Chapter 410: My predecessors have taken care of me

When Zhu Lan returned to the mansion, he happened to meet Eunuch Zhao who came to announce the imperial decree.

When Zhu Lan saw Eunuch Zhao's new robe from afar, he knew that he was now the new chief eunuch in the palace.

When Manager Zhao saw Zhu Lan, a reserved smile appeared on his face.

"Hanlin Academy Editor Zhu Lan and Hanlin Academy Editor Zhu Qingyan received the order—"

Zhu Lan hurriedly brought Zhu Qingyan out of the courtyard and knelt down to receive the order.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees:

…Now we have Zhu Lan, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, who is knowledgeable, diligent, respectful, and has made great contributions to the country. He has won my heart and the praise of the court and the people.

In addition, Zhu Qingyan, the compiler of the Hanlin Academy, was a man of brilliant literary talent, who was meticulous in compilation and made outstanding contributions.

In order to demonstrate my intention to encourage talented people and also to reserve talents for the court, I will promote Zhu Lan, editor of the Hanlin Academy, to the position of Chief Censor with immediate effect. He will be able to uphold justice, supervise all departments, share my worries, and plead for the people.

Zhu Qingyan, compiler of the Hanlin Academy, has been promoted to the position of Academician of the Hanlin Academy with immediate effect. We hope that he can continue to give full play to his strengths, lead the academic style, and cultivate the pillars of tomorrow's Daliang.

The specific appointment documents will be drafted and issued by the Ministry of Personnel as soon as possible, and the relevant departments will be ordered to handle the handover immediately without any mistakes. "

"Your Highness Zhu Lan accepts your order and thanks you."

"I, Zhu Qingyan, accept your order and thank you."

After Manager Zhao left, the two stood up and reread the imperial edict together.

Zhu Lan smiled and nudged Zhu Qingyan with his elbow.

"Great job, Zhu Xuezheng."

Dong Xuezheng, the former head of the Hanlin Academy, is old and has just resigned and returned home. Everyone in the Hanlin Academy is speculating who the next Xuezheng will be.

You have to know that Dong Xuezheng was 45 years old when he took this position.

Zhu Qingyan is less than 20 years old, but he can take on such an important task. This is unheard of for outsiders!

Logically speaking, there are many senior people in the Hanlin Academy, and in terms of seniority, it is not the turn of a junior like Zhu Qingyan to become the head of the school.

But Zhu Lan knew clearly that his and Zhu Qingyan's performance in the previous incident regarding the true and false prince had completely won Yan Xiuyun's trust.

Today's appointment means that the two will become close ministers of the emperor from now on.

"Alright." Zhu Qingyan glanced at Zhu Lan with a teasing tone.

The two of them walked towards the yard.

"No matter how high the position of Xuezheng is, he is only a fifth-rank official. How can he compare to the majesty of the fourth-rank Zhongcheng who supervises all officials?

Come to think of it, will you be staying in the Censorate all day from now on?"

"I think so. He will probably move to the Censorate's office. Why, do you miss me?"

"No one will miss you, go away quickly, leave quickly.

I don't want to see you."

…

In early November, the imperial court issued an order to thoroughly investigate the past affairs of the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion. The father and son of the Ning'an Marquis had hired a killer to kill someone in Yunzhou and committed many evil deeds. They were stripped of their titles and beheaded in public. The people involved in the case in the Marquis' Mansion were sold into slavery.

Gong Yuanliang and his son in Yunzhou were both righteous people, so the imperial court provided funds to build the Gong Family Ancestral Hall for them. The new emperor Yan Xiuyun personally wrote a plaque and granted them 100 acres of fertile land as a role model for future generations.

In mid-November, all the remaining followers of Prince Qi were purged from the court, and Yan Xiuyun issued an edict to promote a number of officials to fill the vacancies.

On November 27, Yan Xiuyun ascended the throne as Emperor Liang and held the coronation ceremony.

Civil and military officials paid tribute and made offerings, pledging their loyalty and making reports in order to clarify the distinction between the ruler and his subjects and to establish the order of the new dynasty.

The new emperor issued an edict of succession, changed the reign title to Wenzhen, and issued a general amnesty to demonstrate the emperor's great grace.

…

The grand coronation ceremony finally ended. After the grand happy event, the entire palace gradually returned to tranquility.

In the southwest corner of the imperial palace, Qiyun Tower stands silently.

Passing through several ancient trees with swaying shadows, you can vaguely see the layers of eaves supported by vermilion lacquered pillars.

There are copper bells hanging between the eaves and corners. When the breeze blows, the sound of the bells seems to travel through time, clear and distant.

