Zhu Tian: A journey of spiritual practice starting from Joy of Life

Chapter 207 Fan Xian Inherits the Throne
At noon, civil and military officials, as well as members of the royal family, were gathered in the main hall of the palace.

Because of this rebellion, officials who usually sided with Li Chengze and Li Chengqian have been arrested and imprisoned one by one by Chen Pingping and Prince Jing.

As a result, less than half the people remained in the already sparsely populated main hall.

They never expected that such a serious matter as the prince's rebellion would be completely resolved in less than a day.

At this moment, Li Chengze and Li Chengqian knelt in the main hall, their faces ashen. Seeing this, Li Chengping turned to Fan Xian and asked worriedly, "Teacher, is the rebellion over?"

Fan Xian's expression was solemn. He nodded and said, "The only one we haven't found yet is the Eldest Princess. I wonder..."

"Keep the change, please!"

Leng Feibai walked slowly into the main hall and said in a serious tone, "When I arrived at Taiping Villa, the Princess had already taken poison and committed suicide!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions, some looking grave, some doubtful, and some relieved. Only Li Chengqian closed his eyes tightly and shed two lines of tears.

"Fantasi!"

An elderly man with a long beard, dressed as a civil official, stepped forward and asked, "Is the news circulating outside true? Has His Majesty really passed away?"

Fan Xian shook his head and said, "When I left, His Majesty was perfectly fine. I don't know what happened during that time! But His Majesty told me that if anything happened after I returned to the capital, I should go to Eunuch Hou once the matter was resolved, and that the solution would be found very early..."

Before Fan Xian could finish speaking, Eunuch Hou, accompanied by Hong Zhu, arrived at the main hall.

"This old servant greets all of you esteemed sirs!"

Eunuch Hou spoke calmly, as if he had foreseen today's situation. "His Majesty instructed this old servant before he left, so you gentlemen need not worry. Young Master Leng, may you hand over what His Majesty entrusted to you to this old servant?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Leng Feibai.

Leng Feibai sighed, and a box made of sandalwood flew out from his sleeve.

"Everything is here!"

Leng Feibai said calmly, "However, I don't know if you gentlemen are willing to believe it."

"Young Master is joking!"

Eunuch Hou calmly said, "You gentlemen naturally recognize His Majesty's handwriting."

After speaking, Eunuch Hou opened the box, took out the four volumes of imperial edicts, and handed three of them to Hong Zhu. He then read the first volume of the edict aloud.

"Wait a minute"

Seeing this, Li Chengqian went all out and stood up, saying, "Eunuch Hou, what exactly do you mean? Wasn't it you who brought Qin Ye into the East Palace while I was under house arrest? And wasn't it you who secretly helped my aunt and me escape from the palace during our confinement?"

Upon hearing this, the court officials, members of the royal family, and others looked at Eunuch Hou in disbelief.

With a calm expression, Eunuch Hou put down the imperial edict in his hand and said, "This old servant is naturally carrying out His Majesty's secret decree. If you do not believe me, this old servant has physical evidence here!"

After saying that, Eunuch Hou took out another imperial edict from his sleeve and said, "This is an imperial edict written by His Majesty himself. Your Highness Prince Jing, you may take a look!"

Upon hearing this, Prince Jing stepped forward without ceremony to accept the imperial edict and began to read it carefully.

In an instant, Prince Jing, who had been perfectly fine, broke out in a cold sweat and said in disbelief, "This, this is indeed my brother's handwriting. But how could my brother give such an order!"

Seeing Prince Jing's expression, Li Chengqian boldly rushed forward, snatched the imperial edict from Prince Jing's hand, and carefully read it. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Eunuch Hou is ordered to bring Qin Ye into the palace to contact the Crown Prince and test whether Li Chengqian harbors any rebellious intentions. If so, Li Chengqian and Li Yunrui shall be released from the palace if necessary. So be it!"

Looking at the handwriting on the imperial edict and the crimson jade seal, Li Chengqian's face turned ashen. He looked at Li Chengze kneeling beside him and said, "Second brother, did you see that? Our father has played us both!"

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Chengze understood what was going on. He closed his eyes and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the imperial edict that Eunuch Hou is holding is His Majesty's decree announcing the succession to Fan Xian. Sacrificing the two of us to pave the way for Fan Xian, His Majesty is quite shrewd!"

Upon hearing Li Chengze's words, everyone except Leng Feibai's expression changed, and they secretly felt that Emperor Qing had gone too far.

Eunuch Hou said nothing, gestured for the officials to kneel, and calmly began to read the imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: After I leave the palace, regardless of the crimes committed by Li Chengqian and Li Chengze, they shall be pardoned from the death penalty, demoted to commoners, and imprisoned in the inner palace for life. The remaining accomplices shall be handed over to the Three Judicial Offices for joint prosecution and punishment according to the law. If the new emperor does not comply with this decree, the entire Qing Kingdom shall jointly execute them. So be it."

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's expression changed again. Li Chengqian and Li Chengze exchanged a glance, their faces full of surprise, but they didn't say anything.

Ignoring them, Eunuch Hou picked up the second volume of the imperial edict and said, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Fan Xian is my fourth son, who was raised in the Fan family from a young age due to certain circumstances. Now, I hereby proclaim to the world that his royal status is restored. After my death, Fan Xian shall become the new emperor of the country. So be it!"

When the imperial edict was issued, no one in the court showed any surprise.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian couldn't help but stand up and say, "Eunuch Hou, what is His Majesty doing...?"

Eunuch Hou, holding the imperial edict, respectfully addressed Fan Xian, saying, "His Majesty—no, the late Emperor—said that after you ascend the throne, you may use whatever name you wish. However, your future descendants must revert to the surname Li!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present knew that Emperor Qing had made a huge concession.

Fan Xian's lips moved slightly after hearing this, and his gaze fell on Fan Jian, Leng Feibai, who were kneeling, and Chen Pingping, who was sitting in a wheelchair.

The three remained silent, only giving Fan Xian an encouraging look.

Fan Xian bit his lip, knelt down and said, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials breathed a sigh of relief and shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Fan Xian stood up and said, forcing himself to speak, "Gentlemen, please rise, no need for formalities."

The ministers then rose and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Fan Xian was still completely bewildered, having inexplicably become the emperor.

In other words, on that day in Danzhou, Emperor Qing had already decided to pass the throne to me.

"His Majesty!"

Looking at the remaining two imperial edicts, Eunuch Hou calmly said, "The late emperor also issued two other edicts. One conferred upon Guest Minister Leng Feibai the title of Guardian God of War, equivalent to a marquis. He also bestowed a marriage upon the Holy Maiden Haitang Duoduo of Northern Qi. Furthermore, he decreed that the two need not adhere to the strict rites and could hold normal weddings and funerals during the national mourning period. The other edict dissolved the engagement between commoner Li Chengze and Ye Ling'er of the Ye family, and pardoned all members of the Ye family, restoring them all to their original official positions!"

After hearing this, Fan Xian turned to look at Leng Feibai.

Leng Feibai remained silent, staring intently at Fan Xian. "Since it is the late emperor's decree, then proclaim it to the world!"

Fan Xian forced a smile and said, "As for other matters, let's wait until the late emperor's remains are returned before discussing them."

After speaking, Fan Xian signaled to the officials that they could return home.

For a time, most people left the main hall, leaving only Chen Pingping, Fan Jian, and some members of the royal family inside.

(End of this chapter)