Chapter 120 Long Live the Emperor (The End of the Main Text)
The study in Zhongyong Garden was packed with people.
There were colleagues in the government, comrades-in-arms on the battlefield, and old classmates. Although there were only a dozen or so people, they were all in important positions and were partners who could be completely trusted.
Everyone is here in this room to celebrate this grand occasion.
Lu Jinlan entered with Yan Wuxin, carrying a map of the capital's defenses.
Lu Jinlan looked at the faces around her. "You all risked your lives to come here and help me succeed. You are my brothers and sisters, and I am extremely grateful."
“You all know my character. I don’t want to say anything nice, but I will certainly not treat you unfairly after the matter is accomplished. However, I believe that you are not here for the rewards that will follow.”
"Therefore, I only have one sentence: Your fates are tied with mine, and success or failure depends on this. Tonight, I urge everyone to give it your all."
The crowd was already excited, and these words only fueled their fervor. Several of the younger members exclaimed, "Give the order! None of us are cowards. We'll do whatever you say! Tonight, let's pull off a big heist!"
Lu Jinlan spread the map out on the table, and everyone immediately gathered around.
Lu Jinlan said, "Let me first explain the current situation and the action plan for tonight. There are 20,000 Imperial Guards inside the palace, and 50,000 troops from the Capital Garrison and more than 10,000 troops from the Five Cities Garrison outside the palace."
"It seems that the enemy has the advantage in numbers, but our 50,000 Chicheng soldiers can fight ten against one, plus the 3,000 men under Sui and my Sharpshooter Team, the chances of victory are on our side."
"We are scheduled to make our move at midnight tonight. Before midnight, Sui Zhihui will first assemble three thousand imperial guards in the palace and be ready to provide support near the Shenwu Gate. Wuxin will lead my musketeer team to ambush inside the South Gate."
"At midnight, the Chicheng Army will enter through the south gate. If the guards refuse to cooperate, Wuxin will lead the musketeers to fight the first battle."
Luo Dali, familiar with the city gate defenses, quickly said, "There aren't many guards at the city gate, making it difficult to attack from the outside, but easy to breach from the inside. General Yan will be able to open the city gate in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."
Lu Jinlan nodded. "After the Chicheng Army enters the city, they will need a few people familiar with the city to guide them."
"Lewen, before the uprising, do not enter the city. Meet up with the Chicheng Army outside the city and tell them the plan. After entering the city, take Yue Chan and her 8,000 light cavalry and head straight for Shenwu Gate."
Lu Jinlan looked at Luo Dali and asked, "Dali, are there any difficulties at the Shenwu Sect?"
Luo Dali patted her chest and assured them, "Don't worry, I haven't been wasting my time these past two years. Now, the Shenwu Sect is full of my people. Come on, come on."
Lu Jinlan said, "Alright, after entering Shenwu Gate, immediately join up with the three thousand men led by Sui, rush towards the Imperial Guard barracks, take control of the palace guards, and absolutely do not allow them to come out. Otherwise, kill them without mercy."
Zuo Sui said, "The Imperial Guard's barracks only have one gate. My three thousand men can block it there. Let's send some troops elsewhere."
Lu Jinlan shook his head, "We must not be careless. These people are all loyal to the Emperor and the First Princess. If they launch a fierce attack, your three thousand men will not be able to hold them off, and it will be disastrous if we lose control of the situation. Don't worry about manpower; we have plenty of manpower."
"Eight thousand cavalrymen will join you in stopping the Imperial Guards, and the palace will be ours. Let another ten thousand Chicheng soldiers into the Shenwu Gate, and then we'll immediately close the gates and seal the palace."
"The same goes for the outer perimeter. Once the Chicheng Army has entered the city, immediately close the city gates. Wuxin will lead 10,000 men to rush towards the capital's garrison. Under no circumstances should we allow them to come to support the palace."
Yan Wuxin said, "Don't worry, with the Chicheng Army's combat strength, we can hold off enemies several times our size on the battlefield. The garrison in the capital has never seen bloodshed and is no match for us. I will not let a single person out until the dust settles."
Lu Jinlan said, "Alright, also let Yang Ning lead 10,000 men to take control of the Five Cities Military Command. Kong Luan will lead the remaining 12,000 men to be in charge of imposing martial law on the entire city."
