Chapter 58

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

Bai Lianhua really had no idea his cheap imperial older brother did something like this.

Yang Chongyin had never said anything about it.

The system, which has opened up the screen hoping to make its host feel how hard the antagonist worked to help him usurp, suddenly feels like it may have done something unnecessary. It tries to find excuses for Yang Chongyin, “eh, you know it’s not an easy thing for the antagonist here… Host, since you’re an imperial prince, and you’re a white lotus on the surface, so if the antagonist does anything out of the line it will become a point of conflict between you and the antagonist that might make you fear him.”

“The antagonist probably avoided you in fear of something like that.”

Bai Lianhua nods, “I know.”

The system touches its nose, “thinking in another way, the antagonist has in a sense done all the dirty work for you, the host. You only had to accept the throne with your clean, unsullied hands.”

#The correct way to raise a white lotus#

#Not letting its petals dirtied even the slightest with the utmost care#

Bai Lianhua has a troubled expression, “I understand, so you don’t have to keep saying good things for the antagonist… System, have you become too engrossed in this maybe?”

Is it really worrying that it would put up an act of some wild plot development with the antagonist over some melodramatic love-hate relationship?

“I didn’t expect Yang Chongyin would actually directly convince the emperor to abdicate…”

Before when Yang Chongyin told him to wait, he thought Yang Chongyin would be testing him first, and now… It seems he’ll enjoy the result immediately? Even when he’s done nothing?

The system laughs, “hehe, that’s good too, you know… The legendary ‘I’ll give the throne to you holding it with both hands open.'”

“So that my host, that is you, become moved!”

Bai Lianhua ignores the system as Yang Chongyin is already outside.

He rubs his face. He’ll have to act like everything’s the same in front of him——If Yang Chongyin didn’t want to let him know, then he’ll pretend he doesn’t.

…

When Bai Yanze hears Bai Lianhua’s name, he recalls who he is immediately.

That imperial prince sent to be a fake diviner. There are quite some people that know something about this back then, and the high ranking concubines and older princes all basically know there’s such an unlucky bastard around, but nobody said anything.

Even the guy’s name is unique… The Bai surname is fine, but he didn’t end up sharing the ‘Yan’ part with his imperial brothers of the same generation.

Though he’s now practically chased out for Bai Lianhua, Bai Yanze isn’t jealous that Bai Lianhua is seemingly catching Yang Chongyin’s attention. He actually feels that Yang Chongyin who is able to keep it down all this while is actually terrifying——You might think he’s that snow atop the mountain peak, but then when you dig it open you find it full of dirt, quietly readying his stance there all these years, sly like a snake. It’s quite the scary realisation.

To get noticed by Yang Chongyin is the misfortune of this younger brother of his belonging to a different biological mother from him.

When Bai Lianhua said he’ll try his best to be a virtuous emperor, Bai Yanze can’t help but interrupt him by sarcastically saying, “who cares about that… But my good brother, before you ascend, you best be careful of this State Oracle Yang beside you too, or who knows when you’ll lose your throne as well.”

He’s not just a good person.

Bai Lianhua starts smiling though, “no, I believe that shixiong would never harm me no matter what.”

Bai Yanze is speechless, and can’t tell if the guy really is that dumb or is acting in front of Yang Chongyin.

But, a coincidence? The two have essentially said the same thing?

——Yang Chongyin who was coldly looking at Bai Yanze suddenly softens his expression.

…

When Bai Yanze is dealt with, Yang Chongyin pulls Bai Lianhua aside, telling him gently, “now before others, never call me shixiong again. You’ll have to change this habit.”

Bai Lianhua appears slightly shocked, and then asks, “then what should I call you?”

Yang Chongyin looks at him, “other than State Oracle, just call me anything. I like them all.”

Bai Lianhua thinks and tries one, “then… Chongyin?”

Yang Chongyin responds, and chuckles, “then I’ll not be able to call you shidi from now on either.”

He sounds a bit regretful.

Bai Lianhua immediately tells him, “no, of course I’m still your shidi… You and I are shixiong and shidi, forever.”

Yang Chongyin lowers his eyelids slightly, “only shixiong and shidi?”

——Here it is! The icy white lotus’ pity act!

Bai Lianhua recalls what Yang Chongyin said about experiencing all the world’s emotions on him, and pauses.

Right, he did promise Yang Chongyin not only to ascend but also this in order for Yang Chongyin to save the national fortune.

Bai Lianhua takes a deep breath, “no, not just shixiong and shidi.”

“What shixiong wants, I’ll do my best to give.”

Before Yang Chongyin responds, the system is the first one to counter, “really? Host, you’re deceiving people again?”

Bai Lianhua “???”

He blows up slightly, “That’s genuine, okay?!”

The system quiets down but disses inside – host, you might be genuine but whether you can do it is another thing, you know.

Since coming to this world, obviously, host might be partly moved by Yang Chongyin through all these things, but this isn’t enough to completely break through the host’s defences yet… Given its host is naturally ‘stingy’ and is unaware too, no matter how hard he works for it, it’s hard to say how much of that emotion would be reciprocated.

Well, it will definitely not be as intense as Yang Chongyin wants it to be, that’s for sure.

Sigh, the antagonist must work more.

