Wei Shuxuan told Xin Zizhao all the information she had recently investigated. Hearing this, Xin Zizhao frowned slightly. "It's all Sima Tianhai's doing. He abducted many young men from the border of the Royal Dragon Kingdom and turned them into his loyal followers. His aim is to cooperate with Sima Yongheng from within and seize the power of the Royal Dragon Kingdom."
"Yes, that's exactly it. So, we should hurry back to the palace. Otherwise, once Sima Tianhai's evil plot succeeds, it will be even more difficult for us to take back the Royal Dragon Kingdom."
"I understand, but don't be in such a hurry," Xin Zizhao grabbed Wei Shuxuan who was about to get up and pack her luggage. "Since Sima Tianhai intends to seize power, they must be well - prepared with sufficient troops before taking action. So, we should also inform Zian and General Long An and his son to send troops to help us."
"Yeah, you're right. Then we'll go find Zian to discuss our countermeasures later."
Looking at Wei Shuxuan's eager look, Xin Zizhao pulled her into his arms. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "Hey, don't you think we should have a good time together after being apart for so long? Are you so eager to send me away?"
"I... I didn't mean that! I'm just afraid that the Royal Dragon Kingdom will be taken away," Wei Shuxuan blushed as she looked at Xin Zizhao.
"Good that you didn't. Moreover, I haven't even worried about whether my country will be taken away, but you're already worrying about it for me, huh?" The little trailing tone in Xin Zizhao's words made the blush on Wei Shuxuan's face spread even faster. Even her earlobes turned red.
"......Alright, do as you say. I won't bother with you anymore."
"Heheh..." Seeing Wei Shuxuan's look as if she was going to her death, Xin Zizhao couldn't help but chuckle.
Meanwhile, at the palace, although it seemed very calm on the surface, in fact, a storm was brewing. Dan Linghai was extremely worried because Xin Zizhao had left the palace capriciously, neglecting the affairs of the court. The court had split into two factions. One faction supported Xin Zizhao to continue being the emperor of the Royal Dragon Kingdom, but this was the minority. The other faction, led by Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin, supported the Eleventh Prince, Xin Yeheng, to ascend the throne.
Dan Linghai had no confidence in controlling these people. He went to the Qianyu Palace to see Emperor Jinzheng and poured out his troubles to him. "Your Majesty the Grand Emperor, what should we do?"
"Just do what you should do. Anyway, I'm not going to interfere. I've been busy all my life. If you want to fight for power, go ahead. However," Emperor Jinzheng always left half of his words unsaid. "Zizhao doesn't seem like such an irresponsible child. Yeheng is still young. He's not yet ready to be the emperor. But if he's given a few more years of training, it might be worth considering. He's a smart child."
"Your Majesty the Grand Emperor..." Dan Linghai was very helpless.
"I'll trouble you during this period, Prime Minister Dan."
Qi Ha'er had already deployed elite troops in the palace and was ready to seize the seal that symbolized the Royal Dragon Kingdom at any time. Then the whole Royal Dragon Kingdom would belong to General Sima. And this Xin Yeheng was just a puppet that General Sima used to control the Royal Dragon Kingdom.
"Xiaoheng, we'll send out troops tonight to seize that seal. Then you'll be the emperor of the Royal Dragon Kingdom. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
No matter how much Xin Yeheng didn't want this day to come, it still arrived. He still had to seize the throne of the Royal Dragon Kingdom. To be honest, when he found out that his father was the Grand Emperor of the Royal Dragon Kingdom, he didn't feel anything. For him, that man was just the father who had given him some blood. Apart from the father - son relationship, there was nothing else.
That night, relying on his status as a prince, Xin Yeheng openly entered the imperial study and found the exclusive seal of the Royal Dragon Kingdom. The seal, carved from jade, had a mighty dragon on it. He wrapped the seal in a cloth and took it out of the imperial study.
While Xin Yeheng was in the imperial study getting the seal, Qi Ha'er led a team of elite troops to surround the whole palace and directly broke into the Golden Throne Hall. Xin Yeheng was already waiting for him in the hall. "Xiaoheng, did you get the seal I asked you to get?"
"Got it."
Xin Yeheng took out the seal wrapped in a purple cloth and showed it to Qi Ha'er. Qi Ha'er picked up the white jade seal in front of him. It was smooth all over. He looked up to the sky and laughed. Looking at the arrogant Qi Ha'er, Xin Yeheng just hoped that Qi Ha'er wouldn't notice that this white jade seal was actually a fake.
"Xiaoheng, you did a good job. Now you hold this seal. Tomorrow we'll announce that from now on, you'll inherit the Royal Dragon Kingdom and become the new emperor of the Royal Dragon Kingdom. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
The news that the seal symbolizing the power had fallen into the hands of the Eleventh Prince had spread throughout the palace overnight. During the morning court, Xin Yeheng appeared in front of the ministers with the seal that symbolized the imperial power of the Royal Dragon Kingdom. He looked seriously at the group of ministers below. "From now on, I'm the emperor of this country. If any of you don't submit, you can just resign and leave. I won't stop you."
Hearing what Xin Yeheng said, most of the officials chose to stay, but there were still a small number of officials who chose to take off their official hats and angrily left the Golden Throne Hall, including Dan Linghai.
"Such a heinous act, Eleventh Prince. You'll surely be struck by lightning!" Dan Linghai left these words before he left.
Xin Yeheng pursed his lips. The grievance in his heart welled up like water gurgling out of a toppled water bottle. He didn't know where it would flow. Despite the grievance, he still stubbornly didn't show it.
"The morning court begins!"
Wei Shuxuan and Xin Zizhao, who were far away in Baolan Town, only found out on the morning of the third day that Xin Yeheng had taken the seal of the Royal Dragon Kingdom and ascended the throne. As soon as Wei Shuxuan knew this, she pulled Xin Zizhao and said they should go back. But Xin Zizhao grabbed her. "Don't be impulsive. Wait for Zian and the others to come, and then we'll set off."
As for Wei Wei, he pretended to be Zhang Er and first asked the shopkeeper for a five - day vacation. Then he took off his human - skin mask and released the real Zhang Er who was tied up in the room. On the day they left Baolan Town, Wei Wei also left with Wei Shuxuan and Xin Zizhao.
Since riding a horse was faster than taking a carriage to return to the capital, they all rode horses, even Wei Shuxuan. Although she said she could ride a horse by herself, her speed was too slow, so she had to ride on the same horse with Xin Zizhao.
From Wei Shuxuan's mouth, Xin Zizhao learned that the world - famous General Wei Tu had been turned into a loyal follower by Sima Tianhai and had become one of Sima Tianhai's most powerful loyal followers.
"Xuan'er, are you worried?"