After worshipping Heaven and Earth, the young Emperor, accompanied by hundreds of civil and military officials, came to the Sacrificial Altar to worship the welfare of all living beings.

Following the complex rituals, the crowd moved mightily to the Temple, to pay homage to the Liu Family ancestors.

This time, only the princes and grandsons entered the Temple, while the rest waited outside.

Once all the sacrificial rites were completed, civil and military officials followed the Emperor's Dragon Chariot to Taian Palace, where the formal succession ceremony was to take place.

Taian Palace is one of the most majestic palaces in the Imperial City, where ceremonies such as the Emperor's enthronement, the Crown Prince's investiture, and the Empress's consecration are held for matters vital to the state.

Yuan Ming, as a trusted aide, followed the young Emperor to Taian Palace. Upon entering the main hall, he saw several jujube-red Taishi Chairs placed underneath the prominent position of the Emperor's dragon throne, with several people sitting upright on them.

The one seated closest to the dragon throne was a tall man dressed in a Purple Gold Taoist Robe, with a dignified appearance, solemn features, a short beard on his face, and eyes brimming with inner light, exuding an imposing presence even without anger.

Next to him sat an old man, also in a Purple Gold Taoist Robe, with a clear and haggard face, exuding an air of an immortal, who was none other than the State Preceptor, Master Yu Hu.

Beside him sat an old woman with white hair, holding a Dragon Head Cane, her face showing a kind expression.

Next to the old woman was a dignified lady wearing a water-blue chiffon dress, who seemed to carry the gentle grace of a lady from the Jiangnan Water Town.

Several chairs behind these individuals were occupied by various other people.

Yuan Ming was already aware that aside from the civil servants and military officers, and the Imperial Relatives, there would also be guests from Chang Chun Temple and other Cultivation Sects within the borders of Da Jin Country coming to observe the ceremony.

However, they did not take part in the worship of Heaven, Earth, and ancestors; they were only waiting here to observe the official proceedings of the succession ceremony.

Upon the young Emperor's return, as he entered the main hall, the Cultivators seated in the hall all stood up to pay their respects, and the young Emperor immediately performed a Daoist bow in response.

Among the civil and military officials, aside from the heads of the six ministries and the chiefs of the three departments, as well as a few high-ranking generals who were allowed inside the main hall, the rest of the officers waited outside the hall, lined up according to their official rank.

As the young Emperor's personally appointed bodyguard, Yuan Ming was given the privilege to stand beside the eunuchs, next to the Emperor.

Officials were accustomed to Yuan Ming's relationship with the young Emperor and found nothing surprising about this arrangement. However, the Cultivators sitting at the front couldn't help casting puzzled glances toward him.

Yuan Ming, unfazed, calmly surveyed the lower area, even making eye contact with those Cultivators.

The middle-aged man in the purple robe with a short beard was the grandfather of the young Emperor, Liu Tianming, who had passed on the throne to Liu Tianming's father over fifty years ago after achieving Foundation Establishment, and retreated to Chang Chun Temple for Cultivation.

Since then, he had never interfered with the politics of Da Jin Country, nor had he ever returned to the Capital.

Rumor had it that Liu Tianming's father was an ordinary man without a Spirit Root who took over the throne at a young age and reigned for over thirty years as Emperor before he suddenly departed this world, leaving the throne to Liu Tianming.

When he died, Liu Tianming's grandfather had not returned; yet, for Liu Tianming's succession ceremony, he came back to Da Jin Capital, clearly valuing his grandson deeply.

The elderly woman sitting next to him was the current head of the largest Cultivation Family in Da Jin Country outside the Imperial Family, the Bailuo Manor. Although not the highest in Cultivation within the Manor, she had always been the one in charge of family affairs.

The gentle lady beside her was the Elder of the Water Spirit Palace, the second most powerful Cultivation Sect in Da Jin Country after Chang Chun Temple. Behind them sat other elders from various sects.

While Yuan Ming observed others, he distinctly felt a glance laden with Divine Thought probing him, coming from the State Preceptor, Master Yu Hu.

Although this glance lasted only a moment, Yuan Ming still caught it with keen sensitivity.

Once everyone was seated in their respective places, the eunuch in charge of the palace servants stepped forward, flicked his duster, and shouted in a high-pitched voice,

"The succession ceremony now officially begins! Announce the decree of succession."

No sooner had he finished shouting than the Grand Sacrificial Officer from the Imperial College, holding a blackwood tray with a yellow silk scroll on it, slowly approached the young Emperor.

As he passed by the princes and grandsons, most of them bowed their heads, not daring to look, while a few bravely stole glances, their eyes filled with envy.

Among them, the gaze of the Eighth Prince, Prince Xian, burned the brightest.

And for good reason, as the young Emperor Liu Tianming was still young, having not established an Empress nor sired any sons. Therefore, choosing a successor meant looking among his uncles and brothers.

Nobody could compete with him in capability, popularity, or experience.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Luo from the Secretariat had already given his support, with the ministers of the Secretariat and Ministry of Supervision proposing him for the throne; the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue from the six ministries also supported his ascendancy.

Most importantly, he had obtained tacit approval and support from Chang Chun Temple.

So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Prince Xian was set to be the new Emperor of Da Jin.

