CHAPTER 477: CHAPTER 387 WHOSE THRONE IS IT_2

During this visit to Dawnspirit City, Yan Xing had his first glimpse of the influence he wielded beyond the borders of Eternal Domain.

More precisely, he had underestimated the impact of Eternal Domain’s alchemical products on this world. Just like how we have grown accustomed to using smartphones, it’s hard to imagine the status once held by the bulky cell phones of the past.

The widespread promotion of everyday alchemical items by Eternal Domain was a revolutionary shock to the world’s cognition.

The more alchemical items the nobility possessed from Eternal Domain, the more they could appreciate their refinement and magic, fostering a sense that they could never oppose it, no matter what.

It was this mindset that led King Griffin to decide to keep his most beloved son away from the political center of the Kingdom of Silvermane.

This action also signaled to the noble ministers that Yan Xing now had the qualifications to decide who the king should be.

Karol had also come to understand this point.

No matter who sat on the throne, maintaining the current relationship with Eternal Domain was essential.

"What can I do if I go to Eternal Domain?"

Reflecting on the events of the past few days, Yan Xing sighed, "You can do whatever you want... Start over, leaving everything behind. You’re young, and you can pursue a better life. The struggle at the Royal Court is too brutal."

The sudden death of King Griffin would inevitably trigger a power struggle within the Kingdom of Silvermane. Yan Xing could elevate Karol to the throne, could eliminate Kaiya. However, he couldn’t possibly eradicate all those coveting power. If Karol remained, she would inevitably face various conspiracies.

Wiping the tears from her face with a towel and taking a deep breath, Karol regained her composed and dignified demeanor. "What’s lost can never be found again. I’m used to this life, and those who follow me have placed their hopes in me; I can’t run away from that. Please support me in becoming the queen of the Kingdom of Silvermane. I will continue to honor my promise to you; the Kingdom of Silvermane will support Eternal Domain unconditionally."

Yan Xing had nothing much to say, as Karol’s path ahead was for her to decide. "Very well... Even if Kaiya is obedient, having you on that throne reassures me more. As soon as you get back, arrest Kaiya. After King Griffin’s funeral is over, send Kaiya to the gallows."

Karol was shocked. "Arrest Kaiya directly? But we have no evidence that he masterminded King Griffin’s assassination."

Yan Xing said, "The capture of Kaiya must be swift, accurate, and ruthless. Should he escape, the consequences will be endless. As for the charges, we’ll deal with them once he’s caught. If we wish to find a crime to accuse him of, we’ll always find one."

Karol nodded and responded, "Yes, I’ll go back and send people to arrest Kaiya right now."

After Karol returned from the Eternal Domain concession to the palace, she immediately announced that she had evidence of Kaiya’s plot to bewitch Elina into assassinating the former king and dispatched the Royal Guard to arrest him.

Meanwhile, Kaiya was still dreaming that with Karol taken by Yan Xing, he would ascend the throne as the new king. The Royal Guard raided his residence, and an oblivious Kaiya was subdued on the spot. He was then quickly imprisoned in the dungeons of the palace and closely guarded by a heavy military presence.

Following King Griffin’s assassination, the arrest of Prince Kaiya caused another massive shockwave through Dawnspirit City. The reason given by Queen Karol for ordering Kaiya’s arrest was that he had manipulated his own mother to kill his father.

This... this seemed utterly absurd. Yet, considering the rumors that had recently spread throughout the city, if Lady Karol truly had been taken by Yan Xing, Kaiya would be the biggest beneficiary of King Griffin’s assassination. Could it be true?

Most people remained on the sidelines, watching. Such matters involving the assassination of the former king and succession were not to be addressed hastily, as backing the wrong side could cost one’s head.

However, Kaiya had loyal ministers and nobles who gathered in the palace, demanding that Queen Karol produce evidence. Otherwise, they insisted on the immediate release of Prince Kaiya. Karol ignored these people, focusing on the preparations for King Griffin’s funeral. These people then contacted officials all over, putting pressure on Karol. They even took their complaints to Yan Xing.

