The Great Demon King coldly sneered cruelly, "I was too foolish three years ago. If I had known all this back then, I certainly wouldn't have been so foolish as to do all the work for someone else. Now I'm just taking back everything that rightfully belongs to me!"
The Great Demon King spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. In his opinion, Mu Yunhe must think the same way. After all, who wouldn't like power and the throne? Who wouldn't like the feeling of being above all others? What man could resist it? He was just speaking out Mu Yunhe's true feelings.
The emperor was heartbroken and despaired at Mu Yunhe's terrible transformation. Yet he still shook his head and insisted, "I don't believe it! I don't believe my father would make such a decision. What credibility do your words have? And you mean you didn't know these things three years ago, so how do you know them today? Don't talk nonsense without evidence."
"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, the Emperor can ask me which good father he is. Wouldn't our selfless Prince Mu know?" the Great Demon King said with no small amount of sarcasm.
The emperor was taken aback, and asked with surprise and uncertainty, "What do you mean?"
"Hmph, I have a good father! He even disregarded his own son for your sake, ruining his son's future and preventing him from getting everything that should belong to him, just to be a good person? You obtained this throne through Prince Mu's lies and conspiracies, and you, Mu Yunchang, sit on it with a clear conscience?" the Great Demon King said fiercely.
The emperor's expression changed drastically this time. He immediately ordered that Prince Mu be summoned. This matter had to be clarified; otherwise, how could he face his ancestors? Being pushed to this point was like having someone step on his neck and excrete on his face, pointing their finger at him and cursing him. What face did he, as emperor, have left?
The court officials formed a stark contrast. Two-thirds of them stood with the Great Demon King, who was now in Mu Yunhe's body, while only one-third stood with the Emperor. This number did not include the Pharaohs and their guardians.
People like the Pharaoh are destined to perish with their country and emperor. This is something the Great Demon King cannot sway or coax, no matter how much effort he puts in or how much he tries.
Prince Mu arrived quickly. He had been in charge of mobilizing the troops, and the ministers' gazes towards him now became strange. The rebels on the other side were his sons, yet he had always stood on the emperor's side. Would he, too, rise up at this crucial moment and deliver a fatal blow?
Son and nephew, greed and conscience—this was a double test, two choices, extremely difficult to make. They didn't know Prince Mu would choose this way. In an instant, the ministers' gazes towards Prince Mu changed, filled with deep wariness.
The Emperor asked, "Uncle, I am asking you this in front of all the people and ministers. You must answer me truthfully. We are like father and son, but we are also comrades. I know you have always been very good to me. Now, please grant me the wish that I do not want to be a foolish emperor and tell me the truth: before Father Emperor passed away, did he change the will to pass on the throne?"
Prince Mu's expression changed for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. In recent years, he had become much more aloof in his dealings with others and in all aspects of life, seemingly unaffected by anything anymore. But when the Emperor asked him this question, his emotions still stirred slightly. He quickly glanced at Mu Yunhe.
He had thought that this matter would be buried forever with his elder brother's death, becoming a secret that would never be known unless he spoke of it. But he never expected that the Emperor would find out today. Not only did he find out, but he also asked about it in front of so many people, including his own son.
He felt most sorry for and guilty towards his son!
"Royal Uncle!" the emperor urged, and the ministers were also anxious. An army at the gates was no joke; misunderstandings needed to be cleared up. If they could avert a war, it would truly be a great act of kindness.
Prince Mu asked with a gloomy expression, "Why does Your Majesty ask this?"
His ambiguous attitude made the emperor and his ministers anxious, exchanging bewildered glances. Could it be that there really was something else going on back then?
The emperor's voice trembled slightly as he said, "What do you mean, Imperial Uncle? Is there anything wrong with me asking this? Your son has rebelled today, and his reasons for rebelling are quite valid: he wants to reclaim everything that belongs to him, Mu Yunhe, including this dragon throne beneath my feet! Doesn't Imperial Uncle have anything to say? What did my father say to Imperial Uncle before he passed away? Please do not hide anything from me, Imperial Uncle!"
