At this moment, the great hall of the Jiang Dynasty was filled with gathered civil and military officials.
Low murmurs of discussion could be heard throughout the assembly, while two elders standing in the front row emanated the aura of Earth Realm cultivators.
One was Grand Preceptor Wang Yuexing, a late-stage Earth Realm cultivator and the third strongest individual in the Jiang Dynasty.
The other was Left Minister Zuo Xuanqi, a peak Earth Realm cultivator and the strongest individual currently in the dynasty.
All of them were clad in white mourning robes, their expressions somber as they mourned the death of the late emperor.
Behind the Grand Preceptor stood Zhang Lin, the Grand Tutor, silently gazing at the hall's doors.
Tap… Tap…
Footsteps echoed, drawing everyone's attention toward the entrance.
The Second Prince, Jiang Chen, walked into the hall dressed in mourning attire. Before the eyes of all present, he strode to the dragon throne and took his seat upon it.
"This…"
Some officials looked at Jiang Chen sitting on the throne with confusion, but they held their tongues.
The Left Minister cast Jiang Chen a deep, probing look before glancing at the Grand Preceptor and the Grand Tutor. Then, choosing to remain silent, he decided to wait and see what Jiang Chen would say.
"The Grand Dream Dynasty, in collusion with the Blood Shadow Tower and the Evil Moon Hall, plotted treachery on the battlefield, leading to the tragic death of my father. They also wiped out a million-strong army of the Jiang Dynasty!"
"Not long after, the Blood Shadow Tower sent assassins to the crown prince's palace, poisoning my elder brother. By the time he was found, it was too late to save him. I am filled with deep sorrow."
"They first murdered my father, then my brother. Such grievances can never be reconciled. The Jiang Dynasty and these villains are enemies unto death!"
"However, the nation cannot remain leaderless for a single day. If we descend into chaos now, we will only play into their hands."
"Therefore, I, Jiang Chen, declare that from this day forth, I shall assume the position of emperor of the Jiang Dynasty. Does anyone object?"
Jiang Chen sat on the throne, his face displaying grief as he addressed the court.
"What?!"
"The crown prince is dead?!"
The news shocked many officials in attendance.
The Left Minister and Iron Breakcloud, the dynasty's Grand General, narrowed their eyes and exchanged a deep, meaningful glance.
They both knew very well that the Blood Shadow Tower had no reason to assassinate the crown prince. On the contrary, they would have preferred him to ascend to the throne. This revelation made it clear to anyone paying attention who the true culprit likely was.
"But the imperial palace is heavily guarded by the imperial guards. How could the Blood Shadow Tower's assassins infiltrate the crown prince's palace unnoticed?"
One official voiced his doubts.
Huang Liquan, the commander of the imperial guards, stepped forward to explain:
"The infiltrator was a Earth Realm assassin, far too powerful for the imperial guards to handle. Fortunately, the Grand Tutor arrived in time and drove them away."
"What?!"
"A Earth Realm assassin from the Blood Shadow Tower? That must be one of their gold-ranked assassins!"
The revelation sent a wave of shock through the officials.
The Blood Shadow Tower, a top-tier assassin organization, categorized its assassins into bronze, silver, gold, and ace rankings.
Bronze-ranked assassins were at least at the Profound Realm.Silver-ranked assassins were at the Soul Realm Peak or higher.Gold-ranked assassins had a minimum cultivation of Heavenly Realm Peak, with most being at the Earth Realm.Ace assassins were incredibly rare; the Blood Shadow Tower had only two, its leader and deputy leader.
For a gold-ranked assassin to infiltrate the palace to assassinate the crown prince seemed implausible. The idea of the Blood Shadow Tower sending such a high-ranking assassin to kill a so-called "useless crown prince" was absurd.
"Alas, though I managed to repel the assassin, I was too late to save the crown prince. Such a pity, taken so young…" Zhang Lin, the Grand Tutor, sighed with a sorrowful expression.
"The deaths of both the emperor and crown prince are a grave insult to the Jiang Dynasty."
"Now, only the Second Prince can stabilize the dynasty, rally the court, and lead the army to exact vengeance upon the Grand Dream Dynasty!"
Tie Han, a senior general, immediately stood and spoke solemnly.
"Well said. Only the Second Prince can restore order to the court!"
"The Second Prince is a young prodigy of the Jiang Dynasty and a disciple of the hegemonic Tempest Sect!"
"With the Second Prince leading us, we will crush the Grand Dream Dynasty and avenge the emperor and crown prince!"
"Please, Second Prince, ascend the throne and take charge of the nation!"
"Please, Second Prince, ascend the throne!"
Many officials echoed the sentiment, seemingly coordinated, bowing to Jiang Chen in unison.
Even those initially hesitant soon followed suit, bowing and pleading for Jiang Chen to ascend the throne.
The Left Minister, Grand Preceptor, and Grand General Iron Breakcloud, exempt from kneeling by their rank, stood upright, observing the proceedings quietly.
Jiang Chen feigned reluctance but eventually sighed and said, "Very well. Since none of you object, I shall take the throne of the Jiang Dynasty!"
He then took out the dynasty's founding jade seal and held it high before him.
"Long live the emperor…"
"Hold it right there!"
A voice, cold and familiar to Jiang Chen, rang out from outside the hall, cutting through the ceremony.
Startled, the officials turned toward the source. Their faces paled in shock at what they saw.
Jiang HuanYu strode into the hall, his expression solemn, flanked by four God-Slaying Guards.
The Left Minister and Iron Breakcloud exchanged glances, seeing mutual surprise and curiosity in each other's eyes.
As for Jiang Chen, his pupils contracted sharply, his face momentarily filled with shock and embarrassment.
The Grand Tutor and Tie Han also looked visibly disturbed. The sight of Jiang HuanYu, very much alive and standing in the hall, darkened their expressions.
"Damn it!"
"That wretched woman dared deceive me!"
Jiang Chen's heart seethed with killing intent. He wanted nothing more than to drag the woman back from hell and slap her for misleading him so completely.
She had sworn that Jiang HuanYu was dead, yet here he was, alive and well.
And to add to his frustration, Jiang Chen couldn't fathom how this had happened.
"I sent two men to retrieve his corpse. Even if he survived, how could they have let him come here?"
"What's going on? Did they betray me?"
"Crown Prince! You're alive?!"
"This… Second Prince, Grand Tutor, what is the meaning of this?"
"Didn't you say the crown prince had been killed by Blood Shadow Tower assassins? What is going on here?"