Yan Taifeng paused briefly.
Then continued.
"To my children..."
"If there is one thing I wish..."
"It is not a command. It is not a decision. It is just my wish!"
A mont of stillness.
"Live without regret!"
The Dead Emperor knew that an imperial decree or choosing a crown prince or princess wouldn't change anything.
They would still fight for the throne. So, he could only say that no matter what they did, they should do it without regret, unlike him.
If you wish to fight for the throne, then fight.
If you wish to step away, then step away.
There was nothing that he could do and could only leave them to their fate.
That was what the Emperor wanted to say, it seed.
The princes and princesses remained silent. Their expressions were unreadable.
Minister Yan glanced at them and sighed inwardly.
"This is it! I hope you keep His Majesty's words in your hearts!"
The Imperial Decree ended.
Silence!
A long, suffocating silence.
Then whispers.
"There's... no Crown Prince?"
"No successor? He didn't na anyone?"
"It seems like it will be up to us to decide that then."
All eyes subtly shifted once again.
From the Emperor's lifeless body...
To one another.
This ti, there was no restraint left.
The First Prince, Yu Zidi, remained still.
But his brows tightened ever so slightly.
A trace of disappointnt flickered within his eyes.
(He didn't choose ...)
For a mont, a shadow passed through his thoughts.
He had believed-no, he had been certain that his father would na him.
After all, he was not only the firstborn but had worked extrely hard to achieve everything he had.
He did everything to earn his father's approval and worked with the Empire's court from a very young age.
He believed that there was no one more suitable than him to beco Emperor. (Why? WHY? Just why?)
He had sacrificed so much, worked so hard, and still he couldn't earn his father's acknowledgent.
(How am I not better than them?)
He glared at everyone. Although he didn't claim to be the most talented in cultivation or skills like alchemy or formations, when it ca to handling court matters, he was undoubtedly the most experienced and the obvious choice.
He had earned the trust of many ministers, and on occasions when the Emperor was absent, he was the one who worked the most among all his siblings.
Yet it seed those extra efforts were never acknowledged by his father.
He felt a tinge of sadness as well as anger.
But that mont passed quickly, replaced by sothing sharper and colder.
(It's fine!)
His lips curled faintly, almost imperceptibly.
(This is better.)
No one had been nad, which ant that the Emperor didn't favor him-but
also that others weren't favored either.
Looking at the current situation, it was undoubtedly true that he was the
strongest candidate among everyone present.
His gaze swept across the others.
The Second Prince.
The Fourth Princess.
The rest.
So looked thoughtful.
So looked confident.
So were already calculating their next move.
Yu Zidi's smile deepened slightly.
(You all think you have a chance...)
His eyes darkened.
(But you don't. The Vermillion Pill Empire has already agreed to support .)
A flicker of cold certainty passed through him.
With the support of the Vermillion Pill Empire, he could deal with any
competitor stronger than himself.
Of course, he didn't think that even without them, any of his siblings stood a
chance against him.
(Once the funeral is over... I will take the throne.)
However, he wasn't the only one thinking this way.
Other princes and princesses who had already prepared for the battle also
believed their plans would succeed and that they would be the final victor.
Yu Zidi looked at his siblings once more.
Seeing their calm expressions, their confidence, and their unconcealed ambition, he scoffed inwardly.
(You're all overestimating yourselves. I will be the one to take the throne.)
Everyone still stood there, looking at the face of their deceased father.
Then Yu Zidi took a step forward.
His expression had already returned to calm.
The earlier turmoil was nowhere to be seen, only composure remained.
He slowly swept his gaze across the room.
Across his siblings.
Across the Empress and the Queens.
Across the lifeless figure on the bed.
Then he spoke.
"Father Emperor has passed away."
His voice was calm and steady.
"The Empire shall enter a mourning period of forty-nine days."
His tone grew firr and more authoritative.
"All unnecessary activities are to cease imdiately. No celebrations. No
banquets. No military movents without proper cause."
His words flowed naturally.
Others weren't very thrilled to see the First Prince acting as if he was already in
charge, as if he were the Emperor.
The Second Prince narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Fourth Princess remained expressionless.
Several others exchanged subtle glances.
But no one interrupted him, because as the eldest, he wasn't overstepping too
much either.
"The funeral ceremony will be held after the mourning period. It shall be
conducted with the highest rites befitting the Emperor."
What Yu Zidi was doing was obvious to many.
Taking initiative and pretending that he was in control.
Acting... like the Emperor already.
So lowered their gaze, not interested in the battle for the throne and didn't
think much of it.
So smirked faintly.
(Act while you can. Enjoy it while it lasts.)
Because in their hearts, they believed the sa thing.
(Soon, I will be the one giving commands!)
Then Yu Zidi took another step forward.
This ti, his gaze shifted.
From his siblings...
To the Empress and the Queens.
Their cries still echoed softly within the chamber. So wept openly.
So covered their faces with trembling sleeves.
Whether real or not... the scene was one of mourning.
Yu Zidi lowered his head slightly.
His expression softened.
His voice, no longer carrying the sa authority as before, beca gentler.
"Mother Empress... Honored Mothers...Please... take care of yourselves. Father
Emperor would not wish to see you in such distress."
His tone was respectful, filled with caring tone.
He turned and his gaze fell upon Yan Taifeng. "Minister Yan!"
His tone shifted again.
Back to firm. Back to commanding.
"Make the necessary preparations."
Yan Taifeng imdiately cupped his hands.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Yu Zidi continued.
"Send out an official announcent to the entire Empire."
A brief pause.
"Declare that the Emperor has passed."
The weight of those words settled heavily.
"The mourning period shall begin imdiately."
"All regions, all cities, all sects and clans within the Empire's domain are to
observe it."
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