When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 63.2

Qin Ji’s eyes flashed fiercely, and he kicked the Right Chancellor to the ground. “Just you? Can you protect her? Can you protect these useless wretches?!”

His finger swept over the Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince, and Eighth Prince, his expression utterly arrogant.

The Right Chancellor was badly hurt by the kick. He coughed several times as he climbed up from the ground, but he staunchly continued to protect Jiang Yan.

“As long as I have a breath left, I will not allow you to harm the Ninth Princess!”

Qin Ji signaled to the person next to him. The Imperial Guards immediately tied up the Right Chancellor and even stuffed his mouth.

Qin Ji walked up to Jiang Yan and draped his arm over her shoulder in a seemingly intimate gesture. “Yan’er is my dearest darling. How could I possibly harm her?”

Jiang Yan was so disgusted she immediately shook off his hand and retreated several steps.

“Crown Prince, please watch your words and conduct.”

The smile on Qin Ji’s face vanished instantly, and he asked coldly, “Yan’er, what’s wrong? You never used to treat Elder Brother like this.”

Now, every time Jiang Yan heard the word “Elder Brother,” her stomach churned.

After this mission was over, she probably wouldn’t want to hear this title for a long time.

“Crown Prince, with the former Emperor gone, it is time for you to succeed to the throne.”

The Left Chancellor stepped forward, his face fawning. The Right Chancellor struggled, mumbling incoherently through the gag.

“Impossible! His Majesty personally stated that the Crown Prince is incompetent and issued an edict to depose him! Do you all intend to defy the Imperial Will?”

After the Grand Tutor finished speaking, Jiang Yan finally understood why Qin Ji was so frantic. Just when he was about to sit on the throne, his hope was snatched away. Anyone would be angry.

The Left Chancellor chuckled sinisterly and said to the Grand Tutor, “Grand Tutor Zhang, have you not grasped the situation yet? It is His Highness the Crown Prince who holds the power to speak now. I advise you to obey, and His Highness the Crown Prince might spare your life.”

Grand Tutor Zhang’s expression darkened. He looked at Jiang Yan, waiting for her to decide.

Jiang Yan, with the Imperial Edict tucked into her clothing, had deep eyes. She was waiting for someone and for the right moment.

The palace was likely filled with Qin Ji’s men now, making it difficult for her people to enter. But once they broke through the siege, they would be unstoppable, and she might not lose to Qin Ji.

“Yan’er, why aren’t you speaking? Are you still waiting for Huang Zhonghu?”

Jiang Yan was startled and clenched her fist. How did Qin Ji know?

Qin Ji curled his lips and sneered, staring straight at her. “Do you truly think that while I was in the Eastern Palace, I was completely ignorant of your actions?”

In fact, he had known as soon as she made a move. He had only pretended not to know, wanting to see how far she could go.

“Yan Yan, stop doing useless things. Come to my side obediently. I will give you a position second only to me and treat you with affection and love. Don’t you trust Crown Prince Elder Brother?”

Jiang Yan’s stomach was churning. If she hadn’t eaten nothing all day, she would have thrown up all over him.

The Grand Tutor was an old-fashioned scholar. Hearing Qin Ji’s words, his beard trembled with anger.

“Qin Ji, you disregard human ethics, your moral character is corrupt, and you are unfit to inherit the throne!”

“Then you tell me, besides me, who is capable of bearing this great responsibility?”

Qin Ji’s one sentence stumped the Grand Tutor. Looking around, Qin Ji was indeed the most outstanding among all the Princes. However, His Majesty had issued an edict to depose the Crown Prince, which he was bound to respect.

Jiang Yan was still pondering a countermeasure when she was suddenly pushed out by someone.

“Ninth Princess is intelligent and resourceful, and she is the daughter whom His Majesty doted on the most. She is the most suitable person to succeed to the throne.”

Jiang Yan turned her head to look at him. The Minister of War was kneeling before her, his expression solemn.

