Chapter 748
Chapter 748
Prince Yan of the Empire stared at Ning Yuanxian for a long time. He never imagined that the man who had knelt and pleaded with him over twenty years ago would now become so stubborn, daring to defy the Empire.
What was he to do with the situation before him?
Prince Yan felt as if his head would explode. He had completely botched his duties as the imperial envoy. By forcing the ministers to submit Ning Qi's name for the succession due to the Pre-King Council, he had surely tarnished the Empire's image in the hearts of Yue's officials. Of course, if Ning Qi had successfully ascended the throne, such a price would have been negligible. But now, after such a disgraceful display, Ning Qi had failed to become the Crown Prince, making them a laughingstock to the world.
This was truly a loss on all fronts.
Prince Yan approached Ning Yuanxian and said,
“Hahaha. Worthy Brother Yuanxian, your recent stroke truly alarmed everyone. His Majesty the Emperor, paying even greater attention to the State of Yue, dispatched me here. Surely, Worthy Brother, you won't reprimand me for overstepping my authority?”
King Ning Yuanxian replied,
“How could I? I am nothing but grateful to you, Royal Brother.”
“It is good that the King of Yue has awakened. The court now has someone to preside over the state's affairs. The Queen Dowager's funeral must be conducted swiftly. Her body cannot remain in the memorial hall indefinitely, can it?”
“Royal Brother makes a valid point. The civil and military officials present have seen that although I have awakened, I have not fully recovered, and my movements and speech are impaired. Ning Zheng, as you are the Crown Prince, you shall henceforth act as regent.”
“Your subject accepts the command!”
“Where is Ning Jiang?”
A moment later, Ning Jiang appeared in the great hall. Ning Yuanxian's heart warmed. Just as it's said that one's true character is revealed in adversity, Royal Uncle Ning Jiang had not disappointed him. At the critical moment, he had been prepared to sacrifice his life to protect the State of Yue.
Ning Yuanxian spoke.
“I had prepared a secret edict and written the name in front of the trusted ministers, including Ning Jiang and Ning Ji. However, because someone switched the edict, Ning Jiang destroyed it. In the end, what he destroyed was a fake edict. Therefore, his action was not only blameless but, in fact, meritorious.”
Ning Jiang kowtowed.
“Royal Uncle, I have asked Shen Lang to prepare a good set of false teeth for you.”
When he had destroyed the fake edict, Royal Uncle Ning Jiang had been beaten by the people in the great hall, losing four of his front teeth. In response to Ning Yuanxian's considerate words, Ning Jiang replied,
“Your subject is old; my appearance does not matter. If my teeth are gone, so be it.”
Ning Yuanxian said with a laugh,
“No, that will not do. You will lisp when you speak. I can no longer speak clearly, but Royal Uncle cannot be the same. Previously, I issued a secret edict, but now I shall issue a royal decree before everyone. My health is poor, and I could pass away at any moment. When that day comes, Ning Zheng is to ascend the throne immediately. Furthermore, Bian Wu, Ning Jiang, Ning Ji, and Jin Zhuo are to be appointed as the four Ministers of the Regency.”
Hearing this, Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu's face trembled. Ning Yuanxian had just publicly humiliated him in the most blatant way. As the First Prime Minister of the Grand Secretariat, what a disgrace it was not to be appointed a Minister of the Regency.
Zhu Hongzhu stumbled forward, knelt, and said,
“Your Majesty, your subject is already old. I formally request to resign from my post and return home.”
Zhu Hongzhu had once again requested to resign, and Ning Yuanxian answered decisively, without hesitation.
“Granted. Zhu Hongzhu is indeed advanced in age; he should return home to care for his health and live out his years. I grant your resignation from the position of Prime Minister of the Grand Secretariat, but I will hold off on your resignation as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor.”
Zhu Hongzhu kowtowed and said,
“Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your profound grace.”
The Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council, Zhong E, also felt the urge to follow suit and resign, but he suppressed the impulse. He could not resign at a time like this.
“With Zhu Hongzhu's departure, I will trouble Royal Uncle Ning Jiang to take up the position of First Prime Minister of the Grand Secretariat.”
Ning Jiang replied,
“Your subject will do my utmost.”
“That leaves a vacancy in the Grand Secretariat. Censor-in-Chief Wang Shengchu, please take on an additional duty as the Fourth Prime Minister of the Grand Secretariat.”
Censor-in-Chief Wang Shengchu kowtowed and said,
“Your subject accepts the command. I thank Your Majesty for your profound grace.”
“Crown Prince, I lack the strength, so I will entrust the Queen Dowager's funeral to you as well. But remember one thing: do not be overly extravagant.”
Ning Zheng kowtowed and replied,
“Your subject accepts the command.”
“Let us go. I must return and rest.”
At Ning Yuanxian's words, Shen Lang once again pushed the wheelchair and left the great hall. Ning Yuanxian acted as if he were letting go of everything, entrusting all matters of state to Ning Zheng.
***
Inside the study.
Princess Bian was feeding Ning Yuanxian. The squab rice she had made was cooked with a long-simmered ginseng and chicken broth. The young pigeon was stewed until incredibly tender, and when mixed with the rice, it was exceptionally soft and delicious.
Kneeling before Ning Yuanxian was Grand Princess Ning Jue. She appeared remarkably calm.
“Why?”
After a long while, Ning Yuanxian finally asked her.
“Please sentence me to death.”
“I asked you why.”
Grand Princess Ning Jue touched her forehead to the floor and said,
“I implore you, sentence me to death.”
“You can't say?”
