[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-665":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starlight Professional",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2309325,4512,"Chapter 665","starlight-professional-chapter-665",665,"\u003Cp>“This strategy is good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Tai’s eyes lit up: “Could it be that the Crown Prince is desperate and acting rashly tonight? Then I’d truly die laughing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He almost didn’t hesitate, choosing the strategy: “We hold back for now. Meanwhile… send people out immediately to gather intelligence—even inside the palace—no matter the cost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wu sighed inwardly and turned to leave, when Prince Tai asked: “What about the last resort?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The last resort? Naturally, mobilize all our militia, ambush at the palace gates, kill the Crown Prince, then force the imperial court…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wu sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Tai shook his head like a frantic drum: \"My militia are fewer than the Crown Prince’s palace guards, and even if they dared, they wouldn’t dare surround and attack the Crown Prince... Even if they killed him, they’d never dare storm the imperial palace... In the end, it’d only benefit Kang Wang and the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If His Majesty were still alive, with the prestige of the founding Emperor, any rebel would die… But if he’s already passed, and with Imperial Consort’s aid, storming the palace might still hold a glimmer of hope.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wu added silently to himself but said nothing, gave Prince Tai a deep bow, and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shenwu Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gate stood dozens of zhang tall, majestic and towering, guarded by the Imperial Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To besiege a city, you need ten times the defenders; even thousands or tens of thousands might fail to take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing silently assessed it and knew his qinggong could barely scale it—but no one else could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The main garrison is here; the other palace gates are lightly manned. They can’t stop me…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He halted his procession and ordered Eunuch Su to call for the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander of this core palace gate would surely be the Emperor’s most trusted confidant—loyal to no one else, especially not the Crown Prince or the Princes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, even with ten thousand men, it would be impossible to take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And where in the capital could you hide ten thousand soldiers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before half a day passed, the garrisoned Imperial Army from the suburbs would arrive to crush the rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing was here to follow proper protocol, so he appeared utterly calm, letting Eunuch Su handle negotiations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander of Shenwu Gate was named Kou Feng—a great general, deeply favored by the Emperor, who even lamented that this wasn’t a time of chaos, or Kou Feng would have been a legendary commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally served the Emperor, but now, aware of what had transpired inside the palace, he could only serve whoever sat on the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Su arrived with the Empress Dowager’s edict and the golden token. Without hesitation, Kou Feng ordered: “Open the gate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clatter of armored scales scraping the ground echoed as two hundred Crown Prince’s Guards escorted the Crown Prince through Shenwu Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Hu, take two squads and hold this gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing stepped through Shenwu Gate and gave the order directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Feng’s gaze darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hu shouted his reply and hurried the Crown Prince’s Guards onto the gate to take up defensive positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch Su, let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing turned to Eunuch Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Your Highness, please proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Su bowed even lower. Even if the Crown Prince suspected something, to directly seize control of palace defenses was a move both precise, swift, cruel, and deadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key point… no one could stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By morning, this would be the inevitable tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even now, he doesn’t forget to cover his back. Truly cautious.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Feng bowed his head in sincere admiration, gazing toward the inner palace, his tiger-like eyes glistening with tears: “Your Majesty… you have a worthy successor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nine layers of palace gates opened one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing, as usual, left a few guards at each gate. By the time he reached the Emperor’s bedchamber, not a single armored soldier remained around him—only a handful of eunuchs and maidservants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Su, seeing this, was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were truly open and honest, why station guards along the way? But here, why risk his own safety so recklessly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Father and son, absolute trust… hard to come by. But the Crown Prince is truly filial.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Su led Fang Xing into the Emperor’s bedchamber and saw dozens of imperial physicians kneeling on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them stood an elderly woman with silver hair—naturally, the Empress Dowager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing stepped forward and whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager, her eyes red from weeping, looked at him with a hoarse voice: “Crown Prince… your father suffered a sudden heart ailment tonight—he’s gone. The Grand Secretaries are on their way. You must now hold yourself with restraint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing entered the hall and burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought no armored troops because he had absolute confidence in his own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, entering the Emperor’s bedchamber with soldiers would sound terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he had won, he must appear dignified, mindful of his image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the Grand Secretaries arrived, all weeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Secretary, Yuan Zhao, the Emperor’s chief strategist since the founding rebellion, wept uncontrollably upon seeing the Emperor’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of their private doubts, all now wept publicly—then came the Deputy Grand Secretary Gao Yang, Minister of Personnel Sun Qiming, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are all pillars of the state. My heart is shattered—I say no more. The Emperor died suddenly. The fate of the nation now rests in your hands. Yuan Zhao, what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager turned to the Grand Secretary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Qian had established the Grand Secretariat to divide the power of the former Chancellor’s office, yet the Grand Secretary remained the highest-ranking official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao, aged sixty-seven, possessed the dignity of a senior minister. His dim eyes swept the hall: the Crown Prince’s face filled with grief, the Imperial Consort beside the Empress Dowager tense with anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed inwardly—he knew he must prioritize the realm’s stability, or the people would suffer: “Did His