The next day, a gathering of key figures convened in Weiyang Palace, led by Song Yu, to discuss the grand matter of deposing the current ruler and establishing a new one.
It had been a month since the Empress's disappearance, leaving the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty in a state of leadership vacuum. Song Yu had been working tirelessly to keep the empire running, but even his efforts were reaching their limit.
*A nation cannot exist without a ruler for a single day.* No matter how long Song Yu delayed, he could no longer hold out.
Xuan Hao Hongye spoke first, "Esteemed members, the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty is the leading power of the Central Domain. As the saying goes, *a nation cannot exist without a ruler for a single day*. Today, we must compel the Song Imperial Clan to select a new successor. Only then can the realm find peace."
Song Yu remained silent, his mind racing with calculations about when his Imperial Sister and Shen Zhao might return. The pressure of this situation was driving him to the brink of madness.
"Prince Rui, who among the Song Imperial Clan do you deem suitable to inherit the throne?" Xuan Hao Hongye's question made Song Yu's heart clench.
Having come this far, he had no choice but to take a gamble.
Slowly, he rose to his feet. "The matter of the sovereign is of utmost importance. We must deliberate carefully."
"Deliberate? After a month, you still haven't decided who should inherit the throne?" Xuan Hao Hongye's aggressive tone clearly showed he held Song Yu and the others in contempt.
Song Yu frowned. "Xiongnu King, this is an internal matter of our Celestial Dynasty. We are not in a hurry, so why are you in such a rush?"
"Prince Rui, your words are misplaced," Xuan Hao Hongye countered. "As the suzerain state, every move of Dragon Han affects the welfare of all under heaven. As long as the imperial throne remains vacant, our vassal states will live in constant anxiety. Would you stand by and watch them suffer such turmoil?"
Xuan Hao Hongye's argument clearly blocked Song Yu's attempts to delay the matter.
Song Yu took a deep breath and stood. "In that case, this prince will act on behalf of Dragon Han's new emperor—"
"Wait!" Xuan Hao Hongye suddenly interrupted. "Are you suggesting that you are the most suitable candidate for the throne?"
"Is it up to you to decide?" Song Yu retorted. "Xiongnu King, you are overstepping your bounds."
"This King has already stated that the ruler of the suzerain state affects all under heaven. The successor must possess both virtue and talent to ascend the throne. Yet, to this King's knowledge, Prince Rui's character in the capital leaves much to be desired. Ask yourself, are you truly fit to be Dragon Han's next emperor?"
Song Yu laughed in exasperation. "Then, according to your view, Xiongnu King, who do you believe is suitable for the throne?"
Xuan Hao Hongye smiled. "This King believes that Song Qin, grandson of Song Heng, Prince of the North, possesses the bearing of a Great Emperor and is fit to ascend the throne as the new sovereign."
"Hahahaha..."
Song Yu truly laughed, finding Xuan Hao Hongye's proposal absurd. "Song Qin is merely a three-year-old child. Does the Xiongnu King truly believe he can rule the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty?"
This was clearly Xuan Hao Hongye's plan to install a puppet ruler he could control, paving the way for his future conquest of the Central Domain.
Song Yu never imagined that without his Imperial Sister's restraint, Xuan Hao Hongye would so brazenly disregard the Dragon Han imperial family and attempt to meddle directly in its affairs.
"Song Qin is young, but he can be properly cultivated. He will undoubtedly become a wise ruler in the future. I request that Prince Rui issue an imperial decree abolishing Song Yanran's imperial title and proclaiming Song Qin as the new sovereign."
"Xuan Hao Hongye, do you truly believe this Prince would be so foolish?"
"Oh? So you intend to refuse?"
"Is that a threat? Your trump card is those two hundred thousand cavalry beyond the Ten Thousand Li Border City, isn't it? If you dare to break through the pass, this Prince won't hesitate to follow his Imperial Sister's example and slaughter your Xiongnu once more."
"How dare you!"
Xuan Hao Hongye, struck at his sore spot by Song Yu, roared in fury.
"Song Yu, do you think this King wouldn't dare kill you? You must establish Song Qin as Emperor today, or I'll have the Song Imperial Clan purged from the Central Domain."
"Xuan Hao Hongye, drop that ridiculous mask. Harm a single member of the Song Imperial Clan, and you'll face the wrath of the Dao Domain and the entire Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty. While my cultivation may be inferior to yours, within the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty, the Great Emperor rank is not limited to my Imperial Sister alone. Do you truly wish to gamble with the fate of the nation?"
