Conflict in the Southeast Sea Region a Hundred Years Later

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed.

Dao Palace Calendar, year 271. March. The northern weather remained bitterly cold, and the mountains fifty li north of Capital City were still blanketed in thick snow.

Inside and outside Capital City, all commoners wore white mourning bands around their heads, while the officials in the inner city still dressed in white. The nation was still in mourning; Emperor Wen Qing, who had ruled the realm for forty-seven years, had passed away more than half a month ago.

Yet the new emperor had been unable to ascend the throne for a long time. Emperor Wen Qing had reigned too long and had sixteen sons. Eleven had entered Thousand Wood Temple to cultivate the Dao, while the remaining five fought openly and covertly amongst themselves. Meanwhile, the imperial edict was currently in the hands of Imperial Consort Liu Qing.

Things had reached this point because Emperor Wen Qing had advocated the art of balance during his reign. To balance the power of the five princes, he had deliberately appointed members of Liu Qing's maternal family as officials. Of the Six Ministries, two chief ministers were Liu Qing's people, and two of the six chancellors in the Hall of Deliberation were hers as well.

But she had no son of her own. At present, she was waiting for her nominal imperial son to bow his head, so she could divide this enormous cake.

On the morning of the ninth day, her nominal imperial son—the Fifteenth Prince, Wang Yun—finally came to her palace to pay his respects. The mother and son discussed matters for nearly half an hour.

Once everything had been settled, Liu Qing sent word to the Hall of Deliberation. Before long, an imperial edict was