The real king knelt on the cold bluestone floor, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground, his whole body trembling like a sieve.
"Daoist... it was my fault!"
He wept bitterly, his voice so hoarse it was barely recognizable.
"It was because I was foolish and incompetent, because I trusted that demonic Daoist, that Crow-Cock Kingdom suffered three years of drought and its people were left in misery!"
"But... but truth cannot be faked, and falsehood cannot become truth!"
He suddenly raised his head, his tear-streaked face pointing at the false king on the dragon throne.
"He is still a demonic Daoist! He stole my kingdom, stole my throne—he is a thief!"
"Daoist, I beg you to vanquish demons and evil, and restore a bright and clear Qiankun to Crow-Cock Kingdom!"
Seeing the real king in such agony, filled with regret, the atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall immediately became rather delicate.
"Daoist Three Burials, although this real king was a foolish ruler, at least he knows to admit his mistakes."
An official was the first among the court ministers to step forward and speak.
The moment he spoke, the silence was broken.
The crown prince quickly added, "That's right. He isn't wrong either. A demonic Daoist is still a demonic Daoist. We can't acknowledge a thief as our father just because he governs well, can we?"
The crown prince frowned slightly.
Thinking of how he had always called the false king Father made him feel uncomfortable.
"Yes, Daoist. No matter what, the false king has usurped another's nest. Though the real king is incompetent, he is still the legitimate bloodline."
The officials nodded repeatedly, their eyes full of sympathy.
"Daoist, please show mercy and help him. Look how miserably he's crying. He must truly regret his actions."
The standing