"Yi Shu, you will lead the way. First, surround the residences of all officials in the capital, especially those who usually rely on the eldest princess. Second, take control of all city gates, fortresses, and main roads. No one is allowed to move except our people."
Chu Yishu quickly replied, "No problem, leave everything outside the palace to us, don't worry."
Lu Jinlan nodded and said to Guan Shanyue and Li Jingcao, "You two must enter the palace with the Chicheng Army. After we arrest Zhao Zhiyu's confidants, you must conduct an immediate trial and judgment. Before dawn, you must clarify the cause and effect of the Xiang Ruzhen incident and promptly announce it to the world."
Everyone accepted the order and went back to prepare.
Jin Yun Ning said anxiously, "How can you say I'm not involved? Is this old woman so useless?"
Zeng Ying also said, "You should let me do something. Who knows the way better than me?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "You two don't need to rush. I actually have something to ask of you, but it's not part of the fighting plan. Think about it, we have enough troops and manpower, surely we have something we're lacking?"
Jin Yun Ning pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "We lack a proper title for our training."
Lu Jinlan said, "That's right. If we have a legitimate reason to launch our campaign, everything will be much easier. I plan to go to the palace now and ask for an imperial edict. Once I have the edict, I will ask Lord Jin to use it to contact the officials on my behalf, so that no one will be unaware of the situation and cause trouble."
Jin Yun Ning hurriedly said, "Leave this matter to me."
Lu Jinlan then said to Zeng Ying, "Many people can do the fighting and killing. But some of the paperwork will have to be done by you. The fighting can be over before dawn, but how to proceed after dawn is something I need you to arrange for me."
Zeng Ying nodded. "Don't worry, I will have my trusted confidants prepare all the official documents and proclamations overnight. As long as you win, the entire city will know that you are the rightful new emperor by dawn."
*
Zhao Mincheng was indeed ill and bedridden. However, as an emperor, her keen senses still detected a hint of impending doom.
The bedchamber was unusually quiet. She coughed twice and said hoarsely, "Someone come here."
The bright yellow bed curtains were lifted, revealing a face that surprised her.
Zhao Mincheng exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? I have people by your side. Now that it's just me here, let's have a good talk in the last moments of your life."
Zhao Mincheng was stunned. "You dare to commit regicide?"
Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Perhaps this is a kind of inheritance. Although I don't want to admit it, I've recently felt that you and I are somewhat similar. We can do things like rebellion without hesitation."
Zhao Mincheng nodded heavily. "So you really do know everything."
Lu Jinlan said, "That's right, I know it all. You owe me too much."
"Years ago, you were an accomplice in the murder of my father and aunt in order to make a deal with someone else. Not long ago, you were an accomplice in the murder of my friend. Now, I want to make a deal with you."
Zhao Mincheng: "What deal?"
"Give me an imperial edict acknowledging my bloodline and establishing me as the crown prince, and I'll give you a colorless and odorless pill that will allow you to die peacefully. How about that?"
Zhao Mincheng laughed out loud after hearing this, "What kind of deal is this? What benefit does it bring me?"
Lu Jinlan said, "Of course there are benefits. Actually, whether you give me the imperial edict or not, I will still splatter blood in the palace. It's just a matter of different names. It doesn't make much difference to me, but it makes a big difference to you."
“This is a game I’m guaranteed to win. If you don’t give me a title, I have no relation to you, and you’re just a tyrannical ruler from the previous dynasty. If you give me a title, as your daughter, I will naturally give you posthumous honors.”
“I know you value your reputation. I will pin the blame for Xiang Ruzhen’s affair entirely on Zhao Zhiyu. You’ve just been deceived. In history books, you’ll be considered a wise and virtuous ruler, just a bit senile in your old age.”
“I am a daughter of the Zhao family, and this world still belongs to the Zhao family. You will be buried in the imperial mausoleum and be revered and worshipped.”
“Otherwise, the shameful things you did back then and the shameful things you did recently will be made public, and I have no reason to cover them up for you.”
Zhao Mincheng smiled wryly, "You really understand me. If you and your son had been safe back then, and you had grown up by my side, you would definitely be my most beloved and outstanding daughter."
