Chapter 69: Get Out of My Way, I Am Going to Ascend the Throne

September the fifteenth, in the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty.

The first quarter of the Chen hour.

Dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong~

Nine deep chimes echoed throughout the entire city of Yingtian. This crisp ringing heralded a new sovereign for the Great Ming and promised a brighter future for the empire.

The common folk of Yingtian had gathered outside the imperial palace from the early hours of morning, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the new emperor's countenance.

On the second floor of a shop facing the street not far from the imperial city.

Three men sat around a small table, their gazes passing through the window to look down at the bustling crowds below and the slowly opening palace gates.

"Erniu, has Jiang Huan sent any word back yet?"

Despite this being a joyous occasion—and having gained considerable confidence in Zhu Yunxun after observing him closely over this period—Zhu Yuanzhang's face bore not a trace of happiness.

Instead, it was etched with profound worry and anxiety.

And for good reason. Yesterday, news that the imperial court intended to increase commercial taxes had reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears. At the same time, Chen Erniu, sent out to gather intelligence, had discovered that certain individuals were deliberately contacting scholars from the Imperial Academy and wealthy merchants.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew all too well what the Imperial Academy represented, and he was even more acutely aware of the consequences if its scholars were to collectively oppose a government policy.

Back when Hu Weiyong was still in power, there had been an incident where the Imperial Academy students staged a mass strike, which only ended when Zhu Yuanzhang compromised.

Moreover, today was such a momentous day; naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang did not wish to see anyone disrupt his beloved grandson's enthronement ceremony.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Commander Jiang has not sent any message since last night," Chen Erniu replied truthfully.

"Sigh! If I ever find out who dares to disrupt my grandson's enthronement, I will have their entire clan exterminated to the ninth degree!" Zhu Yuanzhang heaved a deep sigh, his tone carrying a rare and desolate sense of helplessness.

A man who had wielded supreme power, only to suddenly find himself with no one at his disposal—the powerlessness of that realization was truly difficult for ordinary mortals to bear.

Seeing this, Tang He hurriedly offered words of comfort, "Your Majesty, perhaps His Highness has already devised a countermeasure. With Lan Yu and the Embroidered Uniform Guard present, those scoundrels will not be able to stir up any trouble."

"Indeed! Your Majesty, this subject believes that with the Third Highness's wisdom, he must have anticipated their plan long ago. The reason he has not acted yet is undoubtedly because he has other schemes in mind." Fu Youde put it even more directly.

After these few remarks, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, and the worry on his face diminished somewhat, though his eyes remained fixed on the palace gates with lingering concern.

Dong, dong, dong~

The bell tolls echoed across Yingtian once more, and at this exact moment, the emperor's grand procession slowly emerged from the palace gates.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately spotted Zhu Yunxun seated atop the dragon carriage.

Wearing a crown with nine strings of pearls and a solemn crimson robe embroidered with coiled dragons, his face as flawless as jade and his eyes shining like stars—what a spirited and heroic young man he was.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang, who was accustomed to supreme self-confidence, could not help but sigh in praise, "Splendid! My good grandson is truly worthy of being the new monarch of the Great Ming. Such bearing and demeanor are simply beyond the reach of ordinary men."

Fu Youde and Tang He chimed in with compliments as well, and indeed, they genuinely believed that Zhu Yunxun's presence and appearance were peerless under heaven.

The imperial procession was leaving the palace not merely to display majesty, but because the new emperor's enthronement required a ceremony of sacrificing to Heaven.

The designated site for the Ming Dynasty's sacrifice to Heaven was at the summit of Mount Zhong outside the city. Consequently, although the honor guard moved at a very slow pace, they gradually cleared the gates of Yingtian.

Just as the dragon carriage rolled out through the city gates of Yingtian:

Within the Eastern Palace.

Lady Lü, who had not been seen for a long time, sat disheveled on the floor, her eyes hollow and devoid of spirit, as if her very soul had been entirely drained.

Opposite her sat Zhu Yunwen, who looked equally unkempt.

When the bell tolls sounded once more, Zhu Yunwen seemed to be stung by some invisible trigger, turning to glare at Lady Lü with a face full of venomous hatred.

"Royal Mother, didn't you say you've already sent someone to contact the Prince of Qi? Why hasn't he shown up yet? Where is he? Where is he?!"

A flash of unfathomable emotion crossed the depths of Lady Lü's eyes, though she quickly concealed it.

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Yunwen, do not panic! The terms we offered the Prince of Qi are already generous enough; there is no way he isn't tempted. Perhaps he was simply delayed on the way. Once the Prince of Qi's army arrives, even if that bastard Zhu Yunxun ascends the throne, we can still pull him down!"

"By then, you will be the new emperor of the Great Ming, and no one will ever shake your imperial throne."

"Heh! How many times have you said that already?" Zhu Yunwen was clearly sick of hearing it, his eyes blazing red as he snapped, "I don't want your comfort anymore! I'm going out right now, to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, to sit on the dragon chair!"

Panicking, Lady Lü reached out to grab Zhu Yunwen.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen spun around and struck Lady Lü fiercely across the face. The sharp sound of the slap echoed out of the chamber, traveling far, far away...

"You wicked woman, don't you dare try to stop me from ascending the throne! Get out of my way!"

Zhu Yunwen had long since lost his usual meek and obedient demeanor; at this moment, he looked like a rabid stray dog.

He merely glanced at Lady Lü, who had collapsed to the floor with blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, and without daring to look back, he strode toward the chamber door.

Creak~

Yet, the moment his hand touched the door, it was pushed open from the outside.

Zhu Yunwen froze for a second, then his face lit up with excitement. "Yunqi! Yunqi, you've come to take me to my enthronement, haven't you? I knew you wouldn't forget about me! Don't worry, once I ascend the throne, I won't treat you poorly.

By then, I'll make you the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court... No! I'll confer a peerage upon you, and your family shall inherit it through the generations.

Quickly, quickly... prepare my bath and attire, and take me to the Hall of Supreme Harmony..."

With an expression of utter disgust, Yunqi glanced at Zhu Yunwen, stepped aside, and said, "Duke of the Founding State, it seems Zhu Yunwen has lost his mind. Shall this servant take care of it?"

Behind Yunqi, Chang Sheng stepped forward, his face chillingly cold.

"There is no need to trouble the Eunuch. The debt of avenging my sister is something this brother wishes to settle with his own hands."

"No... What are you planning to do?" Zhu Yunwen finally snapped back to reality. Seeing the freezing glint in Chang Sheng's eyes, he staggered backward.

Thud~

His back ultimately collided with a low table, and he collapsed pathetically to the ground.

Lady Lü also recovered from the shock of the blow, looking at Chang Sheng and Yunqi in terror.

Scrambling backward across the floor with her heels, she cried out in horror, "You cannot... you cannot do this! This consort... this consort is the Crown Princess! What you are doing is treason and regicide, a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan!"

"Chang Sheng, you cannot do this, or the Crown Prince will never let you go!"

Looking at the pathetic state of Lady Lü and Zhu Yunwen, the icy expression on Chang Sheng's face instantly dissolved into contempt and mockery. He looked down at the mother and son with bitter derision.

"Heh! Lady Lü, if you knew things would come to this, why did you do it in the first place?"

"Since you dared to lay poisonous hands on my elder sister, you should have anticipated that a day like this would come, shouldn't you?"

Dong, dong, dong~

Outside, the bell tolls rang out once more.

Chang Sheng paused for a brief moment before smiling, "Listen! What a wonderful sound. That is the sound of our Yunxun ascending the throne. It is only a pity that Sister and Xiongying can no longer hear it."