I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 647 Ascension to the Throne! Change of Era Name! Emperor Xingping!

It was the beginning of the first month of the seventy-first year of the Taikang era of the Yongzheng reign.

The news of Emperor Taikang's death finally spread to every corner of the world.

Needless to say, people's hearts were shaken for a time.

When many people first heard the news, they even thought it was a fake news deliberately fabricated by someone with ulterior motives.

It wasn't until the central government's obituary reached various regions that everyone was completely certain of the truth of this sudden news.

Even so, many people were still shocked by this.

There is no other reason.

It is true that Emperor Taikang has only been on the throne for seventy years. According to the reigns of the previous emperors of the Dayong Dynasty, he was not even in his prime. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he died young.

Now, as the shortest-lived emperor since the founding of the Great Yong Dynasty, how can one not feel a sense of regret and lament?

However, soon no one cared about these things anymore.

Just as some insightful people had predicted, with the sudden passing of Emperor Taikang, the last shackle on the world seemed to collapse completely in an instant.

The already turbulent situation in various regions became even more turbulent almost instantly.

Some ambitious individuals, after suppressing their restless desires for a long time, finally abandoned their previous concerns.

They killed officials, raised the banner of rebellion, and carved out their own territory.

This is just basic stuff.

A more sophisticated approach was to exploit Emperor Taikang's death for political purposes.

Some raised armies to avenge their lord, claiming that "the traitor Zhang Xian has brazenly murdered the emperor, and the whole world should punish him."

However, these people are just making empty promises; what they really want is to control a region.

Another group of people, however, were significantly more aggressive and direct.

They directly targeted Shangguan Ding, the current prime minister of the Great Yong Dynasty, who was the actual controller of power in the country!
In his words, he directly accused Shangguan Ding of secretly colluding with the Huangtian cult and conspiring with Zhang Xian, another cultist, to assassinate the emperor and usurp the throne.

This statement quickly gained popularity after some members of the Ji clan risked their lives to escape the eye of the storm in the capital and came forward to corroborate it.

The world was in an uproar.

Shangguan Ding, who was once rumored to be quite good, suddenly found himself condemned by everyone.

What followed was a series of states filled with righteous indignation, which led them to raise the banner of "killing the treacherous minister to cleanse the emperor's inner circle," and directly staged a passionate drama of "marching troops to Luoyang."

Just as the allied forces of the various states had gathered overwhelming momentum and were about to storm the capital, the Imperial Guards of the capital, who had lost all their reputation and become a laughing stock of the world in the Battle of Ji River ten years ago, actually came out of the capital and took the initiative to meet them.

In just one battle, the vanguard of the Imperial Guards decimated the allied forces of the various states.

As the war unfolded, after several more battles, the allied forces of the feudal lords, who had come with great momentum, were all wiped out on the banks of the Wei River outside the capital.

On that day, the vast Wei River, stained red with blood, was almost blocked by the corpses of the allied forces of the feudal lords.

Its ferocity even surpassed that of the battle years ago when the Zhenliao Army crossed the Tongtian River against the Huangtian Army of Qingzhou.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the world.

For a time, people across the land were unable to distinguish whether the armies of those several states were too weak or the Imperial Guards of the capital were too strong.

All they knew was that everyone seemed to have underestimated the power of the central government.

In the past, when Emperor Taikang was alive, he and Shangguan Ding were mutually restraining.

Now that one side has fallen, the powerful minister Shangguan Ding, who has finally seized most of the power, is still someone they cannot resist.

However, this sudden realization is not too late for the people of the world.

However, it was already too late for those feudal lords in several states who had raised the banner of "purging the emperor's inner circle of corrupt officials."

Perhaps it was because they understood the principle of making an example of someone to warn others, and that harsh measures were necessary in chaotic times.

In this chaotic battle, Shangguan Ding, the powerful prime minister who held sway over two dynasties, revealed his claws and ruthlessness to the world for the first time.

Not only did they exterminate all the feudal lords of the several states who had started the uprising after the war, but they also uprooted all their families and sects!

As a result, countless people in those several states were implicated and killed.

The bloodshed lingered for months.

The corpses of noble families piled up like hills!
When people heard of this, they were all filled with fear and trembling.

As a result, many people have gradually regained some of their former awe of the central government.

……

In short, from the first month after the news of Emperor Taikang's death spread until the end of March, the whole country was in chaos, with one event after another taking place, creating a truly chaotic and tangled scene.

Until early April, another piece of news that shook the world came from the capital.

The 71st year of the Taikang era of the Yongzheng reign, on the 9th day of the fourth month.

Before the coffin of the Great Emperor, the Ninth Prince Ji Yin, after being respectfully invited by the officials led by Prime Minister Shangguan Ding, declined the throne three times and officially ascended to the throne!

On the same day, an imperial edict was issued to change the era name to Xingping!
This marked the seventy-first year of the Taikang era, which was also the first year of the Xingping era!

Undoubtedly, most people in the world were unfamiliar with this new emperor who had never had any presence in the past.