Lu Jinlan sighed, "Unfortunately, there are no 'what ifs.' Your Majesty, there's no point in thinking about it. Just write the imperial edict."
Lu Jinlan placed the brush, ink, and a pill by the bedside. Zhao Mincheng remained silent for a long while before saying, "Alright, I can acknowledge your identity and even write an imperial edict establishing you as the heir apparent. But I must tell you, you're too late. Before you arrived, the First Princess had already taken away an imperial edict establishing the heir apparent."
Lu Jinlan nodded. "Then you should write it even more. You know her character better than I do. After the crown prince is chosen, you will have no reason to exist. If you don't die in my hands tonight, you might die in her hands tomorrow night."
“Each person will receive a separate imperial edict for establishing an heir; it’s very fair. Don’t show favoritism, just write it down, and we’ll handle the rest ourselves.”
Zhao Mincheng gritted his teeth, put the pill in his mouth, and picked up his brush to write on the imperial silk.
Her hands trembled slightly. After writing the last word, she finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the bed.
She gasped for breath, "I'm going to die. Before I die, can you call me 'Mother' one last time?"
Lu Jinlan lowered her eyes indifferently, "It's too late. If you had realized your mistake in time, you should have sent someone to find me sooner, and acknowledged me sooner. But you did nothing, and you ignored me for so many years. You probably thought I was dead."
"Later, when you met me, you didn't treat me like your daughter. How could there be so much suspicion and testing between a real mother and daughter?"
"When that baby was on the run, she couldn't speak yet, so she couldn't possibly call you. The only one alive now is Lu Jinzhao's daughter."
Lu Jinlan sighed and knelt down by the bedside. "After you die, I will honor you as the Emperor Emeritus. You may be laid to rest in peace."
The person on the bed finally stopped breathing. Lu Jinlan reached out and closed her eyes, then turned and left.
*
The guards at the south gate were dozing off when, at midnight, three loud bangs were heard, and three green signal flares rose into the air and exploded into three lotus flowers.
As the guards were filled with astonishment, a glimpse of tens of thousands of torches lit up in the distance, followed by the resounding sound of powerful hooves, and tens of thousands of troops instantly appeared at the city gates.
The guard captain asked in a panic, "Which unit are you from? What do you want?"
Yue Chan shouted, "The Chicheng Army has come to offer condolences. Open the city gates immediately!"
"Ah? The Red Army..." The man's legs went weak, and the people on both sides quickly supported him.
One of his men hurriedly asked, "Boss, what should we do? Her Highness the Crown Princess just sent someone to instruct us that not a single soldier is allowed to enter the city without her permission. Now that so many Chicheng Army soldiers have suddenly appeared, should we report it?"
The leader slapped her on the head. "Report to your head, my foot! What kind of fighting strength does the Chicheng Army have? If a battle breaks out, we'll be the first to be hit. Do you want to die? Besides, the First Princess said not a single soldier is allowed in. The Chicheng Army is here to mourn, so they won't be a problem, right?"
Another person hurriedly said, "But what if they start fighting in the city? What will we do then?"
The leader said, "Let them fight their battles, we'll defend ours. Never mind, open the city gates. Whoever wins will be the stronger one. If we survive, we'll be strong too."
Yan Wuxin had just received the imperial edict when he arrived too late. By the time he reached the city gate, the Chicheng Army had already entered in a grand procession.
Yan Wuxin was taken aback. "I haven't even issued this decree yet, why have they released them?"
Yang Ning: "I don't know, but I feel like they're really easy to fool."
Yan Wuxin hissed, "Alright, things are going even better than we expected. Then proceed according to plan. General Wu, take your men and follow me straight to the garrison!"
Yan Wuxin finally succeeded in reading the imperial edict at the garrison post: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, having received the mandate of Heaven, rule the four seas, and have always placed the ancestral temples and the state above all else. The position of Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation and should be held by a wise and virtuous person."
"Marquis Jing'an, Lu Jinlan, is truly my own flesh and blood. She is both a scholar and a warrior, and is wise and intelligent. Although she was separated from the palace as an infant, her noble lineage remains undiminished. She is virtuous and talented, and is fully capable of great things. I hereby grant her permission to return to her ancestral home, restore her status as the eldest daughter of the emperor, revert to her original name Zhao Zhilan, and establish her as the crown prince."
