Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 501 - 480: Second Update

Chapter 501: Chapter 480: Second Update

"Prime Minister Lin, Old Master Wen Kang, I have something to say—"

Only then did Empress Xiao notice Noble Consort Wen, who had stepped forward. She hid the sorrow on her face and snorted inwardly, Now let’s see how you’ll perform.

The court officials immediately turned their gaze toward Noble Consort Wen upon hearing this.

Noble Consort Wen had been favored in the Harem for many years and was deeply trusted by Emperor Jingzhi. Now that she had stepped forward, many of the officials were inclined to believe her. The Crown Prince’s continued silence immediately gave rise to doubts among Prime Minister Lin’s camp.

Could it be that Noble Consort Wen truly possessed an Imperial Edict, then this edict must be unfavorable to them.

Prime Minister Lin’s complexion turned unsightly in an instant. How could the Empress let Noble Consort Wen speak up? If there truly was one, Prime Minister Lin knew it would certainly be to the Crown Prince’s disadvantage.

"The Emperor did indeed leave behind an Imperial Edict," Noble Consort Wen said, wiping away her tears and speaking slowly, "As for what is written in the edict, I do not understand it either. The Emperor personally sealed it in a secret chamber behind the bookshelf, a chamber only the Emperor could open.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Old Master Wen Kang immediately said, his acting utterly convincing.

Zheng Congyuan did not speak, while Empress Dowager Yan Ping, holding onto the coffin, cried very sorrowfully, as if she had no concern for the matters here.

"Crown Prince, if that is so, we simply need to open the door to the secret chamber. Whatever is written on the Emperor’s Imperial Edict will be clear. If the edict declares the Crown Prince is to succeed the throne, then we ministers will have no objections and will wholeheartedly support the Crown Prince’s succession," Old Master Wen Kang immediately said, showing "sincere" loyalty.

The people from Prime Minister Lin’s camp became anxious. What Imperial Edict? The more they looked at Old Master Wen Kang, the less trustworthy he seemed. At this moment, to stir up the issue of an edict, the more they thought, the worse it seemed.

Prime Minister Lin looked anxiously at Empress Xiao. Empress, you cannot stay silent.

Seeing this, Empress Xiao naturally had to speak up.

"This matter of the Imperial Edict, I was actually unaware." Empress Xiao finally spoke, coldly glancing at Noble Consort Wen.

Noble Consort Wen was not afraid of Empress Xiao at this time. They were well-prepared and naturally not afraid of anything. Noble Consort Wen did not even look at Empress Xiao’s glance and instead swept her gaze over the officials, finally resting her eyes on the Crown Prince.

"Crown Prince, only you can bring out the Imperial Edict now."

Zheng Congyuan calmly glanced at He Ling. He Ling was a trusted aide of Emperor Jingzhi, and at this moment, he was the most convincing person to retrieve the item.

Upon receiving the order, He Ling opened the cabinet on the Emperor Jingzhi’s bedchamber bookshelf in front of the court officials. A small cabinet was revealed, and suddenly an Imperial Edict of bright yellow was exposed, causing all the ministers to inhale sharply. There really was one.

He Ling took out the Imperial Edict, glanced at Zheng Congyuan, and handed the edict to Prime Minister Lin.

Zheng Congyuan remained calm, as if he were detached from the matter, while at this moment all the officials’ eyes were on the Imperial Edict. Prime Minister Lin accepted the edict tremblingly, but his heart was full of confidence. Emperor Jingzhi had always trusted the Crown Prince greatly – even if he had left an edict, it should be to let the Crown Prince ascend to the throne.

The only concern was that the Crown Prince was unaware of the existence of this edict, and the person privy to the information was Noble Consort Wen.

This news made everyone from Prime Minister Lin’s camp feel uneasy, but given the Crown Prince’s toils for the imperial court over so many years and the public’s support, they believed that the Emperor’s position would undoubtedly belong to the Crown Prince.

Prime Minister Lin had just unfolded the Imperial Edict when, in the next moment, his vision blurred and his body staggered. No, his eyes weren’t playing tricks. How, how could this be possible!

Prime Minister Lin immediately looked toward Old Master Wen Kang.

