Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life

"Your Highness, will you still ascend the throne?"

Zhou Cheng's voice wasn't loud, but it still sounded too clear in the silence.

The crown prince suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Zhou Cheng.

He thought Zhou Cheng was forcing him to step down.

But now that things have come to this, is it still possible to back out?

He felt there was no way out!

The Crown Prince took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a resolute determination. He didn't respond to Zhou Cheng, but turned to Shu Wu instead:

"If Father Emperor truly left a will, I, as his son, should naturally obey it. However, there are many doubts surrounding it, and I cannot help but have reservations!"

Grand Scholar, why was the Emperor's will entrusted to Fan Xian? Since Fan Xian bears such a heavy responsibility, why did His Majesty bring him to Mount Dong?

The eldest prince only saw the secret letter that the emperor gave to Xiao Fan Ti Si, but no one knew what the secret letter contained.

If someone with ulterior motives colludes with Fan Xian to impersonate him, who can say for sure?

The Crown Prince's words were quite clear.

Even if the will is truly in Fan Xian's hands, he could still forge or alter it.

Therefore, he did not acknowledge what Shu Wu and Scholar Hu had said.

Shu Wu was speechless for a moment when asked about the Crown Prince.

How could he possibly know why Emperor Qing would entrust the imperial edict to Fan Xian?

He himself was doubtful.

This is why he didn't stop the crown prince from ascending the throne at the beginning, but waited until the last moment to step forward.

Shu Wu remained silent, and the Crown Prince's gaze gradually turned cold.

He looked at Hu Xian, the Grand Secretary.

Hu Xian also shook his head.

Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince immediately abandoned his usual gentle demeanor, adopting a firm stance. He straightened his back and raised his chin.

"It seems that neither Grand Secretary Shu nor Grand Secretary Hu can explain it clearly! If you yourselves can't explain it, who can believe you?"

He snorted coldly:

"Grand Secretary Shu Wu and Grand Secretary Hu Xian, your statements are baseless and baseless. You have falsely claimed to have the late Emperor's decree, disrupting the court and jeopardizing the stability of the nation. Considering your contributions to the country, you are hereby temporarily imprisoned for further trial!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Although everyone knows that there is no room for sentimentality in the struggle for imperial power.

The two Grand Secretaries, Shu Wu and Hu Xian, have invoked the imperial edict to obstruct the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne, which will inevitably provoke a fierce counterattack from the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, whom everyone was used to as indecisive and submissive, suddenly displayed a domineering and decisive side, which was truly difficult for people to adapt to at first.

The eunuchs standing by immediately dragged Shu Wu and Hu Xian away at the Crown Prince's command.

"Every word we have spoken is true; we have not uttered any falsehoods!"

Shu Wu was still struggling, desperately crying out in grief, her gray hair falling down, her official hat askew to one side.

Hu Xian, on the other hand, was held by the eunuchs with a much calmer reaction.

He was mentally prepared from the moment Shu Wu called out to him.

The supreme position cannot be easily shaken by their words.

He received Emperor Qing's entrustment, but did not stand up immediately because he felt that even if he spoke up, the two of them would hardly be able to change anything.

But since Shu Wu stepped forward, he had no choice but to step forward as well.

Now that he's been taken away, he has nothing to say but that he has lived up to Emperor Qing's trust and his duty as a subject.

The ministers watched in complete silence as the two Grand Secretaries were half-carried and half-escorted out of the hall.

At the same time, they also saw that rows of guards with swords had somehow appeared outside the hall, standing in perfect unison with solemn expressions.

The guards' faces were hidden in the shadow of their helmets, their expressions obscured. Only their eyes, like those of wolves, pierced through the palace gates, scanning everyone inside.

Seeing that the court officials were intimidated, the crown prince breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Sure enough, even the most stubborn civil officials were mostly afraid of death.

Now that he has the Empress Dowager's support, the law to his name, and the threat of war, as long as he doesn't acknowledge the so-called imperial edict, the position will ultimately be his.

