A Decree Shocks the Heavens, Ambitious Princes

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

Nine heavy, echoing funeral bells tolled from deep within the Imperial Palace, spreading across the entire Capital City to announce the end of an era.

The Emperor of Great Gan, Li De, had passed away.

The entire Capital City was shrouded in a stifling veil of mourning white.

Yet, beneath this oppressive sorrow, ambition and murderous intent surged, nearly at a boiling point.

Everyone knew that the true decisive battle was about to begin.

Inside the main hall, the civil and military officials, along with all the adult princes present in the Capital City, gathered together.

Although the First Prince and the Third Prince and others wore expressions of grief, the glances they exchanged were filled with vigilance and provocation.

The elite experts behind them already had their hands resting on the weapons at their waists.

They waited only for a single command to unleash a bloodbath within this sacred court.

Amidst this tense and eerie atmosphere, Wang Jian, the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard clad in heavy armor, made his entrance.

Holding a bright yellow imperial decree, he strode across the court with long, steady steps.

"The late Emperor's last will—!"

His booming voice reverberated throughout the entire hall.

All the princes and officials held their breath, straining their ears.

They knew the moment that would decide the fate of Great Gan had arrived.

Wang Jian slowly unfurled the decree and read it aloud in a tone devoid of any emotion.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have upheld the legacy of my ancestors for over two hundred years, working diligently and never daring to slacken."

"However, Heaven's mandate has its time; my lifespan is at its end. My sons, though possessing the bearing of dragons, lack the virtue required to inherit the throne."

"Only the Ninth Princess, Yue Chan, possesses a pure nature, sharp intellect, and the spirit of a benevolent ruler."

"It is my will to pass the throne to the Ninth Princess, Li Yuechan, as the new sovereign of Great Gan."

"All subjects of Great Gan shall serve her with all their hearts to ensure the stability of the nation."

"Respect this!"

"Hum—!"

The moment the reading of the last will concluded, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence that lasted for several seconds.

Immediately after, a clamor erupted like a volcanic explosion.

"Absurd! This is simply absurd!"

The First Prince was the first to jump out, pointing at Wang Jian and roaring as if he had gone mad.

"Wang Jian! You have some nerve, relying on being the late Emperor's confidant to dare forge an imperial decree!"

"Since ancient times, where has there ever been a precedent for a woman to inherit the throne?"

"Are you trying to turn our Great Gan into a laughingstock for the world?!"

"That's right! Wang Jian, you are a wolf with a wild ambition. It must be that you colluded with that little wench to murder the late Emperor and forge this decree!"

The Third Prince followed suit, his words even more venomous.

"We agree! We ask the First Prince to seize this villain and clear the side of the Emperor!"

The aristocratic officials behind them echoed these sentiments, and the entire hall instantly descended into chaos.

Just then, accompanied by the tinkling of jade ornaments, the Ninth Princess, Li Yuechan, slowly walked out from the rear hall.

She wore a wide dragon robe and a crown, already possessing the initial aura of a monarch.

Step by step, she walked to the dragon throne, which symbolized supreme power, and sat down.

At this moment, everyone's gaze was fixed upon her.

There was mockery, disdain, greed, and murderous intent.

However, contrary to everyone's expectations, there was not a trace of fear or weakness on Li Yuechan's face.

In her clear eyes, there was only determination.

She knew that from the moment her father handed the Imperial Seal to her, she had no path of retreat left.

To retreat was to die!

"Imperial brothers."

Li Yuechan spoke slowly, her voice still carrying a hint of girlish youthfulness, yet it was exceptionally clear and steady.

"The late Emperor's decree is here, in black and white, and witnessed by the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard. Are you intending to defy the imperial order?"

"Hmph! You yellow-haired girl, you want to sit on that throne with a decree of unknown authenticity? Keep dreaming!"

The First Prince sneered and barked an order at the master retainers behind him.

"Attack! Take down this puppet emperor and the traitorous general Wang Jian together!"

"Protect His Majesty!"

Wang Jian roared, drawing the sword at his waist as the aura of a supreme grandmaster erupted from him.

The hundreds of Imperial Guard soldiers behind him also drew their weapons in unison, shielding the dragon throne tightly.

The experts under the various princes stepped forward as well.

The two sides formed an armed standoff in front of the hall, with a great battle ready to break out at any moment.

Yue Chan sat upon that cold dragon throne, her small hands gripping the armrests tightly.

She looked down at her ferocious imperial brothers and the civil and military officials, each harboring their own ulterior motives.

She knew very well that she possessed no political acumen and held no real power of her own.

Relying solely on Wang Jian, a single supreme grandmaster, was simply not enough to control the situation before her.

In this standoff, she was almost certain to lose.

"Hahaha..."

The First Prince laughed triumphantly.

"Brothers, ministers, Wang Jian and this enchantress have forged the imperial edict; their crimes are unforgivable!"

"Let us join forces in the name of purging the court, depose the puppet emperor, and restore a bright and clear world to our Great Gan!"

His proposal was immediately met with responses from the other princes.

They quickly reached a consensus, preparing to join forces temporarily.

They would resolve the Imperial Guard before them first, then discuss the matter of who would claim the throne.

Within the Capital City, dark clouds gathered in the sky.

The future of the entire Great Gan hung by a thread.