Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 431: Imperial Edict

Everyone was shocked. Emperor Xuanwu has passed away!

Mu Yan strode forward quickly, with Si Yuzhang following closely behind.

Si Yuzhang confirmed that Emperor Xuanwu had drawn his last breath. His eyes were red as he said, "The Empress and the Crown Prince conspired together to assassinate His Majesty. His Majesty died with grievances unresolved..."

The Crown Prince clutched his wound and hid beside Zhan Lan, saying, "Imperial Aunt, when I entered just now, I saw them restraining and killing Mother!"

"Why must the Crown Prince falsely accuse this prince?" Si Jun’s gaze turned cold as he retorted, "I was about to ask why the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress were here in Father’s bedchamber?"

The Crown Prince argued, "Today is the Double Ninth Festival. I had just accompanied Mother to visit His Majesty. What’s wrong with that?"

Tears welled in Si Jun’s eyes as he said, "No need for excuses, Crown Prince. I followed after hearing you and the Empress were coming to harm His Majesty, but I didn’t expect I would still be too late..."

Zhan Lan glanced at Si Jun with contempt. He was always so adept at acting.

"You’re spouting nonsense! Do you have any proof?" The Crown Prince was thoroughly enraged by Si Jun.

"Hmph. Of course I do," Si Jun sneered, "The Prince Xian was with me just now and heard as well, so he went to summon Commander Qian Cheng of the Imperial Army."

All eyes turned to Prince Xian, and Si Jun exchanged a knowing look with him.

However, Prince Xian looked at Si Jun in shock, his tone revealing disbelief. "I only heard King Wei mention it, but I did not blindly believe him. Out of concern for His Majesty’s safety, I went to call for assistance. Yet I never heard the Empress and the Crown Prince speak of regicide."

Si Jun’s pupils contracted sharply. He hadn’t expected Prince Xian to withdraw and watch the situation unfold from a distance.

Si Jun grew furious, pointing at Prince Xian and threatening, "Prince Xian, swear by your conscience that you didn’t hear it!"

Immediately, Prince Qi stepped forward and said, "I saw King Wei and Prince Xian whispering to each other. Si Jun and Prince Xian are clearly colluding—it’s an alliance!"

Prince Xian was aghast. Prince Qi was the most ruthless of all—he was now trying to drag them both down together! freёwebnoѵel.com

The Crown Prince sneered coldly, "Indeed, King Wei and Prince Xian are in cahoots!"

Suddenly, shouts erupted from outside the chamber. "Assassin!" the Imperial Army yelled.

During their patrol, they spotted a figure in black sneaking away from Emperor Xuanwu’s bedchamber in the darkness of night.

Si Jun immediately declared, "It must be one of the Crown Prince and Empress’s accomplices! I just saw someone in black escape through the window a moment ago!"

The Crown Prince shouted angrily, "Si Jun, that person was clearly yours! You’re the one who killed Father and Mother!"

When he entered, he hadn’t seen how Si Jun had killed the Emperor, but his Mother had died shielding him, taking the knife meant for him.

"Arrest them!" Mu Yan’s commanding voice cut through the chaos.

Qian Cheng and Vermilion Bird rushed out.

"Stop!" Mu Yan’s voice rang out again, directed at Qian Cheng. "Commander Qian, where are you going?"

All eyes turned to Qian Cheng. He replied respectfully, "Your Highness, I am going to apprehend the assassins!"

Mu Yan pulled out a stack of secret letters from his robe, his gaze sharp and penetrating, exuding a sense of pressure. "Commander Qian, you’ve been turning a blind eye, allowing so many people to enter His Majesty’s bedchamber while accepting bribes from all sides. Since you’re so skilled at calculations, why don’t you go work in the Ministry of Revenue?"

Qian Cheng’s muscles trembled when he saw the letters in Mu Yan’s hand.

In the struggle for succession, the worst mistake was picking the wrong side. Qian Cheng had tried to remain neutral, but Mu Yan had discovered his financial dealings and duplicity.

The more he tried to avoid offense, the deeper he dug his own grave.

"I was wrong!" Faced with the evidence, Qian Cheng did not dare to argue. He knew Mu Yan’s interrogation methods were more agonizing than death itself.

