The chosen one turned around, his eyes fixed on Yang Feng, and in a deep, resonant voice, he declared, "By the power vested in my family, I hereby proclaim Yang Feng, the 18-year-old third prince of the Yang family, to be the new Emperor of the Yang Dynasty!"

  The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Yang Feng, who stood tall, his face calm and composed. Xian Shang's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, his face pale. His ministers looked at each other in confusion and alarm, their faces etched with concern.

  Jian covered his face with his fan, hiding a smile as he looked at Xian Shang's reaction, then looked at Feng and nodded. Yang Feng's eyes locked onto the chosen one, and he took a deep breath before stepping forward. He stood before the altar; his head bowed in respect. The chosen one reached out and placed the Mianguan on Yang Feng's head, his hands steady and sure, then put the imperial ring on his finger.

  As the crown settled onto Yang Feng's brow, a collective gasp echoed through the room, and Xian Shang's eyes widened in shock and outrage. He took a step forward, his face red with anger, but his voice was frozen in his throat.

  Feng then ascended the stairs to the throne as the altar was removed. When Feng settled on the throne, a servant hit a gong, and everyone bowed down as Jian led them, "Long Live the emperor."

  Xian Shang's face turned white with rage and shock, his eyes bulging with anger, his mouth was about open to protest, but the chosen one's words cut him off, "And I hereby appoint Yang Lei, the second prince, as the Imperial Advisor to His Majesty, Emperor Yang Feng," he declared, his voice firm and authoritative.

  Yang Feng's eyes locked onto Jian's, a hint of a smile on his face as he announced, "And I hereby appoint my eldest brother, Yang Jian, as the Imperial Steward, in charge of the palace and the imperial household."

  The room fell silent as Jian stood forward and bowed. Xian Shang looked like he was about to explode, his eyes fixed on Jian with a mixture of anger and contempt. The chosen one nodded in approval, a small smile on his face, as if he were pleased with the appointments.

  Xian Shang finally talked, his voice trembling with anger, "Crown Prince, how dare you! You're supposed to be the one in charge, not the third prince! This is a travesty! A conspiracy!" He took a step closer to him, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched.

  Jian covered his face with his fan, "Prime minister.... After serious thinking, I concluded that I am not the most fit for being an emperor. That is why I passed it to my youngest brother, who has both the potential and ambition to lead us to prosperity."

  Xian Shang's voice rose to a shout, "Preposterous! You're just saying this to cover up your own incompetence and cowardice! You're a coward, Yang Jian, a coward who can't even stand up for himself, let alone lead the empire!"

  Yang Lei was about to scold him, but Jian replied first, snapping his fan shut, "You are absolutely right, prime minister. I am a coward, and the throne couldn’t bear a coward. This is why I recused myself as I wanted the best for the empire."

  Xian Shang was so enraged that Jian used his words against him, and he excused himself and left along with every one of his ministers.

  Jian turned to the chosen one, "Elder Zhi, thank you for your attendance today. We are in your debt." Elder Zhi's eyes twinkled with a knowing glint as he whispered, "Yang Jian, you have a heart of gold and a mind of steel. Your sacrifice is a testament to your bravery and wisdom. I am honoured to have been a part of this ceremony, and I will ensure that the history books will remember your name with reverence."

  He paused, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "But remember, Yang Jian, the empire is not just a title, it's a responsibility. You have given it to your brother, but you will always be the one who made it possible. Do not forget that." He bowed and then turned to leave, his movements dignified and slow.

  Jian looked at the door as the chosen one left, and they were left alone with the servants. He then looked at Yang Feng, "That Mianguan suits you a lot, little brother."

  Yang Feng's face broke into a wide smile, his eyes shining with amusement and gratitude. "Eldest brother, you're making me feel like I'm the one who's uncomfortable with the whole 'emperor' thing, but I must admit, it's a lot to take in. I'm still getting used to the idea of being the emperor."

  He paused, his expression turning serious. "But I couldn't have done it without you, eldest brother. You're the one who made it possible. I owe you a debt of gratitude that I can never repay." He paused again as he stood up and went down the stairs. "And I have to admit, it's weird calling you 'Steward' instead of 'Eldest Brother'."

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  Jian patted his shoulder. "We discussed it before. When in public, you must call me Steward Jian."

  Yang Feng's face fell, and he looked down, his eyes clouding over with emotion. "I'm sorry, eldest brother. I know it's not easy for you to give up your title and your surname. It's a big sacrifice, and I won't take it lightly," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I promise you, brother, I will do my best to make you proud. I will work hard to prove myself worthy of the trust you've placed in me. And I will always remember that you are my eldest brother, no matter what title you hold." He paused, his voice cracking with emotion. "You're still my brother, and I love you, Eldest Brother.

