Chapter 746
Chapter 746
Prince Yan continued.
“I was merely here to oversee the King Selection Council on behalf of the Empire. Everything was the will of the State of Yue; the Empire will not interfere in its internal affairs. On behalf of the Empire, I declare this King Selection Council to be fair and therefore valid!”
The grand hall remained shrouded in silence.
“Queen, I leave the rest to you.”
Following Prince Yan's words, Queen Zhu of Yue spoke.
“As I have said repeatedly, I am a woman and should not involve myself in state affairs. Deciding the Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, and as a woman, it is even more difficult for me to speak on this matter. Thus, I will leave all matters to the ministers, but now that you have chosen a Crown Prince through the King Selection Council, making a simple declaration as an elder would not be considered meddling in state affairs, would it?”
Prince Yan of the Empire said.
“Of course, it is not meddling. Besides, the King of Yue's life hangs in the balance, and the Queen Dowager has passed away. Among the royal family, are you not the most venerable, Queen? Acting as regent is what you ought to do.”
Queen Zhu said.
“I do not wish to act as regent. However, with the Queen Mother gone and His Majesty yet to awaken, I have no choice but to take on this duty. It is truly difficult for a woman like me to have to do so.”
“Queen, this is not about wielding power, but about taking responsibility as a member of the royal family.”
“Very well, then. I shall make the proclamation.”
Presently, Queen Zhu slowly rose and said.
“Ning Qi, everyone has chosen you. From now on, you must tread as if on thin ice, acting with caution in all matters, and you must never betray the expectations of the ministers. Even more so, you must not bring shame to the great legacy passed down by our ancestors.”
The Third Prince, Ning Qi, stepped forward and bowed.
“Your subject accepts the Queen Mother's will.”
“Then I shall make a formal proclamation. The Third Prince, Ning Qi, is hereby appointed as the Lord Regent of the State of Yue, to preside over the affairs of the state. Let this be known throughout the land.”
Queen Zhu had used the term 'Lord Regent' instead of 'Crown Prince'. This was because it had been previously agreed that if King Ning Yuanxian were to awaken within a month of the Lord Regent's selection, his will would be followed. If Ning Yuanxian did not awaken within a month, the Lord Regent would become the Crown Prince. Not only that, but after a buffer period of one or two months at most, the ministers would risk their lives to submit memorials to the throne, arguing that the nation could not be without a monarch for a single day and that His Highness the Crown Prince should ascend the throne. Ning Qi would then refuse the throne several times, and the ministers would plead with him repeatedly, risking their lives. Finally, the Emperor of the Great Yan Empire would unilaterally decree Ning Qi to be the King of Yue and the Prince of Yue within the Empire. The entire script had been perfectly written.
After Queen Zhu announced the result, she spoke one last time to Ning Qi.
“My part is done. From now on, the court of Yue is in your hands.”
Then, she immediately left the grand hall, demonstrating her lack of ambition. The Third Prince, Ning Qi, slowly ascended the steps. Above, in the grand hall, was the throne, and below it, another seat. That was the seat of the Regent Crown Prince. In the past, when Ning Yuanxian was absent, Crown Prince Ning Yi had sat there to preside over the court. The process had been ugly, but as the Third Prince, Ning Qi, climbed the steps, he could not suppress the overwhelming emotion.
*The day has finally come.*
He was finally about to sit on the treasured throne he had so desperately coveted. For this day, he had been forced to give up so much.
*I know. I, Ning Qi, bear the infamy of the world. But what of it? The victor becomes a king, the loser a thief. I was always more capable than Ning Yi or Ning Zheng. This throne should have been mine from the start, and only I can preserve the lands of Yue. Today, countless people will curse me in their hearts, but what about tomorrow? The day after? Will they continue to curse me in the future? After I have achieved numerous accomplishments, will they even remember my past sins?*
*The people of the world are forgetful and selfish. From ancient times until now, how many outstanding monarchs have ascended the throne by killing their brothers or fathers? Yet, did they not still hold dominion over the world, commanding all under heaven? Needless to say, my own father, Ning Yuanxian, ascended the throne by killing his brother, Ning Yuanwu, did he not?*
No matter how long the flight of stairs, it must have an end. The Third Prince, Ning Qi, walked to that smaller throne and slowly sat down.
