The prince is more stable

Chapter 814: Weak Force
The emperor who is about to ascend the throne has been exposed for plotting to murder the young prince. So, can the enthronement ceremony still go on?
For the court officials, the answer was very clear.

Once proven guilty, such a murderer, especially the one who killed the crown prince, would absolutely never become emperor.

Confucius said to achieve benevolence, and Mencius said to uphold righteousness. Whether it is benevolence or righteousness, a person who kills the crown prince is guilty of heinous crimes.

If Zhao Ji is proven guilty, and the court officials can still pretend nothing happened and allow him to continue on the throne, the Song Dynasty's imperial family and court officials will become a laughing stock for the world.

The scholars and common people of the land would never accept the legitimacy of the monarch and his subjects, and then ambitious people in various parts of the Song Dynasty would use this as an excuse to rebel, and the country would soon fall into chaos and war for years to come.

The problem is very serious. This is no longer just a murder case; it concerns the legitimacy of the Song Emperor. Today, only three thousand court officials are witnessing this scene, but soon the whole world will know what happened today.

With things escalating to this point, regardless of whether Zhao Ji was a suspect or not, his throne was already teetering on the brink of collapse. Even if he proved his innocence, it would still take a long time to clear his name afterwards.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood in the Daqing Hall, coldly watching Lu Changshen gradually steer the conversation toward Zhao Ji, each word piercing his heart.

This was a premeditated operation. What happened at today's enthronement ceremony was a conspiracy between Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Dun, and a group of bigwigs from the Politics Hall. Lu Changshen was merely a vanguard pushed forward. The real masterminds, such as Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Dun, have not yet uttered a word.

Today, Zhao Xiaoqian is quite confident of ultimately winning this farce.

Several years ago, Zhao Xiaoqian had already seen through Zhao Ji's weaknesses.

Emperor Huizong's greatest weakness was his lack of a solid foundation.

Yes, Zhao Ji's foundation in the court was actually very weak. Although he had made plans and tried to win over some court officials over the years, his camp was too weak, and a small storm could overturn him.

It wasn't that Zhao Ji didn't want to develop his power in the court, but the laws of the Song Dynasty were strict. Members of the imperial family were not allowed to associate with officials outside the court. It was fine for Zhao Ji to win over one or two people, but he would never dare to expand his power in the court recklessly.

When Zhao Xu was alive, Zhao Ji was just a prince. The laws of the Song Dynasty stipulated that he could not do anything. He could only stay at home to study or indulge in pleasure. So many censors in Bianjing were coldly watching these imperial relatives.

Zhao Xiaoqian initially had no foundation in the court, but he took a different approach, leading troops to resist the Western Xia and Liao dynasties by imperial decree, and made outstanding military achievements, even single-handedly turning the tide of the Song Dynasty.

When a person's achievements are so great as to be almost outrageous, and they have immense prestige in the government and among the people, "foundation" will naturally gravitate towards them.

Because the shrewd and clever old foxes all knew his strength, knew that following him would not be bad, and knew how unwise it would be to be his enemy. It would be better to form an alliance with him and stand in the same trench for common interests.

What are the consequences of having a weak foundation?
For ordinary people, it has no impact. They eat and drink as usual, live their lives as usual, and continue to work hard to make a living every day.

But for an emperor about to ascend the throne, this was extremely dangerous.

For example, if Zhao Ji had a group of loyal and staunch confidants in the court at this moment, when Lu Changshen broke the etiquette of the main hall and shouted the first sentence, he would not have had a chance to say a second sentence. He would be criticized to the point of being completely torn apart by the court officials who were loyal to Zhao Ji, and then dragged away by the imperial guards to sober up.

Instead of the present situation, where Lu Changshen and Zhao Ji are arguing, while the other court officials watch with amusement and indifference as the new emperor angrily argues with Lu Changshen.

Regardless of the outcome today, Zhao Ji's current state shows that his dignity and prestige have vanished.

