When Chen Tianshan brought out Gu Hai’s decree, everyone’s face sank, turning grave.
Prime Feng Yue was preparing to attack. However, Gu Qin stopped him the next moment.
A decree was a sovereign’s order. Even Gu Qin would be considered a rebel if he attacked. Although the officials supported Gu Qin, their support for him could not compare to that for Gu Hai. No matter how much they supported Gu Qin, they would not do so in a rebellion.
“Chen Tianshan? Duke Tianshan? Do you know how many years I had managed the nation previously? Imperial Father handed the nation to you to manage only because he heard that I had died. While you have a decree, so do I!” Gu Qin smiled as he took out a decree.
“Your Highness does have a decree. However, my decree is the final one that His Majesty issued. Your decree is just a past one. Its validity is already over. So, Your Highness, please wise up. Don’t challenge this,” Chen Tianshan said.
“However, this is still a decree. No matter when it is, a sovereign’s words are always true. A sovereign’s orders are as iron-clad as a mountain. Isn’t that so?” Gu Qin said with a smile.
“Huh?” Chen Tianshan’s face sank.
“Since a sovereign’s words are always true, then my decree is always valid. Officials, Imperial Father had assigned me to manage the nation. Would you be willing to follow the decree?” Gu Qin suddenly looked at the others.
“This humble official is willing to obey the decree. I will listen to Your Highness’s orders!”
“This humble official is also willing to obey Your Highness’s orders.”
A small number of officials spoke up, expressing their willingness to serve under Gu Qin. After all, Chen Tianshan had greatly disappointed them over the past few years, appearing too incompetent. They felt it was best for such a person not to lead them.
The few officials who had already lost their faith agreed.
“Humph! It looks like the Han Royal Dynasty has not cleaned house for a long time already,” Chen Tianshan snorted coldly.
The officials who had declared their support for Gu Qin immediately shrank back, not daring to say anything.
However, Gu Qin looked at Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and Meng Tai. “Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and Meng Tai, if this crown prince takes back the management of the Han Royal Dynasty, I ask that the three of you assist me.”
“Crown Prince!” Chen Tianshan glared. You are already trying to poach people?
These three held great authority in the Han Royal Dynasty. As long as they agreed, Gu Qin could quickly gain the support of nearly half the officials, splitting the government between Chen Tianshan and himself.
Meng Tai’s eyelids twitched. The invitation to him felt incidental. If Gu Qin were sincerely recruiting him, he would have agreed. However, Gu Qin’s eyes focused only on Gao Xianzhi and Mo Yike with anticipation.
Meng Tai gave this a quick thought and revealed a cold smile. His willingness to support the crown prince vanished. While he might not have great wisdom, he was still capable of small schemes and tricks.
Meng Tai did not say anything. Instead, he looked to Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi.
Gao Xianzhi shook his head. “Your Highness, sorry. I only obey His Majesty and will obey only His Majesty’s commands.”
Gu Qin frowned slightly but did not rebuke Gao Xianzhi. Gao Xianzhi was a general talented at expanding territory. Furthermore, he had one hundred thousand powerful soldiers. It would not be easy to recruit him.
Gu Qin felt more anticipation for Mo Yike as he understood Mo Yike’s capabilities.
He turned to Mo Yike. “Lord Mo, the Han Royal Dynasty requires wise people like you. Leaving Lord Mo in your residence to spend your days in leisure is simply a waste of your talents.”
It seemed that Gu Qin was trying to drive a wedge between Mo Yike and Chen Tianshan.
However, Mo Yike just smiled faintly. “Your Highness, Duke Tianshan has already made it very clear. The Han Royal Dynasty belongs to His Majesty, not Duke Tianshan or Your Highness. Furthermore, being able to live leisurely in my residence is a form of blessing for this old official. I have never felt wronged.”
Mo Yike had rejected Gu Qin.
Gu Qin showed a somewhat sullen expression.
“Your Highness, it is my Han Nation’s fortune that you are alive. However, if you want to take over the management of the nation, please wait for His Majesty to return. This old official also would like to hand over the authority. However, this old official’s loyalty to His Majesty is even stronger. As long as His Majesty does not return, this old official will not budge!” Chen Tianshan said seriously.
“Oh? So if Imperial Father does not return, you will just monopolize the Han Royal Dynasty and not give it up? What if Imperial Father never returns?” Gu Qin asked, his voice sinking.
