One step to the throne
Inside the Minyou Hall, the morning light was just breaking and all officials stood in awe.
Since Ning Lingyi returned, voices urging him to ascend the throne have been heard from all walks of life.
Ning Lingyi glanced at the ministers in the hall. Those faces carried the operation of this empire.
She finally spoke, "Recently, there's been a lot of discussion both inside and outside the court, saying that the country can't be without a king for too long, and there's been a lot of urging for the throne."
You could hear a pin drop in the hall. Several important officials standing in the front row moved their eyes slightly, waiting for the next step.
"I understand what you all mean." Ning Lingyi's voice echoed in the empty hall. "Since ancient times, emperors have inherited the mandate of Heaven. This isn't just for the honor of a single family or clan, but to shepherd the people and nurture them on behalf of Heaven. Only by obeying Heaven's will and bringing peace to the people can one maintain this position without falling."
She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across the faces that held their breath in concentration. "Since Guangqi lost his way and Heshuo was lost, until today when the Western Qiang were pacified and the territory was initially restored, there have indeed been a few minor achievements during this period. However, these achievements are not the work of Ning Lingyi alone."
"It is the service of the soldiers who shed blood on the battlefield and died in their horsehide; it is the service of the king's ministers who toiled day and night on their work; and it is the service of the millions of people across the country who donated grain and paid taxes to provide for our army."
Before he finished speaking, several of the military officers had tears in their eyes, and there was a slight commotion in the civil officials' ranks. Many people were overwhelmed by this sudden affirmation.
"This achievement," Ning Lingyi said, looking around at everyone, "is not the work of me alone, but the result of everyone's efforts!"
"Your Highness!" The old Prime Minister Wang Jingzhi stepped forward. "Your Highness is so humble and modest, and this old minister admires you! However, precisely because of this, Your Highness should obey the will of heaven and take the throne. Only then can you unite the people and rule the four directions!"
Shen Qingyan also stepped out calmly, speaking earnestly: "Your Highness's achievements are comparable to the sun and the moon. Although the world is not completely at peace now, Your Highness is needed to legitimize the situation and reassure the people of the world."
For a time, voices of persuasion rose one after another, and the public sentiment was surging.
Ning Lingyi listened quietly, and when the noise subsided a bit, she raised her hand to indicate, "Everyone's words are from the public good, I understand."
She changed the subject: "But looking at the Southern Dynasty today, people's lives are still difficult. The world still has the cries of hunger and cold, and still suffers from displacement!"
The hall gradually became quiet, and everyone stared at the imperial steps.
"We are but a dim lamp, barely lighting a candle in the darkness of the night, able only to illuminate a few steps below. The road ahead is long. How can we dare to speak of success? How can we speak of a prosperous age?"
"At this time when the country is in trouble and the people are not at peace," she glanced at Wang Jingzhi, Nong Zishi, Shen Qingyan, and every minister.
"If I, because of some minor merit, could eagerly ascend to the throne of the Supreme Being and comfortably enjoy the worship of the people, how would I be any different from those foolish people in the late Guangqi period who only cared about exploiting and enjoying themselves, without caring about the lives of the people?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was shocked!
Several important officials who were originally preparing to persuade him to ascend the throne again had their words stuck in their throats, and some middle and lower-level officials looked at each other with surprise written on their faces.
"Therefore, today, I, Ning Lingyi, here in the Minyou Hall, will report to Heaven and Earth, to our ancestors, and to all my ministers."
"I have decided to stop at the throne first!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Minyou Hall exploded as if ice water was poured into boiling oil!
"Your Highness!" Wang Jingzhi's voice trembled, and he was almost in tears.
Nong Zishi wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth and looked at Ning Lingyi's resolute expression, which eventually turned into a heavy sigh.
Ning Lingyi raised her hand, suppressing all the noise, and said, "It's not that I'm unwilling to take on the responsibility, but my virtue and achievements have not yet reached the level I deserve. When I can take this final step is not determined by me, but by the people of the world."
