Chapter 136 Determining the Future: A Tribute to the Tomorrow We Once Struggled For Together...

The sound of rustling footsteps approached, and Shen Yujiao instantly woke up with her eyes closed. Sensing Jiang Yu's approaching footsteps, she did not move, but when he leaned down, she rubbed her head against the window, like a cat that was still fast asleep.

"Don't wake the Empress, let her sleep a little longer, go and get a blanket to cover her up."

Seeing that she was fast asleep, Jiang Yu whispered an instruction. The head maid in the hall held her breath, nodded, and respectfully saw him off, making no sound as she moved.

Only after the palace doors were slowly closed did Jiang Yu let out a long sigh of relief. He looked up at the somewhat gloomy sky, his emotions fading slightly. He stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, Prince Zhao is waiting for you ahead."

"Hmm," Jiang Yu said calmly, "Did you gentlemen talk a lot last night?"

Jian Shan's eyelashes trembled slightly: "The process is roughly the same as before, only some details have been added."

Is it serious?

"His Highness Prince Zhao has instructed the master of ceremonies that Your Majesty should simply follow the master of ceremonies' instructions."

The journey from Baoguang Hall to the main hall in front wasn't long. With their destination just ahead, Jiang Yu suddenly stopped. He looked straight ahead at the building and asked softly, "Jianshan, are you happy that I have this day?"

“Of course I am happy,” Jian Shan said, looking up in the direction of his gaze. “Your Majesty, I congratulate you on the fulfillment of your wish today.”

Along the way to this day, too many people have left King Huan's side, but only Jian Shan has witnessed all his glory and downfall.

The square in front of the main hall had already been decorated by the palace servants. Accompanied by Jian Shan, Jiang Yu slowly walked from one end of the red carpet to the opposite side of the white marble steps. At the end of the steps stood a person. It was too dark to see clearly from a distance, but Jiang Yu knew that it was the King of Zhao, and his younger brother was waiting for him to walk to that position.

This high path, this day, they had walked for ten years, and waited for ten years. Today, his younger brother, whom he had personally supported, paved this way for him.

"Your Majesty, it's time to wake up..."

After the nanny urged her for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Shen Yujiao finally struggled to open her eyes as if she hadn't slept enough. Last night, Jiang Yu sat in a chair all night, and she also leaned against the window and slumped over all night.

Jiang Yu was waiting for dawn, she was waiting for Jiang Chen, and the nanny's wake-up call at this moment meant that she would not be able to wait for his return.

After a barely perceptible sigh, Shen Yujiao asked, "What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it's past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). If we delay any longer, we'll miss the ceremony."

Heaven knows, the old woman was already extremely anxious. Because of the Emperor's instructions before he left, no one in the entire hall dared to wake the master from his good sleep. To put it bluntly, in the new emperor's eyes, this empress was probably more important than his own eyes.

Therefore, it was delayed until this hour. Seeing the official outside sweating profusely, the nanny had no choice but to grit her teeth and step forward, half respectfully and half urging, to push the person to do her makeup.

"Since it's getting late, there's no time for breakfast. What would Your Majesty like to eat? Would you mind having the Imperial Kitchen send over some soft pastries?"

Shen Yujiao sat on the embroidery stool, letting the palace maids do as they pleased, changing her clothes and applying makeup. When she heard the nanny's question, she simply replied, "Anything is fine."

It was rare to find this master so easy to serve, so the nanny quickly instructed the maid beside her, "Go and bring over all the cakes that were just steamed this morning."

The young palace maid respectfully agreed, and in the blink of an eye, she led her people to place the pastries in front of the dressing table. Shen Yujiao glanced at them briefly; the pastries were all exquisite and small, the size that she could easily eat in one bite. In this way, she could control the amount and not let her makeup get dirty while eating.

Savoring the sweet taste of the cloud cake melting in her mouth, Shen Yujiao sincerely praised, "You've put a lot of thought into this."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. It is our blessing to serve Your Highness by imperial decree. It is our good fortune if Your Highness finds us useful."

Everyone loves to hear flattery, but Shen Yujiao couldn't listen to it this time. She was worried about what was happening outside the palace. According to their plan before they left, Xu Zhiyuan would blow up the four city gates today, and Chu Rou would ask the old imperial tutor for help to announce the late emperor's will to the world. At that time, she should stand by Jiang Yu's side and expose the truth of everything.

Only at the closest distance can one stab someone in the back.

The pastry she was holding crumbled without her noticing. Hearing the nanny beside her call out "Your Majesty" in a low voice, Shen Yujiao quickly put the pastry back on the high plate. The little palace maid who had been waiting nearby stepped forward and handed her a damp cloth soaked in flower dew.

Shen Yujiao dried her fingers, waved her hand, and ordered, "Take it away."

The day had finally arrived, and it was impossible not to be nervous. But more than what she was about to do, she was worried about Jiang Chen.

I'm not worried that he won't make it in time, I'm just worried that he won't be able to come back.

The two sides have been at odds for several years. Jiang Yu's ruthlessness and Jiang Jin's viciousness, no matter what kind of people they are on the surface, their sinister nature is a perfect inheritance of the late emperor's cold-blooded genes.

Watching her lips in the mirror gradually fill with a vibrant red, tinged with gold powder, unlike ordinary lip rouge, it possessed a blood-red hue reminiscent of burning phoenix feathers, like cinnabar tears, as alluring as a begonia. As the red intensified, a burning heat ignited within Shen Yujiao's heart. If they truly intended to kill Jiang Chen...

Then let us perish together in the ashes and descend into the fiery hell.

The day the new emperor ascended the throne may not have been the first time that the imperial capital of Xiajing, which has been established for thousands of years, had witnessed such a grand celebration. However, for the people of the current dynasty, or for the subjects who had been forced to stay under lockdown for more than a month before the new emperor's accession, such a ceremony was unprecedented. Everyone was actively and compelled to pay attention to the opening and closing of this grand event.

As dawn broke and the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) arrived, the soldiers guarding the long street and market made way for them. The officials and relatives who had been summoned early in the morning also emerged from their residences in their court robes. The common people, who were not confined to their residences for once, also peeked out from their homes. The long street, which had been silent for a long time, came alive again. Although it no longer had the bustling atmosphere of the past, it had regained some of the liveliness that the imperial city should have.

