Just as Ren Zu had guessed, something big was indeed happening today in the Demon Imperial City.
Because today was the day that Duke Huai… would ascend the throne of emperor!
It all began three months ago, when the patriarch of the Yun Family hosted an event where he revealed that he had recovered his cultivation alongside his wife, causing a tremendous shock to those who knew his previously incurable condition.
And it was on that day that everyone also received terrible news.
Their Empress had died!
According to official information, the Little Demon Empress died within the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. All the inhabitants waited bitterly for a month, but there were still no further news of the Little Demon Empress, and this extinguished the last embers of hope in the hearts of those who were simply unwilling to believe.
For a time, the entire Imperial City was greatly shaken, and everyone fell into mourning. Although they had yet to see the body of the Little Demon Empress, for the Demon Emperor… the last monarch of the Illusory Demon Realm, the funeral procession had to continue. The Little Demon Empress's funeral lasted for an entire month, but after that, a question lingered in the air.
After the Little Demon Empress, who would take the reins and become the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm?
After all, if there were no Emperor, the land would definitely descend into chaos shortly.
But following the 'death' of the Little Demon Empress, there was no one from the Demon Emperor's lineage left in the world. There was only the Illusory Demon Royal Family, whose lineage was the closest to that of the Demon Emperor. Among the Illusory Demon Royal Family, the one who held the greatest prestige, power, and qualifications… was undoubtedly Duke Huai of the Duke Huai Palace.
Furthermore, in the months following the 'death' of the Little Demon Empress, the Duke Huai Palace took charge of both small and major events within the Demon Imperial City.
Even the entire proceedings of the Little Demon Empress's funeral were arranged by the Duke Huai Palace.
In four months, the influence of the Duke Huai Palace spread at a voracious pace, as they sank their claws into the entire Demon Imperial City at an alarming rate. Almost all territories had been brought under the complete control of the Duke Huai Palace. Many years ago, the inhabitants of the Demon Imperial City were deeply aware that the power of the Duke Huai Palace truly surpassed that of the Little Demon Empress. But it was only when the Duke Huai Palace truly bared its fangs that people realized just how strong the Duke Huai Palace had already become…
Following the news of the Little Demon Empress's death, those factions that were originally hesitant now fought tooth and nail to pledge allegiance to the Duke Huai Palace, as only the fear of being a step too late dominated their thoughts. Some of the factions that were originally loyal to the Demon Emperor clan chose to defect, heading toward the Duke Huai Palace to protect themselves. And those who had joined the Duke Huai Palace earlier were now filled with pride and jubilation.
The factions that remained loyal to the "extinct" Demon Emperor lineage sank into lamentable minorities… And more and more influences continued to distance themselves, isolate them, or even view them as enemies.
Two months ago, the words 'the Illusory Demon Realm cannot be left without a leader for a day' had been resounding through the Demon Imperial City. These words spread with blazing speed throughout the entire Illusory Demon Realm, while Duke Huai's loyalty and reputation were praised throughout the land, and these phrases shone so resplendently that they flooded the entire realm. Over ninety percent of the influences within the Demon Imperial City announced their support one after another for Duke Huai to be named the next emperor, and for a time, all praises for Duke Huai spread through the four corners of the Illusory Demon Realm; the accolades were so extravagant that he was not only named the most celebrated sage within the realm but also the only choice for the title of the new sovereign of the Illusory Demon Realm. Moreover, he was praised as a great sovereign who could usher in a period of prosperity that would surpass that of the Demon Emperor… while at the same time, he was still the person with the closest blood relation to the Demon Emperor's lineage.
Now that it had reached this point, if anyone still contested Duke Huai being made emperor, that person would practically be begging for universal condemnation.
Currently, the Demon Imperial Hall was at its maximum capacity, and the splendor of the occasion even overshadowed that of the Little Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony in the past. All the various mayors, regional lords, sect masters, and various other heroes of the realm could never have imagined in their wildest dreams that after merely coming to participate in the Little Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony, they would stay here for another four months and witness these significant events, from the passing of the Little Demon Empress to the ascension of the new emperor.
