Chapter 542: Yiben's Ambition

When Yiben left Shuangfeng Ridge, he had not expected the chaotic situation that Jinyu City is in now.

However, he had been a Border Count for many years after all, and he quickly realized the opportunity within it.

Jialete committed such a grave crime that he has no chance of ascending the throne again; even if someone supported him, the nobles led by Luoning would certainly oppose it.

He keenly realized that this was an opportunity.

Without Jialete, and with Feilunsi also having lost his qualifications, this throne might actually fall into the hands of his wife.

The Tolansi Family, could there actually be a queen?

With his strength capable of challenging a Blazing Sun Knight, plus having spent so many years in the borderlands and having very good friendships with famous and capable nobles like Gushan, supporting Xuelun to ascend would not have been a problem.

But he was equally concerned about Luoning's attitude.

Don't look at how the Wubei Territory has only been developing for a few years, and Moonlight Valley is still in a stage of waiting to be rebuilt; Luoning is simply too strong.

Although Silver Moon Knights are no match for a Blazing Sun, as long as there are enough of them, even a Blazing Sun Knight would not dare to act recklessly.

But a Legendary is different.

When Luoning was surrounded and suppressed this time, wiping out his opponents was secondary; the key was that he was unscathed and hadn't even used his full strength.

Such a person cannot be easily offended; if pushed too hard, the other party could carry out an assassination, and he would be completely unable to withstand it.

To have the life to fight for the throne, one must first have the life to sit securely upon it.

Therefore, he wanted to see Luoning's attitude.

If the other party stated outright that they wanted to take the throne and there was no room for negotiation, then he would settle for the next best thing and seek greater benefits for the Tolansi Family.

If nothing else, a dukedom and territory are the bare minimum, right?

Of course, if Luoning had no intention of letting Blanche come out to compete for the throne, Xuelun would gladly accept it.

But regardless, abolishing Jialete's right of succession is the first step.

Luoning nodded slightly, "From my personal perspective, I agree with your statement. However, the specific situation will still have to be judged by the Kingdom's legal personnel, such as Dexiasa, and the nobles together."

He said: "Asenuo and the others have already set the date; the nineteenth and twentieth are His Majesty's funeral, and the nobles' assembly will follow; we can discuss it at the meeting."

Yiben smiled; he knew that although Luoning's stance was cautious, it supported his point of view, and presumably many nobles would feel the same.

This first step was taken smoothly.

"If Jialete is punished and has no right to accept the throne, and Feilunsi is the same, then according to the Kingdom's laws, the right of succession to the throne falls to my wife, Xuelun."

Speaking of this, his tone shifted: "It's just that in all these years, there has never been a situation where a daughter inherited the throne, so this part of the law is not perfect. Xuelun can, and her younger sister, your wife Blanche, also has the right of succession."

Luoning smiled, "That is a novel way of putting it... just say what you want to say directly."

Yiben said bluntly: "Luoning, I said so much mainly to make you understand. Although Jialete and I spent many years together at the border, there is no enmity between you and me, nor are we in a competitive relationship."

He paused and continued: "If you need the throne, then Xuelun and I will automatically step aside and support it. Of course, as a supporter, I hope the Tolansi Family can replace the current position of Feilunsibao and become a great noble family like Wushan and Jisitana."

Yiben spoke very directly; he could support Blanche's ascension, but after the matter was settled, he, Yiben, would become a Duke, and his territory would be the current Feilunsibao Principality.

This guy has ambition; if Luoning weren't so strong, this guy would definitely have directly supported Xuelun's ascension to become the new monarch.

However, it is also undeniable that this guy's ability to immediately abandon his covetousness for the throne upon seeing potential risks is also very bold.

It's just that Luoning does not want a new Duke to appear, and even less does he want them to possess such a large fief.

As mentioned before, he can ennoble his subordinates, but the rights of the nobles need to be restricted and cannot be like they are now.

"I have asked Blanche; she is not interested in the throne."

Luoning shook his head, "She only wants a quiet life."

Yiben's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly realized, "Then your idea is..."

"Although His Majesty Bruno has died, as the Kingdom Guardian Knight and Conqueror Duke he ennobled, I will still firmly carry out his dying wish."