Grand Princess Ning Jue raised her head and said,
“Royal Brother, you should not have woken up. You should not have woken up at this time.”
“Then when should I have woken up?”
“Six months from now.”
“Did Ning Han tell you that?”
Ning Jue fell silent again.
“Who was responsible for my sudden collapse in the great hall?”
“It was me!”
After answering, Grand Princess Ning Jue took something out from her robes. It was a gemstone, similar to the Nightmare Stone, but this one was blue. Was this a gem unrelated to the Nightmare Stone?
“Did Ning Han also give that to you and order you to do it?”
Grand Princess Ning Jue was silent once again. Ning Yuanxian said coldly,
“If that child wanted to assassinate his father and king, why did he have you do it instead of doing it himself?”
Grand Princess Ning Jue began to speak slowly.
“I never intended to kill you, Royal Brother. We only wanted to make you sleep for half a year to prevent a fatal disaster from befalling the State of Yue. But unexpectedly, Shen Lang woke you up. It seems that fatal disaster can no longer be avoided.”
“Ning Qi ascending the throne *is* the fatal disaster. Must Ning Qi become the Emperor's loyal dog for our State of Yue to preserve its lands? Jue'er, how you used to admire Prince Jiang Li! Why have even you knelt to the Empire now?”
“Prince Jiang Li is dead. His death is one thing, but it also dragged countless people down into the abyss with him. Royal Brother, there should be no heroes in this world. Because we admired him back then, the Ning Clan was nearly wiped out. Do you remember, Royal Brother? After Jiang Li's fall, you went to curry favor with Zhu Hongzhu.
And what of me? I was the most fervent, the most enthusiastic follower of Prince Jiang Li. As a result, I was secretly imprisoned for three months. Do you know what happened during those three months, Royal Brother? Do you think my lack of desire is natural? No. I was castrated. My emotions, my spirit, my desires—all of it was castrated.”
Ning Yuanxian's face twitched, and he trembled.
“So, you've become afraid.”
“Should I not be afraid? I would rather die ten times than suffer that kind of terrifying torment again. I don't want to experience that hellish agony! There should be no heroes in this world. We were destroyed once for worshipping a hero; we cannot be destroyed again.”
Ning Yuanxian stared at his sister for a long time.
“Tell me. What exactly happened?”
Grand Princess Ning Jue shook her head.
“I don't know. The only thing I know is that everything I do is for the century-long legacy of the Ning royal family, for the lands of the State of Yue.”
“Little Sister, I believe you when you say you never intended to kill me! If even you in this world tried to kill me, there would be no one left for me to trust. I also believe that everything you've done was for the lands of Yue, for the century-long legacy of the Ning royal family. Little Sister, tell me what has happened. If you tell me, if you can find your courage just one more time, I can still trust you. I will still entrust the Blackwater Terrace to you and believe in you unconditionally.”
Ning Yuanxian's voice was deeply moving. Ning Jue could no longer hold back and burst into tears. She slammed her head on the floor in Ning Yuanxian's direction, sobbing as she spoke.
“Royal Brother, please, depose Ning Zheng and make Ning Qi the Crown Prince. That is our State of Yue's last chance. I'm begging you.”
At Ning Jue's unwavering stance, Ning Yuanxian grew angry, his body trembling as he spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Ning Jue, have you been so frightened that you've lost all your nerve? Where is your backbone? Are you so willing to kneel and let the Great Yan Dynasty trample all over you?”
Grand Princess Ning Jue said through her tears,
“Survival is more important than anything. The centuries-long legacy of the Ning royal family cannot be destroyed at your hands, Royal Brother.”
Ning Yuanxian said in a trembling voice,
“Silence! Tell me, what has happened? Ning Jue, if you just tell me, I will forgive you and spare your life!”
Grand Princess Ning Jue wiped her tears and looked at Ning Yuanxian.
“It's no use. Royal Brother, I have never been afraid of death. In fact, I haven't wanted to live for a long time. Dying like this might be for the best. I won't have to watch the Ning royal family be annihilated, won't have to see the lands of Yue destroyed. Royal Brother, there are no heroes in this world. There shouldn't be! I truly never intended to assassinate you.”
As she finished speaking, black blood slowly trickled from her eyes, nose, and mouth. She had taken her own life. A moment later, her body, which had been kneeling upright on the floor, slowly slumped over. Ning Yuanxian froze as if struck by lightning, staring blankly at the scene. Images of Ning Jue as a child, as a young lady, and as an adult slowly surfaced in his mind, one after another.
“Little Sister...!!”
Ning Yuanxian cried out, then threw himself to the floor, embracing Ning Jue's cold body. His heart ached as if pierced by a knife.
***
In a secret chamber.
Zhu Hongzhu spoke slowly.
“The darkness before the dawn has arrived.”
“The dawn, you say?”
Xue Pan asked.
“Should we go to battle? We still control over ten thousand elite troops in the capital. If we initiate a battle, we will certainly not lose. Since Ning Yuanxian has revived, we can simply kill him again.”
Zhong E said.
“On the surface, Ning Zheng's forces are more numerous, but his foundation is too weak. If we fight in the capital, our chances of victory are still greater.”
Ning Qi asked.
“And after the battle? Kill Ning Zheng, kill my royal father, and then I forcibly ascend the throne?”
Xue Pan asked.
“Why not?”
Zhu Hongzhu said.
“Your Highness Ning Qi, my granddaughter Zhu Ying still wishes to marry you. Will you proceed with this marriage?”
“Of course.”
“Everyone, how about you leave the rest to me?”