Half past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the officials in charge of rites patrolled the streets, and orders were given to every street in every ward and market. Soon, His Majesty and the Empress would be going to the ancestral temple along Zhuque Avenue to offer sacrifices to Heaven and the ancestors. Everyone was instructed on when to kneel and how to shout "Long live the Emperor!" three times. Every ten steps along the route, a eunuch was left behind to give instructions later.

"Your Majesty, it's time for us to set off."

With the nanny's reminder, Shen Yujiao slowly opened her eyes. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw that she was wearing the empress's court dress she had tried on yesterday. The dragon and phoenix patterns on her body, which were comparable to those of an emperor, could reflect a dazzling light even in the dim light. The jewels on her crown were even more magnificent. She took one last serious look at the person in the mirror and then smiled with relief.

When the head maid saw that the Empress still did not get up after being reminded, she hesitated and looked up. The moment she looked up, she met Shen Yujiao’s smiling face. Just that one glance made the maid freeze in place.

She had truly witnessed today what it meant to be stunningly beautiful and have a breathtaking appearance.

When she was young, she had learned a few poems from the palace maids. The Empress's smile immediately reminded her of the line "as radiant as spring blossoms, as bright as the autumn moon." The palace was never short of beauties, but she had never seen one with such ethereal beauty. No wonder His Majesty abandoned his original wife, the Princess Consort, and made this Lady Shen the Empress. With just one smile from her, all the beauties in the six palaces paled in comparison.

Let's go.

It was only when Shen Yujiao gave the order that the old woman came to her senses. Recalling her earlier lapse in composure, she quickly stepped forward to support the Empress, inwardly cursing herself for being stupid.

Officials and eunuchs were already waiting at the entrance of Baoguang Hall. When they saw the Empress Fengyi arrive, everyone at the entrance of the hall knelt down to pay their respects and shouted "Long live the Empress!" Then the group marched in a grand procession to the large square in front of the hall. Jiang Yu and the others were already waiting there. When they saw that it was her, they went up to her and reached out their hands.

Shen Yujiao's gaze fell on Jiang Yu's outstretched hand. She gave a slight curtsy and then placed her hand on his. The emperor and empress walked hand in hand toward the carriage and boarded it under the watchful eyes of the palace servants and officials.

The officials in charge of rites inside the palace and the officials from the Ministry of Rites waiting outside did not share all the information. Therefore, when the officials from the Ministry of Rites saw the Emperor and Empress riding together in the same carriage, they were all shocked. Immediately, one of the physicians could not help but tug at his superior's robe: "Sir, this—"

"Tsk!"

The Vice Minister of Rites flicked his sleeve and glared at him fiercely. Did he not know this was against the rules? But what could they do when the one above insisted on it? Could they presume to use ancestral rules as an excuse? Or were they trying to use the rules to exert pressure?

If they and the officials dared to speak out, King Zhao would surely kill all those who dared to offer advice. The city seemed quiet these past few days, but they had vaguely heard rumors that every night at midnight and early morning, people from the palace would come to clean the ground of the North Square. Lately, the sky had been clear and the air was fresh, and what they were cleaning was not dust, but bloodstains.

This emperor was truly unafraid of the criticism from historians and scribes. Moreover, he had a powerful prince under his command who could take all the blame for him. Since he already knew the consequences and his fate, why risk his life for such a futile effort?

If the Emperor takes a liking to the Empress and wants to elevate her status and position, then they should just listen.

Furthermore, the Empress comes from the Shen family of Jiangnan and is born with the destiny of a phoenix. She has a different background than the previous empresses. His Majesty personally greeted the Empress and stood side by side with her, so they would be a hundred times more respectful to her. In short, this Empress does not seem to be a figure like Empress Wu of the previous dynasty. Since it will not turn into a situation of two emperors ruling the country, why can't they cooperate with these superficial honors?

The physician saw the disdain in the official's eyes, and when he saw the official glare fiercely, he quickly lowered his head and respectfully knelt before the imperial carriage. Only when his head hit the ground did he feel a sense of peace, and in that instant, his mind cleared: He had been too attached to appearances. How could he possibly have the right to comment on such a matter? Didn't he see that even the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat had tacitly accepted His Majesty's decision? Why should he be that stubborn official who was about to die?

Fortunately, after this bloody purge, most of those left in Xiajing were smart and perceptive. After witnessing the deaths and demotions of those upright and outspoken officials who dared to speak out against injustice, even the remaining naive people became clear-headed.

The imperial carriage, carrying the emperor and empress, exited from Qingzheng Gate and proceeded along Zhuque Avenue toward the altar of the Great Xia Ancestral Temple. The long street was already lined with kneeling officials and commoners, and wherever the carriage went, the subjects shouted "Long live the emperor!" in unison.

Not every emperor would walk this entire route upon ascending the throne. According to the ancestral system of the Great Xia Dynasty, only the successor who was designated as the heir apparent when he was a prince and whose predecessor had offered sacrifices to Heaven and the ancestral temples by the previous emperor could leave through the main gate, walk along the central axis street, and worship at the Great Xia ancestral temples with the support of his ministers and the people. Emperors who did not go through the orthodox process could simply hold a grand ceremony in the palace.

The more something is lacking, the more it is emphasized.

As Shen Yujiao sat in the imperial carriage, this sentence kept replaying in her mind. Looking at the respectfully kneeling officials and common people, and the officials and guards standing in front of and behind them, she felt only irony. What a grand enthronement ceremony! Everyone in the capital of Manxia was just a puppet on a string in this grand drama, and everyone was working together to complete this stage play.

"Mother, isn't that the Crown Princess—"

Kneeling in the crowd, a child's voice suddenly rang out. Shen Yujiao subconsciously looked towards the source of the sound and saw a woman covering the mouth of the child in her arms with a look of horror on her face. She pressed the child's neck and kowtowed downwards, trying to hide in the crowd.

But the long street was so quiet that the innocent child's voice seemed particularly abrupt. Everyone heard the voice, this inappropriate thing that was common knowledge but unanimously ignored.

The child revealed a secret that was kept unspoken.

