Volume 1, Chapter 8: The Prime Minister's Last Will, A Stunning Reversal!

As Yang Yi’s words fell, a deathly silence engulfed the mourning hall. Neither the civil officials nor the military generals dared to speak; the atmosphere was unbearably tense. Though Yang Yi’s statement stirred something within their hearts, the current situation was firmly under his control. While their faces remained composed, most harbored resentment and unwillingness deep inside.

Yang Yi stepped before them, his gaze sweeping across the assembly before settling coldly on Wei Yan and his troops.

“Bring me the armor from these rebellious thieves!” His voice thundered like a muted storm, shaking the very souls of those present.

Wei Yan snapped his long blade from its sheath, planting it heavily on the ground, dust swirling fiercely about him as he roared, “Yang Yi! I have fought countless battles for Shu Han, earning glorious merits! No one but I has the right to strip my armor!”

Yet the officers beside Wei Yan showed a starkly different demeanor. Upon hearing Yang Yi’s command, they exchanged uneasy glances. When they saw the Wudang Flying Army advancing to forcibly remove their armor, fear and panic flashed in their eyes.

“General...” whispered a subordinate with trembling hesitation, “Yang Yi now controls the situation. We should yield for the time being, preserving what remains...”

Before he could finish, Wei Yan cut him off sharply: “Silence! Yang Yi is but a petty schemer. I, Wei Yan, as the trusted commander of the Chancellor and the overseer of Hanzhong’s military and civil affairs, have earned greater merits, hold higher rank, and possess superior virtue. You ask me to yield? Never!”

Though Wei Yan’s spirit blazed fiercely, his subordinates dared not defy the reality—they knew the entire scenario was under Yang Yi’s command. Despite their bitter unwillingness, they had no choice but to endure humiliation. Better to remove their armor themselves than have it ripped from them.

Slowly and reluctantly, some generals began to shed their armor. Witnessing this, Wei Yan’s gaze burned with fury as he scolded his men:

“A pack of cowards! You who face death fearlessly on the battlefield now allow yourselves to be manipulated like puppets!”

But the Wudang Flying Army paid no heed to Wei Yan’s rage; they pressed forward, aiming to forcibly unarm the men.

At this critical moment, Zhuge Pan strode forward boldly, raising a weathered scroll high above his head and shouting:

“Yang Yi, your arrogance is premature! This is the late Chancellor’s will. Let all present read it before proceeding with any other matters!”

His words stunned the assembly. The Chancellor’s will?

Shock painted every face, and the chaotic scene instantly stilled.

Yet Yang Yi’s lips curled into a faint, serene smile.

At the mention of “Chancellor’s will,” a glint sparked in Wei Yan’s eyes. He stepped swiftly to Zhuge Pan’s side, seized the scroll, and began reading aloud:

“I am gravely ill, yet the grand vision of northern campaigns remains incomplete. In this perilous hour of life and death, I set down these final instructions for future generations. Upon my passing, all affairs of the Chancellor’s residence shall be temporarily entrusted to Zhuge Pan, that he may carry forth my will and legacy. Furthermore, I command Wei Yan, Governor of Hanzhong, to remain at the residence to assist Zhuge Pan in governing the state and securing the dynasty...”

Having finished, Zhuge Pan raised the will high above his head, casting a disdainful look at Yang Yi:

“Yang Yi, open your eyes wide and behold! Each word in the Chancellor’s will is clear and unequivocal. All matters great and small concerning the Chancellor’s residence have been entrusted to Zhuge Pan!”

“Yang Yi, with such irrefutable proof before you, what say you now?”

Standing nearby, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi exchanged subtle, significant glances. The appearance of the Chancellor’s will had undoubtedly shattered Yang Yi’s dominance. The tide had turned sharply against him.

Yet Jiang Wan pondered silently: Was this will truly left by the Chancellor?

Fei Yi’s eyes widened in astonishment as he fixed his gaze on the parchment. Considering that Zhuge Pan was the Chancellor’s only son, if a will existed, it would most rightly be entrusted to him.

Thus, there was a high likelihood—ninety percent—that the will was genuine.

Jiang Wan smiled wryly, his tone laced with sarcasm: “Yang Yi, Yang Yi, you who pride yourself on unwavering loyalty to the Chancellor, always following his lead. Yet once the Chancellor passed into the West, your ambition flared like wildfire, exposing your true nature. Now, with this will in hand, the evidence is undeniable. What excuses remain to justify yourself?”

Fei Yi added sharply: “No wonder you were so determined to strip Wei Yan and others of their armor. You harbor dark schemes! How arrogant you are, or perhaps you never truly respected the Chancellor’s final command, choosing to ignore it entirely!”

Fei Yi’s hands were clasped behind his back, his eyes filled with contempt.

Despite their ridicule, Yang Yi’s expression remained calm and unruffled, like still water reflecting no storm, exuding an air of indomitable composure as if facing the collapse of mountains without a flicker of distress.

“Have you finished your accusations?” Yang Yi asked coolly.

Zhuge Pan nodded slightly, his voice firm and commanding: “Yang Yi, if you harbor doubts, you may open the Chancellor’s will yourself and see for yourself! Pan is the rightful heir of the Chancellor’s residence! You and the Wudang Flying Army must now obey me alone!”

At this, a trace of greed gleamed in Zhuge Pan’s eyes. The Wudang Flying Army was a rare treasure indeed. He had never expected Yang Yi to hand such a gift to him so easily!

Yet Yang Yi did not even glance at the will on the ground. With finality, he declared, “No need to look. This will is surely forged by wicked men!”

Hearing this, Wei Yan could not help but chuckle dryly: “Yang Yi, Yang Yi, now that matters have come to this, why continue to deceive yourself? Zhuge Pan is the Chancellor’s bloodline. At the moment of his passing, the Chancellor personally wrote this will, entrusting all affairs of the residence to Zhuge Pan. This is natural and proper. What fault is there in this?”

Though Jiang Wan and others felt reluctant, compared to Yang Yi’s rule, Zhuge Pan was clearly the more suitable choice—not because of outstanding talent, but because of youth and naiveté, easier to manipulate.

“Yang Yi, cease your twisted words and futile excuses! This will must be genuine. Your actions are treasonous. No amount of words can wash away your guilt!” Jiang Wan sneered, his tone decisive.

Yet Yang Yi merely shrugged his neck indifferently: “Believe it or not, I say this will is fake, and so it is!”

Fei Yi’s face twisted with derision: “Yang Yi, do you think that wielding military power allows you to distort truth and confuse all minds? Who here is not of steadfast integrity?”

“You claim this will is false—then who can prove otherwise?”

Before Yang Yi could respond, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

Zhuge Pan instinctively turned to see the speaker—his trusted steward, the very one who had informed him of his father’s death, who had proposed the alliance with Wei Yan, and who had provided the forged will in his hands.

The steward stepped forward, bowed respectfully before Yang Yi, and declared:

“Chief Clerk Yang, I am willing to testify! The will held by the young master is indeed forged! This will was forced from me by threats and bribes from Zhuge Pan—it is not the Chancellor’s genuine last testament!”