Chapter 389: The Crown Prince Has Passed Away
The court had been restless these past few days.
The commander of the Imperial Guards had been replaced by the newly appointed Regent with someone from his maternal Lin family.
The Grand Tutor pleaded earnestly with the Emperor to dismiss the Regent but was instead sent back to his hometown to retire. The vacancy was filled by someone arranged by the Regent.
With the Grand Tutor, a first-rank official, dismissed, and another minister having died by crashing into a pillar in the main hall without swaying the Emperor’s decision, no one in the court dared to offer further remonstrance.
Someone from the Ministry of Rites took the lead in proposing a grand ceremony to worship Heaven during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon was full.
Typically, such ceremonies were held only during years of disaster or misfortune. The Ministry of Rites now justified it by citing the Emperor’s ailing health, suggesting the ceremony to pray for the Dragon Body’s recovery.
The court quietly split into three factions.
The first was the faction newly promoted by the Regent, which still had shallow roots in the court.
The second consisted of the vast majority of court officials who were unaware of the underlying situation—the so-called neutral faction.
The third was the Eastern Palace Faction, led by Yun Chu, who privately courted the neutral faction to jointly propose the Heaven-worshiping ceremony.
Even those unaware of the inside story noticed the Emperor’s deteriorating health. During court sessions, officials standing close could see the deep hollows under his eyes, his gaunt cheeks, and his stick-like hands emerging from his sleeves.
A Heaven-worshiping ceremony was indeed necessary.
Thus, through the efforts of the Eastern Palace Faction and with the approval of the majority, the Mid-Autumn night ceremony was finalized.
The Emperor did not appoint any consort to hold the Phoenix Seal, leaving the matter to the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department to handle jointly.
Soon, it was Mid-Autumn Festival.
Before dusk, the moon had already risen, a full circle hanging at the horizon, symbolizing reunion.
The palace was illuminated with red lanterns everywhere. The grandest hall, Taihe Hall, was filled with people—civil and military officials stood in rows, Imperial Guards stood at attention, and at the highest position sat the Emperor.
As the night breeze blew, the Dragon Robe outlined the Emperor’s emaciated frame. Yin Fei felt a pang of heartache. How could it be? The Emperor was only sixty, yet he seemed like an eighty-year-old man…
Majestic music resounded through the hall, signaling to Heaven that the ceremony was about to begin.
A great altar burst into roaring flames.
Two palace attendants supported the Emperor as he stepped forward, throwing talismans inscribed with scriptures into the altar to burn.
Lord Xiang and Lord Nie exchanged a glance from below.
Lord Nie discreetly dropped something from his sleeve onto the ground.
Those standing behind him saw it and passed the signal along one by one.
Soon, an Imperial Guard came to report: “Your Highness, the Regent, unidentified individuals have been spotted at the palace gates. Awaiting your instructions!”
Chu Rui frowned. “Take a squad to investigate. Do not disrupt the ceremony!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Imperial Guard left with a detachment.
Chu Rui’s gaze shifted left, landing on Yun Chu.
He knew full well that this ceremony had been pushed through solely by Yun Chu’s efforts—she must be planning to use it for something.
Unfortunately…
A smile crept onto his face.
His smile felt like a venomous snake slithering up from Yun Chu’s ankles, sending chills down her spine.
She immediately averted her gaze, shaking off the terrifying sensation.
She turned to look at Yun Ze not far away.
As a member of the Yun family, Yun Ze stood in the front row, very close to the Emperor.
When a talisman drifted to the ground, he bent to pick it up and, head lowered, approached the altar.
Just as he was about to act, only half an arm’s length away from the Emperor—
“Urgent report from eight hundred li away—report!”A voice, growing nearer, interrupted the ongoing ceremony.
Generally speaking, an eight-hundred-li urgent report, related to frontline military affairs, was of utmost importance and had to be reported immediately.
The sacrificial music at the scene came to a halt.
A soldier in armor rushed to the front, falling to his knees with a thud: "Report—! The Crown Prince has passed away!"
These words were like a bomb dropped among the crowd.
"What did you say?"
"The Crown Prince has passed away—what does that mean?"
"Quick! Explain clearly!"
The soldier prostrated himself, trembling with fear: "Fifteen days ago, our army of one hundred and fifty thousand reached the coastal region of the Eastern Tomb Kingdom. Suddenly, an enemy force launched a surprise attack. The Crown Prince personally led ten thousand cavalry in pursuit but fell into an enemy trap... pierced by ten thousand arrows..."
"What..."
Yun Chu's body swayed unsteadily.
Chu Yi was dead?
Impossible!
How could a mere Eastern Tomb Kingdom take his life!
If it were the Eastern Tomb Kingdom ten years later, with its powerful military, perhaps Chu Yi might not prevail!
But the current Eastern Tomb Kingdom was internally weak and utterly vulnerable—how could Chu Yi possibly die there...
"Why did the Crown Prince personally lead the pursuit?" Yun Ze dashed forward in one swift movement, grabbing the soldier by the collar. "Explain clearly!"
The soldier broke down sobbing: "That day, all the commanding generals were struck with diarrhea, lying in bed unable to rise. The Crown Prince had no choice but to go himself... After His Highness fell, Valiant General led thirty thousand elite troops to retrieve the Crown Prince's body, but it was too late. Those people... they threw the Crown Prince's corpse into the sea!!"
"Pfft—!!"
The Emperor spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly collapsing.
"Imperial Uncle!" Chu Rui swiftly supported the Emperor, his face full of concern. "Please take care of Your Majesty's Dragon Body! If anything happens to you, who will avenge the Crown Prince? Moreover, now that the Crown Prince is gone, the nation has lost its heir. For the sake of the Great Jin Kingdom's eternal legacy, you must rally and select the next ruler!"
His words shifted the atmosphere—those who had been mourning the Crown Prince's death moments ago now began pondering who the next Crown Prince would be.
Among the remaining princes—the Seventh Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Tenth Prince—who would it be...
Yun Chu looked down at the Eastern Palace Faction ministers. Their tears were not yet dry, but their eyes had already begun to wander.
The Junior Tutor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian were whispering among themselves with bowed heads.
From a distance, she glanced at Fan Ming hidden among the Imperial Guards and saw him shake his head—meaning the plan was canceled.
So this was Chu Rui's scheme.
With the Crown Prince dead, she, the Crown Princess, was nothing.
The Eastern Palace Faction would dissolve automatically.
Yun Chu took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain steady.
Even without evidence, she was certain—Chu Rui had targeted the military camp, leading to Chu Yi's...
"Dispatch... dispatch another hundred thousand troops!" the Emperor gasped, struggling to speak. "Launch an eastern campaign immediately! Crush the Eastern Tomb Kingdom and avenge the Crown Prince!"
"Crush the Eastern Tomb Kingdom!"
"Crush the Eastern Tomb Kingdom!!"
"Crush the Eastern Tomb Kingdom!!!"
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
"Pfft—!!"
The Emperor spat blood again and collapsed into Chu Rui's arms.
"The sacrificial ceremony will be rescheduled!" Chu Rui ordered attendants to carry the Emperor. "The matter of deploying additional troops will be discussed tomorrow at court! Everyone is dismissed!"
The civil and military officials dispersed gradually, murmuring among themselves.Yun Ze rushed over in one swift step, steadying the swaying Yun Chu: "Chu'er, are you alright?"
"Elder brother, Chu Rui would never dispatch a hundred thousand troops for reinforcements!" Yun Chu composed herself and spoke, "Write to Father. I only trust Father!"
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