"I hereby decree that he shall enter the Eastern Palace and succeed to the throne. I hereby order the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious day, respectfully inform Heaven and Earth and the ancestral temples, and conduct the grand ceremony of investiture. This decree shall be proclaimed throughout the realm, so that all may know. This is my decree!"
After reading the imperial edict, Yan Wuxin closed it. "Everyone, did you hear that clearly?"
Some people disagreed and immediately stood up, saying, "The imperial edict is fake! The Emperor just appointed the original eldest princess as the crown prince, how could he possibly appoint another one?"
Yan Wuxin said, "The imperial edict is real, but the emperor's intention has changed. Those who do not believe it can go to the Inner Court to check the original document written by the emperor himself."
Another person stood up and protested, "Royal blood is not to be confused! We only recognize the original eldest princess."
Yan Wuxin frowned, quickly drew his sword, and dispatched the two men in two swift movements.
In the blink of an eye, many people didn't even have time to react; they just stared at the scene with their mouths agape in astonishment.
Yan Wuxin sheathed his sword. "I'll say it again, the imperial edict is real. Anyone who dares to disobey will be executed on the spot. Does anyone else have any objections?"
Everyone lowered their heads as they looked at the densely packed Red Army.
*
Zhao Zhiyu placed the imperial edict establishing the heir apparent under his pillow and was falling asleep peacefully when he suddenly heard deafening sounds of battle outside.
Her trusted aide burst in, "Your Highness, Lu Jinlan has rebelled! Everyone can't hold them off any longer, you must escape!"
Zhao Zhiyu exclaimed in surprise, "How is that possible? How many troops could she possibly have? Even 20,000 Imperial Guards couldn't hold her off?"
She picked up her sword and was about to rush out, but when she reached the door, Lu Jinlan's blade blocked her way.
Lu Jinlan warned Zhao Zhiyu, "Don't struggle, you are no match for me."
She gave a signal, and Yue Chan immediately led her men to seize Zhao Zhiyu's close attendants and take them away, also disarming Zhao Zhiyu.
Zhao Zhiyu closed his eyes, knowing that all was lost, and slumped into a chair in despair.
The guards behind him brought over a chair, and Lu Jinlan sat down, facing Zhao Zhiyu.
Lu Jinlan said, "Last time I came to see you, you refused to see me, but now we have finally met. Actually, there is a question I should have asked you a long time ago, but I thought it was a coincidence before, so I never asked it."
Zhao Zhiyu's face was tense. "What do you want to ask?"
What were you thinking when we first met?
Zhao Zhiyu sighed, "That was my first day at the college. I saw you arguing with a senior student, and then you got into a fight. You were a celebrity among the freshmen. Everyone knew you. You were so prominent, and you even had two friends by your side who stood by you through thick and thin."
"I was thinking then, you're really enviable, but it's okay, I'm not bad either. I'm the eldest princess, the throne will be mine in the future, and the three of you are my subjects. As long as you don't pose a threat to me, I've always treated you well, haven't I?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and shook her head, "You're nice to me because I'm useful to you, and you want me to be grateful for it?"
"I'm not asking you about our first meeting at the academy, but about our very first meeting."
"Have you forgotten? We already met at Fengchun Building before the start of the semester."
Zhao Zhiyu's expression changed, and Lu Jinlan took out the letter from Lou's mother-in-law from his bosom.
"Lou Jianming was convicted of disrespect and exiled to Changzhou. People only know that she was convicted, but they don't know why she was convicted. If it weren't for this letter, I think we would never have known that you once beat two civilians to death in the street."
"The Emperor has always been protective of his own, and he thought he could get away with it after reprimanding you a few times. Lou Jianming happened to learn of this and submitted a memorial to the throne, which led to the Emperor punishing him for great disrespect, and his whole family was implicated."
"She wrote to me to tell me the inside story, hoping to warn me to be careful. Because she knew that you were a ruthless person who was used to taking revenge for personal reasons. I didn't expect that Ruzhen would see the letter by accident."
Zhao Zhiyu sneered, "I'm really unlucky. I ran into two thieves on my first trip out of the palace. I was so angry that I killed them. What's the big deal?"
