Chapter 175 The Cicada Awaits

Chapter 175 The Cicada Awaits

In a quiet corner outside Chongde Hall.

The Xue siblings stood facing each other with solemn expressions.

"Brother, Xie Yan is searching the entire city for Shen Nanzi and her child. Are you aware of this?"

Xue Yubai remained silent; how could he not know?

Xie Yan has not yet come to the palace; he still can't let go of that mother and son!

Has he found out what we've been doing?

Xue Yubai felt a little guilty, always feeling sorry for Xie Yan, who cared so much about the Xue family and trusted him so much.

“Brother, now is not the time to feel guilty. It is because Xie Yan has fallen for someone else that things will be extremely disadvantageous for us in the future.”

Xue Qingning looked down on Xue Yubai's indecisiveness, finding him lacking the courage to accomplish great things.

Xue Yubai understood the implication in Xue Qingning's words, "What do you want?"

A sharp glint flashed in Xue Qingning's eyes. "Brother, you only need to remember that those who achieve great things must never act on emotion. What have we been planning for all these years?"

“If you continue to be led by your emotions, in the end we will still be defeated. We will be sorry to the descendants of the Xue family and to the ancestors of the Xue family.”

"I don't want to be a sinner to the Xue family, nor do I want to disappoint my grandfather and father."

"We live to revitalize the Xue family and bring prosperity to its descendants."

Xue Yubai was awakened by Xue Qingning's words, and he clearly remembered his father's regret before his death.

“Yu Bai, my father was loyal to the country all his life, but he was feared by the emperor. The Xue family’s generations of high-ranking officials fell from grace in my hands, and I became the sinner of the Xue family.”

"I have no face to meet the ancestors of the Xue family!"

He and Xue Qingning knelt before their father's bedside, tears streaming down their faces.

"The Xue family will depend on you two siblings from now on. You must revitalize the family!"

Thinking of his father's dying regrets, Xue Yubai's face was filled with remorse. He, a grown man, was not as clear-headed as his sister.

"Qingning, I will cooperate with you, for the sake of the Xue family and for Hong'er."

Xue Qingning's eyes were filled with ruthlessness. "Brother, go get the imperial seal and order the city gates to be opened."

Xue Yubai nodded, his eyes resolute.

Xue Yubai took two steps, but Xue Qingning called him back, "Brother, issue another imperial edict using the jade seal to hunt down Shen Nanzi and her son. Kill them without mercy and reward them handsomely."

Xue Yubai's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded before leaving.

*

When Xie Yan entered Chongde Hall.

All the officials and members of the royal family had arrived, and everyone was dressed in mourning clothes.

Wisps of smoke rose from the three-legged cauldron in front of the courtyard. The Grand Master of Ceremonies stood before the cauldron, holding a sacrificial text, awaiting the instructions of Heaven.

The emperor's coffin was placed at the foot of the steps of the main hall.

A mourning hall was set up inside Chongde Hall, with black and white curtains hanging in the air. An incense table, candlesticks, and offerings were placed in front of the coffin.

Xie Yan was wearing a hastily made dragon robe, a black crown, with red trim on the cuffs and lapels.

Plain color, no patterns, no accessories.

He wore a crown with twelve tassels, made of jade, which hung at the front and back.

Facing all the officials, he stood in the emperor's seat.

He was naturally handsome, and now, adorned in a dragon robe, his imperial majesty was fully displayed.

He lowered his head and asked the palace servant beside him, "Who else hasn't arrived yet?"

The palace maid replied in a low voice.

Xie Yan narrowed his eyes, understanding dawning on him.

At this moment, Xue Yubai rushed over, his forehead still dripping with sweat, just as he had been working tirelessly for Xie Yan these past two days.

He straightened his mourning clothes, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked somewhat flustered.

Xie Yan glanced at him, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions.

"Your Highness, please offer incense to Heaven and Earth." A palace servant handed over three sticks of incense.

