Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 811

Chapter 811: Abdication (Part 2)

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No one had expected such a development, not even Yuwen Chu, who was taken aback by the young emperor’s declaration. 

Only Jiang Youyuan, the chief eunuch beside Yuwen Guang, sighed silently. He had long anticipated that the young emperor would do this. The young emperor had complained to him more than once about how unbearable his life was and how he wanted to abdicate. Whoever wanted to be this troubled emperor could take the throne. Previously, the young emperor had been hesitant, but being cornered like this had pushed him to blurt it out recklessly. 

What is an oath? If you take it seriously, it means something; if not, it’s meaningless. What counts as loyalty to the emperor? Once the emperor is dead, there’s no need for loyalty. Can a mere oath stop the regent’s advance? How naive! 

Peng Liang, in a frenzy, shouted, “Your Majesty, you can’t be confused!” He desperately banged his head on the ground, and soon his face was covered in blood, making him unrecognizable even to his mother.

Yuwen Chu chuckled lightly, “Your Majesty, please take back your decree. Your servant dare not accept it, nor can he afford it.”

Yuwen Guang became anxious, “Sixth Uncle, how can you say that? I’m incapable, I can’t manage it at all. It’s better to let you, who knows how many people still suspect you and cause trouble, take over than let the Xiongnus and the rebels from Zhongshan come into the city and destroy our ancestors’ foundation. Everyone won’t survive. It’s better to let you be the emperor, at least you can still protect the Yuwen family’s territory.”

Yuwen Chu retracted his smile and gave Yuwen Guang a solemn salute, “No, Your Majesty. In this situation, if I accept your kindness, I will never be able to wash away the treason of coercing the young monarch. I don’t want to bear the infamy of the ages. Please retract your decree.”

A group of orthodox supporters couldn’t help but curse inwardly. What’s with the pretense? Throughout history, whenever someone with ambitions to overthrow the regime acted, they always went through a few of these motions. In reality, who didn’t know about their ambitious schemes? But just because they knew didn’t mean everyone else did. Once this news spread, everyone would have to praise Yuwen Chu as remarkable. People’s hearts were leaning in that direction, and after all their efforts, they had been working in vain. What kind of unlucky emperor was this to have such an irresponsible ruler?

Yuwen Chu’s faction was overjoyed; this was what they called perfect timing and situation! What if they framed and plotted? If even the Regent refused to be emperor, would he bother to kill those few people? The limelight of abdication would immediately overshadow the storm of killing!

In the Chongzheng Hall, everyone was busy making concessions and compromises, but the scene in Changxin Palace was completely different.

Fu Mingcheng knelt on the ground, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, “Empress, please go and see! His Majesty wants to abdicate to the Regent!”

“You little b*stard! Carry me to the Chongzheng Hall!” The Great Empress Dowager was so angry that her vision turned black. It was one thing for Yuwen Chu to help him falsely proclaim the decree, she could understand that he did it out of fear. But now he actually mentioned abdication!

Simply intolerable! She had been busy for so long, how could she just stand by and watch this ignorant little b*stard ruin everything! Let Yuwen Chu ascend to the throne? As long as she was alive, he could forget it!

The palace servants brought a sedan chair, and Fu Mingcheng helped lift the Great Empress Dowager onto it, advising softly, “Niang Niang, you are the backbone of our family. Please endure it and don’t get angry.”

The Great Empress Dowager gasped for breath, “Rest assured, even though that little b*stard dares to mention abdication, that hungry wolf won’t easily agree. He will pretend to reluctantly accept only after being asked multiple times. We still have plenty of opportunities in between. What matters now is to first protect Peng Liang.”

Peng Liang was someone she had groomed personally, extremely loyal to her. She would need Peng Liang in many ways in the future. She couldn’t tolerate Yuwen Chu easily disposing of Peng Liang.

Little did they know, before the sedan chair could even leave Changxin Palace’s gate, a young eunuch rushed in as if flying, “Empress, Minister Peng requests an audience with you. The Regent said the Great Empress Dowager is seriously ill, so such trivial matters should not disturb her. Minister Peng has now been arrested and taken to the prison by decree, and they are now taking people to arrest others.”

Fu Mingcheng exclaimed in shock, “Who else are they arresting?”

The young eunuch cowered, “It’s, it’s Minister Peng’s followers.”

“D*mn it!” Fu Mingcheng slapped the young eunuch’s head, making him kneel on the ground and kowtow desperately. The Great Empress Dowager pointed angrily at the palace gate, signaling the palace servants to hurry.

But Yuwen You led a group of Imperial Guards aggressively blocking the palace gate, indicating they wouldn’t let the Great Empress Dowager leave. Fu Mingcheng was furious, “Where are the Longlin Guards?”

A fully armed squad of Longlin Guards immediately rushed out and confronted the people brought by Yuwen You, neither side yielding. Fu Mingcheng pointed at Yuwen You, “Linan Wang, are you defying?”

Yuwen You gave a slight salute to the Great Empress Dowager and said, “This child is here to pay respects to Your Majesty as ordered by His Majesty. Mother, please rest assured and focus on recuperating, don’t be incited by villains. Shall I escort you back inside?”

The Great Empress Dowager naturally refused to let Yuwen You in, but she realized she couldn’t go to the Chongzheng Hall to stop Yuwen Chu today. Even if they fought each other, and she won in the end, it would be too late. She looked at Yuwen You coldly, “Old Nine, are you so eager to die? What did he promise you?”

Yuwen You looked at her firmly, “As the last descendant, what difference does it make whether dead or alive? Instead of living in obscurity or leaving a foul reputation for thousands of years, it’s better to die on the battlefield and leave a lasting legacy.”

The last descendant? The Great Empress Dowager suddenly laughed, “Did he tell you that? And you believed it?”

Yuwen You refused to engage with her and looked at Fu Mingcheng, “If Marquis Fu doesn’t come out now, he won’t be able to come out.”

Fu Mingcheng cursed, “Dare you? Are you trying to confine the Great Empress Dowager?”

Yuwen You said coldly, “Marquis Fu, don’t sow discord and confuse the public. I’m here on His Majesty’s orders to prevent disturbances and allow the Great Empress Dowager to recuperate in peace. How does that have anything to do with confinement?”

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, “Where’s the fire coming from?”

Everyone looked up at the sky, seeing half of it illuminated by flames. It was unclear whose mansion was on fire.

Fu Mingcheng calculated the direction and felt as if it might be in the direction of his own home. His heart thumped uncontrollably as he anxiously looked at the Great Empress Dowager. The Great Empress Dowager looked coldly at the sky for a moment and sighed, “Tonight, many more unjust souls will be added to the world.”

Yuwen You found her pretentious demeanor disgusting and glaring, unable to bear it. He whispered lowly, “Yes, who knows who’s behind it? Looking at it, it seems like it’s the Longsheng Great Eldest Princess’s mansion.”

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