Chapter 587: Jin Xin
Chapter 587: Chapter 587: Jin Xin
The clamor of voices made Ugle’s head feel like it was about to split open.
’How could he not be conflicted!?’
He had thought this trip to the Capital City would be a chance to earn merit. Who could have known such a sudden twist would occur!
He had no idea what the situation back in Wazhen was now!
In his anxiety, he couldn’t stop himself from roaring in a low voice, "All of you, shut up!"
Awkward. Humiliating.
His sudden outburst silenced the crowd, but it only made his own situation more difficult.
’So many people are here watching!’
Before the others had even done anything, his own side had started fighting. Weren’t they just making a spectacle of themselves for everyone to laugh at!
The moment the words left his mouth, Ugle knew he had lost his composure, but it was too late for regrets.
Just as his mind raced anxiously, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation, Shen Yanchuan finally spoke again in a calm voice.
"This news is indeed sudden. It’s only natural for the Crown Prince to be worried and anxious. I imagine the Crown Prince is in no mood to continue today. Why not return and rest for now? It will not be too late to resume once the Crown Prince has made a decision."
No one expected Shen Yanchuan to suddenly say such a thing. They were all stunned into silence.
The ministers from the Ministry of Rites in charge of the negotiations, in particular, grew restless.
"Princely Heir, this... how could you—"
’How can we miss such a golden opportunity!?’
’All we have to do now is force Ugle’s head down and make him sign the Peace Negotiation Book, isn’t that right?’
’In this situation, his mind must be a complete mess. He won’t have a thing to say!’
Chen Songshi, however, raised a hand, gesturing for them to remain calm.
He understood Shen Yanchuan, and he also understood Shen Youyan. This urgent report hadn’t arrived earlier or later, but at this exact moment... It was all too subtle.
’What kind of clever game are this father and son duo playing in coordination?’
Suddenly, the color drained from Ugle’s face!
As if recalling something, he picked up the letter again, turning it over and over, examining it repeatedly.
"Something’s not right! This letter... how did this letter get here so fast!?"
His actions left everyone completely bewildered.
Emperor Muwu frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure surfacing in his eyes.
"What, does the Crown Prince believe this urgent report is a forgery?"
Ugle and his delegation had taken nearly a month to travel from Wazhen to the Capital City.
In contrast, this letter had flown across a thousand li in just a few short days. The speed was truly incredible.
But on second thought, it wasn’t hard to understand. Ugle’s group had traveled as a full delegation, and the time and effort required for food, drink, and rest along the way naturally slowed them down.
Shen Youyan’s urgent report, on the other hand, had traveled nonstop, likely running several horses to death. Of course it would arrive in the shortest possible time.
All in all, it wasn’t actually that strange.
But that wasn’t what Ugle was actually concerned about.
’Even Emperor Muwu has received this letter,’ he thought, ’but I know absolutely nothing about what’s happened in my own tribe!’
At this thought, he grew even more uneasy. He turned to his men and asked urgently, "Have any of you received any news from the tribe during this time!?"
The question caught them off guard, and they all shook their heads in unison.
"No."
Ugle’s heart sank.
Although he had come to the Capital City, he had left people behind specifically to keep him informed. Logically, something this important should have been reported to him at the first opportunity.
But he knew nothing!
And now, he had to learn of his own father’s death from the mouth of Emperor Muwu!
This meant... he had actually already lost control of the situation back home!
Ugle didn’t dare to think about it any further.
Shen Yanchuan’s words had sounded casual and relaxed, but they had struck right at the most critical point!
Just as Ugle’s mind was reeling with confusion and panic, another announcement came from outside.
"Your Majesty! A letter from Wazhen!"
At first, Ugle didn’t react. Then he realized something was wrong—this wasn’t an urgent report from the border, but a letter from Wazhen itself!
’I’m the one representing Wazhen right now, so how can another letter have come!?’
Emperor Muwu glanced at him before looking away and asking:
"What is the letter about?"
A trace of hesitation appeared on the soldier’s face as his gaze flickered toward Ugle.
That single glance made the unease in Ugle’s heart swell.
He immediately said, "Since it’s a letter, I will be the one to read it."
In his heart, he still felt that since it was news from Wazhen, he, as the Crown Prince, was naturally the most qualified person to see it.
However, the soldier did not hand the letter to him. Instead, he lowered his head and presented it with both hands.
Unlike an ordinary letter, this one was written on parchment. On its back, the golden seal of a soaring eagle was faintly visible.
Ugle’s brow twitched violently.
Shen Yanchuan, however, had already recognized the letter’s special nature. His phoenix eyes narrowed as he said:
"That appears to be a Jin Xin, which only the Wazhen Leader can issue."
As soon as he said this, the others began to realize.
"According to rumor, only the highest-level letters, personally penned by the Wazhen Leader, can be called a Jin Xin. Could this have been written by Mu Mu Zhen’er?"
"That can’t be right... Didn’t Mu Mu Zhen’er pass away from illness eight days ago? How could a letter from him still arrive?"
"Maybe he wrote it in advance?"
"I doubt it... Didn’t you see the shocked look on Crown Prince Ugle’s face? He clearly knows nothing about any of this either!"
"This—"
The low murmurs of discussion rose up, scrambling to enter Ugle’s ears.
His fists clenched unconsciously.
Emperor Muwu raised a hand and asked:
"If it is a Jin Xin, it should bear a seal. Is it from Mu Mu Zhen’er’s own hand?"
The soldier replied with his head lowered:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this letter was not written by Mu Mu Zhen’er, but by the new leader of the Wazhen, Zhuola!"
In an instant, the great hall fell deathly silent.
Emperor Muwu, thinking he had misheard, knitted his brow and asked, "Who?"
The soldier prostrated himself on the floor and said:
"The Fourth Prince of the Wazhen, Zhuola, ascended the throne in Barna on the second day after Mu Mu Zhen’er’s death! He has declared himself Khan!"
After a brief, frozen moment, the entire Chongyuan Hall erupted!
A clamor of voices!
Everyone was stunned by this sudden news!
"What!? Zhuola has already taken the throne!? The one who was rumored to be Mu Mu Zhen’er’s youngest and most mediocre son!?"
"How is that possible? It could have been anyone else, but him! How could he—"
"Didn’t they say before that Mu Mu Zhen’er valued the Crown Prince the most, personally grooming him as his successor? How could things suddenly..."
After snapping back to their senses, everyone’s first reaction was to look toward Ugle.
Ugle, however, was already completely dazed.
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
If learning of his father’s death had been a massive blow, then hearing that Zhuola had taken the throne completely shattered his sanity.
He turned his stiff neck, his whole body looking as if his soul had been ripped out. His lips moved, trying to say something, but not a single syllable would come out.
The delegation behind him was even more panicked and distraught.
"What in the world is going on!? We’ve only been away from Wazhen for a month, how has the Fourth Prince already taken the throne!?"
"What about the Second Prince and the Third Prince? Did they just stand by and watch the Fourth Prince’s nonsense!?"
"No... that’s not right! We’ve been plotted against!"