"I..."

Sima Ke's face alternated between green and white, looking somewhat unsightly. He desperately wanted to tell his imperial sister that his initial humility had been merely a temporary expedient.

He didn't want to die; he wanted to live, to live well. He had no choice but to bow before Chen Yuan.

But now, he was on the verge of ascending the throne, becoming the Emperor, the supreme ruler of the nine provinces, wielding all the power. Naturally, ambition had taken root.

Although the Great Jin had suffered severe blows, its base in the Central Province remained intact. The court still commanded hundreds of thousands of soldiers and numerous Transformation Yang Realm experts.

Why should he fear Chen Yuan any longer?

However, seeing that his imperial sister hadn't even glanced his way, he lacked the courage to voice these thoughts, just as he had lacked it when facing Chen Yuan at Zijin Mountain.

Princess Pingyang kept her gaze fixed on the battle in the void, and said calmly:

"I know what you're thinking. You think that once you ascend the throne, you'll command everything, possess immense power, and inherit a vast foundation.

Why continue to kowtow and grovel before Chen Yuan, forsaking the opportunity to be a proper Emperor and instead become a dog kneeling at Chen Yuan's feet?"

"Imperial sister, I..."

"Foolish! I know you lack the ability. Don't you realize it yourself? Do you have even a shred of self-awareness? Can't you see yourself clearly?

Have you considered that if I hadn't revealed to Zhang Yan Tong that Chen Yuan was behind us, would he have abandoned Sima You, the rightful heir, to support you instead?

What do you think you're relying on? Your handsome looks? Your exceptional skills? Or perhaps your insignificant imperial bloodline?"

"Imperial sister, I... I..."

Sima Ke opened his mouth, his face flushed.

"Since you can't recognize yourself, your imperial sister will help you. Even if you haven't ascended the throne yet, what difference would it make if you did? You'd still be just a puppet. Zhang Yan Tong, Xiao Jing, and Li Yang, none of them would genuinely submit to you. Those loyal to the late Emperor have all rallied around the Second Prince.

After today's battle, Shenjing City will be purged, and no organized force will remain to serve the court or the Sima clan...

Do you think I've managed to preserve my forces so well, and that those people remain steadfastly loyal to me? Heh... they're just like Li Yang, seeing the court on the verge of collapse and seeking a new patron. And that patron is Chen Yuan, who now commands hundreds of thousands of troops, is supported by several Immortal Sects, and dominates Shu Province!

Without Chen Yuan, what do you think you are? Do you think that the Central Province's strength alone can stand against the heroes and Immortal Sects of the world?

Humph, they haven't attacked the court yet simply because they're keeping it as a signboard. Once the world is settled, they'll easily deal with the toothless tiger that is the court."

Princess Pingyang spoke calmly, her voice soft yet like a series of sharp sword energies piercing Sima Ke's heart. His expression gradually changed.

Finally, it settled into serenity. After a long silence, he spoke:

"Imperial sister is right. I... understand!"

"A'Ke, don't blame your imperial sister for being so blunt."

"No... I won't..."

"I don't know when you put Royal Mother on Chen Yuan's bed, but since you share this fleeting affair, cherish it.

Don't overestimate your abilities and skills. How do you think you compare to Chen Yuan?"

"Not... as good."

Sima Ke lowered his head, giving his answer.

This wasn't forced out of him by Princess Pingyang, but his genuine feeling. Who was Chen Yuan? He was someone who had risen to the pinnacle of the Jianghu in just a few years.

He had planned step by step, strengthened his own power, and finally, in front of the world, revealed his ambition and shattered the dreams of his arrogant father.

He shattered the Sima family's empire.

Such a person couldn't even be described in words.

That was his most sincere thought.

"Since you know, why go to certain doom later? Listen to me, if you want to live, protect the Central Province and Shenjing City. Wait for the day Chen Yuan establishes his rule over the world.

If he wins in the end, our mother and her two children will have a chance to live. Even if he doesn't consider your help in defending the city, he'll give us a life of wealth and honor for the sake of the royal family.

In these chaotic times, to gain peace is already a blessing..."

Princess Pingyang sighed softly.

