Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

A hint of paleness appeared in the sky, morning mist enveloped the imperial city, and the air still lingered with the bloody smell of last night's battle.

Chu Ning was riding on a horse, and behind him were neatly lined up white horse cavalrymen, wearing iron armor and holding long spears like a forest.

In the middle of the team, a closed carriage moved slowly forward, and inside the carriage sat the retired emperor Chu Huai, who was being escorted back to the palace.

On both sides of the street, early-rising vendors and ordinary people watched from afar and talked in low voices.

Some people saw the bloodstains on the armor of the White Horse Cavalry and shrank their necks in fear.

Some people noticed the closely guarded carriage and wondered what kind of person was inside that could be escorted by the emperor himself.

"Your Majesty, return to the palace!"

The guards in front of the palace gate announced loudly, and the heavy palace gate slowly opened.

Chu Ning's expression was stern as he glanced at the guards on the palace wall to make sure everything was under control.

Half an hour later, at the hour of Mao, outside the palace.

At this time, the ministers had arrived at the palace one after another, standing in groups of three or four outside the Golden Throne Hall waiting for the morning court.

Liu Shouren, the Minister of Revenue and Cabinet Minister, stood in the center of the crowd with a calm expression. He glanced at everyone and saw them whispering and talking in low voices, his brows slightly furrowed.

"My Lords, have you heard what happened last night?"

The Minister of Personnel whispered, "My guards said that after midnight, there were sounds of fighting coming from the streets. It seemed that two groups were fighting."

"I heard it too!"

The head of the Ministry of Works echoed, "The sound of horse hooves is deafening, and the clash of swords is endless. Could it be that someone is plotting a rebellion?"

"Hush! Be careful!" An imperial censor hurriedly stopped him, "How can you say such things?"

"I'm not making this up. I also heard shouts and screams last night. I'm afraid something really happened."

Liu Shouren snorted coldly, his voice low but full of authority: "My Lords, there is no need to speculate. Your Majesty is in charge of the capital. How dare these scoundrels easily cause chaos?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Liu Shouren had a very high prestige in the court, and no one dared to refute his words. Everyone lowered their heads and said no more.

At this moment, the eunuch in front of the palace announced loudly: "Morning court begins!"

The ministers immediately straightened their clothes and entered the Golden Palace in order of their rank.

When they entered the hall, the ministers were shocked to find that Chu Ning had already been sitting on the dragon throne, looking down at everyone with a cold gaze.

He was wearing a black dragon robe, with a sword still on his waist, and he was full of murderous aura, obviously he had just experienced a great battle.

The ministers were startled and bowed in greeting: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you!"

Chu Ning nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "My dear ministers, please don't be polite."

Everyone stood up, their doubts growing even stronger - the emperor arrived at court earlier than his ministers today, and his expression was solemn. Could something really have happened?

Thinking of what they heard last night, the ministers began to speculate.

Chu Ning glanced at the ministers and spoke slowly, "Today's morning court will discuss only one matter - how to deal with the retired emperor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole court was in an uproar!

"What?" the Minister of Rites exclaimed, "Your Majesty wants to punish the retired emperor?"

"This... this is against etiquette!"

The Minister of Rites quickly advised, "The Retired Emperor is your Majesty's father, and the late emperor as well. How can we treat him so easily?"

"Yes!" The Imperial Censor also stepped forward and asked, "If Your Majesty were to punish the Retired Emperor, how would the people of the world react?"

The ministers discussed the matter and most of them were opposed.

Chu Ning watched coldly and did not refute immediately. He just tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingers, making a dull sound.

Gradually, the noise in the court became quieter and quieter, and finally fell into silence.

Everyone realized that the emperor's attitude was no joke.

Liu Shouren took a deep breath, stepped forward, and asked in a deep voice, "May I ask, Your Majesty, why do you suddenly want to deal with the Emperor?"

Chu Ning sneered, his voice as cold as ice: "The Emperor is secretly training assassins with the intention of rebellion!"

"What?" The ministers were shocked again.

"Not only that," Chu Ning continued, "he also sent people to assassinate Divine Doctor Sun, intending to kill Concubine Lan and the Second Prince!"

"Which of these three serious crimes is not enough for me to punish him?"

The court was in an uproar.

"How dare the Emperor Retired to plot treason?"

"No wonder there were sounds of fighting last night. It turned out to be the Emperor himself!"

"Assassinating Divine Doctor Sun? He was the hero who saved His Majesty!"

"If this is true, the Emperor is indeed guilty of an unforgivable crime!"

The attitudes of the ministers changed rapidly.

They knew very well that once the emperor returned to power, they, the ministers who supported Chu Ning, would be liquidated.

The best way is to make the emperor completely lose his threat!

Seeing that the ministers were already wavering, Chu Ning said coldly, "I summoned you all today not to listen to your advice, but to ask for your advice - how to deal with the retired emperor?"

"If this matter is not handled properly, how can I govern the world in the future?"

The ministers looked at each other, and then offered their suggestions.

"Your Majesty, I think the retired emperor should be moved out of Kyoto, away from the center of power!" an official suggested.

"Not appropriate!" the Minister of Justice retorted, "Once the retired emperor leaves Kyoto, it will be easier for him to rally his old subordinates. It would be better to just put him under house arrest!"

"House arrest isn't a long-term solution." The head of the Ministry of Revenue shook his head. "In my opinion, why not... announce to the public that the retired emperor was murdered by his own assassins?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became quiet.

Everyone understood what this sentence meant - patricide!

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows and said coldly, "What I want is a permanent solution. Do you understand?"

The ministers were shocked.

The four words "once and for all" have already shown the emperor's attitude - the emperor must die!

But no one dares to bear the name of patricide.

The court fell into silence and no one dared to speak again.

At this moment, the Minister of Rites, Deng Hongwen, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, since ancient times, the sovereign has been supreme! The Emperor, knowing full well that you are the current Emperor, still plots against him. He deserves death!"

"I suggest that the Emperor be sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum and never leave!"

Liu Shouren immediately agreed: "I second the motion!"

Important officials such as Lu Xiuwen also stood up and said, "We second the motion!"

Going to the imperial mausoleum means that the retired emperor will no longer have any power in this life and can only live out his life in loneliness.

Although he didn't kill the other person directly, it was the same as killing him.

Chu Ning nodded slightly: "Okay, since everyone agrees, then this matter is settled!"

"Deng Hongwen!"

"Chen is here!"

"As the Minister of Rites, you are fully responsible for this matter. Execute it immediately!"

"I obey your order!" Deng Hongwen bowed and accepted the order, then turned around and strode away.

After the morning court was over, Chu Ning stood alone outside the Golden Palace, looking at the sky in the distance.

The March wind was slightly chilly, blowing his robe.

He won this battle, but he didn't feel any joy in his heart.

"Your Majesty..." Zhao Yu called in a low voice.

Chu Ning retracted his gaze and said calmly, "Pass the order to strengthen the guard of the imperial mausoleum and never allow anyone to approach the emperor."

"Yes!"

Chu Ning turned and left, his back looking particularly lonely in the morning light.

In the game of thrones, there are no winners.