Tang Qin raged, "How impudent! How dare you address His Majesty in such a manner!
"The Emperor already made a visit to the Jin camp half a month ago and, having been courteously treated for two days, returned. Yet now, it has been three days and he has not returned. If it were not for the sudden arrival of the Western Army that forced the Jin to relocate their camp, how else would you explain it?"
Fan Cun glanced at him, "Just because the Jin released soone last ti, does it an they will definitely release soone this ti?
"Once you enter the Jin Camp, it’s like a sheep entering the tiger’s mouth; whether the tiger eats the sheep is solely dependent on its own mood, not the sheep’s etiquette.
"Minister Tang, you’re not unlike my elder brother, muddled in your thinking!"
Tang Qin’s face changed yet again. This Prince Yun had repeatedly failed to address the Emperor with due respect, and this was a grave act of irreverence.
But at this mont, the Supre Emperor spoke up, "Alas, Prince Yun has a point. I strongly advised the Emperor against going before he departed, but he wouldn’t listen..."
Originally, the Supre Emperor had been reduced to a re figurehead by the Emperor.
He was barred from attending most court sessions.
However, on this occasion, given the Emperor’s absence and Prince Yun’s return, he was allowed to access the court.
At this ti, Tang Qin faintly sensed that sothing had changed.
The Supre Emperor... seed to have other motives in mind.
Fan Cun felt an understanding dawn within him.
Indeed, the situation in court was as Emperor Taizu of Sheng had predicted!
In that case, it should be easy to handle.
He stepped forward and declared loudly, "Father Emperor!
"The Emperor has ventured deep into the Jin camp and is in imminent danger. Should anything untoward occur, what would beco of the ancestral temples? I beseech you, Father Emperor, to prioritize the well-being of the state. Set a strategy early to ensure the stability of the realm and comfort the people, then all under heaven will be fortunate!"
At this mont, Emperor Yingzong of Qi hadn’t fully grasped the situation, "Set a strategy early?"
Fan Cun continued, "How can the nation endure without a sovereign for long?"
Before he could finish, Tang Qin, already infuriated, exclaid, "Presumptuous!
"Your Highness Prince Yun, although the Emperor is in the Jin camp, he remains unhard. Yet you dare to speak of dethronent and succession... Are you, perchance, plotting rebellion?"
By now, everyone at court fully understood Prince Yun’s purpose in coming.
Prince Yun had traversed a thousand miles under the pretense of aiding the Emperor, but the first thing he did upon arrival was not to launch an attack on the Jin to rescue the Emperor, but to co to the court and et with the Supre Emperor and the civil and military officials.
This revealed that his intention from the start was to advocate for dethronent and succession!
Furthermore, the justification he offered was compelling.
Now that the Emperor was deep within the Jin camp, in peril every mont, any misfortune would leave the dragon throne headless. Surely, the entire court and the capital would be thrown into chaos.
Thus, in such a situation, appointing a new sovereign to temporarily take charge of the governnt would be sensible, wouldn’t it?
Once the Emperor was rescued, the throne could be returned to him.
Such a provisional plan was indeed quite necessary at this ti.
Tang Qin wanted to say more, but Fan Cun completely ignored him, continuing to address the Supre Emperor, Emperor Qihui, "Father Emperor, please establish a plan promptly, to comfort the people!"
A glimr seed to pass through the clouded eyes of Emperor Qihui, who said, "Prince Yun speaks wisely!
"A country cannot be without its ruler for even a day. The Crown Prince is too young to hastily handle all affairs. Prince Yun, as my older son, is suitable to inherit the great throne and ensure the stability of the nation!"
Tang Qin stamped his foot in anger, "How could this be permissible!"
The assembled ministers at court also burst into an uproar, seemingly ready to pounce and beat the rebellious traitor to a pulp.
Yet Fan Cun remained unmoved.
He observed everyone’s reactions with a detached calm, resembling soone serenely waiting for a fish to bite.
The situation in court was indeed as Emperor Taizu had analyzed before.
The conflict between Emperor Qihui and Emperor Yingzong had reached an irreconcilable point.
Initially, Emperor Qihui intended to wash his hands of responsibility, leaving everything to Emperor Yingzong and walking away unburdened. However, he soon felt a sense of loss at his lack of power, which led to thoughts of establishing a new center of command.
The reason he had returned to the capital after the first withdrawal of the Jin forces was, of course, with this intent in mind.
If Emperor Qihui truly wished to detach completely, focusing solely on his spiritual pursuits and pleasure, why would he return to such a dangerous place as the capital?
Emperor Yingzong was clearly aware of this and, as a result, not only placed Emperor Qihui under house arrest and purged the court of his supporters but even his own entry into the Jin Camp was sowhat related.
Originally, the Jin intended to invite the Supre Emperor for "peace talks."
But Emperor Yingzong, cunning as he was, imdiately saw through their sche, thinking, ’You think to bypass and establish a new center of power? You’re underestimating my intelligence! If anyone is going, then I shall go myself!’
And so the cunning Emperor Yingzong went to the Jin Camp in place of Emperor Qihui.
In a nutshell, Emperor Qihui was regretting his earlier decision. Whether it was renouncing the throne or returning to the capital, his conflict with Emperor Yingzong had almost reached a point beyond reconciliation.
And at this mont, Prince Yun had afforded him an excellent opportunity.
That was to establish a new sovereign!
In legal terms, Emperor Qihui had the authority to do so.
With the Emperor absent from the palace and uncertain when he might return, both the royal family and the ministers could then contemplate a new succession.
Naturally, amongst the royal family, the Supre Emperor’s standing was paramount. As long as the Supre Emperor initiated the matter, and the majority of the ministers concurred, it could be enacted.
However, although the Supre Emperor did agree, these ministers were not so easily swayed.
The ministers, led by Tang Qin, were nearly ready to literally blow the roof off the Golden Throne Hall in their adamant disagreent.
The reason was simple: they had all been promoted by Emperor Yingzong!
Take Tang Qin, for example, he was of the conciliatory faction and had been heavily utilized under Emperor Yingzong.
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