After the Qin Kingdom's Lord passed away, toll after toll rang out from the palace across the entire Imperial Capital.
This bell sounded only when the Qin Kingdom's Lord died, and it rang exactly nine times, no more and no less.
Hearing the bells from the palace, the ordinary citizens exchanged glances, disbelief in every pair of eyes.
His Majesty had been perfectly well. How could he have suddenly passed away?
But the tolling could not be false. Anyone who rang that bell without cause would have all nine branches of their clan exterminated.
"Your Majesty!"
After accepting the truth, some citizens in the Imperial City knelt of their own accord toward the palace, their eyes reddening.
To the common people, Qin Shengtian had unquestionably been a wise ruler. In their hearts, he ranked second only to the founding ancestor.
When the officials in their residences heard the bells, their first reaction was to freeze, wondering whether they had misheard.
Once they recovered, they hurried toward the palace.
The sovereign had passed away.
This was far too momentous, and far too sudden.
No one could have imagined that His Majesty, so full of life just days before, would today have his soul return to the nine heavens.
More importantly, His Majesty had now passed away without deciding who would become the next Qin Kingdom's Lord.
Of all the princes and princesses, only the Third Princess remained in the palace.
What were they to do?
The entire Qin Kingdom might well be plunged into turmoil over this.
At the same time, Prime Minister Li, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu hurried into the palace.
Although ministers were forbidden from entering the rear palace without the Emperor's command, this was an emergency. They could no longer concern themselves with such rules.
The three