Chapter 988: Shifting Situation

Funeral rites.

In ancient times, this was absolutely a major event, whether for an imperial family or an ordinary household.

Many people are even more particular about things after death than they were while alive.

Although it is not very common in history for a crown prince to die before the emperor, according to the ancestral laws of the ancestral temple, the crown prince, who holds the Eastern Palace, actually has a status comparable to that of the emperor; at the very least, in the ancestral laws of Longyan, his status is certainly higher than that of the various Feudatory Kings.

Imperial funeral.

In his grief, Xie Tianyao issued a proclamation directly stating that he would hold an imperial funeral for the Crown Prince, Xie Fang.

Once this news spread, the Longyan people actually felt a sense of sorrow in their hearts.

Why?

Seeing that Xie Tianyao himself was already nearing the end, yet before he had died, his son had died first. Not to mention what a great blow this was to Xie Tianyao, even the common people could now foresee it: could it be that this year is a year of great mourning for Longyan, requiring two consecutive imperial funerals?

People in ancient times were very superstitious.

Could it be that Longyan is once again on the verge of collapse?

Could it be that Longyan is once again to be plagued by constant war?

Is this Heaven's will?

The entire land of Longyan seemed to be covered in a thick haze.

At the same time, Xie Tianyao issued a command for a state funeral for the Crown Prince, ordering all Feudatory Kings in the country to enter the Capital, including the nine Envoys. This immediately caused an uproar across the nation.

The Feudatory Kings were all stunned.

All enter the Capital?

Good heavens.

How large is Longyan? With vast territories and a huge population, a single large province has millions of people, equivalent to a small country like the Li Dynasty. In memory, since Xie Tianyao ascended the throne, there had never been a situation where all Feudatory Kings were summoned to the Capital. Even during Xie Tianyao's birthday, many busy Feudatory Kings only sent representatives.

Yet this time...

Everyone sensed something unusual in this.

A year of great mourning.

This year will be a year of great mourning for Longyan.

At this, Longyan became tense. If the Feudatory Kings leave, what will happen to their territories? In these vast territories, without their spiritual leaders, what would happen, what incidents would arise? According to the rules, when a Feudatory King enters the Capital, he can only bring three thousand men. This immediately created a sense of tension; what can three thousand men do? One must know that the garrison in the Capital alone reaches a strength of one hundred thousand. With three thousand troops, one would not dare to play any games.

All provinces began to sharpen their weapons and feed their horses.

All Feudatory Kings began to prepare grand gifts and slowly set out on their journey.

Liu Zheng was currently in a Horse Carriage with the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin.

Originally, the two had planned to rest in Jinzhou for two days, but they did not expect to receive this news. Once the Prince of Jin saw it, he simply decided to travel together, as they would have a companion to talk to on the road.

But in reality, the three of them had no mood to talk at this moment.

Xie Tianyao is dying.

This is everyone's understanding.

Especially Liu Zheng, who could not help but let out a deep sigh.

That guy with such deep schemes—he had always been like an enemy and a friend to him, mutually dependent, mutually appreciative, and mutually wary.

Liu Zheng knew he was dying, but he did not expect it to be right before his eyes.

Longyan will fall into chaos.

This is certain.

It just depends on whether it will be a great chaos or a minor one. Do not look at how Xie Tianyao has summoned all the Feudatory Kings to the Capital now; after all these years, these Feudatory Kings' control over their own territories is already deep-rooted. Even if the Feudatory Kings are not in their territories, the troops in their territories can still move if they need to.

They can still fight if they need to.

Everyone is preparing.

The Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin are naturally no exception.

"The most active ones next will likely be the Old Aristocrats."

The Prince of Wei did not like this extremely silent atmosphere and broke the stillness.

Liu Zheng and the Prince of Jin nodded in agreement.

The death of the Crown Prince had driven the Old Aristocrats completely mad; with no one to support them, they were now like mad dogs, able only to use other methods to disrupt the whole of Longyan and then look for opportunities to exploit.

And the Old Aristocrats controlled mostly the northern cities.

They bore the brunt of it!

"But at least, before entering the Capital, it should be peaceful."

Liu Zheng waved his hand in front of him.

Suddenly.

He felt that the closer they got to Jinghua, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

And compared to the current situation in Longyan, everyone was actually watching him—not just watching the coffin of Xie Fang, but also watching Liangzhou, which was currently the most militarily strong in Longyan.

This journey would directly determine the national destiny of the entire Longyan.

The death of Xie Fang.

It directly caused the Northern Alliance Pact, which had previously been radiated by the Prince of Wei's Qingzhou and linked by Liaodong, to disintegrate instantly.

This is interest.

This is Longyan.

"That's right, Your Highness, we can only find a way during the grand funeral!"

That eunuch said gloomily.

Dong Shuyu knew what this meant.

Make trouble!

At the funeral ceremony, make trouble! Assassination! Ambush! In any case, no matter what happens, as long as this Vice Minister Liu is killed, her son will have no more competitors!

But...

Dong Shuyu could not help but stand up and pace back and forth.

That is the funeral ceremony!

The focus of the whole country!

And the Emperor also attaches great importance to it!

If something happens at this time, it will definitely be a major event. Can she bear the consequences?

"Your Ladyship, I have a relative in the countryside who is a Knight-errant and has a group of death-sworn men in his hands. If Your Ladyship is willing, I can arrange for them to enter Jinghua and then find a Method to mix them into the guards on that day..."

"The Jinghua Duqi Deputy Commander is also one of our people, and he has recently been trying to find a way to connect with Your Ladyship..."

The eunuch continued.

Dong Shuyu was finally moved and asked in a deep voice: "How much certainty?"

The eunuch trembled all over: "Eighty percent!"

Eighty percent...

Dong Shuyu finally nodded: "Good, this matter is left to you to be responsible for! Remember, you must distance us from it. We will provide the necessary silver, but you must never let anyone know that it was done by us!"

"Yes, Your Ladyship!"

This eunuch trotted all the way out.

Dong Shuyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This time.

She was going to make something big happen! She was even starting to feel excited now; as long as Vice Minister Liu died in Jinghua, then everything would fall into place!

Only.

She did not expect.

That the little eunuch who had just boarded a Horse Carriage from the palace, upon seeing the old man in brocade robes inside the carriage, immediately turned cold, despite having been obsequious just a moment ago.

"His Highness the Crown Prince..."

The old man in brocade robes was, instead, full of respect.

The Horse Carriage began to move.

The little eunuch nodded slowly, a sinister look flashing in his eyes: "Where has Father reached?"

The old man hurriedly replied: "He has already set out from Youzhou and will surely arrive in Jinghua within a month."

Youzhou!

The Prince of Zhao of Youzhou!

A core member of the Old Aristocrats!

Who could have imagined that this Prince of Zhao, who had always been in that bitter and cold land of Youzhou and had almost never set foot in Longyan, had actually arranged for a son in this palace, and one who was even serving as a eunuch!

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