The New Emperor's Future

Li Yaoxuan's death from illness brought the grand revival known as the Jiajing Prosperity to a close. Yet even if one man had altered the course of history, the world would not cease moving forward because of his departure.

The rising sun still climbed in the east and set in the west. Di'an's nights remained as drunken and glittering as ever, while across Jiangnan, cries of battle and heaps of corpses still piled into mountains and filled the seas.

The imperial mausoleum within the Heavenly Punishment Abyss was swiftly sealed off by the Imperial Guards. News of the reigning sovereign's death was concealed by those in the know, but walls had ears everywhere. A few leaked clues were enough to send rumors and speculation spreading like wildfire through Great Yan's highest circles of power.

Snow burdened the blue mountains; bright candles lit the southeast.

On the second day after Emperor Jiajing's passing, when the first ray of dawn rose, the deep and secluded Eastern Palace welcomed its first visitor since its change of master—a visitor who had sent no calling card in advance, yet whom no one dared stop.

By the time the purple-robed eunuch discovered him, he was already standing before the Crown Prince's bedchamber. His temples were streaked with gray, and the black-patterned dragon robe proclaimed his identity. Morning light spilled across heaven and earth, gilding his silhouette as though for a coronation.

The purple-robed eunuch instinctively wanted to stop him, but when those hawk-like black eyes swept toward him, the hand he extended began to tremble beyond his control. Still, loyalty to the new emperor made him force that hand before the other man, and he murmured with all his strength:

"...Lord Chancellor, His Highness and the Crown Princess are still resting."

"..."

Xu Yinhe silently withdrew