Martial Cultivator

Fourth Uncle?

Us?

These few words slowly echoed in everyone's ears, lingering for a long time.

Everyone knew that the Emperor was the fourth son of Emperor Lingzong and the biological uncle of the deposed emperor from the previous dynasty. Now, the only ones who could address the emperor in such a manner were either Chen Chao or the deposed emperor who had already died.

However, the use of "Us" already indicated the identity of the arrival.

That legendary Deposed Emperor who supposedly perished in the great fire of the imperial city.

Although they thought of this, none of the court officials believed it right away, as the revelation was simply too shocking.

Today had already seen many astonishing events, but all that shock seemed minor compared to the declaration of "Fourth Uncle" and "Us," and the appearance of this man.

Everyone slowly turned their heads to look at the approaching figure.

A silhouette was walking this way, his footsteps very light, yet virtually each step felt as if it landed directly on everyone's hearts.

Until the person slowly arrived at the banquet, everyone saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face. It was the face of a man in his thirties, somewhat weathered, but not excessively so.

The man bore some resemblance to Chen Chao, but not too much. He actually looked more like another person.

That of the long-deceased Crown Prince Yiwen.

"Your Majesty!"

Some court officials, seeing this scene, immediately wept bitterly and trembled as they knelt before him.

Many officials in the Great Liang Dynasty did not only start their careers after the current emperor ascended the throne. Apart from those who had served under Emperor Lingzong, many had already entered the imperial court during the reign of the deposed emperor.

They had naturally seen him in person.

Now, although over a decade had passed, and this emperor's appearance was somewhat weathered, those people still quickly recognized him.

A group of old officials knelt down, tears streaming down their faces, and for a moment, the sound of weeping lingered incessantly.

"Minister Xie, you are at least someone who has read the classics of the sages, how can you be unaware of the principles of monarch and subject? In your heart, do you think We are unworthy of ruling the world?"

The Deposed Emperor looked at the Xie Family's ancestor and said, "Such a wise ruler like Imperial Grandfather[Emperor Lingzong] is worth nothing in Minister Xie's eyes?"

Clad in emperor robes, the Deposed Emperor stood there openly, watching the weeping court officials, and said with a smile, "We thought this world was filled only with traitors and rebels, but it seems there are still loyal and virtuous ministers."

"Fourth Uncle, since you feel that the burden of the world is too great, why not return Our empire to Us?"

The Deposed Emperor smiled faintly. "Return the empire to Us, and Fourth Uncle can continue riding horses and hunting. Wouldn't that be better?"

The Deposed Emperor looked at the Great Liang Emperor, his face full of amusement, with no visible resentment. On the contrary, he had a calm and collected look, as if he were speaking of something trivial.

But everyone knew this was a profoundly important day. Although some court officials were weeping, the rest of the officials did not say a single word.

One man was the current Emperor, who held the actual power of the realm; the other was the former dynasty's Emperor, with the weight of legitimacy on his side.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at the Deposed Emperor and said with vicissitudes of emotion, "That fire back then was set at just the right time."

"Fourth Uncle, without that fire, would We still be standing here, speaking to you now?"

The Deposed Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, calm and indifferent.

“Do you really think We didn't know you survived that day? Without that fire, your whole family might not have survived. But with that fire, if We didn't want you to leave, could you have truly escaped?”

The Great Liang Emperor shook his head. “Did you really have to be so ruthless?”

The Deposed Emperor said mockingly, “Fourth Uncle, why speak of this now? Winners become kings, losers become bandits. We lost to you back then, that’s a fact. But now, We might not necessarily lose again.”

The Great Liang Emperor said calmly, “Oh? After all these years away, you think you've become some unparalleled powerhouse, and you've come to take Our life?”

The late Crown Prince Yiwen had been famous for his extraordinary talent. Among the princes, in terms of cultivation talent, only the Great Liang Emperor could match him. As his descendant, this talent likely would not be too poor. Just look at Chen Chao, did he not rise to become the number one person of the Great Liang Dynasty's younger generation.

The Deposed Emperor was also Crown Prince Yiwen's descendant, he naturally did not lack talent. But no matter how formidable, how could he be mentioned in the same breath as the Great Liang Emperor, who had already reached the end of Nepenthe?

“In terms of martial prowess, there are naturally few in this world who can match Fourth Uncle. But is the throne truly claimed by whoever has the strongest fists?”

“Fourth Uncle, to rule the world, one needs the people's hearts. After sitting on the throne for all these years, do you still not understand this logic?”

The Deposed Emperor looked on with calm indifference, and those ministers still kneeling and weeping, were the so-called hearts of the people.

As the heir personally chosen by Emperor Lingzong, he held the legitimate claim and authority, naturally giving him an unmatched advantage.

“Since Fourth Uncle feels burdened, then abdicate the throne.”

After speaking many words, the Deposed Emperor finally said the most crucial sentence.