Majesty leave a last will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Consort beside the Empress Dowager hesitated—but could not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A last will wasn’t just any written note—it required strict format, paper, scribe, seal, and duplicate copies archived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To forge one was nearly impossible—unless it was a blood-written will on clothing, but the Emperor collapsed too quickly to write one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faking it is extremely difficult, unless it were the emperor’s own handwritten blood letter on his robe—but the emperor fell too quickly, leaving no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To forge one now would be suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless the Emperor had already issued a will replacing the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince’s succession could not be stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if such a will existed, as long as the Crown Prince had not been formally deposed, it might spark civil war and imperial division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao heard this and felt a weight lift—he bowed deeply to Fang Xing: “Then, please ascend the throne before the Emperor’s spirit, and inherit the Great Qian’s legacy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao heard this and felt a weight lift; he bowed again to Fang Xing: “If that is so, I beg you to ascend the throne before the Crown Prince’s spirit, and inherit the Great Gan empire…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing declined several times, then reluctantly accepted the court’s homage under the Empress Dowager’s and ministers’ urging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still night. Fang Xing first asked the Empress Dowager to rest, then summoned a few key ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary, Deputy Grand Secretary, all ministers... you are the pillars of the Great Qian. This great matter must be settled first...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing spoke, then turned to Yuan Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were formalities. Yuan Zhao replied naturally: “Naturally. First, tomorrow’s morning court must be convened. The Empress Dowager shall announce the Emperor’s passing, then the Crown Prince shall receive the homage of all officials, establishing his legitimacy. According to filial rites, a son mourns three years for his father—the Son of Heaven may substitute days for years, days for months…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What merit do I have to emulate the ancient sages and substitute days for years? Let it be days for months…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao paused: “Then mourning lasts thirty-six days, after which you shall be formally crowned Emperor…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Handle these matters yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing thought a moment and added: “My father was wise and mighty—his posthumous title shall be ‘Wu.’ He shall be Emperor Wu, the Founding Emperor. As for my reign title, let it be ‘Longchang.’ We shall not change the year this year—only next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pondered a moment, then said: “My father was wise and mighty; his posthumous title should be ‘Wu’—Emperor Wu, the Founding Ancestor… As for my reign title, let it be ‘Longchang.’ We need not change it this year; we shall enact the new era name next year…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the chaos, the ministers exited the hall to find dawn breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao looked deeply troubled as Deputy Grand Secretary Gao Yang approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They glanced around and saw the guards far away; they exchanged greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary, please take care of your health—the morning court is in half an hour…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shoukang…” Yuan Zhao called Gao Yang’s courtesy name, hesitating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged a glance, subtly shaking their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few signals, Gao Yang took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zhao felt a quiet relief: ‘The Crown Prince arrived only moments before us… and he lacked the power to bribe the entire Imperial Medical Bureau. So… His Majesty truly died of natural causes?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, fresh tears flowed down his cheeks: ‘Your Majesty… Your Majesty…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, two clean tears streamed down his face: “Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing was eating a few pieces of pastry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These delicacies were exquisitely made, fragrant and inviting, yet no soups or stews were present—clearly thought out with great care to satiate him, refresh his spirit, and avoid any bodily discomfort during his first appearance at court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The overall situation is settled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Fang Xing’s heart, he silently sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the real challenge lies ahead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though what I’ve taken over isn’t a complete mess, it still carries hidden dangers…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The realm has only just been stabilized; the people remain unsettled, the meritorious nobles cling together, and the civil officials are growing stronger…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the inner palace, the Empress Dowager is hard to read, but those Imperial Consorts? None of them are easy to deal with…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager, regardless of whom she supports, does not threaten her own position; summoning the Crown Prince is merely a customary act to uphold orthodoxy and stabilize the overall situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say she is particularly close is unlikely—if the new emperor ever infringes upon her interests, he will suffer dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The most critical question: who are my allies? Oh, the emperor has no friends…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pondered silently: the emperor is the largest landowner in the land—shouldn’t his seat be at the landowners’ table?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the emperor is also, in effect, the greatest slave master—the entire population are his slaves, so he must ensure they are fed, clothed, and able to survive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, slaves, as the slave master’s property, cannot be allowed to deteriorate too severely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, I lack the prestige of the founding emperor—I cannot suppress the arrogant generals and hardened soldiers who emerged from the blood-soaked chaos of the fallen age, nor the cunning civil officials and poisonously clever strategists…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think that becoming emperor means you can kill whomever you wish and do whatever you please? That’s pure fantasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tragically, given today’s literacy rate, my base of rule rests entirely on the scholar-officials…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet there is a bright side: the realm is newly founded, the land is littered with corpses, and the cake is enormous…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I lighten taxes and corvée, curb the great landowners, support small landowners and self-cultivating farmers, and show slight leniency toward the people—governing through non-action—population and tax revenue will naturally grow. Perhaps I might even earn a footnote in history as the ‘Longchang Prosperity’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fang Xing pondered, a soft voice sounded from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2028,"2026-06-20T11:03:23.251Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2d1894157a81c21cf627a618285dc45b237f17fa58bb0720d1b60afad6cc357c","starlight-professional-chapter-666","starlight-professional-chapter-664",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]