Zhong Province, Divine Capital City.

After the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain, various forces in the world were eager to rebel, wanting to follow the old ways of the Sima family and ascend to the throne of the supreme ruler.

That position represents the ultimate power in the world. Even if suppressed by the nation's destiny and unable to cultivate, once a certain force or family can sit upon it.

They can still obtain a great deal of resources, forming a virtuous cycle.

It can be said that any force with a little strength has the ambition to peek at the dragon throne, the difference being only in degree. While the outside world was undergoing tumultuous changes.

A battle for the throne was also taking place within Divine Capital City!

Jingtai died at Purple Gold Mountain, and the court's elite were almost completely wiped out. Several True Lords perished, and most of the court's strength had been extinguished. However, this did not represent everything.

There were still many civil and military officials and noble clansmen who, sensing the unfavorable situation, returned alive to Divine Capital City.

The most prominent among them were the Second Prince Sima You and the Fourth Prince Sima Ke.

Jingtai's offspring were not numerous, but not few either. Only these three were qualified to contend for the position of Crown Prince. The others, such as the Third Prince and Fifth Prince, either died at Purple Gold Mountain or had almost no support.

Therefore, Sima You and Sima Ke, who had been instructed by Chen Yuan, began a grand conquest before even mourning for Jingtai.

Sima You was the eldest son of the current Empress and the eldest legitimate son of Jingtai. Although the Empress had fallen in the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain, he still had many supporters around him.

For example, most of the court officials and elders of the imperial clan supported Sima You.

After all, everyone knew that Chen Yuan and Sima Ke had been very close before. When Emperor Jingtai was still in power, he took advantage of Chen Yuan's prestige to rise again.

Furthermore, with his help, he had gained a firm foothold in the Sky Survey Division.

Many people were clear that if Chen Yuan had not rebelled, committing the crime of regicide, and had remained within the court, Sima Ke would have had a very good chance of becoming Crown Prince with his support.

Unfortunately, everything was extinguished in that battle.

Chen Yuan shattered his official uniform and seal in front of countless people, no longer serving as an official. He enumerated Emperor Jingtai's crimes and, moreover, committed the crime of insubordination and regicide, causing chaos.

And today, the culprit behind the chaos in the world and the instability of the court was him!

Many people were even clamoring to capture Sima Ke, the criminal who colluded with the rebel, and make him commit suicide before Emperor Jingtai's mausoleum to atone for his sins.

Of course, most of these people were instigated by Sima You, in order to completely deprive his most threatening brother of the opportunity to ascend the throne.

And then possess great power...

But sometimes, things in this world just don't go as planned. If Sima Ke had not received the support of Chen Yuan and the Eldest Princess, he would have had to return to the capital to commit suicide.

There was almost no other way.

But it was precisely Princess Pingyang's request before Chen Yuan that gave Sima Ke a chance to live.

Although Eldest Princess Pingyang was a woman, she was no less than a man. She had long had other thoughts. Although she was vulnerable in the face of the general trend, she still had a huge power within the capital.

Many of the people around the Second Prince Sima Ke had once been loyal to him. It could be said that Sima You had no secrets before Sima Ke, like being completely naked for others to admire.

Before the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain began, the actual controller of the Sky Survey Division had fallen into the hands of Duke Wei, Gu Tianqiong. But upon his death, the remaining power fell upon the original Grand Commanders, Xiao Jing and Zhang Yantong.

Wu Tianxi and Huang Tiancheng died, and the forces attached to them were all taken over by the two. Although the Sky Survey Division suffered heavy losses in the battle with those Jianghu martial artists.

But placed within the already very weak court, it was still a force that could not be ignored.

After Princess Pingyang returned to the capital, the first thing she did was to visit Zhang Yantong, bringing Chen Yuan's message. Zhang Yantong agreed to her request with almost no hesitation.

His son and daughter were both by Chen Yuan's side. He had almost no choice but to support Chen Yuan. Sima You was not Jingtai, and would not trust him, a person closely related to Chen Yuan, to be in power.

Moreover, anyone with some foresight could see that the Great Jin was already a withered bone in the tomb. Most of its elite had been lost, its popular support had been lost, and the sound of conquest could be heard throughout the world.

There was no longer any chance for a revival.

Chen Yuan, on the other hand, had gained huge popular support. Coupled with his base in Shu Province, he was definitely a promising stock among the various forces today.

He wasn't stupid, so he would naturally choose to support him.