A palace maid was passing by and was startled by the two figures in front of Qiyun Tower.

You should know that this was the residence of Concubine Lan, the favorite concubine of the late emperor and the biological mother of the current emperor. It has been vacant for more than ten years and usually no one would come here.

The palace maids were confused and went forward to check. When they saw the person in front of the building, they were so scared that they knelt on the ground.

"We have disturbed Your Majesty, please forgive us!"

Yan Xiuyun waved his hand and asked them to leave.

"This is the bedroom where my mother lived when she was alive." Yan Xiuyun said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Lan took a step forward from behind Yan Xiuyun and looked deeply at the still deserted Qiyun Tower in front of him.

It is not difficult to see that Qiyun Tower has been carefully renovated, and only in the cracks in the corners of the wall can one vaguely see traces of the fire that burned that year.

Zhu Lan was dressed in a bright red official robe. He folded his hands solemnly and bowed deeply in the direction of Qiyun Tower with full respect.

Yan Xiuyun stood beside her with a complicated look in his eyes.

“Perhaps what mother hoped for the most back then was to be able to wear official uniform and stand in the court with dignity like you.

If she is still alive in heaven, she will surely be pleased to see you like this."

"Lady Concubine Lan is someone I have respected all my life. Thank you, Your Majesty, for bringing me here to fulfill my wish."

“You are an outsider, and according to the rules, outsiders are not allowed to enter the harem.

But I know that you are on good terms with Concubine Qin, and you are a woman, so I can give you a break and allow you the right to enter and leave the harem.

However, every time you enter or leave, a palace servant must record it and keep it on file for future reference."

Yan Xiuyun's words brought Zhu Lan unexpected joy.

Now that he has ascended the throne and conferred titles on the six palaces, Qin Yuwei has been named a noble concubine. Naturally, she can no longer go out as freely as she did before in the East Palace.

I thought it would be very difficult to meet each other in the future, but I didn't expect Yan Xiuyun to make an exception and allow me to enter the harem for the first time.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" said Zhu Lan.

"I have another question to ask you." Yan Xiuyun looked at her.

“When I was the crown prince, I heard that Prince Qi also thought highly of you and treated you with great courtesy.

Why did you choose to stand on my side in the end? Is it just because you are good friends with Concubine Qin?"

Zhu Lan smiled slightly, quite frankly.

"Personally, I do not want anything to happen to the imperial concubine. Publicly, the late emperor chose to pass the throne to you instead of Prince Qi. I have the same reason for this."

Zhu Lan's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

"King Qi has indeed treated me with courtesy and has never done anything to harm me. However, King Qi is very calculating and is only doing this to win over the hearts of the people. I can see this clearly.

Over the years, King Qi has been winning over court officials and amassing wealth, and corruption has become a common practice among his officials.

According to my investigation, the previous Ningjia Mine case was caused by officials protected by Prince Qi, and 131 lives were suppressed silently.

You are unworthy of being a king if you treat human life so lightly. "

Yan Xiuyun suddenly took a step back and bowed to Zhu Lan.

"Xiu Yun knows he is stupid. If he wants to become a wise leader like his father, what should he do?

Please teach me, sir. "

Facing the sudden solemnity of the new emperor, Zhu Lan quickly leaned forward and said:

"I dare not."

She raised her eyes slightly, "But I hope that Your Majesty can abandon the prejudice in your heart and inherit the will of the late emperor and Concubine Lan."

"Of course." Yan Xiuyun said sincerely.

"Xiu Yun only hopes that Daliang will prosper from now on. When selecting officials in the future, as long as they are talented and virtuous, regardless of whether they are men or women, the court will certainly use them."

Zhu Lan only felt a ball of blood burning faintly in his chest. He leaned forward and bowed again, his words resounding.

"Your Majesty, since you have such aspirations, I, Zhu Lan, am also willing to assist Your Majesty, so that the monarch and his subjects can work together to create a peaceful and prosperous era."

As the moon rose, Zhu Lan paid his respects to Concubine Lan's former bedroom and prepared to leave.

On the long street out of the palace, Yan Xiuyun and Zhu Lan walked one after the other, without any guards or entourage.

Yan Xiuyun was in mixed emotions. Now that the coronation ceremony was over, when the sun rose tomorrow, he would be the new king of Daliang known throughout the world.

He listened to no sound behind him for a long time, turned around and saw Zhu Lan with her head slightly tilted up, the moonlight shining on her pretty and elegant face, as calm as water.

"What is Zhu Zhongcheng thinking about?" Yan Xiuyun asked.

Zhu Lan looked at the bright white moon in the night sky and smiled slightly.

"Those who came before me have followed my lead, and I will follow those who come after me."