Chapter 677: Forced Abdication (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The civil and military officials behind looked at Long’en Hall in a daze. They saw that the “unconscious” Feng Yang was helped up by an inner servant on the ground and sat on a futon. Several royal princes went to test Feng Yang’s breathing and pulse. They shook their heads repeatedly, unable to hide their sorrow.

Wordless sorrow flowed in the hall.

Princess Consort Yi, who was standing in front of Li Yunrong, couldn’t help but turn around and ask in a low voice, “Seventh Sister-in-law, you saw Imperial Aunt just now. Imperial Aunt, she…”

The other princesses in front and behind pricked up their ears, their thoughts chaotic.

If anything happened to the Eldest Princess Feng Yang, it would be like breaking an arm of the Emperor. It would definitely have an unimaginable impact on the court.

The court would probably not be peaceful again!

Li Yunrong smiled bitterly and sighed. She shook her head. “I didn’t have time…”

She frowned, her face filled with worry.

The princess concorts in front and behind looked at each other. There were also people who were familiar with each other quietly exchanging glances. Most of them frowned deeply, as if something was stuck in their throats.

“The imperial physician isn’t here yet?!” the Emperor asked anxiously, his expression extremely ugly. He barely stood with the help of the eldest eunuch, Zhao Rang. His thin figure looked a little hunched.

“I’ll order someone to rush the imperial physician now.” Zhao Rang gave the order, and another eunuch hurriedly ran out of Long’en Gate.

Everyone outside the hall couldn’t help but have a bad feeling.

The sun was clearly shining brightly, but the surroundings were filled with the oppression and nervousness of a storm about to happen.

The Emperor’s pale lips trembled, and the corners of his eyes turned red. He gritted his teeth in grief and said, “Today’s grand ceremony ends here…”

His voice was hoarse and he choked.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t.” The Minister of Rites, Pei Wenrui, immediately stood out of the line and walked to the main door of the Long’en Hall. He bowed solemnly to the Emperor inside and said, “The great ceremony is only halfway through. If we end it rashly, it will be unfilial to our ancestors. It will only cause the heavens to be angry and the people to resent us. This will damage the fate of the country.”

“Lord Pei is right.” The Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites also stood out and followed closely to Pei Wenrui’s side. He also bowed and tried to persuade the Emperor. “Your Majesty, the etiquette can’t be abandoned!”

“Our Great Jin Dynasty rules the world with filial piety. This precedent can’t be set!”

Every word was powerful.

The Emperor’s cold gaze swept across Pei Wenrui, who was standing outside the hall. He shouted sternly, “How dare you!”

The Emperor had always been gentle and elegant. At this moment, his face darkened. The twelve five-colored jade beads hanging from his crown swayed continuously, and his entire body emitted a terrifying emperor’s might.

In the face of the imposing Emperor, Pei Wenrui and the Left Assistant Minister didn’t change their expressions. Not only did they not kneel, but they also straightened their backs.

Pei Wenrui looked at the Emperor with his head raised and raised his voice slightly. He said righteously, “We are wholeheartedly doing this for Your Majesty and for the Great Jin Dynasty Please consider the big picture first, Your Majesty!”

He blocked the door of the main hall and raised his head and chest, showing no intention of backing down.

No matter how righteous his words and expression were, the other civil and military officials beside him weren’t fools. Everyone could tell that something was wrong with Pei Wenrui.

Even the slowest person had an ominous feeling.

The rustling crowd became restless like a pot of boiling hot water.

There was an additional uneasy aura in the oppressive air.

The Emperor took a step closer to Pei Wenrui outside the hall. His eyes narrowed, and his tone increased by three degrees. He said angrily, “Pei Wenrui, what are you doing? Hurry up and retreat!”

The cold gazes of the Embroidered Uniform Guards beside him landed on Pei Wenrui.

Pei Wenrui maintained his bowed posture and didn’t care about the Embroidered Uniform Guards, who were eyeing him covetously. He looked at the Emperor calmly, and his eyes and expression were so stable, as if he was wearing a mask.

He said seriously, “Your Majesty, good words are offensive! I’m a minister and a loyal subject of the Great Jin Dynasty. I can’t watch helplessly as Your Majesty does something wrong without offering advice… This would be an act of disloyalty.”

His words were dignified, but at first, no one could find anything wrong with them. Instead, they wanted to praise him for being honest.

The expressions of the few people beside him darkened, and the bad feeling in their hearts became even stronger.

The mountain wind in the imperial mausoleum suddenly howled, stronger and stronger than before, causing the pine trees to sway crazily. It also extinguished the two rows of candles on the left and right of the main hall, and the hall darkened.

The atmosphere inside and outside the hall immediately became tense.

The other officials fell silent, most of their gazes landing on the emperor and Pei Wenrui, but there were also people secretly glancing at Xiao Shoufu and the other cabinet elders..