"But Xiang Ruzhen is so stubborn. She came to question me and even said that someone with my temperament is not fit to be a benevolent ruler. At this crucial moment of choosing an heir, how could she say such a thing to me?"
“I admit I’m afraid of her because she’s too stubborn. Once she gets fixated on something, she won’t let go. If I don’t get rid of her, she’ll impeach me the next day.”
“I calmed her down and went to see the Empress Dowager immediately. Actually, the Empress Dowager had been tolerating Xiang Ruzhen for a long time. As the Prime Minister, she always talked about putting the people first and argued with the Empress Dowager at the drop of a hat. The Empress Dowager didn’t like her, so we hit it off and killed her.”
Zhao Zhiyu pursed her lips. "She said I was cruel. Am I? She actually told the Empress that I was not suitable to inherit the throne and that the Empress should make other plans as soon as possible. Humph, I think she is just looking for an excuse to put you on the throne so that she can live a life of wealth and glory."
Lu Jinlan shook her head. "Even if she wants to put me in power, saying that you are cruel is a fact, not an excuse. She wants to put me in power, not for wealth and glory. You have known us for so many years, but it turns out you don't understand each other at all. It's a complete waste of our acquaintance."
Zhao Zhiyu scoffed, "How am I cruel? They were thieves. What crime is it for me to kill two thieves?"
Lu Jinlan sneered, "I might believe those two people were indeed thieves, but you beat two people to death. It can't have been a slip of the tongue, can it?"
Zhao Zhiyu said, "I just used too much force."
Lu Jinlan shook her head. "Stop making excuses. Have you forgotten the question I just asked you? What did you do at Fengchun Pavilion that night?"
Zhao Zhiyu gritted her teeth, "I'm going to drink with brothels."
"Nonsense! You're clearly going there for revenge."
Lu Jinlan said in a deep voice, "Lou Jianming was convicted because of you. All the women in his family were exiled, and the men were sold into brothels, but you are still not satisfied. You still want to go to Fengchun Pavilion. If I hadn't appeared by chance that night, you would have bought Lou Yumin. I guess you would have been more ruthless and killed another person, right?"
Zhao Zhiyu gritted her teeth, while Lu Jinlan glared at her. "Speechless? No more excuses? Ruzhen didn't wrong you at all. She just saw through you, and you disregarded our years of friendship and ruthlessly killed her. It's absolutely true that you're cruel."
Lu Jinlan impatiently put down a bottle of poison. "I don't want to say another word to you. Just kill yourself."
*
After a night of commotion, things finally calmed down at dawn. With the palace and its surroundings at peace, the Shenwu Gate reopened, and generals from all directions entered the palace to report back.
When Kong Luan arrived at the palace, he saw Sun Lewen, Chu Yishu, and others standing outside a palace and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Sun Lewen said with difficulty, "Lord Lu ordered Zhao Zhiyu to commit suicide, but she just sits there and still refuses to die."
Kong Luan said, "She has no choice but to die! You have to help her die! You can't wait until Marquis Lu ascends the throne and do it yourself, or you'll be guilty of murdering your own brother!"
Chu Yishu said, "We're classmates and roommates, we can't bring ourselves to do it. We just sent someone to call General Yue, let her handle it."
Kong Luanmang said, "Why wait for her? I'll do it."
As she spoke, she kicked open the door and entered, carrying a knife. "You're Zhao Zhiyu?"
Zhao Zhiyu was taken aback. She had only met Kong Luan briefly last time and didn't recognize her. She asked in confusion, "Who are you?"
Kong Luan didn't bother to answer. She slit his throat with a single blow, blood splattering everywhere. She turned and went out, saying to the people outside, "She committed suicide."
*
Zeng Ying handled the matter very well. As dawn broke, notices were posted everywhere, informing all subjects that the Emperor had passed away. In his dying wish, he had recognized his eldest daughter, Lu Jinlan, and made her the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince would hold court today and choose an auspicious day for his enthronement ceremony.
Attached are several detailed official documents, such as the imperial edict written in the emperor's own hand, and the dossier exonerating Xiang Ruzhen. Also included are descriptions of the new emperor Lu Jinlan's noble character, outstanding talent, and the auspicious clouds that appeared at his birth.
It can be said that when ordinary people wake up, they have a thick book of intricate and bizarre legendary stories to read.