“We pay our respects to the Lord Regent.”
“We pay our respects to the Lord Regent!”
Zhu Hongzhu, Zhong E, Xue Che, Zhang Zhao, and others bowed. The remaining ministers hesitated for a moment before reluctantly bowing as well. However, dozens of those present in the grand hall remained standing, motionless. At their forefront were Ning Jie, Ning Zheng, Chief Censor Wang Shengchui, and Investigating Censor Zhang Xun. A murderous intent stirred within Ning Qi, but he spoke with a smile on his face.
“Fifth Brother, Father previously enfeoffed you as the Duke of Yue. That shows he has great expectations for you. From today, let us brothers work together as one for the good of the nation.”
Ning Qi looked gently at Ning Zheng. Until now, Ning Qi had always maintained a cold demeanor and rarely smiled. But now, having finally been chosen as Lord Regent, his face was wreathed in smiles. Ning Zheng, however, was someone who was simply incapable of acting and remained motionless where he stood. Seemingly unbothered by Ning Zheng's coldness, Ning Qi continued.
“Previously, Father ordered Us to enter the Privy Council, but it seems I can no longer hold that position. The Duke of Yue, Ning Zheng, has exerted great effort and accumulated significant merit. As the General of the Pacification of the South and as the Admiral of Tianyue, he has rendered distinguished service to the State of Yue. We would like Ning Zheng to enter the Privy Council and take Our former position. What do the ministers think?”
At Ning Qi's gentle words, the ministers' hearts trembled. On the surface, Ning Qi was all smiles, but in reality, he was incomparably arrogant. A mere Lord Regent, not even a Crown Prince, was referring to himself as 'We' at every turn. Even when Ning Yi was the Crown Prince, he had rarely referred to himself using that term. Was Ning Qi not considering himself the Crown Prince, but the King of Yue?
Furthermore, he was immediately trying to strip Ning Zheng of all his military authority. Just as Ning Yuanxian had recently given Ning Qi what seemed like a promotion but was in fact a powerless position—dismissing him from his post as the Grand Marshal of Tianbei Province and making him a Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council—Ning Qi was now trying to take away Ning Zheng's titles of General of the Pacification of the South and Admiral of Tianyue, and make him a powerless Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council. If that happened, Ning Zheng would no longer be able to command the ten thousand-strong capital guards.
“Zhang Zhao!”
At Ning Qi's call, Zhang Zhao stepped forward.
“Your subject is here.”
“You were once the Admiral of Tianyue, but Father punished you for your poor performance. In the two years since, you have performed quite well. Therefore, We will, despite the inconvenience, return that position to you. Privy Council, Department of State Affairs, are there any objections to appointing Zhang Zhao as the Admiral of Tianyue?”
“This subject has no objection.”
“This subject has no objection!”
“This subject has no objection!”
Ning Jie and Ning Zheng still did not say a word. Ning Qi spoke again.
“The most urgent tasks now are, first, to save Father, and second, to immediately conduct the funeral for Her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Of course, the State of Yue has just been through a great war and the national treasury is empty, so we cannot afford extravagant displays of waste, but the funeral must still be conducted with solemnity. All other matters must be set aside to make way for this.”
Just then, Zhong E spoke up.
“Reporting to Your Highness. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager resented the people of the State of Jiang the most when she was alive. If ten thousand of Jiang's cavalry remain outside the capital, Her Majesty will not be able to rest in peace even in the underworld. Furthermore, it is improper for a foreign army to be stationed at our capital for an extended period, and it could become a laughingstock for the world. We beseech Your Highness to make a decision.”
