The wine and dishes on Imperial Censor Yan's desk were replaced with thick historical records, writing brushes and ink meticulously prepared. He bowed towards the head of the table, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, we can begin!"
As the Crown Prince, Si Fengming's seat was immediately to the left of Emperor Gengshi.
Upon hearing this, he cut straight to the chase, "Si Hongru, when the King of Liangzhou rebelled, the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess died in the Eastern Palace, and the late Emperor and Consort Jinghui were slain by the rebel army's swords. You raised an army to quell the rebellion and save the Emperor, taking office in a time of crisis.
The details of all this are little known. Today, you shall explain them to everyone?
How exactly did you come to possess this throne?"
His question was simple, but if Emperor Gengshi were to answer, it would involve many complications.
The ministers below stirred restlessly. Lu Qingwan subtly signaled to Ru Yue, who, along with the Twelve Months present in the hall, darted out and busied themselves. All the ministers had their tongues rendered mute, ensuring no further interruptions.
Emperor Gengshi's hoarse and weak voice rang out.
"The King of Liangzhou was brave but foolish, only knowing how to lead troops to attack cities. He gave no thought to how to consolidate his position after taking Zhongzhou.
At that time, I was the King of Ji, closest to Zhongzhou. The late Emperor sent a secret decree ordering me to raise an army to save the Emperor. The messenger said that Zhongzhou had already fallen by more than half. I knew then that my opportunity had arrived.
I deliberately leaked the news that I was going to quell the rebellion and save the Emperor to the King of Liangzhou. As expected, he sent a large contingent of troops to intercept me at Ziyang Pass. I then went with the flow, delaying at Ziyang Pass for three days.
Only after Zhongzhou had completely fallen did I fight my way into Zhongzhou."
Many old officials in the great hall were relatively clear about the palace coup back then and were also aware of Emperor Gengshi's delay in saving the Emperor.
However, because they all knew that the King of Liangzhou had sent troops to intercept him at Ziyang Pass, no one had taken this matter seriously. Now they realized that, from that late stage, Emperor Gengshi had already been preparing to seize the throne.
"But I never expected that the King of Liangzhou's forced abdication was merely to give his late mother a formal title. For this, he confined the late Emperor and Consort Jinghui in the Zichen Palace, wanting them to apologize to his mother.
At that time, the King of You was already approaching Zhongzhou with his troops. Once he arrived, Zhongzhou would once again be the late Emperor's Zhongzhou. Even if he died, there was still the Crown Prince.
I knew that the Crown Prince was trusted by the subjects and citizens. If he were to succeed, the throne would never fall to me.
Therefore, I ordered my subordinates to impersonate rebels, kill the late Emperor and Consort Jinghui, and then, pretending to rescue them, enter the Eastern Palace and, while the Crown Prince was off guard, kill the couple.
It's a shame that the fellow named Bai had too sharp an eye. He actually took those two little beasts away as I entered the Eastern Palace..."
Under the effects of the truth serum, the speaker's emotions should have been numb.
Yet, Emperor Gengshi, perhaps out of sheer hatred for Si Fengming and Feng Xiwu, gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Lu Qingwan quickly held Feng Xiwu's hand, signaling him to remain calm and continue listening to Emperor Gengshi.
Unexpectedly, Feng Xiwu stood up, walked to the high platform, and struck Emperor Gengshi's nape with his palm. Emperor Gengshi fainted without warning.
Si Fengming had not anticipated Feng Xiwu's action and asked in surprise, "Fengwu, what are you doing?"
"Let it end here."
Feng Xiwu said coldly, "We've worked hard for so many years, wasn't it all for this day?"
Feng Xiwu walked past Si Fengming and looked at the assembled officials, "Whether Si Hongru's words are true or false, everyone knows in their hearts.
I do not wish to investigate who among those present was involved and who was not.
I will only ask one question: From this day forward, Si Hongru abdicates and yields the throne to the Crown Prince. Do you agree?"
His meaning was clear: if Si Hongru successfully abdicated, all matters concerning the officials who participated in Emperor Gengshi's usurpation would be wiped clean.
Naturally, the ministers were agreeable to such an arrangement. However, without Emperor Gengshi's explicit statement, Lu Qingwan still had a plan.
Lu Qingwan, seeing the expectant gazes, chuckled, "Guards, bring a brazier!"
The guards obeyed and brought a brazier. Lu Qingwan then, in front of everyone, threw the incriminating evidence into the flames.
The smell of burning paper and ink permeated the hall. The ministers knelt and, facing Si Fengming, cried out, "Long live His Highness, the Fifth Prince, for ten thousand years!"
In the crowd, Prince Rui, Si Fengchi, and Prince Xian, Si Fengqi, collapsed in despair.
Si Fengchi could not comprehend why his mother had so easily surrendered the throne. Si Fengqi was even more devastated. He had considered himself clever, but all his plans had been stillborn before he could even implement them.
The throne was now irrevocably out of his reach.
The various princes who had traveled from afar, aside from witnessing Emperor Gengshi's crimes, had played almost no significant role and left Zichen Palace still bewildered.
But none of that mattered. The sky of Great Qin was long overdue for a change.
Emperor Gengshi, having fulfilled his mission, was soon moved to a remote palace, with no one to attend to him except his personal attendant, Wei Kun.
Lu Qingwan's public burning of the evidence brought a brief period of peace to the court.
Imperial Censor Yan was promoted to Chancellor, and the General of the Guards, who had remained clear-headed during the palace turmoil and had not sided with anyone indiscriminately, was promoted to Grand Commandant.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had already begun preparations for Si Fengming's enthronement ceremony.
However, it was not until a month later that everything in Zhongzhou was finally settled.
With the enthronement ceremony imminent, Lu Qingwan was finally able to return to the Qin Prince's manor. Feng Xiwu, shedding his official duties, also rushed out.
The two of them retreated to Wutong Garden to enjoy a rare moment of leisure. Even Feng Xiwu began to stare into space.
Lu Qingwan, bored, tugged at his hair, "Having achieved a goal you've worked towards for twenty-three years, do you feel a sense of emptiness?"
"Not exactly."
Feng Xiwu snapped back to reality, tightening his embrace on Lu Qingwan.
"It's just that I thought this would be a troublesome matter, but it resolved itself so easily. Suddenly, I feel I was too indecisive before.
I wasted so much time and caused you so much grievance, it was too much of a loss."
The August sun was just right, shining a bit too brightly on the couch.
Lu Qingwan wanted to bask in the sun but also didn't want the light in her eyes. Like a little pig, she burrowed into Feng Xiwu's armpit.
Feng Xiwu almost tumbled to the ground, but with a fan, he managed to shield her, barely preserving his position.
Just as he was about to say something more, he heard Lu Qingwan mumble, "Believe me, in Great Qin, you are absolutely considered decisive.
You arrived less than a month ago and almost caused a regime change. If that's still considered indecisive, what do you mean by decisive?
Want to slaughter Great Qin on our wedding day to liven things up?"
Feng Xiwu chuckled, the melancholic mood he had carefully cultivated vanishing with the laughter. He cupped Lu Qingwan's chin and playfully teased her.
In truth, Feng Xiwu was not foolish. He could feel that ever since he brought the sixty thousand Xuanjia Army into Zhongzhou and decisively suppressed all dissenting voices in the court, Lu Qingwan's entire demeanor had brightened.
It was as if a child walking alone at night suddenly knew there was an adult behind them, accompanying and supporting them.