Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 520 - 499: First Update

Time seemed to have frozen for a moment, and Prime Minister Lin, who was slumped on the ground, watched Zheng Congyuan on the stage in a daze. How could this happen? How could this happen?

Empress Dowager Yan Ping and Empress Xiao sighed in their hearts at this moment. They could accept this result more than others, for they had faced such an outcome once before.

On the contrary, the Wen Family and the supporters of the Fourth Prince breathed a long sigh of relief. Before the prophecy was announced, their choice of the Fourth Prince and their support for him at this moment reflected two completely different circumstances.

Old Master Wen Kang now stood even straighter; he stepped forward, bowed respectfully towards Master Huo Yi from a distance, and then asked loudly.

"Master Huo Yi, since the Crown Prince is not the Child of Heavenly Selection, then the only other member of the Imperial Family eligible for succession is the Fourth Prince." Old Master Wen Kang’s hands trembled with excitement. At this moment, the phrase ’riding high’ was not enough to describe his mood; it was as if half of Nanzheng were already within the Wen Family’s grasp.

Master Huo Yi glanced around, his expression remained calm, as if it had not changed in the slightest.

"Old Master Wen Kang, this prophecy can only reveal that the Crown Prince is not the Child of Heavenly Selection. Whether the Fourth Prince is or not, can only be determined once the Fourth Prince himself steps forward, and then I can proclaim it to the world," said Master Huo Yi.

At this moment, Old Master Wen Kang, Noble Consort Wen, and the Wen Family faction stood tall and proud; they had no doubt that the Fourth Prince was the Child of Heavenly Selection. Even the faction supporting Zheng Congyuan had lost all fighting spirit and had almost accepted the outcome that the Fourth Prince was the Child of Heavenly Selection.

Old Master Wen Kang glanced at Noble Consort Wen who immediately sent someone to call for Zheng Haoyuan, eagerly awaiting for him to stand on the stage and convince everyone.

"Mother, what should we do?" Empress Xiao, who had just come back to her senses, instinctively grabbed Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s hand. Only then did they belatedly realize that from the time Emperor Jingzhi had passed until the Wen Family swiftly trapped them in Chenyuan Hall, they hadn’t been given any time to prepare an escape route.

Empress Dowager Yan Ping looked at Empress Xiao and agreed. Indeed, if they could accomplish all this within less than two Shichen after Emperor Jingzhi’s demise, it would seem that even his life and death were within their control. This suggested that even Emperor Jingzhi’s death might have been part of their plan.

Empress Xiao’s face turned pale, as she too had come to the same realization. Emperor Jingzhi’s death...

When Zheng Haoyuan appeared in Chenyuan Hall, everyone’s gaze fell on the young prince, who looked still juvenile. He hadn’t yet developed the emotional restraint evident in his features, but even so, no one dared to underestimate such a youth at this moment.

These days, even though the prophecy had not been publicly discussed, the rumors about it had already been buzzing in private. Prime Minister Lin’s side naturally didn’t believe it, and aside from an incident from years ago, the Wen Family side really had no solid evidence.

Therefore, there were all sorts of claims. Some said it was a rumor spread by the Wen Family, entirely unbelievable, and moreover, after circulating for two or three days, the rumor quickly died down and failed to catch anyone’s attention.

But now things were different, everything had changed. Whether they believed it or not, as long as Master Huo Yi stood on that stage, his every word and deed could shatter all rumors.

Zheng Haoyuan walked towards the platform with light steps, clearly unencumbered, yet the intensity of the gazes upon him for the first time made the young man feel what it was like to be the center of attention. He did not like this feeling, nor did he indulge in such widespread admiration.

His purpose in ascending the platform was to claim that position, for only by securing it could he defeat Zheng Congyuan.

The next moment, Zheng Haoyuan looked over at Zheng Congyuan, who was now standing at the edge of the platform. Zheng Congyuan remained calm, which somewhat dissatisfied Zheng Haoyuan. Now that he knew that Zheng Congyuan was not the Child of Heavenly Selection, why was he still so composed?

This calmness irritated Zheng Haoyuan. His steps quickened as he walked directly onto the platform. He wanted to defeat Zheng Congyuan utterly and convincingly. Moreover, his Mother Consort had already agreed to his condition. With this condition, he could marry his cousin.

Zheng Haoyuan snorted coldly and walked onto the platform without even sparing Zheng Congyuan a glance, standing directly in front of the lustrous orb.

"Fourth Prince, are you ready?" Master Huo Yi still asked in a gentle tone.

At this moment, Old Master Wen Kang looked around at all the officials with spring in his eyes, for there was still much to be done. Zheng Congyuan, although fully engrossed in state affairs over the years, had surely cultivated quite a number of his own forces, which they would need to slowly remove once Fu Gong ascended. At present, it was vital to secure Prime Minister Lin’s support; they needed to stabilize a significant portion of the population first.

Every step Old Master Wen Kang had taken up to this day was well-considered, designed to trade minimum loss for maximum benefit. And once he could convince Prime Minister Lin, it would be as if he had persuaded half of the Crown Prince’s supporters.

Just wait until Zheng Haoyuan secured his position; then he could slowly start...

Smoke began to rise, and as with Zheng Congyuan’s earlier stand on the platform, everyone’s attention was no longer fixed on the scene unfolding, as they had varied thoughts.

Old Master Wen Kang’s gaze swept over the officials behind Prime Minister Lin, considering who could be used and who could not, forming a rough idea in his mind.

Some of the officials behind Prime Minister Lin, noticing Old Master Wen Kang’s gaze, suddenly felt awkward, unsure whether to glare back or respond with sycophancy.

"Fourth Prince, please—" Master Huo Yi’s voice brought everyone back to reality, with all eyes refocusing on the platform.

The young prince confidently took a step forward. After all, Emperor Jingzhi had been bedridden for years, and after Zheng Haoyuan, he simply had no capacity to enable other concubines to conceive more imperial sons. Hence, after Zheng Haoyuan, there were no more princes.

This is something not only the Wen Family had thought of but also what Prime Minister Lin and all the civil and military officials had considered by then. They hadn’t actually witnessed the brilliant, multicolored light of the rumors.

For a long time, everyone had yet to snap out of staring at the unchanged wall, and even the Wen Family members, who were certain it would be Zheng Haoyuan, showed no panic, perhaps because the time wasn’t right or because...

Time ticked away slowly, and people present—whether disappointed, despondent, anxious, or joyful—now all looked baffled, unsure how to express their current feelings.

Because still, there was no sign of any change on the tall white walls of Chenyuan Hall.

Murmurs began to rise quietly in the crowd.

Old Master Wen Kang spun around, unable to believe his eyes as he stared at the wall. Impossible, how could this be.

Prime Minister Lin, who had been sitting on the ground, now stretched out an arm, allowing his people to help him stand. He felt there was still a chance to salvage the situation; there was still life left in him.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on (f)re𝒆web(n)ovel.com