Chapter 293: Chapter 209: My Name is Lu Mingyuan, Crown Prince of Great Yan; Today I Am Instated to Make a Proclamation for the Nation

"A marriage alliance? What’s so good about it?"

A somewhat younger Cabinet Minister warned, "Lord Wang, this isn’t your style. You need to think clearly. If we lose this war, it’s a war of annihilation, not a game."

"That’s right. If we lose, it could be the final straw that breaks Great Yan."

Wang He’fu said icily, "We’d rather die on our feet than lose on our knees."

Many of the ministers wore complex expressions and remained silent.

Easier said than done.

When that time comes, Great Yan will fall, suffering defeat after defeat, and hundreds of millions of citizens will be the ones to die.

The Holy Nether Army won’t bother with concepts like mercy or justice. There will be rivers of blood.

"Lord Wang, you must consider the greater good," Yang Jingyu urged.

Wang He’fu cast a pleading gaze toward Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang, only to find that, as usual, the man remained silent.

Disappointment washed over Wang He’fu. He calmly closed his eyes.

"If Prince Huai’an marries into the Demon Country, it will be the beginning of a disaster for Great Yan. In that case, I will be too ashamed to continue in my post as Vice Chief Minister."

"You’re going to resign?"

A Cabinet Minister exclaimed in surprise.

He never would have expected it of Wang He’fu. After decades of navigating the court, known for his cunning and shrewdness, who would have thought he possessed such conviction?

You would never have guessed it from his usual demeanor.

Just as everyone was at their wits’ end, a golden imperial edict quietly arrived at the Cold Palace.

"Imperial edict!"

Eunuch Yan had come here reluctantly, but he had no choice in the face of the Holy Emperor’s command.

He had made Prince Huai’an wait for an entire day, expecting him to be anxious. To his surprise, Lu Mingyuan was still calmly sitting in the courtyard, teasing a bird.

"What is it, Eunuch?"

Lu Mingyuan looked up as Eunuch Yan arrived and stretched lazily.

"By order of the Holy Emperor, I am to invite Your Highness to leave the Cold Palace and take up residence in the Eastern Palace."

Eunuch Yan was fully prepared for Lu Mingyuan’s refusal, so his tone was quite perfunctory.

"Alright. Read the edict," Lu Mingyuan said with a smile.

"What?!"

Eunuch Yan’s expression shifted, and he asked in utter disbelief.

"Your Highness... you agree?"

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. "Is there some reason I cannot agree?"

"Well, no, it’s not that..."

’Just that single, casual word...’

’...and that was it?’

Eunuch Yan still hadn’t processed it.

’What in the world has gotten into Prince Huai’an today?’

’He refused before, so why did he choose to accept the imperial edict this time?’

"You seem to have many questions, Eunuch."

Eunuch Yan managed a smile. "Why did Your Highness refuse the last three times, only to suddenly have a change of heart now?"

Lu Mingyuan said mildly, "Because I heard the Court wants to send me for a marriage alliance with the Great Nether Empress. I truly don’t know what they’re thinking. If I didn’t agree, would I be carried out of the Capital City by force?"

Lu Mingyuan’s tone was heavy with meaning, hinting at something more.

’On the surface, it was coercion from the Empress.’

’But in reality, it was also a clandestine arrangement by my imperial father, aimed directly at me.’

’Become the Crown Prince.’

’Or marry into the Demon Country.’

’I could only choose one.’

’That father of mine wouldn’t allow me to just waste away in the Cold Palace. He needs me. He needs me to be of use.’

’The subtext was clear.’

’Be a good Crown Prince, satisfy His Majesty’s demands, and become his tool.’

’Refuse, and you’ll be sent off to be a live-in son-in-law.’

"So, Eunuch, may I leave the Cold Palace now?" Lu Mingyuan asked with a polite smile.

Eunuch Yan forced a smile. "Of... of course."

Lu Mingyuan took one last look at the place where he had spent so long. He straightened his posture, his smile vanished, and he called out three names toward his living quarters:

"Zi Yun."

"Hong Wan."

"Bai He."

"Here!"

In an instant, three graceful figures in long dresses of different styles appeared at Lu Mingyuan’s side.

Lu Mingyuan stated flatly, "Dress me. Then, the Crown Prince shall depart this palace!"

Hearing this, Zi Yun and Hong Wan exchanged a look, joy evident in their eyes.

With practiced ease, the two of them took the Crown Prince’s Python Robe from the trays held by the eunuchs and helped Lu Mingyuan into his new attire.

On another Golden Disc lay a smaller Dragon Seal—the Crown Prince’s Jade Seal.

