Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Yang Guizhi staggered to Zhao Kuo's side, supporting his swaying body: "Your Majesty, what... what exactly happened?"

Zhao Kuo grasped his wife's cold hand, looking at Zhao Yu with eyes full of sorrow: "Third brother, why did it have to come to this? We are siblings from the same mother, with deep brotherly affection. Why can't we talk things out instead of making a scene like this?"

"Brotherly affection?" Zhao Yu sneered. "When you were about to hand over the legacy built by your ancestors, and bow and scrape before the Jin emperor, acknowledging a thief as your master, did you ever think of brotherly affection?"

"As a descendant of Emperor Taizu and the son of the late emperor, I cannot watch you squander this empire. For the sake of the Song Dynasty and the common people, I can only ask Your Majesty to abdicate."

"abdicate……"

Zhao Kuo swayed, his eyes filled with resentment and pleading: "Third brother, is it really necessary to go this far? You openly led troops into the palace like this; how can the people's hearts be won over? How can the court officials approve of you? If you feel that I have failed in my governance, you can speak plainly. I will let you enter the court to take charge of the government, how about that? Why must you bear the infamy of treason?"

"The people's hearts?" Zhao Yu scoffed. "Back when Emperor Shaoxi abdicated and the Empress Dowager issued an edict to abolish the Guang Temple and install you as emperor, did you ever consider the people's hearts?"

"Since the Southern Song Dynasty moved south, Emperor Gaozong abdicated in favor of Emperor Xiaozong, Emperor Xiaozong abdicated in favor of Emperor Guangzong, and Emperor Guangzong abdicated in favor of you. We've had three retired emperors in a row. The people of the land have long been accustomed to this. What harm is there in having one more retired emperor like you?"

Zhao Yu's gaze swept over the officials standing with their heads bowed, and he continued, "As for the officials and ministers... they were willing to support your ascension to the throne and watch Shi Miyuan privately execute the prime minister, so why would they want to die for you now? I am also of the Zhao family bloodline, the eldest son of the late emperor. My ascension to the throne is legitimate and rightful. Who would object?"

Wherever Zhao Yu looked, all the officials lowered their heads, none daring to meet his gaze.

Yes, abdication was a "tradition" of the Song Dynasty.

The one who died was Shi Miyuan. Compared with the lives and fortunes of these people, what did he amount to?

"I refuse to accept this!"

A sharp shout suddenly rang out, breaking the silence.

Lei Xiaoyou pushed through the crowd and stepped forward again.

His face was ashen, yet he still stood ramrod straight: "Your Majesty can kill Prime Minister Shi, but can you kill everyone in the world? Since the founding of our Great Song Dynasty by Emperor Taizu, we have established an ancestral precept of governing the country together with the scholar-officials. Now Your Majesty desires the throne, yet you personally slaughter the prime minister in the court and arbitrarily depose and install officials. Is this the way of a ruler?"

"If you truly ascend the throne, my Great Song Dynasty will be utterly doomed!"

Lei Xiaoyou's words were powerful and resounding. Many officials who had been wavering gradually straightened up and looked at Zhao Yu with more resistance.

Zhao Yu waved his sleeve and faced Lei Xiaoyou directly: "What Minister Lei says is true, but in the more than one hundred years since our Great Song Dynasty was ruled by the scholar-officials, what kind of state have you made of this land?"

"Let alone recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, even the old capital Bianliang is still in the hands of the Jurchens. The humiliation of Jingkang, the capture of two emperors in the north, the exile of the imperial family, and the displacement of the people—is this the governing ability of you scholar-officials?"

"Marshal Yue's Northern Expeditions in the past were due to Qin Hui's treachery in making peace with the Jin. Today, old grievances have resurfaced. If I do not intervene now, the Song Dynasty will be handed over to you scholars and officials!"

Lei Xiaoyou's face turned ashen, and he staggered back several steps, pointing at Zhao Yu, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"Master Lei, take care."

Many officials came up to help him up, which prevented him from falling.

Lei Xiaoyou ignored everyone else and stared directly at Zhao Yu: "Does Your Majesty mean you intend to go to war with the Jin Kingdom?"

