Chapter 243: The New Monarch Takes the Throne

Zhao Pu's cry, "I respectfully request that the Prince of Jin ascend the throne," was like a ladle of cold water poured into boiling oil; the whole hall erupted at once.

The wailing ceased, and the murmurs fell silent. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the half‑gray‑bearded old chancellor, thinking only one thing: Is he mad?

Who isn't a worm in the emperor's belly? Zhao Kuangyin didn't want his brothers to die, he was only a step away from saying it outright!

The Crown Prince Zhao Dezhao is still standing here, the late Emperor's eldest son whose body has not yet turned cold, the rightful heir. How dare you, Zhao Pu, proclaim before everyone that the Prince of Jin should be enthroned?

Pan Mei was the first to react; as the Crown Prince's father‑in‑law, he was now seething with anger.

"Zhao Minister! What do you mean?" he stepped forward, pointing at Zhao Pu's nose, his spittle about to spray onto his face, "The Crown Prince is here; how can you bring up the Prince of Jin? Are you disregarding the late Emperor's will and committing treason?"

"Treason?" Zhao Pu snorted coldly, unfazed by Pan Mei's intimidation, and instead shook the silk scroll in his hand, producing a rustling "whirr".

"Lord Pan, think before you speak! These black‑on‑white words are the dying command of Empress Dowager Du, personally approved by the late Emperor! The 'Golden Treasury Alliance'—many of the dignitaries present have heard it with their own ears! Why did the Empress Dowager establish this alliance? Was it not to prevent the tragedy of the orphaned widows of the later Zhou Chai clan from being abused, a tragedy we might see repeat in Great Song? The nation relies on the Long‑ruling Lord; this is the foresight of the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor!"

He scanned the room, raising his voice further: "Now the late Emperor has passed to heaven; although the Crown Prince is benevolent and filial, he is still young and lacks prestige. Can he keep the arrogant soldiers and fierce generals in the army in check? If another crisis arises, who will be responsible for Great Song's realm?"

Every word of his speech cut straight to the heart.

Many of the ministers present had survived the blood‑soaked trials alongside Zhao Kuangyin; they knew exactly what the army meant. Zhao Kuangyin's firm hold on the throne rested on his personal prestige and iron‑blooded tactics. Could a twenty‑something like Zhao Dezhao truly suppress those generals who wield Military Power?

In an instant, the ministers who had originally backed the Crown Prince began to feel uneasy.

Loyalty to the late Emperor and supporting the Crown Prince is "righteousness".

But if the Crown Prince cannot keep order and the nation falls into chaos, their wealth, honor, and lives would be ruined completely.

Pan Mei was so angry he trembled all over, about to say more, but Zhao Pu's single remark shut him down.

"Lord Pan, your devotion to the Crown Prince makes you a loyal minister. Yet is that loyalty for the Crown Prince alone, or for the vast realm of Great Song?"

The words were too heavy; Pan Mei's face flushed to a pork‑liver hue, and he could not utter a single word.

At the moment when tension peaked and the atmosphere solidified, a rapid footfall sounded from outside the hall.

"Prince Jin has arrived—!"

With a eunuch's loud shout, everyone's gaze snapped toward the hall doors.

Zhao Guangyi entered briskly, clad in a plain royal robe. His hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes rimmed with red, his face full of grief and exhaustion, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

Upon entering, he didn't glance at the throne or the assembled officials, but rushed straight to the dragon‑carved bed.

"Elder brother—!"

With a heart‑rending cry, Zhao Guangyi fell to his knees, clutching Zhao Kuangyin's corpse, weeping like a child.

"Elder brother! How could you just leave like this! What am I to do as your younger brother! Last night… last night you still held my hand and said I should faithfully assist Dezhao, how could today… today you be forever separated from the living!"

He wept while pounding his chest, and his genuine anguish moved many of those present.

Wang Xu stood at the back of the crowd, head lowered, secretly smiling inwardly.

Act, then act.

This acting, not performing on stage would be a waste of talent. Yesterday he brandished an axe to threaten someone's heart, now he cries more sorrowfully than anyone.

Nevertheless, he had to admire Zhao Guangyi's performance; it was spot‑on.

His words displayed deep brotherly affection, cleared himself of any blame, and even slipped in "assist Dezhao," silencing everyone. "See, I never wanted to be emperor; my elder brother wants me to assist my nephew."

Sensing the moment, Zhao Pu stepped forward and helped Zhao Guangyi to his feet.

"Your Highness, restrain your grief and accept the change. Now the late Emperor has passed, the nation cannot be without a ruler for a day; please prioritize state affairs."

Zhao Guangyi wiped his tears, waving his hands repeatedly: "No, absolutely not! The elder brother's decree is to enthrone Crown Prince Dezhao! I only wish to be an idle prince, to guard Great Song's tombs and repay my elder brother's great kindness!"

As he spoke, he actually turned, and knelt before the pale‑faced Zhao Dezhao standing nearby.

"I, Zhao Guangyi, request an audience with the New Monarch!"

If that kneel were to become real, today's charade would be all for nothing.

Zhao Pu, quick‑eyed and swift‑handed, seized him tightly, and shouted to the entire court: "Everyone sees! Prince Jin is benevolent, modest, and devoted to the nation! Yet the nation relies on the Long‑ruling Lord, and the 'Golden Treasury Alliance' still looms before us! As subjects of Great Song, how could we, because of the prince's humility, neglect the realm?"

He turned, knelt first before Zhao Guangyi, his voice booming like a great bell.

"I, Zhao Pu, respectfully request Prince Jin to follow the Empress Dowager's decree and assume the throne, to bring peace to the world!"

With him leading, those officials already handled by Wang Xu, or whose hearts had already begun to waver, instantly reacted, and a large crowd knelt en masse.

"We, the ministers, respectfully request Prince Jin to assume the throne!"

"We, the ministers, respectfully request Prince Jin to assume the throne!"

The voices rose wave after wave.

Pan Mei and a few staunch loyalists of the Crown Prince stood alone, their limbs cold, watching the absurd scene before them.

They knew the tide had already turned.

Zhao Pu, the Imperial Guards, and the entire court's kneeling officials—what could the Crown Prince possibly contest with?

Zhao Dezhao's lips trembled as he watched the ministers on the ground repeatedly chanting "Please enthrone the New Monarch," and then glanced at his own uncle, surrounded by the crowd yet still desperately refusing, his eyes filled with despair and fear.

He was no fool; he understood everything.

"No… no…" Zhao Guangyi still struggled there, "Zhao Pu, you are trapping me in injustice! Quickly, please stand up! Quickly, enthrone the Crown Prince!"

Wang Xu, seeing the moment was ripe, subtly signaled to Wang Ji'en beside him.

Wang Ji'en understood instantly; he had personally witnessed the Prince of Jin "care for" the late Emperor for a night, and had already regarded himself as the New Monarch's chief confidant.

He suddenly knelt at Zhao Guangyi's feet, clinging to his leg, sobbing with a runny nose and tears: "Your Highness, please stop refusing! If you keep refusing, Great Song will fall into chaos! The late Emperor's spirit in heaven will not rest! I beg you, ascend the throne!"

His outburst seemed to remind everyone.

Indeed, if they keep passing the responsibility back and forth, dawn will break, and if any trouble erupts inside or outside the city, who can bear it?