The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the smell of medicine was so strong it was almost unbearable.

Pei Yan had been guarding outside the palace all night.

His court robes were soaked by the night dew, but he seemed oblivious, his expression calm.

Among the officials, some couldn't stay awake and secretly dozed off.

Wang An hurriedly came out of the hall and whispered in his ear.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty... has awakened."

Pei Yan raised his eyelids: "What did the imperial physician say?"

Wang An rubbed his hands together, his face grave: "The imperial physician said it should be... a final burst of energy before death."

Pei Yan didn't ask any more questions. He straightened his clothes and strode into the palace.

On the dragon bed, Emperor Zhaode's face was ashen, his mouth was crooked, and saliva was dripping uncontrollably down his face.

He leaned against the bright yellow pillow, his cloudy eyes barely open.

All the palace servants in the hall withdrew, leaving only Wang An standing by his side with his hands at his sides.

Pei Yan walked to the bedside, lifted his robe, and knelt down.

"Your subject Pei Yan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhaode's lips moved a few times, his voice broken and intermittent: "Minister Pei... I'm afraid I won't be able to make it this time."

Pei Yan did not respond.

Emperor Zhaode turned his head with difficulty to look at him.

"The Crown Prince has been deposed, and the position of heir apparent is vacant... I want to know... what you did."

Pei Yan took out the edict drafted by the cabinet from his sleeve, held it up with both hands, and presented it to Emperor Zhaode.

"Your Majesty, after discussions with the officials, we have decided to enthrone the Eighth Prince as the new Crown Prince."

"The Eighth Prince is only ten years old. He is intelligent and of good character. His mother, Consort Hui, comes from a humble family, and none of her relatives hold official positions in the court. There is no concern about the maternal relatives wielding power."

"Establishing an eighth prince can quell the disputes in the court and bring peace to the world."

Emperor Zhaode stared at the edict, remaining motionless for a long time.

Pei Yan knelt there, motionless.

Emperor Zhaode suddenly let out a low, hoarse laugh.

"Pei Qing, you've thought of everything for me."

There was a hint of self-deprecation and a touch of helplessness in those words.

Pei Yan lowered his head and did not argue.

Emperor Zhaode closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his cloudy eyes held a new clarity.

"I haven't seen that Eighth Prince often... but every time I have, he's always well-behaved... never fighting or grabbing, just like his mother."

He laboriously raised his hand and beckoned to Wang An.

"Bring...the Imperial Seal."

Wang An was prepared. He took out the jade seal from the box next to the imperial desk and carefully opened it.

Pei Yan unfolded the imperial edict and laid it flat on the small table beside the couch.

Emperor Zhaode read it once, and then read it again.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

Wang An understood, picked up the jade seal with both hands, dipped it in ink, and steadily stamped it down.

The red marks fell on the yellow silk, square and dignified.

Pei Yan knelt motionless as he waited for the imperial edict to dry.

Emperor Zhaode's breath had become so faint that it could no longer be heard.

He had to exert a great deal of effort to speak again.

"Pei Qing..."

"Your subject is here."

"I have not been a good emperor in my life." He paused, and a tear slid down his cheek.

"Mediocre, lazy, incompetent... The people of Great Chu... I have failed them."

Pei Yan lowered his head, his brows furrowed, and did not respond.

"You shall protect... this land of Great Chu for me."

"My lord, I obey your order."

Emperor Zhaode's hand slipped off the edge of the couch and hung limply at his side.

He looked at the golden dragon on the roof of the palace, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

His pupils gradually dilated, and the last rise and fall of his chest slowly subsided into calm.

Wang An stepped forward, trembling as he checked her breath and pulse.

Then, he knelt down on the ground, his high-pitched voice, tinged with sobs, piercing through the entire hall.

"His Majesty—has passed away—"

The sound of weeping spread from inside the hall to outside.

The officials prostrated themselves on the ground, their cries shaking the heavens.

The death knell tolled, its dull, metallic sound striking the hearts of everyone with each stroke.

The Empress Dowager was the first woman in the harem to arrive.

She was carried by several old nannies into the palace, rushed to the dragon bed, and tightly grasped Emperor Zhaode's already cold hand.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, wake up! Look at your mother one more time!"

She cried her heart out, her whole body trembling like a withered leaf in the wind.

Empress Xiao Yuzhen followed closely behind.

