Wife Gone, Children Scattered

An eerie silence instantly fell over the hall. The Jin Dynasty officials below exchanged glances, silently conveying their thoughts.

"Prince Wei was killed? Did this old man hear wrong?"

"Exactly. Prince Wei was His Majesty's only heir. How could His Majesty kill him?"

"Could someone be stirring up trouble behind the scenes?"

Upon hearing the news, only two among those gathered beneath the hall appeared sorrowful. Yet the slight upturn of their lips betrayed the joy they could barely suppress. One was Ever Victorious King Wanyan Yuan, and the other was King of Hailing Wanyan Liang.

Ever Victorious King Wanyan Yuan naturally had reason to rejoice. He had never gotten along with Prince Wei, and he was Emperor Xizong's younger brother. With Prince Wei dead and the emperor having no other offspring, he was, according to clan law, the most fitting candidate to inherit the throne. How could he not be delighted at the thought of becoming emperor someday?

As for Wanyan Liang, although he was the eldest among the Jin Dynasty's third generation, his father was Taizu's concubine-born son. Thus, no one had ever considered him when discussing succession. Yet Wanyan Liang considered himself accomplished in both letters and martial arts, far superior to his other cousins in every regard. He had always yearned for that position. If Prince Wei had still been alive, his succession to the throne would have been unquestionable, leaving Wanyan Liang little room to make trouble. But now that Prince Wei was dead, who would ultimately gain the throne if not whoever was most capable?

Today truly put him in high spirits. First Prince Wei had died, and tonight he would get to enjoy the peerlessly beautiful Ge Bi... Wanyan Liang hurriedly schooled his expression, lest he laugh aloud and offend the emperor.