Chapter 317 Myself is the Most Important (Part Two)

Three years later, to everyone's astonishment, Ye Yunshu smiled and announced her abdication.

Although the court officials had this premonition, they still found it hard to believe when the actual edict was read aloud.

They knew that the empress, who had reigned for four years, was not forced to abdicate, but rather she herself chose to abdicate.

It turns out there really are people who don't like being an emperor!

And it wasn't just one; these officials encountered two emperors like this all at once.

Xiao Huaijin led Xiao Jingjue by the hand and placed the young prince on the throne, who was known in history as Emperor Xiao Ming, with the reign title Zhaode.

Ye Yunshu became the new retired emperor.

However, immediately after abdicating, Emperor Emeritus Ye Yunshu seized control of the Censorate, and his only daughter, Princess Changqing, even took over the abacus during her early education.

Princess Changqing inherited the strengths of the Ye family women: an exceptional memory and a keen eye for account books.

...

After the new emperor's enthronement ceremony that day, Prime Minister Lin, whose hair had turned completely white, led the officials outside.

The Vice Minister of Rites followed him at a jog.

"Prime Minister Lin, look at this situation... How could the Emperor Emeritus abdicate so easily! He didn't even let us make any preparations."

"When we see the Emperor Emeritus in the future... what should we say?" The Vice Minister of Rites still couldn't quite believe what he was going through.

He rose through the ranks from a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, and in his short ten-year career, he actually served under three emperors of the Great Yu Dynasty.

He's actually a veteran of three dynasties...

However, there's still a veteran of five reigns right in front of us!

The Vice Minister of Rites glanced at Prime Minister Lin again.

"Prime Minister Lin..."

"Alright! I know what you're trying to say. You just don't know whose lead to follow in the future, don't you?"

All you need to know is that your master is the one on the dragon throne; don't think about anything else.

If you still don't understand, just go to the Regent and ask him what he thinks!

Also, you all need to start getting used to the fact that I'm not around. How many more years can I keep cleaning up your messes?

The Emperor Emeritus has abdicated, but don't forget what he holds: the Phoenix Token is still in his hands! If the Emperor Emeritus wants to deal with you, it's as easy as crushing an ant.

Stop thinking about those unnecessary things and focus on getting the job done!

After finishing his sentence, Lin Xiang turned and left.

Other officials also wanted to join in...

Yes, Prime Minister Lin has served five emperors. Now, his granddaughter is a sure thing that she will become the future empress. The day the empress enters the palace will be the day Prime Minister Lin resigns.

But they've gotten used to Prime Minister Lin cleaning up their messes!

The current situation in Da Yu is considered troublesome by everyone.

Besides the new emperor, there are two retired emperors, a wise prince who had been the crown prince, and a regent...

Whichever one suddenly appears will be enough to give them a hard time!

“Your Excellency, you can’t abandon us! What will we do if you retire?” An official immediately followed.

...

The new emperor granted a general amnesty upon his ascension to the throne, and many people were pardoned except for some death row inmates.

At the same time, many taxes were reduced or exempted, and the people of Chongqing were overjoyed; it was truly a cause for universal celebration.

People both inside and outside the court were very happy. Although the new emperor was young, he had been handling state affairs with the regent for three years and was considered quite experienced.

Moreover, with the regent in charge of the court, they dared not underestimate the new emperor. On the contrary, they had to be even more cautious in carrying out their duties than before.

It seemed like everyone was happy, except for the Regent, Xiao Huaijin.

...

Xiao Huaijin was a little angry, not because Ye Yunshu had finally shifted the burden onto him.

He was prepared for today's situation.

What angered him was that Song Zhimian had gone out to play without informing him.

Song Zhimian secretly followed Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang, using the excuse of purchasing items for the new emperor's future use in the inner palace, and ran away.

This infuriated Xiao Huaijin.

Previously, Song Zhimian had told her that she would continue to stay in the palace. Aunt Cui was getting old, and Ye Yunshu had agreed before abdicating that Aunt Cui could live out her retirement in the palace.

As Ye Yunshu's personal maid and also the new emperor's master of ceremonies, Song Zhimian naturally became the new Palace Attendant.

Who knows...

Xiao Huaijin didn't know what Song Zhimian and Aunt Cui had talked about, but it made Aunt Cui, who had already partially retired, happy to pick up palace affairs again, allowing Song Zhimian to go out and enjoy the scenery with Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang without worry.

The new emperor was still young, and the recently abdicated retired emperor clearly didn't want to care about anything anymore, so Xiao Huaijin had no choice but to patiently continue staying in the capital.

Xiao Huaijin originally thought that Song Zhimian and the others would only stay away for three to five months at most before returning.

Who knew... the three of them would be gone for a full three years.

Not only did I go to Jiangnan, but after exploring all of Jiangnan, I went south to Lingnan and stayed there for almost a year.

According to a secret letter sent back by the generals of the Pingnan Army, the three men also rented a merchant ship and went out to sea for a trip, bringing back many good things.

Of course, the three of them didn't forget about the people in the capital when they went out to play.

Whether it was Ye Yunshu's birthday, the birthday of the Lady of the Korean Palace, or the birthday of Consort Wu, all three of them sent back cartloads of gifts.

On Xiao Huaijin's birthday, Song Zhimian also sent a gift back to the capital.

This left Xiao Huaijin only able to sulk.

...

Three years later, the three of them finally returned from Lingnan.

Just after crossing the Jiangnan region, Song Zhimian finally told Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin about her plans.

"You two go back to the capital first! I want to go to the North!" Song Zhimian said with a smile.

"Why go to the North? It's going to snow there soon, and it'll be so cold! Let's wait until next spring! I'll go to the North with you then."

"Go see Lianqiao!" Princess Yongxin immediately understood Song Zhimin's thoughts.

"I'm going right now! To see the desert scenery! To see the frozen landscape of the north, and to see our little forsythia."

"Aren't they all calling Lianqiao a goddess doctor in the north? I have to go see our goddess doctor!" Song Zhimian insisted.

Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang could only watch as Song Zhimin led three carriages northward.

They both wanted to go, but the Lady of the Korean Duke in the capital and Consort Wu in the palace had urged them many times.

The two of them had no choice but to return to the capital first.

"Let's wait until we've seen everyone we need to see in the capital before we go to the north to find Song Zhimian and Lian Qiao!"

...

Song Zhimian sat happily in the carriage, looking at the scenery outside the window.

The further north you go, the colder it gets, but the scenery is completely different from other places.

The northern landscape is a scene of ice and snow stretching for miles...

"Whoa..." The coachman suddenly stopped the carriage.

Song Zhimian thought she had been robbed on the road, and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately opened the carriage door and took a look.

The people blocking the road weren't robbers, but a caravan, with the most luxurious carriage in the middle.

Song Zhimin's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to reveal her identity...

"Song Zhimin! Shall we travel together?" The carriage window opened, and Xiao Huaijin's handsome face came into Song Zhimin's view...