"Greetings to the Holy Emperor!"

"Greetings to the Saint!!"

"..." The gathered civil and military officials all paid their respects.

Within the ranks of the military officers, Jiang Ning also showed his respect with a bow.

Yet mixed among the military officials, he appeared completely unnoticeable. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Rise!" The Changning Emperor lifted his hand slightly, his long sleeves swirling.

"Grant seats to the esteemed ministers!" As the Changning Emperor’s words fell, palace maids on both sides carried in chairs, approaching the front of the civil and military officials gracefully like willows, totaling over twenty chairs brought for them.

They placed the chairs behind Su Qingying, Prime Minister Li, Beicang King, General Shen Xiao, Divine Might King, Xiao Wuque, and others.

"Thank you, Holy Emperor!"

"Thank you, Holy Emperor!"

"Thank you, Holy Emperor!"

"..."

The crowd cupped their hands toward the Changning Emperor seated on the dragon throne atop the nine-layered platform, then sat down calmly.

High rank and heavy authority, great power attributed to themselves, having their chairs at the court assembly is a sign of mutual respect.

Among the crowd, watching as a majority of the leading military officials before him received seats and were seated,

he remained silent in his heart.

Even with his current title and official position, he remained inconspicuous in the Taiji Hall, blending among the officials.

However, as the leading military officials in front received seats and sat down, he suddenly found himself at the forefront of the military officer ranks, allowing his view to become broader.

Once all the significant civil and military ministers were seated,

The Changning Emperor, seated on the dragon throne, glanced over the lower levels of the nine-layered platform, and then spoke.

"Do you all know why I summoned you at this time to attend this assembly?"

"Please enlighten us, Holy Emperor!" The Beicang King straightforwardly said.

Hearing this, the Changning Emperor’s eye twitched.

He secretly took a deep breath.

"Imperial Uncle, you speak!" he addressed the Side-by-Side King Ji Xuan standing on one side before him.

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan, who had remained silent until now, slowly opened his mouth.

"In recent years, the Holy Emperor has been schemed against by treacherous people, leading to ill health, and will need quiet recuperation in the coming days, hence summoned the civil and military officials today to inform you all!"

Upon hearing this, General Shen Xiao suddenly spoke up: "Does the Side-by-Side King mean that the Holy Emperor will no longer attend the morning courts in these coming days?"

"Precisely!" Ji Xuan nodded slightly: "General Shen has understood well!"

At this time, the Changning Emperor spoke again: "What my Imperial Uncle has said is indeed my intention! I need to retreat to the Yangxin Hall to meditate and recover, I shall no longer attend court, nor will I receive guests. Therefore, I have decided that my Imperial Uncle will assume the regency and act as Regent hereafter. All matters, both great and small, in Great Xia, should be handed over to my Imperial Uncle!"

"Holy Emperor, this cannot be!!" Upon hearing such words, Prime Minister Li from the front of the civil officials abruptly stood up.

Looking at Ji Xuan’s gaze that landed on him, his expression showed no fear.

"Why not?" Ji Xuan asked.

Prime Minister Li at the forefront of the civil officials cupped his hands towards Side-by-Side King Ji Xuan.

"The power of regency, given the Holy Emperor’s ill health, should involve selecting a proper successor among the royal princes to establish as Crown Prince, to take over as regent. At worst, a princess should be chosen to act as regent until a suitable successor from the imperial family is established as Crown Prince, even if the Holy Emperor is unwell and can’t govern; the princess can return power to the Crown Prince, and a new lord could be enthroned."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan’s gaze sharpened, seeming to survey like an eagle.

"Prime Minister Li’s meaning is that this king would not return power to the Crown Prince?"

"It must be guarded against!" Li’s refined and elegant face calmly opened: "Who doesn’t know that the Side-by-Side King stands as the highest mountain in the martial arts of the imperial family? With the Side-by-Side King’s achievements, once seated in regency and seduced by the intoxication of power, if one day led astray by desires and unwilling to return power, who can compel the Prince to make such a decision?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan coldly chuckled.

"Prime Minister Li underestimates this king! Also, underestimates the allure of the Immortal Martial dual way and longevity to this king. If you, Prime Minister Li, someday reach the realm of this king and witness a new world, you will understand that strength is the greatest poison in the world, intoxicating and addictive!"

"Power is nothing more than an appendage of strength!"