"How dare you! How dare you disrespect Her Majesty the Empress!"

As expected, upon hearing the child's words, an official immediately stepped forward and sternly questioned the child's parents. Although he was speaking in a low voice, the imperial carriage happened to pass by at that moment, and the people inside the carriage heard everything that happened outside.

"Let go of that child."

Just as Shen Yujiao was about to speak up to stop him, Jiang Yu spoke first, waving his hand at the official in charge of etiquette: "Children speak without thinking, there's no need to be strict, don't frighten him."

When His Majesty spoke, the official in charge of ceremonies naturally obeyed and took half a step back, then loudly replied, "His Majesty is benevolent, His Majesty is virtuous, may the Great Xia Dynasty live a thousand years."

As soon as he said this, the officials around him knelt down to greet him, and the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" grew louder and louder. When the scene gradually calmed down, Jiang Yu said to everyone: "Shen Shi was ordered by the Emperor Taizu to enter the capital to become Empress. She is the one destined by the Heavenly Emperor. Today is the ceremony for Shen Shi to formally offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and ancestors to become the Empress."

Sitting in the imperial carriage, Shen Yujiao listened to his words and closed her eyes expressionlessly. Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu... You can say such things in front of the officials and the people, do you still dare to say that you have no selfish motives?

This was just a minor interlude. After passing this section, the imperial carriage continued towards the ancestral temple and altar. Zhuque Avenue was the central avenue of Xiajing, running through the entire city. Normally, ordinary people would pass through it without noticing anything unusual, but today the road seemed exceptionally long.

The altar was located near the outskirts of the city of Beijing. After driving a little further, they would be outside the city gates. As the imperial carriage stopped in front of the altar, and the crowd had just formed their ranks, a loud bang was heard, followed by a tremor as if the sky were falling and the earth were splitting apart.

Because they were near the city gate, the tremor was particularly strong. The officials who were standing were immediately shaken and staggered. Jiang Yu and Shen Yujiao, who were about to dismount the imperial carriage, were also jolted and stumbled. Shen Yujiao reacted the fastest. She quickly spread her arms to protect Jiang Yu and shouted loudly to the surrounding guards, "Protect the Emperor! Protect His Majesty!"

As her shout subsided, three deafening sounds came from afar, similar to yet different from the thunderous sound just now. Jiang Yu, who was being protected by Shen Yujiao behind him, was startled at first, but then immediately came to his senses and turned around to protect her. With each of the three sounds, he held the person in his arms even tighter.

Until the last thud stopped, no one dared to move an inch. After a moment, realizing that the tremor had indeed completely disappeared, they came to their senses. The official in charge of etiquette immediately began to maintain order, while Jiang Yu stared intently at the north gate. He instructed Jian Shan, "Send someone to check the city gate."

Upon seeing the mountain, he rode forward, received the order, and galloped away. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he swiftly returned: "Your Majesty, the city gate... has collapsed for no apparent reason..."

The earth-shaking noise was caused by this very reason. Jiang Yu's pupils trembled for a moment, but he quickly calmed down. However, the officials in charge of rites and the people from the Imperial Observatory were shocked.

The Minister of Rites hesitated for a long time before cautiously stepping forward to inquire, "Your Majesty, given the circumstances, perhaps the ceremony should be postponed? We may not think so... but the people are watching, and some may have ulterior motives. If it's postponed until the Heaven-worshiping ceremony..."

This is quite a blunt statement. In the eyes of the common people, this situation is a warning and punishment from Heaven, a sign that Heaven and the emperors of the Xia Dynasty do not recognize him, their unworthy descendant, as their successor.

“No need—” Jiang Yu raised his hand to interrupt him: “No postponement, return to the palace, cancel the sacrificial ceremony, and hold the grand ceremony directly.”

It wasn't that he was afraid of any divine punishment, but rather that this place was too close to the city gate. If someone with ulterior motives were waiting here early in the morning, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to withstand it. Thinking of this, he slowly released the strength in his arms and looked down at the person in his arms.

Are you alright?

Seeing the worried look on the person in his arms, and recalling how she quickly shielded him behind her in that critical moment, Jiang Yu softened his tone: "It's alright. Where's Ajiao? Was she frightened?"

“There is a little…” Shen Yujiao gripped his clothes tightly and asked, “Aren’t we going to the altar?”

“We won’t go. We’ll go back to the palace and hold the ceremony directly,” Jiang Yu said, straightening her dress and court hat. “Although we have to act expediently in an emergency, there are still established rules of etiquette, so it won’t cause any problems.”

"That's good, but in this case..." Seeing the worry on her face, Jiang Yu smiled and comforted her, "It's alright, don't worry about what they say."

Shen Yujiao nodded and replied, "I'll stay with you."

These words carried immense weight in the current situation. Jiang Yu felt comforted, but said nothing more.

After a period of chaos and turmoil, the imperial carriage in front of the altar square turned back to the palace. There was no explanation for this sudden change, or rather, the royal family and the court did not need to explain anything to the common people. However, the four earth-shattering sounds had been clearly heard by the people in the city. Therefore, even though no one dared to speak out, the atmosphere of kneeling and worshiping in the long street was very different from when they arrived.

The grand imperial procession arrived at the city gate, and just as the convoy was about to enter through the Qingzheng Gate, the carriages suddenly stopped. The situation was already too volatile to withstand any further turmoil. Jiang Yu suppressed his displeasure and turned to ask, "What's wrong now?"

Before they could even go to the mountain to investigate, an old man's resounding voice came from afar: "Your Highness, this old minister has a few questions to ask you before the coronation ceremony."

The guards leading the way scattered in a flash, clearing a path for the old man and his entourage. The palace gates were the prelude to the grand ceremony, and also the place where officials and commoners gathered most densely. Seeing such a grand spectacle, everyone couldn't help but crane their necks to get a closer look—

"It's the Imperial Tutor Chu! The Imperial Tutor has actually come!"

"Such a grand display! Aren't all those people behind him his students? They've come with the late Imperial Tutor Chu to question His Majesty—don't they want to give up their careers?"