Inside the palace, Xu Runnian, holding a dragon robe hastily made overnight, helped Lu Jinlan change into it before going to court.
Lu Jinlan held his hand, "You've suffered these past few years. When I bestow titles upon my concubines, I will definitely give you a rank."
Xu Runnian shook his head. "I don't care about rank. As long as you have me in your heart, even if I can only be your servant for the rest of my life, I will be content."
Lu Jinlan pinched his cheek. "You're content, I can't bear to part with you. Once I'm done with my work, I'll give you a proper title. Nobody else is here, so come keep me company tonight."
Xu Runnian blushed and immediately knelt down, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
Lu Jinlan smiled, "I'm going to court."
*
Lu Jinlan sat upright on the dragon throne, and all the civil and military officials shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Lu Jinlan took a deep breath. "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lu Jinlan waved his hand, and Zeng Ying immediately stepped forward to read the prepared imperial edict.
That was an imperial edict to reward meritorious service. Yan Wuxin, having made the greatest contribution, was appointed Grand Commandant, ranking among the three most respected figures. Jin Yunning remained as her Imperial Censor; the old woman, having weathered many storms, had become a veteran official of three dynasties in the blink of an eye.
The rest of the people were all rewarded.
The imperial edict was very long, and Zeng Ying read it for a long time. So long that Lu Jinlan stared blankly at the vacant position of Prime Minister, lost in thought. She couldn't help but think: If Ruzhen were still here, how wonderful that would be.
The period immediately following his ascension to the throne was the busiest, filled with numerous and complex matters. There were state affairs to manage, funeral arrangements for the retired emperor to be made, and the need to send people to bring back the family members who had just been relocated to Qu Kingdom.
Lu Jinlan worked tirelessly day and night, daring not to slack off, and even Yan Wuxin was kept extremely busy.
The two were handling government affairs by lamplight in the South Study. When they were tired, Yan Wuxin muttered, "If Ruzhen were here, that would be great."
The two looked at each other, their eyes both welling up with tears.
Yes, if Ruzhen were here, they wouldn't have to work so hard. But governing the country well was Ruzhen's wish. Thinking of this, the two could only continue to bury themselves in their work, burning out another candle in the process.
Lu Jinlan had been the emperor for a month, and even Lu Jinzhao couldn't stand it anymore. He had never seen her work so hard in his life.
"Lan'er, why don't you appoint yourself as prime minister? Always doing everything yourself and having so many memorials to read every day must be exhausting."
Lu Jinlan said, "I still want to reserve the position of Prime Minister for Ruzhen. Every time I see an empty seat in the court, I feel that she is there, reminding me to be diligent at all times."
"Mother, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. Wuxin will come to find me in a bit. The weather's nice today, let's go out of the palace for a walk and relax."
Lu Jinzhao then left with peace of mind.
Lu Jinlan changed into casual clothes and had just left the palace gate with Yan Wuxin in a carriage when they saw a man with several children and the guards at the gate pulling and tugging at each other.
Yan Wuxin went downstairs and asked, "What happened?"
The guard said, "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, this man insists on seeing the Emperor, but he can't explain what he wants to see."
Yan Wuxin hurriedly ran over to Lu Jinlan and whispered, "Is this some kind of romantic entanglement you got into outside? Someone has come to our door with a child."
Lu Jinlan did the math. "I do have a child who has been lost and wandering around. I've been busy these past few years and haven't been able to find her. But the child's father isn't this person. Go and ask him what happened first. Don't just pin this whole 'child without a mother' thing on me."
Yan Wuxin went over and asked again, then brought back an object. "That man said that once you see this, you'll understand everything."
Lu Jinlan took it and saw that it was a money pouch. It looked familiar, as if she had had one like it before.
But she'd already given herself to someone—who was it again? A jailer in the imperial prison. Five years ago, she was seeing Yan Weijin off on his final journey when the incident happened, and she happened to encounter a jailer whose family was also in mourning…
Lu Jinlan suddenly realized something, and her heart began to pound wildly.
She opened her purse and found a jade pendant inside. The pendant wasn't valuable, but it thrilled her greatly because it was a gift she had given to Xiang Ruzhen.