She managed to maintain her last shred of dignity, but when she saw the ashen face on the bed, her knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground.

Next came the Imperial Concubine, accompanied by the Third Prince. The mother and son knelt outside the threshold, sobbing uncontrollably.

But it was all too late.

Wang An took out the imperial edict from his bosom, walked to the palace gate, faced the officials and concubines, and began to read it aloud.

"I am bedridden and know my time is drawing to a close. The Crown Prince has been disobedient and I have deposed him. I hereby appoint the Eighth Prince, Zhou Di, as Crown Prince, and choose an auspicious day for him to inherit the throne..."

The Empress Dowager's weeping stopped abruptly.

Xiao Yuzhen suddenly raised her head, her face still wet with tears, but her eyes were filled with shock.

How could it be the Eighth Prince?

The Imperial Concubine stood frozen in place, gripping the Third Prince's arm tightly.

The three prince, fourteen years old, glared resentfully at the palace as his mother gripped his arm so tightly it ached.

He didn't understand why it wasn't him.

My mother once said that he was the Emperor's most beloved son. Was that all a lie?!

According to the established customs for national mourning, all concubines in the imperial harem must observe a seven-day mourning period.

The mourning hall was set up in Fengxian Hall, with white banners hanging high and mournful music playing softly.

The concubines knelt in several rows according to their rank.

Consort Hui knelt in the first row.

This was the first time she had knelt in this position in the ten years since she entered the palace.

In the past, she always stayed at the very back, her presence so faint it was like a shadow.

Today, however, he was respectfully led to the front by the eunuchs and knelt on the left side of the Empress.

Xiao Yuzhen glanced over and saw Consort Hui's plain and unassuming face, and a wave of nausea rose in her stomach.

Consort Hui lowered her head, obediently kowtowing and wailing, not giving anyone a second glance.

She remembered Di'er's instructions: do what you should do and don't worry about anything else.

After the mourning ended, the concubines and ministers took turns resting.

Pei Yan had been sitting in the duty room of the side hall for less than half an hour when someone gently knocked on the door.

"Who?"

The door was pushed open a crack, and a twelve or thirteen-year-old eunuch poked his head in, his clever eyes darting around.

"Prime Minister Pei, I am Xiao Xizi, who serves by the side of the Eighth Prince."

"His Highness said he would like to invite the Prime Minister over, as he has a few words he would like to say to him privately."

Pei Yan paused slightly in his teacup.

The emperor's body was barely cold when this child came looking for him.

That's not surprising.

It's only natural for a ten-year-old child to feel anxious and fearful when suddenly thrust into the position of God.

Most likely, they wanted to inquire about the situation in the court to put their minds at ease.

I also want to win him over, so that the two of us won't be on the same page and cause unnecessary trouble.

"Lead the way."

Fuxi led him through a maze of twists and turns until they arrived at a side hall behind the Fengxian Hall.

Several Imperial Guards and eunuchs were guarding outside the palace gate. When they saw Pei Yan arrive, they all bowed and made way for him.

The hall was dimly lit, with only a few white candles lit.

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Di, dressed in the lowest mourning clothes and with a white hemp cloth wrapped around his head, sat upright in a round-backed chair.

The little boy stood up straight, his hands on his knees, and immediately stood up when he heard footsteps.

"Prime Minister Pei."

Zhou Di walked up to him and solemnly bowed.

"I am truly sorry to have disturbed Your Excellency's rest tonight."

Pei Yan nodded slightly, looking at the child in front of him.

At the age of ten, he was still small and his face was still childish.

But those eyes were so calm and composed that they didn't seem like someone that age should have.

"Your Highness, what questions do you wish to ask me?"

Zhou Di invited him to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea.

"Prime Minister Pei, I know that this throne should not have fallen into my hands."

"With the Crown Prince deposed and my third brother backed by the Imperial Concubine, it's impossible for me to be ranked according to seniority."

"It was Prime Minister Pei who overruled all objections and placed me in this position. I will always remember this kindness and never forget it."

Pei Yan held his teacup, carefully observing his expression.

Zhou Di smiled shyly and continued, "I'm young, and there are many things I don't understand."

I have no idea how many of the court officials truly support me, or how many are still observing.

"Therefore, I would like to ask Prime Minister Pei, how should we control the current situation?"