He seemed to take the lead. After his words, half of the officials agreed. The remaining dissenters were essentially from Qin Ji’s faction.

“How can a woman become king? Wouldn’t that be a laughing stock for the States of Chen and Chu?”

As soon as the Left Chancellor finished speaking, someone immediately refuted him.

“The State of Chu has had two female rulers. Although the State of Chen has no female ruler, it was supported by Empress Dowager Xiao. What do they have to laugh at?”

“Your subjects humbly request the Ninth Princess to succeed to the throne.” The people kneeling before Jiang Yan said in unison.

Jiang Yan felt like she was being pushed onto the stage. If she refused in this situation, no one would be able to control Qin Ji.

“Ninth Princess, you are the rightful heir. What is there to fear?” The Right Chancellor finally managed to spit out the cloth in his mouth and said hurriedly.

“What rightful heir? Where is the rightful heir? Guards, throw this nonsense-talking old man out!” The Left Chancellor placed his hands on his hips, exasperated.

The Right Chancellor was cursing as he was dragged out. The Grand Tutor walked close to Jiang Yan and whispered, “Princess, if His Majesty left any Imperial Edict or token, you must present it to prove your position. Otherwise, the Crown Prince will not give up.”

Jiang Yan felt that these old ministers might have communicated with the King of Qin long ago, or else how would they know so much?

If the General Who Conquered the West was intercepted by Qin Ji, and he made a move, all those who supported her might be in danger.

“Your subjects humbly request the Ninth Princess to succeed to the throne!”

This time, the Grand Tutor also knelt down, pleading with everyone else.

Jiang Yan hesitated, then was suddenly pulled into an embrace by Qin Ji.

“The Ninth Princess’s ambition is not here. She will not be a female ruler. She will only be my Empress.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Even the people standing on Qin Ji’s side felt that his words were too scandalous, so much so that they lost the arrogant momentum they had when confronting Jiang Yan’s supporters. They merely widened their eyes, looking bewildered.

Jiang Yan struggled in vain, so she resorted to unconventional means, sticking the needle in her hand into Qin Ji’s acupoint. This forced him to let go.

Seeing the needle in her hand, Qin Ji’s expression turned gloomy. He smiled faintly. “Yan Yan, you’ve been corrupted. Once I kill her, you won’t defy Elder Brother anymore, right?”

Jiang Yan’s breath hitched, and her eyes suddenly turned cold. “What did you do to her?”

“What else could I do? Naturally, an extreme penalty like dismemberment by five horses or slow slicing. Does this Prince need to show mercy to an assassin?”

Jiang Yan was shaking with rage, wishing she could rush up and kill Qin Ji. But she knew that was impossible. She might be stabbed into a sieve by the Imperial Guards before she even reached Qin Ji.

Moreover, Baili Qi was skilled in martial arts and meticulous. She shouldn’t be easily hurt by Qin Ji. The most urgent matter was to resolve the current situation.

“You people, if you can’t recognize reality, then I will help you.”

Qin Ji completely lost his patience. He drew a sword from the hand of a nearby Imperial Guard and stabbed the Grand Tutor in the arm, his face twisted into a sinister smile.

The Grand Tutor groaned, sweat dripping from his face. Blood stained his blue court robes, pooling on the floor.

“I will give you a quarter of an hour to consider. If you are unwilling to submit to me, I will poke dozens of holes in your body and let you watch your own blood drain away.”

At these words, some people began to waver, bowing their heads timidly, afraid of being chosen by Qin Ji.

Qin Ji wanted this exact effect. Seeing that his goal had been achieved, he circled the kneeling crowd and finally selected someone who looked very afraid. He stabbed his sword into the man’s thigh, and a pig-like shriek instantly erupted in the main hall.

“Crown Prince, spare my life! Crown Prince, spare my life! I am willing to support you as King!” The man was weeping and crawling, dragging his injured leg towards Qin Ji’s camp.

Qin Ji was very satisfied with this result and carried the sword as he walked around again.

