Dragon Monarch System Chapter 1033:- Duke Ferdinand’s Opposition

Throughout the extensive history of the Celestial Dragon Empire, an incident like this had never taken place before. Despite its decline in modern times, the empire continues to inspire fear and command respect across the whole Main Continent.

No one would dare provoke the Celestial Dragon Empire without serious consideration. All know that doing so would lead to a merciless and brutal end.

This is precisely the reason the news stunned everyone so profoundly. Every great and small faction, not only inside the Celestial Dragon Empire but also outside its borders, felt compelled to attend personally to evaluate the events and grasp what really occurred.

Yet, the matter extended far beyond grieving the General's death or the Duke's brother's passing. It loomed much larger. The assembly also aimed to delve into the turbulent political chaos gripping the Celestial Dragon Empire at present.

Were anyone to question the origins of all this, countless varied replies would surface. Some insist it all ignited when the former Emperor abdicated, handing the throne to his nephew. For them, that marked the instant when changes truly started.

Others contend the turmoil had been simmering for years beforehand, worsening gradually without anyone fully grasping its impending gravity.

However, the most brutal truth traces back to the day the legitimate Crown Prince was unjustly banished from his homeland to some unknown place among the Six Continents. That event signaled the start of the volatile and disorderly politics plaguing everyone today

During Aditya's exile, numerous voices rose openly against the Emperor's ruling. The decision drew widespread notice and fierce opposition. Influential personages ensured their protests reached the Emperor's ears with resounding force.

Following the exile, Dukes from various parts of the empire launched persistent efforts to locate the banished Crown Prince across the Six Continents. They deployed their wealth, authority, and networks in the hunt, yearning to rescue him or at least uncover his whereabouts.

Nevertheless, hunting for the Crown Prince amid the enormous Six Continents resembled seeking a lone mouse concealed deep within a thick forest. Pinpointing him in just a handful of years was utterly hopeless.

Worsening the ordeal, the Emperor withheld the exact site of the Crown Prince's banishment. This intensified the challenges of the search, plunging all into darkness devoid of any guidance.

Though dissent against the Emperor remained subdued at the time of Aditya's wrongful exile, that juncture heralded a far greater upheaval. It became the turning point where numerous Dukes and nobles throughout the empire gradually forfeited their confidence in the Crown and throne.

Indeed, an outrage like this lay beyond imagination under Emperor Boris's rule. The empire then enjoyed stability, with the throne's power beyond challenge.

But now, his very son had cast out his own grandson.

From then on, matters spiraled downward relentlessly. In merely a few years, it grew obvious to all that the Emperor had become little more than a marionette. A marionette manipulated by his nephew.

Gradually across the years, the nephew received ever-increasing authority. Year by year, his dominance swelled, disrupting the empire's delicate equilibrium.

Aggravating the crisis further, the nephew wielded that authority so flagrantly that no one could overlook it or feign ignorance.

He started placing unqualified individuals into elite military and court roles, despite their evident unworthiness. This sparked widespread anger and discontent among nobles and officers alike.

Once, he annihilated a complete Baron household. The cause was trivial and absurd: the Baron defied the unseen weight of politics and publicly exposed his crimes at a banquet.

In just one week, the Baron and his whole family were utterly wiped out.

So thoroughly that even formal probes uncovered no traces.

Not a single remnant of his body turned up anywhere in the Celestial Dragon Empire.

Although none voiced it publicly, since the empire crowned a new Emperor, myriad subtle shifts had swept across the realm. The very air had transformed from former days. A pervasive disquiet hung over all, felt deeply even by those who held their tongues.

Nor was it hidden that any who challenged the new Emperor, in whatever manner, would inevitably suffer his vengeance. Be it overt or covert, once targeted, escape from repercussions proved impossible.

Due to these circumstances, showing up at this funeral went beyond simply honoring the deceased. Every person present pursued their own agenda. They aimed to uncover the true happenings in the shadows, the transformations sweeping through the empire, and the depth of the escalating crisis.

They intended to plot their following steps with utmost caution and brace for upcoming events only after gaining a full, clear picture.

Certain attendees arrived merely to grasp the authentic state of affairs. Their objective was to scrutinize the circumstances closely before throwing their backing to the side that demonstrated greater strength.

By now, the empire's unity had fractured. It was steadily splitting into two primary factions. One faction backed the Emperor, while the opposing one had vehemently resisted him right from his ascension to the throne.

As time wore on, the turmoil intensified. The Emperor's initial decrees as ruler merely fanned the flames. Far from easing tensions, his choices propelled even more Dukes and influential nobles to defy him.

However, a far graver matter loomed over all these issues, drawing every Duke and prominent empire figure to assemble in this single location.

That matter was the persistent rumor: the exiled Crown Prince, banished far from the Main Continent, was set to return shortly and contest the Emperor for the throne.

This rumor by itself sufficed to jolt the entire empire.

Imperial laws decreed that the reigning Emperor had been personally selected by his predecessor. His authority stood beyond casual challenge.

Those identical laws explicitly noted that the former Crown Prince had been exiled by the previous Emperor in person. For that reason, he was eternally forbidden from returning to the Main Continent, much less stepping onto his homeland soil again.

Should he return, the empire's laws would empower the current Emperor to brand him a criminal outright. He could face immediate arrest and punishment as dictated by law.

"The law is clear. If he returns, he will be arrested." Duke Ferdinand uttered these words while heading back after his talk with Duke Cassian.

Ferdinand paused upon overhearing the exchange between a Baron and a Viscount.

"Law?" Ferdinand counted among the Dukes who had opposed Aditya’s exile. He had even sent a letter directly to the Emperor, arguing that the young Crown Prince deserved no such punishment even if guilty of wrongdoing.

"Was it the law when the rightful Crown Prince was exiled?" At this retort, the two nobles loyal to the current Emperor instantly fell silent.

The current Emperor had yet to arrive. Thus, low-ranking nobles wisely avoided clashing with Ferdinand, renowned for his firm position.

Ferdinand’s declaration reached every ear. With heightened senses, no one could miss his words.

Through those brief statements, he openly declared his allegiance in the mounting discord.

Duke Cassian also caught Ferdinand’s words and felt shocked. He hadn’t expected Ferdinand to voice his views so openly.

"What His Majesty has done to this Empire is something that no other Emperor before him has managed to do." He eyed the Baron and Viscount, then scanned the others.

"He has successfully divided the nobles of this Empire. Nowadays, our rival Empires don’t even take us seriously anymore."

"Duke Ferdinand, you can’t slander His Majesty like this just because His Majesty took control over the Spirit Stone Mine in your territory." At that moment, a man with long blond hair stepped into the hall.

He served as one of the Elders from the Night Rider Sect. Situated west of the Celestial Dragon Empire, the Night Rider Sect maintained a close alliance with the Empire. It came as no surprise that they dispatched a representative today.

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