Chapter 497: No Accidents, Only Human Hands

The heir to the throne, His Highness Yanwang, suddenly fell into a coma, and the court officials instantly split into two factions.

One faction held that the election result was the only result; since the throne belonged to Yanwang, as long as Yanwang did not die, the coronation ceremony should continue to be prepared, to ensure Yanwang's smooth ascension.

In the event that on the day of the coronation ceremony Yanwang was still in a coma, then they might as well enthrone the Crown Prince, and let His Highness the Crown Prince act as regent. Although Yanwang's eldest son had not yet reached the age of coming of age, he was certainly capable of bearing the heavy responsibility of Crown Prince. Moreover, with Zhengshitang assisting in governance, everything could be ensured to go off without a hitch.

The other faction held that Yanwang, at the very moment he learned he had won the throne, suddenly fell ill and slipped into a coma — a clear sign of great inauspiciousness, proof that he was not the Son of Heaven's Mandate, that even the heavens did not recognize him. This was exceedingly ill-omened. If Yanwang were allowed to inherit the throne, the Daqian Dynasty would surely suffer disaster. Therefore, the election result must be annulled, and Yanwang stripped of his qualification to inherit the throne. Another election would be held at a later date.

Absurd!

Both factions considered the other utterly absurd.

Letting an unconscious person inherit the throne, and even enthroning a Crown Prince — absurdity opening the door for absurdity's mother, absurdity to the max.

Stripping Yanwang of his throne simply because he suddenly fell ill — even more utterly absurd.

Of course, there was also a third faction mixed in among them; their voices were small, but their words were deafening enough, chilling to the bone.

"Yanwang has never had any record of epilepsy, yet he falls ill precisely on the day the succession is decided. Gentlemen, do you not find this most suspicious? Add to that His Highness Zhongwangdian being poisoned into a coma, and the late Emperor's coma — in this short span, three important figures of the imperial house have fallen into unconsciousness. Surely this is enough to warrant serious attention?

I cannot help but suspect there is a conspiracy here, a great conspiracy. This conspiracy is directly linked to the altar explosion case. I have reason to suspect that the mastermind behind the altar explosion is inextricably connected to these three comas. Their aim is already abundantly clear — it plainly points at the throne. Tell me, with Zhongwangdian in a coma and Yanwangdian in a coma, whoever is the final beneficiary is the prime suspect."

"Aren't you just naming His Highness Jinwang outright!"

"I mean to say His Highness Jinwang. Zhongwang is down, Yanwang is down — who is more qualified than His Highness Jinwang to inherit the throne?"

"Nonsense! His Highness Jinwang is pure and clean. To pin the crime of harming one's own kin on him based on baseless speculation — absurd! This is slander, and must be severely punished!"

"Don't you find this too obvious? His Highness Jinwang is no fool — why would he place himself in such an obviously suspicious position? This looks more like a frame-up!"

"It is a frame-up! Someone is definitely framing His Highness Jinwang. Yanwang's sudden illness — perhaps he was simply putting on an act."

"Bullshit! Yanwang has already secured the throne — why would he still need to put on an act? A needless move."

"The purpose of the act, of course, was to get rid of Jinwang."

"Are you accusing His Highness Yanwangdian and His Highness Jinwang of fratricidal slaughter? If you have no evidence, this official will charge you with the crime of spreading seditious falsehoods to beguile the masses!"

"Enough arguing! The most urgent matter at hand is not investigating the cause of Yanwang's sudden illness — not that we won't investigate, but that can wait. What matters most right now is who inherits the throne. Do we recognize Yanwang, or do we revote? Let everyone make a decision."

"Vote! Vote now. Those who agree that Yanwang inherits the great throne, and if anything should happen to Yanwang, that the Crown Prince be enthroned and act as regent — please raise your hands. Each person may raise their hand only once; raising it again counts as abstention. Eunuch Qiu, please do the tally."

Li Li Liangcheng, as Left Chancellor, had to step forward at this critical moment to stabilize the situation.

He was also very decisive.

The matter had gone back and forth, never going smoothly, with accidents cropping up again and again. He knew in his heart that there must be human factors at work — one could say there were no accidents, only human hands.

But he could not allow some hidden saboteur to force him to halt the succession. To do so would be falling into a trap. He would be clean and decisive, grip the throne election tightly and never let go, and see it through no matter what. He wanted to see just how many tricks the people behind the scenes had up their sleeves.

Once the throne was settled and the coronation ceremony concluded, he could turn back and investigate all of this, and sooner or later drag the culprits into the light.

Using his authority as Left Chancellor, he overawed the assembled ministers — whatever the cost, he cut through the tangle with a swift blade.

Qiu Qiu Defu coordinated seamlessly with him and began the count.

Many court officials had not yet gathered their wits before they had to raise their hands and vote; their hands went up and down, up and down… agonizingly torn.

Until Qiu Qiu Defu called out in a clear voice: "Final moment — three, two… one, stop! Good, no one move! This is the result."

The junior eunuchs swiftly tallied the votes, carefully recording the names of every official who raised a hand.

"Next, those who agree to abandon Yanwang and revote to determine the heir — please raise your hands!"

After the first round, the second round of hand-raising was much smoother, with far fewer hesitant, torn officials. Of course, some chose to abstain — approving neither option, choosing neither.

With the vote taken on the spot, the result quickly emerged.

"We have a result. The side to abandon Yanwang and revote to determine the heir has won with three votes. Then, tomorrow, right here, we will hold another vote for the heir. Please, everyone…"

"I object!"

The great doors of the hall were suddenly thrown open.

Consort Gao, accompanied by several of Yanwang's sons and a retinue of palace attendants and guards, burst in.

"Honorable ministers, what are you gathered here to discuss? You have just chosen Yanwang to inherit the throne, and now, in the time it takes to sip a cup of tea, you mean to strip my son's throne and overturn the previous result? On what grounds? Has Yanwang died? Has Yanwang no sons? I tell you this — I acknowledge only the previous result. Apart from that, any other result is invalid as far as I am concerned!"

"Consort Shu, this is the outer court — it is not a place where you should be."

"You bully us, a widow and her orphans, and yet I am not allowed to cry out injustice. Are you trying to force my son to death, to force me to death? If so, then issue the order now — have the Embroidered Uniform Guard surround Wang Fu and wipe out every man and woman in it."

"Consort Shu, calm yourself. We mean no such thing. It is only that Yanwang's sudden illness is truly a great ill omen — not a blessing for the realm, and not a blessing for the dynasty. For the sake of the world, we have no choice but to make a new decision…"

"Nonsense! As Yanwang's birth mother, how would I not know if Yanwang suffered from epilepsy? He was clearly harmed, clearly poisoned. You do not investigate the poisoner, you do not seek justice for Yanwang — you hide here thinking only of stripping him of his throne. You are all criminals! If you mean to bully this mother and son, to strip my son of his throne, you will have to step over my corpse first."

Consort Gao, usually a picture of grace and nobility, now cast aside all propriety and dignity, becoming a shrew, throwing a tantrum in the court, swearing to protect Yanwang's throne and refusing to let anyone snatch it away.