"Imperial sister is right, but... what if Chen Yuan doesn't win in the end?"

"Then submit to someone else. Perhaps you can survive, but I don't think you'll live for many years. They won't tolerate you, the remnant of the former dynasty."

"This younger brother heard that the Great Ancestor is still alive, but he's in seclusion. If he comes out of seclusion..."

"Younger brother, do you know why your imperial sister chose to make a deal with Chen Yuan in the first place?" Princess Pingyang turned her gaze to Sima Ke.

"Why?"

Princess Pingyang smiled, looking at the palace before her, and said to herself:

"If that old thing wanted to come out, he would have come out during our father's great battle. He doesn't want to come out, which means... he doesn't care about the empire he built with his own hands.

Since he doesn't care, why should you, a descendant with little ability, care so much?"

"This..."

"When reading, start with history. I've realized these days that the Great Jin was founded with the intention of collapsing again one day."

Sima Ke paused, not immediately understanding the meaning of Princess Pingyang's words.

Founded to be destroyed?

...

...

While Princess Pingyang and Sima Ke were talking, the battle within the imperial city was nearing its end, the bluestone ground stained red.

The acrid smell of blood drifted outwards on the cold wind.

The sounds of battle continued. The martial guards of the Sky Patrol Department, the elites of the Imperial Guards, the experts of the Imperial Monitoring Department, the strongmen of the royal family, and many eunuchs were roaring in anger.

In the void, the battle was also nearing its end. Cao Zhengxian's strength was good, but still slightly inferior to Xiao Jing. And that slight difference often became an overwhelming force in the process of life and death.

Li Yang, Zhang Yan Tong, and the other Transformation Yang Realm experts were also doing their best to display their skills and power. Li Yang wanted to sell himself for a good price when he surrendered to Chen Yuan in the future.

Zhang Yan Tong wanted to show Chen Yuan his worth.

The status of a woman after marriage depended on her family. Although he didn't have much power, as long as he showed his usefulness, coupled with the past connections, the Zhang family could continue to enjoy wealth and honor.

In addition, there was Zhang Xuan.

He was Chen Yuan's old superior and had always been kind to him. They still maintained a close relationship, which had been further strengthened because of Wan Shu.

Zhang Yan Tong understood that as long as the Zhang family didn't seek their own destruction, they would enjoy Chen Yuan's wealth and honor in the future. What he was doing now was adding more value to that future wealth.

They were fighting desperately, but some of the court's enshrined experts were unwilling to do so.

The main reason they had joined the court was for the various resources needed for cultivation. But now that the court was clearly declining, why should they risk their lives?

It was only because Cao Zhengxian and Sima You offered them a higher price to stay, otherwise, they would have left after the battle of Zijin Mountain.

But staying was one thing, risking their lives was another.

Therefore, the balance of victory quickly shifted towards Zhang Yan Tong's side, and the speed of the shift increased. When the first enshrined expert fled the battlefield,

it completely signaled the collapse of Cao Zhengxian's side.

"Boom!!!"

A thunderous sound echoed through the heavens and the earth. Cao Zhengxian was struck from the void into the ground by Xiao Jing, raising a cloud of dust several feet high. The sound of Cao Zhengxian's coughing followed.

"Cough cough..."

Cao Zhengxian's face was pale, and his aura was rapidly fading. Even if he burned his primordial spirit, he was still no match for Xiao Jing.

"Cao, you eunuch dog, did you ever think of this day?"

Xiao Jing looked down at the old eunuch from above. The grudges between the Sky Patrol Department and the Imperial Monitoring Department had been going on for a long time. If it weren't for the Emperor's suppression,

they would have killed this old eunuch long ago.

"Xiao Jing, you rebellious traitor!"

Cao Zhengxian gritted his teeth, staring fiercely at the figure standing in the sky, regretting that his strength was insufficient. He could only watch helplessly as the Great Jin descended into internal strife once again.

And he vaguely felt that this internal strife would lead to the complete demise of the Great Jin.

"You are a wicked minister, an eunuch dog by the side of the ruler, and you are worthy to say that I am a rebellious traitor? If you hadn't committed sins for the late Emperor, how could there be today's disaster?"

