Time flowed!
In the blink of an eye, it was noon!
A torrential downpour had begun outside!
The dense rain blurred the vision!
But Chen Nan vaguely sensed someone approaching from the north!
A moment later, a small caravan arrived at the post station!
Then, a middle-aged man in his thirties, accompanied by six middle-aged and elderly people, entered the post station holding oil-paper umbrellas!
Chen Nan knew that the middle-aged man leading them was the current Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, Shen Ao!
As for the six middle-aged and elderly people, they were all powerful cultivators at the Golden Core late stage!
This was enough of a retinue for a clandestine visit!
A middle-aged man spoke, "Innkeeper, bring us some wine and dishes, and prepare seven superior rooms!"
"Please wait a moment, sirs!"
Chen Nan went to the kitchen and brought out the pre-prepared wine and dishes!
These were not ordinary dishes!
They contained the Soul Severing Powder given by King Wu!
This was a colorless and odorless poison!
Even cultivators would die instantly after consuming it!
------
In the 298th year of Great Yan!
Emperor Qin Jing, Shen Ao, was ambushed and killed by remnants of the previous dynasty during a clandestine tour. The news sent shockwaves through the court and instilled fear in the populace!
No one expected that the current Emperor would meet such a tragic end during a private visit!
Even less did anyone expect that the remnants of the previous dynasty would be so pervasive as to know the Emperor's itinerary!
As a key minister of the state, the current Prime Minister!
King Wu immediately launched a thorough investigation into the matter and finally located the remnants of the previous dynasty, who turned out to be the current Minister of Rites, Qi Xingbang!
Qi Xingbang naturally denied the charges!
For he was a respected minister, deeply trusted by the late Emperor!
He also knew that he was a scapegoat!
And he knew why King Wu had targeted him, it was because he had defended the Jia family in the past!
However, in the vast court, no one dared to speak up for him!
Thus!
On the second day after the state funeral, Qi Xingbang and his nine generations were executed!
On this day, an anomalous phenomenon occurred in the sky!
Snow fell in June!
Everyone knew that Qi Xingbang had been wrongly accused!
But who dared to oppose King Wu?
On this morning's court session!
The Empress Dowager, who was originally listening to the government from behind a screen, wept inconsolably, "His Majesty was brutally retaliated against by the remnants of the previous dynasty, and his accidental death has broken my heart!"
"But since the matter has already occurred, we must rouse ourselves and resolutely refuse to be defeated by the insidious schemes of the remnants of the previous dynasty!"
"His Majesty is young and has no heirs, nor has he appointed a crown prince!"
"As the saying goes, a household cannot be without a master for a day, nor a country without a ruler!"
"King Wu is diligent in state affairs and is deeply loved by the people!"
"I propose that King Wu inherit the throne!"
"Do any of you have any objections?"
A uniform voice echoed from the court, "King Wu's succession is the will of the people, and we are willing to support King Wu to ascend the throne!"
"No, absolutely not!"
King Wu quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am but a mere martial man. Although I was fortunate enough to gain the late Emperor's favor and become the Grand Tutor, I am now old and have long passed the age to retire and enjoy my twilight years!"
"I am in no position to ascend the throne!"
The Empress Dowager almost blurted out: If you don't want to be Emperor, I'll do as Emperor Wu did!
But she ultimately swallowed the words!
The Empress Dowager said faintly, "In this world today, besides you, who else can restore the imperial court? The position of Son of Heaven belongs to you and no one else!"
King Wu said with feigned humility, "Prince Ning is more suitable to be Emperor than I!"
A coldness flashed across the Empress Dowager's face, "Although Prince Ning possesses the talent to govern the country, he is too emotional. His heart is filled only with romantic affections, does he truly have the welfare of the world at heart?"
"If not for the accident during the birth of Prince Ning's wife that caused his temperament to change drastically, the late Emperor would not have banished him from White Emperor City!"
Prince Ning's talent was evident to all!
However, despite his extraordinary talent!
He had no desire for the throne!
Otherwise, he would undoubtedly have become a wise ruler!
Especially after the accident during the birth of Prince Ning's wife that drastically changed his temperament, the late Emperor was extremely disappointed in him and banished him to the Southern Frontier, forbidden to return to the capital without imperial decree!
"Since all my loyal ministers unanimously recommend King Wu to become the new Emperor, the coronation ceremony shall be set for three days later!"
"Let us strive to stabilize the court situation and pacify the populace as soon as possible!"
"Court is adjourned!"
She appeared extremely weary and rose, leaving the hall!
Her departure signaled that the future belonged to King Wu!
This was not the will of the people!
But it was the only choice to maintain the empire!
------
"Congratulations to King Wu on inheriting the throne!"
"Long live King Wu, long, long live!"
The officials of the court bowed to King Wu!
King Wu's face was flushed with joy!
The throne!
The throne!
He had coveted this position for over a century!
In his youth, he was impulsive, and in the early struggles for the position of crown prince, he had no chance of winning!
So he decided to redouble his efforts and focus on cultivation!
His goal was simple: to outlast them!
To outlive those who sat on the throne!
As long as they died, he would have the opportunity to ascend the throne and become the supreme existence in this world!
Of course, this alone was not enough!
He had also poisoned Shen Ao's food, a poison that prevented him from having heirs!
And now, his dream had come true, and he couldn't be happier!
------
King Wu's Mansion!
The mansion was decorated with lanterns and banners, and everyone's face was filled with joy and excitement!
"Congratulations to Father on ascending the throne and becoming the master of this land!" Shen Lang appeared with Chen Nan, his face beaming with excitement, for he knew that he would soon become the Crown Prince!
After his father's death, he would become the ruler of the world!
King Wu let out a hearty laugh, then looked at Chen Nan, "May I ask what reward Mr. Chen desires?"
He greatly admired Chen Nan!
Although he could have achieved his great ambition without his help!
But with Chen Nan's appearance, his plan had been completed much earlier!
Chen Nan did not hide his ambition, "To be second only to the Emperor, above all others!"
King Wu replied, "When I ascend the throne, I will appoint you as the Prime Minister!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Chen Nan and Shen Lang left!
King Wu looked at the butler and whispered, "Have you found You Jin yet?"
You Jin was an elder of the Xuanji Sect!
And also his trusted subordinate!
And now!
You Jin had mysteriously disappeared, giving him an ominous feeling!
"Reporting to Master, You Jin has not been found yet!" the butler replied, "If nothing unexpected occurs, he should be in seclusion for cultivation!"
King Wu nodded slightly, "I hope so!"
You Jin had been at the peak of the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul stage for many years, and to advance further would make him a powerful cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage. Such a master was also crucial to him!
The butler suddenly asked, "Master, the new Emperor's accession usually includes a general amnesty. How should the Jia family be handled?"
A cold smile flickered across King Wu's face, "The Jia family is merely a defeated foe! By rights, I should kill them and let them know the consequences of opposing me!"
"And now, I have become the Emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom!"
"Why should I pursue them relentlessly?"
The butler hesitated, "After all, the Jia family was deeply valued by the late Emperor and had considerable influence in the court. If they were to join forces with Prince Ning, it would surely affect the imperial court!"
King Wu paused for a moment, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "Then, after the coronation ceremony, the eighty-one members of the Jia family shall be beheaded and displayed!"