"Bind him!" Mu Yan’s voice was cold and low.

"Yes!"

Before the new emperor ascended the throne, no one dared defy the Regent King’s orders, as they carried the weight of imperial decrees.

Mu Yan looked toward the deputy commander of the Imperial Army and asked, "What’s your name?"

"Yang Wu, Your Highness!" The deputy commander responded with a bow.

Mu Yan’s voice carried authority. "Yang Wu, as of now, you are the new commander!"

Zhan Lan glanced at Mu Yan. Her husband always acted without her needing to worry, delivering unexpected surprises each time.

For someone as opportunistic as Qian Cheng, a decisive blow at the critical moment was exactly what was needed.

If her guess was correct, Yang Wu, whom Mu Yan had just promoted, was likely his trusted subordinate. This appointment was merely formalities.

The Crown Prince, trembling in pain from his wound, was surrounded by three brothers eyeing him like predators stalking prey. Like a lamb among tigers, he urgently needed a powerful protector like Mu Yan—his Imperial Uncle, the Regent King—to shield him and support him. Whatever the Regent King decreed would be his lifeline.

Even Marquis Lin Yuan, Si Yuzhang, had no words to refute under the weight of irrefutable evidence.

In such dire circumstances, making Yang Wu the commander was a move dictated by necessity.

Yang Wu wasted no time as he led his subordinates, raising his arm to issue the command, "Apprehend the assassin!"

Moments later, the Imperial Army returned with a corpse, blood seeping from its eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

"Reporting to the Crown Prince and Your Highness, the assassin has already taken poison," Yang Wu reported.

Vermilion Bird inspected the body outside the chamber and came to report, "Your Highness, this individual is one of King Wei’s men. I have fought against him before."

The Crown Prince hurried away from Zhan Lan’s side and moved to Mu Yan, his voice choked with emotion and tears streaming down, "Imperial Uncle, it was him and Si Jun who conspired to kill me. Mother was killed protecting me from them!"

Si Jun remained as composed as ever. "Crown Prince, this man betrayed me long ago and was expelled from my estate. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and investigate!"

Zhan Lan lowered her eyes. The Crown Prince, younger than Si Jun and always shielded by the Empress, was indeed lacking in wit and unable to stay calm under pressure.

If they hadn’t arrived in time today, it was likely the Crown Prince would have been killed by Si Jun.

The Crown Prince suddenly thought of something and exclaimed, "King Wei must have swapped the edict secretly! He intends to seize power and usurp the throne!"

Si Jun’s pupils contracted sharply. He looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief. "Crown Prince, do not falsely accuse me! I have prayed daily for Father’s long life. How could I harbor thoughts of rebellion?"

Si Yuzhang coughed lightly. "Then let’s examine the edict and see for ourselves!"

"Let’s open it and see!" The Crown Prince urged impatiently.

Si Jun nodded, "I agree."

Eunuch Li glanced at Mu Yan, who gave a slight nod. Eunuch Li then opened the hidden compartment and extracted a yellow imperial decree.

After unfolding the decree, Eunuch Li’s pupils trembled. "No, although this resembles His Majesty’s handwriting closely, it is not the will His Majesty left behind!"

"Read it aloud!" Mu Yan commanded Eunuch Li.

With visible unease, Eunuch Li read, "The decree states that the throne shall be inherited by King Wei!"

The Crown Prince’s expression turned furious, Prince Qi’s eyes darkened, and Prince Xian’s face grew grim.

Only Si Jun remained as composed as ever, bearing the attitude of someone certain of victory.

Zhan Lan’s heart filled with cold laughter. Compared to the other three, Si Jun was far more devious.

Si Jun’s tendency to discard people after using them was eerily reminiscent of Emperor Xuanwu.

No, he was even more ruthless than Emperor Xuanwu!

Eunuch Li turned toward Mu Yan and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the day His Majesty personally wrote the decree, you and this old servant were present. The contents of the decree do not match this one!"

"The decree has indeed been swapped!" Mu Yan’s gaze bore down on Si Jun.

Si Jun snatched the decree from Eunuch Li’s hands. His eyes grew sharp and he barked, "His Majesty’s handwritten decree is beyond question! Regent King, Eunuch Li, are you two plotting treason?"