Lu Jinlan immediately jumped out of the car. The guards around her knelt down in a panic when they saw her, but Lu Jinlan ignored them. She grabbed the man and hurriedly asked, "Who gave you this jade pendant?"
The man said timidly, "Your Majesty, this was given to me by my wife. She told me to give this jade pendant to Marquis Jing'an today, but since you have become the emperor, I brought the children to the palace."
Lu Jinlan hurriedly asked, "Your wife's name is Jiang Tianjiao?"
"That's right, but she's been away from home for over a month... It was around the night the Prime Minister had his accident. My wife wasn't on duty that day, but her colleagues from the prison came to our house looking for her. They left after saying only a few words. Our house is near the prison. A little while later, she came back, put this jade pendant in her purse, and told me to give it to you in a month."
Did she say what she was going to do?
The man shook his head. "She only said there was something she absolutely had to do, and told me to pretend she was dead, not to tell anyone, not to look for her, and especially not to report her to the authorities."
Lu Jinlan nodded; she understood everything.
Indeed, no one wanted Xiang Ruzhen to die. Everyone knew she was innocent, especially the common people.
The fire wasn't an accident; it was deliberately set by the inmates. To repay a small favor from her years ago, Jiang Tianjiao, along with the others, switched Xiang Ruzhen's body. She herself became the eleventh corpse.
The situation that night was so urgent that even high-ranking officials were helpless, but in a moment no one could have imagined, a group of nameless prison guards changed the course of events.
They were ordinary, unremarkable people, yet in a critical moment, they acted decisively, sacrificing their lives for righteousness. All eleven of them are heroes and deserve the utmost respect and compensation.
Lu Jinlan sighed, "Did she mention any location? Or where I should go to find someone?"
The man nodded repeatedly. "Yes, she said if you want to know where that person is, she will tell you to go to Chenliu County in Nanzhou. The person you are looking for is there."
*
A few days later, Lu Jinlan and Yan Wuxin personally led a group to Chenliu.
It's a remote little county, but it has a large population. Yan Wuxin looked at the bustling crowd. "This county has 70,000 people, where are we even going to find them?"
Lu Jinlan sighed, "According to the information found by Lord Xue of the Ministry of Justice, after the incident that night, an old woman who was responsible for delivering food to the prison also disappeared. That old woman was from Chenliu, and I guess she brought Ruzhen back to her hometown."
Lu Jinlan then instructed Li Jingcao to contact the local government to find out where the old woman lived. She then pulled Yan Wuxin along and began searching around.
The two looked around the market, getting stepped on and jostled by people.
Yan Wuxin gritted her teeth and was furious. Just then, another person carrying a large bundle of firewood on his shoulder scraped against her clothes, tearing a gash.
Enraged, Yan Wuxin roared, "What's wrong with you? Are you blind? Let me tell you, this dress of mine..."
Yan Wuxin was halfway through his sentence when he saw the man's face and froze.
Hearing her arguing with someone, Lu Jinlan turned around and said, "Forget it, it's just a piece of clothing. Finding the person is the priority."
Yan Wuxin grabbed her wrist and gestured for her to look at the man carrying firewood.
The woman appeared to have suffered a head injury, with thick bandages wrapped around her head, and her face looked somewhat haggard. But they recognized her at a glance; it was Xiang Ruzhen.
The three looked at each other, and Lu Jinlan swallowed nervously before finally speaking, "You... do you still recognize us?"
Xiang Ruzhen smiled and said, "I just injured my head, I'm not blind."
Lu Jinlan breathed a sigh of relief, quickly threw the firewood off her body, and hugged her tightly.
The three of them laughed until tears streamed down their faces. Yan Wuxin angrily punched her, "What's wrong with you? You didn't utter a sound while you were alive, and you made us cry for a whole month."
Xiang Ruzhen said with difficulty, "Don't mention it. I refused to leave the prison. So they knocked me unconscious and handed me over to Aunt Hua. Aunt Hua was afraid I would go back, so she kept knocking me unconscious on the way. We even fell into the water and hit my head, which broke my head. I was unconscious for many days."
"When I woke up and learned that you had rebelled and Jinlan had become emperor, I really don't know if it's appropriate for me to come back to life now. Will the world think that we set up this scheme to rebel?"
