novelraw Chapter 487 - 254, A dispute about grand ceremony, a son of an enemy_3
Chapter 487 - 254, A dispute about grand ceremony, a son of an enemy_3
Upon seeing this, Empress Dowager Li sneered and began to question him.
With Huan Shideng’s fall, Deputy Wang Min and Minister of the Ministry of Rites Meng Du, the two masterminds of the Huan faction, switched their allegiance to Emperor Xiaochang. Consequently, Emperor Xiaochang found himself in a dilemma similar to the one she had just faced. He had effectively supplanted her, becoming the new center of power—akin to the previous "Empress Dowager’s Faction"—and would now directly confront the pressure from the Xu Royal Family. However, his situation was different from hers. The Relocation of Graves was crucial for Emperor Xiaochang’s Dragon Body; his Dragon Body would continue to deteriorate each day the graves remained unmoved.
"This matter..."
Emperor Xiaochang frowned, uncertain how to respond to Empress Dowager Li’s pointed questions.
His face showed hesitation.
Agreeing to the Relocation of Graves would be a breach of filial piety, an act the Xu Royal Family would undoubtedly use against him.
Moreover, Mr. Yan had explicitly stated his support for Emperor Zhaoshun’s lineage. Since the Three Princes of the Royal Family were also descendants of Emperor Zhaoshun, Mr. Yan would not assist in eliminating them as he had with Huan Shideng. This was the basis of the Three Princes’ confidence in daring to refuse the Relocation of Graves.
But if the Relocation of Graves did not occur...
The ailments afflicting his body were undeniably real.
"I..."
"I have resolved to carry out the Relocation of Graves!"
Emperor Xiaochang glanced at the triumphant Empress Dowager Li, a flicker of disgust in his eyes. He hesitated no longer, his decision made.
With that settled.
"Does Your Majesty truly intend to defy the ancestors?"
The Three Princes of the Royal Family flung their sleeve robes, their faces flushed with thinly veiled anger as they rebuked Emperor Xiaochang.
Emperor Xiaochang remained silent.
He offered no rebuttal.
...
...
「The next day.」
Shenjing was in an uproar.
Overnight, Emperor Xiaochang began to rule in his own right. Meanwhile, Huan Shideng, who had monopolized state affairs for many years, was thrown into Zhao Prison, his fate unknown.
No one knew what had transpired that night, nor how the young emperor had so easily seized power without any apparent palace coup.
It was not until The Third Day that a piece of news spread throughout the court and the common people.
Emperor Xiaochang intended to move the tomb of Empress Xiao Zhang, Ancestor Emperor’s Wife. This infuriated the Xu Royal Family. Prince Xu, Prince Rui, and Prince Zheng—the Three Princes of the Royal Family—fled Shenjing overnight. They launched an armed remonstrance, intending to compel Emperor Xiaochang to rescind his edict.
For a time, panic gripped the hearts of the people.
...
...
「Shenjing.」
In a private box on the second floor of a restaurant.
"Fourth Brother, what exactly are you plotting?"
"On my way here, I heard many common people saying that Emperor Xiaochang wants to move your sister-in-law’s tomb?"
The King of Might arrived at the restaurant’s private box as scheduled. He sat cross-legged opposite Xu Xing. After the dishes had been sampled through Five Flavors and the wine had circulated for Three Rounds, he began to speak, his curiosity evident.
If he hadn’t known that the Grand Ancestor Emperor was his Fourth Brother, Xu Xing, he would have dismissed these rumors as mere oddities, letting them go in one ear and out the other.
"Some mundane matters," Xu Xing said with a dismissive smile, then explained the whole affair to the King of Might. "It’s just that Second Brother has been worrying unnecessarily. Our Xu Royal Family has grown too numerous after more than two hundred years of proliferation. Since I am establishing a presence in the North Wilderness, I’m thinking of selecting some descendants to accompany me there..."
His attitude towards his descendants mirrored that of his Master, Giant Sword Daoist Monarch Ai Ah, towards the Ai Family.
He didn’t overly concern himself with the fates of some of his descendants.
After all, five generations had passed.
There were not many familiar people left alive.
He simply didn’t want his lineage to die out completely; it was enough to ensure one branch continued to flourish.
"Listening to you, Fourth Brother, this Emperor Xiaochang does seem to possess the qualities of an enlightened ruler. It’s just a pity he fails to uphold filial piety..."
The King of Might chuckled, stroking his beard.
While mocking Emperor Xiaochang, he also secretly felt a twinge of pity for him. If Emperor Xiaochang had chosen to uphold filial piety in the end... His Fourth Brother could casually provide some Cultivation Resources. This would save Emperor Xiaochang decades of effort and, at the very least, help him become a Returning Core Lord.
"By the way, using intelligence from the Shadow Assassination Hall, I’ve already found the culprit who desecrated the Xu Imperial Mausoleum..."
Having finished with trivialities, the King of Might’s smile vanished, his expression turning serious as he addressed the main business.
"The Hai Family possesses an Artifact called the Smoky Cloud Ribbon, which can enhance a cultivator’s divine sense... And this Smoky Cloud Ribbon happens to be in the possession of a Hai Family cultivator named Hai An."
"According to my investigation, Hai An is the son of Song Knife and a legitimate daughter of the Hai Family. After Song Knife’s demise, this Song An changed his name to Hai An. Forty-one years ago, Hai An accepted a mission from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. He traveled to the Mundane World and, during his journey, stopped in the Fengxi Country Divine Capital for half a day," the King of Might stated, enunciating each word clearly.