Under his persuasion, Xiao Jing also chose to support the Fourth Prince Sima Ke to ascend to the throne. This was not instigated by Xiang Qianqiu. In fact, Xiang Qianqiu had not contacted him since the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain.

He could only make choices according to his own preferences.

Almost all of the court's True Lords had fallen. The entire vast court could not find a single Yang God True Lord. Xiao Jing had become the veritable number one powerhouse.

This was also an ally that Princess Pingyang had to win over.

The remaining two giants of the Sky Survey Division joined forces and quickly integrated the entire Sky Survey Division, becoming an extremely important force supporting Sima Ke.

Giving Sima Ke's forces the strength to protect themselves in a short period of time.

Even those officials who clamored for Sima Ke to commit suicide no longer dared to say much.

After that, some of Princess Pingyang's previous preparations began to create public opinion for Sima Ke, and soon reached the point where she could compete with Sima You on an equal footing.

Eldest Princess Pingyang also became the most important strategist around Sima Ke. No, to be precise, she was actually the true controller behind the scenes.

Both Xiao Jing and Zhang Yantong were won over and persuaded by her. Without her, with Sima Ke's abilities and methods, it would have been impossible for him to reach such a point in just half a month.

"Imperial Sister, what should we do next?"

Inside the Eldest Princess's residence, Sima Ke, who should have been the master of a force, was sitting at the lower position, looking at the young woman in phoenix robes above with a flattering expression on his face.

She was concentrating on playing the zither, seemingly quite intoxicated.

He dared not not flatter Princess Pingyang. To be honest, since returning to the capital, the strength that the Imperial Sister had shown had greatly surprised him.

He did not expect that a princess could develop so many forces under the eyes of the emperor and many princes, and most of them had not been lost in the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain.

This was also the foundation for his current rise.

In addition, Zhang Yantong and Xiao Jing were also on good terms with Princess Pingyang, and they were not respectful to him at all, just thinking of him as a puppet.

Therefore, he did not dare to offend her in the slightest, and even his mother now did not dare to point fingers at Pingyang or scold her.

Princess Pingyang raised her head, stopped plucking the strings, and looked at a figure at the entrance of the courtyard instead of Sima Ke, a smile on her face:

"General Li, please."

The man called General Li was wearing a dark red armor, his face was square, and judging from his appearance, he was clearly in his fifties, with a very solemn look in his eyes.

He walked with great strides to the front of several people, cupping his fists in a salute to Princess Pingyang:

"Greetings, Your Highness Eldest Princess."

After saying that, he looked at Sima Ke on the side and bowed:

"Greetings, Fourth Highness."

"General Li, please rise."

A look of surprise flashed in Sima Ke's eyes, and he greeted him quickly.

Although Li Kuangxiu and his eldest son Li Feiyu had died in the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain, there was still an elite force in the capital that had been preserved.

It was the current Imperial Guard of the palace.

And the General Li in front of him was none other than Li Kuangxiu's nephew, Li Yang, who was over a hundred years old and a True Man in the Transforming Yang Realm.

He was a very important faction in the Li family's military sequence.

However, he had previously supported the Second Prince Sima You.

"Please."

Princess Pingyang pointed to the seat next to her.

But Li Yang did not sit down, but instead looked directly at Princess Pingyang with a calm gaze and said:

"I don't know why the Eldest Princess invited me here. There are still important matters in the palace, so please speak directly."

"Hehe, General Li is a smart man, does this palace really need to say anything about wooing?"

"Wooing? The Eldest Princess must have mistaken me. Li has already sworn allegiance to the Second Highness, it's best to take those words back." Li Yang said lightly.

Sima Ke on the side was suddenly startled, so he had misunderstood, the Imperial Sister had not yet won over this person.

"You are clear about the current situation in the court, do you really want to support the Second Prince and oppose us?"

"Li doesn't understand Your Highness's meaning."

"General Li, the fact that you were able to come today means that you have already made a decision, haven't you? Your cousin Li Hongshuang is the woman of Jiang He, the Heavenly Sword True Lord of the Dao God Palace.

Do you really have no thoughts?"

Li Yang did not speak, but remained silent.

"You are very clear that Zhang Wanshu, the daughter of Zhang Yantong, the Divine Envoy, is now in Chen Yuan's harem. Even he supports this palace, who do you think is the man behind this palace?"

Princess Pingyang looked at him and smiled.

"Chen Yuan is a rebel, Your Highness Eldest Princess, aren't you afraid of being misunderstood by saying that?"

Li Yang asked back.

"All the world is bustling with activity for profit, all the world is hustling and bustling for profit. The Sima clan is being besieged by the world, and everyone is clear that it will eventually be destroyed. Since that is the case, why not wait for a good price and find a good buyer?