All that is known is that he was not the legitimate son of the emperor and empress, and with his mother having died early, he was not favored among the princes.

The only thing that left an impression on some interested people was that this new emperor seemed to have some disagreements with the Duke of Yan in Liaodong when he was still a prince. Later, for some unknown reason, he requested to go to Nanhai Commandery to take up his fief.

This also broke the precedent set by the fact that princes of the Dayong dynasty were not allowed to take up their fiefdoms for generations.

Apart from that, most people don't know much about this new emperor.

For a small group of people who knew the inside story, they were immediately delighted to see that Shangguan Ding had chosen such a person to ascend the throne.

It must be said that Shangguan Ding's move was a brilliant one.

Even now, no matter how much they look down on the Duke of Yan's background, they have to admit that the Duke of Yan truly deserves to be called a hero of his time.

With hundreds of thousands of fierce warriors under his command, and the four prefectures of You, Bing, Zhuo, and Qing currently in his grasp, he can truly be considered the number one king in the world.

If he becomes the new emperor's patron, even Shangguan Ding would probably have a headache and be wary of him.

However, once the Ninth Prince Ji Yin became Emperor, this taboo no longer applied.

the reason is simple.

Rumor has it that the eldest daughter of Gongsun, one of the two principal wives of the Duke of Yan, was once the future princess consort of the Ninth Prince Ji Yin!
And what man in this world could bear the humiliation of having his wife stolen?
Okay, even if Ji Yin's ambitions are only for the country and he doesn't care about a mere woman.

Would that Duke of Yan dare to trust him?

In other words, would Han dare to gamble on the magnanimity of an emperor?
No, I wouldn't dare!
This is the fundamental reason why Shangguan Ding truly chose Ji Yin to ascend the throne.

As for Ji Yin's promises and outward obedience before Emperor Taikang's spirit tablet that day, they were merely icing on the cake.

What truly made Shangguan Ding make the decision was actually quite simple.

All because of Ji Yin's words, "I care nothing for the world, I only want that scoundrel surnamed Han to die!"

……

The main hall of Weiyang Palace.

The long-vacant imperial throne has finally welcomed its new master.

However, beneath it, another throne was placed abruptly, appearing discordant and jarring.

But the newly enthroned Emperor Xingping, who now sits high on the throne, seems oblivious, quietly and dutifully serving as his puppet emperor.

All matters of state, large and small, in the Golden Palace were decided by the Prime Minister Shangguan Ding, who sat beneath the Emperor's throne.

Occasionally, Shangguan Ding would turn his head and ask, "Does His Majesty have any objections to this matter?"

Emperor Xingping waved his hands repeatedly, appearing terrified.

"I am still young and inexperienced. How could I possibly understand these things? Asking me is like asking a blind man for directions. The Prime Minister can make all the decisions himself. There is no need to ask me."

So well-behaved, so incredibly well-behaved!
So obedient that Shangguan Ding instinctively felt a sense of wariness.

At that moment, as Ji Yin uttered these words, someone in the hall chuckled.

"Your Majesty's saintly qualities remain unchanged, possessing the pure and ancient virtues."

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a moment.

A moment later, everyone burst into laughter.

Ji Yin clearly understood the meaning of the words "as pure as ever," and his face flushed slightly. However, after glancing at Shangguan Ding below, he finally became awkward on the imperial throne.

His behavior only resulted in the laughter of the people in the hall growing louder and more unrestrained.

Shangguan Ding, who witnessed this scene, remained silent, but his divine sense remained subtly fixed on the imperial throne.

Is it genuine cowardice, or... restraint?

At this moment, an angry snort interrupted the laughter in the hall.

"Outrageous! You are utterly outrageous!" "To insult the Emperor in court! Throughout history, there has never been such a despicable subject as you!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on the old minister.

The old minister, however, was completely oblivious. He simply looked at Ji Yin on the throne with disappointment and sighed deeply.

"Alas, the subjects are no longer subjects! The ruler is no longer a ruler!"

"This old minister is too old and incapable of serving the country, therefore—I sincerely request to retire!"

Shangguan Ding, who was also caught in the old minister's gaze, remained expressionless and indifferent.

But Ji Yin, who had just been meek and submissive on the throne, suddenly changed his expression, slammed his hand on the imperial desk, and roared angrily.

"You are the one who is insolent! In front of me, you old scoundrel with a white beard dare to sow discord between me and my ministers! How dare you!"

"Aren't you afraid of death?!"

Having said that, without giving the court officials time to react, the emperor waved his robe and rebuked them.

"Guards! Drag this old thief away and throw him into the dungeon!"

"Give me a thorough interrogation and see if there are any crimes or offenses involved!"

"If so, there is no need to report to me; execute him on a chosen day!"

The entire court was silent, save for Ji Yin's ferocious roar.

At this moment, none of the high-ranking officials in the court expected that this seemingly weak Emperor Xingping would actually have some imperial majesty when he got angry.

Strange gazes fell upon Ji Yin.

