bookrebus Chapter 308: Immortal Emperor
Chapter 308: Immortal Emperor
When the official heard Prime Minister Liu say that the prince was plotting a rebellion, his face suddenly turned pale with shock and he became extremely panicked.
Now, regardless of whether the prince is plotting a rebellion or not, there will be a bloody storm in the palace.
"Then I will take my leave first."
The official quickly bent down, not daring to look up at Prime Minister Liu, for fear that he would be dragged into the water.
These officials are trying to please both sides in order to protect themselves. Now that there must be changes in the palace, they will be like fence-sitters and will only help the winning side.
Prime Minister Liu had a fierce look in his eyes. He stared at the direction of the Palace of Rites and Music and slowly walked forward.
In this Palace of Rites and Music, there was no trace of Emperor Chen.
"Where is the Emperor?"
Prime Minister Liu asked the guard in charge of guarding.
The guard said, "Prime Minister, the Emperor has just come to the Temple of Heaven to practice. If the Prime Minister wants to see His Majesty, I will report it now."
"No need, I will go there myself."
Prime Minister Liu looked solemn and turned away.
The Temple of Heaven was filled with smoke.
As soon as I walked in and looked around, it felt like I had entered a fairyland.
If you smell it carefully, you can smell a pungent smell, as if some unpleasant Chinese medicine is mixed in it.
In order to create an atmosphere for cultivating immortals, Emperor Chen carried out massive construction and forcibly built this so-called altar in the imperial palace. He also collected treasures from all over the country and displayed them all in this altar.
The current Chen Kingdom Emperor, Xiao Zhenglian, is currently sitting cross-legged on a jade lotus, looking like a hermit and seemingly concentrating on spiritual practice.
But he looked old and dim, and seemed drowsy and without any energy at all.
The aged Emperor Chen, under the instigation of Prime Minister Liu, had already become obsessed with alchemy in order to achieve immortality.
But it was obvious that most of these pills were poisonous. After taking them, Emperor Chen would not become immortal, but his body would become weaker.
This emperor who ruled the Chen Kingdom for forty years was also a good emperor who worked hard to govern the country in his early years. During his reign, he personally led the army to conquer the Wa Kingdom in the southwest and annexed some small countries.
During the first twenty years of Xiao Zhenglian's reign, the Chen army won more battles against the Yan army than they lost, and firmly controlled the three rich states of Hudong.
With such achievements, if Xiao Zhenglian had died ten years earlier, he would have certainly been a very famous emperor in the history of Chen State. However, in the last twenty years, Xiao Zhenglian neglected state affairs and slowly began to enjoy himself.
Since he favored Concubine Liu and allowed his relative Prime Minister Liu to control the government, the State of Chen began to decline.
In the Altar of Heaven filled with "fairy air", the sound of hurried footsteps was suddenly heard.
Eunuch Wang came before Emperor Chen and reported, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Liu wants to see you."
The importance of Prime Minister Liu is self-evident. Even though Emperor Chen is currently practicing, he must stop and meet Prime Minister Liu.
"Let Prime Minister Liu come in."
Xiao Zhenglian said weakly, still without opening his eyes.
A moment later, Prime Minister Liu slowly walked into the Altar of Heaven.
As soon as he entered the door, Prime Minister Liu couldn't help but cover his mouth and nose with his wide sleeves.
The pungent smell of traditional Chinese medicine made it difficult for Prime Minister Liu to speak.
Previously, Prime Minister Liu had tried to trick Emperor Chen into cultivating immortality just to curry favor with him. But Emperor Chen did not expect that he would take it so seriously and devote almost half of his energy to cultivating immortality. He seemed to really believe that he could achieve immortality, while the other half of his energy was spent on indulging in pleasure.
With so much energy being wasted, it seems that Emperor Chen Xiao Zhenglian will not have much time left.
Looking at Emperor Chen's aging and dying appearance, Prime Minister Liu could not help but frown.
After a while, Prime Minister Liu felt nauseous and left the altar immediately. He told Eunuch Wang, "Tell your majesty to go to the side hall. I have something to report to you."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
The prince responded and left.
Compared to this, it seems that Prime Minister Liu is the real emperor.
After a while, Emperor Chen, supported by eunuchs, slowly left the Altar of Heaven.
When he arrived at the side hall and saw Prime Minister Liu for the first time, Emperor Chen said with lifeless eyes: "What's the urgent matter, Prime Minister Liu?"
Emperor Chen had handed over almost all the affairs of the court to Prime Minister Liu, and had great trust in the latter.
Prime Minister Liu did not kneel down to the emperor, but stood in front of Emperor Chen and said in a majestic tone: "Your Majesty, the prince and his party are plotting a rebellion, preparing to seize the throne from you and disrupt the government!"
The prince is going to rebel?
"How dare he be so bold?!"
There was a hint of anger on Emperor Chen's frail face.
He did not doubt the truthfulness of Prime Minister Liu's words at all. Before this, Xiao Zhenglian had already been slightly dissatisfied with the prince.
After much slander from Concubine Liu and Prime Minister Liu, Xiao Zhenglian had already decided to depose the crown prince and make Concubine Liu's eldest son the heir to the throne.
Prime Minister Liu continued, "The Crown Prince has already transferred the guards of the Eastern Palace and is heading towards the inner palace. He may threaten the Emperor at any time. I have ordered the Imperial Guards to guard all parts of the palace and will never let the Crown Prince succeed."
Now, most of the command of the imperial guards is in the hands of Prime Minister Liu.
However, there are still many wavering forces that are still waiting and watching.
And the reason why Prime Minister Liu came to see the emperor today was to win over these wavering forces in the name of the emperor.
"Cough! Cough cough..."
Emperor Chen suddenly covered his mouth and started coughing violently. His expression was quite embarrassed and it was obvious at a glance that he was seriously ill.
As soon as Emperor Chen dies, there will be drastic changes in the State of Chen.
Today, the heir to the throne of the Chen Kingdom is still Crown Prince Xiao Nian. If there were no will from Emperor Chen, Xiao Nian would still have ascended the throne and become emperor.
Naturally, Prime Minister Liu would not let this happen. He planned to wipe out all the Prince's forces before Emperor Chen passed away.
A plan
Whether the prince really wants to launch a coup d'état is no longer important to Prime Minister Liu, because Prime Minister Liu has to strike first.
"Your Majesty, please issue an imperial edict immediately to depose the crown prince and appoint the eighth prince as the heir to the throne!"
Prime Minister Liu said loudly.
Now all that is needed is the emperor's handwritten edict to legitimately allow the eighth prince to become the new emperor.
If the crown prince was forcibly deposed without an imperial edict, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among other vassal kings within the territory of Chen.
What Prime Minister Liu had to do was to make the entire State of Chen submit completely.
Only if the Eighth Prince inherits the throne, then Prime Minister Liu can continue to control the government, and even let the new emperor abdicate when the time is right...
This is the real purpose of Prime Minister Liu.
Xiao Zhenglian covered his mouth and coughed twice, but did not immediately respond to Prime Minister Liu's words.
Prime Minister Liu frowned and looked up at Emperor Chen, who looked weak.
"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. If the Crown Prince gains power now, I'm afraid Your Majesty will not take it seriously either."
Prime Minister Liu continued to persuade with an anxious look on his face.
Emperor Chen hesitated, closed his eyes, and said weakly: "Okay, I will pass the throne to the eighth prince now..."