Douluo Continent: The Ice Dragon King Martial Soul, Ma Xiaotao is Addicted

The news of the emperor's death swept through the entire Sun Moon Empire like a hurricane overnight.

A huge dark cloud hung over the capital, as if even the sky was mourning the deceased emperor.

The once bustling streets have become solemn, and every household has hung up pale white banners.

A huge mourning hall was quickly set up outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The coffin of the old emperor Xu You was placed in the center, draped with the flag of the Sun and Moon Empire.

Led by Crown Prince Xu Tianran, members of the royal family, civil and military officials, nobles and relatives all dressed in mourning clothes and came in batches to mourn and observe the funeral.

Xu Tianran stayed by the coffin almost every day, his face was as haggard as a sheet of paper, and he cried out in a hoarse voice every time he mourned, and fainted several times.

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences..."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely filial, as Heaven and Earth can attest!"

"His Majesty's spirit in heaven will surely protect Your Highness..."

The officials who came to pay their respects were all filled with sorrow and lamentation upon seeing Xu Tianran in such a state. Many officials who were originally neutral began to have their judgments subtly shifted.

Beneath this surface of national grief, undercurrents were surging even more fiercely.

Taking advantage of his position as the presiding officer of the funeral, Xu Tianran acted with astonishing speed.

Under the guise of "stabilizing the court," he virtually controlled the discourse in the entire court.

He would personally meet with those court officials left behind by the old emperor who had not yet explicitly expressed their support for him, offering them gentle words of comfort and substantial rewards.

If they remain stubborn, Xu Tianran will directly exert pressure and strike them in secret.

In just a few days, the political climate in the imperial court has changed significantly.

At this time, Jing Hongchen also chose to side with Xu Tianran.

This move was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake, immediately causing a huge uproar in the imperial court!
Jing Hongchen's public stance instantly shattered the delicate balance in the imperial court.

Many of the previously hesitant neutrals and powerful local nobles, seeing that even Lian Jing Hongchen had sided with the Crown Prince, had their last remaining doubts vanish.

In an instant, Xu Tianran's power expanded rapidly like a snowball, and his influence far surpassed that of the other princes combined.

The second prince, Xu Tianfeng, and the third prince, Xu Tianyao, also tried to contact some veteran officials to gain their support.

But those veteran officials weren't fools. They knew that Xu Tianran's power was already established, so naturally they didn't want to get involved with the other princes.

The struggle for the throne seemed to have lost its suspense within just over ten days after the emperor's sudden death.

……

……

Half a month later, when the old emperor's coffin was finally moved into the imperial mausoleum for burial, the national mourning period, which lasted for more than half a month, officially came to an end.

In the midst of this atmosphere of lingering grief, Xu Tianran, in his capacity as Crown Prince Regent, delivered a decision at court that shocked the entire empire.

He sat upright in his wheelchair, his face still pale with excessive sorrow, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle, scanning the silent ministers below.

"The sudden passing of my father has brought grief to the entire nation. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for even a day, nor can the state remain without a monarch for long. In order to stabilize the court, secure the country, and comfort my father's spirit in heaven... I, Xu Tianran, hereby assume the imperial authority and assume the position of Regent Prince!"

As Xu Tianran finished speaking, someone immediately shouted, "Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

Immediately afterwards, a thunderous chorus of agreement erupted in the court, and the vast majority of ministers bowed down.

"Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

"Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

"Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

"Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

Only a few senior officials had somber expressions, but ultimately dared not utter any dissenting voices.

They knew that the game was over.

Although Xu Tianran is crippled, he is ruthless, resourceful, and decisive, and has firmly grasped the highest power in the Sun Moon Empire.

It's only a matter of time before the other party ascends the throne.

This news was like a second storm, instantly sweeping across every corner of the empire.

The white banners that Mingdu had just taken down seemed to be about to be replaced immediately by gold and crimson, symbolizing the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

The change of power was so rapid and thorough that it left countless people feeling suffocated.

Some were overjoyed, anticipating the new emperor's meteoric rise to power after his ascension to the throne.

Some people were fearful and worried about the bloody storm that would ensue when the new emperor settled old scores.

