Chapter 549 - 531 Xie Xun
The sky was still dimly lit, but Jinluan Palace was already packed with the civil and military officials. The dragon throne sat empty, and the officials were gathered together, whispering in hushed tones. Outside the palace, the stone floor was being scrubbed clean of bloodstains by palace attendants, while the Forbidden Army and Kyoto Capital Guard handled the bodies left behind from the slaughter.
The fifty-thousand-strong army brought by General Gao remained in a standoff with the Forbidden Army outside the city gates, yet dared not launch a reckless assault. The throne succession had thrown Jinluan Palace into a stalemate.
Prince Duan and Feng Wan, originally at the Feng Family estate, had now been summoned to Jinluan Palace.
Among those who rebelled alongside Xie Xun this time were the former troops of Marquis Zhenbei, who had formed their own faction. Xie Xun ascended the hall wielding his sword, exuding an unmistakable aura of bloodlust. He stood by the great cauldron at the front of Jinluan Palace, eyes closed as if resting. His crimson-stained robes bore the marks of soaking blood, and while the blood on his face had been crudely wiped away, he remained standing there with eyes shut, his longsword planted before him. His hands loosely folded on the hilt, radiating an unrelenting pressure that felt suffocating.
No matter how much Grandmaster Zhang quarreled with the imperial clansmen, Xie Xun remained silent. Marquis An Yuan, Vice Minister Chen, and others were equally silent. The former troops of Marquis Zhenbei, unmatched in bravery during battles, maintained a deafening silence now, like mute statues.
Grandmaster Zhang, a loyal official who had served through three reigns, wielded significant influence. He supported Prince Duan’s ascension, believing him to be the ideal candidate for emperor: he was a mature prince, while the Crown Prince was too young. It followed the traditional succession of "elder brother to younger." Clan members undoubtedly opposed the Crown Prince’s enthronement, fearing a future dictated solely by Lin Helin acting as regent, which would make the Lin Family all-powerful.
Though Lin Helin appeared gentle and proper, none of his actions in the past three years had been truly gentle or proper. His resolute nature and firm will meant his regency would equate to becoming an invisible emperor. The clans had already been divided by Yuwen Jing’s manipulations, their alliance weakened. The Lin and Zhang Families might share a common cause, but the Li Family certainly did not align with them. The Li Family had a Noble Consort and a Second Prince of their own.
Moreover, the Li Family maintained a close relationship with Marshal Fang’s family through marriage ties. Together, they harbored ambitions, aiming for the Second Prince’s enthronement. But now, with Yuwen Jing passing the throne to the Crown Prince and Lin Helin acting as regent, they were undoubtedly unwilling to comply.
As for Prince Duan’s election, however, they were just as unwilling. With Prince Duan being an adult, he would prove difficult to control. The clans had long dominated the imperial family, only to encounter resistance under Emperor Yuwen Jing.
Not only were they thwarted in manipulating Yuwen Jing, but he almost eradicated the clans in one fit of rage. Now that Yuwen Jing had stepped down, their ambitions were rekindled, favoring the selection of an emperor they could control.
Between the Crown Prince and Prince Duan, clearly their choice was to opt for the lesser of two evils. While Prince Duan was of age, he was comparatively easier to control than the Crown Prince.
Thus, Grandmaster Zhang and the imperial clans supported the Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, the Li Family and the civil and military officials backed Prince Duan.
Each faction had its own rationale.
Grandmaster Zhang and the imperial clans leaned towards legitimacy. Despite Lin Helin acting as regent, the Crown Prince’s succession adhered to Yuwen Jing’s decree, making the choice lawful and proper. It wouldn’t be the first time a young ruler had ascended the throne in Yanyang!
Their support for Prince Duan was based on his mild temperament and absence of past misconduct. Traumatized by Yuwen Jing’s tyranny, they sought a gentler emperor. Furthermore, they aimed to prevent the Lin Family from monopolizing power and becoming a dominant external clan.
The debate between Grandmaster Zhang and Elder Li grew more heated, with arguments flying back and forth until their faces turned red. Marquis An Yuan and Vice Minister Chen, present as spectators, sat back quietly while Xie Xun’s silence remained unbroken. He had no intention of speaking.