"Heh, does that guy look familiar? That's the Prefect of Hejian Prefecture. And that one over there was a Hanlin Academy Reader back then. And the one behind that is the second son of the Marquis of Xiangping. These guys were all dismissed from their posts a month ago, some demoted, some transferred. They've long since lost their future prospects, so what are they afraid of affecting their careers?"

"Oh my, now that you mention it, I can see it too. And those other gentlemen, aren't they all newly appointed scholars last year? The old Imperial Tutor Chu has countless students, and these are all his prized disciples."

"No wonder the old Imperial Tutor Chu had the confidence to interrogate His Majesty..."

"You're mistaken. The confidence of the old Imperial Tutor Chu doesn't come from his students, but from what he has in his hands. Look at what he has."

At this moment, Jiang Yu also clearly saw the long board in the old Imperial Tutor Chu's hand. The board was not particularly special, but a golden dragon pendant hung at the end. He took a few deep breaths, then got out of the sedan chair with Shen Yujiao and walked to the old Imperial Tutor Chu. He knelt down solemnly and said, "This student will listen to the Grand Tutor's teachings."

The Imperial Ruler: This ruler was bestowed by Emperor Xianzong so that the old Imperial Tutor Chu could discipline the emperor. It had been used to discipline Emperor Suzong, the previous emperor, and the two former crown princes of this dynasty. Not to mention that Jiang Yu has not yet held his enthronement ceremony, even if he were to actually ascend the throne, he would still have to obediently kneel down in front of this ruler.

As soon as he knelt down, no one present dared to stand. They all knelt down in unison, and the entire imperial city's nobles and commoners, from the emperor to ordinary people, knelt before the grand palace gate. The only one standing was the old imperial tutor, Chu.

The old Imperial Tutor Chu was already over seventy years old, a truly long-lived elder in the Great Xia era. His back was no longer as straight as it had been in his youth, and his voice was no longer as resonant as it had been in his prime. But in this moment of utter silence, his questions were heard clearly by everyone:

"Today, this old minister has three questions for Your Highness, and I urge Your Highness to answer them truthfully in front of the gate of our nation's integrity and in the presence of our ministers and people."

"Please ask, Imperial Tutor."

"My first question is: Your Highness was ordered to lead the Northern Expedition against the Di army. Why did you abandon the tens of thousands of Xia troops in the northern frontier camp and return to the capital at such a critical moment? Your Highness made a military pledge before the late Emperor, vowing that you would not return until the Di army retreated. Now the Crown Prince is still fighting to defend the country's borders and his fate is unknown. Why is Your Highness here at this moment?"

The first question was so sharp that it made Jiang Yu's scalp tingle, but he remained calm and solemnly kowtowed as he replied, "On that day, I went to war on imperial orders, and of course I returned on imperial orders as well. My father has ordered me to return to the capital immediately. As a subject and son, I dare not disobey the imperial order."

"If you are returning by imperial decree, where is the decree? And what is its meaning?"

"The Emperor's secret decree was not recorded in writing. Instead, it was delivered by one of the Emperor's personal guards with a personal token bestowed by the Emperor. The token is still here. If the Imperial Tutor wishes to see it, I can send someone to retrieve it immediately."

The old imperial tutor of Chu was so angry at his answer that he almost fell over backward. King Huan and King Zhao had already occupied the palace, and everything in the palace was at their disposal. At this moment, let alone a personal token of His Majesty, even if they took out an object at random and insisted on claiming it as His Majesty's personal treasure, probably no one would dare to object.

"Very well," the old Imperial Tutor Chu laughed in exasperation, nodded and continued, "My second question is for Your Highness: where is Your Majesty's sense of propriety and morality?"

His gaze fell on Shen Yujiao, who was kneeling beside Jiang Yu: "Shen was sent to the capital by the Emperor Taizu and married the Crown Prince after completing the nine rites in the presence of Heaven, the ancestral temple, the late Emperor and Empress Dowager. She is the Crown Prince's sister-in-law. Yet today, Your Highness has abandoned his first wife, Liu, and instead welcomed his brother's wife as his principal wife. Even if this is not the imperial family, even if it were a commoner's family, such a disregard for human relations has never been heard of. This old minister asks, where does Your Highness place the late Emperor and Empress Dowager? Where does the Jiang family of Great Xia place? Where does the Emperor Taizu's edict place?"

The question had finally come. Jiang Yu slowly straightened up and looked directly at the old Imperial Tutor Chu, saying, "It is precisely because Shen was personally appointed Empress of the Great Xia by the Great Ancestor that I, as a descendant of the Jiang family, must obey the sage's will! The Great Ancestor himself said that if Shen had a daughter, she would surely become Empress of the Great Xia. This is the law."

"As for the question about morality posed by the Imperial Tutor, I would like to answer that when Lady Shen entered the capital, she did not originally reside in the palace as Jiang Chen's wife. The late Emperor initially betrothed Lady Shen to the late Crown Prince Yu. After the late Crown Prince Yu passed away, Father Emperor—"

At this point, Jiang Yu paused, looking directly at the old imperial tutor and speaking with utmost seriousness: "Father Emperor intends to marry me to a woman from the Shen family."

"Isn't the old Imperial Tutor also aware of this matter?"

The old Imperial Tutor Chu felt he owed the royal family nothing, but he felt guilty about Jiang Yu's question. It was true what had happened back then; the affection between the eldest prince and the eldest daughter of the Shen family was something they, as elders, had all witnessed.

After the death of the second prince, the late emperor, deeply in love with his son, even considered defying the orders of the founding emperor: to make the fifth prince the crown prince and to marry the eldest prince to the eldest son of the Shen family.

It was him, the cabinet ministers, the empress, a member of the royal family, the Duke of Cheng, and the late Emperor Taizu that ultimately prevented these two imperial edicts from being issued. Regardless of the process, the outcome was indeed that Lady Shen married the fifth prince and became his crown princess.

As Shen Yujiao listened to the back-and-forth questioning and answering between the two, she suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. It turned out that the twists and turns of love in this world could really be so dramatic. From everyone's point of view, the events of that year were difficult, and it was impossible to say which link was right or wrong. But it was precisely these countless slight differences that ultimately led to a huge error.

