Chapter 495: Choosing an Emperor

Yu Yu Zhaoan had played Chen Chen Guanlou, saying it would take three days, but in reality only one day had passed when the two Grand Chancellors suddenly announced a vote would be held — to decide who would become Emperor by vote.

Zhongwangdian being unconscious and unresponsive was naturally excluded from the list of candidates.

This move drew a torrent of curses and abuse from a large number of mid- and lower-ranking officials, accusing Li Li Liangcheng and Yu Yu Zhaoan of being in cahoots, having been bought off, controlling Zhengshitang, and blocking the channels of speech. They even speculated that Zhongwangdian's poisoning and coma could not be separated from these two.

The officials rallied behind Zhao Mingqiao, urging him to step forward and expose the conspiracy of Li and Yu. If the man surnamed Zhao would stand up for Zhongwangdian, once it was done, everyone would jointly recommend him for entry into Zhengshitang.

Zhao Mingqiao unusually made no statement, did not leap forward, and the young officials under him also showed no movement — this was abnormal!

His attitude instantly inflamed the other officials' fury, and a flood of abuse was hurled at him. They cursed him as a fame-seeker, a two-faced schemer, an opportunist, a pure political speculator, not a gentleman at all, unworthy of being called a scholar, a disgrace to the literati.

Why were these mid- and lower-ranking officials so furious, so thoroughly triggered? Because they lacked Zhao Mingqiao's organizational power and ability to stir up sentiment. They were a heap of loose sand, in desperate need of someone capable and prestigious to organize them into a fight against Zhengshitang — a fight with a plan, a goal, and a program of action.

For this role among the mid-ranking officials, no one but Zhao Mingqiao would do. His fighting strength was fierce, his organizational ability formidable, his battles well-reasoned and measured, controlling the rhythm and the scene throughout.

Yet Zhao Mingqiao, usually so high-profile, had chosen this very moment to go silent — how could the officials not be furious, how could they not curse him?

Compared to Yu and Li, they hated Zhao Mingqiao, who had "betrayed" their side, even more.

The matter of standing up for Zhongwangdian was set aside for now — first, get rid of the man surnamed Zhao.

These people always started strong and petered out, doing whatever they pleased, changing goals at will, completely lacking the basic element of any fight: knowing what matters most.

Hammering here, banging there, gets nothing done.

"A mob of rabble!"

Zhao Mingqiao cursed with undisguised contempt.

He had his own principles. He did not step forward because he agreed with Li Li Liangcheng's approach — the throne could not remain vacant any longer, the court could not continue to grind to a halt.

Everything needed to be sorted out as soon as possible, to show all under heaven the court's determination, confidence, and ability to control the situation. A reminder had to be given to certain restless people: before a court and Zhengshitang that ran in orderly fashion and commanded with ease, they stood no chance.

Zhengshitang could mobilize the resources and manpower of the entire realm for battle — so, ambitious schemers, tell me, are you afraid?

As for Zhongwangdian, one could only say it was the will of fate. Gambling too heavily is never a good thing.

Li Li Liangcheng and Yu Yu Zhaoan's meaning was plain: they were unwilling to invite complications at this moment. Their refusal to investigate Zhongwangdian's poisoning was precisely to stabilize the situation and end the current chaos as quickly as possible.

Jingcheng had to be stabilized.

When Jingcheng was stable, the realm could be stable.

Was Zhongwangdian wronged?

Very wronged — but he had to endure it. He could only blame himself for having already been excluded from the bigger picture.

Chen Chen Guanlou did not leap out to oppose, but instead cooperated throughout.

Yu Yu Zhaoan felt a twinge of unease. Had the meritorious nobles abandoned Zhongwangdian? Was their support so cheap? And what of those former Eastern Palace officials — why were they not making a fuss either?

"The various princes and imperial princes are waiting in the Piandian next door. Let us begin. The sooner we finish, the sooner the realm is settled," Li Li Liangcheng said, winning the support of the officials, the meritorious nobles, and the imperial clan alike.

There would be three rounds of voting in total.

After the first two rounds, only Jinwangdian and Yanwangdian remained.

These two were older, had been enfeoffed as princes for many years, possessed formidable strength, and were each surrounded by a host of supporters, with backing from their maternal clans and wives' clans as well. Truly evenly matched, neck and neck.

In terms of personal ability alone, each had his own strengths.

The importance of the third round of voting was beyond doubt — it would decide who became Emperor.

Yellow beans stood for the Prince of Jin, green beans for the Prince of Yan.

As for how exactly to vote, every person present was running their own private calculations.

"Have you all made your decision? The hour grows late — let us begin! Remember, this is the final vote; it will decide who the throne belongs to. Please be prudent." Li Li Liangcheng finished in one breath and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

Qiu Qiu Defu personally carried a wooden tray, on which sat a jar the size of a palm, covered with a lid. The lid had a hole in it, just right for dropping the beans in.

The jar had been inspected by many parties, and was checked again before the vote — absolutely no mechanism, absolutely no possibility of human manipulation.

Everything proceeded under the watchful eyes of all, to prevent any cheating.

Even the beans in the officials' hands were taken on the spot, and which bean corresponded to which prince was announced only at the very last moment before voting.

"Begin."

At the word of command, the final round of voting officially began. In less than half an incense stick's time, the successor to the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty would be chosen.

Every person present would be both a decider of history and its witness.

Some could hardly contain their excitement; others wore faces as still as an ancient well, with no ripples within.

The young Chen Chen Guanlou was participating in choosing an Emperor for the first time — beyond curiosity, still curiosity.

Yu Yu Zhaoan finally set aside his inner worries. At this point, Zhongwangdian's followers could no longer stir up any waves; the game was set. He glanced again at Chen Chen Guanlou, but could see not the slightest trace of anxiety on the other's face. He figured the meritorious nobles must have already given up on Zhongwangdian.

All the better!

Zhongwangdian's poisoning had nothing to do with him — one could only say Zhongwangdian's luck was truly terrible. Two chances, two misses.

Such wretched luck showed that Zhongwangdian was destined to have no part in the throne, not the one chosen by Heaven. Even if the late Emperor had not deposed the Crown Prince, he would have lost the throne for some other reason!

It was Heaven's will!

How could mortals contend with Heaven? Even the late Emperor could not contend with Heaven — others stood even less chance.

When Qiu Qiu Defu carried the wooden tray to him, he resolutely cast in a yellow bean. Yellow beans stood for the Prince of Jin.

He and the Prince of Jin were martial brothers; he had no connection at all with the Prince of Yan. By every sentiment and every reason, he ought to support the Prince of Jin.

Looking across the hall, the Prince of Jin's odds of winning were very high.

Once the Prince of Jin ascended the throne, he would tolerate Li Li Liangcheng for two more years, and then he would surely take his place, becoming the Left Chancellor of the dynasty, the First Grand Councillor of the empire, leaving his name in the annals of history, and rebuilding the empire's glory.

He could hardly wait — hurry up and reveal the answer! After all this commotion, it was time for it all to end.

When Li Li Liangcheng dropped his bean into the jar, it marked the end of the third round of voting — the new Emperor was about to be decided.

The crowd could hardly contain their excitement; after all this uproar, it was finally about to end.

A minor eunuch was seen bringing in a table, which was placed right in the center of the great hall.

Qiu Qiu Defu, carrying the wooden tray, solemnly placed it on the table.

Finally, one representative each from the civil officials, the meritorious nobles, and the imperial clan stepped forward, and three hands together lifted the lid off the jar. Inside the jar, yellow and green mingled together — quite a sight to behold!