Chapter 296

The news of the Emperor’s passing quickly spread throughout the entire Great Wei Empire.

The distant imperial princes in their respective fiefdoms were taken aback by this news.

Along with the Emperor’s passing came another message: the Emperor, before departing, had left a decree naming the fourth prince as his successor.

According to the decree, the fourth prince would only ascend to the throne after the late Emperor’s burial.

Currently, among the princes in the capital, the only one within the Imperial City was the fourth prince.

The fourth prince and Princess Rong’s family sent messages to the princes outside the capital, urging them to return to mourn the late Emperor.

However, the princes outside the capital were well aware that returning at this moment would be akin to throwing themselves into a dangerous situation.

They had engaged in fierce political struggles for many years, and the late Emperor had never indicated which prince he intended to name as the Crown Prince. It was inconceivable that the old Emperor’s will suddenly favored the fourth prince’s ascension.

No matter which prince ascended to the throne, it would not bode well for them. It would undoubtedly lead to a brutal power struggle where it’s a matter of life and death.

Furthermore, they simply didn’t believe that the late Emperor had designated the fourth prince as his successor.

The fourth prince was neither the eldest nor the heir in the line of succession among the imperial princes. Regarding the legitimate heir, the eighth prince, who was raised under the Empress’s care, had a stronger claim, but he was still very young. As for the eldest, there were two adult princes above the fourth prince in the birth order, making it even less likely for him to be chosen.

Lastly, the adult princes in their respective fiefdoms, using the excuse of not having received an imperial decree, spread rumors that the Emperor had been harmed by the fourth prince and Princess Rong. They also refused to return to the capital for the funeral.

The common people were far removed from the inner workings of the royal family, and they believed whatever they heard. The news that the fourth prince and Princess Rong had caused the Emperor’s death was spreading rapidly among the populace.

Meanwhile, in the capital, the fourth prince was at a loss, unable to voice his grievances.

Upon hearing the report from the servant, he angrily swept the teacup from the table to the floor.

After a crisp shattering sound, the valuable porcelain lay in pieces on the ground.

The maids and eunuchs waiting in the room were startled by this, and they quickly knelt down.

“Your… Your Highness, please calm down.”

Although the fourth prince had not formally ascended to the throne, his grand ambitions had already inflated his ego to an extreme degree.

Even the palace maids and eunuchs addressed him as “Your Highness” when there were no others present.

However, the fourth prince, panting heavily with anger, kicked over the subordinate who had delivered the news.

His own royal brothers, they actually refused to acknowledge his imminent ascension!

Truly a bunch of stumbling blocks.

They all needed to be eliminated!

However, the fourth prince felt that he had been unfairly burdened with the responsibility for his father’s passing. As long as the late Emperor was alive, the advantage had always been on his side.

He had only resorted to patricide when he saw no other way out. In an effort to prolong his father’s life, he had gathered the best medicines and administered them to the Emperor. But the Emperor’s health had already deteriorated beyond repair, and even if an immortal had descended from the heavens, it wouldn’t have saved him.

If he and his mother had been able to find the imperial seal in the palace, he wouldn’t be in such a precarious position now.

…

The news of the fourth prince’s involvement in the Emperor’s death continued to spread. The various regional lords had declared themselves kings in their respective fiefdoms and were uniting their forces to march on the fourth prince in the capital.

They had attempted to win over General Xiangnan but had all met with failure. With limited military strength, they could only continue recruiting and building their armies in their own territories.

The fourth prince, sensing the unfavorable situation, also sought to consolidate his influence within the capital for protection.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, in Princess Rong’s chambers, the fourth prince sat below her.

With a displeased expression, he asked, “Mother, have you heard the rumors spreading in the capital?”

Princess Rong flicked at imaginary dust on her attire, seemingly uninterested, and replied, “Those petty rumors outside, what concern are they of yours?”

“As long as you firmly hold onto your position, those rumors will have no bearing on you. You can’t control the mouths of a few troublemakers, can you?”

She continued casually, “When you have the power of life and death in your hands, you can simply eliminate anyone who disobeys.”

Princess Rong’s reassurance seemed to have an effect, and the fourth prince’s frustration began to subside. But the thought of his troublesome royal siblings still weighed heavily on his mind.

“Mother, this isn’t a sustainable approach. While there are many soldiers in the capital, we’re outnumbered when my royal siblings join forces. We’ll be at a disadvantage,” the fourth prince said.

At this point, Princess Rong was also displeased.

If it hadn’t been for the Fei family’s swift escape, the 100,000 soldiers in the western border would have been under the control of her Cheng family, and they wouldn’t have to fear these situations. But now, no matter how much they said, it was all in vain.

Thinking about the recent letter from the Cheng family in the western border, Princess Rong formulated a plan.

“After a while, have someone send a letter to your uncle, and ask him to return to the capital with his people as quickly as possible.”

When the Fei family returned to the western border, they hadn’t had the time to deal with the Cheng family, as they were occupied with defending against invading foreign forces. This gave the Cheng family an opportunity, and upon hearing of the Emperor’s passing, they had thought their chance to rise was at hand. However, they didn’t expect that instead of an opportunity for a coup, they would receive a message from the fourth prince, instructing them to return to the capital with their forces.

After receiving the news, Generals Liu and Xu had their own plans.

Their relationship with the Fei family had soured to the point of no return, so they saw following General Cheng back to the capital as an opportunity to secure a bright future for themselves.