Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Taihe Palace.

Prince Jin was discussing the funeral arrangements for Prince Rui with the officials from the Ministry of Rites when suddenly a eunuch, in a panic, stumbled and crawled into the room: "Your Highness... Your Highness!"

Prince Jin sternly asked: "What has got you so flustered?"

The eunuch gulped in fear, looking at the room full of officials, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

Prince Jin said: "You all may withdraw for now. We will discuss Prince Rui's matters later."

The crowd acknowledged his words.

Only Prince Jin and his confidant remained in the hall. He calmly said: "Speak!"

The eunuch was on the verge of tears: "The Imperial Mausoleum... there has been an incident!"

Prince Jin, who was already frazzled by Prince Rui's funeral matters, casually asked: "What could happen at the Imperial Mausoleum?"

The eunuch replied: "General Wang... is dead!"

The memorial slip in Prince Jin's hand dropped to the ground with a smack.

"Quickly summon my uncle! And the State Preceptor!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Hu Lie and Gongsun Yanming arrived quickly.

Prince Jin's face was pale: "Uncle! Father-in-law!"

This time, he actually addressed his father-in-law.

Gongsun Yanming cupped his hands: "Your Highness."

Hu Lie was in no mood for such formalities and remained silent with a somber expression.

Prince Jin quickly said: "Uncle, is it true about the Imperial Mausoleum? General Wang is dead? Who killed him? With him dead, who is guarding the Imperial Mausoleum?"

"Your Majesty has emerged."

Hu Lie said.

Prince Jin's face changed again: "Father Emperor... has come out of the Imperial Mausoleum? Uncle, didn't you... didn't you say..."

Panic surged in his heart, and he glanced at Hu Lie, then at Gongsun Yanming, "Father-in-law! Can you divine whether it's auspicious or ominous?"

Gongsun Yanming said: "I have divined it at the Astronomical Bureau, it is highly ominous."

Prince Jin swayed and fell into the chair in dismay.

Hu Lie impatiently said: "Now is not the time to boost others' morale and diminish our own. With Your Majesty's return to the court, none of us can escape! Instead of divining auspiciousness or ominousness, think about how to respond!"

Prince Jin looked at Gongsun Yanming, seeing him composed and not in a panic: "Father-in-law, do you have a method?"

Gongsun Yanming said seriously: "There are two methods: one, kill Your Majesty; two, ascend the throne immediately."

"Ascend the throne immediately?"

Prince Jin murmured.

Gongsun Yanming took out a map from his wide sleeve: "We could ambush Your Majesty from this spot, but with the Miao King by his side, it will be difficult to succeed."

Prince Jin clenched his fist: "Isn't the Miao King Father Emperor's mortal enemy? Why would he help Father Emperor?"

Gongsun Yanming continued: "It's not the time to consider the Miao King's motives, although it's difficult, I still believe we can try, aiming to delay, to allow Your Highness to ascend smoothly."

Prince Jin asked: "How... how do I ascend?"

Gongsun Yanming said: "Announce that Your Majesty has passed away, and on his deathbed, he passed the throne to His Highness Prince Jin."

Prince Jin said: "Will the ministers... believe it?"

Gongsun Yanming slowly said: "In recent times, Your Highness has been ruling as Regent, and in the ministers' hearts, they already see Your Highness as the unequivocal choice for the Crown Prince."

Prince Jin hesitated a bit: "But this..."

"Let's do it just like this!"

Hu Lie decisively decided, glancing at Gongsun Yanming, "Although I've always looked down on your lot of tricksters, this time, I agree with your proposal."

"Your Highness, please prepare to ascend the throne!"

The last sentence was directed at Prince Jin.

Prince Jin looked at Gongsun Yanming.

Gongsun Yanming nodded.

Hu Lie donned his helmet, stepping out decisively.

Prince Jin asked: "Uncle, where are you going?"

