[Ye Kuiliang’s announcement to abdicate and appoint Ye Yu as the new emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty was made during this morning’s court session.]

[At that time, several people led by the eldest prince vehemently opposed it.]

[But it was to no avail.]

[The imperial decree had been issued, and the decision was final.]

[When Ye Yu, who was walking his dog in the outer city, heard the news, he was quite surprised.]

[What’s going on?]

[The money sent by Grandpa Zhou Baiwan hadn’t even been spent yet. And now you’re telling me the game is over?]

[Unable to make sense of it, Ye Yu decisively headed to the palace to ask Ye Kuiliang what was going on.]

[His father was just over five hundred years old, in the prime of his life.]

[Ye Yu couldn’t believe that he would suddenly abdicate for no reason.]

[There had to be some conspiracy!]

[Ye Yu strode into the palace.]

[Suddenly, he saw ten princes kneeling outside the Yangxin Hall.]

[They were all the princes who had not chosen to submit to Ye Yu.]

[Ye Yu admired these people.]

[Because it was only through constant rejection that he could squander even better.]

[In fact, Ye Yu regarded these people as business clients. Relying on them, his talent for squandering was continuously triggered.]

[So, facing the angry glares of the princes, Ye Yu completely ignored them and greeted them warmly.]

[Yo, everyone’s here!]

[This remark made the princes even more furious.]

[In their eyes, this was a way for the victor to mock the losers.]

[The eldest prince, full of indignation, kowtowed towards the Yangxin Hall, shouting loudly: Ye Yu acts recklessly, even if he ascends to the throne, he will not be able to win the hearts of the people. Father, please retract the decree!]

[Soon, Chief Eunuch Sun Fu walked over, bowing.]

[Then he slapped the eldest prince.]

[Such a scene stunned everyone present.]

[This old traitor, has he defied the heavens?]

[Sun Fu said in a deep voice: The former emperor decreed that the eldest prince Ye Kai has slandered the new emperor, a crime punishable by death.]

[But considering the difficulty of the new emperor’s ascension and to avoid unnecessary killings, he is to be confined for ten years and receive a slap, carried out by Chief Eunuch Sun Fu.]

[After announcing the decree.]

[Sun Fu immediately knelt in front of the eldest prince Ye Kai.]

[He said in a low voice: I’m sorry, this old servant is guilty, but I dare not disobey the former emperor’s orders.]

[The eldest prince’s face turned deathly pale.]

[He walked out of the palace in a daze.]

[That slap had woken Ye Kai up; his spirit had dissipated, and he knew it was hopeless.]

[Why would he continue kneeling here?]

[With Ye Kai’s departure, the other princes also understood that the situation was irreversible.]

[One by one, they slowly rose to their feet.]

[Some even cupped their hands in salute to Ye Yu before leaving.]

[Although they said nothing, this gesture indicated their recognition of Ye Yu as the new emperor.]

[Only the fifteenth prince, Ye Anming, remained kneeling.]

[He roared at Ye Yu.]

[You must have used some despicable means.]

[That’s the only reason Father passed the throne to you, right?]

[Today, no matter what, I must see Father with my own eyes!]

[Sun Fu hurriedly stepped forward and said: Fifteenth prince, please return. The former emperor ordered that no one except the new emperor is to be seen!]

[Ye Anming shouted loudly: Impossible, absolutely impossible. Father loved me the most; how could he not see me?]

[Ye Yu found this too noisy.]

[He directly stepped forward and kicked Ye Anming in the face.]

[The latter’s nose bled as he lay on the ground, looking at Ye Yu in disbelief.]

[You dare to hit me?]

[Ye Yu ignored Ye Anming and waved to Sun Fu: Take him away and give him a hundred slaps!]

[Understood!]

[Sun Fu immediately agreed and then signaled to the nearby guards.]

[The guards quickly stepped forward and dragged Ye Anming away.]

[Soon, the sound of slapping could be heard from outside, crisp and clear.]

[Ye Yu then walked straight into the Yangxin Hall.]

[When he saw the figure sitting on the dragon throne, he could hardly believe his eyes.]

[Ye Kuiliang, who was still in his prime just a few days ago, had now turned into a white-haired, withered old man.]

[Such a drastic change was beyond anyone’s expectations.]

[Ye Yu hurriedly approached, asking what had happened.]

[Ye Kuiliang smiled and said: It’s an old injury from years of battles. I had been suppressing it, so no one noticed.]

[But now, my time is near, and the old injury has naturally resurfaced.]

[I originally planned to have you ascend the throne after you had subdued all the princes.]

[But now, I can’t hold on any longer.]

[From now on, the Great Yong Dynasty is in your hands.]

[Ye Kuiliang slowly stood up, vacating the throne, and gestured for Ye Yu to come closer.]

[Ye Yu, with a solemn expression, walked forward and sat on the throne that everyone envied.]

[In fact, ever since the competition for the crown prince began, Ye Yu had already figured some things out.]

[He didn’t need to resist the throne.]

[No matter how wealthy his grandfather Zhou Baiwan was, he was just a rich merchant. How could he squander as easily as an emperor?]

[It’s just that Ye Yu didn’t expect the process of obtaining the throne to be so smooth.]

[It was truly like what was said decades ago, forging a path to the emperor’s throne with money.]

[Three days later.]

[Ye Yu officially ascended the throne, declaring the new era as Mang! ]

(T/N; Mang (莽) often means “reckless”, and 国号为莽 means “reign title” a practice in imperialism where emperors would choose a name for their reign.)

[This proposal initially met with much opposition.]

[But Ye Yu didn’t care.]

[Among the civil officials, a not-so-tall figure stepped forward.]

[This was Sun Longhai, the first minister to pledge loyalty to Ye Yu.]

[Due to his meritorious service in supporting Ye Yu, his rank had risen from third class to first class.]

[Sun Longhai, while grateful for his successful gamble, gave a determined look to Ye Yu on the dragon throne.]

[Your Majesty has treated me as a national scholar; I will repay Your Majesty as one.]

[Sun Longhai immediately went into battle mode, transforming into the war god of the grand hall, verbally sparring with the scholars.]

[His spittle flew from the front hall to the main gate.]

[With his lead, many ministers who had also submitted to Ye Yu stepped forward.]

[With overwhelming numbers, they successfully quashed the opposing voices.]

[The proposal to name the new era Mang passed smoothly.]

[However, Ye Yu’s first decree nearly caused all the civil and military officials present to collapse on the spot.]

[—The new emperor’s ascension is a great joy for the nation. Therefore, taxes will be exempted for three years, and every citizen of the Great Yong Dynasty will receive one tael of silver.]

[This decree…]

[It made the Finance Minister’s face turn ashen as he fell to his knees, shouting, Your Majesty, you cannot do this!]

[One tael of silver might seem little.]

[But with millions of citizens in the Great Yong Dynasty, that amounts to millions of taels of silver, equivalent to half a year’s taxes.]

[Even with the Great Yong Dynasty’s wealth, it couldn’t sustain such expenditure!]