Elder Xu and the others were stunned by the revelation. What could possibly be wrong with the tea sold in the merchant houses?
But when the Imperial Guards served cups of Spring Sun Tea, the aroma alone made their heads spin. They were filled with an overwhelming urge to rush forward and drink.
In that moment, they realized the tea was addictive!
"Based on the timing, the poison has deeply affected you all. By now, you can’t live without this Spring Sun Tea," Ye Chengyan announced. "How are you feeling? Like your body is being gnawed at by bugs? You’re probably just dying for a sip of this tea, aren’t you?"
Their initial hatred toward Ye Chengyan was overtaken by the poison of the Seven Hearts Leaf, which had deeply infiltrated their systems. Their feeble willpower was no match for the cravings that overtook them.
Some, heavily poisoned, could no longer bear it and turned to Ye Chengyan, pleading, "Please... please, Prince of Wu’an, grant us the tea."
Raising an eyebrow with a smug smile, Ye Chengyan commanded, "Kneel."
The ministers’ minds screamed resistance, but their bodies betrayed them. Unable to fight the addiction, they knelt, including several high-ranking officials, some as senior as third-rank.
Even members of the Cabinet bowed their heads before him.
Prime Minister Lu, drenched in a fine layer of sweat, was also struggling. His bones ached, and his body alternated between freezing and burning. He, too, felt the overwhelming urge to kneel.
But Elder Cao quickly pulled him back. "You refused to drink the tea your future son-in-law sent, but drank this poison instead. See where it’s gotten you? You’ve been played!"
Prime Minister Lu, shocked, looked at Elder Cao and stammered, "Why... why are you... unaffected?"
With a smirk, Elder Cao responded, "I’m lucky--I don’t like tea. I prefer sweet soups." He chuckled. "Who knew it’d save me?"
Prime Minister Lu, now despairing, muttered, "But you’re the only one... What good is that?"
"It’s good enough. I can still scold him!" Elder Cao declared, his back straight as ever. As long as he was still breathing, he could still hurl insults!
Fixing his gaze on Ye Chengyan, Elder Cao bellowed, "I underestimated you. Who would have thought you’d resort to such schemes? Had I known your character was so rotten, I’d have urged the Emperor to execute you, not just depose you!"
Ye Chengyan flicked his sleeve dismissively, retorting, "It’s not about rotten character. The throne has always belonged to the most capable! I’m just reclaiming what’s mine!"
Standing firm, Elder Cao rebutted, "Do you have an imperial edict or decree? How dare you claim the throne as yours?"
"You lack both talent and virtue, which is why you’ve resorted to poison, forcing ministers to submit to you. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you are neither talented nor virtuous. Marquis of Anyang holds the Imperial Jade Seal and the Imperial Tiger Sigil. Soon, he’ll summon troops to surround the capital and slay you, traitor!"
Elder Cao’s sharp words cut like daggers into Ye Chengyan’s deepest fears. The thought of Chu Hanlin refusing to return to the capital haunted him--if that happened, he would be trapped, with only one fate awaiting him.
Driven to madness, Ye Chengyan shouted, "Imperial Guards, did you not hear my command? Kill him!"
Without thought or hesitation, the Imperial Guards, who acted solely on Ye Chengyan’s orders, drew their swords. Cold steel flashed, ready to strike down Elder Cao.
"Stop!" A weak yet commanding voice rang out from the side chamber.
Ye Chengyan froze, and the Imperial Guards halted.
Supported by the chief eunuch, Emperor Muwu staggered forward, looking frail and pale. His voice was feeble, "I’ve written an edict of abdication. If you harm a single minister, I will burn the edict."
He placed the imperial edict atop the golden dragon lamp.
Ye Chengyan’s eyes widened at the sight of the edict. "Father, is this true? Is that the real edict?!"
Could it be that he hadn’t been abandoned after all?
He moved toward the edict but quickly stopped.
Shaking his head slightly, he said, "You’ve already given the Imperial Jade Seal to Qingyang. Even if this is an edict, it’s worthless without the seal. It has no authority!"
With labored breaths, Emperor Muwu opened the edict.
There, in crimson red, was the unmistakable mark of the Imperial Jade Seal.
"I would not deceive you," Emperor Muwu said gravely. "Given the current circumstances, my only wish is for the ministers and citizens to remain unharmed. If you swear an oath, I will give you the edict."
Tears welled up in Elder Cao’s eyes as he dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, no! You cannot!"
If Ye Chengyan were to ascend the throne, the ministers and citizens of the capital might survive for now, but the century-old legacy of Mu Nation would crumble, and countless people would suffer.
"I cannot bear to see the capital bathed in blood," Emperor Muwu whispered, weaker than ever, as though he might collapse at any moment.
Seeing the sorrow on his father’s face, Ye Chengyan believed him. He raised his hand and swore, "After receiving the edict, I will not harm the ministers or the citizens. I will govern diligently, love the people, and protect the land of Mu Nation! If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
With a sigh, Emperor Muwu said, "Come and take it."
Ye Chengyan, ecstatic, rushed forward.
This was the moment he had longed for--his dream come true!
With the imperial edict in hand, even Chu Hanlin, loyal to the Emperor, would have no choice but to acknowledge him. Even if troops surrounded the city, he would have the legitimacy of the throne. At worst, he still had the palace guards to defend him--the final outcome was yet undecided.
Still cautious, he ordered the Imperial Guards to fetch the edict.
Emperor Muwu remained silent, allowing the guards to take it.
Ye Chengyan, reassured that there was no treachery afoot, eagerly received the edict.
The handwriting was unmistakably that of Emperor Muwu, clearly stating the transfer of the throne to him, complete with the seal of the Emperor.
Tears of joy welled up in Ye Chengyan’s eyes as he grinned like a child receiving the greatest gift of all. "Father, you finally passed the throne to me. I am your only son, after all. Who else would you pass it to?"
This was his rightful inheritance!
As tears streamed down his face, he wiped them away.
Emperor Muwu, watching his son’s reaction, sighed heavily. Perhaps all the bloodshed and struggles of his own life had been too much--now, in his final days, he had no son to carry on his legacy.
Yet he still had his ninth brother...
Before he could dwell on his thoughts, a figure braved the storm outside and entered the hall.
It was Xuanyuan Che, visibly frustrated. "A group of Daoist priests from the Wu family has set up a barrier with talismans, and I can’t get through!"
Ye Siheng, left unchecked, would only cause greater disaster, but even the skilled shamans from the border nations couldn’t break through the barrier.
Ye Chengyan, indifferent to this, waved the imperial edict in Xuanyuan Che’s face. "Look! This is the imperial edict! Father has passed the throne to me!"
"Is that so?!" Xuanyuan Che took a glance at the edict and immediately darkened his expression. "Prince of Wu’an, no wonder the ministers don’t accept you. This seal is a fake. Can’t you see it?"