On the steps of the palace, the Crown Prince looked down into the hall.

Now, Zhou Cheng is the only one still standing in the hall, making him impossible to ignore and quite conspicuous.

However, before the Crown Prince could speak, Zhou Cheng's upright figure seemed to give some people great courage.

Behind Zhou Cheng, some of the civil officials who had been kneeling actually stood up!

As if it were a contagious disease, more and more people stood up as their robes rubbed together.

Some of them were disciples of Zhou Cheng, but most were not.

These civil officials bowed and clasped their hands in unison before the Crown Prince on the steps of the palace, shouting:

"Your Highness, please reconsider!"

The sounds were so synchronized, as if rehearsed, that a tremendous roar echoed through the hall, carrying a breathtaking power.

The prince's breath hitched, and his hand clenched tightly in his sleeve.

With hundreds of eyes watching him, the crown prince felt unprecedented pressure.

The civil official's shout,

This was no longer just a plea for the two Grand Secretaries, but a blatant demonstration against him.

"Great! Excellent!"

The crown prince was filled with resentment, staring intently at Zhou Cheng, believing that this was Zhou Cheng's doing.

Of course, he didn't know that it was purely a coincidence.

Zhou Cheng himself had no idea how much courage his standing figure gave to the civil officials behind him.

Perhaps only one or two people have the courage to start, but even high-ranking officials are not immune to the herd mentality.

In addition, they were already dissatisfied, so when they saw Zhou Cheng taking the lead, they naturally stood up one after another.

Zhou Cheng naturally didn't understand their thoughts, nor did he bother to think about them. He just thought these civil officials were really stupid.

Bone is never as hard as a knife.

The Imperial Guards outside were sharpening their knives, but they weren't ruthless enough to bully the Crown Prince.

On the other side of the hall, the military generals who were still kneeling in silence were deeply moved by this scene.

They couldn't understand what was going on in the heads of these civil servants either.

Didn't you see those imperial guards outside the palace?

Besides their mouths and their lives, what else could they possibly do to stop the crown prince from ascending the throne?

Looking at the imposing group of ministers at her feet, the Empress Dowager felt a wave of dizziness and her vision blurred. She swayed in her chair and quickly reached out to hold onto the armrest.

The crown prince could no longer maintain his composure or his tough demeanor.

In a daze, he saw himself being pointed at by thousands of people, and his already strong spirit inevitably collapsed.

"Why? Why did this happen?"

The Crown Prince could tell that not all the civil officials before him were Zhou Cheng's protégés.

Zhou Cheng's followers are ultimately only a minority, and most of them were originally neutral.

What does this mean?

This means that even without Zhou Cheng, most of the civil officials in the court would have opposed his succession!

What should he do?

What can he do?

Kill them all?

Killing someone is easy, but how should the government function after that?

Central chaos affects local areas.

Once the world descends into chaos and enemy states seize the opportunity to invade, even if he ascends the throne, he will become a sinner of the Qing Kingdom!

The prince's temples throbbed, and a throbbing pain shot through his skull.

"Your Highness, will you still ascend the throne?"

Just as the Crown Prince was caught in a dilemma, Zhou Cheng asked the same question again.

The tone of voice remained unchanged from before.

The crown prince glared at Zhou Cheng with a ferocious expression.

He thought these words were a sarcastic and provocative remark directed at him.

Zhou Cheng met his gaze calmly, and the Crown Prince's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

From his perspective, he saw not only Zhou Cheng's gaze, but also countless gazes from all the civil and military officials, like arrows shooting in from all directions.

As he involuntarily revealed his fear, even among the military officers, people gradually stood up one after another.

The crown prince swallowed hard, now completely at odds with the entire court.

Meanwhile, the civil and military officials gathered around Zhou Cheng like stars surrounding the moon, casting cold stares at him.

The Crown Prince helplessly turned to the Empress Dowager for help, but the Empress Dowager's makeup seemed to have turned even paler, and she closed her eyes listlessly.

The crown prince was in so much pain that he felt like he was going to vomit blood.

