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

Chu Yun's triumphant voice, carrying the threat of death and the allure of power, washed over the hearts of every civil and military official present like an icy tide.

Inside the shield wall, the Imperial Guards glared angrily, wishing they could rush out and tear these traitors to pieces.

Outside the shield wall, the surrounded ministers were caught in an unprecedented struggle and fear.

Their faces were ashen, their lips trembled, their legs were weak, and some could not even stand steadily, needing to support each other to barely maintain their dignity.

Choosing an emperor?

But the densely packed black-armored soldiers before them, and the chilling blades and arrows, clearly had them trapped like turtles in a jar.

Even if the emperor is wise and powerful, he is currently trapped here with only a few hundred imperial guards. How can he possibly withstand these thousands of rebels?

Choosing Chu Yun? That would be treason!

It's regicide! It's utter treason!

If things go wrong, their entire family will be implicated, and they will die without a burial place!

Moreover, although Chu Ning has used iron-fisted methods in the years since he ascended the throne, he has also worked hard to govern the country, and the national strength of Chu is growing day by day.

They held the emperor in both awe and genuine admiration.

For a moment, everyone was trembling with fear, looking at each other in bewilderment, and no one dared to take the first step.

In the midst of this suffocating silence, a cold and authoritative voice suddenly rang out, like a thunderclap, making everyone's heart tremble.

"enough."

Chu Ning spoke.

He didn't roar angrily, nor did he lash out with insults; he simply uttered two words, yet they carried an indescribable pressure from the pinnacle of power.

The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced through the wind, through the shield wall, and through every terrified breath, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

The shield wall parted slightly, and Chu Ning slowly stepped out.

He didn't look at the trembling officials, nor at the menacing black-armored soldiers; his gaze passed over everyone and landed on Chu Yun's smug face.

"Chu Yun,"

His voice was as cold as iron: "You've been hiding in the black pine forest, secretly shooting arrows for ten years, and today you finally dare to show your face?"

Chu Yun's smile faltered slightly.

Chu Ning continued, "Do you think I don't know about your underhanded tricks? Do you think I haven't noticed your little schemes over the past ten years?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "You're wrong. I've been waiting all along."

"Wait until you jump out yourself, wait until you, you coward, finally can't resist sticking your neck out."

Chu Yun's expression finally changed.

That smug smile began to stiffen and distort.

Chu Ning stopped looking at him and slowly turned her head, her gaze like lightning, sweeping over the terrified civil and military officials.

That gaze was majestic and profound, carrying an inviolable imperial wrath that made everyone instinctively lower their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

"you,"

Chu Ning's voice was not loud, but every word carried immense weight: "He is my subject."

"It was I who promoted and nurtured you, bestowing upon you official titles, salaries, and riches."

"Today, the traitor Chu Yun has rebelled and is threatening you with weapons to force you to choose sides."

"I want to ask you—where is your loyalty? Where is your conscience?!"

He raised his hand, pointing to Han Xing's coffin, which stood silently in the middle of the official road, and to the blood-stained memorial banner, his voice suddenly rising:

"General Han Xing, you have just sacrificed your life for your country, your body is still warm! Your coffin is right here! Your spirit is watching over you from heaven!"

"You—will you betray me, betray the Great Chu, and pledge allegiance to this traitorous rebel before his spirit?!"

Upon hearing this, the courtiers trembled with fear, sweating profusely, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.

No one dared to speak, no one dared to move, and no one dared to take that step.

Chu Yun's face was now so gloomy it could drip water.

He hadn't expected that Chu Ning, surrounded and on the verge of death, could remain so calm and imposing, managing to deflect most of his threats and inducements with just a few words.

Those ministers who had begun to waver shrank back after Chu Ning's reprimand!

"Chu Ning!" Chu Yun gritted his teeth, about to retort—

"Prince Yun."

A slightly aged, yet remarkably steady voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure slowly walking out from the ranks of civil officials.

The man was dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, with a black gauze hat. He had a thin face, three long wisps of beard, and an air of refined elegance and composure.

It was none other than Lü Xiuwen, the Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel.

Lü Xiuwen, born into the Lü clan of Bingzhou, was a trusted minister who followed Chu Ning from the beginning of his reign.

For ten years, he was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, selecting officials with fairness and impartiality, and was deeply respected by the court and the public.

Chu Ning trusted him implicitly and regarded him as a confidant. No one expected that he would be the first to step forward at this moment.

Lu Xiuwen walked up to Chu Yun, bowed deeply respectfully, and spoke in a calm and clear voice:

"Prince Yun, this humble official... is willing to stand on your side."

Having said that, he stopped looking at anyone, turned around, and walked steadily to Chu Yun's side.

"boom--"

Like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, the crowd instantly erupted in chaos!

"Lu Xiuwen! You...you dare to do this!"

"Lord Lü! Have you gone mad?!"

"Lu Xiuwen! You ungrateful scoundrel!"

Countless exclamations, curses, and disbelief rose and fell.

Chu Ning's face also turned completely gloomy in that instant.

He stared at Lü Xiuwen's seemingly composed back, his eyes flashing with cold light.

Chu Yun was taken aback at first, then—

"Hahahahaha—!"

He threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter unrestrained and arrogant, filled with endless smugness and mockery.

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, tears streaming down his face, his folding fan waving wildly as if he were trying to release all the repression and humiliation of the past ten years at once.

"Chu Ning! Chu Ning! Did you see that? Did you hear that?!"

Chu Yun pointed at Chu Ning, laughing so hard he could barely breathe:

"Your confidant! Your cabinet minister! Your Minister of Personnel! The first person to betray you was him! Lü Xiuwen!"

He laughed even more arrogantly: "You think you're high and mighty, you think you rule the world, you think everyone is loyal to you?"

"Hahahaha! Look! Look! Your so-called trusted ministers are the first to stand on my side!"

"Chu Ning, oh Chu Ning, you are truly pathetic! Lamentable! Laughable!"

Chu Ning remained silent, only coldly watching Chu Yun laugh wildly, watching his distorted face.

But to outsiders, his silence seemed more like he had nothing to say, or that his sore spot had been touched.

"Lü Xiuwen!"

A furious shout suddenly rang out. Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen trembled with rage, pointing at Lü Xiuwen, his voice completely distorted with anger.

"You treacherous villain! His Majesty has shown you immense kindness, promoting you from a lowly official in Bingzhou to a Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel!"

"You...you dare to betray His Majesty! How can you still stand between heaven and earth!"