Ensuring that all officials behave honestly and properly, of course, involves more than just this.
A dozen elite soldiers ard with bows surrounded the rebel leader, with sharp arrows already drawn on the bowstrings. A re release of their fingers and the deadly arrows would whistle forth, taking their lives instantly.
This rebel leader, only sixteen years old, had a handso face with a touch of laziness and charm in his eyes. When he smiled, dimples appeared on his cheeks: "Pri Minister Wang, have you made up your mind yet?"
After kneeling for the funeral for more than ten days, Pri Minister Wang, who was already weary and haggard with bloodshot eyes, glared at the rebel with venomous eyes, gritting his teeth with anger: "Jiang Yi! The Emperor treated you like a brother when he was alive. Now, with the Emperor’s body still warm and not yet buried, you dare to raise troops to force the palace and seize the throne! How dare you!"
This sixteen-year-old rebel was none other than Jiang Yi, the Heir of Prince Gaoliang!
Jiang Yi clicked his tongue a few tis: "Who would have thought, Pri Minister Wang is quite a loyal minister! How about this, you support , the Princely Heir, as the new emperor, and you will still be the Da Liang Chancellor, head of the officials."
Pri Minister Wang, usually selfish and power-hungry, suddenly displayed the last of Da Liang Chancellor’s backbone and dignity during this palace upheaval: "Bah! The court has its rules for the succession of the throne. How can a disloyal and unrighteous rebel like you be allowed to ascend? Even if I, Wang Rong, die here today, I will never support you as the new emperor!"
Jiang Yi, despite being severely cursed, did not get angry and even patiently tried to persuade Pri Minister Wang: "The Crown Prince hasn’t married yet and has no heirs. According to the court’s rules, a new emperor should be established next."
"Jiang Hao is only eight years old this year and lacks intelligence; he’s just a fool. Does Da Liang intend to make a fool its emperor?"
"Looking at the entire Imperial Family, I, Jiang Yi, have the highest birth status and closest kinship. Besides, I grew up in the palace and have learned everything my cousin learned. I was keeping a low profile before, not showing my talents. In fact, I am ten tis smarter than my cousin."
"It is most appropriate for to sit on the Dragon Throne. Pri Minister Wang, think carefully, isn’t this the truth?"
Pri Minister Wang retorted angrily: "Your words sound nice. If you truly had the qualification to inherit the throne, why would you raise troops to force the palace? Why not patiently wait for the Emperor’s funeral to finish, for the court’s discussions, for the Grand Empress Dowager to support you?"
"Ultimately, you’re just a rogue aiming to seize the throne! Bah!"
Minister Zhang, Minister Dai, and other high-ranking officials also angrily and incessantly scolded him.
"Pri Minister Wang is right, you are a rebel!"
"The Emperor’s death was suspicious, perhaps you’re the one who did sothing behind the scenes! You, such a despicable person, dare to aspire to be the Emperor of Da Liang! Delusional and utterly absurd!"
"Release us quickly! Imdiately make the rebels outside stop! You might still maintain so dignity! Otherwise, after restoring order, the entire Gao Liang Prince Mansion will go down with you!"
The emotions of the officials were boiling, scrambling to hurl abuses.
Jiang Yi finally lost patience, coldly chuckled, and suddenly waved his hand, prompting the elite soldiers around him to impassively release their arrows. This arrow suddenly struck Pri Minister Wang’s right shoulder.
Pri Minister Wang let out an earth-shattering scream, collapsing to the ground in despair.
The furious officials were instantly intimidated into silence.
"Rest assured, Pri Minister Wang is not dead." Amid Pri Minister Wang’s miserable cries, Jiang Yi casually laughed, akin to a demon from Hell: "I have patience; I will persuade each of you slowly."
"Of course, if you really don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll kill you one by one. I’ll kill until you all are willing to support ."
The officials felt a chill in their hearts.
This Heir of Prince Gaoliang was simply a madman.
Jiang Yi seed to see through the thoughts of the crowd, suddenly bursting into laughter: "Do you think I’m mad?"
"I’m very calm now, very clear-minded. Hahaha!"
"While Grandfather was alive, he intended to make my father the Crown Prince. I, Jiang Yi, should have rightfully been the Crown Prince of Da Liang. That vicious Zheng Family secretly hard my father, turning him from a talented genius into a fool who could barely speak."
"I am the one restoring order now. The throne should rightfully be mine."
What Jiang Yi spoke of was an old event from more than twenty years ago.
However, none of the officials qualified to kneel for Emperor Taihe’s funeral were young. Figures like Pri Minister Wang and Minister Dai, who had been in the officialdom for decades, knew this segnt of history to so extent.
Pri Minister Wang had been struck by an arrow, his life more than half gone, blood flowing steadily from his right shoulder, with no telling when he might cease to breathe, unable to counter anymore.
Nearing seventy, Minister Dai was overwheld with righteous indignation, and spoke in anger: "The Grand Empress Dowager is your grandmother, how can you be so disrespectful!"
Jiang Yi suddenly retracted his smile, coldly saying: "That old shrew won’t stay quietly in the rear palace, ddling in court affairs every day. It’s bad enough that there is a Pri Minister Faction within Da Liang’s officials, yet there also exists a Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction. When history records this, I will feel ashad for you all!"
Minister Dai, being in the Pri Minister Faction himself, showed no sign of blush.
The officials of the Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction, however, looked quite displeased. Especially Duke An, who wished he could curl up into a ball, unnoticed by anyone.
Jiang Yi, of course, would not overlook Duke An, his gaze swept over and landed on him: "Duke An, the Zheng Family has controlled the rear palace for decades, acting tyrannically, causing a ss in the court, isn’t that so?"
The archers remained watchful as ever.
The smile on Jiang Yi’s face was terrifyingly extre.
Cold sweat poured from Duke An’s forehead. He neither nodded nor dared to refute.
Strangely, Jiang Yi did not excessively pressure Duke An. With Duke An lowering his head and staying silent, Jiang Yi sneered and let Duke An go just like that.
Quietly, Duke An breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even notice that his son Zheng Chen behind him exchanged a glance with Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi’s gaze fell upon Minister Li’s face: "Minister Li, you are the Minister of Rites, you tell , with my cousin dead, who should sit on Da Liang’s throne?"
Minister Li’s face appeared ashen, his eyes dull. At the mont Jiang Yi called his na, his whole body trembled. Yet, he had the courage to muster all his bravery and lift his head to say: "When the elder brother dies, the younger brother succeeds—this is a rule passed down from previous dynasties. Naturally, it should be Prince Ping Jiang Hao who inherits the throne... ah!"
A sharp arrow suddenly pierced Minister Li’s chest.
Minister Li wasn’t as lucky as Pri Minister Wang. Struck through the chest, he collapsed to the ground, dead on the spot.
"Grandfather!" Li Boyuan was terrified out of his wits, throwing himself onto Minister Li’s body and wailing mournfully.
Jiang Yi found the wailing too irritating, coldly saying: "Mr. Li, we knew each other since we were young, accompanied each other for more than a decade. In consideration of our past, I spare your life. If you continue to cry and shout, you’ll join your grandfather in the Yellow Springs!"
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