Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Eunuch Yu was overwhelmed with grief.

Has Your Majesty truly passed away? Is he really never coming back?

"Eunuch Yu, I do not absolutely need you."

Prince Jin issued the final ultimatum.

Eunuch Yu glanced at the tortured and disfigured Xiao Dezi, and silently followed Prince Jin.

On the way, Prince Jin encountered Consort Jiang.

Consort Jiang asked lightly, "Why is Prince Jin in such a hurry, where are you going?"

Prince Jin replied indifferently, "I have urgent matters, I hope Consort Hui will make way."

Consort Jiang said coldly, "What urgent matters could you have? Matters of rebellion?"

Prince Jin gave a look to the attending eunuch.

Two palace attendants walked towards Consort Jiang.

Consort Jiang drew a long sword, "Who dares to touch me?"

When Princess Consort Chen returned from a brief visit to the restrooms to the side hall, Consort Jiang was gone.

After asking around, she learned that Consort Jiang had gone out with a sword, and she realized something was wrong, so she quickly chased after her.

"Consort Hui!"

She called after Consort Jiang and quickly stepped forward, grabbing her wrist that was holding the sword.

Prince Jin looked deeply at her, "Princess Consort Chen, please escort Consort Hui back to her chamber."

With that, Prince Jin swept his sleeves and left.

Consort Jiang was about to slash at him with the sword when Princess Consort Chen tightly held onto her wrist, "Hui'er."

It was the first time she called Consort Jiang by her personal name.

Consort Jiang paused.

Princess Consort Chen shook her head, "We've done all we can, now it depends on whether he has the fate of an Emperor."

Consort Jiang glared at the back of Prince Jin, "Fate of an Emperor, I spit!"

She threw the long sword in her hand to the ground with a clang, "Weren't you quite capable in the past? Now the throne is about to be taken by others, why don't you come out and say something!"

-

The dark clouds pressed down.

Lu Yuan, riding a white horse, had Emperor Liang tied to his back, dashing towards the Imperial Palace like the wind.

Whoosh!

A cold arrow shot towards them.

The Miao King, riding a black horse, caught the cold arrow, and with a reverse grip, shot it back at the ambushing archers.

"Where do we go next?"

He shouted loudly.

Emperor Liang, lying on Lu Yuan's back, said, "To the east."

The Miao King turned into the eastern alley.

Lu Yuan followed closely.

They did not return to the palace with the Black Armor Army but split into two groups.

Despite this, Hu Lie still guessed their strategy and dispatched many experts to ambush them along the way.

"These don't seem like those damn hairy dog's experts."

After killing yet another assassin, the Miao King asked Emperor Liang, "Hey, just how many people want you dead?"

For once, Emperor Liang didn't retort with "Are you any better off yourself?"

He was silent.

Had it not been for this incident, he truly wouldn't have known that there were so many people around him wishing for his death.

The ministers he once relied on now wanted to kill him, and his sworn enemies were actually saving him.

His life... truly was ironic.

"Your grandpa's here!"

The Miao King spotted several more assassins, and with one hand slapped the horse's back, using the momentum to leap up, flying over roofs and knocking the ambushers one by one off the roof.

"Hahaha!"

"Come on!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A large wave of poison darts shot towards him.

"Damn it!"

The Miao King's hair stood on end, diving into a roof hole, his butt sticking up to narrowly escape the attack.

-

Prince Jin arrived at Jinluan Palace with Eunuch Yu.

The civil and military officials were already in place.

Prince Jin announced the shocking news of Emperor Liang's death.

The officials were grief-stricken, and the entire court wept in sorrow.

Prince Jin, filled with righteous indignation, said, "My father was killed by the Miao King. I vow here today, as long as I don't kill the Miao King and wipe out Miaojiang, I am no man!"

Zhang Qufeng presented his writing tablet and stepped forward, "With Your Majesty's passing, we ministers are heartbroken. Yet, a country cannot go without a ruler for even a day. We beseech Prince Jin to ascend the throne and preside over the affairs of Liang Country, the people, and the nation!"

With him taking the lead, the officials supporting Prince Jin followed in agreement.

"Please, Prince Jin, ascend the throne!"

"Please, Prince Jin, ascend the throne!"

The Minister of Agriculture and the Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar exchanged glances.

Cabinet Minister Meng was not present.

"Where is the Cabinet Minister?"

The Chief Scholar asked quietly.

The Minister of Agriculture glanced at the vacant position of the State Preceptor, "Most likely, he won't be coming."

The Chief Scholar was taken aback, "Could it be... they got rid of the Cabinet Minister..."

It's impossible for Gongsun Yanming, as the State Preceptor, to be absent from the court on the day Prince Jin ascends the throne without something being amiss.

Today, it wasn't just Cabinet Minister Meng who was absent.

Any opposition to Prince Jin was likely neutralized.

The Minister of Agriculture's expression became grave.

The Chief Scholar said, "I still cannot believe the Crown Prince would betray His Majesty."

The Minister of Agriculture sighed inwardly.

He didn't believe it either.

But... everything seems to be a foregone conclusion now.

"Edict delivery—"

At this critical moment, the announcement came from outside Jinluan Palace.

The civil and military officials all looked towards the sound.

Even Prince Jin, who was about to sit on the Dragon Throne, paused in anticipation.

Under the sky, Lu Zhaoyan, dressed in the Crown Prince's ceremonial robes, calmly entered Jinluan Palace holding a bright yellow imperial edict.

The entire court of civil and military officials was astounded.

Prince Jin frowned, "Lu Zhaoyan! Weren't you confined to the Crown Prince Mansion? How dare you trespass into the Imperial Palace!"

