The New Emperor Ascends the Throne

Xu Tianming glanced back at the imperial palace. After tonight, the Sun Moon Empire's emperor would be replaced, and Xu Mo, the War Prince, would go from prince to the empire's new master.

And Xu Tianming himself would no longer be the Seventh Young Master of the War Prince's Residence, but the Seventh Prince of the Sun Moon Empire.

Early the next morning, news that the emperor's family had died of poisoning spread throughout Mingdu.

The news came suddenly. The imperial palace had still been brightly lit the previous night, filled with endless cries of battle. By morning, the palace gates had been shut tight, while the city streets were sealed off by large numbers of soldiers.

Mingdu entered martial law.

Squads of heavily armed soldiers marched through the streets, checking identities from house to house. Soul-guided cars had all ceased operation, shops delayed opening, and the city gates allowed entry only, no exit.

Xu Tianming stood at a high point in the residence, watching the soldiers patrol back and forth along the streets.

"They aren't maintaining order. They're looking for someone."

He spoke softly.

The disturbance caused by last night's upheaval in the palace had been enormous, yet the emperor's family's deaths were simply attributed to poisoning. It was hardly convincing, but that did not matter. If the officials said it was poisoning, then it was poisoning.

The truly important figures who had the right to speak raised no objections, so ordinary citizens naturally would not pursue the truth either. As for whichever clueless commoner dared to talk recklessly in the streets, fully armed soldiers would probably soon come knocking and invite him for tea.

Whether he could return after that tea, however, would depend on whether he had said anything he should not have.

Xu Tianming withdrew his gaze.

"Looks like Xu He still escaped."

Such a massive search operation, along with the ban on leaving Mingdu, seemed perfectly normal to outsiders. After all, they were supposedly hunting for the poisoner. But Xu Tianming, who knew the truth, understood that the story about death by poisoning was false.

Since they were still making such a huge fuss despite that, it meant someone important had not died and had escaped. That person could only be the crown prince, Xu He.

Xu Mo had clearly failed to find him. That was precisely why Mingdu's martial law continued. Those patrolling soldiers appeared to be maintaining order in the city, but in truth, they were constantly searching for the crown prince's whereabouts.

Only, no one would say it openly.

A nation could not go a day without a ruler.

After the emperor's family suddenly passed away, the Sun Moon Empire's court immediately descended into chaos. Following several days of deliberation, the ministers quickly proposed a new successor.

Xu Mo, the War Prince.

Among the imperial princes, he had the greatest achievements and the strongest power. He also enjoyed the support of numerous imperial family members and military forces.

After the news spread, Xu Mo declined three times in succession.

The first time, he said his virtue was too shallow and that he could not bear the responsibility of ruling the empire.

The second time, he said there were still other worthy and capable people in the imperial family, and that he was unwilling to overstep his place.

The third time, faced with the earnest pleas of many ministers, he remained silent for a long while.

In the end, Xu Mo seemed to be moved by the ministers' sincerity, or perhaps forced to make a sacrifice for the future of the Sun Moon Empire.

He accepted the throne.

"Since all of you ministers and imperial clansmen place such trust in Us, then for the empire, for the countless people of the Sun Moon Empire, We are willing to shoulder this responsibility."

These words spread throughout the court. The ministers all praised the new emperor's profound sense of righteousness. When Xu Tianming heard about it, he only found it very familiar.

On the seventh day after the previous emperor's death, Xu Mo officially ascended the throne. That day, the entire Sun Moon Empire was immersed in celebration.

Great swaths of fireworks rose over Mingdu.

Multicolored light blossomed across the sky, illuminating the soaring domes of the imperial palace. Soul-guided lamps burned through the night, and the city streets were packed with citizens who had come to celebrate.

This greatest city on the continent welcomed an even greater tide of people than usual.

Restaurants were full, shops crowded, and every street and alley buzzed with talk of the new emperor's ascension. Merchant caravans from all regions took the opportunity to enter Mingdu, bringing precious goods and taking away great quantities of soul-guided devices and Mingdu specialties.

Voices, carriage wheels, and music blended together. The entire city was so lively that it seemed ready to boil over.

No one mentioned the previous emperor again, nor did anyone seek the truth behind that upheaval in the palace. They only knew that the Sun Moon Empire had changed.

On that same day, Xu Tianming officially moved into the imperial palace. As the new emperor's youngest son, he received a palace of his own.

The palace stood on the eastern side of the imperial grounds. It was not the largest, but it was exquisitely built. A grove of golden spirit bamboo grew outside, its leaves rustling softly whenever the wind blew.

A small soul-guided fountain stood in the courtyard. Its water flowed along jade channels and, at night, was illuminated a pale gold by soul-guided crystals.

A plaque hung above the palace gates, bearing three words: Mo Mang Palace.

Xu Tianming had chosen the name himself.

"Why is it called that?"

Xu Tianzhen stood beneath the palace gates, looking up at the plaque with confusion all over her face. Xu Tianming stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.

"It sounds interesting."

"Just because of that?"

"What else?"

Xu Tianzhen stared at him for a moment, still unable to figure it out.

She always felt that the name ought to conceal some deeper meaning, but Xu Tianming's expression was far too natural, leaving her with no reason to press further.

"Then call me big sister, and I'll help you come up with a new one."

Xu Tianming glanced at her.

"Xu Tianzhen."

"Can't you call me that just once?"

"No."

Xu Tianzhen stomped her foot in anger.

The imperial palace was extremely busy after the new emperor ascended the throne. Ministers came and went without end, the number of palace maids and guards increased considerably, and new sentries were stationed at every palace gate.

Xu Mo had to deal with a great deal of state affairs every day. Occasionally, he also summoned imperial clansmen and military commanders.

Xu Tianming had little interest in any of that. He sat in the courtyard of Mo Mang Palace, holding a cup of drink as he watched fireworks slowly rise over the distant imperial palace.

The fireworks were beautiful, and the cheers from the city were loud, but he knew very well that what lay beneath this celebration was not clean.

Xu He had not yet been found. The old forces within the imperial palace had not been completely purged. The bloody turmoil would continue for a long time.

Without someone helping him, did they really think a nine-year-old child could escape Mingdu? What a joke.

Therefore, a massive purge was inevitable, and the new emperor who had already taken the throne would never be satisfied with merely ruling the Sun Moon Empire.

Xu Tianming took a sip of his drink. The struggle for power had never ended simply because someone ascended the throne. Sometimes, taking the throne was only the beginning of another struggle. He raised his head and looked toward the highest point of the imperial palace.

The Sun Moon Empire's royal banner hung there. A golden sun disk and a silver crescent moon shone against each other, snapping in the night wind.

The day to obtain his soul ring was set for three days later.

Kong Deming informed him through a soul-guided communicator. Kong Deming's meaning was simple: arrangements had been made for someone to take him hunting for a soul ring. Jing Hongchen, the master of the Hall of Virtue and also Kong Deming's disciple, would take him along on the way.

Xu Tianming put down the soul-guided communicator. His father did not say much about it either.

Thinking about it, that was hardly surprising.

Jing Hongchen's two grandchildren had just broken through to Rank 20 and also needed to hunt for their second soul rings. Taking him along was merely convenient, while his father had only just ascended the throne and his foundations were unstable. Having him, a prince, grow closer to the Hall of Virtue would serve two purposes at once.