Chapter 427: Duke Lin is dead. The crash was planned by Prince Chadden.
Chapter 427
The old king was already at the age where he should abdicate and let the capable take over. C Country also already had a new heir to the throne.
Therefore, compared to the old king having a stroke and being paralyzed, making him unable to rule the country, everyone was clearly more concerned about the situation of the heir Lin Cheng. In terms of the severity of the situations, Lin Cheng was also more important.
For a time, everyone's eyes were tightly fixed on Chadan, holding their breaths and keeping silent. The whole scene was quiet.
Today's royal conference was not only related to the future positions of the people present and the intricate relationships between their interests, but it also tugged at the hearts of all the people nationwide.
Chadan looked back at his father.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, he said, "On the day of the engagement, the Duke of Lin, who is also C Country's heir to the throne, suddenly felt unwell on his way to the palace, and had to be taken to the hospital. And I, while taking the Duke of Lin to the hospital, accidentally got into a car accident. The Duke of Lin unfortunately ended up in the emergency room."
"These past few days, none of us have received any news about the Duke of Lin. I'm sure everyone has guessed that the Duke of Lin's injuries are not minor. I know everyone is very worried about the Duke of Lin. That's why I invited so many journalist friends today."
Facing the camera, Chadan said solemnly and regretfully, "It is with great sadness that I inform everyone the Duke of Lin will not be able to recover in a short period of time and will not be able to take over C Country to contribute to everyone."
"What does this mean? How is the Duke of Lin? What is considered a short period? Why can't you just say it clearly?"
"What exactly are the extent of his injuries? Can't you tell us so we know what to expect? Saying it so vaguely and ambiguously is...even scarier!"
"Yes, there are rumors going around the whole country that the Duke of Lin has already passed away. If he is still alive, just say it clearly!"
After anxiously waiting for so many days, the result was two pieces of bad news in a row. Not even clearly stating Lin Cheng's condition, yet announcing Chadan to be the acting king for such an important matter, this made many people very dissatisfied.
Everyone clamored noisily.
Naturally, those who reacted intensely and anxiously were the king's supporters.
Meanwhile, the Ryan Party had all completely relaxed, because based on Chadan's ambiguous words, whether Lin Cheng was dead or still hanging by a thread, he would no longer pose a threat to them.
Chadan said, "Everyone, please quiet down."
"I know everyone is very concerned about the Duke of Lin's condition, but rest assured that the Duke of Lin will get better someday."
Lin Cheng's death could not be announced now. This was the Howard family's scheme. They could not let the outside world know about the infighting within the royal family.
If both the news that the heir to the throne has unfortunately passed away and that the old king is critically ill and likely also not far from death were announced, it would be enough to destabilize the whole nation.
"Next, my father will announce the third matter."
Everyone's eyes turned to the old king who was pushed to the front, and they temporarily held back their voices, allowing the great hall to quiet down again.
Sitting in a wheelchair, the old king, though corpulent, looked more feeble than those emaciated people. At this moment, he had lost the spirit of the ruler of a nation. He was just an ordinary critically ill old man.
The old king was in low spirits. He sat in a wheelchair.
He, who had looked down on others for half his life, now had to look up at his old friends, who were either ambitious wolves or self-interested, with his dim and cloudy eyes. He felt utterly powerless.
Chadan brought the microphone to his father's mouth.
The old king pulled up the corners of his mouth with great difficulty and said hoarsely, "...I...hereby...announce...Chadan...as...C Country's...acting king."
First appoint Chadan as acting king to stabilize the people's hearts and steady the overall situation. Then after a period of time, remove the word "acting" to smoothly succeed to the throne as king.
By then, there would be much less controversy.
People would also be more able to accept Lin Cheng's death.
As soon as the old king spoke, there was an uproar across the hall.
"What?"
"Chadan? Acting king? This... This can't be."
No matter if it was the Ryan Party or the king supporters, neither side could accept this.
The king supporters were very unhappy in their hearts. There wasn't even a discussion. After supporting Lin Cheng for so long, thinking they were grasshoppers on the same rope, they now didn't even know whether Lin Cheng was dead or alive. Letting Chadan become the acting king was such an important matter, yet they knew nothing about it.
As for the Ryan Party, this was not a completely good piece of news. Having an idiot like Chadan become king would be much better for them than Lin Cheng becoming king, but it still wasn't enough. They wanted the idiot Chadan to not be able to become king either.
So they unanimously voiced their objections strongly.
Confident Chadan looked at these royal family members who objected to him becoming the acting king. He was very indignant in his heart, but he could only sincerely promise them that he would try his best.
A prince said, "Chadan? Acting king? After a period of time, the word 'acting' will be gone. He would be king then, wouldn't he? What do you think, Duke?"
Lafeier replied with a smile, "No rush. The real show hasn't started yet."
As Lafeier spoke, he glanced at an earl not far from him. Then they saw that earl walk to the front and stand in front of everyone, loudly saying, "I object to this decision."
His voice drowned out everyone else's, successfully quieting down the scene with all eyes shifted to him.
Chadan frowned subtly, "Earl Henry, I know my abilities are lacking, but I'm only acting..."
When Chadan spoke these words, he was thinking that after a period of time when he officially becomes king, the first person he would punish would be this fool with no foresight for his stupid and arrogant actions now, and make him pay the price.
Before Chadan could finish speaking,
the earl directly interrupted him, "Acting? The heir, Duke of Lin, has unfortunately passed away. Who is Chadan acting for as prince?"
Holding her phone, Ying Ying said, "Here comes the climax."
Chadan said, "Those are just rumors. The Duke of Lin, he..."
The earl interrupted him again, "Whoever becomes king today, I have no objections, but Chadan, absolutely not."
He pointed at Chadan, "Because the car accident of the Duke of Lin was not an accident, but a premeditated scheme by you to usurp the throne."
The earl's words shocked the entire hall. Chadan's pupils shrank.
The earl said to the old king in the wheelchair, "I have some things here. Does Your Majesty want us to take a look behind closed doors first, or would you like to show the entire nation together?"
Chadan's eyes hardened, "What do you mean by that?"
The earl replied, "Don't worry, you'll know very soon."
Chadan said, "Don't smear me here without basis, claiming I want to usurp the throne. I accept that you don't support me as acting king. I'm also well aware of my own inadequacy, but I absolutely will not allow you to slander me like this!"
The earl ignored him again, "It seems His Majesty wants to watch this together with all the people. Then very well..."
The old king said with difficulty, "...Cha...dan..."
Hearing his father call his name, Chadan didn't turn around to look. No one knew whether it was a guilty conscience or uprightness.
He directly conveyed his father's meaning, "Please show the media reporters to the reception lounge in the side hall to rest for a while."