pdf-ebookys Chapter 220 Ascending the Throne to Become Emperor, Ushering in a New Chapter
Chapter 220 Ascending the Throne to Become Emperor, Ushering in a New Chapter
This was like a long-awaited rain after a drought, or meeting an old friend in a foreign land. Li Heng was worried about not having a wife or children, and now a pregnant Yan Ji had fallen from the sky.
After receiving a reassuring look from Yan Ji, Li Heng got out of the carriage and helped her up, sighing softly, "Why are you doing this? You're pregnant, how can you be so careless about your health? Come, get in the carriage with me!"
A hint of smugness flashed in Yan Ji's eyes, and then she lowered her head and followed Li Heng back to the East Palace.
Soon after, the sound of string and wind instruments filled the Eastern Palace, and Li Heng seemed to have rediscovered that familiar yet fleeting joy.
As the year draws to a close, Chang'an City is brightly decorated and bustling with activity.
However, behind this prosperity, a silent storm is brewing.
In Ningyuan, Li Jingqing stood in the center of the martial arts training ground.
Since receiving Li Mao's orders a few days ago, he had devoted himself entirely to the management and defense of this garden. His presence was like an impregnable fortress, and no one could possibly uncover Li Mao's secrets in the Ning Garden martial arts arena!
No matter what Li Mao wants to do, Li Jingqing will always be his biggest supporter.
Meanwhile, inside the Lishan Hot Spring Resort, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi were closely monitoring the final part of the construction of the underground secret passage.
This is a top-secret project, and we must ensure that everything goes perfectly.
The two exchanged a few words from time to time, but most of the time they were lost in deep thought.
They knew that this underground passage was like their lifeline in following Li Mao, and they absolutely could not afford any mistakes!
In the imperial court, Li Linfu's methods became increasingly sophisticated.
He skillfully controlled the situation, suppressed opposition forces, and promoted his cronies.
The current imperial court has become Li Mao's strongest backing.
As for the Crown Prince's cronies... Hmph, the Crown Prince is almost finished, so naturally, his cronies are either dead or have left. A few who have joined Li Linfu's ranks live in fear and grovel every day, which makes Li Linfu very happy.
As for Li Mao himself, he decided to stay away from the strife at the end of the year.
He wanted to take advantage of the last moments of calm before the storm to spend some time with Yang Yuhuan.
Inside the grand mansion in Xianyang, the two figures leaned against each other, as if all the troubles of the world had faded away.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, inside a grand mansion in Xianyang.
The candlelight flickered, and a cold wind blew outside the window, but inside the room it was warm as spring.
Yang Yuhuan sat in front of her dressing table, combing her long hair in front of the mirror, her eyes full of tenderness.
"Your Highness, this year has been truly difficult. You've worked so hard." Her voice was gentle and moving, with a hint of joy. "We've finally overcome our hardships and are able to be together. I feel that this is more important than anything else."
Now she no longer had to wear the rigid Taoist robe, but instead wore the Rainbow Feather Robe prepared by Li Mao, looking incredibly beautiful.
Li Mao leaned against the window, looking at the beauty before him, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
He simply said, "With you by my side, all the hardships and struggles are worth it."
Yang Yuhuan turned around gently, walked towards Li Mao, and nestled in his arms.
Just as they were immersed in their sweet world together, a dramatic change occurred in the Daming Palace.
—The eunuch Gao Chen held a secret letter in his hand, feeling apprehensive.
This is a secret letter from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, which shockingly states that Yang Yuhuan is not dead! Once this earth-shattering secret is leaked, it will surely cause a huge uproar, and the Emperor will definitely not let Yang Yuhuan and Prince Shou off the hook.
After much hesitation, he decided to tell Li Longji about it.
"I only discovered this secret letter a few days ago when I went to the Tianji Pavilion to deliver New Year's gifts to my godfather. I thought I should tell His Majesty, so I just took it back. My godfather is still completely unaware of it!"
Gao Chen presented the letter and said sarcastically, "That Prince Shou, how dare he take advantage of His Majesty's affection for Yang Yuhuan to do such a treasonous thing. The two of them are in Xianyang now. So he took leave on business to have fun with Yang Yuhuan. It's really a pity for His Majesty to worry about this unfilial son for nothing!"
Gao Chen and Li Mao have always been at odds, and he is happy to see Li Mao in trouble.
Although Li Longji had recovered considerably by this time, he was still somewhat incoherent.
He listened to Gao Chen's report in his bedchamber, his face grim, nearly dropping the jade ruyi in his hand. "...Prince Shou, how dare you...deceive me to this extent?"
Gao Chen was secretly delighted, but cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, do you think we should immediately send men to Xianyang to arrest Li Mao and Yang Yuhuan?"
Li Longji slammed his fist on the table in anger, stammering, "Immediately... send out... the Imperial Guards, and bring them back at all costs!"
At that moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly rang out outside the mansion in Xianyang.
A servant rushed in to report: "Your Highness, the Imperial Guards have been dispatched from the palace, saying they are here on the Emperor's orders to arrest us!"
Li Mao remained calm and said to Yang Yuhuan, "Don't be afraid, everything is going according to plan."
He then instructed the guards, "There's no need to guard the mansion anymore. Yu Huan and I will go with them."
Since he's going to take over the Daming Palace sooner or later anyway, might as well do it now.
On his way back to Chang'an after being captured, Li Mao released a signal that he had prepared long ago.
Upon seeing this, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi immediately activated the underground passage and led their troops to surround Chang'an City and the imperial palace from the inside out.
He and Yang Yuhuan, on the other hand, entered the palace openly and legitimately.
Inside the palace, the men who had been lying in wait appeared all at once, subdued the Imperial Guards, and proceeded unimpeded. When Li Mao arrived at the bedchamber, he saw Li Longji bound to the bed, his eyes filled with despair.
Before the Imperial Guards holding Li Mao could react, they were taken down by Guo Ziyi.
"Thank you, Father, for bringing me back to the palace," Li Mao said coldly. "But now, I should call you the late Emperor."
These words made Li Mao's intentions crystal clear.
Li Longji spoke with difficulty: "...How dare you betray me like this? Who is in the palace, colluding with you from within?!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ya Ru walked out from the side.
She said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, the past two years I've spent with you have been truly disgusting."
It turned out to be her!
She was pregnant with her own child.
Even so, she was still willing to do things for Li Mao.
Li Longji's eyes widened, and he was so angry that he was panting heavily.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through him, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
Li Mao summoned the imperial physician, who stammered, "He's suffering from a sudden attack of anger... I'm afraid... I'm afraid he won't make it..."
How ironic that His Majesty passed away on New Year's Eve!
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Yan Ji held Li Heng tightly, a sly smile on her face.
"Your Highness, you don't need to worry about what's happening outside. Just stay with me in bed tonight."
Li Heng looked around at the unfamiliar guards and heard the commotion outside the palace.
He then realized what was happening, but it was too late.
The next day, news of the emperor's death spread.
At the same time, a secret imperial edict was also made public.
—Crown Prince Li Heng is incompetent and immoral, and I am deeply disappointed. After my death, Prince Shou, Li Mao, ascended the throne as the new emperor.
Li Mao is about to ascend the throne as emperor, and a new era is about to begin.
As for whether this imperial edict is real or not, who would care?