Chapter 27: Choosing Sides

Jiang Lingyi had no allies. Lin Yuan had known this for a long time, but seeing it with his own eyes in the court still felt like a stab to the heart.

Dozens of officials filled the hall. Some supported the Second Princess, some pushed for the Third Princess, some muddled through with vague talk, and others pretended to be dead. No one mentioned the one with the most legitimate claim—the eldest legitimate princess.

Zhao Chong had yet to state his position. He stood smiling at the front, as if this matter had nothing to do with him, yet the profound, unfathomable aura of a grandmaster emanating from him steadily suppressed the entire hall.

Lin Yuan lowered his head, looking at the tips of his shoes, calculating rapidly in his mind.

To stand with Jiang Lingyi was to stand with legitimacy.

To uphold the legitimate line of succession was to protect the nation's greater stability.

If he were to be killed by the other two factions for standing with legitimacy, then he would die on the path of serving the nation and its people.

The System's criteria were crystal clear: Abandon personal gain, uphold public duty, use the power in one's hands to protect the nation's greater stability.

Establishing the legitimate eldest as emperor was protecting that stability.

Furthermore, Jiang Lingyi was the weakest—so weak that not a single person in the court dared to stand with her.

No one standing with her meant that anyone who did would become the most conspicuous target.

The wrath of all opposing forces, along with those terrifying internal energy pressures, would converge on that one person.

The feeling of being the focus of all that fire... just thinking about it was thrilling.

Lin Yuan's heartbeat quickened. It seemed he had found another excellent shortcut to a swift death.

The debate in the hall continued.

Liu Yongqing cited classics and precedents, arguing that the Second Princess was virtuous and capable. Qi Heng retorted with a veiled, sarcastic tone, saying the selection of an heir apparent shouldn't depend on maternal lineage or family status. As their words clashed, surges of True Qi subtly stirred between them, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly.

The two sides argued until their faces were red. Others took their own sides, creating a chaotic mess.

Jiang Lingyi remained silent the entire time.

She just sat there, like a quiet stone.

Lin Yuan saw her fingers resting on the tabletop, their tips slightly pale.

"This humble official has something to say."

The voice wasn't loud, but the hall suddenly fell silent. Even the subtly clashing auras paused for a moment.

It wasn't because the statement was earth-shattering, but because everyone recognized from which direction the voice originated.

The very end of the official ranks, the position of the eighth-rank Remonstrance Official.

Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan again.

This madman who had just returned from Huainan, whose bones and tendons hadn't even fully healed, was about to stir up trouble again.

Lin Yuan stepped out of the ranks. Bearing the faint, pervasive pressure filling the hall, he walked to the center, clasped his hands, and bowed.

"This humble official, Remonstrance Official Lin Yuan, wishes to present a statement regarding the discussion of the heir apparent."

Liu Yongqing turned to glance at him, his eyes looking at him as if he were an ignorant, overreaching grasshopper.

Qi Heng swept a cold glance over him but didn't speak. However, a thread of icy internal energy had already locked onto Lin Yuan's back.

Jiang Lingwan opened her folding fan, covering half her face, revealing only a pair of smiling eyes.

"Speak," Jiang Lingyi's voice rang out.

Lin Yuan opened his mouth.

"The Great Zhou Dynasty has been established for one hundred and seventy-three years, passing through eleven emperors. Each emperor's ascension followed the order of legitimate primogeniture. The late emperor had no sons. Among the three princesses, Her Highness the Eldest Princess is the legitimate daughter of the late emperor and the late empress, and she is the eldest. This humble official believes that the selection of the heir apparent should adhere to ancestral precedent, prioritizing legitimate primogeniture!"

The hall first fell into a deathly silence for an instant.

Then, it was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pot of boiling oil—it exploded instantly.

"Preposterous!" Liu Yongqing was the first to jump out, the imposing aura of a Postnatal Martial Artist erupting from him. "Remonstrance Official Lin, a mere eighth-rank advisory official, what right do you have to recklessly discuss the matter of the heir apparent?"

Lin Yuan didn't even lift an eyelid, stubbornly enduring that pressure.

"The duty of a Remonstrance Official is to report based on what is heard, impeach all officials, and admonish the Son of Heaven. In a public court debate, this official naturally has the right to offer admonishment!"

Liu Yongqing was so angry his beard trembled, True Qi faintly gathering and dispersing between his fingers. "You—"

"Is Imperial Censor Liu suggesting that an eighth-rank official is unworthy of speaking?" Lin Yuan turned his head and gave him a cold look. "The laws of Great Zhou are not written that way!"

Qi Heng let out a cold laugh, his voice carrying a bone-chilling sharpness. "Remonstrance Official Lin has quite the nerve. However, you just spoke of adhering to ancestral precedent and prioritizing legitimate primogeniture. May I ask, in Great Zhou's one hundred and seventy-three years, has there ever been a precedent of a female emperor ascending the throne?"

"No."

Lin Yuan admitted it straightforwardly. "But in Great Zhou's one hundred and seventy-three years, there has also never been a precedent of a late emperor passing away without sons, with three princesses jointly overseeing state affairs! Since everything is already an exception, then we should return to the most fundamental rule—the order of legitimate primogeniture!"

Qi Heng was momentarily choked into silence, his face ashen.

Zhao Chong spoke again.

"Remonstrance Official Lin's words do hold some reason."

