The Struggle for the Fate of the Dahwang Dynasty — Chapter 2

The blue sky above the Dahwang Empire was exceptionally clear today, without a single trace of cloud. The magnificent Golden Peace Palace stood proudly beneath the sunlight, its layers of golden rooftops shimmering brilliantly like countless treasures. Across the entire imperial courtyard, a long crimson carpet had been laid out, creating an atmosphere so majestic that anyone who stepped into the palace would feel overwhelmed by its imposing presence.

Today was the day...

The grand coronation ceremony of Ye Han, the man who would become the new Emperor of Dahwang, was finally taking place.

Outside the enormous palace gates, countless citizens gathered along the walls, their voices rising like waves of excitement. After more than a decade of waiting, they were finally welcoming back the true ruler who had reclaimed the throne that rightfully belonged to him.

During the years when Xiao Mingyu ruled the empire, the young emperor had possessed little real authority. Under the selfish control of his father, Grand Chancellor Xiao, excessive taxes had been imposed upon the people. Countless poor families had suffered, and the once-prosperous nation had gradually fallen into decline.

Therefore, the return of Ye Han was seen by the people as the arrival of a new hope.

Just like the citizens outside, the thousands of officials standing in the imperial courtyard were filled with excitement and anticipation.

However...

More than half of those officials had secretly served Ye Han for many years, working behind the scenes while opposing Mingyu’s reign.

To put it simply, Xiao Mingyu had only been an emperor in name—a puppet sitting upon the golden throne. Without the countless officials who secretly rebelled against Chancellor Xiao and supported Ye Han, he would never have been able to reclaim the throne today.

Only minutes before the coronation ceremony began, inside a corner of the grand hall, Minister Chen of Finance spoke with a flattering smile.

“His Majesty Ye Han ascending the throne is truly a blessing for all of us, isn’t it? The former Emperor Xiao Mingyu was nothing more than a puppet on the throne. He could barely even take care of his own health, let alone rule an entire empire. Am I not right?”

Beside him, General Liu let out a mocking laugh and slightly curled his lips.

“Of course, Minister Chen. A beautiful face alone is not enough to sit upon the imperial throne. Although he may have possessed some talent, he allowed others to control him like a puppet. Because of that, our empire was brought to the edge of ruin.”

The general paused before continuing with a cruel smile.

“Truthfully... instead of sitting on the throne, someone like him would have been better suited for a pleasure house. With that delicate and beautiful appearance of his, I’m sure countless men would have fought over him. Hahaha...”

Because of General Liu’s vulgar words, several officials covered their mouths and laughed, mocking the former emperor without restraint.

At that moment, Grand Minister Wang cleared his throat and interrupted them.

“Regardless of what happened, he was once the ruler of this empire. Even in times of change, we should not speak of him with such disrespect. Watch your words and remember your positions.”

Hearing Grand Minister Wang’s warning, the officials immediately fell silent.

Then—

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!!!”

With the announcement, the newly crowned Emperor Ye Han entered the hall.

He wore a magnificent black velvet imperial robe embroidered with golden threads. A lifelike golden dragon was woven across the fabric, appearing as though it might leap to life at any moment. A precious jade ornament hung from his broad belt, while an extraordinary imperial crown decorated with rows of pearl beads rested upon his head.

Behind the hanging pearls, his sharp eyes carried an overwhelming authority.

Ye Han’s expression was calm yet intimidating, his presence so powerful that everyone instinctively lowered their heads before him.

The moment Ye Han stepped onto the throne, thousands of officials in the imperial courtyard immediately fell to their knees. They lowered their bodies in complete submission and paid their respects to the new Emperor.

“May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!!!”

The thunderous voices echoed throughout the palace before slowly fading into silence.

However...

While the entire court knelt before him, two officials at the front row remained standing. They stared at Ye Han with eyes filled with hatred and resentment.

They were former loyalists of Grand Chancellor Xiao.

One of the older officials looked around at the thousands of kneeling officials before him. His face was filled with anger and disbelief as he suddenly shouted:

“Why are all of you willingly accepting this rebel?!”

