Chapter 606: Chapter 445: Calculations Fall Through
King Rui’s eyes were wide open in disbelief, clearly dying unwillingly.
As the sixth son of the Orthodox Emperor, he was intelligent and astute from a young age, often receiving praises from the Emperor, his father.
He had originally planned to contend with Zhao Mu for the throne, but successive palace coups saw Emperor Longqing and Emperor Tianshun ascending the throne one after another. He could only hone his claws and await the opportune moment in silence.
This very night, Emperor Tianshun died unexpectedly and without an heir, King Rui believed this was a heaven-sent opportunity.
Therefore, he summoned his loyal men to storm the palace, planning to hold Officials hostage and ascend the throne to proclaim himself Emperor, but he didn’t even make it through the palace gates before becoming a soul under the blade.
A lifetime of schemes and calculations, his voice had not even been heard before all turned to naught; he might as well have been a wealthy and noble king without the trouble!
...
“You have worked hard, Commander-in-Chief Xie, in eliminating the treacherous,”
Noble Consort Shu gently patted the infant, soothing him into silence. This was the support she would rely on for power in the future: “This Palace… I have often heard the late Emperor praise you, saying that you are utterly loyal to our country. Indeed, it is so!”
Commander-in-Chief Xie knelt down and said, “Your subject, greets the Dowager Empress, long live the Dowager Empress, for a thousand and a thousand more years.”
Clamor!
The Officials in the hall were shocked and voiced their astonishment. How could this Martial Barbarian be even more impudent than Chancellor Tang and the others, calling her the Dowager Empress directly before the new ruler was even decided upon.
Someone wanted to speak out in dissent but glanced at the severed head on the ground and eyed the shadows of soldiers outside the hall; they dared not be the first to object.
Arguing with the elders of the Cabinet at most meant losing one’s position.
To reason with a Martial Barbarian risked a blade entering white and exiting red.
“Very well, very well, very well.”
The Regent Dowager struggled to suppress her joy; she certainly couldn’t laugh out loud in front of the dead Emperor’s corpse, so said, “Commander-in-Chief Xie, please rise. I am but a woman and will need to rely heavily on you to govern the country from now on.”
No sooner had she finished speaking.
Minister He of the Ministry of Revenue knelt with a thump, bowing three times and kowtowing nine times: “Your servant greets Your Majesty; greets the Dowager Empress.”
Old fox!
Tang Mingyuan cursed inwardly, annoyed that this sly fox had shared the credit for supporting the new Emperor, and he quickly knelt to pay his respects as well.
The Officials looked at each other, bitterness in their eyes. At this point, they had no choice but to acknowledge the infant as the new ruler, vying with one another to do so.
The Regent Dowager sat on the couch, looking down at the Officials who knelt before her in droves, feeling quite triumphant.
“My Officials, please rise.”
Once the courtiers had all properly stood up, she continued, “The Emperor is newly born, and his name will be determined by the Imperial Clanhouse. What do you all consider to be a fitting reign name?”
After a brief discussion amongst the courtiers, Tang Mingyuan stepped forward to speak.
“‘Tai’ signifies blessings, longevity, peace, and tranquility; ‘Chang’ signifies prosperity and flourishing beauty. Why not take the name Taichang?”
“Excellent.”
The Regent Dowager hugged Emperor Taichang tightly and stood up, saying, “His Majesty is tired; the matters of the late Emperor’s funeral will be handled by Chancellor Tang, Commander-in-Chief Xie, and Minister Xu together.”
“At your command.”
Tang Mingyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly; anyone touched by imperial power indeed underwent a transformation.
Noble Consort Shu was known to be the most beautiful in the Inner Palace and had never been known for kindness or political games, yet now, leveraging the late Emperor’s death, she began to balance the court’s affairs.
Her methods were immature but effective!
The Ministry of Personnel was crucial. If the Regent Dowager could bring Minister Xu under her command, she would be more than just a figurehead.
“History is indeed a cycle.”
No sooner was Emperor Tianshun dealt with than the Regent Dowager began consolidating power. Even if they removed her, others would emerge in the future.
Tang Mingyuan felt nothing but exhaustion.
…
The Marquis of Enze’s mansion.
In the main hall.
Eunuch Wu paced back and forth, his expression unsettled.
With Emperor Tianshun’s sudden death, all his plans were disrupted: first, the Emperor’s son had yet to be born, and even if he were, he would still be too young.
Secondly, he had not been able to take complete control of the Eastern Depot and lacked enough power to support his son’s ascension to the throne.
“My lord, my lord…”
The foster son, who had gone out to gather news, rushed in, breathless as he reported: “It’s settled who the new ruler is—the late Emperor’s legitimate son, Noble Consort Shu is the Regent Dowager!”