Of course, his words were not false. The Queen Dowager's maternal family had suffered a disaster at the hands of Jiang's cavalry, with countless deaths, and because of this, she had hated the people of Jiang her entire life.
“That is indeed a matter that must be handled. The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. How about the Duke of Yue goes personally to explain the situation to the Queen of Jiang and has her lead her cavalry away? As things stand, her cavalry is surrounding the capital, and the people of our city dare not even leave. If the Jiang cavalry disobeys and causes any trouble, I fear it will affect the relationship between our two states, Yue and Jiang. Of course, the friendship between Yue and Jiang is a national policy set by Father, and We shall follow it.”
The words sounded humble at first glance. But, Ning Qi, have you not always thought yourself superior to Ning Yuanxian?
“Ning Zheng, what do you say? Can you go and persuade the Queen of Jiang?”
Ning Zheng still did not say a word. Ning Qi asked again, his gaze turning cold.
“Duke of Yue, are you refusing?”
Ning Zheng kept his mouth firmly shut, saying nothing. Once again, murderous intent rose in Ning Qi's heart. He had already decided that after ascending the throne, he would kill Ning Zheng and Shen Lang, and exterminate the Jin Clan. But to do that, he needed some time. First, he had to strip Ning Zheng of his power and place him under house arrest, then kill them after he had fully secured the throne. Yet now, Ning Zheng was openly defying him. Was he seeking his own death?
Xue Che said coldly.
“Ning Zheng, are you refusing to accept the outcome of the King Selection Council? Are you defying the will of the court? Your Highness, since Ning Zheng is so rude and ill-mannered, this subject requests that he be severely punished.”
Ning Qi gestured for him to stop.
“Minister Xue, your words are too harsh. I believe Ning Zheng did not mean it. My Fifth Brother is merely overwhelmed with worry for Father, which has led to this lapse. It cannot be considered a crime!”
At that moment, Royal Uncle Ning Jie, who had been silent just like Ning Zheng, spoke.
“I am old. While I have the will to serve as Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council, I lack the strength. I formally request to resign from my post!”
Hearing this, Ning Qi's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Is he trying to embarrass me? Requesting to resign the moment I become Lord Regent?*
Ning Qi desperately wanted to grant this request immediately and be rid of Ning Jie, this stubborn old man, but he smiled and said.
“Absolutely not. Royal Uncle, though you are advanced in years, you are still full of vigor. The Privy Council cannot do without you. Do not ever mention resigning again.”
Ning Jie was about to insist on resigning again, but Ning Qi changed the subject, his gaze turning cold.
“Furthermore, there is another matter. Previously, Ning Jiang damaged Father's secret decree. His actions are tantamount to treason and must be investigated. Is Yan Ye of the Blackwater Terrace present?”
The Commander of the Blackwater Terrace, Yan Ye, stepped forward.
“Go and arrest Ning Jiang. You must find out whose orders he was following, why he damaged Father's secret decree, and who his accomplices are.”
Hearing this, the ministers' hair stood on end.
*Ning Qi is going to turn this into a major case.*
The moment Ning Jiang entered the prisons of the Blackwater Terrace, Yan Ye, being on Ning Qi's side, would fabricate the case at will. Then, those who stood against them would be completely purged. Anyone who disobeyed would be labeled a co-conspirator in Ning Jiang's treason, and a great slaughter would follow. To be implicated in such a treason case was a terrifying prospect. If the monarch wished it, he could implicate anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of people. This method was the best way to eliminate one's opponents.
Seeing the ministers' fear, Ning Qi sneered inwardly, filled with self-satisfaction.
*Did they all think I would only show favor? Establishing authority is more important.*
The people of this world are all base by nature; it is authority they fear, not virtue.
“What do all of you think?”
“Your Highness is wise and brilliant!”
“Your Highness is wise and brilliant!”
When Ning Qi asked coldly, everyone sensed the danger and bowed in unison. With the butcher's knife held to their throats, many ministers began to compromise. Ning Qi said calmly.
“Yan Ye, take your men and go arrest Ning Jiang.”