“A quarter of an hour has passed. It seems you all wish for this Prince’s sword to show you affection. Then I shall grant your wish.”

The Grand Tutor was next to Jiang Yan. He had always supported her. Even though he was injured, he made no sound. Jiang Yan looked at Qin Ji’s sickening face and finally made up her mind.

She took out the Imperial Edict from her clothing, her expression resolute. “This is the Imperial Edict entrusted to me by the former Emperor. It should be the Edict of Succession. No matter whose name is on it, can everyone here agree to support him as the new Emperor?”

The Grand Tutor was the first to answer, and subsequently, the people behind him all said they could. Only those on Qin Ji’s side remained silent, all looking at Qin Ji, as if waiting for his command.

Jiang Yan sneered. These people truly wouldn’t give up until they saw the coffin. Qin Ji had already been deposed as Crown Prince. Continuing to support him was unjustifiable. Even if someone later revolted under the banner of eliminating a corrupt minister, they could say they were acting for Heaven.

Qin Ji looked at Jiang Yan, his sword still dripping blood. His expression was inscrutable, and he walked towards her step by step.

Jiang Yan clenched the Imperial Edict in her hand, watching him with unwavering determination, though with a trace of fear in her heart.

He wouldn’t suddenly go mad and kill her, would he?

Her worry was unnecessary. Qin Ji not only did not kill her but started to laugh.

“You are becoming more and more like your mother. She was as resilient as you are.”

Something flashed through Jiang Yan’s mind. Connecting the events that had occurred and Qin Ji’s sick affection for her, she finally understood why he was like this.

No wonder he would conspire with Wanqirong to kill his own father. The root of the problem lay here.

“Qin Ji, do you know that I am your sister, your half-sister!”

Jiang Yan raised her voice so that everyone in the hall could hear, but Qin Ji didn’t care. He just smiled, his face filled with obsession.

“Do you know? Your mother was truly beautiful, even more beautiful than you.”

He reached out to touch Jiang Yan’s face, but Jiang Yan slapped his hand away fiercely. “Mind your status! Are you going to commit such an act that violates the laws of nature and morality?!”

Qin Ji ignored her and laughed unrestrainedly. “What does it matter? The Royal Father stole the woman I loved, so I naturally have to have her returned. You are Heaven’s compensation to me.”

Jiang Yan held up the Imperial Edict in her hand and said sharply, “Qin Ji is insane! Are you going to let such a person be the ruler of the State of Qin? You are all the pillars of Great Qin. Do you want to see Great Qin perish in Qin Ji’s hands? Let alone the fact that he has already been deposed by the former Emperor, even if he were still the Crown Prince, his condition prevents him from holding the throne.”

After her speech, no one responded. Although the people on Qin Ji’s side thought his actions were wrong, no one came out to oppose him. Every single one of them was standing by him for the sake of profit or because Qin Ji held a threat over them. It would be difficult to sway them with just a few words from Jiang Yan.

Qin Ji chuckled gloomily, then tossed the sword in his hand onto the ground.

“Yan’er, you’ve played enough. It’s time to go back with Elder Brother. If you keep throwing tantrums, I’ll get angry.”

After he spoke, he turned and looked at the officials kneeling below. The gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by cold malice.

“Take all of them down and lock them in the water prison. Bring them to me only when they have completely thought things through.”

This action scared away two more officials. They crawled tremblingly to Qin Ji’s camp. The rest were men of steel, showing no sign of fear.

Jiang Yan hadn’t intended to involve them in her danger, yet she had put them in harm’s way. A surge of anger rushed to her head, and she only wanted to perish with Qin Ji.

“Yan’er, why are you still trying to fight Elder Brother? That’s not being obedient.”

Qin Ji effortlessly twisted Jiang Yan’s arms behind her back and embraced her from behind, his face showing a look of utter satisfaction.

“Qin Ji, let go of me! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning? Heaven will surely take a scum like you!”

Qin Ji let out a sinister laugh and leaned into her ear. “Before that, I must first possess you.”