He didn't know what to do, how to answer, or whether the ceremony should continue, and if so, how.

Below the stage, Zhou Cheng's gaze was pressing him, everyone's gaze was pressing him, waiting for his response.

Ultimately, the crown prince lacked the courage to risk everything.

Helpless, he gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse: "Since... Father's edict is in doubt and we need to wait for Fan Xian to return to the capital to verify it, then the enthronement ceremony... let's postpone it for now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crown prince seemed to deflate completely. His back was no longer straight, and only his eyes still held a trace of strength.

He glared at Zhou Cheng with hatred, his fierce gaze seeming to say: Are you satisfied now?

Zhou Cheng was naturally dissatisfied.

Regardless of whether the crown prince succeeds in ascending the throne, he still has to do what he needs to do.

Just as the entire court breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to give the Crown Prince a way out, Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again:

"The ceremony cannot be stopped!"

The entire hall was taken aback.

Zhou Cheng, however, shook his head in disappointment:

"Your Highness, with weapons at your disposal, you are the butcher, and the officials are the fish on the chopping block. You hold all the power, yet you become timid and hesitant at the slightest opposition. How can you, so weak, secure your position?"

These words left the civil officials and generals somewhat bewildered.

What's going on?

Why did Prince Cheng say such a thing?

Isn't Prince Cheng on our side?

Just a second ago, they all thought that Zhou Cheng was leading them to oppose the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was also baffled by Zhou Cheng's intentions, and could only angrily retort, "Since Father may have left a will, we must naturally obey it. I am not weak, but rather considering the greater good and the stability of the nation!"

When the Crown Prince spoke these words, his tone was indignant, and he regained some of his imposing manner. Some of the ministers nodded secretly in agreement.

Suddenly I realized that this crown prince at least has a broad perspective, and perhaps he is not entirely useless.

Zhou Cheng sneered: "So what if it's a will? What big picture? What stability? It's nothing but a weak excuse! A dignified crown prince, a living person, swayed by the words of a dead man—what kind of emperor are you, what kind of throne are you?"

The crown prince was momentarily stunned, his expression blank, as if he doubted his ears and had heard such treasonous words.

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes and said sternly, "How dare you!"

The officials were greatly alarmed and exclaimed, "Your Highness, these are treasonous words! You must not speak such nonsense!"

Seeing Zhou Cheng's nonchalant attitude, the Crown Prince's eyelids twitched. He suddenly felt extremely awkward. What was going on?

Why do their lines feel so out of place?

Shouldn't their positions and roles be switched?

Of course, his awkwardness did not diminish his ecstatic joy.

He almost burst out laughing.

His only rival for the throne was Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng went mad during this enthronement ceremony, destroying his own foundation.

His only rival for the throne was Zhou Cheng.

Now that Zhou Cheng has acted recklessly and uttered arrogant words, losing the support of the court officials, all he needs to do is keep Fan Xian under control and prevent that will from being revealed. The throne of Qing Kingdom will still be his.

The way civil and military officials looked at Zhou Cheng changed at this moment. Even the officials under Zhou Cheng's command showed disappointment and regret.

From Zhou Cheng's words, they could tell that he disregarded the late emperor's edict.

Is a prince who speaks recklessly and disregards even basic principles and laws really more suitable to be their ruler than the crown prince?

Zhou Cheng was surrounded by a cacophony of negative emotions, but he didn't care at all.

Zhou Cheng looked up at the Crown Prince and said, "If Your Highness is too afraid to sit, then please get down. I will take that seat for you!"

Having said that, he took a step and walked up the steps of the palace, his pace unhurried and unhurried.

The Empress Dowager could no longer tolerate it. She abruptly stood up and shouted sternly, "You wicked child! Have you lost your mind?!"

The crown prince's expression changed as well, feigning terror, and he shouted hoarsely, "Prince Cheng, are you plotting a rebellion? Guards! Guards!"

As the Crown Prince shouted, two squads of imperial guards in white armor surged into the palace.