Previously, when people spoke of Chen Chao reclaiming the world, some officials felt his claim lacked legitimacy. Although Chen Chao was a descendant of the late Crown Prince Yiwen, he was still a concubine's son, and the throne had originally passed to the Deposed Emperor.

But now that the Deposed Emperor had returned in person, those concerns no longer apply.

No one in the realm would dare to say this throne was not rightfully his.

Legitimacy is indeed a powerful thing.

It could ensnare countless people, leaving many in silence.

“This old subject requests Your Majesty to return power to the former emperor.”

Back then, after the Deposed Emperor had self-immolated, the current Emperor took the throne without bestowing a temple title or posthumous name upon him. Although this stirred much controversy in both court and society at the time, it was ultimately suppressed.

An official from the Ministry of Rites spoke up tremblingly, “By the standards of etiquette rites, now that the former emperor has returned, Your Majesty ought to abdicate.”

This official from the Ministry of Rites was a well-known Confucian scholar of the time, deeply committed to etiquette rites, which was why he held a position in the Ministry of Rites.

“Your Majesty, please abdicate and return power to the former emperor!”

Suddenly, voices rose in unison.

Those older officials began to speak one by one, openly expressing their stance.

Among them, some had always adhered to protocol, only recognizing the Great Liang Emperor's ascension because the Deposed Emperor's entire family had perished in the flames. Others had long been grateful to Emperor Taizong and Crown Prince Yiwen and thus stood forth without hesitation now.

This was what the Deposed Emperor referred to as the hearts of the people.

The entire Great Liang Dynasty was vast, and filled with many voices and perspectives. Since the Emperor's ascension, his approach towards the foreign lands, his attitude toward the demon race, and his iron-fisted methods were not well-liked by everyone.

Previously, there was no other choice, but now there was an alternative.

“Your Majesty, given the prevailing sentiment, this subject also feels it's time for Your Majesty to abdicate.”

After a moment of silence, the head of a noble family finally spoke up.

This was the head of the Yang Family, a family that had originated in Qingshan before relocating to the Divine Capital. Although their influence was never considered top-tier, they had endured for several centuries. Until now, everything had been spoken only by court officials, while these influential figures from noble families had remained silent.

Until now.

The head of the Yang Family stepped forward, openly declaring his stance.

Following his lead, several other family heads also spoke, voicing the same sentiment.

All shared a single intention.

They requested His Majesty to abdicate and return the throne.

Since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, no such event had occurred. Of course, such stories were not uncommon in history.

As more and more people stepped forward, fewer remained seated.

However, the heads of the Xie and Wei families remained silent from start to end.

The Xie Family had already expressed their position earlier, whether they regretted it was uncertain.

As for the Wei Family, they had yet to act.

The Wei Family’s foundation ran far deeper than that of the Xie Family. Many important stories had the shadow of the Wei Family. They had always been known for their caution too, it was no surprise they remained rooted in the imperial court.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at these ministers and family heads calling for his abdication, merely watching them in silence.

It was already late at night.

This banquet had begun in the late afternoon, and by now, night had fully fallen.

"So, according to reason, We should abdicate?"

The Great Liang Emperor looked at the officials present, noting that nearly a third of them seemed to think so.

"Your Majesty, this subject oversees the Ministry of Rites, and by the principles of ancestral law and public sentiment, Your Majesty should indeed return the throne!"

The old official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward, speaking firmly.

"Speaking of reason, isn't there a scholar here who understands it better than anyone?"

The Great Liang Emperor looked toward the Dean, asking with a smile. "What does the Dean think?"

The Dean was indeed the foremost scholar in the land, representing the will of all scholars in the world. His stance could very well be a turning point.

The Great Liang Emperor had posed the same question to him earlier, but back then, the Dean had given no answer. Would he respond now?

This time, the Dean stepped forward.

Everyone grew tense. Although the academy had always refrained from meddling in politics, the Dean, as the head of the academy, naturally wielded great influence.

All eyes turned to the Dean, looking at this leader of the scholars across the realm.

His stance was very crucial.

The Deposed Emperor

In the Divine Capital, the Great Liang Emperor's most trusted Lord Warden Commander had already left for the Northern Frontier. If the Dean also chose to stand in opposition to His Majesty, then today's matter would be nearly settled.

"Dean, there is something We wish to inform you of."

Before the Dean could respond, the Deposed Emperor could not resist speaking.

The Dean smiled, "Please, go ahead."

"The late emperor did not die of sudden illness, but rather at the hands of Our fourth uncle."

The Deposed Emperor spoke slowly, and the "late Emperor" in his words naturally referred to Crown Prince Yiwen.

After the Deposed Emperor took the throne, this Crown Prince Yiwen, who had never formally ascended as Emperor, was posthumously honored as Emperor Xiaokang, with the temple name Emperor Xingzong.

This news was more earth-shattering than anything before!