Eunuch Wu exclaimed joyfully, “Really?”
“The news has not been hidden, it has already spread throughout the palace,”
the foster son said. “It’s said that the late Emperor’s legitimate son was born just an hour before, and that Chancellor Tang and Commander-in-Chief Xie jointly supported him, even deciding on the reign name.”
“Excellent, excellent, excellent!”
Eunuch Wu exclaimed in admiration, little realizing that despite the unexpected twists and turns, he had ultimately achieved his final goal.
“I am the true winner in the end.”
He dismissed his foster son with a wave of his hand and pulled out a jade pendant from his sleeve, murmuring solemnly, “Ancestor, now that Daqing has succeeded in restoring the country, you can face our forefathers with honor.”
The jade pendant buzzed and vibrated, and a voice emanated from within.
“This humble one has been nourished by the incense of Daqing, and my soul is no longer of this mundane world. I am far from death.”
“What if the jade pendant is broken?”
Eunuch Wu circulated his True Qi and crushed a corner of the jade pendant, from which a shrill scream of agony emerged.
“What do you intend to do?”
“I’m sending our ancestor off on his final journey.”
As Eunuch Wu spoke, ignoring the ancestor’s curses, he snapped the jade pendant in half, “From now on, there is no bloodline of Daqing, only the Emperor of Daqing!”
Wisp after wisp of residual soul drilled out of the broken jade, coalescing into a ghostly face that was both ethereal and corporeal.
The thick scent of incense enveloped the ghostly face, but as the gusts of wind blew, the aroma of the incense dissipated quickly, contorting the ghostly face into a hideous and horrifying shape.
“You unfilial descendant, you dare to betray and abandon your ancestors after all my trust in you.”
“Daqing has long perished!”
Eunuch Wu retorted, “Ancestor, you always spoke of restoring the country as your duty, but I have never thought of doing so. All I wanted was for my child to be emperor, peaceful and at ease.”
“Kekeke…”
With an ear-piercing screech, the ghostly face mocked, “You think the emperor is your son? I have already investigated; the woman is carrying a princess in her womb.”
Eunuch Wu countered, “How could a princess possibly inherit the throne?”
“What do you think?”
The ghostly face, now nearly dissipated, spoke before its soul scattered, “One without blessing, despite all schemes will end in vain. I’ll be waiting for you below.”
“Ancestor, I was wrong, you…”
Eunuch Wu reached out to grab the ghostly face, but it vanished with a poof like a wisp of mist, leaving no trace of its presence.
He stood in stunned silence for a long while before regaining his composure.
“The governor is a mastermind; I have no reason to feel wronged by my defeat!”
Within Daqing, the only person capable of switching the Crown Prince was Governor Zhou. No wonder Chancellor Tang and Commander-in-Chief Xie supported him wholeheartedly; they must have reached an agreement in secret long ago.
“I must leave. With the governor’s disposition, he’s bound to setle old scores.”
Eunuch Wu packed up his gold and silver treasures and was about to walk into the courtyard when he saw the foster son who had gone to gather information leading several dozen cavaliers charging into the rear estate.
The leading eunuch said, “Marquis, the governor invites you for a visit. Let’s go.”
Eunuch Wu unfolded his bundle, which clattered to the ground, spilling out glittering gold and silver, easily weighing thousands of taels.
“Eunuch Fu, spare my life, this is just travel money. I have several secret vaults, worth millions in gold and silver; it’s all for buying my life!”
“I do like gold.”
Eunuch Fu bent down to pick up a gold ingot, wiping off the dust before tucking it into his sleeve, his tone shifting,
“But I’m more afraid of death. What are you waiting for? Arrest him!”
On command, the cavaliers encircled Eunuch Wu.
Eunuch Wu, in preserving his physical vitality and continuing the royal bloodline of Daqing, had not practiced the Epiphyllum Treasure Tome, making him no match for the cavaliers in martial prowess.
An hour later.
In the dungeons of the Eastern Depot.
Eunuch Wu knelt on the ground, bound and disheveled, his hair and clothes in disarray.
Governor Zhou leisurely blew on his tea to cool it, took a sip, and then said with a grin,
“Marquis, if you have any last words, speak now, and I will make sure they’re heard.”
Eunuch Wu remained silent, dying to ask about his daughter’s whereabouts but not daring to. Bearing the title of princess, his daughter could possibly survive, but revealing her true identity meant certain death.
Zhou Yi waved his hand dismissively, “Take him away, do it with some dignity.”
A moment later.
The coroner entered, reporting in a low voice, “Governor, Marquis Enze did not pass through the Castration Chamber.”
“Oh?”
A thought flashed through Zhou Yi’s mind, and with a vague hunch, he couldn’t help but clap his hands and chuckle,
“How amusing!”
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