"Shut up, are you worthy to comment on the late Emperor?"

Cao Zhengxian's face was ferocious, his veins bulging:

"If the late Emperor hadn't failed, my Great Jin would have been revived in his hands. I, this director, only hate that I didn't dismember Chen Yuan into ten thousand pieces, extract his soul and refine it when he was still weak!"

He did not quite agree with Jingtai's blood sacrifice method, but he was also clear that in today's era, if there was no change, then the Great Jin would still not change its fate of destruction.

The Emperor had only brought this time forward.

Therefore, Cao Zhengxian still had great respect for Jingtai.

"Since that's the case, then go down and accompany the late Emperor."

Xiao Jing raised his hand and waved it violently.

A stream of light fell directly on Cao Zhengxian's body. He did not resist but opened his arms, as if he was looking forward to this scene. Since the Great Jin was destined to perish,

then... it was best not to let him see it.

He started as a small eunuch and followed the Sima family's successive emperors, receiving imperial grace for generations. Now, he was finally going down to meet the successive late Emperors again.

Cao Zhengxian died, quickly and somewhat tragically.

He was forcibly dispersed by Xiao Jing, leaving only a complete corpse.

Especially when placed in the current scene, it was more like a subject loyal to the Sima clan sacrificing himself for the country. On the other hand, Sima Ke himself would be a traitor who led wolves into the house.

He stood in front of Cao Zhengxian's corpse for a long time before slowly moving his gaze away.

With Cao Zhengxian's death and the rout of the other royal family enshrined experts, Sima Ke's side immediately surrounded the Second Prince Sima You in the Jinluan Hall with an overwhelming advantage.

The blades flashed with cold light. Sima You sent a young eunuch to tell Sima Ke that he hoped to come in and talk to him, and that he had some last words to say.

After seeking Princess Pingyang's opinion, Sima Ke finally agreed. Xiao Jing scanned the area with his divine sense and confirmed that there was indeed only Sima You inside.

There were no other ambushes, and with Sima Ke's cultivation, it would be easy to deal with Sima You, who had no cultivation.

In full view of everyone, Sima Ke pushed open the door of the Jinluan Hall. At a glance, he saw Sima You, wearing a dragon robe and sitting on the dragon chair in the center.

He turned around and closed the door.

Sima Ke walked step by step towards the high platform, saying as he walked:

"Second brother, you are not the emperor yet, how can you wear a dragon robe? This is a capital crime."

Sima You looked down at Sima Ke, who was gradually climbing the steps, and chuckled:

"The late Emperor is dead, so what if I wear this dragon robe? It's just a pity, this is the first time I've worn it, and it's also the last time I'll wear it. Hehe, I really can't bear to part with it."

"It doesn't matter. As your younger brother, after you die, I can issue an order to let you be buried in a dragon robe." Sima Ke smiled indifferently.

"So generous?"

Sima Ke did not answer. In his heart, the Sima family was about to perish. It didn't matter if he let his second brother indulge in being an emperor. In any case, he would eventually be the king of a destroyed country.

"Second brother asked me to come over, what last words do you want to say?"

"Fourth brother, if I say that at the moment you surrounded the imperial city, I ordered everyone not to resist, would you believe it?" Sima You looked at Sima Ke seriously.

"Why?"

Sima Ke did not say whether he believed it or not, but asked why. He was curious.

"Actually, it's really meaningless to be this emperor or not. The reason why I came to this point was also pushed by the people below step by step, and I had to do so.

After the late Emperor died, there was not much power left in our Great Jin. Why should we have another internal strife and make our Sima clan weaker again? It's a pity that Father-in-law Cao was unwilling.

He forcibly overstepped his authority and issued the order for me."

"Where did he get the courage? A family slave dares to usurp the master?"

Sima Ke asked casually.

"Hehe, Father-in-law Cao wanted to die actively. After the late Emperor died, he had such thoughts, but he was worried about our Sima clan's foundation."

"A slave is worried about the master..." Sima Ke sneered.

"Hey, after all, Father-in-law Cao also died in battle. Fourth brother, please leave some words of kindness. No matter what, he was loyal to our Sima clan. It's not appropriate to say these things."

