Come, Take a Seat on the Dragon Throne
With the Ministry of Works and the Bureau of Astronomy under investigation
Hundreds of officials, both high and low-ranking, were arrested by the Pacification Investigation Office and imprisoned in the Imperial Prison.
The entire Capital was like a duck with its neck being choked.
Silence fell instantly.
Anyone with eyes can see that
The struggle between the emperor and the Eldest Princess is now out in the open.
And it immediately entered a heated phase.
The Ministry of Works was in charge of all engineering and construction projects nationwide, and its status and power were self-evident.
Although the Bureau of Astronomy was not part of the Six Ministries, it was directly responsible to the emperor and had the privilege of submitting secret reports that could reach the emperor directly.
Although the status of the Bureau of Astronomy has declined day by day since the Immortals descended upon the Capital, they are still respected by everyone in the court and the public.
But these two departments, which are both of great power and status,
Overnight,
They were all wiped out by the Pacification Investigation Office.
Without His Majesty's decree and without the Grand Secretariat's approval,
The Pacification Investigation Office dared to lead his men to raid every household and residence overnight, sending all these officials, big and small, to the Imperial Prison for investigation.
The entire Capital knew that the Pacification Investigation Office was the Eldest Princess's lackey and henchman.
Their audacity is so outrageous; it's obvious they're acting on orders from someone.
What does the Eldest Princess need to do?
Do you intend to usurp the throne?
They could understand why the Pacification Investigation Office were arresting people who spread rumors and caused trouble throughout the Capital.
After all, how dare they slander Immortals!
These people deserve to die a thousand deaths; they deserve to die.
But now that the Pacification Investigation Office's sword has struck within the Six Ministries, the situation is quite different.
In a short time,
The court and the public were terrified, and people were filled with anxiety.
Does anyone know why the usually wise, powerful, and intelligent Eldest Princess would do such a thing?
The Pacification Investigation Office arrested people, with the Ministry of Justice cooperating and the Court of Judicial Review assisting.
Martial law was declared in the Five-City Military Command.
Apart from the Imperial Guards in the Imperial City, the Eldest Princess had already taken control of most of the military forces in the Capital.
As for the Capital Garrison outside the Capital, those were soldiers who had followed the Eldest Princess in many battles over the years; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them her personal troops.
Previously, I had only heard that the Eldest Princess held immense power and could control everything.
But once the Eldest Princess truly brought her power into the open, the entire court and the public were suddenly filled with fear.
The Eldest Princess is now unstoppable; she could ascend the throne at any time if she so desired.
And no one can stop her.
All she lacks is a title.
A title is the legitimacy of rule; if the title is not correct, the words will not be proper.
Even if you command a large army and wield immense power, if your legitimacy is questionable, you are still a traitor and a rebel.
Even if you eventually ascend the throne, the outcome will be betrayal and alienation from your people, and the country will be in turmoil.
Nobody wants to be infamous for eternity; everyone wants to be remembered in history.
Clearly, all we need to do is wait for an opportunity.
His Majesty is to draft the edict of succession; there is Immortal backing him up.
She is the rightful next ruler of the Daliang Kingdom.
She became the first Empress in all dynasties throughout history.
Just this title alone,
That alone is enough to ensure that the Eldest Princess will be remembered for eternity and her name will be passed down through the ages.
But now the Eldest Princess has suddenly acted out of character.
Without His Majesty's decree or the Grand Secretariat's review, the Pacification Investigation Office brazenly arrested hundreds of officials from the Ministry of Works and the Bureau of Astronomy.
Ignoring His Majesty's divine authority and disregarding the laws of the court,
This is utterly rebellious and self-destructive.
We know you're in a hurry, but you're being way too impatient.
Imperial City
Hall of Heavenly Worship.
Since Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang left the Capital to quell the rebellion,
The grand and imposing Hall of Heavenly Worship was never used for court assemblies again.
There was no solemn and dignified scene of civil and military officials standing in two rows, discussing state affairs.
Inside the empty hall,
There was only one person.
The current emperor of the Daliang Kingdom,
Xiao Chengqian.
Loneliness, desolation, bleakness, and melancholy.
