liaodong to defend against the Jurchens and had kept the northern border secure for over five years without incident. His abilities were evident. In Zhuge's opinion, recalling such talent to the capital was a loss.
"Absurd."
"His Majesty was always like this. Otherwise, how would we end up with today's situation?"
"His Majesty is gone. Gentlemen, mind your words," Zheng Dongliu reminded.
Both Zhu Wushi and Zhuge Zhengwo fell silent. After all, one was the Emperor's uncle and the other was a marquis personally granted by the late sovereign—their identities were sensitive.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"The Imperial Guards are here."
"And that's... Lord Guo and the two eunuchs."
The newcomers were the other three leaders among the six major factions—Guo Bujing, Cao Zhengchun, and Yu Huatian.
The Imperial Guards stopped outside the hall.
As Guo Bujing, Cao Zhengchun, and Yu Huatian stepped inside, the surrounding officials immediately erupted with questions.
"Lord Cao, what happened last night? How did His Majesty pass away?"
"Lord Yu, did His Majesty leave behind any final edict? Whom should we crown as the new Emperor?"
"Lord Guo, why were you with the two eunuchs?"
A flurry of inquiries burst forth, reflecting the ministers' anxiety and confusion—such a situation had never occurred before.
Guo Bujing raised his hand and spoke,
"Gentlemen, I understand your concerns regarding His Majesty's passing. Please calm yourselves and hear me out."
The hall gradually quieted. Even the young princes stopped crying, staring blankly at Guo Bujing under the attendants' care.
"Last night, the heir of the Prince of Pingnan colluded with Ye Gucheng and Director Wang to infiltrate the palace under the guise of a duel atop the Forbidden Peak."
"Director Wang secretly distributed large quantities of access tokens, resulting in the Forbidden City being flooded with all sorts of people. Deputy Commander Wei Ziyun failed to maintain order and has already been dismissed and investigated. The Imperial Guards failed in their duty and did not protect His Majesty."
Guo Bujing revealed the supposed cause of the Emperor's death, but deliberately avoided mentioning the attempted siege on Chu Yang.
Those with some inside knowledge—like Zhuge—began eyeing Guo Bujing, Cao Zhengchun, and Yu Huatian suspiciously.
These three working together? That was suspicious no matter how one looked at it.
Zhu Wushi's gaze sharpened. He asked coldly,
"Why would the heir of Pingnan suddenly decide to assassinate His Majesty? How could he even succeed?"
"Not even a grandmaster could pull it off—how could mere Ye Gucheng do it?"
"With just that 'Heavenly Flying Immortal' move of his?"
The civil and military officials also turned their doubtful gazes toward Guo Bujing.
Cao Zhengchun stepped forward to explain,
"The Prince of Pingnan's heir succeeded by using a vile and sinister sorcery."
"Due to the gravity of the matter, we can only discuss it privately with the three lords here."
The lives of tens of thousands in the Pingnan territory were no small matter, and a blood sacrifice technique capable of tainting the national dragon vein was an even graver threat.
The fewer who knew, the better.
The three marquises leaned in to listen, and when they heard the truth, their expressions were filled with shock.
Their reactions stirred the curiosity of the rest of the court, but none dared to ask under the pressure of these figures.
The officials all turned to Yan Song.
As the Grand Secretary, it was time for him to speak.
Yan Song also felt he ought to say something. He cleared his throat and was about to begin.
"If Lord Yan is unwell, perhaps he should excuse himself. You are not young anymore,"
Zhuge and Zhu Wushi stared him down with dagger-like eyes, making Yan shiver inwardly.
"Please don't mind me, Lords. Just a tickle in my throat, nothing serious."
With a dry chuckle, Yan Song backed off.
The other officials looked at him with visible disappointment.
Amidst this, a young official standing behind Xu Jie suddenly strode out from the ranks and walked straight toward the six figures who held the most power.
"May I ask, my lords—what matter is so sensitive that the rest of us cannot be told?"
His blunt question caused the hall's atmosphere to freeze over.
"Zhang Ju... come back!"
Xu Jie stepped forward to tug on the middle-aged official's sleeve, trying to drag him back.
But Zhang Juzheng didn't budge. His eyes were resolute. Even if he stirred up a storm today, he was determined to challenge the authority of these six men.
Not for himself—but to prevent the imperial court from becoming a one-voice dictatorship.
Zhu Wushi's eyes flashed with anger.
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian looked displeased.
Yet Zhuge Zhengwo, Zheng Dongliu, and Guo Bujing all looked at Zhang Juzheng with admiration.
After witnessing Yan Song's sinister cunning and Xu Jie's calculating guile, Zhang Juzheng's boldness was like a ray of light piercing through the rot of the Ming court.
"There's nothing we can't say. The Prince of Pingnan sacrificed the lives of over 100,000 people from his fief to forge a Blood Grievance Orb, allowing his son to pollute the imperial dragon vein with their hatred."