"When the world is truly at peace, the people truly live in peace, and the people truly support me, that day will be the day for me, Ning Lingyi, to follow the will of heaven and ascend the throne."
Seeing her firm attitude, the ministers knew there was no room for maneuver.
After a brief silence, someone started shouting:
"Your Highness the Princess is wise!"
"Long live His Highness!"
"We, your Highness, will do our utmost to assist you and create a peaceful and prosperous world!"
The thunderous roars rang out again. This time, there was less utilitarian persuasion and more heartfelt respect.
Ning Lingyi nodded, and waited for the noise to subside before continuing, "There's another thing. Emperor Chenglie died a heroic death for his country, but the country is undergoing a transformation, and new policies should be implemented."
She pondered for a moment, then said aloud, "From now on, we will change the name of the year to 'Shenshen', which means to reflect on one's mistakes and put them aside forever."
Shen Qingyan immediately grasped the meaning of this and bowed first, saying, "Your Highness is wise! We will reflect on our mistakes and work diligently and pragmatically every day to live up to Your Highness's high expectations!"
More ministers responded in unison: "Your Highness is wise and wise. We will reflect on ourselves every day!"
The sound echoed in the Minyou Hall, marking the beginning of a new era in the Southern Dynasty.
*
After the court was dismissed, all the officials dispersed with different thoughts.
Su Qingfan did not leave with the crowd. She followed Ning Lingyi silently, without saying a word, until they stepped into the study in the back hall.
The palace door closed gently, blocking out the noise from outside.
Su Qingfan couldn't help but take a step forward: "Your Majesty, Qingfan really doesn't understand what happened today."
Ning Lingyi asked, "What's unclear?"
"It is extremely difficult for a woman to be in power. It has never happened before! Now that the general trend has been established and the people are united, it is a great opportunity for Your Majesty to take charge of the world. Why... why do you have to take this step back at this time? Do you know how many variables will be added if you take this step back and want to take another step forward in the future? How many delusions will those people in the court who have ulterior motives have?" Su Qingfan asked.
Ning Lingyi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, her voice a little erratic: "Qingfan, the meticulous writing of history books is the most rigorous, but also the most frivolous."
She turned around and looked at Su Qingfan with a deep gaze. "How will future generations write about this day? They'll say that Ning Lingyi was cunning and forced my younger brother to death. If I were to impatiently sit on the throne while the blood of Yanhe is still wet, wouldn't that just confirm this speculation? It would be a bad omen."
Su Qingfan was startled and said anxiously: "But Your Majesty, you are clearly not! Emperor Chenglie is..."
"He volunteered. I know, you know, and many people here know." Ning Lingyi interrupted her, her tone tinged with bitterness. "But people in later generations won't know. They'll only see the outcome: the sister survived and became emperor; the brother died, reigning for only one day. How can history books capture the helplessness and heartache of that moment in just a few words?"
She walked to the desk, her fingertips brushing across the cool surface. "Ascending the throne now will not only fail to quell the rumors, but will also turn the last bit of brotherly love between Yan He and me into a scandal of power struggle. I can't... I can't let Yan He's death become so unbearable."
Su Qingfan saw the pain in Ning Lingyi's eyes, his heart trembling, and his tone softened. "But Your Majesty, you've already reached this position. Whether you advance or not, you'll inevitably be judged by future generations and smeared. So, why not take real power into your own hands first? At least, we can do more of what we want to do and protect more of the people we want to protect."
Ning Lingyi slowly shook her head, her gaze cast into the void, as if saying to herself, "Over the past few years, I've often restrained myself, never letting my emotions show, and never letting my likes and dislikes show. Even with you, I must maintain the distinction between ruler and subject."
Her voice deepened, carrying a hint of vulnerability unknown to outsiders: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid that once I truly sit in that position, enveloped by that supreme power, I'll be completely lost. I'll no longer be myself, and I'll become a true loner. That position will completely devour me..."