Lu Jinlan: "What rebellion did I commit? I was... ascending the throne. The edict is real, why don't you believe it? Besides, I am the emperor now. If you come back to life, so be it. I don't care what others say."
Xiang Ruzhen said, "Now that you are the emperor, you should care more about the people's judgment and be a good emperor loved by the people."
Lu Jinlan blinked. "Shall I appoint you as Imperial Tutor? You're giving me a lesson the moment we meet."
Yan Wuxin laughed and said, "The position of Prime Minister is still vacant, so there's no need to say anything. You should go back quickly. These past few days, the memorials must have piled up like a mountain, all of which are your work. This past month, we've been exhausted from having to cry and you work. As long as you're alive, don't even think about slacking off."
The two men each grabbed one of Xiang Ruzhen's arms. "Come on, we're taking you back to the capital. Don't even think about running away."
Xiang Ruzhen hurriedly said, "Let me go back and say goodbye to Aunt Hua first. We must explain this matter clearly to the world."
Lu Jinlan: "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you, but you also have to listen to me about one thing. There's something I need to take care of as soon as we get back."
Xiang Ruzhen hurriedly asked, "Is it a reform? I've had many thoughts during my time recuperating, and I'd like to share them with you."
Lu Jinlan hurriedly said, "The reform is your business, you can handle it when you get back. I'm talking about my own business, my harem is empty, it's not lively with too few people, I need to select concubines quickly."
Yan Wuxin immediately said, "I second that! We should summon handsome men from all over the land, and I'll accompany you in the selection. Perhaps I'll like the ones you don't like!"
Xiang Ruzhen said anxiously, "If you all go to select concubines, who will handle the government affairs?"
The two of them pointed at her simultaneously, "You!"
Lu Jinlan waved his sleeve and said, "I've been fighting wars for so many years, can't I enjoy myself a little?"
Yan Wuxin: "That's right, Your Excellency, do you even understand the ways of a subject?"
Xiang Ruzhen gritted her teeth, "Enjoy yourself? The way of a subject? I'll teach you all the ways of a subject!"
The two men turned and ran, and the three figures chased each other along the country road. They could vaguely hear someone shouting, "Rebellion! Protect the Emperor!"
Then came a burst of laughter.
-----------------------
Author's Note: 500,000 words, 5,000 followers! Oh my god, congratulations! The main story is finished! I'm so excited, I don't even know what to say.
First of all, thank you to every reader who loves this book, and thank you for everyone's encouragement and support. Several times when I was feeling down and doubting myself, it was your comments that helped me regain my confidence.
Secondly, I want to explain why the pace of the later chapters is faster. It was all written according to the outline, and even after finishing the main text, I still felt unsatisfied and didn't rush to finish it. Why does it seem faster? It's probably because I struggled to write the most intense parts. Seriously, I cried every time a character cried. Many times, even when the characters weren't crying, I was crying; I didn't want to, but I couldn't control myself. For example, when Yan Weijin died, I didn't know it was a tearjerker moment, but as I wrote, I cried for her. I'm extremely sensitive to tears and easily empathize, so towards the end, I often cried until I had headaches, seriously affecting my physical condition. I just wanted this turbulent plot to pass quickly and return to a relaxed and happy life. This week, I updated 50,000 words, more than double my usual amount. There was an eagerness to end all the turmoil, but I wrote every part carefully and didn't try to fool everyone. Also, the epilogue will pick up right after the main plot, starting the selection of concubines and letting everyone enjoy the happy life of an emperor. There will also be incognito visits, picking up a man wherever they go. In addition, they found the children and their fathers who had been separated from their families. Overall, it's a very exciting story; just thinking about it makes me laugh. Please leave a comment if there's anything else you'd like to see. The extra chapters are expected to be released over about a month, updated according to the popularity rankings.
Finally, I want to thank my dearest friend, who is also a reader of this book. In fact, no matter what I write, she is always willing to be my reader. I think it is because I have the best friendship in the world that I can write about a friendship stronger than gold. My friend is the most important person in my life. She always believed in me and encouraged me, and no matter poverty or hardship, no matter what circumstances we encountered, we have never been separated. We have gone hungry together, experienced the most difficult times in life together, supported each other all the way, and always stood together. Thank you.
Lastly, see you in the bonus chapter. Thank you again for supporting the official version. *bows*
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