Prince Mu was truly in a difficult situation. On one hand, there was his son, whom he felt guilty towards, and on the other hand, there was the emperor he had sincerely supported. He was already destined to let his son down, and he had made this choice with great determination. Now that his son had been completely offended, he would feel guilty to the end and try to save one of them! As for the emperor, who would remain the emperor in the future, he had to protect the emperor's reputation.
After a moment's thought, Prince Mu made a decision and solemnly said, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. Before my brother passed away, he only said that he would pass the throne to the Crown Prince and let the Crown Prince succeed him."
His words instantly put the emperor and his ministers at ease. As long as the emperor's ascension to the throne wasn't illegitimate, it would prevent the royalists from appearing embarrassed and ridiculous.
The Great Demon King sneered, "Ha, you really are my good father, helping others to harm me at this time. Are you even my real father? What kind of father would hurt his own son like this? The late emperor clearly intended to pass the throne to me, yet you lied in broad daylight, in front of so many people. Prince Mu, you can be even more shameless."
That was incredibly rude. Although everyone was tense, they frowned at his lack of manners.
How can such a person be entrusted with great responsibilities? Just look at how he treats his own father to see how cold-hearted he is. But even those who know Mu Yunhe have doubts; Mu Yunhe shouldn't be this kind of person.
Prince Mu's face flushed red with anger. He said coldly, "You wretched son, how could you commit such a despicable and vile act! And you show no remorse whatsoever. What is it that you are dissatisfied with? The Emperor has already bestowed upon you many honors that do not belong to you. It seems as if the whole world belongs to you. What more could you possibly want? How could you commit such an unforgivable act of insubordination? Quickly apologize to the Emperor, withdraw your troops, and promise never to do it again. Then I might be able to plead with the Emperor on your behalf. Otherwise, you will be courting death, and that is your own doing."
These words were even more heartless! Over the years, Prince Mu and his son have been like ice and fire, unable to meet or they would be experiencing extreme contrasts, causing them distress and making others tremble with fear.
Extra chapter added! So sleepy! I forced myself to finish this one, and I really want to go to sleep right now, but thinking of you all, I gritted my teeth and kept going. You guys are truly my source of motivation! Time to sleep now, my darlings. Goodnight, muah!
544 Taking an unconventional approach: first inflict damage, then seek redress! (Part 1)
Updated: 2014-01-09 15:15:05 Word Count: 4507
The Great Demon King was not afraid of Prince Mu. He said in a low voice, "Prince Mu, what a grand manner you have! You even dare to lecture and order me around! From the day you privately declared Mu Yunchang as the heir to the throne, from the day you personally severed my destiny, you were no longer my father, and you have no right to point fingers at me."
Prince Mu was clearly enraged, his expression shifting. He had made a mistake and felt deeply ashamed before Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe had dared to embarrass him in public like this, causing him to lose face. How could he possibly give Mu Yunhe a pleasant look? In the end, he insisted, "Stop spouting nonsense! You insist that I altered the will without my permission. Do you have any witnesses or evidence? If not, then shut up!"
The Great Demon King was waiting right there. He sneered three times and roared, "You want witnesses and evidence, huh? Fine, I'll give them to you! Now come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a woman slowly walked out from behind him. The woman was none other than the late emperor's concubine, Consort Tai, Li Fangran!
Her appearance here now, especially emerging from the enemy's camp, stunned everyone. The way everyone looked at Mu Yunhe and Li Fangran changed, becoming ambiguous, suspicious, and contemptuous, as if the two of them had done something shameful.
"Consort Tai? What are you doing there?" the emperor asked angrily.
The emperor's expression changed drastically upon seeing someone who should have been waiting to die in a corner of the harem appear among the enemies. Could it be that Mu Yunhe had people in the palace he had so carefully guarded?!
Li Fangran, a far cry from her former humble, polite, and gentle demeanor, appeared arrogant and domineering. With her chin held high, she contemptuously addressed the emperor: "Where I am is none of your business. You should never have sat on that throne in the first place. I cannot tolerate such a petty person as you, who has seized what belongs to others and yet dares to point fingers at them. Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven, reveal the truth to the world, and give Mu Yunhe justice!"
"Insolence!" the emperor roared, clearly furious.
