The next day, dawn had barely broken.
Nine deep, distant tolls of the funeral bell rang out from the depths of the imperial palace, echoing across the entire Capital City and heralding the end of an era.
The Great Gan Emperor, Li De, had passed away.
The entire Capital City was shrouded in oppressive mourning garb.
But beneath that stifling grief surged ambition and murderous intent, almost boiling over.
Everyone knew the true showdown was about to begin.
Inside the great hall, civil and military officials and all the adult princes in the capital had gathered.
The First Prince, the Third Prince, and the others all wore looks of grief,
but the glances they exchanged were full of wariness and provocation.
The trusted experts behind them had already laid their hands on the weapons at their waists.
One order was all it would take for a bloody storm to sweep through this sacred court.
Just as the hall stood charged with tension, the Imperial Guard's Commander Wang Jian appeared, clad in heavy armor.
Holding a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict, he strode into the court.
"His Late Majesty's Edict!"
His booming voice echoed throughout the great hall.
Every prince and minister held their breath and strained to listen.
They knew the moment that would decide Great Gan's future had arrived.
Wang Jian slowly unfurled the edict and read it aloud in a tone utterly devoid of emotion.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I inherited the legacy of my ancestors and have ruled for over two hundred years, diligently and without daring to slacken."
"Yet Heaven's mandate has its limits, and my allotted years are nearly spent. Though my princes possess the bearing of dragons, their virtue is unworthy, and they cannot inherit the throne."
"Only the Ninth Princess, Yue Chan, is pure of heart, clever, and perceptive, with the bearing of a benevolent ruler."
"I therefore intend to pass the throne to the Ninth Princess, Li Yuechan, and make her the new Emperor of Great Gan."
"All officials and people of Great Gan must devote themselves to supporting her and safeguarding the realm."
"So decreed!"
"Buzzz—!"
The moment the edict was read, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence that lasted several breaths.
Then an uproar erupted, as if a volcano had burst forth.
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"
The First Prince was the first to leap forward. Pointing at Wang Jian, he roared like a madman.
"Wang Jian! How dare you rely on being Father Emperor's confidant to forge an imperial edict!"
"Since ancient times, has there ever been a woman who inherited the throne?"
"Are you trying to make Great Gan the laughingstock of the world?!"
"Exactly! Wang Jian, you treacherous wolf! You must have conspired with that little bitch to murder Father Emperor and forge the edict!"
The Third Prince joined the attack, his words even more venomous.
"We ministers concur! Your Highness, the First Prince, please seize this traitor and purge the court!"
The noble clan officials behind them echoed their cries, and the entire hall descended into chaos.
Just then, amid the clinking of jade pendants, the Ninth Princess, Li Yuechan, slowly emerged from the rear hall.
She wore a voluminous dragon robe and a crown, already beginning to look every inch an emperor.
Step by step, she approached the dragon throne, the symbol of supreme power, and sat down beside it.
At that moment, everyone's gaze focused on her.
Some looked on with ridicule, others with disdain, greed, or murderous intent.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Li Yuechan showed not the slightest trace of fear or timidity.
Her clear eyes held nothing but resolve.
She knew that from the moment her father had placed the Imperial Seal in her hands, there was no turning back.
Retreat meant death!
"My imperial brothers."
Li Yuechan spoke slowly. Her voice still carried a hint of girlish softness, but it was remarkably clear and steady.
"Father Emperor's edict is here, in black and white, with the Imperial Guard's Commander as witness. Do you intend to defy the edict?"
"Hmph! You little girl, you think you can take the throne with an edict of uncertain authenticity? Dream on!"
The First Prince sneered, then shouted to the Attendants behind him.
"Seize them! Take down this false emperor and that rebel, Wang Jian!"
"Protect His Majesty!"
Wang Jian bellowed and drew the sword at his waist. The aura of a peak Grandmaster erupted from him.
The hundreds of Imperial Guards behind him drew their weapons in unison and formed a tight shield around the dragon throne.
The experts under the princes' command also stepped forward.
The two sides faced off in an armed standoff before the court. A great battle could break out at any moment.
Seated on the cold dragon throne, Li Yuechan clenched its armrests with her small hands.
She looked down at her ferocious-faced imperial brothers and the civil and military officials, each with their own designs.
She knew full well that she had no political skill and no real power of her own.
A single peak Grandmaster like Wang Jian could not possibly control the situation before them.
She was all but certain to lose this standoff.
"Hahaha..."
The First Prince laughed triumphantly.
"Brothers, ministers! Wang Jian and this witch forged an imperial edict. Their crimes are unforgivable!"
"We must join forces in the name of purging the court, depose this false emperor, and restore peace and order to Great Gan!"
The other princes immediately agreed with his proposal.
They quickly reached a consensus and prepared to join forces for the time being.
They would first deal with the Imperial Guards before discussing who would claim the throne.
Dark clouds gathered over the Capital City.
The future of all Great Gan hung by a thread.
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