Chu Yang entered from outside the hall, walking slowly up to Zhang Juzheng.
"If you have more questions, ask now."
"N-no…" Zhang stammered under Chu Yang's intimidating presence.
And he wasn't alone. The entire court stared at Chu Yang in stunned silence.
"You're done asking? Then get on with the funeral rites. All this weeping and wailing—what kind of behavior is that?"
Chu Yang swept his cold gaze across the officials and walked toward the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. As he passed the six major figures, he didn't say a word—as if they were mere air.
Such arrogance made every courtier hold their breath in dread.
Only after Chu Yang sat on the dragon throne did the ministers snap out of their daze, glaring at him in shock and fury.
No one had agreed on the new Emperor—
How dare you sit there?
If anyone was unfit for the throne, it was you!
Don't you know what kind of reputation you have?
Several officials were already on the verge of shouting insults, even calling for Chu Yang to "take a piss and see his own reflection."
But none dared speak—for it wasn't up to them.
The real decision rested with the six great powers.
"What is Your Highness doing?" Zhu Wushi, the most displeased, was the first to speak. He wanted that seat too—but couldn't be as brazen as Chu Yang. He still needed to maintain his image.
And so he was both envious and annoyed.
"Sitting on this throne? Obviously to be Emperor. Uncle, are you getting senile?"
Chu Yang replied, feigning concern.
Zhu Wushi nearly choked on his anger, but managed to hold it in. He forced a calm tone,
"The ministers have yet to settle the succession. Even if you desire the throne, it must be done by proper protocol."
Chu Yang tilted his head and smiled,
"Protocol? My word is protocol."
Zhu Wushi finally lost his temper and glared at him,
"Don't think you can be this arrogant just because you've hidden your true cultivation. If you don't come down now, don't blame me for taking action!"
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian looked at Zhu Wushi like he was a fool.
So bold.
Guo Bujing quietly reminded him,
"Marquis, your top two agents—Heaven's Edge and Lone Blade—have yet to return, correct?"
Zhu Wushi frowned, "They're still out."
Guo Bujing continued,
"Then I suggest the Marquis cool his temper. Wait for their return and ask them first, before making any rash decisions."
Zhu Wushi looked at Guo Bujing in surprise—the warning in his words was unmistakable.
What he didn't know was that Lu Xiaofeng had already spoken with the three of them last night about the situation in Jinling City, and the trio now knew that Chu Yang had slain two great demon kings.
After hearing this, Guo Bujing couldn't help but exclaim in delight, wishing he had been there to fight alongside Chu Yang and slay demons together.
Cao Zhengchun was even more regretful, stomping his feet and pounding his chest. Had he known the Virtuous Prince was this powerful, he wouldn't have thrown himself into danger so recklessly—he'd nearly lost his life.
Realizing the vast difference in strength, Yu Huatian became thoroughly convinced of Chu Yang's might and instantly turned into his most devoted fan—his loyalty ranking was neck and neck with Li Gexiao's.
Zhuge Shenhou asked with some surprise, "From the sound of Lord Guo's words, it seems you've already decided to support the Virtuous Prince's ascension?"
Guo Bujing nodded without hesitation.
"Not just Lord Guo—this humble servant also believes that only His Highness is truly fit to ascend the throne," Cao Zhengchun quickly pledged his loyalty in front of Chu Yang, afraid Guo Bujing would steal the spotlight.
"I feel the same!"
Yu Huatian, the last to speak up, was filled with regret. Why was he always one step slower than that old dog Cao in matters like this?!
The officials were dumbfounded. In just a short moment, three of the six had declared their support for the Virtuous Prince. No one had seen this coming.
Of all the candidates, he was the last one they expected!
My lords, have you lost your minds?
Seeing how resolute the three were, Zhuge Shenhou was sure they knew something he didn't.
As one of the first to recognize Chu Yang's potential, Zhuge Shenhou didn't oppose the idea of him taking the throne—in fact, he even looked forward to it.
As long as it wasn't Zhu Wushi, he could accept it.
As for Zheng Dongliu, he trusted Guo Bujing's character, and even more so Li Gexiao's judgment. Since Li Gexiao was willing to follow Chu Yang, there had to be something extraordinary about him.
The two old men happened to meet each other's eyes and exchanged a knowing smile.
"The princes are still young. Having His Highness the Virtuous Prince succeed the throne would not be a bad option—it doesn't break any rules."
"Lord Shenhou speaks wisely."
Two more defected to the other side. Out of the six, five now stood with Chu Yang. Zhu Wushi was in a panic.
But giving up now? He couldn't bring himself to do it.
This was an opportunity he had waited so long for—how could he just hand it over?
"There have been rumors for years in the capital of the Virtuous Prince's debauchery. Who doesn't know his character? If he were to ascend the throne, how could the people possibly accept it?"
"If the people won't accept him, the generals guarding the borders certainly won't either. That would inevitably lead to military chaos!"
"The Virtuous Prince must not inherit the throne!"