After displaying his imperial might, Emperor Xingping, Ji Yin, seemed to remember something and hurriedly smiled at Shangguan Ding.

"Prime Minister, what do you think... is my handling of this matter appropriate?"

Shangguan Ding glanced at him and said calmly.

"Your Majesty's words are law, how could they be inappropriate?"

"Let's do as Your Majesty says."

As Shangguan Ding spoke, the imperial guards on duty outside the hall quickly entered the hall, sealed the old minister's cultivation, and dragged him away like a dead dog.

At this moment, Shangguan Ding lowered his eyes and suddenly whispered something.

"Your Majesty is the Emperor, and your words carry the weight of Heaven's will."

"If you want to protect someone in the future, you can just say it directly, there's no need to act like this."

If an insignificant old minister could truly have any influence over Shangguan Ding, he wouldn't have been able to remain in the court until today.

To kill or to spare, it's just a matter of a single thought.

He simply disliked others playing such clumsy tricks in front of him.

It looks stupid.

Ji Yin's expression, half-hidden beneath his twelve tassels, seemed to convey surprise and confusion.

"Prime Minister, what...what do you mean by this?"

Shangguan Ding looked at him with a mocking expression and did not respond.

After all the affairs of state were settled today, Shangguan Ding waved for all the officials to leave.

"How have you been lately, Your Majesty and Yun'er...?"

The Yun'er that Shangguan Ding mentioned was none other than his legitimate daughter, Shangguan Yun.

Compared to Shangguan Zhi, who was casually given to Han Shao as a concubine, Shangguan Yun, as the legitimate daughter, had a very different fate.

By imperial decree, she was granted the title of Empress, a paragon of virtue for the world.

At least at this stage, she is considered the most noble woman in the world.

However, when faced with Shangguan Ding's question, Ji Yin's face clearly showed a hint of unease.

"The Prime Minister knows that I am particularly fond of that Gongsun..."

As he finished speaking, Ji Yin met Shangguan Ding's cold and stern gaze and immediately fell silent.

"Am I, the legitimate daughter of Shangguan, not even as good as a married woman?"

Ji Yin, who was usually obedient in front of Shangguan Ding, was unusually assertive at this moment.

"Prime Minister! She's different!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ding was completely speechless.

Because he was certain that Ji Yin's words came from the heart and were entirely genuine.

Enraged, he laughed, staring intently at Ji Yin. Seeing that Ji Yin met his gaze without flinching, he could only sigh in the end.

"Treat Yun'er well, and don't let Benxiang down."

Seeing that Shangguan Ding had actually taken a step back in front of him on this issue, Ji Yin's eyes flashed with surprise, and then he grinned.

"Don't worry, father-in-law, that's for sure!"

"After all, Yun'er is the Empress whom I married through proper channels."

Shangguan Ding's expression softened slightly.

"It's good that Your Majesty knows."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something else and then continued.

"By the way, it has been a hundred days since the late emperor was moved to the funeral palace. It is time to let the late emperor rest in the imperial mausoleum."

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

According to the established rites, the coffin of the late emperor must remain in state for seven months after his death.

Emperor Taikang's situation was particularly special, to the point that his mausoleum is still not fully completed. Burying him at this time would be far too hasty.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yin remained silent for a moment.

But when he met Shangguan Ding's sharp gaze, he quickly said...

"Very well, I will listen to the Prime Minister."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ding stared at Ji Yin for a moment longer.

The Ji clan's imperial succession can only be considered a true human emperor after merging with the imperial dragon energy.

This process was a closely guarded secret, and even his cultivation level could only be roughly deduced from it.

Although Ji Yin's cultivation has increased considerably, he has now reached the eighth realm of Celestial Being.

However, compared to Emperor Taikang back then, he was still far inferior.

What Shangguan Ding wanted to do was to completely interrupt this process.

After all, if Ji Yin were to become another Emperor Taikang, wouldn't all his years of planning become a joke?
Seeing the probing look in Shangguan Ding's eyes, Ji Yin grinned.

"Prime Minister, please do not worry. I have said that I only care about that scoundrel's death, nothing else matters..."

As he spoke, he rose from his throne.

"Well... I've been sitting here for quite a while, and I'm getting a little tired. May I return to the palace first?"

Their eyes met, and Shangguan Ding nodded.

"It is good that Your Majesty is concerned about the affairs of the state, but you should also take care of your health."

"Go ahead and spend some quality time with Yun'er."

Ji Yin nodded in agreement with a bitter expression, but before leaving, he suddenly added something else.

"By the way, when the late emperor was laid to rest in the imperial mausoleum, I wish to have members of the Ji clan accompany me to see him off. Would the Prime Minister agree to this?"

Shangguan Ding narrowed his eyes and recalled the succession process when Emperor Taikang ascended the throne, but ultimately did not notice any flaws.

So he smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Your Majesty is virtuous and filial, and should be a model for the world."

"How could I possibly refuse?"

When Ji Yin saw that he had agreed, he finally smiled happily.

That smile came from the heart.

There seems to be an urgency.

……

(End of this chapter)