  "I love you too. Enjoy your new throne while I take care of some things."

  Yang Feng’s face lit up with a bright smile, and he nodded, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Eldest Brother. I will do my best to rule wisely and justly. And I will always keep your words in my heart." He straightened up, his expression serious, and said, "I will call for you if I need anything. Take care of yourself, (He hesitated). Steward Jian."

  Jian maintained his smile and bowed, then went outside. When he finally got out, he lost his smile and felt a slight tremble in his heart at the disgrace that he willingly chose. He had been preparing himself mentally for the past 3 days to be called Steward Jian, but it was still like a punch in the gut. As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over him. The weight of the decision he made began to settle in, and the reality of his new title as Steward Jian hit him like a ton of bricks. His smile, which he had maintained for so long, began to falter. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He felt a lump in his throat as he realized that he had given up his birthright, his identity, and his title for the sake of his brothers' future. The weight of the decision was crushing, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was all worth it. He muttered to himself, "It is all worth it, Jian... It is all worth it."

  As Jian continued, he saw Xian Shang and his ministers talking nervously among themselves. He came from behind them. "Something the matter, prime minister?"

  Xian Shang's face twisted into a sneer, "Ah, Steward Jian, still trying to maintain that serene smile, I see. It's almost...pathetic." The other ministers chuckled and snickered, their eyes gleaming with malice. Xian Shang leaned in, his voice dripping with venom, "You have given up your title, and you'll never be anything but a steward to us."

  Jian maintained his smile, "It is my title... Why should I be ashamed about it?"

  Xian Shang's sneer grew wider, his eyes flashing with anger. "Ashamed? You should be humiliated. You're a member of the royal family, and now you're reduced to a mere steward. It's a joke." He spat on the ground, his gestures dramatic and contemptuous. The other ministers laughed. One of them, a tall, thin man with a cruel face, stepped forward, his eyes glinting with cruelty. "Yes, Steward Jian, you're a joke. A joke on the entire empire."

  Jian covered his face with his fan. "You are absolutely right, minister. I am a joke and a disgrace to my family and my empire. That is why I recused myself. You wouldn't like to serve under a joke of an emperor, right?"

  His ways of twisting words and using their words against them made them angry again. Xian Shang's face turned red with rage. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Steward Jian? Trying to turn our own words against us. But we're not fools. We know what you're trying to do."

  The other ministers nodded in agreement; their faces twisted with anger. Xian Shang continued, "You'll never be able to escape the shame and disgrace that comes with your title. You're a joke, and you'll always be a joke."

  With that, they turned and stormed out of the palace, leaving Jian standing alone in the courtyard, his smile wide. The sound of their angry voices echoed through the halls. On the way outside, Xian Shang thought to himself, "Wait... why is he trying so hard to make me think he's pathetic? What is he up to?"

  Yang Lei came from behind Jian. He was watching the entire scene, his eyes filled with concern as he approached, his voice low and gentle. "Eldest brother, why are you provoking Xian Shang like this? You know he will try to humiliate you at every chance he gets. What's going on?" He looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and worry; his brow furrowed in concern. His eyes were searching, as if trying to read thoughts and understand what was driving his brother's actions.

  "I thought my name would be Steward Jian from now on."

  Yang Lei's expression softened, and he nodded understandingly. "I know, eldest brother. It's hard to get used to calling you by a title that's not yours. But you are still my eldest brother, no matter what title you hold. And I will always call you Eldest Brother, not Steward Jian." He paused; his eyes filled with affection and respect. "You've always been the one who guided me, who taught me, who supported me. You're more than just a title to me, brother." He took a step closer; his voice filled with emotion. "I'm proud of you, Eldest Brother, for making this sacrifice for us. But don't think that you're not worthy of being an emperor. You are, and you always will be."

  Jian nodded and covered his face with his fan as he walked in the gardens; the sound of birds chirping and the gentle rustling of leaves seemed to echo the turmoil that was brewing in the empire.

  The news of Yang Jian’s resignation and Feng's ascension to the throne had sent shockwaves throughout the land, and the imperial court was abuzz with speculation and gossip. The people were struggling to come to terms with the sudden change in leadership, and many were questioning the real motives behind Jian’s decision. Some saw it as a brave and selfless act, while others viewed it as a sign of weakness and a betrayal of his birthright. The neighbouring nations also took notice, and whispers of intrigue and conspiracy were circulating among the diplomats and envoys. The future of the region had become uncertain, and the air was thick with tension and anticipation.