Your sister Li Hongshuang has already chosen..."

"The hatred for my uncle..."

"Do you care? If you really cared, you would have already led your troops to Purple Gold Mountain. The capital is not far from Purple Gold Mountain, this palace doesn't believe that you didn't witness that battle."

"Li was ordered by His Majesty to guard the imperial city..."

"His Majesty is dead."

Li Yang: "....."

He was speechless for a moment, not expecting the Eldest Princess to be so straightforward.

"Actually, even without the General, this palace can still control the situation, it's just that the time will be delayed for a while. At that time, you and I will be irreconcilable.

Now, this palace is giving you a chance, a chance for the Li family to be passed down. The Li family's main line has been completely wiped out, Li Hongshuang will have to marry sooner or later, don't you want to become the head of the Li family?"

"I..."

"It doesn't matter, General Li can think about it carefully."

Li Yang was silent for a moment, and let out a long breath. In fact, Princess Pingyang was right. As a supporter of the Second Prince, he had come to the Eldest Princess's residence today because of an invitation.

He had actually made a decision long ago.

Guarding Sima You would lead to death sooner or later, it would be better to go and join his cousin, perhaps he could make the Li clan prosper in his hands. Even Li Hongshuang didn't care about the hatred for killing her father.

Why should he, a nephew, care?

"This humble general is willing to be driven by Your Highness Eldest Princess."

Li Yang cupped his fists and bowed.

Princess Pingyang nodded, and then turned her gaze to Sima Ke and said:

"Imperial Brother."

"Imperial Sister..."

Sima Ke quickly cupped his hands.

"Prepare."

"Prepare what?" Sima Ke was stunned.

A light smile appeared on Princess Pingyang's face:

"Ascend the throne and become emperor!"

......

......

Divine Capital City was not small, but not big either. It was impossible to block the news of Li Yang going to the Eldest Princess's residence. Since that was the case, why not launch a coup immediately?

In fact, while Li Yang was on his way, she had already secretly informed Zhang Yantong and Xiao Jing, waiting for the signal to quickly enter the imperial city and officially launch a mutiny!

Because he was the eldest legitimate son, the Second Prince Sima You had already taken out a blank imperial edict left behind by Emperor Jingtai before his death with the support of those civil and military officials and noble clansmen.

Then, under the instruction of the Grand Eunuch Cao Zhengxian, he forged an imperial edict and became the Crown Prince.

Sima Ke's supporters were the Sky Survey Division, and Sima You's supporters were the Imperial Surveillance Division, especially Cao Zhengxian, who stayed behind in the imperial city, and did not participate in the Battle of Purple Gold Mountain.

His men had not been lost either, and he still possessed a lot of power.

Therefore, Sima You's position as Crown Prince was so smooth. After Sima You became Crown Prince, he did not go to the Eastern Palace, but instead, under the name of the emperor, he began to supervise the country.

Although Sima Ke's side strongly opposed it, there was still no conflict, and both sides were enduring it.

With the rebellion of Li Yang, the commander of the Imperial Guard, the forces of Sima Ke and Princess Pingyang took the opportunity to surround the entire imperial palace, and countless Imperial Guards stabbed their swords at their former colleagues.

The imperial palace was sealed off tightly.

Xiao Jing Zhang Yantong stood in the void, looking at the imperial palace below, and shouted coldly:

"Cao, you falsely passed on the imperial edict, falsely decreeing Sima You as Crown Prince, violating the late emperor's will, why don't you quickly step forward and accept your death!"

"Presumptuous, you rebellious subjects collude with Chen Yuan, plot to harm His Majesty, and now you dare to directly force the palace, even if this Director dies, he will have to take you with him!"

Inside the imperial palace, Cao Zhengxian, with gray hair at his temples, led several imperial palace guardians directly out, pointing directly at Zhang Yantong, Xiao Jing and others, and the entire imperial palace was turned into a living hell at this moment.

"Imperial Sister..."

Sima Ke looked nervously at the great battle in the void, somewhat terrified.

"The imperial city's grand formation has been temporarily suppressed, today... is the day you ascend the throne, don't be anxious."

"Imperial Sister... if Imperial Brother really becomes emperor, are we... are we really going to offer the ancestral foundation to Chen Yuan?" Sima Ke murmured, lowering his head.

"Imperial Brother, do you remember what you said before?"

"What did I say?"

"Your name is now Chen Ke!"

"I..."

————

Seeking monthly tickets.