Jiang Yan felt a shiver of disgust all over her body, and she finally could not hold back the nausea in her stomach and threw up.

Qin Ji looked at her incessant vomiting, his eyes cold and dark. He grabbed her hair and said sinisterly, “Do you hate me this much, huh?”

Jiang Yan, suffering from the nausea, managed to squeeze out a reply: “Don’t you know how disgusting you are?”

Qin Ji’s eyes grew darker. He threw Jiang Yan to the ground and ordered his men, “Take the Ninth Princess back to the Eastern Palace. No one is to step out of the Eastern Palace without my command.”

Jiang Yan looked at the two men walking towards her, her voice sharp. “Don’t touch me, or I will cut off your claws!”

Qin Ji stepped forward, stared at her for a while, and finally closed his eyes.

“It was my mistake. You are nothing like your mother.”

“Lock the Ninth Princess up with those rebellious ministers until she admits her mistake.”

Jiang Yan was grabbed and about to be led out when a deep, majestic voice rang out.

“Who is bullying my niece?”

Jiang Yan’s tense heart finally relaxed. This was the second savior she had been waiting for. It was indeed worthwhile to endure the disgust and deal with Qin Ji.

Qin Ge, clad in heavy dark-red armor, holding a long sword, was tall and straight, his face radiating a formidable aura.

Upon entering, he first glanced at Jiang Yan, then looked at Qin Ji, smiling faintly. “What is the Eldest Prince doing?”

Jiang Yan keenly noticed that he addressed him as “Eldest Prince” and not “Crown Prince.” It seemed he knew everything that had happened in the palace, so there was no need to waste words on explanations.

“Imperial Uncle, Qin Ji disregarded the Royal Father’s will and insisted on succeeding to the throne. He even locked up everyone who opposed him in the dungeon. You must uphold justice for everyone and not let such an ambitious wolf succeed!”

Qin Ge looked at Qin Ji again, his eyes becoming much sharper. “Eldest Prince, is this true?”

Qin Ji casually sat on the side throne, sneering. “Since Imperial Uncle specifically came to back Ninth Sister, why ask so many questions? Why don’t we just speak frankly? Wouldn’t that save time?”

Qin Ji no longer wished to maintain even a superficial peace. He wanted to do whatever he pleased, so he was determined to get that position.

He didn’t want to experience the feeling of being powerless again. He couldn’t have the woman he loved and could only endure the soul-gnawing pain every day. If all his years of careful planning still couldn’t allow him to do what he wanted, what was the point?

Qin Ge took two steps forward and, with lightning speed, killed the two men who were restraining Jiang Yan. Before Jiang Yan could turn around, he pulled her to his side.

“Don’t be afraid. Imperial Uncle will protect you.”

Jiang Yan’s heart instantly calmed down, filled with a sense of security. Although this was the first time she had met this Imperial Uncle, she felt a strong sense of kinship.

Qin Ge pointed his sword at Qin Ji, his voice full of cold fury. “Eldest Prince, injustice will bring disaster upon yourself. Be a good boy and come down to jointly support the new King with us. Perhaps the new King will be merciful and forgive your crimes.”

“Crimes? What crimes do I have?” Qin Ji sat leisurely on the throne, looking down at the people below. “I was the Crown Prince for ten years. The former Emperor deposed me without a word. If it were you, would you accept it?”

“Whether you accept it or not, you are no longer the heir apparent. Don’t I have to teach you such a simple principle?”

Qin Ji stood up, his eyes gradually turning manic. At his command, the Imperial Guards who had been ambushed in the vicinity flooded in, surrounding the main hall in three layers.

“Imperial Uncle, you didn’t think I would come to the palace alone, did you?”

Qin Ge smiled, looking relaxed. “Does the Eldest Prince not think that I would come to the palace alone?”

Qin Ji’s eyes dimmed. A commotion was heard at the entrance. The commander of the Imperial Guards was brought in with a knife to his throat by Qin Ge’s men. Simultaneously, the generals of all the palace gates were also captured.