“Have you already forgotten what happened only yesterday? Our entire imperial palace was turned into a scene of bloodshed! The true Emperor, Xiao Mingyu, has been imprisoned, and yet you allow this rebel to sit upon the golden throne without resistance?!”

His furious voice shattered the silence of the palace.

For a moment, the entire imperial court became as quiet as a graveyard.

The officials kneeling on the ground trembled in fear. They lowered their heads even further, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Yet, upon the golden throne, Ye Han showed no anger.

Instead, he slowly stood up with a faint smile on his lips.

Behind the rows of pearl beads hanging from his crown, his eyes shone with a dangerous light—like a predator that had finally spotted its prey.

He calmly reached for the sword hanging at his waist.

Clang.

The blade was drawn.

Step by step, Ye Han descended from the throne.

“Whoosh—!”

“Ahhh!!!”

Before anyone could react, two flashes of cold light crossed through the air.

The two rebellious officials collapsed, their resistance ending instantly.

The crimson carpet beneath them was stained, and the entire palace fell into terrifying silence.

Ye Han calmly returned his sword to its sheath. He looked down at the blood stains on the sleeve of his black imperial robe and shook them away with an expression of complete indifference.

Then, standing in the middle of the palace courtyard, he looked at the thousands of officials kneeling before him.

His cold voice echoed throughout the hall.

“Now... who else wishes to oppose me sitting upon this throne?”

No one answered.

Every official trembled in fear and pressed their heads closer to the ground.

At Ye Han’s side, Empress Lin Shu had also turned pale. Even she had been shocked by his merciless actions.

Ye Han noticed the blood splattered on her face.

Despite the terrifying coldness he showed toward everyone else, his expression softened when he looked at her.

Using the sleeve of his blood-stained robe, he gently wiped away the mark from her cheek.

His gaze toward Lin Shu was gentle...

But his command to the entire empire was as cold as winter.

“Anyone who dares to stand against me will meet the same fate.”

He turned away.

“Continue the coronation ceremony.”

As evening arrived, the Golden Lotus Lake Pavilion was illuminated by hundreds of red lanterns.

The floating lotus-shaped lamps on the surface of the lake reflected beautifully beneath the moonlight.

Yet despite the beautiful scenery, the atmosphere inside the banquet hall was heavy and suffocating.

The ministers and officials enjoyed the finest imperial dishes and expensive wine, but their eyes remained fixed nervously on Emperor Ye Han.

The scene from earlier that day—the flash of his sword and the fall of two officials—still haunted their minds.

Ye Han sat upon the golden throne with unmatched dignity.

Beside him sat Empress Lin Shu, dressed in an elegant golden imperial gown.

However, beneath the beautiful appearance, her fingers tightly gripped the fabric of her sleeve.

The cruelty Ye Han had displayed earlier still disturbed her heart.

At that moment, the officials desperately tried to gain Ye Han’s favor.

They presented him with precious jewels, rare jade, and priceless treasures.

Minister Chen, the clever Finance Minister, stepped forward with a flattering smile.

“Your Majesty, on this glorious and auspicious day, please allow your humble servants to raise a cup of wine with you.”

However, Ye Han completely ignored their praises and flattery.

He simply drank his wine slowly, his expression cold and unreadable.

After a moment...

He placed his wine cup onto the table with a heavy sound.

Bang.

Then, in the middle of the celebration, he turned toward the judges and soldiers and issued a chilling command.

“The families of the two traitorous officials who died today... arrest them all and send them to the border as slaves for the rest of their lives.”

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire banquet hall became silent.

The officials froze.

Their hands trembled as they held their wine cups.

No one dared to speak.

Before the banquet ended, Empress Lin Shu received Ye Han’s permission to return to their sleeping chamber first.

Tonight was their wedding night.

Her heart beat nervously with anticipation.

When she arrived at the chamber, her maid Chui’er helped her sit before the mirror and carefully fixed her hair and makeup.