Luoning stood up and said with a smile: "For the specifics, let's wait until the day of the nobles' assembly; I will put forward my opinions then."

After finishing, he nodded in greeting and returned to the room.

Yiben frowned, secretly pondering what Luoning's thoughts really were.

As the days passed, more and more nobles arrived in Jinyu City; after paying their respects to His Majesty's ice coffin, they came to the Wushan Family's manor to visit Jialete.

Fortunately, the people responsible for guarding Jialete came from various families, so outsiders would not think that Jialete's madness was a tactic used by Luoning.

During this period, Lulansi walked around; many nobles gave him face, but they gave Luoning even more face.

People outside all knew that the words spoken by the Thunder Marquis were very likely to be Luoning's intentions.

Besides the Wushan manor, the manor where Yiben was staying was also visited by nobles large and small.

According to the Kingdom's laws, Xuelun would be the next monarch.

If Xuelun insisted, Luoning would have no reason to stop her unless he killed her.

But Luoning is a Legendary powerhouse after all, and he is about to deal with Jialete for similar crimes; he wouldn't be so shameless as to follow Jialete's path.

The capital was full of turmoil, and Feilunsibao and the Vila Principality were the same.

One of their lords was imprisoned and facing trial, and the other was killed directly, yet no one dared to speak for them; the families of both men knew what this meant.

They only had one choice: either accept the purge and punishment, becoming lowly slaves or even being killed directly, or defect and seek asylum.

At this time, the envoys of His Majesty Tailuo gave them a better choice—defect entirely.

And while transferring family members and assets, they began to organize troops to launch attacks on the Jistana Duchy, Wushan Territory, and Zilei Territory respectively.

Soon, His Majesty Bruno's funeral was held as scheduled.

Unlike Hesusu's funeral last time, this funeral was shrouded in solemnity, gravity, and sorrow throughout Jinyu City.

The flags throughout the Jinyu Palace hung low, and every inch of air carried the mourning for Auduin V.

Bruno served for twenty-four years, saving the declining situation from the defeat thirty years ago, maintaining the balance of all parties, and allowing the Auduin Kingdom to usher in good development.

The eldest princess, Xuelun, read the eulogy, and the nobles, dressed in dark formal attire with solemn expressions, paid their final respects to the late His Majesty Bruno.

After the two-day funeral came the second matter that everyone was concerned about—the nobles' assembly.

The Auduin Hall had been destroyed and could not be repaired in a short time.

The location for this meeting was chosen to be the banquet hall of the Wangong.

Because the notification was delivered effectively, almost all of the Kingdom's direct vassals were present; there were at least two hundred people in the banquet hall.

Of course, at least half of them were honorary nobles who did not possess actual territories.

However, one could not ignore their power because of this.

It was not that the King would not enfeoff them with land; it was that they did not want it.

For example, the Gushan Honorary Earl of Red Pine Castle—if he were willing, would the King not grant him a fief?

It can only be said that everyone has their own aspirations and different preferences.

The bell of the noble assembly rang melodiously, echoing in every corner of the banquet hall, as if drawing back the curtain on the game of power about to unfold.

Xuelun took Yiben's arm and slowly walked into the hall.

As the eldest daughter of Bruno, although she was already married, her status in the current environment was very high.

The host of this noble assembly was also Princess Xuelun.

After them, Blanche took Luoning's arm and also entered the hall; compared to Xuelun's magnificence and maturity, the little Princess had a gentle temperament and was somewhat more youthful.

However, everyone knew that although Blanche was young, she was also about to become a mother.

"Everyone."

Xuelun's voice echoed in the hall, clear and powerful.

"Today we gather here not only to mourn His Majesty Bruno, but also for the future of the Kingdom. Although His Majesty has passed, we must not let his Kingdom decline along with him!"

Her voice was slightly sorrowful and hoarse, "And the first matter is to conduct a trial for the executioner who killed His Majesty, the former Crown Prince, my younger brother... Jialete!"

Having said this, she sat down as if she had no strength left, "Next, I invite Asenuo, Buluoer, Luoning, and others to recount the events of that day." (End of this chapter)