“Eldest Prince, the entire capital is under my control. Are you still going to struggle in vain?”

Qin Ji began to laugh, a very manic laughter. Jiang Yan felt her ears were being assaulted.

He picked up the sword on the ground and walked towards Jiang Yan step by step. Qin Ge protected Jiang Yan, pointing his sword at Qin Ji, keeping a safe distance.

“Yan’er, all the goodness Elder Brother has shown you all these years is real. Can you let Elder Brother hug you before I die?”

Jiang Yan looked at him with cold eyes, not saying a word.

She actually wanted to reply with “Are you dreaming,” but was afraid of provoking this madman, so she remained silent.

“Eldest Prince, I advise you to put down your weapon and obediently return to your Eastern Palace.”

“Return to the Eastern Palace? Will I be the Crown Prince again if I go back? Will the Royal Father pass the throne to me? He never trusted me. He guarded against me at every turn. He even stole the woman I loved!”

After Qin Ji spoke, he started laughing again. Jiang Yan felt his mental state was worrisome and thought about finding a physician to examine him once he calmed down, or else he was quite frightening like this.

After laughing, Qin Ji glanced at the sword in his hand, then suddenly flipped his wrist and stabbed himself in the heart.

“Crown Prince Elder Brother!” Jiang Yan cried out in shock, then felt that something was wrong, and looked at Qin Ji with a complex expression.

Qin Ji smiled, a large mouthful of blood gushing out of his mouth, dripping down the corner of his lips onto his clothes—a shocking sight.

He liked to wear white clothes. He wore white in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, which was completely inconsistent with his gloomy and sullen personality.

“Yan’er, being able to hear you call me Elder Brother one last time before I die, I have no regrets.”

He slowly fell, heavily hitting the ground. The blood gushing from his mouth grew more and more, and soon there was a large pool of it.

Jiang Yan looked at his eyes, which were not yet closed. She walked over and closed his eyes, sighing.

She did not know what exactly led Qin Ji to this point. If it was purely for power, perhaps he would have succeeded long ago.

Qin Ge ordered Qin Ji’s body to be carried out and released the ministers who had been tied up in the water prison. As soon as the Right Chancellor entered, he knelt before Jiang Yan and loudly declared, “Now that the rebellious minister has been executed, the Ninth Princess should immediately succeed to the throne.”

Jiang Yan then remembered that she was still holding the Imperial Edict. She shook the edict in her hand and said to the ministers, “The Royal Father gave me an Imperial Edict before he passed away. It should be the Edict of Succession. Let’s see his chosen heir and support him as the new Emperor.”

Jiang Yan did not dare to look at it herself and handed the Imperial Edict to Qin Ge. “Imperial Uncle, please read it.”

Qin Ge opened it, glanced at it, and then knelt before her. “May my King live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

At this, the Right Chancellor was even more delighted. He turned to the people who were still stunned behind him and said, “What are you all waiting for? Pay respects to His Majesty!”

At once, everyone, both those in her camp and those who had previously supported Qin Ji, knelt down, shouting ‘Long Live’ at Jiang Yan’s feet.

Jiang Yan had the illusion that she was dreaming. Before this, she had never imagined that the Royal Father would pass the throne to her.

Still unconvinced, she took the Imperial Edict from Qin Ge’s hand, opened it, and saw the five large characters for ‘Ninth Princess Qin Yan’ on it. Only then was she completely certain.

“Imperial Uncle, I am but a woman. I am truly unable to bear this great responsibility. Why don’t you let my Elder Brothers become the Emperor, or you could do it yourself?”

Jiang Yan was intent on traveling around with Baili Qi and did not want to waste her limited time on being Emperor.

Qin Ge was utterly exasperated by her words. He furrowed his brows and said, “What nonsense is this? The former Emperor passed the throne to you, and you are the new King! This is not like buying groceries at the market, where you can pass it around. This matter concerns the foundation of the state, and must not be treated as a triviality.”

Jiang Yan