All the heroes of the realm were squeezed together in the Demon Imperial Hall, and each of them was a pillar of the realm, well-qualified to represent the entire Illusory Demon Realm. Right now, the time had come for the coronation of the new emperor, for Duke Huai's ascension to the emperor's seat, and there were only less than fifteen minutes remaining before this event would begin. The coronation ceremony was about to take place.
The Guardian Families and the various Duke Palaces occupied the core seats within the Demon Imperial Hall, and the seating arrangements were exactly the same as four months ago. The Yun Family and the Mu Family were also shockingly present.
Yun Qinghong was seated in the designated seat for the head of the Yun Family, and his face was fixed with an abnormal calm. Mu Yurou sat beside him, and both held each other's hands tightly, not loosening their grip. In contrast to the enduring and incessant noise within the Demon Imperial Hall, the place where the Yun Family and the neighboring Mu Family were seated was filled with a lifeless and heavy atmosphere. For an entire hour, no one spoke.
"The Duke Huai Palace… has arrived!"
Following the sharp and prolonged proclamation, the Demon Imperial Hall instantly descended into silence, as all eyes turned toward the doors of the great hall.
The great scarlet-golden doors were pushed open. Duke Huai, dressed in golden adornments, while the members of the Duke Huai Palace orbited him like stars orbiting the sun, stepped slowly into the Demon Imperial Hall. His expression was calm, and he wore a gentle smile, while his clearly softened eyebrows seemed to be filled with an amorphous dignity… He was already astonishingly exuding an emperor's majesty from every pore of his body.
Without the Little Demon Empress around, he had impressively assumed the role of Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm.
"We respectfully receive Emperor Huai!!"
A piercingly loud shout rang out from the location of the core seats, as the Patriarch of the Helian Family, Helian Kuang, stepped out of his seat and knelt on the ground. He prostrated himself completely on the floor, and his posture was attentive and humble to the extreme… Even when the previous Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Empress were in power, he had never prostrated himself completely in this manner before.
This loud shout awakened the audience from their slumber, and in the next instant, they were scrambling to leave their seats and kneel on the ground, to receive and offer their respects to Duke Huai:
"We respectfully receive Emperor Huai!!"
Nearly one hundred thousand of the Illusory Demon Realm's top-class powerhouses shouted those words in unison, and the sound was so loud that it made the entire Demon Imperial Hall tremble for a long time. Duke Huai passed his gaze unhurriedly across the great hall and committed to memory those people and forces that did not kneel to receive him. After that, he slowly raised his head and said in a polite and modest manner, "Everyone, please rise. Although this duke has received your undeserved kindness and has been elected to be the new sovereign of the Illusory Demon Realm, the coronation ceremony has not yet been held, so I am still unworthy of the title 'Emperor Huai.' And this manner of reverence is something I also cannot accept."
"Allow this humble duke to be so bold as to say this… Emperor Huai, your words are mistaken!" Duke Zhong said flamboyantly, as he clasped his fists, "Emperor Huai, your assumption of the emperor's seat is something approved by all those present and desired by all under the heavens. So how can you label it as 'undeserved kindness?!' After the passing of the Little Demon Empress, Emperor Huai united the realm, pacified the chaos within the realm, and ensured that peace reigned in the hearts of all its citizens. If not for Emperor Huai's sagacious wisdom and lofty virtues, the Demon Imperial City and the entire Illusory Demon Realm would still be in chaos. So in our hearts, although the coronation ceremony has yet to begin, you have long become the Emperor we will follow and swear our loyalty to until the end of our days. Today's coronation… forgive this humble duke for speaking nonsense, it is merely a formality to announce your exaltation to the rest of the world!"
"That's right! Duke Zhong's words are simply spot on!"
"What Duke Zhong just expressed were exactly the thoughts this humble duke harbors in his heart all the time!"
"May Emperor Huai unify the Illusory Demon Realm, may he reign while the heavens remain aloft!"
"We swear our lives and loyalty to Emperor Huai!!"