"Lord Yan Xing," several elder nobles, upon being granted an audience with Yan Xing, immediately questioned, "The former king regarded you as his closest brother. Why would you allow the queen to arrest Prince Kaiya? They even pinned the assassination of the former king on him. How is that possible! The former king was Prince Kaiya’s father, and their relationship had always been very good."

Yan Xing sat in his chair, watching these indignant old men. He said, "This is your internal affair. How could an outsider like me possibly interfere in such a major event as the arrest of Duke Kaiya? Since Queen Karol has ordered the arrest of Duke Kaiya, she must have sufficient evidence. All you need to do is wait for news from the Royal Palace. What are you doing coming to me?"

An elderly noble stood up and said, "Lord Yan Xing, we all know you have great influence in Dawnspirit City. Without your approval, Queen Karol would never dare to make such a reckless arrest of Prince Kaiya. However, Prince Kaiya is the first in line of succession to the throne. Are you not afraid that this country may crumble if you convict him without presenting evidence?"

"You want evidence?"

"Yes... if you can’t provide irrefutable evidence, you must release Prince Kaiya immediately!"

"Who do you think you are to threaten me!" Yan Xing bellowed. "Don’t think I don’t know... where those rumors about me and Queen Karol started. My sister and I are innocent, yet you bastards portray us as a pair of illicit lovers. I see very clearly what you people are thinking. Lady Karol doesn’t want this matter to cause a bloodbath in the Royal Court; she doesn’t want to see too many innocent people implicated and follow Kaiya to their deaths. You want to see evidence? Fine! All the evidence of your secret meetings and plotting with Kaiya these days is there. I don’t know which of you were really involved in the assassination of King Griffin, but once the evidence is made public, those implicated, whether wrongly accused or not, must be exterminated, family and all. Still want to see it?"

Yan Xing’s words nearly made the old nobles collapse to the ground.

Indeed, they had been summoned by Kaiya in these past days. Kaiya had tasked them with a mission, which was indeed to spread rumors about Yan Xing and Queen Karol. At the time, Kaiya had convincingly told these nobles that Yan Xing harbored fervent admiration for Queen Karol. Now that the former king had passed away, Queen Karol was alone. If Yan Xing could take Karol back to the Eternal Domain, then the throne would be Kaiya’s. The words Yan Xing spoke to Karol at the coronation ceremony, which were almost equivalent to a confession, had been spread through various channels. Therefore, the nobles following Kaiya had no doubts about this matter. They too hoped that Kaiya would ascend to the throne, taking them and their families to new heights of glory. So, they worked hard at spreading the rumors, to hasten Yan Xing’s taking Karol away.

But they never expected that this matter would become such deadly leverage.

Whether Kaiya instigated the assassination of the former king, these nobles did not know. But their acceptance of Kaiya’s summoning and spreading rumors about Yan Xing and Queen Karol was absolutely true. If Kaiya really was the mastermind behind the assassination of the former king, then their recent visits to Kaiya would inevitably drag them into this great case. Once evidence became public, a thousand mouths would not be able to clear their names. The main perpetrators and accomplices in the king’s assassination would certainly be put to death, and their whole families would be implicated. Even if not exterminated, their descendants would carry the stain of "regicide" for generations to come.

Did Kaiya really organize this assassination?

The nobles could not be sure. But the reason that Elina would kill King Griffin for abandoning her seemed somewhat far-fetched. The marriages of nobility coming together and apart was normal; everything served politics. Elina had no reason to kill Griffin and implicate herself in the process.

In this world, the only person who could make Elina assassinate Griffin and then choose suicide was Kaiya. A mother would truly do anything for her child. Additionally, Kaiya’s actions after King Griffin’s death were those of someone strategically seeking the throne.

Is this something a normal son would do?

The backs of the elderly nobles went cold as Yan Xing watched them, their faces covered in cold sweat. If Yan Xing and Karol did not have concrete evidence in their hands, they could still fight for Kaiya. But if they truly had evidence, they themselves and their entire families would be jeopardized.