Looking at Lin Shu’s reflection, Chui’er smiled.

“Your Majesty, you are truly beautiful. You and His Majesty look like a perfect pair, like flowers blooming together beneath the golden moon.”

Lin Shu looked at herself in the mirror.

Her cheeks turned slightly red as she thought of Ye Han.

With a gentle smile, she said:

“Although Ye Han may appear cruel to everyone else... he has always been kind to me.”

Chui’er remembered Ye Han’s merciless actions earlier that day.

Her expression briefly changed, but she quickly forced a smile, afraid of upsetting her mistress.

Meanwhile, Lin Shu pressed her lips together shyly as she waited excitedly for Ye Han’s arrival.

At the banquet hall...

Ye Han sat upon the throne, holding a wine cup while staring into the distance.

He seemed completely lost in thought.

One of his fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.

Tap... tap... tap...

The officials around him continued flattering him while speaking about politics, offering their beautiful daughters as potential imperial consorts, and discussing palace matters.

Although Ye Han’s eyes were slightly blurred from drinking, he paid no attention to their words.

Suddenly...

He stood up.

Without saying anything, he walked out of the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty... Your Majesty!”

His personal attendant, Ming Xin, hurried after him in panic.

He gently grabbed Ye Han’s sleeve.

“Your Majesty... Empress Lin Shu is waiting in the sleeping chamber. It is this way...”

But Ye Han pushed his hand away.

Ignoring the direction of the bridal chamber, he walked through the palace corridors with heavy footsteps.

His destination was not Lin Shu’s chamber.

It was the underground prison.

Inside the underground dungeon...

The air was cold and filled with the damp smell of darkness.

In the corner of the prison sat Xiao Mingyu.

Just like the day he was overthrown, his wrists were bound with heavy iron chains, and an iron collar surrounded his neck.

The magnificent emperor robes he once wore were now covered in dirt and stains.

Mingyu sat silently in the corner, hugging his knees.

His pale face showed exhaustion and despair.

Outside the prison, he could hear the cheers of the citizens celebrating and the sound of fireworks exploding in the night sky.

The entire empire was celebrating.

But he...

Was trapped alone in darkness, waiting for the moment when his execution would come.

He refused to eat the food given by the guards.

He had already accepted his fate.

Then...

From the silent prison corridor came the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.

“Leave.”

Ye Han’s cold voice echoed.

“Do not follow me. Wait outside.”

Hearing Ye Han’s voice, Mingyu’s body trembled.

Soon, the prison door opened.

Ye Han stepped inside.

The moment their eyes met...

Everything seemed to freeze.

Mingyu looked up at the man standing before him.

Ye Han wore a black imperial robe and a crown, appearing powerful and untouchable.

For a brief moment, Mingyu felt both sorrow and relief.

He was glad that Ye Han had finally reached the position he deserved.

But the difference between them now...

One was an emperor standing at the peak of the world.

The other was a prisoner bound in chains.

Ten years ago, their positions had been completely reversed.

Ye Han gripped the iron bars and looked down at Mingyu.

His hair was messy.

His lips were pale.

Yet even in such a miserable state, Mingyu remained strangely beautiful.

Ye Han’s eyes were slightly red from the wine.

But beneath the drunken haze burned something far deeper...

Ten years of hatred and resentment.

He curled his lips into a mocking smile.

Then he spoke softly.

“Your Majesty...”

“The words those officials said outside were actually true.”

“If you had gone to a pleasure house instead of sitting on the throne... you would have surely become famous.”

“Look at you... even now, in this filthy prison, even after everything that has happened... you can still remain so captivating.”

Mingyu’s heart felt as if those cruel words had pierced straight through it.

The iron chains around his neck trembled softly.

Clink... clink...

And at that moment...

High above in the palace chambers, beneath the warm glow of candlelight, Empress Lin Shu continued waiting.

She waited eagerly for the sound of Ye Han’s footsteps...

Never knowing that the emperor she loved had chosen another place to go tonight.

The underground prison.

Where his unfinished hatred awaited him. :::

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