The aged and decrepit Liang Emperor sat high on his dragon throne, gazing at the desolate scene below, and reminiscing about the former splendor and glory of the palace.
His eyes were unfocused.
I wonder what he's thinking.
"Princess Who Guards the Nation Xiao Zhaohuang, the Guardian Princess, has arrived."
As the eunuch outside the palace announced his greeting, the closed palace doors were slowly pushed open.
Wearing Nine-Pheasant Four-Phoenix Crown, Blue Pheasant Robe with a red overcoat, and a jade-adorned shawl, Xiao Zhaohuang slowly entered the Hall of Heavenly Worship.
Dressed in the Princess Who Guards the Nation, she exuded dignity, solemnity, and majesty.
Your son pays respects to Your Majesty.
Xiao Zhaohuang knelt down to pay his respects, his voice clear and calm.
Liang Emperor looked at his daughter kneeling below, so respectful, and his expression was extremely complex.
Undeniably,
She is the most qualified to inherit the throne.
Courageous, wise, intelligent, shrewd, skillful
She possessed everything a wise and virtuous ruler should have.
Entrusting the country and its people to her hands,
The Liang Kingdom will only become stronger and more prosperous.
But she is a woman.
A woman should never become an emperor.
The Xiao Household's empire will absolutely not be handed over to a woman.
Even if an Immortal stands behind her.
"Zhao Huang, get up, get up quickly."
Liang Emperor stepped down from the Imperial dais, a smile on his face and doting eyes in his eyes.
It's like watching your beloved daughter, whom you've raised with so much care and hardship, finally grow up.
Upon hearing his father's voice,
Xiao Zhaohuang was also slightly lost in thought.
She hadn't heard her father speak to her in that tone for a very long time.
As time went on, she not only became unaccustomed to it, but also developed a certain aversion to it.
"As you command."
Xiao Zhaohuang slowly stood up and looked up at his father, whom he hadn't seen for almost two months.
Just that one glance,
But it startled her slightly.
Father has grown even older.
They've aged so much they've become unrecognizable.
Like a dried-up walking corpse, it had no human scent whatsoever.
No wonder Father Emperor has been staying in the Yangxin Hall, not holding court sessions or meeting with his ministers.
If the civil and military officials in the court were to see their father's current appearance,
It's likely that even without her saying a word, the entire court would spontaneously pressure the Emperor to issue an edict of abdication.
"Aren't you disappointed to see your father like this?"
Liang Emperor looked at Xiao Zhaohuang with loving eyes and said.
"No."
Xiao Zhaohuang remained calm as he spoke.
"Hahaha..."
Liang Emperor laughed heartily.
"You, you're still the same as before, you can't even say a single flattering word."
With that, Liang Emperor took Xiao Zhaohuang's hand and walked towards the Imperial dais.
"Come."
He walked up to the Imperial dais and pointed to the dragon throne.
"Sit down and try it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhaohuang broke free from Liang Emperor's grasp.
"Your subject dares not."
Liang Emperor said, "This empire will be yours sooner or later, so what harm is there in sitting on the dragon throne now?"
"Your Majesty, I am terrified and do not understand what you mean."
Xiao Zhaohuang said expressionlessly.
"Zhao Huang, you are my daughter. Your father is preparing to issue an edict of abdication, announcing to the world that he is entrusting the throne of Great Liang to you."
Liang Emperor said True Intention.
With a vast empire and absolute power over the four seas, the supreme ruler reigns over all under heaven, his words carrying the imperial decree, and he holds absolute control over the universe.
Every single word is enough to drive anyone in the world crazy.
However, Xiao Zhaohuang's expression remained calm, and he was inwardly composed.
She looked Jingjing at her father, waiting for him to say what he would say next.
Seeing that his daughter remained unmoved by the temptation of the throne,
Liang Emperor was stunned for a moment.
After a moment of silence, he continued.
"From now on, those officials from the Ministry of Works and the Bureau of Astronomy will all be your subjects. As the emperor, you should be magnanimous and forgiving. A minor punishment will suffice as a warning. Let them all go."
"No."
However, to Liang Emperor's surprise, Xiao Zhaohuang directly refused.
Without even a moment's hesitation.