The coronation ceremony for the new emperor had yet to begin, and Duke Huai had merely made his appearance, yet oaths of loyalty flooded the entire Demon Imperial Hall, as everyone strove to outdo one another.
This was undoubtedly a manifestation of just how astonishing the power and coercion demonstrated by Duke Huai after the passing of the Little Demon Empress truly was… Not a single person suspected that there was anything in the Illusory Demon Realm that could prevent Duke Huai from taking the throne. The wisest decision anyone could make was to declare loyalty to Duke Huai; some might even argue that it was, in fact, the only option left.
If not, it would be no different from digging one's own grave.
"Hahahaha." Duke Huai let his arm fall, and a broad smile was plastered on his face; he needed to say no more, so he boldly strode toward the emperor's seat at the end of the great hall. As he passed by the area where the Yun Family was seated, he carelessly passed his eyes over Yun Qinghong, the corner of his mouth faintly curving upward.
In these last four months, before he officially became emperor, it was naturally not good to extend his wicked hand toward the Yun Family, as they were one of the Guardian Families.
But from today onward, anyone could come to the conclusion that Duke Huai would deal with the Yun Family first! When the time came, the best outcome for the Yun Family would be that they would once again fall into a great decline, and the worst outcome was complete and total destruction!
Yun Qinghong did not offer his respects to Duke Huai, nor did the entire Yun Family. He coldly observed the unfolding of events in the great hall. His expression and gaze were so cold and distant that not a single fluctuation could be seen. From the moment Duke Huai entered to the moment he took the emperor's seat, the only action he took was to tighten his grip on Mu Yurou's hand.
Mu Yurou's hand also tightened around his, the hearts and minds of this couple having long been intertwined.
Now it was impossible to stop Duke Huai from ascending the throne… even if they wagered the lives of all the Yun Family members in a desperate gamble, they still would not be able to prevent it. But the one who killed the Little Demon Empress and who was possibly the murderer of their son, according to rumors, stood before their eyes…
So how could they let him do as he pleased?
When the news of the Little Demon Empress's death was made public, another shocking revelation swept like wildfire: Yun Ren Zu, the son of the Yun Family patriarch, had died.
But unlike the Empress, whose funeral was prolonged for an entire month with all the honorable rites a sovereign should receive, his death was treated in a… strangely convenient manner.
They were merely words, as it had been with the Little Demon Empress.
And these words did not come from just anywhere—it was Duke Huai himself who, behind the scenes and through carefully chosen emissaries, let it "slip" that he had been present at the fateful moment. That when the Little Demon Empress fell within the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, Ren Zu had rushed in desperation after her, being consumed by the scarlet-golden flames.
The "official" version, repeated in every corner, was as follows: Ren Zu, driven by desperate loyalty, had chosen to perish with her, burning to ashes so their spirits would never be separated.
It was a tragic and beautiful plot, worthy of a legend, but it sounded overly melodramatic to some.
Still, how could anyone doubt it? The words came directly from Duke Huai's circle of trust, who at that moment was already manipulating the people's grief like a master playing his zither.
And since there was no body to contest, nor concrete evidence to refute, the rumor took root as if it were absolute truth.
Those who loved him, like Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, were forced to swallow their silence. They, more than anyone, knew something was wrong, that their son's 'disappearance' carried the putrid stench of Duke Huai's hand. But without proof, any word would be accused of hysteria, or worse, of treason against the "savior of the realm" that Duke Huai portrayed himself to be.
The couple did not attend today for the Demon Emperor clan, nor was it for the dignity and determination of the Yun Family… It was as parents, for they prepared to use their very lives to reclaim what had been lost before. To allow the son who filled them with love, pride, gratitude, joy, and sorrow… to recover the blood debt that was owed!
Although Ren Zu was not their blood son.
They had raised him as such.
And their beloved son had strived to learn medicine and heal them.
He had worked so hard for them.
How could they not repay that!?
What kind of vermin would they be if they did not repay it with their lives!?
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(A/N The next chapters will explain how Duke Huai discovered Ren Zu's identity, let me cook~
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