At this moment, even Zhou Xingzhe, the chief secretary of Prince Duan's mansion whom Zhao Ji trusted most and the future prime minister of the Council of State Affairs, dared not utter a sound. He hid in the crowd and tried his best to bend his knees and blend into the crowd.

Zhou Xingzhe wasn't stupid. Throughout history, no one had ever dared to cause trouble at the emperor's enthronement ceremony. Now that someone dared to cause trouble, he couldn't possibly be so naive as to think that this was just Lu Changshen's personal behavior.

This is clearly a grand conspiracy involving many officials who have been plotting for a long time. Not everyone among the three thousand officials present today is involved, but they are definitely connected to those old foxes in the Council of State Affairs. Perhaps Zhao Hao and his son Zhao Xiaoqian are also involved.

How could Zhou Xingzhe dare to speak out about the conspiracy involving these powerful figures?
Power is a mountain that can easily crush an ant like Zhou Xingzhe into dust.

At the same time, looking at the scene today, Zhou Xingzhe gradually became certain of a fact: Zhao Ji was probably not going to be emperor.

Even if he were to jump out and defend Zhao Ji, it would be of no use whatsoever. Instead, it would cost him his life. His actions would be a foolish self-sacrifice, leaving him nothing more than a laughingstock in the history books.

Therefore, Zhou Xingzhe hesitated at this moment. It is human instinct to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. He was just an ordinary person. He had all the desires of wine, women, wealth, and passion. Of course, like most ordinary people, he was also afraid of death.

If Zhou Xingzhe could think of something, surely Zhao Ji could too?

No one knew that Zhao Ji was now in despair.

At first, when Lu Changshen suddenly launched his attack, Zhao Ji thought it was just his personal behavior. However, the longer he argued with Lu Changshen, the more the other court officials remained silent, watching everything with amusement and indifference, like outsiders watching a play. Zhao Ji then fell into despair.

Just as Zhou Xingzhe had guessed, today's coronation ceremony was a complete conspiracy.

The purpose of the conspiracy was to make him, who was originally a legitimate emperor, illegitimate, and even to prove that he was the murderer who murdered the young prince.

At this moment, Zhao Ji's eyes were bloodshot and he was on the verge of collapse.

The accusations and attacks came suddenly and unexpectedly, catching him completely off guard. Without a clear explanation of this matter, the coronation ceremony could not continue.

Emperor Huizong's eyes were bloodshot. He looked around and felt isolated and helpless. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Empress Dowager Xiang beside him.

Upon seeing Empress Dowager Xiang's expression, Zhao Ji's heart sank even further.

Empress Dowager Xiang sat upright with a cold expression and lowered eyes, fiddling with a string of prayer beads she had been playing with for many years. The rhythm of fiddling with the beads was unhurried, just like her state of mind at that moment.

Despite the gravity of the situation, she maintained remarkable composure. Facing the ministers' accusations and attacks against the new emperor, she sat motionless for a long time, which spoke volumes. Zhao Ji, panting heavily, looked at her in disbelief and said sorrowfully, "Empress Dowager, even you…"

Empress Dowager Xiang remained seated, her eyes lowered as she fiddled with her prayer beads.

In the center of the main hall, today is Lu Changshen's moment of glory.

He took a step forward and emphasized, "Why should Your Highness Prince Duan avoid the issue? The matter of the Crown Prince Chongxian must be addressed. Otherwise, Your Highness's ascension to the throne will be illegitimate and your words will not be lawful. The prestige of the imperial family will be greatly damaged, and the Song Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

Zhao Ji glared venomously at Lu Changshen and gritted his teeth, saying, "Lu Changshen, you keep saying you want to investigate the case, and every word you say implies that I am the murderer of the young prince. Today is my coronation ceremony, yet you slander me without any evidence. How can I tolerate you!"

"Where are the Imperial Guards? Come in!" Zhao Ji roared.