"Since Your Highness says you are worthy of propriety and morality, and that you returned to the capital by imperial decree, then this old minister has one last question," the old imperial tutor Chu said, his arms holding the ruler trembling slightly. He suddenly raised his voice and asked, "His Majesty clearly passed the throne to Crown Prince Chen before his death, and in front of this old minister and all the ministers of the cabinet, he made a will entrusting the young prince to him. Today, this old minister asks, isn't Your Highness's behavior a plot to usurp the throne?!"

This final question was like a devastating flood, instantly making the situation irreversible. It was a question that everyone had in their hearts, but because it was forbidden to ask, everyone remained silent. However, the old Imperial Tutor Chu asked it directly in front of everyone: "How dare you, a traitorous minister, claim the title of emperor!"

The late emperor actually left behind a will!

An uproar erupted among the officials and commoners. Across the crowd, Jiang Jin, who had been kneeling on the ground, could no longer contain himself. He bent over and was about to stand up when Jiang Yu saw this and stopped him from saying "take him down" before he could finish.

"Grand Tutor, if there was a will, why wasn't it presented a few days ago? I didn't just return to the capital yesterday and don this crown today. If you wish to follow the Emperor's will, why didn't you ask earlier?"

After Jiang Yu finished speaking, his tone softened instantly: "Moreover, even if the late emperor made a will, my father also changed it to an oral edict before his death. Consort Yao was present that day and can be a witness."

"Jiang Yu!" The old Imperial Tutor of Chu swung his ruler, making a whistling sound as he shouted, "The King of Zhao has surrounded the palace so tightly that it is impenetrable. All the civil and military officials are either imprisoned at home or trapped in the palace after entering it. This old minister is one of them. If it were not under such witness, how could the imperial edict have appeared in the world!"

"Furthermore, Consort Yao is your adoptive mother. How can her words be considered evidence? The late Emperor has passed away, but the Empress Dowager is still alive! Even if someone in the harem needs to step forward, it should be the Empress!"

Seeing the indignant look on the old imperial tutor Chu's face, Jiang Yu suddenly smiled with relief. He stopped kneeling and slowly stood up. Shen Yujiao, who was kneeling beside him, was stunned. As he moved, she also slowly raised her head and saw that Zhao Wang was standing up with him.

"Old Imperial Tutor," Jiang Jin walked straight up to the old Imperial Tutor Chu through the crowd. Facing this highly respected Confucian scholar, there was no longer any respect in his eyes or on his face: "Even if the late emperor left a will bequeathing the throne to my fifth brother, what use is that imperial edict if he is no longer here?"

As if in a provocation, Jiang Jin actually laughed in such a serious occasion. He suddenly said loudly, "Just half a month ago, when Crown Prince Chen led 30,000 troops into the Northern Di capital to pursue the enemy, he was besieged by a coalition of various grassland tribes. When my elder brother returned to the capital, it was the day Crown Prince Chen died in battle."

Jiang Jin's gaze was sharp, piercing Shen Yujiao's heart like needles. Their eyes met, and she heard Jiang Jin's pronouncement: "The Crown Prince is dead. As the eldest son of the Emperor, my elder brother is naturally the only one worthy of inheriting the throne."

Anger welled up in her eyes almost instantly, and Shen Yujiao stood up and was about to rush forward, but before she could move, Jiang Yu grabbed her. His expression and eyes were completely different from how they had been together these past few days. He looked at Shen Yujiao coldly, and the force in his hand was so great that she could not move.

"Jiang Yu!" she demanded through gritted teeth, "You promised me! You wouldn't harm him in the slightest!"

“Ah Jiao,” Jiang Yu said calmly, “I didn’t do it. I didn’t know much about Brother Chen’s death before you did.”

Shen Yujiao was furious. In her eyes, the person in front of her was nothing more than a hypocrite. Her mind was filled with a series of crazy clamors, and she had no sense of reason at all. She casually pulled out a gold hairpin and stabbed it at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu did not dodge and just stood there, letting the gold hairpin pierce his chest.

The two, who had been so close before parting this morning, were now at each other's throats. The warmth and tenderness they had carefully cultivated shattered like ice in an instant. The brokenness in Shen Yujiao's eyes was mixed with disbelief and hatred, and her eyes gradually became stained with the blood that seeped from Jiang Yu's heart.

"Shen, you've gone mad!"

Jiang Jin's eyes widened in fury at the sight. He stepped forward, only to see Jiang Yu shield him behind him. Jiang Yu calmly pulled out the gold hairpin, the blood staining the gold dragon, but he didn't care at all. Instead, he wiped the blood off with his sleeve and put the hairpin back into Shen Yujiao's hair.

He stood between the three men, smiling as he addressed everyone, "Gentlemen, do you have any further questions?"

The old Imperial Tutor Chu only came forward with these three questions because of his granddaughter and the Crown Princess's request. However, he never expected that Jiang Yu had come prepared. Moreover, their biggest bargaining chip—the Crown Prince—had actually died on the battlefield. When the person who supported the enthronement was no longer there, what were they still trying to stop? Just as the King of Zhao said, in the current situation, apart from the King of Huan, which prince is worthy of being the heir apparent?

After three questions and three answers, the old tutor of Chu did not gain a complete advantage, and the last sentence of the King of Zhao was the fatal move in this game.

After a brief silence, with almost no need to explain to anyone, the old Imperial Tutor Chu staggered a few steps and was then helped aside by his students. At the command of the King of Zhao, the road in front of the imperial carriage was cleared once again, and no one among the officials and commoners dared to say another word.

Shen Yujiao was imprisoned and carried back to the imperial carriage by Jiang Yu. She struggled desperately, and even in the short distance of just a few steps, she slapped Jiang Yu on the head several times. However, Jiang Yu was neither angry nor annoyed. He simply kept her by his side in silence. There were no more obstacles in front of the imperial carriage, and they entered the palace without any hindrance.

"kneel--"

The master of ceremonies was reading the edict for the enthronement ceremony. The tedious and fragmented words annoyed Shen Yujiao. She glared fiercely at Jiang Yu standing beside her. According to the original plan, she was supposed to testify to the edict after the Grand Tutor's three questions. However, the Prince of Zhao said that Jiang Chen was dead, the Crown Prince was dead, and the edict did not need to be presented again. She didn't even have the ability to escape or resist Jiang Yu, just like now—

"Your Majesty!"