She looked at Su Qingfan, with a hint of pleading in her eyes: "I hope that day will come later, even later. Let me... be Ning Lingyi for a little longer, instead of being an emperor."
Su Qingfan understood completely.
She looked at the woman in front of her who was carrying so much but still struggling to retain a trace of her original heart, and her heart was filled with great bitterness and pity.
She whispered, "I understand. Then... later."
From that day on, Su Qingfan no longer regarded Ning Lingyi as just the monarch in private.
She would rush into the study, carrying thick account books and documents, and complain in a completely unpresentable manner: "Your Highness! Look at the accounts sent by those people from the Ministry of Revenue. They are simply a mess! Do they really think I am blind?"
Ning Lingyi often looked up from the piles of documents, looked at her helplessly, then took the account book and checked it with her carefully. Sometimes the two of them argued until they were red in the face.
"Those royal family members are becoming more and more outrageous!"
Su Qingfan would sometimes get so angry that he would throw the account book. "Everyone comes here in various ways to ask for rewards, saying that they are maintaining the dignity of the royal family. I think they are just parasites! And the Imperial Household Department, they always buy inferior things and pass them off as good ones. If this continues, I'd better quit my job as the Minister of General Affairs of the Imperial Palace."
Ning Lingyi had no choice but to put down the red brush and rubbed her brow to appease him: "As for the royal family, I will find a way to reprimand them. As for the affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you can investigate them freely. Do what needs to be done and dismiss what needs to be dismissed. I will support you."
"That's easy to say!" Su Qingfan glared at her. "Where are the manpower? Where are the reliable ones? They all pretend to obey but secretly disobey. I can't do this job anymore!"
Once, the two of them were arguing over a sum of money. When the argument got heated, Su Qingfan threw his official hat on the table and angrily said, "Whoever wants to be an official can do it! I quit!"
After saying that, he actually turned around and left.
Ning Lingyi was so angry that her face turned pale behind her, and she ignored her even after calling her several times.
A few days later, news came that Su Qingfan had actually taken a boat and gone back to Mingzhou to "relax".
Upon hearing the news, Ning Lingyi was both angry and amused. He issued three imperial edicts in succession, each one more severe than the last, ordering her to return to the capital immediately.
Half a month later, Su Qingfan came back slowly. There was no fear on his face. Instead, he brought several women to Ning Lingyi with a smile.
"Your Highness, please don't be angry."
Su Qingfan stepped forward, smiling, "I didn't go back to Mingzhou for fun, I went to recruit talents for you! Look at these people, they are all masters of mathematics, calendar, and even industrial accomplishments, but because they are women, they are buried in the countryside. I finally invited them out of retirement, do you think... can you give them official positions and let them work under me? It will save me from complaining every day that there is no one to use, right?"
Ning Lingyi looked at her and wanted to drag her out and give her a beating, but when she glanced at the women who seemed a little reserved but had clear eyes, the anger in her heart subsided.
She frowned and scolded Su Qingfan harshly, accusing her of disrespecting the king.
Su Qingfan just lowered his head, looking like "I know I was wrong but I will dare to do it again next time."
Finally, Ning Lingyi sighed and said gently to the women, "Since Lord Su has recommended you, you will temporarily serve under her. I hope you will work diligently and not let your studies go to waste."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace!" The women were extremely surprised and knelt down to express their gratitude.
Su Qingfan immediately smiled and came forward and said, "Your Highness is wise!"
From then on, the court structure quietly took shape.
and Su Qingfan, with his unique identity, as the Minister of General Affairs of the Imperial Palace and the Minister of Military Affairs, holds the palace and part of the military power, and with Ning Lingyi's tacit approval, becomes an indispensable "internal minister" in the court.
The four important ministers had different styles and strengths. They checked and balanced each other and jointly supported the Southern Dynasty court in the early years of "self-reflection".
Although Ning Lingyi did not claim to be the emperor, he was actually the emperor. He sat firmly at the center of this power structure, leading the country towards an unknown but hopeful future.
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