C224

"We are willing to assist the new monarch in ascending to the throne!" With all of these ministers kowtowing, some of the officials who were in charge of handling the situation followed suit and knelt down as well.

"How dare you!" Are all of you rebelling!? Someone! Pushing all of them out to be slaughtered! " Duan Chen could no longer suppress the fury in his heart. He suddenly stood up, waved his arm, and almost bellowed.

"Everyone, please get up. Mu Yan is a woman. Although he has the heart to rule the country, he is powerless to shoulder this heavy responsibility. Mu Yan thanks everyone for their love. It's just that this matter should be decided after consideration." Zhu Xu had no choice but to join forces and push Duan Moyan onto the throne. Only by doing this would they be able to prevent others from feeding them.

"There is no need for Third Princess to decline. I am not the only one willing to assist the princess in ascending the throne. This is the determination of a million soldiers in the army!" The meaning behind Dou Jing's words was extremely clear. Regardless of whether they were sincere or not, all of the officials present kowtowed to Duan Moyan. Since Duan Moyan held the military power, the outcome of this battle was already decided.

"Since that's the case, Mu Yan will not be disrespectful. I, Duan Mu Yan, hereby swear that I will do my best to make the Badlands even more powerful and glorious!" Her clear voice was filled with the domineering aura of a king.

"Duan Mu Yan!" You unworthy descendant! In your eyes, there is still me! There are the ancestors above us! "Cough, cough …" Duan Chen was flustered and exasperated as he pointed his finger at Duan Muyan, his body swaying uncontrollably. Fortunately, Eunuch Li was by his side, otherwise, he would have fallen to the ground.

Just at this moment, another solemn voice sounded from outside the hall.

"The real unfilial grandson isn't the third princess, but the crown prince, Duan Xingyi!" Outside the main hall, Zheng Tingze carried his medicine case and walked into the throne room in large strides. Everyone's gazes were once again attracted to one place. Duan Mu Yan looked at Zheng Ting Ze in surprise and quickly walked forward.

"Master …" Duan Mu Yan worriedly asked.

"This humble official pays his respect to the third princess." Zheng Ting Ze lightly nodded before walking up to Duan Chen.

"Your majesty, you keep saying that the third princess is unfilial, but what you don't know is that the malady in your body isn't from overexerting yourself. It's from someone deliberately poisoning you!" Zheng Tingze spoke firmly as he looked straight at Duan Xingyi.

"Your Highness, is this humble subject speaking the truth?" At this moment, a trace of emotion finally appeared on Duan Xingyi's face. He had expected that Duan Mu Yan would stop him from taking the throne, but he hadn't expected that her ultimate goal would be to change dynasties and become the first empress of the Great Mo. Moreover, he hadn't expected Zheng Ting Ze's sudden appearance.

"Physician Zheng, you might as well continue …" Duan Xingyi spoke in an unhurried manner, and the curve of his lips became even more pronounced.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, during my first diagnosis and treatment of Your Majesty, this humble subject had already sensed that someone was secretly poisoning Your Majesty, however, the poison's nature is extremely slow and cannot be broken in the future. At that time, this humble subject suspected that Eunuch Li and wanted to report this matter to Your Majesty, but this humble subject feared that this might alert the emperor, so he did not make any noise. When I stepped into the Imperial Palace, I was immediately attracted by a type of fragrance. This humble subject had the good fortune to have smelled this fragrance before, it was a kind of rare dragon saliva fragrance, and in addition, there was a kind of faint orchid fragrance, so when I was at the Emperor's side, I purposely spilled the tea cup on the table, causing the tea to soak in the medicine box. At that time, I was not sure who the murderer was, but a few days after I returned to my residence, I discovered that someone was lurking in my mansion, investigating the truth. Although the poison is slow, it goes straight to the heart. When this subject took the Emperor's pulse, I reckon that the Emperor was poisoned for at least half a year! " The entire throne room was filled with sighs. Everyone's gazes were completely focused on Duan Ling Tian.

At this moment, Duan Chen's face was filled with shock. His body was trembling with excitement, and his eyes emitted too much disbelief. He couldn't believe that his son, whom he treasured and doted on the most, would actually poison him. He was willing to believe that all of this was a lie concocted by Duan Mu Yan, but he could not deceive himself. That ambergris had been brought into the palace by him after Duan Xing had slipped into the palace.

"Yi'er …" Duan Chen's lips trembled, but he didn't know what to ask. Could it be that in front of everyone, he wanted to interrogate his son who he cared about the most about, and whether he was truly poisoned? How could he endure this! On the other hand, Eunuch Li looked at Duan Xingyi with eyes full of anger.

"Your Highness, how can you harm the Emperor like this? Do you know how much the Emperor paid for the sake of helping you ascend to the throne? Just why are you doing this!? " Gonggong Li glared furiously at Duan Xingyi. He served Duan Chen around the clock, so he naturally knew of the origins of the tea and ambergris.

"Eunuch Li!" His heart felt as though it was being crazily gnawed at by thousands of ants. That kind of bone-piercing pain almost made him faint, but at this moment, he was more clear-headed than anyone else. He knew that Zheng Ting Ze had not wrongly accused Duan Xingyi, so if it was a lie, how could Duan Xingyi not say a single word.