She merely glared at Jiang Yu, and an official behind her forcefully turned her head back. The previous respectful attitude towards her had vanished, or rather, this person was on a death mission to monitor and control her. She could only stand beside Jiang Yu, receiving the homage of the officials and relatives.

As the empress.

"I never knew you had become such a hypocrite."

“Ah Jiao… there’s no need to say any more of this. I have never broken my promise to you, but there are some things that are beyond my control. I did not send anyone to assassinate Chen Di. Whether you believe it or not, I will only say this.”

"You think I'll settle down if you leave me here?"

Even if you point your blade at me day and night, I will not flinch.

Under the gaze of hundreds of pairs of eyes, the emperor and empress, standing on high, uttered harsh words that cut to the bone. Apart from the officials of ceremonies around them, no one knew what was happening on the high platform.

After the imperial carriage entered the palace, the grand ceremony was held immediately. Jiang Yu didn't even bother to change into a clean set of clothes, and the glaring red mark on his chest was displayed to the whole world.

Shen Yujiao withdrew her gaze, her mind racing as she considered how to contact the Shen family. The words Zhao Wang had just spoken in front of everyone were still unbelievable, or rather, she was unwilling to believe that Jiang Chen was dead. Even if something had really happened, she wanted to see him alive or dead.

"The Emperor and Empress worship Heaven and Earth—"

Before they knew it, the ceremony was coming to an end. The officials had explained the whole process to them. After the emperor and empress paid homage to heaven and earth, the imperial seal would be presented, which meant that this was the final step in the ceremony.

The master of ceremonies behind the two reminded them, "Your Majesty, please step back half a step to His Majesty's side."

Shen Yujiao stared straight ahead, her feet not moving an inch.

Seeing that she didn't move, the master of ceremonies became somewhat anxious and whispered again, "Your Highness, please take half a step back."

Shen Yujiao remained motionless, standing there while everyone cast questioning glances their way.

"Your Majesty..."

"She doesn't need to back down."

Jiang Yu turned and gave an order, then looked at Shen Yujiao and said, "Let's stand here together."

"Your Majesty—" the official in charge of ceremonies said anxiously, remembering the words of the Prince of Zhao, his face showing some worry: "It's just a matter of etiquette. If Her Majesty doesn't back down even half a step today, she will have to back down more than half a step in the future!"

No matter how he tried to persuade her, Shen Yujiao remained unmoved. Not only did she not intend to back out, she also did not intend to celebrate the Sunday service.

Seeing her persistence, the master of ceremonies steeled his heart, and with a surge of courage from who-knows-where, stepped forward and pulled Shen Yujiao back two steps, then loudly proclaimed, "Bow—"

Since transmigrating to the Great Xia Dynasty, for thousands of days and nights, even in the most desperate and difficult times, not a single servant dared to lay a hand on Shen Yujiao, let alone in such a grand setting!

"bye--"

The official's loud chanting rang out again, and Shen Yujiao was still deeply immersed in the absurdity of the situation. But the next instant, she heard a whooshing sound, and before she could react and dodge, she heard the dull thud of a hidden weapon piercing flesh—

"His Majesty!"

"Brother!"

"Help!"

A deafening roar filled her ears as Shen Yujiao looked incredulously at the person standing beside her. She saw an extremely small, dark blade embedded in Jiang Yu's heart, the very spot where she had just received a bloody blow from her hairpin half an hour earlier.

"Jiang Yu..."

Shen Yujiao subconsciously reached out to catch the person in front of her. Only when she felt the weight on her shoulder did she truly feel panic: "Jiang Yu!"

Even an ordinary person like her, who had never seen a poisoned hidden weapon before, sensed something was wrong. She quickly looked down at the wound on Jiang Yu's chest, where the blood was tinged with blackish-purple. This hidden blade was clearly poisoned!

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

Because of her heart wound, Shen Yujiao dared not draw her sword rashly. As she watched the dark mass of people below her charge towards them, she met the gaze of the leader. Compared to the poisoned blade, the viciousness in Jiang Jin's eyes was a thousand times greater.

At this moment, what is there left to be confused about? The master of ceremonies insisted that she take half a step back so that she could be better targeted, while Jiang Yu did it to save her.

Regardless, having just narrowly escaped death, Shen Yujiao, supporting Jiang Yu's fallen body, let out an angry shout: "All of you, get out of my way!"

Unfortunately, in the current situation, no one obeyed her orders, and she could only watch helplessly as the executioners approached her and Jiang Yu step by step, as if watching death gradually descend.

"Bang--"

The leading imperial guard was just a few steps away from climbing the steps when a loud crash rang out, and he suddenly lost all strength. He rolled down the steps like a stiff puppet. The people behind him scrambled to make way for his sudden fall and tumble until the imperial guard's corpse lay before them.

The smoke from the gunpowder had not yet completely dissipated, and the pungent smell in the air reminded everyone that all of this was actually happening before their eyes.

Looking at the person lying in a pool of blood, everyone's face was filled with shock. However, Shen Yujiao seemed to have been reborn in an instant. She supported the fallen Jiang Yu and stood up straight. Standing on the highest step, she saw the army pouring in from all directions below. The leader was wearing golden armor, and the fiery red cloak behind him was already tattered, but Shen Yujiao could still spot him at a glance among the thousands of people.

Since their separation, for hundreds of days and nights, she had not shed a single tear, even during the most difficult times. But the moment she saw Jiang Chen, her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Warhorses neighed, swords clashed, and the sharp edge brought from the northwest swept all the way into the palace. Jiang Chen held a musket barrel filled with bullets that Xu Zhiyuan had just reloaded. With every move he made, an imperial guard who stepped forward to stop him would fall to the ground.

"Insolence! How dare you cause trouble before the Crown Prince!"

Jiang Chen did not come alone; He Zhiju followed closely behind. In addition to the Imperial Guards, there were also a group of martial arts masters lying in ambush in the palace.

Jiang Jin had already ordered an attack the moment he saw Jiang Chen's troops enter the palace. Now, he personally drew his sword and stood in the middle of the steps, directing all the assassins to kill Jiang Chen. He Zhiju stood close to Jiang Chen, protecting him from every open and hidden attack.