"That one, who never grasped power, whose power could surpass theirs?"

At this moment.

The Changning Emperor seated on the dragon throne also slowly spoke.

"This issue need not concern Prime Minister Li, as I trust my Imperial Uncle! Also, as my Imperial Uncle said, with such strength, mere imperial power is beneath him!"

Standing in Taiji Hall, below the nine-layered platform, Prime Minister Li bowed once more to the Changning Emperor on the dragon throne.

"Since the Holy Emperor believes so, then I have nothing more to say! However, I plead the Holy Emperor to agree to one matter."

"Prime Minister Li, please speak!" The Changning Emperor extended his hand, indicating for Prime Minister Li to speak directly.

"Holy Emperor!" Prime Minister Li bowed to the Changning Emperor, bending deeply: "I implore the Holy Emperor, establish the Crown Prince!!"

At these words,

Half of the civil officials immediately dropped to both knees.

"I implore the Holy Emperor, establish the Crown Prince!!"

Among the military officers, thirty percent similarly kneeled on one knee, cupping their hands towards the Changning Emperor seated on the dragon throne atop the nine-layered platform: "I implore the Holy Emperor, establish the Crown Prince!!!"

The resounding voices of the civil and military officials intermingled above the Taiji Hall, shaking the beams, causing dust to fall in the air.

When the voices of the officials faded, the Taiji Hall returned to silence.

The princes showed a slight tension on their faces at this moment.

Some princes clenched their fists tightly within their sleeves, their expressions also tense.

After several breaths,

The Changning Emperor glanced over the civil and military officials gathered.

"Is there any other official who wishes to join this petition?"

"I, too, request the Holy Emperor establish the Crown Prince!" more officials knelt afterward.

"I, too, request the Holy Emperor establish the Crown Prince!"

"As do I!"

"So do I!"

"..."

Listening to the statements of officials around him, Jiang Ning remained silent.

He knew that if this request were feasible, the Changning Emperor would have established a Crown Prince long ago, not dragged the decision until now.

Delaying until now clearly showed the Changning Emperor’s attitude.

And it revealed the Changning Emperor’s stance toward these legitimate sons.

A moment later.

More than ten breaths of silence passed with no further officials joining the petition.

Only then did the Changning Emperor slowly speak: "Beloved ministers, rise."

"Holy Emperor, you haven’t agreed yet!" Prime Minister Li stated.

"When did I say I would agree?" the Changning Emperor replied, then continued: "Your request is your request, my thoughts are my thoughts. The matter of the Crown Prince will be discussed later."

"If the Holy Emperor does not agree, then...I...will remain kneeling!" Prime Minister Li declared resolutely.

"If Prime Minister Li enjoys kneeling, then remain so," the Changning Emperor said indifferently.

Then he glanced over the gathered civil and military ministers.

"Do the ministers have anything else to report? If not, today’s court assembly concludes!"

"Holy Emperor, please consider the words I spoke today!" Prime Minister Li earnestly remarked: "With the current state of Great Xia in such precarious times, should anything happen to the Holy Emperor, the absence of a sovereign will plunge Nine States into chaos, and the common people will find themselves in water and fire!!"

Hmm——

At this moment,

Ji Xuan, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, let out a heavy snort.

It resounded like thunder throughout the Taiji Hall, making the officials’ ears buzz.

Especially among the civil officials, who went pale as sheets.

Such a powerful aura!

Jiang Ning thought to himself, feeling somewhat grave.

From just that trace of aura dispersal, he felt the might of the Side-by-Side King to be overwhelming.

This power exceeded any strong figure he had encountered before.

Profound and unfathomable!

"So, Prime Minister Li suggests that my nephew, the emperor, is doomed?" Ji Xuan’s voice filled the air.

As his words fell, Prime Minister Li’s complexion became unsightly, evidently feeling immense pressure.

"The Side-by-Side King hasn’t even assumed regency, yet displays such dominance?" At this moment, the Beicang King abruptly spoke in support of Prime Minister Li.

In the next moment,

A sharp gaze like lightning fell upon Beicang King.

The Beicang King’s previously smiling face subtly shifted, with the smile fading entirely.

"Beicang King, remember your status, this is the Royal Capital, not the North, and not your territory." Ji Xuan spoke coldly, warning him.

At this moment, Beicang King, with changes on his face, chose to secretly endure.

Such formidable, exquisite mental pressure!!