For a moment, the two men stood at a tense standoff, the atmosphere in the hall plummeting to freezing point.
"Your Majesties, please calm yourselves," Lin Feng intervened, stepping forward to mediate. "Let us discuss this calmly and avoid damaging our alliance."
"The matter of establishing a new emperor can be postponed for now, but Song Yanran's imperial status must be abolished today. That way, even if she returns to court, she will inevitably lose all support."
Xuan Hao Hongye snorted coldly, turned his back on Song Yu, and refused to engage further.
Song Yu glanced at Lin Feng's grotesque metal mask and sneered, "Since when..."
"Even the most insignificant cats and dogs can now presume to criticize the court? Wearing that mask every day, I can only imagine how hideous you must be underneath."
These words nearly broke Lin Feng.
He trembled uncontrollably as he recalled the moment Shen Zhao destroyed his appearance at the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace.
"Enough! No more delays. Today, Song Yanran's throne must be abolished!" Xuan Hao Hongye's tone left no room for argument.
But just then, a familiar voice rang out from beyond the palace gates.
"Xuan Hao Hongye, do you think you're worthy of deposing this Emperor?"
As the words fell, imperial majesty surged outward.
A sacred light enveloped Song Yanran as she floated into the Weiyang Palace.
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing Song Yanran, the officials who had been merely observing the spectacle now knelt in unison.
Song Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Song! Yan! Ran!"
Only Xuan Hao Hongye roared in fury, veins bulging on his forehead.
Song Yanran took a step forward, causing the entire Weiyang Palace to tremble slightly.
When she was five steps away from Xuan Hao Hongye, Song Yanran paused, gazing at him for a moment before speaking. "Xuan Hao Hongye, you have rebelled and committed treason. What punishment do you deserve?"
"Punishment? Heh..."
Xuan Hao Hongye showed no fear, his voice ringing with arrogant defiance.
"This King is the overlord of the grasslands and the savior of the Xiongnu. What crimes could I have committed?
Song Yanran, since you didn't die, let's settle all old and new scores today."
"You don't seem surprised by my appearance?"
"If you had died so easily, you wouldn't be the Song Yanran I know."
"It seems you came prepared. Let's see just how capable this 'overlord of the grasslands' truly is."
Song Yanran transformed into light and hurled a palm strike at Xuan Hao Hongye.
Having anticipated this, Xuan Hao Hongye met the strike, using its momentum to propel himself away from the palace in a swift retreat.
"Trying to escape?"
Song Yanran wouldn't let her opponent get away. She transformed into light and pursued him immediately.
Seeing this, Lin Feng seized the opportunity while everyone's attention was focused on the battle, and quickly slipped away from Weiyang Palace.
***
Two Great Emperor cultivators chased each other through the air, arriving at the royal gardens in the blink of an eye.
The moment they landed, a sinister and ruthless glint appeared in Xuan Hao Hongye's eyes, which he could no longer conceal.
Song Yanran also descended slowly, glancing around with a faint smile.
"Xuan Hao Hongye, have you chosen a prime burial site for yourself?"
"You are mistaken. This is the garden of your Celestial Dynasty's imperial clan. We brought you here to send you on your final journey."
As soon as he finished speaking, a purple totem materialized beneath Song Yanran's feet, binding her ankles tightly.
At the same time, she felt her spiritual energy rapidly draining away, her cultivation suppressed by seventy percent.
"What is this...?"
"The Mandala Formation. This King made every preparation to deal with you."
"Xiongnu King, I truly never imagined you would collaborate with scum like Nine Nether, sacrificing the lives of the Central Domain's people for your own ambition!"
"Those who achieve great things disregard minor details. In the annals of history, only my Xuan Hao Hongye's glorious achievements will be recorded.
Why would they delve into the darkness behind my success?"
Song Yanran's expression grew increasingly solemn.
In a distant temple, Venerable Haoyue summoned all the Nine Nether's hidden agents in Yanhuang City, expending immense spiritual energy to maintain the Mandala Formation.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the imperial garden, Hu Ying drew her bow, aiming at Song Yanran in the distance.
"Ancestors, if you watch over me from the heavens, grant me the strength to slay this tyrant with a single arrow."
Just as she drew the bowstring taut, a sudden jolt struck the back of her head, and she lost consciousness.
Shen Zhao caught Hu Ying's collapsing form and shook his head in pity. "How truly pathetic are those who remain ignorant of the truth of history."
He glanced at Sun Xinyue and the Wind and Rain Pavilion members lying unconscious behind him, and sighed again in resignation.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)