Seeing He Zhiju's willingness to die for his cause, Jiang Jin also went berserk. He ignored the fleeing civil officials and the fallen Jiang Yu behind him, instead pointing his knife at the people below. He laughed like a madman: "Jiang Chen, you actually managed to escape alive!"

A gunshot rang out in response to Jiang Jin. The bullet whizzed past his ear, and as he turned his head, he saw a palace servant who had attempted to assassinate Shen Yujiao fall to the ground. A burning pain shot through his ear, and he shouted again, "Whoever dares to kill him will one day become a powerful minister of my Great Xia, second only to the emperor!"

Upon hearing his orders, the imperial guards and martial arts masters who had been forced to resist earlier were instead filled with a surge of heroic courage. The capital had been controlled by Prince Zhao for a long time, and they did not believe that the former crown prince's troops alone could overturn the situation. Thus, the enthronement ceremony became a battlefield of bloodshed.

"Arrogant bastard! How dare you offer such sweet words?"

Although Jiang Chen was of lower rank, the contempt in his eyes was enough for the Prince of Zhao to see clearly. He dismounted and decisively killed one of the Imperial Guards with a single spear thrust. Under the protection of He Zhiju, he climbed the steps, his gaze burning as he headed towards Jiang Jin.

"I will tell you today what the true line of the Great Xia Dynasty is. As a traitor and rebel, how dare you act so presumptuously?"

As the person drew closer, Jiang Jin turned and glanced at Shen Yujiao, who was supporting Jiang Yu on the highest step. He pointed his knife at Shen Yujiao and turned to Jiang Chen, asking, "Jiang Chen, let me tell you, there are plenty of people around here who want her dead. If you dare to come any closer, I will order her to be killed!"

Jiang Chen's words struck a nerve. Since breaking out of the Northern Di capital and returning to the capital, he had fought his way back with the determination to die. No matter who or what was on the other side, nothing had ever stopped him. But under Jiang Jin's threat, he did stop in his tracks.

The blood staining the white marble was even more glaring. Separated by hundreds of steps, by Jiang Jin, and by the longing of not seeing each other for hundreds of days, Jiang Chen finally saw her.

His darling looks so beautiful today.

Seeing Jiang Chen grin at her, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but burst into tears. She shook her head at Jiang Chen, signaling him not to worry about her.

In the blink of an eye, with just a glance, they had exchanged countless words.

Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze and looked back at Jiang Jin, who was standing between him and Shen Yujiao. He licked the wound on the corner of his mouth and asked, "Jiang Jin, how much longer do you think you can hold on?"

Jiang Jin found these words utterly ridiculous and retorted, "And what about you? How long can you hold out?"

He peeked out slightly at the area below the high steps: "You rushed back all the way, didn't you? At that speed, there were only about a hundred people who could have broken through and returned to the capital with you. Do you know how many tens of thousands of troops are deployed in the capital? Do you know how many martial arts masters are currently in this palace?"

Jiang Jin's gaze swept around before settling on He Zhiju, who was still fighting: "With him? Can he protect you from tens of thousands of soldiers?"

The clanging of swords and spears clashing together continued unabated. Amidst the sounds of battle, Jiang Chen shook his head at him with a wry smile: "Jiang Jin, oh Jiang Jin, compared to Jiang Yu, you are far inferior."

Jiang Jin was taken aback by these words, and then he heard Jiang Chen say, "If you can really mobilize all your troops in the capital, how do you think I would have stormed into the palace?"

As if making a connection to something, Jiang Jin's expression stiffened, and his grip on the long sword tightened involuntarily—the fact that Jiang Chen was able to break through meant that the palace had fallen.

But how could that be?

"The grassland coalition will not let you go. It's already impossible for you to break through by chance. There are only a few armies in the capital. Where did you get your soldiers from?"

Jiang Chen didn't need to answer. A loud voice came from afar, revealing absolute arrogance and unruliness: "Who told you that I'm your soldier?"

Under Jiang Jin's wide-eyed gaze, Jiang Yan led a troop of soldiers into the palace from another direction. His arrogant and unrestrained demeanor pierced Jiang Jin's pupils: "Sixth Brother, how dare you privately order the Weizhou army to rebel!"

Jiang Yan, who was on horseback shooting an arrow, fired a shot with his backhand: "You're the one who's rebelling! This is called purging the court of corrupt officials, understand?"

He rode his horse up to the high steps, dismounted, and stepped forward to stand behind Jiang Chen. Every arrow at his waist that left the bow would shoot down a hidden weapon in the distance, which greatly relieved the pressure on He Zhiju to protect him.

While retaliating, Jiang Yan reminded Jiang Jin, "Xiao Jiu has already led reinforcements into the city. In another quarter of an hour, your men will not be able to hold this palace."

Reinforcements... Jiang Jin stared intently at the people below him. He wanted to know where the reinforcements came from, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.

Jiang Chen saw his confusion and said loudly, "Do you know the biggest difference between you and Jiang Yu? It's that you only know how to play power games, while he is genuinely for the court and cares about his subjects."

As soon as he finished speaking, as if to prove the truth of his words, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted outside the palace. Jiang Jin stood on the high steps, watching helplessly as the palace gates were breached one by one. The army pouring in from outside the palace was like divine soldiers descending from the sky, and just as Jiang Yan had said, they surrounded the palace.

In less than half an hour, the battle situation had completely reversed. The palace guards were no match for the soldiers who had fought in the frontier for many years, and the hidden weapons of martial arts masters were no match for the gunpowder-powered musket barrels. Seeing that his men in the palace were no longer able to resist, Jiang Jin took a few steps back in disbelief.

The reinforcements quickly surrounded the palace, and also wiped out the remaining imperial guards and assassins who resisted within. Once all enemies had surrendered, the leading general dismounted and approached Jiang Chen to report:

"Your subject Qi Jing has arrived late to rescue Your Majesty, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness!"

The long sword in his hand fell to the ground. Looking at General Qi, who should have died in battle long ago or been tortured to death by the Di army after being captured, Jiang Jin looked incredulous. He then looked up at Jiang Zhigong, Jiang Lin, Qi Zheng and others who were dismounting one after another, and suddenly burst out laughing.

