Chapter 86

Yan Sa seemingly rightfully ascended to the throne, but as long as the ministers have brains, they could see what he has done. All of them scoffed at him, and some even had the courage to directly return to their hometowns.

After ascending the throne, Yan Sa was not cleared of his depression even though he finally sat on the throne. He lived in fear of being seized by the Third Prince, fearing that others might doubt his ascension to the throne.

Yan Sa was calculated on by the Third Prince, so the Emperor and even the ministers thought he was dark and narrow-minded. But the saddest thing was that he himself could not withstand the torture of gossip. In opposition to the protagonist, he really went to the abyss one step at a time.

In the court, he was not used to the minister's resistance to him. He used thunderous means to directly behead several high and powerful ministers, causing turmoil within the court. Yan Sa then acquired the reputation of a tyrant.

At the same time, the Third Prince Yan Lan got not only the holy decree but also the support of General Qi Yue of the Northern Region. Qi Yue deployed part of the Northern Army to personally escort the Third Prince back to the capital to ascend the throne.

In contrast to Yan Sa, Yan Lan became more sophisticated and more outstanding. He almost immediately captured the hearts of the people and even the support of several ministers. With the holy decree in hand, he soon revealed the truth about Yan Sa's usurpation of the throne. With the support of the ministers, he defeated Yan Sa and ascended the throne successfully.

Yan Sa played the role of a negative foil. During his short reign, the southern part of the country was flooded, the northern part was drought-stricken, and the people were complaining.

As soon as Yan Lan ascended to the throne, it immediately rained heavily in the north, making people more likely to call Yan Lan the Son of Destiny. The usurper Yan Sa then became one of the few tyrants in history, leaving a legacy of infamy.

Now, Qing Yun happens to be reborn when Emperor Hongming's great end was approaching. After nearly two years of operation, Yan Sa has also taken control of most of the power in the palace.

He lowered his eyes and surveyed his weak and broken body. His body's problems were not difficult for him as his soul had now started to repair this body which was nearing the end.

But was Yan Sa's difficulty because of this body? Not really. It was not difficult for him to sit on the throne, but it was not easy to sit firmly. The Third Prince, who has the holy decree in his hand, is only one of the reasons. The more significant reason is Yan Sa's reputation in the court and among the people.

If Qing Yun, like the original, took advantage of Emperor Hongming's death to forge a holy decree to ascend to the throne, then it would be a stain that he would never be able to erase from his entire life. As long as the Third Prince lives, Qing Yun will not be able to escape the crisis of being attacked by him through this.

But as the Third Prince is the protagonist of this world, Qing Yun, a foreign force, cannot kill him.

Qing Yun snickered. It was just an ordinary throne, and he wasn't as desperate as the original owner to fight for and grab it.

This time, the original body's experience is similar to Qing Yun's, whose body was weak and sick and was not looked upon by anyone. Qing Yun knows more that in this situation, even if he desperately grabbed the throne and stepped up to the top, what will greet him is the criticism and ridicule of others, which brought the possibility for the Third Prince to turn the situation over.

Therefore, if Qing Yun wants to complete the task completely without worries, he must sit upright on the throne. Not only that, Qing Yun wants to make Emperor Hongming, who does not think highly of him, and to make the group of ministers who denounced him, beg him to sit on this throne.

But if Qing Yun wants to sit upright on the throne, Emperor Hongming cannot die.

In Jing Yang Palace, lying on the dragon bed is the dying Emperor Hongming. He waved off the medicine bowl in the hands of Eunuch Su. Then, he pulled Eunuch Su's hand and asked with a gasp: "The holy decree...is the holy decree sent out? And Qi Yue...my message to him..."

Eunuch Su busily comforted him: "Your Majesty, don't worry. The decree will be delivered to the Third Prince in a few days, and the message to General Qi Yue has also been sent out together. The most important thing for you now is to take care of your dragon body!" [T/N: Dragon Body refers to the body of the Emperor.]

As he said that, he helped up the aged Emperor, but he inwardly sighed deeply. The fact that he thought of sending the holy decree out shows how serious the situation in the palace has become.

Now that the Emperor is approaching the end of his life, there was not even a single imperial physician in Jing Yang Palace. Likewise, the ministers and concubines are nowhere to be seen.

Hearing Eunuch Su's words, Emperor Hongming slowly breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned on the head of the bed and could not help but sneer. In an aged voice, he said, "Dragon body? I know my own body well."

With that said, Emperor Hongming coughed a few more times, and bright red blood suddenly clouded the golden silk handkerchief.

Obviously accustomed to this situation, Emperor Hongming indifferently swept a glance at the still solemn imperial city outside the window. "I originally thought the eldest was deep-minded, but not so dark as this. To my surprise, I still underestimated him."

Now that Jing Yang Palace is in such a decaying state, it was naturally because Yan Sa has taken control of the entire palace. When he first knew that Emperor Hongming had decided to make the Third Prince the Crown Prince, he started to think. He first acted as a disabled person to lower Emperor Hongming and the Third Prince's wariness and then used a bitter ploy to arouse the warmth in Emperor Hongming's heart.

After paralyzing Emperor Hongming and the Third Prince in this way, he secretly followed the power left to him by the Empress to wield control in the palace. When Emperor Hongming found out that something was wrong, the only trusted one left by his side was Eunuch Su.

Eunuch Su lowered his head and did not dare to answer, but he felt cold in his heart. The First Prince could hold himself back to such an extent that he even went so far as to pretend to be crippled. He also filled the Emperor's comment that his mind was dark.

"I am most fortunate that I chose the Third Prince. If the Great Yan is handed over to that ruthless thing, my people, my rivers and mountains are going to be destroyed in his hands!"