"Not bad!" Zhao Yu raised his hand to Qiu Qianren and said, "Mr. Qiu, bring the things up."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Qiu Qianren waved his hand, and several Iron Palm Clan disciples carried a wooden box and strode over.

Zhao Yu looked around, his voice icy: "To eliminate any hope of your survival, I had already cut off your escape route before today. The Jin Kingdom will soon march south. Whether you choose to quickly support me and prepare for war, or argue with me a little longer, is up to you."

Lei Xiaoyou's voice trembled: "What's in this box...it's..."

Zhao Yu casually struck out with his palm, and the force of the palm lifted the lid of the box.

One by one, human heads pickled in lime appeared before everyone's eyes, grotesque and terrifying.

The officials were terrified and retreated in all directions.

Only Lei Xiaoyou, instead of retreating, stepped forward and staggered through the crowd.

"The person you're looking for is here." Zhao Yu flicked his finger, and Wanyan Honglie's head flew into the air and landed in front of Lei Xiaoyou.

"The death of a Jin prince in Lin'an makes war between the Song and Jin inevitable. Please think carefully before making a decision."

Lei Xiaoyou stared at the severed head on the ground, his vision blurred, and he fainted without being able to catch his breath.

The crowd panicked and quickly moved him aside to treat him.

Zhao Yu ignored the officials and turned to Zhao Kuo, whose face was ashen: "Second brother, things have come to this, you have no other choice. Write the abdication edict, and you can still enjoy your old age in the palace; otherwise..."

Zhao Kuo trembled all over and was still trying to struggle: "Third brother, marching and fighting, and governing a country are not like practicing martial arts. Although I don't know where you learned such good martial arts skills, governing a country is not that simple. I was forced to do so before."

"Enough." Zhao Yu frowned, his tone becoming impatient. "The die is cast. Second Brother, will you write the edict or not?"

"Your Majesty," Yang Guizhi quickly pulled Zhao Kuo back, forcing a smile, "Third Brother, let's talk this out. For your sister-in-law's sake, please give His Majesty some more time to think it over."

"Sister-in-law," Zhao Yu interrupted her coldly, "Women are forbidden from interfering in politics; this is an ironclad rule established by our ancestors. Last time, you conspired with Shi Miyuan to secretly kill Han Tuozhou, which was already a violation of the law. Just because Second Brother didn't intervene doesn't mean I won't."

His gaze turned cold as he stared at Yang Guizhi: "Sister-in-law, you should think more about the Yang family."

Yang Guizhi's face turned deathly pale, and she dared not utter another word.

Just then, a sudden "plop" sound came from the crowd.

Qian Xiangzu, the Vice Chancellor, knelt on the ground and loudly proclaimed, "Your subject, Qian Xiangzu, is willing to draft the edict of abdication for Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty has no sons, and your health is failing, rendering you unable to handle state affairs. The Prince of Yongjia is wise and virtuous, skilled in both literature and martial arts. His succession as his elder brother is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people. I humbly request Your Majesty to issue an edict abdicating the throne to the Prince of Yongjia, allowing him to retire to the inner palace and enjoy his remaining years!"

Zhao Yu was taken aback at first, then a smile appeared on his lips.

Those who understand the times are wise. Although Qian Xiangzu was a follower of Shi Miyuan, he was also a smart man.

"What Minister Qian says is absolutely right!" Immediately, a quick-witted official knelt down as well, "Your Majesty, we humbly request that you abdicate."

"We, your humble servants, humbly request Your Majesty to abdicate!"

One, two, three...

More and more officials knelt on the ground, and shouts of praise rose and fell.

The Jin prince died in Lin'an, the peace treaty was completely broken, and the Jin army's southward advance was inevitable.

Zhao Kuo was weak and incompetent, and they could not be relied upon at all. They had no other choice but to support Zhao Yu, the new emperor with unparalleled martial prowess.

Seeing the officials kneeling before him, the last trace of color drained from Zhao Kuo's face.

He slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant, muttering, "So be it, so be it, I'll write... I'll write..."