Chapter 559

Cheng Ming could no longer suppress the panic in his heart, and Zhao Lang was also somewhat at a loss.

If this were on the battlefield, whether the opponent were Bei Di people or Xirong people, he could beat them until they lost their teeth, avenging his brothers.

But what exactly happened last night in the palace? Xiao Yin somehow gathered so many people.

Usually everyone only knew Xiao Yin controlled the Imperial Guard; who would have thought Xiao Yin was hiding his strength, the Imperial Guard merely a feint, while behind the scenes he actually commanded the Five Cities Military Bureau, sealing off the entire city impenetrably.

These generals were also trapped in the mansion, unable to contact their personal troops.

Only when they woke up this morning did they realize that things had changed.

Xiao Yin concealed this from everyone, staged this in the palace, directly killed the Crown Prince; his methods were cruel, his actions swift, making Zhao Lang feel afraid of Xiao Yin for the first time.

But he is already on Xiao Yin's side; he could never possibly help Cheng Ming.

Zhao Lang coughed, looked at Cheng Ming, and said in a low voice: "Your identity is special; at court today, shut up for me, understand?"

"No matter how the officials deal with the Lin family, you must not cause trouble."

"Your wife once saved Xiao Yin's life; that favor, that bastard should remember."

"But if you go too far, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect your life."

Cheng Ming immediately stuck out his neck and said: "How could I be someone who fears death and clings to life? If Xiao Yin doesn't remember the lifesaving grace Ru Jun showed him back then and dares to massacre the Lin family, I will personally lead troops to rebel against him!"

"Just shut up!" Zhao Lang hurriedly stopped Cheng Ming's nonsense.

Cheng Ming has an explosive temper; he couldn't keep quiet and wanted to argue a few more sentences. Zhao Lang's tone suddenly turned cold: "Listen to my advice, brother—if you don't want the Lin family to die too quickly, you must never offend Xiao Yin at this moment."

Cheng Ming moved his lips, suppressing the fire within him.

"Let's go, don't waste the time; today the new Crown Prince has been appointed—let's first go take a look."

Cheng Ming took a breath and followed Zhao Lang toward Yongtai Hall.

Yongtai Hall was where Emperor Longqing held court; from afar, a massive crowd of people filled the area.

Even Yongtai Hall couldn't accommodate the lower‑rank officials, who were already kneeling outside the main hall.

Zhao Lang and Cheng Ming entered Yongtai Hall one after another; their high ranks placed them close to Xiao Yin.

Zhao Lang lifted his gaze to the Xiao Yin standing ahead, wearing the deep‑purple princely regular attire, looking imposing.

At this moment Emperor Longqing looked emaciated, seeming to have no strength, just slumped on the Dragon Throne.

Everyone could see that Emperor Longqing was off; although still alive, he was visibly wasting away, and half‑reclined on the Dragon Throne he resembled a skeleton draped in thin skin, giving a creepy feeling.

The Emperor Longqing lying on the Dragon Throne wanted to expose Xiao Yin as a traitorous minister before the officials, but yesterday Xiao Yin had given him a drug; although the pain in his body disappeared, he was now dazed and confused.

Xiao Yin kept telling him, "I want you to suffer the same hardships I once endured."

Now, unable to move while seated on the Dragon Throne, he could only watch the officials below bow to Prince Yunxiao, yet he could do nothing.

Only now did Emperor Longqing realize the punishment had just begun.

Overnight, the Vice Minister of Rites was replaced; it was Qiao Songyue, whom Xiao Yin had promoted.

From a low‑rank fourth‑grade official, he leapt to become a senior third‑grade dignitary, his bearing greatly increased.

He was immensely grateful that he had maintained friendly relations with the Prince Rui's mansion, especially the case in General Zhao Lang's mansion of plotting to kill the lady of the house, in which he had contributed considerably, winning her favor.

Now throughout Southern Qi a consensus has formed: to curry favor with Prince Rui, one only needs to win over the Princess Consort of Rui.

When the Princess Consort of Rui is happy, Prince Rui is happy, and anything can be accomplished.

Official Qiao coughed, took out the edict appointing Bai Xiaosheng as Regent Prince, and slowly stepped forward to stand before the officials.

"The Emperor appoints Prince Yun as Regent Prince, to oversee the Council of State, and Prince Rui as Regent King, to assist the Regent Prince in governing! So decreed!"

As soon as Official Qiao's words fell, the surrounding officials were shocked; it seems last night's bloodshed was unavoidable.

Now that the dust has settled this morning, this is forcing them to pick a side.

The generals' faces showed delight; Southern Qi has always favored civil over military, and the generals have been suppressed by the civil officials for years.

And in the eyes of Southern Qi's generals, Xiao Yin is like a god; thus their faces all showed joy.

"The Crown Prince possesses great talent and strategy; bearing this heavy responsibility, we officials are wholly convinced!"

"His Highness comes from the common people, so he naturally understands their hardships; thereafter politics will be smooth, the nation will prosper, and revival is imminent!"

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

The generals' flattery was also rather sickening.

Clearly this is a power grab, yet they speak so righteously; the civil officials' faces gradually turned ugly.

Official Qiao slowly put away the edict, turned, bowed, and walked up to Emperor Longqing, reaching out to take the imperial jade seal beside him, feeling a chill on his head.

He instinctively lifted his gaze and met Emperor Longqing's cold, dark eyes.

Qiao Songyue was startled, his hand shaking violently.

Earlier, when Prince Rui summoned him, he said the emperor's condition had worsened and he could no longer speak; now it seems otherwise!

Enough! Enough! Having come this far, even if I wanted to turn back, I cannot.

Official Qiao lifted the jade seal and walked toward Bai Xiaosheng; just as he was about to hand it over, an elderly official with white hair stepped slowly from the ranks—none other than Chen Ting, the venerable head of the Imperial Academy of Southern Qi.

Chen Ting had previously served as Vice Minister of Rites and a compiler in the Hanlin Academy; later, being too old, he took a post as instructor at the Academy.

Although he held a minor post, most civil officials had heard his lectures and could be considered his students to some extent.

His status and reputation were second only to Mr. Wen's; he could be called a model civil official.

This time Chen Ting walked forward trembling, fixed his stare on Xiao Yin standing at the front, and said slowly: "Your subject dares to ask, Prince Rui: how did the Crown Prince die?"

As soon as Chen Ting's words fell, an uproar erupted.

Xiao Yin's brows knotted tightly; civil officials are truly a nuisance!

Bai Xiaosheng on the side smiled faintly: "Official Chen, the deposed Crown Prince set up witchcraft in his mansion to plot against his father, a crime unforgivable; the father emperor ordered his execution—surely you are aware of this?"

Chen Ting didn't even look at Bai Xiaosheng; this princely upstart from the populace, a freak, was not worthy of the civil officials' notice.

He still fixed his stare on Xiao Yin: "Prince Rui, I implore you to tell us how the Crown Prince died."