Li Fangran sneered, showing no fear of the emperor. She had endured enough. Now, she had nothing left except a child who was not in good health. She was a woman with a strong desire for power. When the late emperor was alive, she wanted the empress's throne. Seeing that the late emperor would not let her be empress, she immediately set her sights on someone else.
Mu Yunchang was the crown prince at the time, so he was naturally the most suitable candidate. However, Mu Yunchang was too stubborn and inflexible. He repeatedly responded to her attempts to curry favor with cold words. In a fit of anger, Li Fangran switched her allegiance to Mu Yunsheng.
Fortunately, Mu Yunsheng was shrewd, and the two of them naturally joined forces, plotting together to overthrow the Crown Prince after the late emperor's death. Mu Yunsheng would then be emperor, and she would be empress! They also had a child, who would become the crown prince. Then, Li Fangran could become the empress, the most noble woman in the world!
But it was all just a beautiful dream, a dream shattered completely by Mu Yunhe. She harbored a mad hatred for both Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng. With the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne, she became an old woman, destined to die silently in the palace. She was still so young, so beautiful; she loved desire, and she couldn't allow herself to live such a life of insignificance.
But she was helpless; her only hope lay in her son. However, for three years, her son's health had been fluctuating, and she poured most of her heart and energy into him. She understood very well that as the late emperor's favored concubine, she had survived only because of her child; once that child was gone, her fate would only be more tragic.
Thankfully, heaven has eyes, and today she finally got her chance! She didn't expect Mu Yunhe to come back to her, but Mu Yunhe said that as long as she revealed the emperor's last edict, he would become emperor, and she would be his imperial concubine! Isn't this exactly what she wanted? What's more, Mu Yunhe is such a perfect man. Just based on that alone, Li Fangran is very willing to cooperate with Mu Yunhe.
"Ministers, you have all been deceived by the Emperor and Prince Mu to whom you serve. The truly audacious ones are them! They actually dared to tamper with the late Emperor's will, which did indeed state that the throne should be left to Mu Yunhe. However, at that time, the Emperor had just woken up and only Prince Mu was by his side. The Emperor asked Prince Mu to go out and find the Pharaohs to witness the event, but when he returned, the Emperor had already passed away. Prince Mu then took it upon himself to say that the will should pass the throne to Mu Yunchang."
"This is a deception. Your veneration of him as emperor is disrespectful to the late emperor and an insult to him! You are deceiving the late emperor and the people of the world. Aren't you afraid that the late emperor's spirit in heaven will not rest in peace? Prince Mu, don't you feel ashamed? The late emperor loved you so much. How can you disobey his last will and testament?" Li Fangran said loudly with a sense of righteous indignation.
These words shocked everyone, and the emperor, his eyes wide with horror, stared at Prince Mu and roared, "Uncle, is what this woman is saying true? Is it really true?"
Prince Mu did indeed look ashamed, and at that moment he didn't know how to refute it, so he was speechless.
The silence of Prince Mu sent a chill down everyone's spine. The ministers weren't fools; they immediately realized they had truly been deceived. And for three years! To this day, Prince Mu still hadn't directly addressed what happened back then—this was truly outrageous!
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, angrily blaming Prince Mu. They argued that if it weren't for his actions back then, this war and upheaval wouldn't have occurred. It turned out that Mu Yunhe truly had the right to vie for the throne.
The emperor, his face ashen, staggered backward. Was this truly the case? Was he really not the legitimate heir to the throne? But if so, what had all his years of diligent rule amounted to? In that instant, the emperor lost his resolve to fight and defend his throne. What right did an emperor with an illegitimate claim have to contend with the rightful heir? Would such an emperor still have any ministers supporting him? Perhaps even the pharaohs wouldn't support him anymore?
The ministers were indeed wavering. If the late emperor had truly passed the throne to Mu Yunhe, then Mu Yunchang should not have ascended the throne. But they were puzzled. Was Prince Mu out of his mind or insane? He had actually handed over the throne to someone else. He was truly ruthless to his own son.