Hu Lie solemnly replied: "Secure the Imperial Palace! I will not allow anyone to enter the palace gates until Your Highness has ascended the throne!"

A surge of emotions rose in Prince Jin's chest.

Is he really... about to become the emperor?

After all these years of waiting, is his long-cherished wish finally going to be fulfilled?

Pacing past Gongsun Yanming, Hu Lie halted: "State Preceptor, the matter of ascending the throne is up to you, surely your Thousand Mechanism Pavilion hasn't just been loafing around all these years, right?"

His words carried deeper meaning.

Gongsun Yanming bowed casually: "Great General, take care."

Hu Lie immediately called his trusted men, gathered the army, and surrounded the Imperial Palace.

If it weren't for the Imperial Mausoleum being in the Capital City, he would actually want to guard the city gates.

But the palace gates, well, they're almost as good!

Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, he would ensure his nephew ascends to the throne!

Gongsun Yanming took out a booklet, which recorded many officials' "shameful secrets", using these to blackmail some disobedient ones was not a bad strategy.

Those who still wouldn't heed advice would simply be killed.

Prince Jin ordered someone to return to the Jin Prince Mansion to retrieve the Dragon Robe he had prepared long ago.

Consort Hu, hearing that her son was about to ascend the throne, joyously ran to flaunt outside Consort Jiang's chamber.

Consort Jiang kept her chamber doors tightly shut.

She initially wanted to rush out and beat Consort Hu, but Princess Consort Chen held her back.

Princess Consort Chen specifically stayed in her chamber to accompany her, worried that she might fall for Consort Hu's provocations.

"Be patient and wait. I trust Ah Yuan and Xiao Jiu."

Consort Jiang sighed: "My heart is restless, I'm constantly worrying if something's going to happen."

"Are you worried about His Majesty?"

Princess Consort Chen asked with a smile.

The two, though both concubines of Emperor Liang, never squabbled with each other for favor.

Consort Jiang sighed deeply: "How can I not worry about him? If he doesn't return, who will pay back the ten thousand silver taels he owes me?"

Princess Consort Chen was amused by her.

She clasped Consort Jiang's cold hand: "He'll come back, everyone will be safe and sound."

She actually understood.

Consort Jiang wasn't worried about His Majesty, she was worried about Prince Fu.

Prince Fu had long since allied with the Crown Prince Mansion, and once Prince Jin ascended, Prince Fu would be the first he'd target.

Kunning Palace.

The Empress sat before the copper mirror, quietly examining her appearance.

"Time waits for no one."

She said.

Yuan Yang said: "Your Majesty is not old at all, just like when you were young!"

The Empress smiled: "Prince Jin is about to ascend the throne, I am to become the Empress Dowager."

Prince Jin donned the Dragon Robe.

Eunuch Yu was brought before him.

Seeing Prince Jin in the Dragon Robe, Eunuch Yu was so shocked he couldn't speak.

Prince Jin said to him: "You were Father Emperor's confidant, from now on, I want you to be my confidant."

Eunuch Yu's eyes flickered.

Prince Jin said: "If you refuse, I fear your godson's life will be forfeit."

The severely injured Xiao Dezi was brought before Eunuch Yu by two eunuchs.

Xiao Dezi was barely clinging to life, feebly hanging on.

Eunuch Yu: "Xiao Dezi!"

Xiao Dezi weakly said: "Godfather... your son... is fine..."

"A true tough bone."

Prince Jin laughed, "I know you pretend to pledge allegiance to me, your heart still hopes for Father Emperor's return, but haven't I also missed Father Emperor?"

As he spoke, his smile faded, "

Eunuch Yu: "Xiao Dezi!"

Xiao Dezi weakly said: "Godfather... your son... is fine..."

"A true tough bone."

Prince Jin laughed, "I know you pretend to pledge allegiance to me, your heart still hopes for Father Emperor's return, but haven't I also missed Father Emperor?"

As he spoke, his smile faded, "