The great chamber was hushed when Lord Fang entered, followed by several older lords—stern men whose loyalty to the Zhao dynasty had never wavered.

Behind them rang the echo of battle scars and silent grief. They stood there, their cloaks heavy with expectation.

Hua Jing took a breath and stepped forward. "Lord Fang... my lords," she began, voice steady. She motioned toward a curtained side room. "If you wish to speak, please."

These had been the last emperor’s loyal lords and during the war they had not switched sides.

Many of them had already been killed by Pei Rong and only a few of them were left.

They had vowed back then to take care of the empire no matter what and now the matter they had come to discuss was in relation to the throne itself.

Inside the private chamber, the group gathered.

Wei Ling, Deng Mi, and Zhao Ling Xu took their places behind Hua Jing.

They were acting like her protection against something sinister.

She looked back at the councilmen and stiffled a laugh.

Lord Fang closed the door behind the last of the councilmen. He turned, his gray-mustachioed face solemn.

"Consort Hua," he said softly, "we do not envy your position. But we must speak plainly."

The others nodded—Liang Cheng, Sun Wei, Zhou Han. They had all risked their lives for the late emperor. Now, they stood united.

Liang  Cheng stepped forward. "Our empire mourns a leader without cure.

But mourning does not feed the hungry or defend our borders. The throne is empty—Zhao Yan lies in a coma, his recovery slow, uncertain. We need a guiding hand."

A hush fell as Lord Fang, Liang Cheng, Sun Wei, and the others issued their heartfelt counsel. They had risked everything, and now they laid their confidence at Hua Jing’s feet.

Liang Cheng spoke first, voice steady but earnest:

"Consort Hua, your actions in battle... your courage under fire—none among us could carry their heads so high. If there is someone to guide us, it is you."

Sun Wei added softly, "We do not ask you to replace His Majesty indefinitely. We ask for a regency—until Zhao Yan recovers. You are his wife, his partner. You are his voice."

Hua Jing stiffened, hand tightening at her side. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

She could already tell what this people wanted but before she could respond, Lord Fang stepped forward:

"We have spoken among ourselves—as soon as you accepted, the lines were drawn. The council will back you. The people will rally around you. You can lead them."

Shock rippled across her features. Her breath caught. "Me? Lead?" she echoed, voice trembling. No. The thought felt foreign—impossible.

She shook her head, skin prickling. "I—how... why would you place me on the throne?"

She did not understand how this people were thinking!

This was a matter that needed more thought and she generally thought that this people were trying to joke with her but seeing their faces they definitely looked serious!

Her tone was not anger yet, but rising disbelief.

A beat of silence. Then Zhao Ling Xu spoke, voice calm as ever:

"Because you stood with him. Because the empire saw you, saw us in rebirth. You stand here, and for many, hope stands too."

Hua Jing hardly thought standing with Zhao Yan in battle would warrant her being chosen to take over the throne.

That was her job as his wife; stand by him no matter what!

So...what was this?

These days, the only thing she wanted to do was spend her days next to her sleeping beauty and do nothing else.

Taking over the throne meant that she would more be more involved in the politics and would spend less time with him and that is not what she wanted.

She shook her head again and again, "No!"

Lord Fang’s pupils rose sharply not in anger but in confusion.

Many people were dying to be in power and this power was the reason why the empire was like this at this moment so why was Hua Jing vehemently refusing something that had been brought directly to her?

She did not have to fight for it but it seemed as if it had chosen her but she was rejecting it outright!

He truly did not understand!

"Your highness,"

He started softly.... Slowly.

"You can just think of this as holding the position for a short while before everything falls in place. There are so many things that are happening right now and we truly need a leader."

He swallowed.

"Can’t you just hold this position for sometime before he wakes up?"

He was now pleading.

Hua Jing stared at him speechlessly. She had no idea this old man would be this persistent!

There were already so many reasons why choosing her would it be the baddest idea possible.

She was a grieving woman whose husband was lying in that cold bed ready to die at any time.

She did not want to miss anything and most of the people knew that already.

How could she just leave him?

She wanted to stay by his side till the end of time. She could not afford to go anywhere else apart from where he was.

She was afraid she was going to miss many things if she was away. Taking over the throne meant pushing him away and that is not what she intended.

She gazed at the old men in front of her. She had no doubt that they had the best interests at heart but she just couldn’t agree to what they were offering.

She had never wanted the throne.

It was too bloody for her!

"That throne belongs to members of the Zhao Family. I simply cannot sit on it. If you want someone the Ling Xu is the only one fit for it." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She turned to Zhao Ling Xu who was not expecting to be called all of a sudden,

"He is the son of the emperor, he carries his blood. If it is interim then he is the person you need. I believe he will do a wonderful job."

She finished and then stood up, "Ling Xu, consider this a way of helping him. When he wakes, you will see what you will do but right now, you should take the throne..."

Zhao Ling Xu was dazed.

....

Thus, the empire got a new emperor...