Many others simply accepted it numbly, their individual fates as insignificant as dust in the turning of this imperial wheel.

……

However, the turmoil at the heart of the empire's power center did not affect the Royal Soul Master Academy.

Ye Chen was still busy in the laboratory, finding his own enjoyment. Ju Zi was doing the same.

However, Ye Chen could clearly see the worry in Ju Zi's heart.

Ju Zi wasn't worried about Xu Tianran, but rather that Xu Tianran was gaining power too quickly and she would fall out of favor...

After all, the oranges haven't grown up yet and are completely incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.

Xu Tianran hadn't summoned Ju Zi for so long, which made Ju Zi a little uneasy.

Ye Chen didn't seem to care much about this.

Anyway, everything was going according to his plan.

As for Xu Tianran...

Ye Chen was quite satisfied with this tool.

In less than a month, he had almost consolidated the power of the entire court. Once Xu Tianran officially ascended the throne, Ye Chen could reap the rewards of his victory.

……

evening.

After a day of research, Ye Chen packed his things and left the laboratory on time.

The familiar vibration came from the All-Encompassing Communicator ring on my wrist; it was a message from Meng Hongchen.

【Brother Ye Chen~ I'm out of class~ Shall we go to Yunqi Hotel for dinner tonight~ It's my birthday today, and I've got everything ready! (^▽^)】

Meng Hongchen remained as passionate and unrestrained as ever, which was one of the reasons why Ye Chen liked her.

Ye Chen smiled slightly and replied, "Okay, I'll wait for you at the academy gate."

【Okay! I'll be right there!】

The other party replied quickly.

"Is it 'Dream of the Mortal World' again?"

Just then, a ghostly voice suddenly rang out from behind Ye Chen.

"Ouch, Sister Orange, how can you be so scary? It's not good to snoop on other people's privacy." Ye Chen was startled, turned his head, and looked at Orange speechlessly.

He didn't hide his relationship with Meng Hongchen much, and Ju Zi soon found out.

Of course, the orange was initially jealous.

They caught him and asked him all sorts of questions.

However, after Ye Chen shamelessly admitted it, Ju Zi had no choice but to leave angrily and ignored him for several days.

However, perhaps because of the time she shared a bed with Ye Chen, Ju Zi felt increasingly cheated and ultimately couldn't resist taking the initiative to seek reconciliation with Ye Chen...

Of course, on the surface, Ju Zi and Ye Chen maintained a friendship and senior-junior relationship, since Ju Zi didn't want Xu Tianran to know their true relationship...

……

"Hmph, with your little affairs, do you think I wouldn't know who you're chatting with and what you're talking about?" Orange immediately curled her lip, showing great disdain.

"Okay, okay, Sister Orange, you're the smartest..."

Ye Chen said helplessly, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"stop!"

Ju Zi grabbed Ye Chen and said angrily, "You haven't had dinner with me in ages. Apart from status and position, in what way am I inferior to her?"

Ye Chen pondered for a moment, then blurted out, "Xiao Meng is wearing white stockings tonight..."

tangerine:……

"Ye Chen, you bastard!"

Ju Zi was furious. She pounced on Ye Chen and pinched his face hard, kneading it into various shapes.

Ye Chen had no choice but to let Ju Zi vent her anger.

Orange pushed Ye Chen down onto the sofa, and then straddled his lap.

The two were very close, and Ye Chen could clearly smell the scent on Ju Zi and feel the softness on his legs.

Even though Ye Chen had already experienced it, he was still amazed by Ju Zi's figure; she was really well-endowed...

Of course, the orange was still quite forceful; even though Ye Chen was thick-skinned, he still felt a bit uncomfortable being pulled like that…

Ye Chen's laboratory is currently in a closed state, and no one can see it, so Ju Zi has become much bolder.

Just as Ye Chen thought Ju Zi was about to finish, he suddenly heard Ju Zi stop, then shyly lean close to Ye Chen's ear and whisper in a very soft voice:
"You...you have dinner with me tonight, and I...I'll wear black stockings for you..."

Ye Chen: !!
(End of this chapter)