Chapter 59 Usurpation of Power

  Wish everyone a happy weekend, passersby, give me a collection!

  Inside the castle, there was a magnificent palace. Inside the palace, there was a huge circular hall. In the middle of the back of the hall, there was a row of half-zhang high steps, and at the top of the steps, there was a huge throne. Under the steps in the hall, people were crowded together, almost all the royal nobles and powerful figures of Qinghai State gathered here at this time. At this time, these people were divided into two sides under the steps, like two camps, discussing and arguing with each other.

  "A country cannot be without a ruler for even one day. I think His Highness the Crown Prince should ascend to the throne first, and then discuss the national funeral arrangements."

  "Isn't this inappropriate? The former king has just passed away, we should first announce it to the world, and the whole country mourns together. As for the matter of the crown prince ascending to the throne, I think it's better to delay it a bit."

  "What's wrong with that? The Grand Prince is the one who was designated by the late king as his successor, and it's only natural for him to ascend to the throne after the late king's passing. How can you say it's not right? What are your true intentions?"

  "What is your intention? If the former king had passed away, and if the great king's son did not take care of this matter and immediately ascended to the throne, wouldn't his prestige be affected if the people were to find out about this? You insist on doing so, what is your intention?"

  "You, you have ulterior motives, did you think I wouldn't know what you're thinking?"

  "Hmm, then you tell me what I'm thinking?"

  Such debates can be seen everywhere in the palace, with those standing on the left side of the stairs mostly supporting the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne first, while those on the right believe that national mourning should come first. People from both sides argued until their faces turned red, but no conclusion was reached.

  Mo Gu Yun was also inside the palace at this moment, and it had been the second day since he entered the imperial city. As soon as he entered the imperial city, he discovered something unusual. The heavenly troops were patrolling everywhere in the imperial city, prohibiting anyone from walking around freely within the imperial city, and the entire imperial city was only allowed to enter but not exit. Mo Gu Yun recognized those heavenly troops as members of the Central Guard Army.

  At this moment, Mo Gu Yun didn't say a word and quietly watched the people around him who were arguing with red faces. A bad premonition was rising in his heart.

  "I wonder how Yan'er is doing now? And what about that kid Qin Lang?" Mo Gu Yun's heart was secretly worried, unsure of what was going on. From the moment he entered the royal city, he had been feeling restless and uneasy all over.

  Mo Gu Yun glanced at the few people standing on either side of the palace with his peripheral vision and shook his head.

  There were eight people in total, who were the heads of the remaining eight counties of Qinghai State except for Mo Gu Yun. At this time, they obviously had different opinions and stood on both sides of the stairs in two rows of four.

  Standing on the left are Bohun County Countess Shu Bohun, Yulai County Countess Han Yulai, Qingying County Countess Cao Qingying, and Qingzhu County Countress Cao Qingzhu. These four county countesses all support the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne immediately.

  Standing on the right are Ping County Countess Chupingke, Lalu County Countess Yilalulu, Qingli County Countess Caoqingli, and Qingyun County Countress Caoqingyun. These four county countesses believed that the grand prince's ascension to the throne should be temporarily postponed, and a national funeral should be held for the late king first.

  Those several ladies with the surname of Cao were all from the royal family, but at this moment they each had their own views and stood in different camps.

  Mo Gu Yun is now extremely troubled, as the eight county masters have all come to find him one after another. Shu Bo Wen, Han Yu Lai, Cao Qing Ying, and Cao Qing Zhu have all come to win him over to their camp, supporting the eldest prince's immediate ascension to the throne. This camp doesn't need to be said, it must definitely be the eldest prince's supporters.

  Those who think that the enthronement should be postponed and a national funeral held first, seem to have made Mo Gu Yun vaguely smell a conspiracy, behind which there may be even bigger things.

  But this was what Mo Gu Yun found most troublesome. As the youngest of all the county masters, he had never clearly taken a stand before. At this moment, the other eight counties suddenly split into two camps, and no matter which side he stood on, he would be an enemy to the other side.

  And judging from the situation, it seems that all the princes and nobles inside the palace, as long as they have some power in their hands, are divided into two camps.

  At this time when Mo Gu Yun was entangled in his heart, Cao Qingying slowly walked towards him.

  "Gu Yungun, have you still not made up your mind?" Cao Qingying walked to Mo Gu Yung's front and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

  "Qingying Junzhu." Mo Gu Yun slightly bowed his head and then said: "Gu Yun thinks that, Da Wangzi Dianxia is either ascending to the throne first or holding a national funeral first. In fact, these are not contradictory at all. Why..."

  "The crown prince must ascend to the throne first, or else there will be changes. I'm not afraid to tell you that this might be the most important choice of your life." Cao Qing's tone was slightly stern.

  "Qingying Junzhu..." Mo Gu Yun was about to say something when Cao Qingyun from another camp also walked towards him.

  Seeing Cao Qingyun coming over, Cao Qingying let out a cold hum and said: "Mo Gu Yun, the eldest prince is the king's designated successor to the throne. Supporting the eldest prince is following the trend of the times, you'd better think carefully." After finishing speaking, she turned around and left, and when passing by Cao Qingyun, both of them paused for a moment, but both let out a cold hum and didn't talk.

  Cao Qingyun walked up to Mo Gu Yun and smiled: "Gu Yun Princess, this is the second time I've come looking for you, isn't it?"