Sima You shook his head.

"Is that all you wanted to say, second brother?"

"Of course not, I want to tell you, I didn't lose to you, but to Imperial Sister Pingyang. I didn't expect that she would have so many backhands. Maybe she also thought about dominating the morning, becoming the first empress in history."

"I don't object to this sentence. In fact, I was able to compete with you, second brother, because Imperial Sister was planning for me behind my back."

"Tsk, you said, why don't I have a real sister?"

"Hehe..."

"Alright, I won't delay your time, fourth brother. That's the confession I left behind, pushing all the blame on myself.

I am willing to bear all of this, I only hope... that you, fourth brother, can let our Sima clan's two-hundred-year foundation last as many years as possible. If the Great Ancestor awakens, it's not without a chance to revive the Great Jin..."

Sima You said a lot, but most of them were exhortations. As he spoke more and more, his voice became lighter and lighter, and a smear of black blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

"Second brother, how does the poisoned wine taste?"

Sima Ke asked curiously.

"It's okay... hehe... it's okay..." Sima You wiped the corner of his mouth, and a smile appeared on his lips. He sighed deeply:

"I really didn't expect that our Sima clan would decline in Chen Yuan's hands. If I had a chance to do it again, I would use all means to strangle him..."

"Second brother."

"Hmm?"

Sima Ke looked seriously at Sima You, whose breath was gradually weakening, and said in a low voice:

"I'm afraid I can't agree to your exhortation."

"Why?"

Sima You looked surprised and suspicious.

"Second brother, do you know who is pushing me to this point today?"

"Imperial Sister Pingyang?"

"No, it's Chen Yuan... it was he who let Zhang Yan Tong, Xiao Jing, and Li Yang help me ascend the throne, to guard Shenjing City and the Central Province for him, using our Sima family's name to become the kind of emperor that the late Emperor wanted to become."

"You... what are you saying?"

Sima You's eyes widened suddenly, and the poisoned wine began to flow backwards rapidly.

"I didn't lie to you, really."

"Pfft..."

Sima You spat out a mouthful of blood, full of unwillingness, and used his last strength to roar:

"By doing this, can you... can you be worthy of the Sima family's ancestors, be worthy of the Great Jin's past emperors, be worthy of the late Emperor? He... he is the one who destroyed my Great Jin's foundation!"

Sima You's voice echoed in the Jinluan Hall, and his body was unstable, falling to the ground, his eyes full of unwillingness, wishing he could strangle Sima Ke's neck.

He was willing to surrender, willing to stop the war, just to preserve the court's strength, just so that the Sima family would have a chance to revive in the future.

He knew Princess Pingyang's nature and felt that the two of them were much stronger than him.

But... he never wanted the Sima family to be destroyed, the Great Jin to be destroyed, even more so he did not want it to be destroyed in the hands of Chen Yuan, this rebellious traitor.

Sima Ke squatted in front of Sima You's body, took a long breath, half crying and half laughing, murmuring:

"Second brother, I don't want to either, but I have no choice, I... I have recognized the enemy as my father!"

...

In the ninth year of Jingtai of the Great Jin, on the sixth day of November.

The second imperial son Sima You was bewitched by the treacherous minister Cao Zhengxian, rebelled against the court, moved the swords and soldiers without authorization, caused chaos in the imperial city, and carried out the late Emperor's blood sacrifice again. In the end, the fourth imperial son Sima Ke led his troops to quell the rebellion. Later, Sima You was frightened and committed suicide out of fear. The treacherous Cao Zhengxian's body was exposed on the same day, to be eaten by the people of the capital.

In the ninth year of Jingtai of the Great Jin, on the eighth day of November.

The late Emperor's fourth imperial son Sima Ke rose up in the midst of danger, was the people's choice, and was obeyed by all the officials. He officially ascended the throne as emperor, and will change the reign to Jianping in the following year.

On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, the first decree he issued was to apologize on behalf of his father, repenting for the blood sacrifice. After discussion among the officials, Jingtai's posthumous title was set as 'Ling'.

He was, the Ling Emperor of Jin!