"Your Majesty …" Tears streamed down Eunuch Li's face as he walked over to Duan Chen's side while trembling and supporting Duan Chen's weak body with both hands. Even though he was a king, how could he withstand so many blows! At this moment, Duan Chen looked as if he had aged ten years, his empty gaze devoid of any trace of life. Looking at Duan Xingyi who was still standing there in silence, Duan Chen forcefully held back his tears.

I will investigate this matter thoroughly …" This matter had suddenly occurred. For a moment, I was unable to accept Duan Mu Yan's succession to the throne. Let the grand ceremony end today, another day … Cough cough … "Cough, cough, cough …" The rage and depression that was suppressed within his heart suddenly gushed out like a flood. Duan Chen felt a salty sensation in his throat, and before he could finish his sentence, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out from his mouth.

"Your majesty!" Eunuch Li immediately supported Duan Chen, preventing him from toppling over onto the Dragon Throne. At this moment, seeing the people in the imperial court, Eunuch Li fell to his knees, kowtowing to everyone in the imperial court.

"This old servant begs you, don't force the emperor anymore! Don't tell me you want to force the emperor to his death! Third Princess! The Emperor has you in his heart! Prime Minister Zhu, General Dou Jing Jing! The Emperor has never forgotten you! When you all left, the emperor didn't sleep for a few nights without stopping. The emperor didn't say anything, but this old servant knew that he couldn't bear to part with you … " Tears fell as Eunuch Li's shrill voice echoed out, shaking everyone present. Seeing the blood dripping from the corner of Duan Chen's lips, Zhu Xu finally lowered his eyes, seemingly unintentionally wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Looking at Duan Chen, who sat slumped on the Dragon Throne, a sense of pity gradually arose in his heart.

"Eunuch Li, help father return …" Duan Muyan no longer wished to force Duan Chen, even if everything that had happened now was something he had brought upon himself.

"Don't call me royal father …" Duan Chen's deep voice was filled with deep despair. He slightly lifted his gaze, which was devoid of warmth, as he stared straight at Duan Mu Yan. His hatred, was gradually tainted by his hatred, and his eyes turned black. Duan Chen struggled to get up, his hands pressing on the armrest of the Dragon Throne, his jaw slowly opening as he was drenched in blood.

"This Emperor should have been on his guard against you! Just like you were wary of your mother! You're the same as your mufei, stabbing me in the back when I'm at my most helpless! Duan Mu Yan! You are not worthy to be my daughter! "Not worthy!" Duan Chen hysterically roared, his voice was like a thunderclap that resounded in Duan Muyan's mind. His heart, was in so much pain, it was as though he was thrown into a purgatory. The burning pain caused her body to tremble.

"Mu Yan …" At the side, Xiao Yuxuan suddenly rushed to Duan Moyan's side and steadied her. The entire hall was deathly still as the atmosphere suddenly froze. No one knew what they were supposed to say in this kind of situation, but at this moment, an aged voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.

"Is the emperor not worthy of having such a daughter …" Everyone looked back, only to see a familiar figure walking over. When everyone saw the appearance of the newcomer, they could not help but sigh, all of the court officials of the Badlands Court had gathered. After not seeing him for a few months, Xiao Yin had become much more spirited than before. Behind him, there was a man around the age of fifty, with a burly figure and powerful steps. Some of the older martial generals were able to give him up with a glance; he was Wei Liang, who had fought under Xiao Yin's command that day!

"Father?" Xiao Yuxuan looked at Xiao Yin in disbelief, a myriad of emotions running through his heart. If his father knew how much of his brother was still alive, it was just that now was not the time to speak. Xiao Yin nodded his head slightly but did not stop. He walked straight in front of Duan Chen.

Your majesty, when this old subject left, I made it clear to you that I was going to tell you about Fei Fei. Although Your Majesty didn't express his opinion, this old subject saw the doubt in Your Majesty's eyes, so ever since I left the imperial city, this old subject has been looking around for Wei Liang who knew about what happened back then. Xiao Yin spoke indifferently before turning his gaze to Wei Liang who was behind him.

"Subordinate Wei Liang pays his respects to the emperor!" Even though he had left the military camp for more than twenty years, Wei Liang still carried himself as a soldier. However, no one cared about that right now. Everyone's eyes were focused on Wei Liang.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this matter has already been suppressed in this subordinate's heart for twenty years, but this subordinate has never had the courage to step forward. If the Old Prince hadn't found this subordinate, this subordinate would still have kept it buried in the depths of his heart, all the way until I brought it to the coffin! When I returned to the Imperial City, I saw the empress dowager under the guidance of the old prince. The entire conversation consisted of the empress dowager and her subordinate, even her subordinate was kept outside the palace, and when her subordinate told the empress dowager that Qin Yu, Qin Yao, and her name was Qin Yao, who was originally the daughter of a great family, was helpless, she had fallen in poverty, and had sold herself well, so she had some reputation in the Jiang Nan area, but she did not tell her subordinate everything. As for Pear Blossom, this subordinate didn't hear about it until many years later. If I had known earlier, I would have implicated Riko, and this subordinate would have risked my life to report what happened that year to the Emperor! " Wei Liang's every word was like an icicle that pierced Duan Chen's heart. At this moment, despair was like a roaring flood that completely destroyed Duan Chen's line of defense!