…

Yang Chongyin has his personal guard tell that eunuch that orally relayed the decree earlier to report that the emperor had things to discuss with the State Oracle for the night and he will stay there.

——He’s part of the juniors taught by that head of eunuchs by Bai Yanze’s side, so he’s not someone high in the hierarchy. Therefore, while his master is personally attending to the emperor, he couldn’t go and actively work at the front and he was waiting in the reception room, preparing to leave with the fellows from the palace when the emperor left.

The eunuch doesn’t suspect anything as this is essentially what people like him do, so he reports back to the palace. As a junior of the head eunuch by Bai Yanze’s side, he is also trusted enough by the people in the imperial palace.

——Not one person is thinking that perhaps the emperor is facing some danger in the Residence of State Oracle… For the people of the imperial palace, it is supposed to be the safest place in the capital after the imperial palace itself.

Unexpectedly, in court assembly the next morning, a bomb is dropped into the court.

…

The next morning, Yang Chongyin and Bai Yanze both come forth.

It’s nothing special in itself. Court officers who are slightly more informed than others all heard about the emperor visiting the Residence and staying overnight.

This must have been because Yang Chongyin brought back an extremely precious artefact, they thought, which is why the emperor is treating this matter carefully… Many people have even already prepared statements of praise, but then, suddenly, it was announced they will be discussing the matter of Bai Yanze’s abdication.

Yang Chongyin says that the artefact he personally searched for has already disappeared due to the incompetence of the current emperor.

As this must be a sign from the Heavens, he spent a great amount of effort divining the national fortune, and worked out that the dynasty is going downwards from Her peak, and is going to meet a great misfortune soon. The current emperor, Bai Yanze, wouldn’t have the ability to lead the dynasty through this predicament.

Fortunately, he has already found another person anointed by the Heavens capable of reinvigorating the dynasty’s fortunes.

Bai Lianhua, a son of the ex-emperor, while an imperial prince, has never entered the court. He was supposed to live the life of a recluse, but his unique lines of fate determine that he is fit to save the people of the realm and help the court successfully mitigate the effects of this misfortune, so he is persuaded by Yang Chongyin himself to reappear.

Which is said when Bai Lianhua is entering the court, and his ears are reddening just hearing that.

While he knows this might just be some appropriately crafted excuse, but it’s still embarrassing.

The system mockingly remarks, “I feel it’s alright. What a reason befitting your white lotus status, host. It’s all good, all good.”

Bai Lianhua “…”

As it’s relayed through the ages, everyone treats the State Oracle’s statement with quite the weight, and thanks to the emperors having allowed State Oracles to choose new emperors, it means he does feel appropriate as a person to redetermine who the throne belongs to since he has the stance and right, so it isn’t a transgression.

Even those who suspect something could never just directly assert the State Oracle may be committing treason. The truth is, Bai Yanze himself is no good emperor, a fact which all the court officers are well aware… Most importantly, whether Bai Yanze may be lying himself, he did admit he is unfit himself in front of the court.

——Yang Chongyin wasn’t threatening him with a cleaver or something, so Bai Yanze seems to be saying that of his own volition. Even people who want to ‘loyally’ protect their ruler had nothing to exploit. So, they could only all say dryly, “emperor, please reconsider.”

And Bai Yanze couldn’t reconsider. He’s already considered all he could, forced by Yang Chongyin yesterday, so he can only reply, “I have made up my mind.”

He turns around to look at the throne one last time. Besides feeling like he’ll miss it a bit, he recalls that it’s also a bottomless pit that will swallow up his longevity, so he turns his gaze away.

Though some court officers have started to think – this imperial prince who has the so-called capability to resolve the misfortune of the dynasty seems more manipulable than Bai Yanze. So, it seems that changing this person would not be a bad thing.

It must be said that while Bai Yanze is weak and ineffectual, he’s not one to listen; in fact, he’s quite self-indulgent.

There are enough people who have received benefits from Yang Chongyin and those that trust his State Oracle abilities and those that are dissatisfied with the incompetence of Bai Yanze that, after their initial shock, have started to think that perhaps the State Oracle can be trusted on this for now.

While some are questioning Bai Lianhua’s identity, Yang Chongyin has put those concerns to rest, having finally been able to pull the ex-master and elder of the sect from back then out as explanation… Proving that it was useful not to have killed them outright.

Recalling that he let these two go only for Bai Lianhua’s sake, and now becoming useful for him, Yang Chongyin actually felt as if he’s telling the complete truth and Bai Lianhua really has a Mandate of Heaven.

…

No matter what, this dramatic act finally ended. While the delicate but odd balance of the court held, Bai Yanze has abdicated, Bai Lianhua has ascended, and the name of the era is changed to ‘Jia’an.’

To be honest, the court looks weird. All those court officers under the throne look more imposing than him… This new emperor, Bai Lianhua, almost looks like an innocent little sheeple having been led right into a pack of wolves, and bumped its way onto the highest spot not knowing any better.

Even the system decides to diss that the person ranked first in last year’s court examinations named by the emperor to be ‘Tanhua’ looks more like an emperor than its host does.

And it even says pridefully, “if nothing else, host, you standing here has at least increased the rating for the average look of the court by several percentage points.”

Bai Lianhua “…”

This damned system. Is this really the time to be thinking about the looks of the people at court?

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