Chapter 496: Not the Son of Heaven, Must Suffer Heaven's Wrath

The yellow and green beans were poured into the wooden tray, and the young eunuch held a ruler, separating the yellow and green beans to count them one by one.

In short, no one was allowed to touch these beans with their hands.

Everything proceeded under the watchful eyes of all.

Officials on both sides stretched their necks, gazing toward the center of the hall to ensure there was no cheating and that everything was fair. They were also eager to know the result as soon as possible.

Would the yellow beans win, or the green beans?

Yu Zhaoan's expression was resolute; he had calculated Prince Jin's winning percentage early on. The votes that could be swayed had long been worked on in private; barring any accidents, Prince Jin would surely win by a "slight" margin.

Chen Guanfu held a handkerchief in his hand, lightly covering his mouth, as if afraid he might laugh out loud and be discovered. Like the other officials, he stretched his neck, gazing toward the table. Every time the young eunuch's ruler moved, everyone followed along, counting silently.

Aside from the elderly and frail, everyone present had excellent eyesight; even from several yards away, they could see clearly and would not make a mistake.

The yellow beans were in the lead!

The green beans were catching up!

The yellow and green beans were tied!

Could it be that an accident would happen today?

Yu Zhaoan snorted inwardly; it was impossible for an accident to occur.

The yellow and green beans were locked in a stalemate. The officials were silently calculating the number of yellow and green beans while guessing who among them had cast a bean of the same color as themselves. In fact, everyone could calculate the votes of many people.

The real variables were those fence-sitters, or those who had never clearly expressed their stance. What color beans these people would cast was truly full of variables.

It was almost over!

The yellow beans were one step ahead.

Oh no, the green beans were catching up again.

The green beans had actually surpassed the yellow ones. With the last two beans, one yellow and one green, the result was self-evident.

"Impossible!"

Before the result was officially announced, Yu Zhaoan was the first to cry out.

Li Liangcheng glared at him with great dissatisfaction. "Does Minister Yu have objections to today's vote?"

Yu Zhaoan's face turned iron-gray, but he remained silent. He knew he had been too anxious, which did not befit his status. As a Grand Secretary, how could he pre-establish a stance?

Seeing him remain silent, Li Liangcheng snorted coldly. "Continue! Is the result confirmed? Can the result be announced on the spot?"

The three representatives calculated multiple times and clearly stated, "The result is confirmed."

"Then announce the result."

"The result is that the green beans won by a margin of one."

"Prince Yan won?"

"The green beans are Prince Yan!"

"Prince Yan is the Emperor!"

"Hahaha... it's actually Prince Yan, truly... unexpected!" It was a surprise. Winning by a single vote. Who exactly cast that one vote?

The news was transmitted to the side hall next door, reaching the ears of the princes.

Prince Yan had thought he would lose today; although he was unconvinced in his heart, his reason told him Prince Jin had a better chance of winning. He never expected the news from the young eunuch to be that he had won.

He stood up abruptly, causing his heavy chair to topple over.

"I won? This Prince won? Are you sure this Prince won? By a margin of one vote. Hahaha... Hahaha..."

The laughter stopped abruptly!

It was very sudden, catching everyone off guard, as Prince Yan fell straight backward.

"Heavens!"

"This is bad! Prince Yan fainted from excessive joy."

"Quick, summon the imperial physicians!"

"Prince Yan must not have any mishaps!"

Officials in the main hall heard the commotion and hurried to the side hall, only to find a crowd gathered around Prince Yan. Prince Yan lay on the ground, his body convulsing.

"Quick, quick, quick, hurry and stuff something into Prince Yan's mouth so he doesn't bite his tongue."

An official who knew medicine acted decisively, pulling out a handkerchief and stuffing it hard into Prince Yan's mouth.

A group of imperial physicians rushed over with medicine chests, hurriedly administering aid and acupuncture.

Everyone gathered in a cluster, all feeling anxious.

This was the newly elected Emperor, the heir to the empire.

This... this is truly highly inauspicious!

Many officials looked at each other, exchanging glances, wondering if Prince Yan also lacked the mandate of heaven and was not the one destined to rule? Otherwise, why would it be so ominous that he fainted the moment he learned he had been elected Emperor?

"I've never heard before that Prince Yan suffered from epilepsy," the officials whispered.

If the Emperor has epilepsy, that would be a disaster.

They verified it with the imperial physicians, who also confirmed that Prince Yan did not suffer from epilepsy. This scene today was truly shocking.

"Why would someone who doesn't have epilepsy, someone who is usually healthy, suddenly fall to the ground and convulse? Could it really be that he went insane from excessive joy?"

"That's impossible!"

Everyone was discussing it.

Only the dejected Prince Jin stood in the corner, still not having recovered his senses.

He had lost!

How could he have lost!

He had pulled all the votes he could; how could he have lost to Prince Yan by a single vote?

He found Yu Zhaoan in the crowd.

Yu Zhaoan was currently both gloating and confused.

He sensed the scent of a conspiracy. A conspiracy aimed at Prince Jin was approaching.

The most likely heir, Prince Zhong, had suddenly been poisoned and remained unconscious, his life hanging by a thread.

Prince Yan, who had just won and been selected as Emperor, had suffered a sudden epileptic seizure, his fate uncertain.

His face darkened, and he turned his head abruptly to look for Prince Jin, his gaze filled with questions and disbelief.

Prince Jin gritted his teeth; he understood Yu Zhaoan's look. He roared silently in anger that this had nothing to do with him, and he had done nothing.

He was certain he would win, so there was no need to go out of his way to target Prince Yan. Moreover, he didn't have the ability to make someone suffer an epileptic seizure in full view of everyone.

Those who had such ability were not in this side hall.

Unless...

Unless it was poison!

Prince Yan had long been poisoned, poisoned with something that caused seizures like epilepsy when it flared up.

Who was it?

Who was so ruthless?

Yu Zhaoan believed Prince Jin. Given Prince Jin's original winning odds, there was indeed no need to resort to petty tricks against Prince Yan.

This was a conspiracy.

The sword dance was aimed at the Duke of Pei!

It appeared to be aimed at Prince Yan, but in reality, it was aimed at Prince Jin.

Prince Jin was in danger!

A group of imperial physicians, using all their skills and bringing out their best techniques, finally brought Prince Yan's seizure under control. However, Prince Yan remained in a coma, showing no signs of waking up.

"What should be done? What should be done?"

Some ministers were extremely anxious, pacing back and forth.

"The result is out, and next we should announce it to the world and prepare for the enthronement ceremony. Even the date has been chosen, but with Prince Yan in this condition, what should we do?"

No one present had ever experienced such a bizarre event, and for a time, they could not come up with a plan.

"Minister Li, what do you say? Should we still announce it to the world, and should we continue preparing for the enthronement ceremony?"

"If Prince Yan has an accident, will he be a Prince, or the Son of Heaven?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Prince Yan has his own heaven-sent luck and will surely turn danger into safety and find fortune in misfortune."

"Gentlemen, are you sure you want to choose someone suffering from epilepsy to inherit the throne? I hope everyone will consider it carefully!"

"This is truly highly inauspicious! I fear this is a warning from Heaven!"

"Not the Son of Heaven, must suffer Heaven's wrath!"

"Spreading evil rumors to confuse the public!"