"General Qi, General Qi, not killing you that day was truly my greatest miscalculation!"

Jiang Chen had already helped General Qi up by now. Upon hearing this, he turned around and stared at him as he approached step by step: "Then you have miscalculated too much. General Qi was saved by the royal assassins. In other words, you can't kill him at all."

These words were like a thunderbolt from the sky. Jiang Jin was stunned at first, then turned his head sharply to look at Jiang Yu, who was lying in Shen Yujiao's arms. He stared at him for a long time, then lowered his head. His shoulders trembled slightly at first, then he burst into laughter. Lines of bloody tears slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground, mingling with the blood of the soldiers.

The King of Zhao has gone mad.

"Take it down."

Jiang Chen had already shown great patience by talking to him about these things. Now that the situation was settled, he stopped wasting words with him and, after giving an order, strode over the steps towards Shen Yujiao.

On a rare occasion, He Zhiju overtook Jiang Chen and ran ahead. He took Jiang Yu from Shen Yujiao and stood in front of everyone to take charge, while Shen Yujiao fell into Jiang Chen's arms.

"Jiaojiao..." Jiang Chen realized as soon as he spoke that his forced composure was as fragile as paper in front of her. At this moment, his voice was full of trembling from the joy of regaining what he had lost: "I'm back."

Held in her arms, Shen Yujiao could no longer hold back her tears. She choked back sobs and nodded in his embrace, her voice trembling as she replied, "I know you won't abandon me."

The figures embracing each other on the high platform are a woman in a bright red empress's dress, with exquisite gold patterns that shimmer in the light, and a woman in golden armor, her tattered battle robe stained with crimson blood. One is solemn, beautiful and noble beyond words, while the other is covered in blood and his armor is damaged from battle. However, the two colors of gold and red intertwine in the afterglow of the setting sun, and from a distance, they appear to be one.

"Tsk—"

Standing below the steps, the King of Thailand watched this heartwarming scene with a mix of irritation and resentment. He turned around and grabbed Jiang Lin, causing him to stumble. "What are you still standing there for? Can't you see they don't have time for you? Go back to the palace!"

With him taking the lead, the generals standing below dispersed. He Zhiju took Jiang Yu to be rescued, while the others, under General Qi's arrangement, escorted the traitor in an orderly manner.

All the noise was left behind. The palace servants on the high steps had all dispersed. Shen Yujiao straightened up from his arms. In the magnificent afterglow of the sunset, she could only see Jiang Chen.

She raised her trembling hand and gently stroked her lover's face. Before she could utter any words of tenderness, a surge of long-awaited love welled up between her lips. All the unspoken words from their long-awaited reunion were transformed into the burning warmth he brought her. She initially accepted it somewhat awkwardly, but after regaining her balance, she gently responded to his kiss.

This kiss was different from any of their previous ones. After hundreds of days and nights, thousands of miles, and the perilous journey between life and death, the affection that melted between their lips and teeth was mixed with longing, reluctance, lingering fear, and unspeakable heartache knowing the other's difficult situation.

After the kiss ended, Shen Yujiao's mind went blank. The noise that had been going on for so long finally quieted down. She closed her eyes as she pleased. In Jiang Chen's arms, she was just following her instincts, wanting to hold him tighter and tighter.

Feeling the warmth of her palms and neck, and inhaling the fragrance of her hair, Jiang Chen finally relaxed the tension that had gripped him for so long. He leaned all his heart on Shen Yujiao, and never before had he felt so grateful to be alive.

It's so nice to be able to stay with Shen Jiaojiao.

"Jiang Chen..."

He heard her call his name and gently murmured in response, "What is it?"

"Your armor is so uncomfortable."

Jiang Chen, who was immersed in happiness, opened his eyes upon hearing this. A few hesitations and doubts flashed in his eyes. He was about to push away the person in his arms, afraid of hurting him, but the next second he was held even tighter.

He heard Shen Jiaojiao's call again: "But I still want to hold you a little longer, Jiang Xiaochen..."

The confusion dissipated, and a light returned to his eyes. Jiang Chen softly replied, "Okay," and then gently called out, "Chen Jiaojiao..."

Even if fate is unkind, even if life is difficult, even if you have a heavy burden on your shoulders, as long as you are here, none of that matters.

Love can overcome all difficulties in the end.

-----------------------

Author's Note: I was originally debating whether to make this chapter the finale, but then I thought about it and realized that this is just the final chapter of this story, not the last chapter of Jiang Chen and Shen Yujiao's story, so there's more to come.

————————————————————————

Love can overcome all difficulties in the end.

"Jianshan, you can hide things from me from everyone, but you can't."

Standing in front of the empty hall, Jiang Yu's voice seemed to grow increasingly ethereal. He turned to look at the boy who was like a brother to him, knowing that the other was the most soft-hearted: "You know, my heart's desire has always been only for Shen Yujiao."

For Jiang Yu, the choice between the empire and his beloved is never a matter of choice. But if the only way to win back his beloved is to seize the empire, then he wouldn't mind crossing mountains and rivers to achieve his goal.

"His Majesty......"

Seeing the mountain was indeed a dilemma. The King of Zhao's threats and inducements were still ringing in his ears. Faced with the bigger picture, he also thought that the rising sun of tomorrow represented Jiang Yu. But for Jiang Yu, the most important thing was not this.

"You can't bear to let me live with this regret for the rest of my life, right?"

To live with regret for the rest of one's life—the price was far too high. So high that those four seemingly insignificant words instantly shattered Jian Shan's mental defenses. He lowered his eyes and head, revealing Zhao Wang's assassination plan in its entirety: "...If Shen Shi dies, there will be no more hidden dangers around you."

It was a cloudy day, and the wind blowing from afar felt particularly chilly. Jian Shan stood before Jiang Yu with a dejected expression. He had disappointed his master and had also failed King Zhao.

"Go back... wear more clothes, don't catch a cold."

Jiang Yu tightened Jian Shan's robes for him, and under his astonished gaze, she gave him a gentle smile: "Thank you, Jian Shan."

After saying that, Jiang Yu turned and walked towards the high platform. Watching his departing figure, Jian Shan felt an unprecedented sense of confusion.

Is it really worth it?