The Great Demon King gave Li Fangran an approving look, and Li Fangran lowered her head shyly, but her heart was filled with excitement. She knew she had just done very well, and those people would believe what she said, because she had no conflict of interest with anyone, and she was still the late emperor's concubine. Who else would these ministers believe if not her? Just thinking that Mu Yunhe could smoothly ascend the throne, and she would soon be the new emperor's imperial concubine, and then, she could become the empress!
Everyone in the Li family, do you see this? The daughter you least favored is now the most promising. Li Fangfei, whom you all believed in, ended up dying without a proper burial, not even a complete corpse! Now, you've all been killed by Li Fangfei. She is now the pride of the Li family, the hope of everyone! The future glory of the Li family can only be written by her!
The Great Demon King understood Li Fangran's psychology perfectly. He snorted coldly, "Dreaming, huh? Would he really want a woman who's been with so many men as his empress? Even if he had to choose a woman who's already been unfaithful, it should be someone like Luo Zhiheng! Only a woman like Luo Zhiheng is worthy of him!"
Thinking of Luo Zhiheng, the Great Demon King felt a surge of unease and anxiety. He wondered how things were going over there. With the Prince Shi around, trapping them would be quite difficult. However, once he seized the throne, Luo Zhiheng would have to become his Empress! He refused to believe that any woman could resist the allure of the Empress's throne.
"Now you have nothing to say, right? Mu Yunchang, why don't you quickly relinquish the throne?" The Great Demon King laughed confidently. All of the Great Demon King's men were overjoyed and excited, as if the Great Demon King had already ascended the throne. Mu Yunchang's face turned ashen.
"Is it honorable for you to force someone to abdicate? You impersonate someone else and do such a shameless thing. What right do you have to humiliate others?" A cold and arrogant voice suddenly rang out, sounding very abrupt in the deadly silence of the standoff.
Upon hearing that voice, the Great Demon King's expression changed, and he turned his head sharply, whereupon he saw Luo Zhiheng!
Luo Zhiheng rode in on horseback, and was now standing beneath two opposing high walls. Corpses lay scattered at her feet. She was dressed in a flamboyant, fiery red outfit, her face veiled, with only her beautiful eyes, red as jewels, radiating stunning beauty.
Alone on horseback, amidst the corpses, she appeared exceptionally desolate and proud, yet also possessed a fearless spirit. Looking up at the city wall, a single glance drew everyone's attention to her, captivating them completely.
People were surprised by the woman's appearance and began to speculate about her identity.
Luo Zhiheng said loudly, "My lords, please listen to me. Regardless of what Prince Mu's motives were back then, his actions were not wrong. All people yearn for a peaceful and prosperous life, and Prince Mu's starting point must have been for this purpose. Moreover, if he truly harbored ill intentions, why didn't he pass the throne to his own son? It would have been plausible for him to become emperor himself, or even if he had the ambition to do so, he could have passed the throne to an outsider. But Prince Mu did not do that."
"He passed the throne to the Crown Prince, whom you had already accepted. Isn't it only natural for the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne? Have you ever considered that Prince Mu's actions might also be a way to appease the people? Compared to Mu Yunhe, who was still seen as sickly at the time, who makes you feel more at ease and the people feel more at ease, the Crown Prince, whom everyone knows is the emperor?"
Luo Zhiheng's words were truly from the bottom of her heart. She spoke earnestly and truthfully, causing those who had just been angry and suspicious of Prince Mu to lower their heads in shame.
Upon closer reflection, isn't that exactly the case? Although Mu Yunhe achieved instant fame back then, the deeply ingrained impressions remained. Even with Mu Yunhe's noble status, in the hearts of the common people, only the emperor was truly revered; gods or the heavenly palace existed only in mythology. To ensure the people's peace of mind, it was essential to appoint someone familiar and reassuring to be emperor.
Therefore, Prince Mu's actions back then were not entirely unreasonable.
A high-ranking official on the Great Demon King's side immediately retorted, "But Prince Mu shouldn't have deceived us, or the people of the world. He also deceived the late Emperor. The late Emperor loved and trusted Prince Mu so much, yet Prince Mu did such a thing right after the late Emperor's death. I believe this is truly unforgivable! Moreover, Prince Mu did indeed have many grievances and conflicts with Your Excellency in the capital back then. We believe that Prince Mu's failure to speak the truth was entirely for personal revenge! He feared that Your Excellency would take his life once you became Emperor. Because he also knows what heinous things he did to Your Excellency! At the very least, Prince Mu personally bore Your Excellency and the Lady Protector's first child!"