"It’s so light." Holding the Crown Prince’s Jade Seal, Lu Mingyuan found it wasn’t very heavy.

At that moment, Eunuch Yan, now clad in a red Python Robe, held up the imperial edict and began to read in a solemn voice:

"The Sixth Prince, Lu Mingyuan, an heir of the Imperial Family, is the choice of Heaven’s will. In accordance with the prior edict, following established ceremony, and bowing to public sentiment, We solemnly inform Heaven and Earth and proclaim to the Imperial Ancestors, the Temple, and the State. We bestow upon him the regalia of office, establishing him as the Crown Prince of Great Yan, to take his rightful place in the Eastern Palace. Thus, we secure the dynastic line for ten thousand years and gladden the hearts of the people across the Four Seas!"

"Your son accepts the decree."

"Henceforth, I shall not fail the trust my imperial father has placed in me."

Lu Mingyuan knelt calmly and accepted the imperial edict with both hands.

The moment he received the decree, the Crown Prince’s Jade Seal in hand, the very sky above the Imperial Capital changed. A majestic Golden Dragon materialized upon the Great Flame Dragon Wall. It gazed at the dark clouds gathering above, a hint of wariness in its eyes.

RUMBLE!

A pillar of golden light erupted behind Lu Mingyuan, a celestial phenomenon that instantly drew the eyes of countless onlookers.

At that instant, his resplendent Qi Sea overflowed, releasing a golden Destiny as vast as the ocean.

Lu Mingyuan’s entire body began to glow.

Eunuch Yan watched this scene, his face a mask of calm.

’This was the phenomenon of the Golden Dragon Fortune, which came with the title of Crown Prince.’

’The Great Yan Dynasty was a Celestial Destiny Dynasty.’

’Once a Crown Prince was confirmed, he would be blessed with a massive amount of Destiny—one of the perks of the position.’

’It was just like with officials such as themselves, the Fulong, who, by providing their constant support, received the blessing of Great Yan’s Fortune and had their own power enhanced.’

’It was just that... this amount of Destiny was a little... exaggerated, wasn’t it?’

Watching the golden clouds of Destiny grow ever thicker, Eunuch Yan felt a strange sense of unease.

Everyone in the Imperial Capital saw the celestial phenomenon and was utterly stunned.

"This is... Golden Dragon Fortune..."

"This only happens when a new emperor ascends the throne or a Crown Prince is named!"

"The Holy Emperor still reigns, so could it be... a Crown Prince has been chosen!"

"Who is the Crown Prince!?"

The commoners, scholars, and Noble Families of the Imperial Capital were all intensely curious about who had been chosen as Crown Prince.

Then, a voice, incomparably loud and clear, boomed from the gates of the Imperial Palace, and the people finally knew the source of this incredible Destiny.

"I am Lu Mingyuan, Crown Prince of Great Yan."

"Today, I take my rightful place."

"At the north gate of the Great Yan Imperial Palace."

"For the Great Yan Dynasty."

"I shall make a declaration for the nation."

The voice rang out, echoing in all directions.

The terrifying Destiny of the Crown Prince exploded in that same instant, forming a massive vortex from which several Golden Dragons soared, letting out thunderous roars.

Today, he, Lu Mingyuan, would make a declaration for the nation, display its might, coalesce a Dragon Soul, and forge its Dragon Bone!

「At that moment.」

In Prince Chongwen’s Mansion, Lu Yunqing’s eyes went wide in utter disbelief.

"Sixth Brother is the Crown Prince? How is that possible? Didn’t he refuse three times already? Why would our imperial father still choose him?!"

Wang He’fu, dejected and resolved to resign from his post, froze in place when he heard the voice.

’The Holy Emperor... As expected, the Holy Will is impossible to predict. It is right for me to step down.’

A look of relief appeared on Wang He’fu’s face.

’His grandson was now the Crown Prince. It was time for him to leave the stage.’

Within the Imperial City, the assembled court officials were utterly dumbfounded.

And within the Imperial Palace, the voice struck like a clap of Celestial Thunder.

The vast, resonant voice caused Emperor Yong’an, who was in the middle of placing a chess piece, to freeze. A cold sneer then touched his lips.

’So he truly is blessed by the Destiny of the Three Religions,’ he thought. ’No wonder his Golden Dragon Fortune is so immense.’

At that moment, everyone in the Capital was stunned by the terrifying, once-in-a-millennium celestial display.

At the same time, they waited in anticipation.

This new Crown Prince had said he would make a declaration for the nation.

’What would he say?’

...