Zhao Chong stroked his beard, smiling amiably, but the pressure of a grandmaster realm expert began to subtly coil around like threads. "However, the matter of establishing an heir apparent concerns the foundation of the state. It cannot be decided based on a single ancestral precedent alone. Talent, virtue, prestige, and the strength of the maternal clan all need to be comprehensively considered. Her Highness the Eldest Princess is indeed of noble status, but she has few supporters in the court. If she is forcibly established, I fear... it would not be conducive to the stability of the court."

These words were gently inserted, but they were ten times more poisonous than the combined words of Liu Yongqing and Qi Heng.

Zhao Chong's meaning was clear: Jiang Lingyi had no support. Even if her status was the most legitimate, she couldn't sit steadily on that throne.

Lin Yuan turned his head and stared fixedly at Zhao Chong.

"Is Minister Zhao suggesting that whoever in the court has the bigger fist and more people should become emperor?"

The smile on Zhao Chong's face stiffened for an instant. Lin Yuan's words were a bit too blunt; he didn't react immediately.

"That wouldn't be called establishing an heir apparent." Lin Yuan raised his voice, each word ringing clear and forceful. "That would be called an auction!"

Someone in the hall gasped sharply; others struggled not to laugh out loud.

Zhao Chong's eyes narrowed dangerously. The surrounding air seemed to instantly solidify.

"Remonstrance Official Lin speaks so... directly." Zhao Chong shook his head with a smile, reining in the killing intent. "This old minister does not mean that. I am merely reminding all colleagues that establishing an heir apparent requires prudence."

Jiang Lingwan snapped her folding fan shut with a pa and interjected with a laugh, "Remonstrance Official Lin, just now when you said you support Eldest Sister, was that your personal opinion, or do you represent a certain faction?"

"My personal opinion," Lin Yuan replied without hesitation.

"Just you alone?"

"Just me alone."

Jiang Lingwan burst out laughing.

Dozens of civil and military officials filled the court. The Liu family pushed for her, the Dingguo Duke's Estate pushed for Third Sister. Countless people took sides between the two factions. Only this eighth-rank advisory official stepped forward, alone, standing isolated in the center of the great hall, speaking up for the weakest eldest sister.

"Remonstrance Official Lin, you are truly interesting."

Jiang Lingwei also laughed, though her laughter carried undisguised mockery and killing intent. "You think you can prop Eldest Sister up all by yourself? Do you feel your life is too long?"

Lin Yuan's heart gave a violent thump.

Life too long.

Yes, exactly! He felt his life was too long!

He almost couldn't restrain himself from laughing maniacally right there in the hall.

"This official only discusses right and wrong, not life and death!"

Lin Yuan clasped his hands, his voice echoing in the great hall. "The order of legitimate primogeniture is the foundation upon which Great Zhou was established. This official's reading is limited, but I can still quote one saying: If the name is not correct, the words will not ring true; if the words do not ring true, affairs will not succeed! If the position of heir apparent is not established according to ancestral precedent, then in the future, anyone who is dissatisfied can use the same reason to contend for it again. Today, the Second Princess can contend for it; tomorrow, others can also contend for it. Such a cycle will lead to the state ceasing to be a state!"

The hall fell completely silent.

Zhao Chong's gaze shifted from Lin Yuan to Jiang Lingyi's face, then back again. He couldn't see through this young man. Back in Huainan, he had thought Lin Yuan was just a fool who didn't know his own limits.

But now, this fool was publicly choosing sides in front of the entire court, turning himself into a banner.

Beneath the tabletop, Jiang Lingyi's fingers tightened slightly, then relaxed.

"The matter of the heir apparent will be discussed up to this point today." Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried an undeniable force. "This princess is aware of all opinions from various sides. This matter will be deliberated again later. Court is dismissed."

After the court session ended, the officials filed out.

Lin Yuan walked at the very back. As soon as he stepped out of the Xuanzheng Hall's main gate, he was blocked by Sun He.

Sun He still wore his smiling, Maitreya Buddha-like expression, his plump hands tucked into his sleeves. His voice wasn't loud or soft, but a heavy aura had already silently pressed down on Lin Yuan's injuries.

"Remonstrance Official Lin, last time it was Huainan Disaster Relief, this time it's the struggle over the heir apparent. Do you think our Minister Zhao has a good temper, or do you think your own skull is hard?"

Lin Yuan endured the intense pain, looking at him and grinning.

"Vice Minister Sun, you've been passing messages for Minister Zhao for so many years, like a dog. Aren't you tired?"

Sun He's smile instantly froze, a flash of ferocity in his eyes.

Lin Yuan, however, patted his shoulder with complete disregard and strode away.

When he walked out of the palace gates, the sunlight was just right.

The winter sun wasn't warm, but it was bright. He squinted, looking at the sky, and suddenly felt extremely lighthearted inside.

Today, he had put himself on the fire to roast.

The entire court had seen it. The only person who publicly supported the legitimate eldest princess was him.

An eighth-rank advisory official. A petty sesame-seed official with no backing, no background, no military power, and no money.

The Second Princess's faction would hate him. The Third Princess's faction would look down on him. And countless assassins with peerless martial arts might very well want to kill him as a token of allegiance.

Lin Yuan felt this move was absolutely correct.

He wished he could go back right now, open his little notebook, and write a line: Death approaches, the future is promising!

On his way back to Chongyi Ward, he passed by the East Market stall selling steamed buns and bought two piping hot meat buns.

Returning home, Lin Yuan squatted on the threshold, devouring the buns one bite at a time, meat oil staining the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, he grinned.

From today onward, there was no turning back on this path.

But this was exactly what he wanted.