The dozen or so guards standing outside the palace gates entered the palace and bowed to Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji).

Emperor Huizong pointed at Lu Changshen, his finger trembling uncontrollably: "Take him down! Seize him! Have him beaten to death at the palace gate!"

Without hesitation, Ban Zhi stepped forward, about to grab Lu Changshen's arm, but before he could even touch the hem of Lu's clothes, Prime Minister Zhang Dun finally stepped forward and fiercely waved his sleeve at the dozen or so Ban Zhi members.

"Stop! All of you, get out of here!"

The dozen or so guards were taken aback. They subconsciously looked around and found that the court officials around them were not speaking, but just staring at them with cold eyes.

An overwhelming pressure, imbued with authority, pressed down on the guards, filling the hall with an inexplicable sense of suffocation.

The soldiers were startled, and finally realized the situation.

How to put it? When the six major sects besieged Bright Peak, the Ming Cult was not as isolated as Zhao Ji.

A desperate situation where a group of tigers are lurking around a dragon!

The officers finally realized they had been too hasty. How shameless of them! They just came in because they were told to.

This is clearly a battle of gods; why are these people, who aren't even qualified to be cannon fodder, getting involved?

A cold sweat broke out on their backs. The guards hesitated and looked around. Finally, the head constable suddenly waved his hand, bowed to Zhao Ji, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and silently withdrew.

Emperor Huizong was heartbroken. As he watched the guards leave the main hall, his heart turned to ice.

Without power, without allegiance, without authority, and without soldiers, he, a naked new emperor, stood in the palace, almost condemned by everyone, yet no one came to his aid.

Is this what he has always wanted?

Before he even got power, he was already on the verge of being overthrown.

Zhao Ji, his face pale, suddenly let out a silent, bitter laugh.

After dismissing the guards, Zhang Dun faced Zhao Ji and slowly said, "Your Highness, things become clear through debate. Since Imperial Censor Lu has brought up this old matter, and the eyes of the world are now on Your Highness, I know that Your Highness has always been an upright and honest person. Why should you be afraid of being framed and slandered for something you did not do?"

"I suggest that we clarify this in front of three thousand court officials today. If Your Highness can prove your innocence in the end, not only will Lu Changshen be severely punished, but Your Highness's prestige and the imperial authority of the court will reach their zenith. From then on, the people will be of one mind and will be convinced of Your Highness's ascension to the throne."

"It has only benefits and no drawbacks, Your Highness, why not do it willingly?"

In the crowd, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth.

What the hell is this "happily agreeable"? That old bastard Zhang Dun is really malicious.

Look at how Zhao Ji is going crazy now, does he look even slightly "happy"?
Once the truth comes out, there will be no turning back.

Sure enough, after Zhang Dun's words, Zhao Ji's body swayed precariously, his face grew increasingly pale, and his eyes revealed a deep sense of despair.

He knew better than anyone whether the young prince had been murdered by him.

After the initial incident was completed, the aftermath was not properly handled. Several key figures mysteriously disappeared. Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) had hoped that as long as Emperor Zhao Xu passed away, the matter would be forever buried in history and no one would ever discover it.

But he never expected that this incident would not be forgotten; it would only plant a huge time bomb for him today, which is about to explode.

In the center of the main hall, Lu Changshen took another step forward with a stern expression and said proudly, "What Prime Minister Zhang said is very true. Things cannot be clarified without debate. So today, let's have a clear debate in front of everyone."

As he spoke, Lu Changshen suddenly bowed to Zhang Dun and said, "This humble official requests permission to summon the witnesses and evidence!"

Zhang Dun remained silent and retreated without uttering a word, seemingly ignoring Lu Changshen's request for instructions.

The courtiers, who were watching the show, were stunned again. This was a crucial moment, so why was Prime Minister Zhang silent?
After an eerie silence, Zhang Dun suddenly said, "You should consult the Empress Dowager, not me."

(End of this chapter)