He whacked the silk handkerchief on the bed and sighed in pain: "Originally, I only pity his health, so I kept him by my side and did not drive him out of the palace like the second son, but I never thought I would be raising a tiger for trouble!"

Looking at the old Emperor in such a frail state, Eunuch Su was overwhelmed with grief and could not help but wipe his eyes.

But Emperor Hongming suddenly laughed again: "He is now in charge of the palace, but so what? Even if he usurped the throne, with his methods, he would be driven off the throne within three years! Besides, Lan'er still has the holy decree and Qi Yue's help."

While the two of them were talking, Eunuch Su suddenly heard an echoing sound from outside. He immediately understood that at this time, those who were able to enter the Emperor's chambers without any notification were probably only the First Prince's people.

Eunuch Su turned his head and immediately recognized the visitor. It was none other than Eunuch Chen, Chen Bing, who was close to the First Prince.

Eunuch Su, who was incredibly loyal to Emperor Hongming and remained unfailingly loyal even now, immediately greeted him and blocked in front of the aged Emperor. "I wonder what is the matter with the Grand Prince that he has arranged for Eunuch Chen to come personally?"

Chen Bing arrogantly smiled. He followed the prince, wanting this day right now. Eunuch Su, who used to look at people with his nose raised, now has to call him Eunuch Chen respectfully?

But thinking about the actions of the Grand Prince this morning, Chen Bing's eyes flickered. He always felt that the Grand Prince seems to be a little different compared to the past.

Before, the Prince had a deep obsession in his eyes. Those eyes were always engraved with gloom, like a trapped beast's counterattack before death, but now, the Grand Prince's whole person suddenly soothed down. His pair of dark eyes were calm.

This kind of wisdom and calmness that seemed to be able to see through people made Chen Bing feel chills in his heart. It was because although the original Grand Prince's character was misbehaving, there were traces that could be followed. However, now, the Grand Prince's every move was impossible for people to see through.

For example, now he is sent to do this matter.

Thinking about it, Chen Bing suppressed the vague doubts in his heart and beckoned behind him. "His Majesty is suffering from illness, and the Grand Prince is concerned about it. He personally tried the soup and ordered his servant to bring a bowl of medicine to His Majesty."

A palace maid came forward with a bowl of dark medicine.

As soon as Eunuch Su saw the medicine, a specific thought flashed through his mind. He immediately gritted his teeth in anger: "The Grand Prince dared to do this treacherous usurpation of the throne? Are you not afraid of being condemned by the heavens!"

Eunuch Su was really shocked. He did not expect the Eldest Prince to dare to murder his own father in such a blatant manner. Throughout the centuries of history of Great Yan, even the most ridiculous emperors could not do such a bold thing.

Understanding the situation in front of him, Emperor Hongming let out a laugh. Thinking that he had a lifetime of fame, he had no breakthroughs in political affairs but also had no fault, and he eventually ended up being poisoned to death by his own son?

It has been said that there is no true love in the royal family. Emperor Hongming did not feel deeply when he was vying for the throne, but this time he really felt it.

Eunuch Su was so eager to protect his master that he was not willing to let Chen Bing give this poison to Emperor Hongming. He immediately went forward to knock over the medicine bowl.

Chen Bing immediately stopped him, and with a wave, he said: "Someone, restrain Eunuch Su, don't let him spill the medicine sent by the Grand Prince."

Immediately, two guards with swords stood out behind him and pinned Eunuch Su to the ground. Eunuch Chen sent someone forward to force Emperor Hongming to take the medicine.

Seeing this, Eunuch Su immediately shouted with messy hair and a wretched face: "Traitor! How dare you! You are committing an offense against His Majesty's body. You will be sentenced to death!"

Seeing the struggle of Eunuch Su, who had followed him to the end, Emperor Hongming took a deep breath and stood up from the bed: "How dare you! Release him for me!"

He used all his strength to brush away the palace maids who were trying to give him medicine and laughed aloud: "Even if I have fallen to the present state, I am not something you slave girls can spar with."

Emperor Hongming knew that he could not avoid it today. He would rather die with his own hands, so he reached out and took the medicine bowl. His old but still shrewd eyes fiercely swept over all the people present.

Even Chen Bing could not help but shiver under his eyes.

"The Eldest's tactics, I have witnessed it." Emperor Hongming looked at the dark medicinal juice and said in a deep voice to Chen Bing, "Go back and bring a message to Eldest Prince. Tell him that I am most proud of having a son like Lan'er, and the most regretful thing was not having strangled this sinful son in the first place!"

After saying that, Emperor Hongming tilted his head and drank the medicine juice in the bowl thoroughly.

"No! Your Majesty!" Eunuch Su cried out bitterly.

"Pah!" The delicate and beautiful porcelain bowl shattered on the ground, the porcelain pieces burst all over.

Emperor Hongming sat down on the bed. He covered his chest, gasped for breath, and couldn't help but close his eyes.

Emperor Hongming, who had fallen into darkness and thought back on his life, suddenly felt that something was wrong. The bitter medicinal juice went down, but it did not bring him any discomfort. On the contrary, Emperor Hongming felt a warm power flowing through his body, rapidly repairing his organs that were on the verge of collapse.

He even felt that even his breathing had cleared up.

Is this a return to life? Emperor Hongming opened his eyes and surprisingly got out of bed at once.

He covered his chest with an astonished expression. Eunuch Su, who was crying with tears all over his face, also froze and looked at Emperor Hongming, whose condition was more than a little bit better: "Your...Majesty, you?"

Looking at the appearance of this master and servant, the corners of Chen Bing's mouth took on a sarcastic smile. His feminine voice slowly told the imperial physician kneeling at the side. "Imperial Physician, why don't you quickly check His Majesty's pulse and see how effective the medicinal soup sent by the Grand Prince is."