Chapter 210: Enthroning the Crown Prince
Under the altar, the emperor, dressed in his imperial robes, climbed the stairs, a twelve-tassel white jade bead curtain swaying gently in front of his forehead. Every step he took declared that she had taken back what belonged to her.
The ceremonial officer sang loudly, "Kneel——".
Beneath the altar, a huge crowd of people were kneeling on the ground.
The twelve imperial guards were all lined up behind the emperor, and the sound of their armor clashing was like thunder.
"Heaven above, and Hou Tu as my witness, I have received the mandate of Heaven and will inherit the throne. I will quell internal troubles, resist external enemies, promote agriculture, and usher in peace."
The cheers of "Long live the emperor" resounded through the sky.
Qu Ling and Zhao Yuanrong knelt together, and she could clearly feel the countless gazes behind her piercing her back like needles.
The ceremonial officer unfolded the imperial edict.
"...I have only one daughter, Zhao Yuanrong, who is naturally intelligent and gifted. She has long been acquainted with the laws and regulations and is well versed in the ways of government. I have specially appointed her as the Crown Prince, and have her rule in the Eastern Palace. I have bestowed upon her the Golden Book and the Golden Treasure, and have granted her the right to open the Crown Prince's Chamberlain's Office and to assume the additional responsibility of commanding the Imperial Guards..."
Before the imperial edict was finished, there was an uproar among the royal family members.
Prince Yi was the first to jump up, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable."
"How can Zhao Yuanrong be worthy of the responsibility of being crown prince?"
Prince Yi's voice was as loud as a bell, and he pointed his finger at Qu Ling. "And Princess Jia'an, she has no official position, so how could she be present at the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony?"
The empress looked down at him without saying a word.
Only the iron armor of the imperial guards behind him sounded murderous in the wind.
None of the court officials dared to agree at this time.
The late emperor was determined to train his eldest daughter to succeed him, and faced many more difficulties than he does now.
For decades, among the ministers present, there were few who had served during the reign of the previous emperor and had never been whipped by him.
Later, the late emperor brought his daughter directly to court.
On the first day everyone was shocked, on the second day there was an uproar, on the third day there was protest, on the fourth day they started getting beaten, and after that they got used to it.
No one responded, and Prince Yi, who stood out from the crowd, was a little confused.
Is he the only one who objects?
Old Prince Jian, who was nearly 80 years old, was helped to stand up.
The court officials did not want to get involved.
Who becomes the emperor is the Zhao family's business, it is not their turn.
But the royal family didn't think so.
The previous emperor used ruthless tactics and did not dare to resist the pressure from the royal family and make his eldest daughter the crown prince.
This is exactly why there are troubles left behind.
"Your Majesty, I dare to say that although Yuan Rong's surname is Zhao, he is ultimately..."
The old prince paused, as if choosing his words carefully.
"Her biological father's origins are unknown. Your Majesty has deliberately concealed this for so many years, and we, the ministers, do not know either."
"It's fine in the past, but if Yuan Rong is in a high position and someone uses this to make a fuss in the future, wouldn't that cause endless trouble?"
"Exactly!"
Prince Yi, seeing that he had someone to back him up, raised his voice another octave, "Your Majesty, please reconsider."
The emperor's face beneath the crown was unclear.
Qu Ling noticed that the ranks of veteran officials were unusually quiet.
Those old foxes who had been whipped during the previous emperor's time were now keeping silent.
"puff--"
A muffled sound suddenly rang out.
Prince Yi froze in place, his hips suspiciously tense beneath his dragon robe.
The old prince Jian, who was closest to him, suddenly widened his eyes and took two steps back with a complicated expression.
“Puff, puff, puff—”
The successive explosions were like firecrackers.
Prince Yi's face turned from red to blue, and then from blue to purple.
An indescribable stench permeated the altar. The elders closest to the altar had already covered their mouths and noses, and Prince Jian began to retch.
Prince Yi's trouser legs were stained with dark stains at a speed visible to the naked eye, and some indescribable turbid liquid flowed down his boots onto the white marble floor.
The Minister of Rites was so angry that his face was shaking.
"At the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony, Your Majesty, how could you..."
He really wanted to rush forward and fight to the death.
For such a thing to happen during the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, it would not be an exaggeration for him, the Minister of Rites, to die to atone for the crime.
"I......"
As Prince Yi opened his mouth, there was another series of uncontrollable exhaust sounds.
The scene froze for a moment.
Qu Ling bit his lip tightly to prevent himself from laughing out loud.
It is not possible to kill Prince Yi in the palace, but it is okay to make him look bad.
Zhao Yuanrong whispered to her, "You'll leave your name in history."
"ah--"
Prince Yi suddenly let out a scream that was not like a human voice, covered his hips tightly with his hands, and ran away in an extremely funny posture.
Qu Ling said softly, "This scene will be etched in people's minds for the next hundred years."
Fight for the throne?
Who would accept a person who caused such a scandal during the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven to ascend the throne?
Old Prince Jian has collapsed to the ground.
waste!
What a waste!
Useless thing!
The rest of the royal family either had ashen faces or were shaking from trying to hold back their laughter.
They were united against a common enemy just now, but now everything has collapsed.
"Prince Jian, do you have anything else to say?" asked the emperor.
The old prince was breathing unevenly, his face full of grief and anger.
He knew it was too late to say anything now.
The emperor then said to Zhao Yuanrong, "Prince, come here."
Zhao Yuanrong stepped onto the altar.
"My son, I will never let you suffer even a little bit like I have. I will clear the way for you to become emperor. Anyone who wants to replace you will be defeated."
The emperor personally handed the prince's golden seal to Zhao Yuanrong.
After the palace banquet, the newly appointed crown prince sent Qu Ling back to the princess's mansion.
"A Ling, what do you want?"
As Qu Ling walked up the stairs, Zhao Yuanrong called her.
The lanterns under the eaves of the princess's mansion cast a stream of light.
Qu Ling turned around.
The two sisters looked at each other from a distance.
"My sister said in front of my mother that I would be second only to her and above everyone else."
Qu Ling said, "From now on, sister has the power to make everything happen. I want to have a taste of that power."
Zhao Yuanrong saw the same ambition surging in her eyes as his own.
Very relieved.
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