“How audacious!” Chen Tianshan glared. “Why wouldn’t His Majesty return?!”
This also sent the officials into an uproar.
“Humph! Chen Tianshan, there’s no need to keep lying to yourself and others. Imperial Father died at the Solar Divine Palace. You just want to use Imperial Father’s name to monopolize the Han Royal Dynasty. Why? Are you trying to usurp the throne?” Gu Qin said with a glare.
His Majesty has died?
The surrounding officials immediately showed unsightly expressions. Speaking of which, all the officials and citizens had already guessed this when the blessings disappeared. However, no one was willing to accept this as fact. Gu Hai was their pillar of support. No one could accept him suddenly dying. Everyone only felt hope when Chen Tianshan claimed that the emperor had entered closed-door cultivation and would return soon.
Although there were people who claimed that the emperor had died, as long as the highest authority, Chen Tianshan, did not declare it, everyone else would just think that those people were spreading misinformation.
Now, the crown prince—someone also of great authority—claimed that the emperor had died.
Is he really dead?
A thought suddenly occurred in everyone’s mind. He is the crown prince. Will Duke Tianshan dare kill the crown prince to maintain the citizens’ morale?
“Your Highness, what nonsense are you speaking? His Majesty will return. Are you trying to rebel?” Chen Tianshan’s eyes turned enraged.
“Rebel? Hahahaha! What an accusation! Chen Tianshan, this crown prince is the Han Royal Dynasty’s crown prince, the crown prince of the current regime. I am the heir apparent to the Han Royal Dynasty. Do you know what ‘heir apparent’ means? Can you explain it to me?” Gu Qin stepped forward and looked coldly at Chen Tianshan.
Heir apparent?
Chen Tianshan’s eyelids twitched. All the surrounding officials’ expressions changed.
“The heir apparent is the heir to the sovereign. When the sovereign passes away, the heir apparent can ascend the throne to be the sovereign. This will prevent the nation from crumbling and falling into chaos, protecting the Han Royal Dynasty and building an everlasting estate!” Gu Qin shouted.
“How audacious! His Majesty has not died yet! Your Highness, are you trying to usurp the throne?” Chen Tianshan shouted while glaring.
“Chen Tianshan, you are the one trying to usurp the throne! Imperial Father has already died; the entire world knows this. Blessings will not lie. You are the one lying to the officials and the world using the decree. Are you attempting to change the ruling clan of the Han Royal Dynasty to Chen?!” Gu Qin demanded while glaring.
“Does this mean that Your Highness the Crown Prince brought Prime Feng Yue and the black tortoises here today to seize control of the Han Royal Dynasty?” Chen Tianshan yelled while glaring.
“The black tortoise race is the Han Royal Dynasty’s national beast. I am only doing this to stabilize the Han Royal Dynasty. Evil beings are causing chaos in the government. The traitors should be eliminated. Today, this crown prince will destroy the traitor in place of my imperial father. Officials, this is the time for you to make contributions! Take down the traitor Chen Tianshan with this crown prince and bring back my Han Nation’s prestige!” Gu Qin shouted.
“Yes!” the people who supported Gu Qin earlier shouted excitedly.
However, the other officials were still in shock. They still had not recovered from the realization of the emperor’s death.
Prime Feng Yue made the first move, rushing forward to grab Chen Tianshan. After receiving Gu Qin’s command, he needed to destroy Chen Tianshan immediately and deprive the officials of alternatives.
“Die!”
Prime Feng Yue arrived before Chen Tianshan in the blink of an eye.
Shing!
A sword suddenly buzzed. A white manifested sword chopped down on Prime Feng Yue from above.
“Who is it?!” Prime Feng Yue’s expression changed as he threw a palm strike.
Boom!
The manifested sword in the sky shattered. However, tens of thousands of sword qi shot towards Prime Feng Yue.
Dongfang Bubai, Dugu Qiubai, Zhang Sanfeng, and Ximen Chuixue attacked nearly simultaneously. All their attacks were sharp and accurate.
“Break!” Prime Feng Yue shouted.
Boom!
All the manifested swords and sword qi shattered.
Although these four experts were strong, they were only in the Middle Heavenly Palace Realm. Prime Feng Yue was an Upper Heavenly Palace expert, so Prime Feng Yue immediately knocked them back.