The elderly Grand Sacrificial Officer, holding the imperial edict, came before the dragon throne. The young Emperor had already stood up, took the Imperial Jade Seal in hand, and solemnly stamped it on the edict, imprinting the Royal Seal.

Subsequently, the Grand Sacrificial Officer held the royal decree and began to read it aloud with as steady and resonant a voice as possible:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Our dynasty succeeds the merits of our ancestors, conforms to the will of Heaven, and follows the hearts of the people. Since ascending the throne, I have reverently complied with the ways of Heaven and our forefathers, abiding strictly by the norms, and in all things I have prioritized the people, basing my rulings with the people as the foundation. I had intended to pursue grand ambitions, but an inevitable destiny with Cultivation cannot be refused. For the long-term strategy of the country, I hereby transfer the throne to my own brother, Prince Qing, Liu Tianze. Let this be known to all under Heaven, that they may hear and understand."

Prince Xian, who had been prepared to step forward and receive the imperial power, stiffened at the mention of "Liu Tianze", as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and he stood there dumbstruck.

It was not Liu Guangxuan, but Liu Tianze; not Prince Xian, but Prince Qing.

It wasn't just Prince Xian who was stunned; all the civil and military ministers in the hall, including Prince Qing himself, were all taken aback.

Prince Qing was the fourth brother of the young Emperor Liu Tianming, and only Prime Minister Luo from the Ministry of Personnel had been aligned with him. No one had anticipated that the successor to the throne would be him.

After a moment of stupor, Prince Xian's expression suddenly twisted, and he dashed out without regard for etiquette.

"It's wrong, it's all wrong, there must be a mistake, how could it be Prince Qing? It should have been me!" Abandoning his previous dignity, Prince Xian waved his hands and shouted loudly.

Everyone was shocked by this display, yet for a moment, no one dared to speak.

They all carefully looked towards the Emperor, wanting to see his reaction.

However, the Emperor simply watched Prince Xian's breakdown with a calm demeanor, showing no reaction whatsoever.

"Your Majesty..." At that moment, Prime Minister Lou could no longer hold back and stood up.

His address of "Your Majesty" turned everyone's gaze towards him.

"Do you have something to say?" the Emperor asked with a light chuckle.

"Your Majesty, the matter of succession touches upon the very foundation of the state and is a grave matter that should not be taken lightly. We had previously deliberated this with Your Majesty and had determined a suitable candidate. Why the sudden change?" Prime Minister Lou asked, without mentioning who the original candidate was.

The crowd turned their gazes towards the Emperor, including the apolitical State Preceptor Master Yu Hu and the grandfather of Emperor Liu Tianming, all casting inquisitive looks.

Upon hearing the question, the Emperor seemed to have been waiting for this, and immediately stood up and said:

"Eighth Imperial Uncle, during your years of involving yourself in state affairs, you have formed cliques for selfish ends, indulged in corruption and perverted the law—all of which I am aware of, and these do not matter much. But when you instigated the assassination of a Da Jin envoy en route, that became an unforgivable crime."

His tone was calm, yet his words thundered across the court like a roaring thunder.

At these words, Prince Xian's face paled, and he glanced at Yuan Ming.

Seeing his reaction, those with keen eyes already understood that the Emperor was referring to the incident from a few years ago when Yuan Ming was on a diplomatic mission to the Southern Border and was ambushed and went missing.

"I wish to ask the Eighth Imperial Uncle, what have Yuan Ming done to provoke your hatred to such an extent that you arranged for his assassination while I had dispatched him on a mission?" the Emperor questioned sternly.

This long-avoided matter, at the seemingly most inopportune time, was finally unearthed.

"Was it Prince Xian who did it?" Someone among the court officials exclaimed in shock.

"Why would he do such a thing?" Others were bewildered.

The civil servants in the court all showed a drastic change in expression, murmuring amongst themselves, while the military officers, although silent, could not help but turn their gazes towards General Yuan. His face was ashen, but he remained composed.

"Your Majesty, I am wronged," Prince Xian looked around him, then immediately dropped to his knees, shouting out loud.

"Wronged, you say? Where have I wronged you?" the Emperor asked with a cold laugh.

"Your Majesty, regarding the command to Lin Junsheng to kill Yuan Ming, I truly had no knowledge of it. Besides, there is absolutely no reason for me to harm Yuan Ming," Prince Xian said pleadingly with his head bowed.

The Emperor paid no heed and commanded aloud: "Bring Lin Junsheng here."

No sooner had he spoken than two armored soldiers brought Lin Junsheng into the hall.

At that moment, Lin Junsheng was disheveled and seemed panicked, but a barely detectable composure lingered in the depths of his eyes.

Once he knelt down, the Emperor spoke again:

"Lin Junsheng, I ask you, who instructed you to attempt to murder Yuan Ming on the way to the Southern Border envoy mission?"

"Your Majesty, I truly do not know how to answer this question. Yuan Ming and I grew up together as playmates, how could I possibly plot his death? On the mission, it was Yuan Ming himself, bewitched by the waterfall's beauty, who fell into the water; it was an accidental incident, not my doing. Furthermore, I announced a search for him along the way, I implore Your Majesty to discern the truth," Lin Junsheng promptly responded.

His prepared speech was well-practiced, as there were no other witnesses at the time, and he didn't believe that the Emperor had any concrete evidence to prove him as the murderer.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's eyebrows raised slightly as he said: "Oh? So you are saying I have wronged you?"

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