The civil and military officials were caught in a painful dilemma, torn between choosing legitimacy or a mature monarch who would benefit Yanyang.
Feng Changqing did not appear at Jinluan Palace, though Feng Changlin’s excitement was palpable. If Prince Duan ascended the throne, his daughter Feng Wan would become the Empress, and his grandson would be the Crown Prince.
For an official, such power and ambition presented an irresistible allure.
Yet he dared not voice his thoughts, keeping his ambitions buried within his heart.
With Lin Helin absent and Grandmaster Zhang presiding over Jinluan Palace, Zhang Boju remained silent. As his father had passed away early, Zhang Boju had been raised and educated by Grandmaster Zhang, destined to inherit the Zhang Family legacy. No matter what happened, he would stand aligned with Grandmaster Zhang.
But he couldn’t help glancing at Xie Xun.
He was eager to remind his grandfather that, in truth, there was another viable option.
"Marquis An Yuan, what are your thoughts?" Exhausted from his endless arguments with Elder Li, Grandmaster Zhang sought reinforcements, turning towards the former troops of Marquis Zhenbei.
They were the catalyst of this coup. Had it not been for Feng Shu’s death and Yuwen Jing’s madness in imprisoning so many former troops of Marquis Zhenbei, this disaster might never have unfolded.
With generations of power behind it, Marquis An Yuan’s mansion naturally held sway.
"I have no thoughts on the matter."
Grandmaster Zhang had not expected such a curt retort and redirected his inquiry to Xie Xun, "Young Marquis, whom do you choose?"
The noisy Jinluan Palace, bustling like a market since dawn, immediately fell into absolute silence as all eyes turned to the towering figure holding his longsword with hands folded, eyes closed in silent repose.
It had been Xie Xun who led the Forbidden Army and Kyoto Capital Guard into the Imperial Palace, forcing Yuwen Jing to abdicate.
He was the storm’s very center.
Xie Xun had nearly dozed off; sheer exhaustion had overtaken him. His nerves had been stretched taut; for three days and nights, he hadn’t closed his eyes, battling through the night until his body and mind were utterly drained.
In his quiet repose, sleep had nearly claimed him.
Now summoned by Grandmaster Zhang, Xie Xun slowly opened his eyes.
Dried blood clung to his body, and a pungent stench of blood, mingled with murderous intent, swept forth as he opened his eyes, unsettling the gathered officials.
No one could predict whom the Young Marquis might choose as the next emperor.
They all believed that with Yuwen Jing dead, Xie Xun’s long-held vengeance was satisfied. Surely, he would not opt for the Crown Prince, as the boy carried Yuwen Jing’s bloodline.
Elder Li grew visibly excited, convinced that Xie Xun would never choose Abao.
Even if Abao was Lin Yushu’s child.
Feng Changlin, trembling with anticipation, was certain that Xie Xun would favor Prince Duan. Should Prince Duan take the throne, their families would become interconnected through marriage—a preferable outcome to seeing the Crown Prince rise.
Everyone understood one crucial fact: whoever Xie Xun chose, the throne was essentially his to claim.
Even the ever-composed and seemingly disinterested Prince Duan felt a ripple of nervousness, particularly when Xie Xun approached him, as if heading directly his way. The prince’s heart raced in excitement.
If Xie Xun endorsed him, he would remember this favor forever, granting the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion unparalleled honor in the future.
Step by step, Xie Xun moved towards the dragon throne, his longsword in hand.
Grandmaster Zhang furrowed his brow, "Xie Xun, what are you planning to do?"
Xie Xun turned his gaze towards the civil and military officials. Tall and striking as jade, he stood atop Jinluan Palace. At that moment, the morning light split the shrouded night, piercing through the gray clouds in bursts.
A warm orange beam spilled onto the gleaming floor of Jinluan Palace, snaking its way to Xie Xun’s feet.
Clad in blood-red robes, Xie Xun radiated dominion over all. His gaze swept across the civil and military officials before he calmly seated himself upon the dragon throne.
"I choose Xie Xun!"