Under Currents Stir

"I hereby declare that, from this day forth, Xu Tianran shall be the Crown Prince of the Sun and Moon Empire!"

As the emperor's words fell, countless faces in the great hall changed, save for the Ninth Level Soul Engineers, who held secure and exalted positions.

Yet no one dared oppose Xu Jing's decision. As the emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire, Xu Jing commanded the Five Great Nation Protecting Soul Engineer Corps and the Palace Worship Hall, controlling more than half of the empire's strength.

Other than Kong Deming, who was currently in seclusion and devoting himself to researching Humanoid Soul Tools, who in the Sun and Moon Empire would dare object? And Kong Deming undoubtedly cared little about such a trivial matter as who became Crown Prince.

Upon hearing the emperor's declaration, the officials who supported Xu Tianran were overjoyed. They had won their gamble. Now that Xu Tianran had become Crown Prince, when he ascended the throne in a few years, boundless wealth and glory would await them.

Meanwhile, the officials who supported the Second Prince, Xu Tianyu, and the Third Prince, Xu Tianshi, looked utterly wretched. Some even went pale.

Wang Yan stood near the front of the great hall, his expression blank. Yet deep in his eyes lay cold indifference, while bone-chilling killing intent continued to brew within.

As for the officials who had not taken part in the struggle between the princes, some watched their noses, then watched their hearts, acting as though the matter had nothing to do with them.

Others began harboring their own little schemes, intending to draw closer to Crown Prince Xu Tianran. They wanted to see whether they could seize the opportunity to make their names known to the Crown Prince while there were still few pledging themselves to him, so they might have a chance to climb higher in the future.

Xu Tianran, standing at the very front of the great hall, could not suppress the upward curl of his lips upon hearing that he had been named Crown Prince. If the occasion had not been inappropriate, he truly would have wanted to throw back his head and laugh, venting the excitement in his heart.

After fighting for so many years, he had finally become Crown Prince. In the future, he would be emperor. He would be the future ruler of the Sun and Moon Empire.

Xu Tianran was high-spirited and full of ambition. In his mind, he had already begun imagining how he would realize his grand plans after ascending the throne.

Xu Tianran quickly reined in his emotions and struggled to maintain a calm expression, refusing to let his triumphant smile show.

He lowered his head slightly, cupped his hands in salute, and said respectfully, "This son has been granted the trust and favor of Father Emperor and all the ministers, and has thus been named Crown Prince.

"From this day forth, I shall devote myself wholeheartedly to studying the art of governing, live up to Father Emperor's expectations, and exhaust myself for the empire's prosperity and strength."

Although Xu Tianran had tried his best to restrain himself, the slight tremble in his voice still revealed the excitement in his heart.

When the Second Prince, Xu Tianyu, heard that Xu Tianran had become Crown Prince, his heart sank.

Over the past few years, in his struggle for the Crown Prince Position, he had caused Xu Tianran no small amount of trouble and used plenty of underhanded schemes. Xu Tianran surely hated him to the bone.

More importantly, Father Emperor's health had not been good these past years, and he likely would not last many more. Once Xu Tianran became emperor, Xu Tianyu's fate would be grim.

Yet at this moment, Xu Tianyu instead calmed down.

Xu Tianyu forced a strained smile onto his face, stepped forward, and respectfully saluted Xu Tianran. "Congratulations, Elder Brother, on being named Crown Prince. Elder Brother is exceptionally talented and remarkably capable. You will surely lead our Sun and Moon Empire toward an even more glorious future. Your younger brother is willing to assist you with all his strength."

Although Xu Tianyu said this aloud, his heart was filled with unwillingness. His hands unconsciously clenched within his sleeves as he repeatedly reminded himself, Endure. Endure. Endure.

Were there few Crown Princes in the history of the Sun and Moon Empire who had been pulled down from their positions? He would first endure and lie low, allowing Xu Tianran to lower his guard. As long as Xu Tianran was not yet emperor, he still had a chance.

Xu Tianyu thought to himself, Xu Tianran, don't get smug. Don't think becoming Crown Prince means you can rest easy. Who wins and who loses is still unknown.

The Third Prince, Xu Tianshi, also looked grim. He had previously cooperated with Xu Tianran to jointly suppress and deal with Xu Tianyu. But he had never expected Xu Tianran to have concealed his strength.

During the assessment arranged by Father Emperor, he and Xu Tianran had first worked together to eliminate Xu Tianyu. Then, Xu Tianran, having revealed his full strength, eliminated him.

Xu Tianshi hated Xu Tianran bitterly, yet he still saluted him and congratulated him on becoming Crown Prince.

As Xu Tianran watched his two good brothers, who had once opposed him, flatter him, he could not help but feel pleased. Even though he knew they were not sincere and were surely cursing him in their hearts, he still felt thoroughly satisfied.

Many things were inconvenient to say in court, so Xu Tianran put on the appearance of a kind elder brother and respectful younger brothers, smiling as he said, "Second Brother, Third Brother, you are both my brothers. I will still need your assistance in the future."

Once the Second and Third Princes had spoken, the other princes also began congratulating Xu Tianran. These princes lacked the strength to compete for the throne. The best outcome for them in the future would be receiving a fief and going there to idle away their lives.

Seated on the Dragon Throne, Emperor Xu Jing said, "Tianran, now that you are Crown Prince, I hope you will remain diligent, recruit worthy talents broadly, and place the realm and its people above all else."

Xu Tianran cupped his hands and said, "This son shall heed Father Emperor's teachings."

All the officials in court shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! Long live our emperor, long live, long live! May the Crown Prince live for a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

The waves of voices echoed through the great hall for a long time.

Hearing the civil and military officials paying homage to him, Xu Tianran felt as though he were floating in the clouds. The feeling of standing above all the court officials made his blood surge, filling him with intense excitement.

After the Crown Prince Position was decided, the court assembly proceeded as usual.

The ministers spoke one after another. Some submitted memorials requesting fiscal appropriations, some reported natural disasters in various regions, while others impeached fellow officials...

Time passed in a flash amid the ministers' reports and quarrels. With the sound of grand bells, the court assembly came to an end.

After the assembly ended, Xu Tianran returned to his residence and finally could not hold back his laughter. He paced back and forth through the room, his eyes blazing with ambition.

Xu Tianran considered himself the most gifted member of the Sun and Moon Empire's imperial family in thousands of years. Whether in scheming, methods, or talent, he far surpassed every emperor before him.

He was determined to make the Sun and Moon Empire even stronger in his hands, then wash away the humiliation of four thousand years ago, conquer the Douluo Three Kingdoms, and rename the Douluo Continent the Sun and Moon Continent.

Just as Xu Tianran was reveling in his success, a maid said from outside the door, "Your Highness, the ministers have come to visit."

Xu Tianran said, "Have them wait in the study. I'll be there shortly."

A moment later, inside the study.

Several ministers who supported Xu Tianran bowed to him. "Congratulations, Your Highness, on successfully securing the Crown Prince Position."

Xu Tianran looked at his own faction and immediately told them to rise. Then he promised, "Once I ascend the throne, you shall have all the power and wealth you could desire."

Seeing that Xu Tianran had not forgotten the promises he had made to them after becoming Crown Prince, the ministers all breathed a sigh of relief. Then they said, "Thank you, Your Highness. We shall surely serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty."