Chapter 745
Chapter 745
When Shen Lang rushed into Ning Yuanxian’s chambers, the king was still motionless. His breathing and heartbeat were faint, but there was no sign that his life force had faded.
“Eunuch Yeo Mok, please insert the silver needles into the back of His Majesty's head!”
Shen Lang placed a diagram before Yeo Mok, who then took five silver needles and inserted them into the back of King Ning Yuanxian’s head with lightning speed. Afterward, Shen Lang took out the modified, healing-type Nightmare Stone, leaving Yeo Jun, Yeo Mok, and Consort Bian bewildered.
*‘I-Isn’t that the red gem? The very thing that put His Majesty in this state.’*
But no one spoke a word. When it came to creating miracles, Shen Lang was the ultimate authority. Shen Lang took a slow, deep breath.
*‘It has to work. It succeeded in the Great Southern Kingdom, so it must work this time too.’*
“Beginning now!”
Shen Lang activated the modified Nightmare Stone. Instantly, it lit up again, and a special energy wave it emitted penetrated the back of King Ning Yuanxian’s head. Ning Yuanxian’s eyelids twitched, and his body shuddered. Then, he opened his eyes.
“I shall name Ning Zheng the Crown Prince!”
Upon waking, that was the first thing Ning Yuanxian cried out. It was a sentence he likely wanted to say even if it cost him all his strength. Even a man who has spent his entire life cherishing words like gold, writing sparingly, can speak with ease. Yet, Ning Yuanxian had been unable to utter that single sentence, even at the cost of his life. However, Ning Yuanxian couldn't speak the words clearly just yet. Although the healing Nightmare Stone had awakened him, the nerves throughout his body had suffered severe damage, making a full recovery in an instant exceedingly difficult. So, while he opened his mouth to speak, his pronunciation and voice were somewhat slurred. His face was even slightly paralyzed, making it hard to form any expression.
Shen Lang said to him.
“Your Majesty, please rest assured. You will recover bit by bit.”
After crying out the words he had so desperately wanted to say, King Ning Yuanxian stared blankly for a moment before tears began to stream down his face. The Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion making a move on him was the same as Ning Han doing it. The fact that his own daughter, Ning Han, had acted against him was a devastating blow. No matter how harsh his words were, in his heart, he still cherished Ning Han the most. He was, by nature, a man who played favorites. Among his many daughters, whether Ning Luo or Ning Yan, he only paid them slight attention. He even treated his other children far worse than he favored Shen Lang. In contrast, Ning Han was not only his shame but also his pride, yet that daughter had turned on him. When life had come to this, what was the point of continuing to live?
“Where is Zheng’er?”
Ning Yuanxian asked. Not seeing Ning Zheng when he woke, he sensed something was amiss. The grand eunuch, Yeo Jun, replied.
“He is in the Grand Hall. The Prince of Yan from the Empire has arrived.”
“How long was I unconscious?”
“Twenty-seven days have passed.”
“What has happened?”
While Ning Yuanxian hadn't thought his assassination was a certainty, he had made ample preparations. He had already left a secret edict, so even if he fell, Ning Jiang would have read it and installed Ning Zheng as the Crown Prince. But now, Ning Zheng was not by his side, and the Prince of Yan from the Empire had arrived. He couldn't help but realize that things had clearly taken a strange turn. The grand eunuch, Yeo Jun, recounted everything to Ning Yuanxian in detail, including the fact that the secret edict had been swapped and that an absurd council of succession was being held. Ning Yuanxian was once again dealt a heavy blow.
Why would Princess Ning Jue betray him? She was the sister he trusted most. Moreover, she, too, deeply revered Princess Jiang Li, putting her on the same side as Ning Yuanxian. He trusted her as much as he trusted Yeo Jun. He could understand Yan E taking a different stance at a critical moment, but if even Ning Jue was not someone he could trust, who in this world could he believe in?
“Go to Ning Jue’s residence at once and bring her here. I need to know why she did it. She never desired anything in her life. I refuse to believe anything could make her betray me. I refuse!”
At Ning Yuanxian's command, a eunuch immediately left the palace and headed for Ning Jue's mansion. Consort Bian stood beside Ning Yuanxian, desperately rubbing his chest and speaking in a gentle voice.
“Your Majesty, please do not be angry. There are so many people here who cherish and love you. They are all willing to lay down their lives for you.”
After a long while, Ning Yuanxian gradually managed to calm down. Consort Bian’s words had soothed him instantly. It was true. Some had betrayed him, but many still loved him and were willing to give everything for him. For instance, Ning Zheng, firmly believing his royal father would awaken, had endured to the end, even with an army under his control, to prevent the State of Yue from collapsing. He had not drawn swords against Ning Qi, nor had he crossed the line that must be upheld.
* * *
Ning Yuanxian asked with a sneer.
“How goes the council of succession?”
It was infuriating that such an absurd event had taken place in the capital during the nearly one month he had been hovering between life and death.
“The result should be out soon.”
At Yeo Jun's reply, Ning Yuanxian said coldly.
“Then there is no rush. If someone wants to make a spectacle of himself, we should have the patience to let him see it through. We will talk after the results are out. Let us go to the Grand Hall after Ning Qi has taken his seat as the victor!”
Overcome with joy, Consort Bian began to cry. She meticulously massaged Ning Yuanxian's entire body, trying to help his muscles and veins recover more quickly. Ning Yuanxian spoke to her gently.
“My dear consort, I am a little hungry. Please make me something to eat.”
“Yes!”
With light steps, Consort Bian quickly left the room.