The Crown Prince pointed at Zhou Cheng, his finger trembling: "Prince Cheng has committed treason, slandered the late Emperor, and plotted rebellion; he has gone mad! Quickly, have him taken away!"

The civil and military officials instinctively moved a step away from the imperial guards, and none of them dared to contradict the crown prince for the time being.

Zhou Cheng was truly too audacious and reckless, crossing the bottom line of civil officials regarding ethical principles and legal norms.

Zhou Cheng didn't stop walking, not even glancing back at the guards. He simply said:

"Rebellion? Yes, I am indeed rebelling."

His mission required him to rebel, and he was naturally happy to accept the charge.

The Crown Prince was surprised that Zhou Cheng would admit it so readily. Even though he, who was only one step away from becoming the heir apparent, had never used the title "朕" (Zhen, meaning "I, the Imperial Emperor"), Zhou Cheng had already changed his form of address.

Zhou Cheng's words caused an uproar among the officials.

Everyone was convinced that Zhou Cheng had indeed gone mad.

The crown prince's eyes gleamed with wild joy as he looked at Zhou Cheng, who was only a few steps away from him. He instinctively took a step back.

"Guards! Quickly! Seize Prince Cheng! What are you doing?!"

A surprising scene unfolded. The guards who had rushed into the hall, swords drawn, remained unmoved despite the Crown Prince's shouts.

They stood still, like statues, their knife tips pointing to the ground, and not one of them stepped forward.

At this point, some officials finally realized something was wrong.

"Your Highness, what are you shouting for? The entire Imperial Guard is my man; do you think they'll listen to you?"

As they spoke, Zhou Cheng had already stood in front of the dragon throne. The Crown Prince stepped back two steps, while the Empress Dowager, supported by Eunuch Hou, was both shocked and angry, yet dared not make any rash moves.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Upon seeing Zhou Cheng standing before the dragon throne, the imperial guards all knelt down before him, their armor clanging like thunder, their shouts ringing out in unison.

The sound echoed through the dome of the main hall, shaking heaven and earth, like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The heavy snow that had been brewing in the Kyoto sky for several days finally began to fall softly.

Of course, no one inside the Taiji Hall paid any attention to the outside world, nor did anyone care to look at the snowflakes.

The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth, her voice trembling: "Prince Cheng! This isn't a joke, it's rebellion! You need to think this through, your mother is still in the Hanguang Palace!"

Zhou Cheng merely glanced at the Empress Dowager indifferently. His gaze was calm, yet it carried a terrifying pressure that made the Empress Dowager's heart skip a beat.

"Empress Dowager, you are my grandmother. I will allow you to say this once. But if there is a second time..."

Zhou Cheng didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning behind his words was self-evident.

The officials were all ashen-faced, their minds in complete disarray, on the verge of madness.

No one expected that the palace guards would be controlled by Zhou Cheng, not the Crown Prince, and even less expected that Zhou Cheng would so readily rebel!

The eldest prince looked at the imperial guards kneeling in the hall, equally shocked and furious.

You should know that he was entrusted with important responsibilities by Emperor Qing, and these imperial guards were all his subordinates.

He suddenly stood up:

"Are you all insane? Get out of the way!"

However, not a single Imperial Guard responded to him. The soldiers knelt on the ground, motionless, as if they hadn't heard him at all.

Zhou Cheng ignored the eldest prince.

The imperial guards within the palace were originally under the command of Yan Xiaoyi.

Below Yan Xiaoyi are five deputy commanders, three of whom are Li Yunrui's men.

Even though Yan Xiaoyi was demoted and sent away from the capital, it did not stop them from serving Li Yunrui.

The eldest prince had only recently taken over the Imperial Guards, and he had not had time to place his trusted confidants in positions of authority. His control over the Imperial Guards was also achieved through the five deputy commanders.

With the other two deputy commanders imprisoned, the palace guards are now completely under Li Yunrui's control, which is equivalent to his control.

With the other two deputy commanders imprisoned, the palace guards are now completely under Li Yunrui's control, which is equivalent to his control.

At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."

At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."