  "What the Lord of Qingyun said is correct." Mo Gu Yun cupped his hands and said.

  "This time I came, I won't beat around the bush with you either. The purpose is still to ask you to join us. We can't let the Crown Prince ascend to the throne now." Cao Qingyun said.

  "Qingyun County Master, Gu Yun..." Mo Gu Yun's eyebrows were all scrunched up together.

  "I know what's troubling you. Although the eldest prince is the designated heir to the throne, don't you think there are others who might be even more outstanding than him? Shouldn't the ruler of a country be the one who is most capable?"

  Cao Qingyun's words shocked Mo Guyu so much that he stared blankly, his eyes wide with utmost astonishment as he gazed at Cao Qingyun.

  "What did the Lord of Qingyun Prefecture mean by 'the capable one'?" Mo Gu asked, taking a deep breath and speaking with a trembling tone.

  "It won't be long before the Second Prince arrives, so it's best for Gu Yun to make a decision soon. Will she soar to great heights or sink into obscurity? Gu Yun, you're on your own." Cao Qingyun turned and left.

  "Second prince?" Mo Gu Yun muttered to himself. Mo Gu Yun suddenly raised his head, and two words that even he found hard to believe jumped out of his mind.

  "Mutiny?!"

  Although it's hard to believe, it's indeed the best explanation. No wonder both camps have been arguing with red faces and ears, no wonder there has never been a conclusion. It seems that these people actually have some idea in their hearts.

  But he himself was the last to know. Mo Gu Yun slapped his forehead, suddenly feeling a headache, his own Gu Yun county was located in a remote area, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away, and he rarely came to the capital, so that he had almost forgotten about the royal family's struggle. Until now, Mo Gu Yun only felt again that the struggle for power was everywhere, even in the royal family, it was unavoidable, and there was no exception. Because what they were fighting for here was the king's power.

  "Could it be that the Second Prince is going to usurp the throne?" Mo Gu Yun thought of Cao Qing Yun's words from earlier and secretly thought to himself. Mo Gu Yun was not familiar with the Second Prince, they had only met a few times. However, Mo Gu Yun knew that the Second Prince was indeed a talented and ambitious person, who acted decisively and was truly a king-like figure. On the other hand, the Eldest Prince, although he was the chosen successor of the late king, lacked a bit of the majesty of a ruler, his personality was slightly weak, and he didn't care much about state affairs.

  Mo Gu Yun looked left and right, his heart was extremely entangled, not knowing which side to stand on. The struggle for the throne is the most difficult to take sides. One careless move would lead to a situation where there's no turning back. The second prince had been plotting for a long time, at this moment he decided to usurp the throne, he must have thought he was fully prepared. But after all, the eldest prince was the orthodox one, holding military power.

  The eldest prince holds military power in his hands, with 100,000 heavenly soldiers at his command, responding to a single call. What can the second prince rely on to usurp the throne?

  Just as Mo Gu's thoughts were in disarray, the debate inside the palace suddenly came to a halt. As people looked on, a middle-aged man wearing mourning attire slowly approached. This person was none other than the Crown Prince.

  The Crown Prince walked through the crowd, to the front of the steps below the throne, looked at the people lined up on both sides, sighed, and looking at one person in the left crowd, said: "Prime Minister, I've thought about it, since Father passed away, why don't we hold a national funeral first? As for ascending to the throne, let's put it off for now?"

  He was called Zuo Xiang, an old man with a long beard. Upon hearing this, he hastily walked out of the crowd, bowed his head and said: "Your Highness, absolutely not! In my humble opinion, ascending to the throne should be done sooner rather than later. After the prince ascends to the throne and becomes king, then announce it to the world and let the whole nation mourn together."

  "Hum, Xu Changgeng, how dare you defy the will of His Highness the Prince?" The speaker was an old man with a white face and no mustache standing on the right side of the palace, who was none other than Right Minister Huang Heng.

  "Huang Heng, who exactly are you disobeying? You know it in your heart." Xu Changgeng said without giving an inch.

  "Left Prime Minister, Right Prime Minister, stop arguing. At this moment when the Emperor has passed away, I am already heartbroken. Don't add to the chaos."

  "Your Highness, the former king has passed away. The country cannot be without a ruler for even one day. In order to prevent some people from plotting evil deeds, I think it would be better to ascend to the throne first. At this moment, all the princes, nobles and officials are present, so even if you were to ascend to the throne now, there would be no problem." Cao Qingying said with a bow.

  "Qingying Wang Shu!" The Crown Prince was just about to speak.

  "Cao Qingying, isn't this a bit too hasty? The former king's bones are not yet cold, and if the common people were to find out, hehe, I'm afraid it would be unstable for the people's hearts."

  "King Qingyun, you... uh." The crown prince looked left and right, but for a moment, he also lost his composure.

  Mo Gu Yun saw this and silently shook his head. This big prince's personality was indeed too weak, without a shred of his own opinion.

  At this moment, a voice like thunder came from outside the palace.

  "Brother Wang, Brother Wang has been delayed due to some matters and arrived late. I hope Brother Wang won't blame him." A man wearing mourning attire like the others pushed through the crowd and walked towards the eldest prince standing at the foot of the stairs.

  This man is Cao Pi, the second prince of Qinghai State.