Xie Yan took it and placed it into the incense burner.

The coronation ceremony officially began, and he knelt on the prayer mat in front of the incense table.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies began chanting the sacrificial text: "Heavenly Emperor, Earthly God. In the twenty-eighth year of Deyuan, on the third day of the ninth month, I, having received the Mandate of Heaven, succeeded to the Han throne and ascended to the throne."

"willing……"

"The late emperor died an unnatural death, so how could he have received a mandate from Heaven?" A powerful voice from outside the hall entered the hall.

Everyone was shocked. It was the moment of the new emperor's ascension to the throne, and the sound was like thunder, shocking the court.

All the officials turned their heads to see who this person was.

They dared to stir up trouble when Prince Jing ascended the throne.

Xie Yan looked at the person who entered the hall. He was wearing a full suit of armor, holding a long sword at his waist, and a white mourning cloth tied around his waist.

As expected.

He stood up, his expression calm: "Twelfth Imperial Uncle, when did you begin leading troops?"

Prince Ding, Xie Ming, strode into the coffin and solemnly offered a prayer before it.

It was completely different from his usual gentle and refined nature.

Then, addressing the coffin, he said, "Your foolish brother will certainly not fail your trust, and will surely bring this traitor to justice, so that the world may be restored to peace and tranquility."

Everyone held their breath.

Now, Prince Jing suddenly accused the Emperor of being a cruel ruler and placed them under house arrest in Chongde Hall for two days and three nights.

Now it is Prince Ding who is blocking his ascension to the throne.

The change of dynasties was truly a series of ups and downs.

"Xie Yan, you murdered the emperor and even tried to tamper with the imperial edict to seize the throne. You are truly shameless."

Xie Ming said sternly, "Do you think you can control the entire Yunhan region all by yourself?"

Xie Yan ignored Xie Ming's question and instead asked Xue Yubai, "Grand Commandant Xue, how did the Twelfth Imperial Uncle manage to enter the palace with a knife?"

Xue Yubai's heart skipped a beat when he heard Xie Yan's question.

He was so ashamed that he didn't even dare to lift his head, ever since he first saved Xie Yan.

He regarded him as an elder brother, and they have been together since childhood, adolescence, and now.

They were like twin roots, already intertwined.

Xie Yan smiled with some disappointment. "You let it in, didn't you?"

"Otherwise, with our defenses, even if we were to force our way in, it would take three days and three nights to fight."

Xue Yubai still dared not admit it; in his heart, betrayal was like erasing so many years of affection.

We were once the best of brothers, and we promised to work together and move forward hand in hand.

He wanted to achieve great things and become a king.

He will revitalize the Xue family's reputation and hang the plaque of a century-old family again.

But now it has become like this.

The memory of his father's will flashed through Xue Yubai's mind, and the affectionate light in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold and indifferent expression.

“What Prince Ding said is true. You are the murderer of the emperor, the traitor who altered the imperial edict and usurped the throne.”

“Our Xue family has been loyal to the emperor, who is ordained by Heaven, for generations, not to treacherous individuals like you who plot to usurp the throne,”

Xie Yan looked at Xue Yubai; his face showed neither grief nor shock.

He was so calm, as if he already knew everything.

But in his eyes, there was a deep regret, as if he was reluctant to part with their years of friendship.

The moment Xue Yubai met Xie Yan's gaze, his heart trembled.

That look made him feel that even his pores were despicable, and he dared not look at it again.

As if continuing to look would betray his resolve, he resolutely turned and addressed the civil and military officials:

"Colleagues, you should all know about the relationship between Yu Bai and Prince Jing."

“If it weren’t for Prince Jing’s defiance of Heaven’s will, Yu Bai would never have broken with him here.”

"Precisely because Yu Bai is a member of the Xue family, and the Xue family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, even if he is as close as brothers with Prince Jing, he must sever ties with Prince Jing."

"As Prince Ding said, we must set things right and uphold the orthodox tradition."