“Why are the four of you protecting the traitor Chen Tianshan?” Gu Qin demanded while glaring.
Ximen Chuixue and Dugu Qiubai showed cold looks in their eyes. Zhang Sanfeng frowned as he looked at Gu Qin.
“Crown Prince Gu Qin, Chen Tianshan is not the traitor. You are the traitor. I have experienced Yue Buqun, a hypocrite, for myself. Would I be tricked by you? Humph! If Prime Feng Yue continues to attack Chen Tianshan, then I will not leave him alive!” Dongfang Bubai said coldly.
[TL Note: Yue Buqun is a major villain in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, one of the Jin Yong novels. He was the leader of one of the orthodox righteous sects and openly did many righteous acts. However, he secretly conspired against others. Unfortunately, there is no English Wikipedia entry for him, but you can use the translate page function in some browsers to get a rough translation: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-sg/%B2%B3%E4%B8%8D%E7%BE%A3.]
“Huh?” Gu Qin appeared slightly confused.
“The four of us will attack to kill you!” Dongfang Bubai declared coldly.
“How dare you?!” The black tortoises glared.
Whoosh!
Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and Meng Tai immediately shielded Chen Tianshan.
“Your Highness, please conduct yourself properly!” Mo Yike said coldly.
Although they were not fond of Chen Tianshan, this was a matter of principle. Most people still stood on Chen Tianshan’s side.
After taking a deep breath, Gu Qin laughed coldly, “Hah! Hahahaha! Indeed. Only Imperial Father can get you to submit. You look down on everyone else, no matter who it is or what faction it is. However, I will have to offend everyone today!”
As Gu Qin spoke, he formed a hand seal.
Buzz!
The ritual array in the sky trembled. The figures of Zhang Sanfeng, Ximen Chuixue, Dongfang Bubai, and Dugu Qiubai suddenly shook, and they nearly fell.
Then, Gu Qin extended his hand and grabbed a jade-green saber out of nowhere. The saber gave off surging mists. It was connected to the ritual array in the sky and appeared to control the four powerful experts.
“The Life Trapper Saber?” Chen Tianshan’s expression changed.
“Imperial Father taught me how to use the Life Trapper Saber. Now, the four swordsmen will not be able to help you,” Gu Qin said coldly.
“Your Highness, we are willing to obey you!”
“Your Highness, I am willing to swear loyalty to Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, no, Your Majesty, this official is willing to serve as a dog or horse for Your Majesty!”
Many officials immediately supported Gu Qin. Many of the Embroidered Uniform Guards also abandoned Meng Tai, declaring their support for Gu Qin. This infuriated Meng Tai.
Gu Qin smiled coldly.
Just as Gu Qin was about to start the killing, a loud guffaw came from the sky. “Hahahahaha! I came at a good time. What a show!”
Everyone raised their head and looked up.
They saw a large flying ship approaching.
A few men stood on the flying ship. Their leader was the former Qian Nation’s Marquis Aotian, Long Aotian, Long Shenying’s son.
Long Aotian stood at the bow of the flying ship. Many coffins stood upright on the deck behind him, densely packed together.
“Long Aotian?” Gu Qin’s face sank.
“Don’t worry, Gu Qin. I’m not here to fight over the nation. I just want two people: Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi. I’ll leave after taking them,” Long Aotian said with a nefarious grin.
Below, Mo Yike, Gao Xianzhi, Chen Tianshan, and the others raised their eyebrows when they saw these uninvited guests.
Now, the three sides—Chen Tianshan, Gu Qin, and Long Aotian—faced each other in a deadlock, staring at each other.
As the three sides fell into a standoff, a group of black-clad men stood in a restaurant near the Soaring Palace Hall. They maintained a perimeter around the restaurant, looking respectfully at a black-embroidered-robed man at the very front.
This man was none other than Gu Hai, who had rushed back.
Gu Hai stood upright at the window with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the conflict at the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza. He did not go over, only looking on with narrowed eyes.
The black-robed Chang Ming stood at his side.
“Your Majesty, here is the information this official collected. Crown Prince Gu Qin seems to have changed. Shouldn’t Your Majesty show yourself?” Chang Ming said respectfully.
“Wait a little longer. Hah! We want to see what demons and monsters there are,” Gu Hai said with a faint, cold smile.