"What does the Imperial Edict say, Prime Minister Lin? The edict is in your hands, why don’t you read it?" Old Master Wen Kang could no longer hold back and immediately said.

"Prime Minister Lin, just read the contents of the Imperial Edict as it is," Zheng Congyuan suddenly spoke up, looking at Prime Minister Lin.

Prime Minister Lin caught Zheng Congyuan’s gaze and was momentarily stunned. No, no, the Crown Prince was too calm. This calm wasn’t feigned, but rather a tranquility of having everything under control.

Moreover, Empress Xiao’s expression was also too composed, as if they had already known the contents of the secret edict.

Prime Minister Lin steadied his mind and read out the contents of the secret edict word by word.

Noble Consort Wen’s heart sank in an instant. At least, Prime Minister Lin had read the actual content of the secret edict. Thus, Fu Gong was the rightful...

"The Fourth Prince, impossible, how could The Emperor pass the throne to the Fourth Prince—" Suddenly, a wave of astonished voices arose.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible—"

"The Fourth Prince is too young to preside over the imperial court."

"Empress, this secret edict must be fake—"

"How dare you, Minister Lu, you overstep your bounds!" Old Master Wen Kang bellowed, his voice immediately drowning out the others.

"The Fourth Prince is young and promising, the Former Emperor must have considered the Second Prince’s act of saving his life with his own, which is why he passed the throne to the Fourth Prince," Old Master Wen Kang immediately said.

"Indeed, The Emperor mentioned the deceased Second Prince more than once before his demise," Noble Consort Wen immediately added, her eyes reddening.

"If the Former Emperor had a clear mind, how could he take the kingdom of Nanzheng as child’s play," said Prime Minister Lin tragically.

"Empress, you must say something. The Crown Prince has been toiling over state affairs for so many years, how could The Emperor possibly pass the throne to the Fourth Prince?"

"This secret edict is in The Emperor’s own handwriting, and the seal has been confirmed beyond doubt—" Prime Minister Lin began slowly, still somewhat uncertain in his heart. What exactly did the Crown Prince’s look earlier mean? Was he to acknowledge the authenticity of this secret edict?

Did he want him to announce this Imperial Edict? What exactly was the Crown Prince trying to do?

After Prime Minister Lin spoke, he glanced at the Crown Prince out of the corner of his eye and saw that Zheng Congyuan remained utterly calm, as if Old Master Wen Kang and Noble Consort Wen were mere clowns performing a play, which gave him a slight sense of relief.

As soon as Prime Minister Lin uttered these words, the room fell into silence. Seeing this, Old Master Wen Kang felt slightly at ease. Prime Minister Lin was a stickler for the rules; this secret edict must certainly be authentic and truly left by Emperor Jingzhi.

"Fourth Prince, no, The Emperor, your subject pays homage to The Emperor," Old Master Wen Kang immediately knelt in the direction of Zheng Haoyuan.

Suddenly, more than half of the ministers knelt down in unison, leaving only a small number of Prime Minister Lin’s trusted aides standing.

Since Prime Minister Lin did not kneel, naturally they would not either, and to this point, neither the Crown Prince nor Empress Xiao had uttered a word.

Zheng Haoyuan began to move forward slowly, and everyone’s gaze shifted to him. Zheng Haoyuan didn’t spare Zheng Congyuan a glance, which puzzled Zheng Congyuan. In his view, Zheng Haoyuan had no desire to be The Emperor.

Yet at this moment, Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes slowly swept over those present. For the first time, he felt that what Zheng Congyuan could have, he could have too. In fact, he could have even more than Zheng Congyuan. He wanted more, to take everything from Zheng Congyuan, to ensure his complete downfall, to make him utterly vanish from Zheng Nianru’s sight.

"The Emperor—" Old Master Wen Kang spoke, eagerly wanting Zheng Haoyuan to say something.

However, before Zheng Haoyuan could speak, a voice from behind was heard. It was Empress Dowager Yan Ping.

"Hold on—" Empress Dowager Yan Ping now slowly stepped forward, her voice hoarse, but her gaze piercing as she looked sharply at the assembled ministers.

"As for the secret edict, I too have a copy in my possession," Empress Dowager Yan Ping slowly began.