Now, only Shen Lang and Ning Yuanxian remained.
“The dead are beyond our help, and the living must carry on.”
Ning Yuanxian fiddled with the Nightmare Stone in his hand, recalling the time he spent with the former queen. He spoke slowly.
“I will cherish the person before me and no longer dwell in the past. I suppose I kept this less to remember my late wife and more out of my own shame and insecurity. I am giving this to you.”
Ning Yuanxian carefully handed the Nightmare Stone to Shen Lang.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“A civil war is inevitable. However, we can choose whether to fight in the capital or outside of it.”
Ning Yuanxian thought for a moment, then said.
“Then it is better to fight outside.”
“I think so too.”
“If you leave like this, what will happen to the First and Second Nirvana Armies?”
“They are in Tianxi Province, watching over the Zhong Clan.”
“Are you not worried about leaving Mulan there alone?”
“Mulan may not be an outstanding commander, but she is undoubtedly a first-rate officer.”
It was true. Mulan had tremendous drive, and her sensitivity to battlefield situations was top-notch.
“For two or three years now, you have been saying you would destroy the Xue Clan at every turn, and now you are finally beginning. You have truly worked hard, enduring until now for the sake of the country. But really, can one ever be without enemies in this world?”
“New enemies appear before old ones are gone. Still, in the end, I believe I can reach a state where I have no enemies under heaven.”
“My boy, take care of yourself!”
The words were sudden. Ning Yuanxian reached out, intending to pat the back of Shen Lang's hand, but he couldn't lift his arm at all. Seeing this, Shen Lang placed the back of his own hand under Ning Yuanxian’s. Only by mustering all his strength could Ning Yuanxian gently squeeze Shen Lang's hand.
* * *
In the Grand Hall.
They were still unaware that King Ning Yuanxian had awakened and were proceeding with the council of succession.
“Collect the ballots!”
At the Prince of Yan’s command, a dozen imperial eunuchs carrying golden basins went around to collect the ballots. A quarter of an hour later, all several hundred ballots had been collected. The Prince of Yan said.
“Ning Jie, Zhu Hongzhu, you two come forward. One represents the Secretariat and the other the Privy Council. You will supervise the entire ballot-counting process to ensure there is no fraud, making it absolutely fair and just.”
Everyone in the Grand Hall sneered inwardly.
*‘Only now you talk about eradicating fraud? Only now you speak of fairness and justice? There is no more ridiculous joke in this world.’*
“There is no need.”
At Royal Uncle Ning Jie’s words, the Prince of Yan’s expression faltered. He most disliked people who disregarded his goodwill.
“Zhong Yue, then you shall represent the Privy Council and supervise.”
“Yes!”
Vice Commissioner Zhong Yue of the Privy Council stepped forward and, along with Zhu Hongzhu, supervised the counting process from either side.
“Ning Qi! Ning Qi! Ning Qi! Ning Zheng!”
When Ning Zheng’s name was heard amidst the calls, everyone was a little surprised.
*‘Who is it? Who has such a stiff neck? To have the courage to vote for Ning Zheng at a time like this?’*
“Ning Qi!”
A smile spread across the Prince of Yan's face as he watched the entire counting process.
*‘This is how it should be.’*
A situation with no surprises was the best outcome. With several hundred ballots, the counting took a very long time.
Court sessions were generally divided into Grand Assemblies and Minor Assemblies. The officials attending a Minor Assembly numbered no more than a hundred, but a Grand Assembly could reach several hundred. The council of succession was an extremely important event, so it had to be held during a Grand Assembly. All the officials in the Grand Hall, high and low, were gathered, totaling five hundred and thirty-seven people.
A full hour later, the counting was complete. A total of five hundred and thirty-seven people participated in this council of succession. The number of people who recommended Ning Qi as the Crown Prince of Yue was four hundred and eighty-five, while the number who recommended Ning Zheng was fifty-two. It seemed the court of Yue was not entirely filled with sycophants. In the past, the civil and military officials had often been at odds with Shen Lang, and even with King Ning Yuanxian. In truth, they merely found Shen Lang's and Ning Yuanxian's actions disagreeable; they were not inherently bad people. That over fifty of them would not fear death and support Ning Zheng even in this situation was proof of that.
But the strange thing was, these fifty-odd people were the very ones who had most vehemently opposed Ning Zheng in the past. At that time, they believed his succession to the throne was not in the country's best interest. They had consistently held to their own will, opposing Ning Yuanxian then, and now they were opposing the Empire. However, among the leaders of the officials in the Grand Hall, only two supported Ning Zheng: Vice Commissioner Ning Jie of the Privy Council and Censor-in-Chief Wang Shengchu.
This Censor-in-Chief had opposed Shen Lang from the very beginning and had been snapping at his heels for years. It was this Lord Wang Shengchu who had repeatedly claimed the Jin Clan was plotting a rebellion. Yet now, he was staunchly defying the Empire's will, choosing Ning Zheng even when his life was threatened. This Censor-in-Chief was clearly a man who held fast to his principles at critical moments.
The Prince of Yan from the Empire glanced coolly at Wang Shengchu. Just a stubborn old man, like a stone stuck in a latrine pit, obsessed with his honor. He had been in the Censorate for so long that he truly saw himself as the embodiment of justice. But no matter how much he resisted, it wouldn't affect the grand scheme of things.
“Today’s outcome is excellent. How could there be any abstentions in such a sacred council of succession? This is very good. Everyone has made their own choice.”
The Grand Hall was silent.
*‘Hah, our own choice? You held a blade to our throats and forced us to write Ning Qi’s name, didn't you?’*