They all looked down at her, the high-ranking official exuding arrogance and anger, his gaze towards Luo Zhiheng filled with contempt and threat. He seemed to be trying to intimidate her with his domineering aura.
Luo Zhiheng chuckled, her gaze suddenly shifting to the high-ranking official. Her icy gaze seemed to pierce through the air, instantly reaching him. Her sharp aura made the official feel as if someone had a knife pressed against his neck at close range, causing him to instinctively take a step back, his face turning ugly.
Luo Zhiheng coldly questioned, "What is deception? When well-intentioned concealment becomes deception in your mouth, have you ever considered that your words are also a form of deception! You stand up to rebel, constantly calling upon the late emperor's banner, but have you ever considered that your actions are also a great disrespect to the late emperor!"
"The late emperor was a good emperor. Wasn't his greatest hope for peace and prosperity for the country? When he changed his mind and wanted to pass the throne to Mu Yunhe before his death, did you ever consider that his true intention was actually for peace? He believed that Mu Yunhe, with his status as a priest, could better benefit the people and deter neighboring countries from invading. You—" Luo Zhiheng suddenly pointed directly at the official, showing no anger whatsoever, yet her aura was overwhelming, carrying a thunderous rage: "Do you dare say that the late emperor didn't intend this back then?"
Everyone fell silent; all was still.
At this point, who would dare say no to such a question? Would they be courting death?!
Amidst billowing smoke, Luo Zhiheng sat proudly on her horse and said coldly, "You only mention one aspect of what happened back then, but never the other. You bring out an unrighteous, disloyal, unfilial, lewd, and shameless slut like Li Fangran to speak. What right do you think you have to mention the late emperor?"
First update! There will be another update today, the second one will probably be up around 3:30 PM. Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! It's almost over, time to bring out all the characters who need a proper ending, haha!
545 Taking an unconventional approach: first inflict damage, then seek redress! (Part 2)
Updated: 2014-01-09 15:50:23 Word Count: 4507
The Great Demon King was not afraid of Prince Mu. He said in a low voice, "Prince Mu, what a grand manner you have! You even dare to lecture and order me around! From the day you privately declared Mu Yunchang as the heir to the throne, from the day you personally severed my destiny, you were no longer my father, and you have no right to point fingers at me."
Prince Mu was clearly enraged, his expression shifting. He had made a mistake and felt deeply ashamed before Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe had dared to embarrass him in public like this, causing him to lose face. How could he possibly give Mu Yunhe a pleasant look? In the end, he insisted, "Stop spouting nonsense! You insist that I altered the will without my permission. Do you have any witnesses or evidence? If not, then shut up!"
The Great Demon King was waiting right there. He sneered three times and roared, "You want witnesses and evidence, huh? Fine, I'll give them to you! Now come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a woman slowly walked out from behind him. The woman was none other than the late emperor's concubine, Consort Tai, Li Fangran!
Her appearance here now, especially emerging from the enemy's camp, stunned everyone. The way everyone looked at Mu Yunhe and Li Fangran changed, becoming ambiguous, suspicious, and contemptuous, as if the two of them had done something shameful.
"Consort Tai? What are you doing there?" the emperor asked angrily.
The emperor's expression changed drastically upon seeing someone who should have been waiting to die in a corner of the harem appear among the enemies. Could it be that Mu Yunhe had people in the palace he had so carefully guarded?!
Li Fangran, a far cry from her former humble, polite, and gentle demeanor, appeared arrogant and domineering. With her chin held high, she contemptuously addressed the emperor: "Where I am is none of your business. You should never have sat on that throne in the first place. I cannot tolerate such a petty person as you, who has seized what belongs to others and yet dares to point fingers at them. Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven, reveal the truth to the world, and give Mu Yunhe justice!"
"Insolence!" the emperor roared, clearly furious.