The aging emperor of the Sun Moon Empire was gravely ill, barely eating or sleeping. Just as he'd finally drifted off, he was abruptly awakened.
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Li reported nervously, "Crown Prince Xu Tianran and Hall Master Jing Hongchen request an audience. They claim it's urgent and await outside. The Crown Prince appears utterly devastated—as if a great tragedy has struck."
He braced himself, fearing the emperor's wrath.
The old emperor, irritated by the disturbance, instantly sobered upon hearing it was his son—and that he was distraught. Realizing something was amiss, he rallied his strength to sit up.
Ever since his health declined, he'd appointed Xu Tianran as Regent Prince. Unless it was critical, Xu Tianran handled matters alone—no need to trouble him.
Yet here he was, in person, at this late hour.
Xu Tianran wasn't reckless.
Eunuch Li hurried to support him, gently propping the frail emperor against his dragon-bed.
"What time is it?" the emperor rasped, brow furrowed.
"Near the third watch."
"Quickly! Let them in!"
Sensing urgency, the emperor bypassed protocol, summoning Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen directly into the inner chamber.
The moment Jing Hongchen wheeled Xu Tianran inside, the crippled prince lurched forward as if forgetting his disability, attempting to kneel. The emperor stopped him just in time, with Eunuch Li catching him.
Xu Tianran wept uncontrollably. "Father… you must avenge my brothers!"
The emperor's heart sank—a chill of dread spreading through him. "What happened?!"
Xu Tianran dropped the bomb: "My brothers… all… all… are gone!"
"What?! Pfft—!"
The world crumbled. Rage surged—the emperor spat blood.
"Father! Father!"
"Your Majesty!" ×2
Xu Tianran lunged forward in his wheelchair. Jing Hongchen and Eunuch Li cried out—but Eunuch Li swiftly channeled soul power into the emperor, stabilizing him.
After the chaos, the emperor drew a shuddering breath, eyes blazing. No longer a sickly tiger—he was a dragon roused. Staring at Xu Tianran, he growled, "Who did this?"
Xu Tianran hesitated, then "confessed" without shame, pinning the blame squarely on the Three Great Empires—and presenting "evidence."
The emperor scanned the proof… but didn't rage. Instead, he closed his eyes.
BOOM! Thunder cracked outside.
"HAHAHA! Dog Emperor! This day next year is your death anniversary!"
"Kill him!"
A soul power pressure slammed the palace—then another countered it.
"Intruders! Protect His Majesty!"
Shouts erupted beyond the chamber.
Xu Tianran feigned panic. "Father! It's the Three Great Empires—they're here to slaughter our imperial line and crush Sun Moon's dream of unification! Flee!"
Seeing the emperor unmoved, Xu Tianran urged Eunuch Li, "Take His Majesty away—now!"
As Eunuch Li moved to obey—
"Enough."
The emperor's voice cut through the room. When his eyes locked onto the eunuch, Li froze, drenched in cold sweat.
"Little Li… have I not treated you well?"
Before Li could react, the emperor turned to Xu Tianran—regret and heartbreak flashing in his gaze. But regret vanished instantly.
"TRAITOROUS SON!"
His roar shook the palace. Even Jing Hongchen—a Level 98 Super Douluo—dared not breathe.
He knows.
The "evidence" was riddled with holes. The emperor was ill, not senile.
Xu Tianran hadn't even tried to hide it. He'd orchestrated this to provoke a fatal rage—but the emperor remained lucid. His dead sons mattered… yet not enough to cloud his judgment.
"You did this!" the emperor accused, killing intent flaring. "Fratricide! Palace assault! Usurpation! Each crime merits death!"
Xu Tianran's mask fell. He turned slowly, arms spread wide, drunk on power.
"Father, you're too old—too weak. I've waited long enough. What the Sun Moon empire needs is not a dying emperor, but a rising sun to renew the empire!"
His whisper echoed like a blade through the chamber.
"You delude yourself!" The emperor rose with unnatural vigor, pointing a trembling finger. "Traitor—I'm not dead yet! The throne isn't yours!"
"Oh? Then who will you name?" Xu Tianran sneered, not turning. "Don't forget—your brothers are all dead."
"You—!" Veins bulged on the emperor's forehead. "You forget—you still have uncles!"
"Father…" Xu Tianran wheeled around, eyes like a starving wolf's. "Are you truly so forgetful? You didn't inherit this throne—you murdered your brother for it! Will you really hand it to your uncles now?"
His voice softened mockingly. "I merely learned from you. Thrones aren't granted—they're taken."
Each word stabbed the emperor's heart. His breath grew ragged.
"Traitor! I have but years left! You're already Crown Prince—must you do this now? In time, you could renew the empire!"
Xu Tianran shook his head, ice-cold. "I wanted you to die of rage. But you're too clever—seeing through me, exposing me. Now that you're still alive… what shall I do?"
He rolled to the bed, placing a hand on the emperor's chest.
"Father… I'm not just usurping the throne…"
Thud—!
Soul power shattered the emperor's heart meridians. Blood sprayed—life fading fast.
"Traitor… you dare—" The emperor died mid-sentence, eyes wide with disbelief.
No defenses activated. No suspicion.
His body hit the floor—staring into eternity.
Xu Tianran closed his father's eyes, then glanced at Eunuch Li. "Summon the imperial physicians. Tomorrow, announce: 'Grief over his sons' deaths and the palace attack caused His Majesty's demise.'"
"As you command!"
"Also," Xu Tianran mused, "reward today's loyalists. Hall Master Jing, you're restored to your former rank and title!"
Jing Hongchen kowtowed. "Long live Your Majesty!"
Xu Tianran's gaze burned with ambition—then hardened. "Tomorrow, the ministers will 'question' the emperor's death. Hall Master Jing—execute any dissenters without mercy."
A new emperor, a new court. Neutral and opposing officials would be purged.
Jing Hongchen's blood ran cold. Is this fortune or doom for Sun Moon? He had no choice but to follow this path to its end.
"Your will be done, Your Majesty," he replied, kneeling stiffly.
Xu Tianran nodded, then addressed Eunuch Li: "Issue an edict in Father's name: All princes are confined to their estates. Violators…" His cruelty bared fully. "…won't find me merciful to kinship."
He'd killed his father and brothers—why spare uncles? Only their power kept him from slaughtering them all.
Eunuch Li trembled. "Yes…"
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