At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."

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At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."

At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."

Read the full text of Chapter 90, "Ascension to the Throne," for free. Link:

At this moment, a bold civil official stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Prince Cheng, please reconsider! Do not make a grave mistake!"

"Prince Cheng, please prioritize the well-being of the nation and repent!"

"Prince Cheng..."

"Prince Cheng..."

At this moment, Zhou Cheng had already sat down directly on the gilded dragon throne.

He ignored the Crown Prince, who was standing to the side with bloodshot eyes, and looked down at the crowd below.

"Shut up, all of you!"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried immense majesty, like a mountain descending from the sky, making everyone's chest tighten and their heart skip a beat.

Zhou Cheng's voice alone drowned out the clamor of the hundred people in the hall.

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the area below.

"If you truly care about the so-called nation and the eternal stability of the Qing Kingdom, you should kneel before me now, instead of standing there whining!"

One civil official, his face flushed, roared, "The fundamental principles of morality cannot be disrupted, and the law cannot be abandoned! Prince Cheng's slander of the late emperor is treasonous and threatens the stability of the state! We, the people, would rather die than submit to you!"

"Yes! We would rather die than submit!" Many officials echoed in unison.

The crown prince looked at the chaos below and opened his mouth.

Just moments before, these officials were opposing him, but now they're turning against Zhou Cheng.

Despite being publicly rebuked, Zhou Cheng showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he tapped the armrest under the dragon throne with his finger, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Oh, then tell me, is reason more important, or is the Qing Kingdom more important? Is social order more important, or are the people of the Qing Kingdom more important? Is it more important for more people to live, or for more people to die?"

I ascended the throne smoothly, the court is stable, the world is at peace, and there is no war! What? Are you only satisfied when rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields?

After he finished speaking, his piercing gaze was so intense that it sent chills down one's spine.

"I will not stop you from abandoning your posts or even seeking death for the sake of so-called legal principles. But listen carefully, I have already rebelled, and I am not afraid of infamy."

"But you lot, for your own selfish desires and momentary fame, are willing to disregard the well-being of the people. You surely understand that history is written by the victors, and the future, too, will be written by me. Let me see, which of you is willing to be the first to stand up and be forever infamous in history?"

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Not even the military officers dared to utter a sound.

Civil officials are indeed willing to die for their integrity. But to have their reputations tarnished, their facts distorted, and to be nailed to the pillar of shame, leaving an infamy for eternity, is worse than death itself.

The crown prince stared blankly, and Zhou Cheng's few words silenced everyone, causing their previously lively spirits to sink again.

The Empress Dowager never expected things to develop to this point.

Looking at the silent and timid courtiers, she felt even more powerless.

As for threatening Zhou Cheng again with his biological mother, Li Cairen, she wouldn't dare.

Once she took action, it would mean fratricide. As the Empress Dowager, her mission was to ensure the continuation of the Li family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

Now that the Crown Prince couldn't control the situation and Zhou Cheng forcibly seized the throne, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Zhou Cheng controlled the Imperial Guards, so even if they wanted to resist, they were powerless.

Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager slowly sat down again.

If anyone's to blame, it's the Crown Prince for being so useless!

She has done everything she could.

Since they're all my grandsons anyway, if we're really talking about it, whoever has the ability should take this position.

In a daze, she saw in Zhou Cheng an even greater majesty and domineering presence than that of Emperor Qing.

There was such a monarch who, as long as he didn't go mad and act recklessly, could still keep the court in check.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager sit down, the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

The Empress Dowager was his last resort, but now that even she has given up, what does he have left?

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again, calm and unhurried, neither pleased nor angry:

"My esteemed ministers, if you have understood, then kneel down! The enthronement ceremony shall continue!"

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Eunuch Hou, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager.

Eunuch Hou looked on sheepishly, his forehead covered in sweat, and a smile that looked more like a grimace squeezed out of his old face.

Zhou Cheng smiled slightly at him.

"Eunuch Hou, please read the imperial edict again. Remember not to mispronounce the name."