Chapter 108 The Last Mission

Chapter 108: The Final Task

When the imperial physician arrived, the Emperor had already been carried into the hunting lodge's personal quarters.

Xiao Yan stood outside, gazing at the closed door.

Inside, figures hurried back and forth, urgent footsteps echoed, and the physicians whispered.

After what felt like forever, the door swung open.

The physician walked out, his face ashen.

He dropped to his knees, voice shaking, "His Majesty... has suffered a head injury. Blood clots are pressing on his brain's channels... There's nothing more we can do..."

Xiao Yan's pupils narrowed sharply.

"What do you mean?"

The physician dared not raise his head, his voice quivering,

"We've saved His Majesty's life, but... whether he'll wake up... is anyone's guess."

Xiao Yan's mind reeled, echoing only four words:

Different paths, same end.

In the original story, around two months from now, Xiao Jing had already won over many court officials and held real power. He started feeding the Emperor a slow poison, gradually causing him to fall into a coma.

But now, so early on, Xiao Jing couldn't wait any longer.

And it wasn't by poisoning the Emperor, but by directly tampering with his horse.

This was more direct and even colder than the original plot.

Because no one knew—once the Emperor met with an accident, if he might die on the spot.

Why was Xiao Jing in such a hurry?

Xiao Yan suddenly recalled the looks Xiao Jing had shot him at the palace banquet last night.

There was something in those eyes he couldn't quite put his finger on.

A mix of wariness and vigilance.

A thought flashed through Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Jing was afraid of him.

The changes he had unwittingly made to the plot had already thrown too much off course.

But despite that, the outcome remained unchanged.

At that moment, Xiao Jing walked out from inside.

His face wore a perfectly calibrated sorrow, the corners of his eyes a little red, like a devoted son worried about his father.

Seeing Xiao Yan standing outside, he paused in his steps.

"Seventh Brother," he said in a hoarse voice, "Father..."

Xiao Yan studied that face—gentle and refined on the surface, but those eyes hid too much.

His expression was cool: "Sixth Brother, you must be exhausted."

Xiao Jing was taken aback. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to react this way.

"...Won't Seventh Brother go in and see Father?" he probed.

Xiao Yan shook his head and said,

"Father needs quiet rest. I won't disturb him."

He turned and walked out of the chamber.

Xiao Jing watched him walk away, his brows knitting slightly.

—

The Emperor had reigned for over thirty years and had always been in good health.

Because of that, the decision on the crown prince had been postponed.

The late Emperor had lived to seventy-three. Going by that, he himself still had at least twenty years left.

Picking a crown prince too early would only stir up trouble—he'd seen too much bloodshed over the succession back then.

So when the Emperor fell into a coma, this situation played right into Xiao Jing's hands.

Because among all the princes, he was the one with the highest prestige, the widest network, and the most support from the court officials.

A kingdom can't go a day without a ruler.

With the Emperor unconscious, someone had to temporarily manage state affairs.

Xiao Jing moved fast. The next morning, he called a few trusted ministers for a private chat.

Even though the Emperor's coma was kept under wraps, the court could never be kept completely in the dark.

As soon as this happened, the whole court had been in upheaval for two days.

Xiao Yan had been rushed off his feet, from the hunting grounds all the way to the palace.

The moment he got back to the palace, a eunuch came to relay a message:

"His Highness Prince Yu, the various ministers request your presence in the main hall for a conference."

Xiao Yan was silent for a moment.

He knew it was coming, sooner or later.

The main hall was already packed.

The Grand Secretary, the ministers of the Six Ministries, various members of the imperial clan, several influential princes...

Xiao Jing stood at the front, his face perfectly set in an expression of grief.

When Xiao Yan walked in, everyone bowed.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the crowd.

He saw Xu Zhen, a former subordinate of Zhao Chongwu, who now commanded thirty thousand elite troops in the military garrison outside the capital.

Speaking of General Xu Zhen, he was the father of Xu Ming, the one who had bullied Liu Qingci, and now he had become a partisan of Prince Rui.

Xu Zhen met his gaze and averted his eyes.

Xiao Yan said nothing.

The Grand Secretary stepped forward and said in a low voice, "His Highness Prince Yu, His Majesty the Emperor is indisposed and unconscious. A kingdom cannot go a day without a ruler, and the court cannot be without someone to manage affairs. We have discussed this and request that His Highness Prince Rui temporarily assume the regency until His Majesty awakens."

Xiao Yan's brow blinked almost imperceptibly as he looked at Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing stood there with a mournful expression, waving his hands in protest. "The Grand Secretary speaks too highly of me. I don't deserve such praise..."

"Prince Rui, please do not refuse," the Minister of Personnel stepped forward. "Your Highness is benevolent and magnanimous, and you have everyone's support. We are willing to support Your Highness in temporarily managing state affairs."

"We are willing to support Your Highness."

"We stand with Your Highness."

For a moment, the hall was filled with kneeling courtiers.

Xiao Yan stood among the crowd, watching the scene.

The officials from the Ministries of Personnel, Rites, and War... He looked at each one of those who knelt—all of them were Xiao Jing's people.

Or rather, they had all become Xiao Jing's people.

Xu Zhen was also kneeling, at the forefront of the military officers, his posture respectful.

Xiao Yan suddenly understood why Xiao Jing dared to act so hastily.

Because he already had the leverage.

With thirty thousand elite troops of the capital garrison in hand and the support of most of the court, the Emperor's coma had given him a legitimate pretext to seize power.

Xiao Jing taking power was the will of the people.

When it was over, Xiao Yan walked out of the hall.

"Prince Yu, please wait."

Xiao Jing's voice came from behind.

Xiao Yan stopped.

Xiao Jing walked up to him, his face wore a perfectly measured look of concern.

"Seventh Brother, Father is seriously ill, and we shouldn't return to our respective mansions. In my opinion, it would be better for us to stay in the palace so we can be on hand to care for him."

He paused. "I've already had the side hall near the Qianqing Palace made ready. If you don't mind, Seventh Brother, you can stay there."

"Sixth Brother is right," Xiao Yan said slowly.

Xiao Jing seemed surprised that he agreed so readily and added, "Rest assured, Seventh Brother, the side hall is arranged according to your preferences. If you need anything, just let me know."

Xiao Yan: "Mm."

Xiao Jing paused, his gaze sweeping past Xiao Yan to the guards outside the hall.

"Now that Father is seriously ill, the capital may be unstable. General Xu has already dispatched additional personnel to patrol the palace for the safety of us princes."

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile.

How nicely put.

The implication was that if he didn't agree to stay today, those additional personnel would forcibly detain him in the palace.

"Seventh Brother," Xiao Jing stepped closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, "you know that Father has always favored you. If he wakes up and finds that you've returned to Prince Yu's Mansion instead of staying by his side, he will surely blame you."

He sighed.

"As your elder brother, I can't let you gain a reputation for being unfilial."

Xiao Yan frowned impatiently. "Enough. I've already agreed. Stop with the nonsense."

Xiao Jing's face stiffened.

His expression nearly cracked, his eyes glinting with malice as he shot a glance at the impatient Xiao Yan.

"Seventh Brother, please."

He stepped aside, and several sturdy guards immediately came forward to escort Xiao Yan away under guard.

Walking along the palace corridor, Xiao Yan's expression was serious.

"Little K, the plot has moved ahead of schedule. Will the mission be moved up as well?"

Little K: "...Yes."

Little K added, "host, this is the last mission."