Chapter 557: Chapter 180: Chaos in the Imperial City! Zhenhai King! Atrocities of the Blood Gu Sect! (10,000-word mega Chapter, please subscribe)_3
"Such absurd rumors actually gained believers back then, and with that, he was able to raise an army of one hundred thousand."
"Of course, he was defeated."
The Crown Prince of Great Zhou took a deep breath, "His defeat was absolute, yet Father Emperor did not kill him. I too had inquired of Father Emperor why he spared his life, and Father Emperor replied that the Zhenhai King was his brother. That was all the explanation Father Emperor offered me—nothing more."
"Afterward, the Zhenhai King was not stripped of his status as Vassal King but was instead crippled by Father Emperor as punishment and sent off to the Eastern Province to live in peace as a wealthy landlord."
"For two to three hundred consecutive years, the Zhenhai King refrained from committing any further act of treason or mentioning past grievances."
"I believed, his aspirations for the throne had completely died."
"However, unexpectedly..."
The Crown Prince of Great Zhou couldn’t help grinding his teeth, "Despite his advanced age, his treacherous ambition remains undying! He has even colluded with the insurrectionist forces of the Blood Gu Sect!"
Damn!
It seemed that the old Emperor’s failure to make a firm decision had borne such disastrous fruit, now plaguing his son.
Fan Wu felt that this royal family was somewhat bizarre—is this what being part of a royal dynasty entails?
"So... this is the seed your Father Emperor sowed," said Fan Wu.
"Um..." The Crown Prince of Great Zhou was at a loss for words,
because he felt that Daoist Fan Wu was not wrong.
Still, it was a decision by his Father Emperor, and the Crown Prince of Great Zhou believed that if his Father Emperor made such a decision back then, there must have been a deeper intention.
Indeed, Father Emperor had not ascended the throne as Crown Prince, a fact that had been criticized by many at the time.
Had Father Emperor furthermore been labeled a fratricide,
Even though Father Emperor had done no wrong, there would surely have been nagging ministers constantly troubling Father Emperor with this matter.
No, that’s not right!
How did the topic get steered this way?
The Crown Prince of Great Zhou pushed aside all stray thoughts in his mind, his expression extremely grave, "If what the Destiny Coffin has revealed is correct, and it is indeed that Imperial Uncle of mine behind it, then this problem is even greater than I anticipated!"
A Vassal King who had once plotted rebellion, a Vassal King who had once harbored ambitions to ascend the throne, a Vassal King who had suppressed his ambitions for two to three hundred years.
Suddenly springs into action on this day.
It was bound to be exceedingly troublesome!
"That...," just then, Xing Fengzi’s voice arose, "Daoist, I presumptuously inquire, the Zhenhai King you speak of should have always been in the Eastern Province, right?"
Xing Fengzi was a bit perplexed, "It hasn’t been more than half a day since the Great Emperor’s demise, how could he have been aware of the events within the Imperial Palace?"
The Crown Prince of Great Zhou was taken aback.
Because he realized that the question Xing Fengzi raised was indeed worth delving into.
News could spread quickly from inside the Imperial Palace to the Imperial City, but from the Imperial City to the distant Eastern Province, it would require at least ten days to half a month’s time, not to mention any consideration.
And if the messenger met with any danger on the way, it might take a month to deliver the message.
"Unless the Zhenhai King, whom you speak of, had long been aware of the Great Emperor’s worsening health, harboring rebellious thoughts anew. An early alliance with the Blood Gu Sect, and ordering men to hide within the Imperial City, even within the walls of the Imperial Palace."
Xing Fengzi’s speculation mentioned "early" several times, which sounded particularly alarming to the ears of the Crown Prince of Great Zhou and the others.
Xing Fengzi continued, "When the opportunity arose, even if news had not yet reached the Eastern Province, but had already spread throughout the Imperial Palace and City... then that Zhenhai King, having made ample preparations in advance, could respond and act instantly."
"Ahem!", noticing that many eyes were focused on him, Xing Fengzi spoke with a slightly lighter tone.
After all, this was just his speculation, a conspiracy theory without a foundation.
"It’s just a guess," he added weakly.
"This young Daoist speaks sensibly," however, the Crown Prince of Great Zhou found his conjecture to be quite credible, "It is only with this explanation that we can comprehend why my Imperial Uncle’s response was so swift."
"The disturbances at the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Mausoleum may just be the beginning," the Crown Prince of Great Zhou felt immense pressure weigh upon him, and he continued, "The first challenge Father Emperor faced after his accession was with that very Imperial Uncle of mine."
"The first challenge I face, as I am about to inherit the throne from Father Emperor, is still that same Imperial Uncle. I wonder if this is a fate borne by my Mu Family?"
He uttered bitterly, "If the Zhenhai King seeks to rebel once again, after many years, the people of Great Zhou will be plunged back into dire straits."
The last thing a Crown Prince wishes to see before his ascension is the occurrence of such events.
But there was nothing he could do.
He lacked the power to control such matters.
And had no way to prevent them in advance.
He turned towards the Destiny Coffin and asked it, "I believe that within the Imperial Court, and even inside the Imperial Palace, there must be informants and allies of the Zhenhai King. Do you know, who among them may be involved?"
Clang!
The Destiny Coffin sprang open another drawer, which also contained a sheepskin scroll, but this one was unrolled.
The sheepskin scroll bore a few characters that everyone could see.
