Fourth Uncle?
Us?
These few words slowly echoed in everyone's ears, lingering for a long time.
Everyone knew that the Emperor was the fourth son of Emperor Lingzong and the biological uncle of the deposed emperor from the previous dynasty. Now, the only ones who could address the emperor in such a manner were either Chen Chao or the deposed emperor who had already died.
However, the use of "Us" already indicated the identity of the arrival.
That legendary Deposed Emperor who supposedly perished in the great fire of the imperial city.
Although they thought of this, none of the court officials believed it right away, as the revelation was simply too shocking.
Today had already seen many astonishing events, but all that shock seemed minor compared to the declaration of "Fourth Uncle" and "Us," and the appearance of this man.
Everyone slowly turned their heads to look at the approaching figure.
A silhouette was walking this way, his footsteps very light, yet virtually each step felt as if it landed directly on everyone's hearts.
Until the person slowly arrived at the banquet, everyone saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face. It was the face of a man in his thirties, somewhat weathered, but not excessively so.
The man bore some resemblance to Chen Chao, but not too much. He actually looked more like another person.
That of the long-deceased Crown Prince Yiwen.
"Your Majesty!"
Some court officials, seeing this scene, immediately wept bitterly and trembled as they knelt before him.
Many officials in the Great Liang Dynasty did not only start their careers after the current emperor ascended the throne. Apart from those who had served under Emperor Lingzong, many had already entered the imperial court during the reign of the deposed emperor.
They had naturally seen him in person.
Now, although over a decade had passed, and this emperor's appearance was somewhat weathered, those people still quickly recognized him.
A group of old officials knelt down, tears streaming down their faces, and for a moment, the sound of weeping lingered incessantly.
"Minister Xie, you are at least someone who has read the classics of the sages, how can you be unaware of the principles of monarch and subject? In your heart, do you think We are unworthy of ruling the world?"
The Deposed Emperor looked at the Xie Family's ancestor and said, "Such a wise ruler like Imperial Grandfather[Emperor Lingzong] is worth nothing in Minister Xie's eyes?"
Clad in emperor robes, the Deposed Emperor stood there openly, watching the weeping court officials, and said with a smile, "We thought this world was filled only with traitors and rebels, but it seems there are still loyal and virtuous ministers."
"Fourth Uncle, since you feel that the burden of the world is too great, why not return Our empire to Us?"
The Deposed Emperor smiled faintly. "Return the empire to Us, and Fourth Uncle can continue riding horses and hunting. Wouldn't that be better?"
The Deposed Emperor looked at the Great Liang Emperor, his face full of amusement, with no visible resentment. On the contrary, he had a calm and collected look, as if he were speaking of something trivial.
But everyone knew this was a profoundly important day. Although some court officials were weeping, the rest of the officials did not say a single word.
One man was the current Emperor, who held the actual power of the realm; the other was the former dynasty's Emperor, with the weight of legitimacy on his side.
The Great Liang Emperor looked at the Deposed Emperor and said with vicissitudes of emotion, "That fire back then was set at just the right time."
"Fourth Uncle, without that fire, would We still be standing here, speaking to you now?"
The Deposed Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, calm and indifferent.
“Do you really think We didn't know you survived that day? Without that fire, your whole family might not have survived. But with that fire, if We didn't want you to leave, could you have truly escaped?”
The Great Liang Emperor shook his head. “Did you really have to be so ruthless?”
All shared a single intention.
They requested His Majesty to abdicate and return the throne.
Since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, no such event had occurred. Of course, such stories were not uncommon in history.
As more and more people stepped forward, fewer remained seated.
However, the heads of the Xie and Wei families remained silent from start to end.
The Xie Family had already expressed their position earlier, whether they regretted it was uncertain.
As for the Wei Family, they had yet to act.
The Wei Family’s foundation ran far deeper than that of the Xie Family. Many important stories had the shadow of the Wei Family. They had always been known for their caution too, it was no surprise they remained rooted in the imperial court.
The Great Liang Emperor looked at these ministers and family heads calling for his abdication, merely watching them in silence.
It was already late at night.
This banquet had begun in the late afternoon, and by now, night had fully fallen.
"So, according to reason, We should abdicate?"
The Great Liang Emperor looked at the officials present, noting that nearly a third of them seemed to think so.
"Your Majesty, this subject oversees the Ministry of Rites, and by the principles of ancestral law and public sentiment, Your Majesty should indeed return the throne!"
The old official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward, speaking firmly.
"Speaking of reason, isn't there a scholar here who understands it better than anyone?"
The Great Liang Emperor looked toward the Dean, asking with a smile. "What does the Dean think?"
The Dean was indeed the foremost scholar in the land, representing the will of all scholars in the world. His stance could very well be a turning point.
The Great Liang Emperor had posed the same question to him earlier, but back then, the Dean had given no answer. Would he respond now?
This time, the Dean stepped forward.
Everyone grew tense. Although the academy had always refrained from meddling in politics, the Dean, as the head of the academy, naturally wielded great influence.
All eyes turned to the Dean, looking at this leader of the scholars across the realm.
His stance was very crucial.
The Deposed Emperor
In the Divine Capital, the Great Liang Emperor's most trusted Lord Warden Commander had already left for the Northern Frontier. If the Dean also chose to stand in opposition to His Majesty, then today's matter would be nearly settled.
"Dean, there is something We wish to inform you of."
Before the Dean could respond, the Deposed Emperor could not resist speaking.
The Dean smiled, "Please, go ahead."
"The late emperor did not die of sudden illness, but rather at the hands of Our fourth uncle."
The Deposed Emperor spoke slowly, and the "late Emperor" in his words naturally referred to Crown Prince Yiwen.
After the Deposed Emperor took the throne, this Crown Prince Yiwen, who had never formally ascended as Emperor, was posthumously honored as Emperor Xiaokang, with the temple name Emperor Xingzong.
This news was more earth-shattering than anything before!