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "Father has issued an edict."

Eunuch Yu knelt down with a thud.

Seeing him kneel, the palace attendants also all knelt.

Prince Jin glared at Eunuch Yu with disappointment, then said to Lu Zhaoyan, "Second brother, you fled privately, which is already a capital offense, and now you falsely deliver an imperial edict. I'm afraid your crimes have compounded, leading to eternal damnation!"

Lu Zhaoyan said, "Chief Steward Yu, please read out Father's edict."

Prince Jin angrily said to Eunuch Yu, "Dare you?"

Without hesitation, Eunuch Yu walked to Lu Zhaoyan, took the edict in both hands, and slowly unfolded it, "All ministers receive the edict—"

This time, it was the officials who looked at each other in disbelief.

The Minister of Agriculture and the Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar kneeled without hesitation.

Prince Jin squinted his eyes.

Something was wrong.

If Lu Zhaoyan had an edict as a trump card, he would have used it earlier, not waited until now.

This edict is fake!

"...I hereby pass the throne to my second son—"

Just as Eunuch Yu was about to read Lu Zhaoyan's name, Prince Jin backhanded and snatched the edict away.

The officials were shocked!

Lu Zhaoyan said sternly, "Prince Jin, do you intend to defy the imperial edict?"

Prince Jin coldly said, "Lu Zhaoyan, do you really think that by forging an edict, you can deceive everyone?"

Lu Zhaoyan calmly asked, "Forgery? What makes you say I forged it?"

Prince Jin retorted, "Father is trapped in the underground palace; how could he have the time to write you an edict?"

Lu Zhaoyan slowly said, "And where did Father have the time to pass the throne to you?"

Prince Jin mockingly said, "If he doesn't pass the throne to me, should he pass it to you, a traitor who colludes with the Miao King, murdered your father, and usurped the throne? Guards! Seize this traitor for me!"

"I dare anyone to try!"

Lu Zhaoyan revealed the Token of the Imperial Army.

Prince Jin clenched his fists, then laughed mockingly, "Do you really think you can command the Imperial Army with just a mere token?"

The military power belongs to the Hu Family!

The commander of the Imperial Army had already been replaced with someone from his uncle's side. How could Lu Zhaoyan take advantage?!

"Close the grand doors!"

At Prince Jin's command, the grand doors of Jinluan Palace were slammed shut by his elite men.

Lu Zhaoyan stood, staring at him.

Prince Jin smiled faintly, "Second Brother, you are no match for your elder brother. Watch closely as I ascend the throne."

He was dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, stepping up the stairs step by step towards the high Dragon Throne.

-

On the other side, Meng Qianqian's Black Armor Army met up with the Miao King's party at the palace gates.

The Miao King panted heavily, "Granddaughter-in-law, are you alright? I'm exhausted! This old body can't fight at all!"

He pointed at Emperor Liang behind Lu Yuan, wishing he could drag the Emperor down for a beating!

Meng Qianqian said, "Grandfather, His Majesty was injured trying to save you."

The Miao King was speechless.

Truly a trump card, indeed.

After speaking with the Miao King, Meng Qianqian looked up at the tightly closed palace gates and loudly said, "The Emperor returns to the palace! Open the gates!"

No response.

The gates remained firmly shut.

Meng Qianqian coldly said, "If you do not open them, I will be unkind!"

After speaking, she raised her hand.

The well-disciplined Black Armor Army made way, siege vehicles and ladders were brought out.

At this moment, the palace gates opened.

Hu Lie led a squad of cavalry, imposing and majestic, riding forth.

Hu Lie led at the forefront.

Meng Qianqian also rode forward on her horse.

King against king, general against general.

Meng Qianqian exuded an aura that even surprised Hu Lie.

"Why do you not kneel to welcome the Emperor back to the palace?"

Hu Lie stared at her, "You are not the Eldest Princess."

Meng Qianqian smirked, "Indeed I am not, so what?"

Hu Lie rudely said, "If you can impersonate the Eldest Princess, then I have every reason to suspect that you've found someone to impersonate the Emperor! Besides, the Emperor has already passed away in the underground palace! My confidant saw it with his own eyes; the Emperor left his last words for my confidant, declaring Prince Jin to ascend the throne, weed out the traitors, and march on Miaojiang!"

Meng Qianqian said, "Does anyone actually believe such nonsense?"

Hu Lie said, "Believe it or not, it doesn't matter, what matters is that you're too late."

Meng Qianqian laughed, "If we were really too late, why would you be wasting time with us here?"

The Miao King shouted loudly from thirty paces away, "Grandd—whoever... Eldest Princess? Stop wasting words with him! Move aside! Let me handle this!"

Hu Lie coldly sneered, "Men! Arrest the traitors for me!"

Emperor Liang coldly said, "Hu Lie! Dare you!"

Hu Lie felt a shock in his heart.

The pressure from Emperor Liang almost crushed him in an instant.

Yet it was just an instant.

Some paths, once taken, offer no return.

The Jin Prince Mansion, the General Mansion... everyone's fate was tied to him.

He could not retreat!

Hu Lie shouted, "The Emperor is dead, where do you come from? What are you waiting for, seize them for me!"

"But..."

A deputy general hesitantly asked, "But they are the Eldest Princess and the Emperor..."

"Do you really think she's the Eldest Princess? Look carefully!"

Hu Lie said, then abruptly raised his spear, unexpectedly thrusting it towards Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian leaned back on her horse.

Though Hu Lie's spear did not wound her, it tore off her human skin mask.

When the soldiers saw this, they hesitated no longer.

Meng Qianqian drew her sword to the sky, "Black Armor Army, form up! Fight!"