Chapter 180 (End of Main Text)
Inside Chengqian Palace, Lu Zhaoxue personally placed the nine-tasseled crown, a symbol of imperial status, on Chu Lingyang's head.
"Zhaozhao." Lu Zhaoxue's voice was choked with emotion, yet it also held an undeniable pride. "From this day forward, you will be the new emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the ruler of this world."
Chu Lingyang grasped Lu Zhaoxue's slightly cool hand and said in a steady tone, "Mother, I know that I will protect this vast land, protect the foundation you and Father have built, and protect the people of the world!"
Three bells rang out from outside the hall; the auspicious time had arrived!
Chu Lingyang walked slowly out of Chengqian Palace. On both sides of the palace road, the Imperial Guards were wearing silver armor and holding long spears. Civil and military officials were already waiting outside Taihe Hall, arranged according to their rank.
Dressed in a dragon robe, Chu Siheng stood on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, watching Chu Lingyang ascend the steps one by one, tears glistening in his eyes.
Chu Siheng reigned for eighteen years, working diligently to create a prosperous era. Now, he can finally hand over this heavy responsibility to his most proud daughter.
Chu Lingyang walked to the foot of the steps and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"
Chu Siheng reached out to help Chu Lingyang up, took her hand, and walked step by step toward the supreme dragon throne.
All the civil and military officials in the hall knelt down, their shouts echoing through the heavens: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Chu Siheng placed Chu Lingyang's hand on the armrest of the dragon throne and said in a deep voice, "From this day forward, I abdicate in favor of Crown Princess Chu Lingyang! I hope that all of you will be of one mind and one heart to assist the new emperor and jointly protect the eternal stability of our Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"Your Majesty, we obey!"
Chu Siheng turned around, gave Chu Lingyang a deep look, and then slowly walked down the steps to stand at the head of all the officials.
Chu Lingyang sat on the dragon throne, her gaze sweeping over the bowing crowd below. She raised her hand, her voice clear and majestic, resounding throughout the Taihe Hall: "All of you, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The officials rose and looked up at the new emperor on the dragon throne, their eyes filled with heartfelt admiration.
Chu Lingyang sat upright on the dragon throne, looked around the hall, and said loudly, "After I ascended the throne, I will first propose three policies."
"Firstly, with the floods in Jiangnan initially quelled, the region was exempted from taxes for three years, and three million taels of silver from the imperial treasury were allocated to help the people rebuild their homes!"
"Secondly, the remnants of the barbarians have not yet been eliminated. The Ministry of War is ordered to strengthen border defenses and strictly guard the passes. At the same time, envoys are dispatched to appease the various tribes along the border, using both kindness and force to secure the frontier!"
"Thirdly, we will continue the policies implemented by our mother, Empress Lu Zhaoxue, to widely open schools for girls, select virtuous and capable women to serve as officials in the court, promote agriculture and commerce, and enrich the people so that all the people of our Great Zhou can live and work in peace and contentment!"
As soon as Chu Lingyang finished speaking, a chorus of agreement arose in the hall.
Chu Siheng and Lu Zhaoxue stood below the steps, watching their daughter calmly issue decrees, their eyes filled with satisfaction.
After the coronation ceremony, Chu Lingyang did not indulge in the extravagance of the celebration, but immediately summoned her ministers to discuss state affairs.
Inside the Imperial Study, candlelight blazed throughout the night. Chu Lingyang buried herself in memorials, reviewing documents submitted from various regions and writing her own vermilion annotations.
In the stillness of the night, Chu Lingyang stood alone by the window of the Imperial Study, gazing at the moonlight outside. The evening breeze blew, stirring her clothes. She raised her hand to touch the jade pendant at her waist, which Lu Zhaoxue had personally put on her.
"Father, Mother," Chu Lingyang whispered, her eyes shining with determination.
"I will certainly not let you down. I will make this Great Zhou Dynasty shine even brighter in my hands!"
The era belonging to Chu Lingyang has only just begun.
The undercurrents in the imperial court, the menacing threats beyond the borders, and the crises lurking beneath the surface of this prosperous era all await this young empress to resolve.
Chu Lingyang was ready to take charge of the world as a woman and create a legend that would last for thousands of years!
...
"Finally, I can unload this burden." Chu Siheng let out a long sigh of relief, stretched, and turned his head to rest it on Lu Zhaoxue's shoulder without warning.
"Siheng." Lu Zhaoxue gently brushed her fingertips across the few new silver strands at his temples, a smile appearing in her eyes.
"I see that the older you get, the more childish you become! Is it really okay for us to just leave like this?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Siheng raised his head, his gaze falling into Lu Zhaoxue's smiling eyes. His previous laziness and nonchalance vanished completely, and he said seriously, "Ah Xue, Zhaozhao is now eighteen years old. She is well-versed in the classics and historical texts, and is also familiar with the ways of checks and balances in the court."
“We have already paved the way for her perfectly. She should have taken charge of the world long ago. We should be at ease.”
After saying that, Chu Siheng leaned his head back on Lu Zhaoxue's shoulder, took her hand, and lowered his head to place a soft kiss on her palm.
"Ah Xue, what do you think about us going to Jiangnan? I want to be with you..." Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Zhaoxue's smiling voice cut her off.
Lu Zhaoxue turned her head slightly and looked at Chu Siheng, saying each word clearly: "You want to stroll with me through ten miles of apricot blossoms in spring, admire the fragrance of lotus flowers in the pond in summer, sit and drink under the moon in autumn, and warm each other by the fire in winter, listening to the silent snow falling outside the window."
Chu Siheng's eyes suddenly lit up, and his voice tinged with excitement: "Ah Xue, you...you still remember?"
Lu Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow, shedding the dignified and composed demeanor she had cultivated over the years in charge of the harem. Her lively and spirited appearance was exactly the same as when Chu Siheng first met her.
Chu Siheng's heart trembled. Even though the river of time rolls onward, the vibrancy in Lu Zhaoxue's eyes has never been worn down by time.
"I remember everything you said."
Chu Siheng's smile deepened, even the fine lines around his eyes seemed to radiate sweetness. He leaned close to Lu Zhaoxue's ear, "So... wasn't it you who... did you feel something for me back then..."
This was a question that Chu Siheng had kept hidden for half his life. Even though he had once been the most powerful man in the land, possessing vast territory, he was always the one in a subordinate position in this relationship.
Of course, this was just Chu Siheng's opinion; Lu Zhaoxue didn't think so.
"Yes." Lu Zhaoxue nodded gently, and the word landed heavily on Chu Siheng's heart.
Lu Zhaoxue paused, a touch of tender reminiscence filling her eyes, and continued, "Back then, when you were enfeoffed as the King of Mo Nan and ordered to go to Mo Nan, I begged Chu Huaiyu to let me see you one last time, but unfortunately you refused to see me. Actually, I wanted to tell you my feelings for you back then."
"Chu Siheng, I like you."
"Chu Siheng, I love you."
Upon hearing this, Chu Siheng's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He hadn't dared to face it back then, nor was he willing to. But he never expected that Lu Zhaoxue's words back then would be these. He reached out and pulled Lu Zhaoxue into his arms tightly.
Fortunately, after many twists and turns throughout their lives, Chu Siheng and Lu Zhaoxue finally met, fell in love, and spent their lives together.
End of main text.
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