Chapter 83: A Husband's Appearance, A Wife's Glory
The crown prince forced the emperor to abdicate and ascend the throne, while Emperor Chunming was imprisoned. Overnight, the political landscape of the court changed dramatically.
In the Taihe Palace, the new emperor, dressed in a black and gold imperial robe, sat on the majestic dragon throne, announcing to the world the numerous crimes of Emperor Chunming and the empress.
The court officials looked at each other, speechless with fear.
The court officials, unaware of the truth, then realized that Prince Rui had not simply gotten a free ride and been elected to the throne by the people. Instead, he had meticulously planned and schemed, even betraying the country and colluding with the enemy. He had sacrificed the lives of the late emperor and 50,000 soldiers to harm Empress Huigong and her unborn child, all to pave the way for his ambitions.
Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, he has sentenced Emperor Chunming, the Empress, and Feng Yu to death by slow slicing, with their heads hanging on the city wall for three months to comfort the spirits of Emperor Jingyou and Empress Huigong in heaven.
Former favorites of Emperor Chunming were imprisoned and tried one after another. Former officials who acted as accomplices to the emperor were exiled or beheaded, while loyal officials who had been ostracized and suppressed during Emperor Chunming's reign were reinstated and quickly filled the vacancies in their positions.
As for the concubines and princes of Emperor Chunming's harem, Prince Chen executed them, while the rest were either exiled or imprisoned in the imperial mausoleum, to pray for Emperor Jingyou and Empress Huigong for the rest of their lives. As for the concubines who had no children and had committed no wrongdoing, those whose families, during the new emperor's coup, not only did not aid and abet the evildoers but were also willing to serve the new emperor, were released without charge and returned home to reunite with their families.
The new emperor acted swiftly and decisively, employing an iron fist; in less than two months, the entire court was transformed.
On this day, during a meeting in the Imperial Study, Grand Tutor Pei Zhi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has been rectifying the court and eliminating treacherous officials in recent days, which is a blessing for the country. Now that all departments of the court are operating in an orderly manner and various new policies are being steadily promoted, it is time for Your Majesty to expand your harem and have more children."
Upon hearing this, several senior officials stepped forward to offer their advice.
The new emperor, Xiao Qi'an, is over twenty years old. His marriage has been delayed in recent years due to the war in the northern frontier. Emperor Chunming and his wife have also been delaying it openly and secretly, resulting in the new emperor having no children and no wife.
Now that the treacherous officials have been eliminated, the selection of concubines for the imperial harem should be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
Xiao Qi'an smiled and said, "I already have someone in mind. I have asked the Imperial Observatory to select several auspicious days. Why don't you all discuss it together and set a date?"
To everyone's surprise, His Majesty already had a plan. While they were still wondering which noble lady it was, Cao Yuanlu had already announced several auspicious days: the first day of the end of May, the second day of June, the second day of July, and three days in August.
Everyone was secretly surprised; were the dates really this early?
The process of preparing the three letters and six rites is complicated, and the Empress's wedding dress still needs to be made in time; there are only a few days left in May.
However, it is only natural for His Majesty to be anxious, after all, at his age, most people already have both sons and daughters.
The court officials began to discuss it amongst themselves.
Regarding the urgency of the time, Xiao Qi'an reassured everyone that there was no need to worry, "The horoscopes have already been matched, and the auspicious betrothal ceremony can be carried out at any time. The Empress's wedding dress and phoenix crown are also being made. I have assigned more people to speed up the work, and they will definitely be completed before June."
The Minister of Rites said, "In that case, the sooner the better."
At this moment, the Vice Minister of War, who had been silent all along, stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty has only been on the throne for a month, and the important affairs of the court have just begun. It is still a bit hasty to confer the title of Empress at the end of the month."
The Grand Secretary beside him nodded in agreement, "How about we set it for June 18th?"
Who wouldn't want the emperor to fill his harem and have more children as soon as possible?
After a moment's consideration, the Vice Minister of War said, "The heat of June is still intense, the wedding attire is heavy, and the rituals are complicated. I'm afraid Your Majesty and the Empress will be overworked."
Xiao Qi'an frowned.
Everyone agreed, "Then July?"
The Vice Minister of War further stated, "July is the Ghost Month, when the gates of hell are wide open, which is an ominous sign and not suitable for marriage."
Xiao Qi'an: "..."
The ministers: "..."
Not only did Xiao Qi'an's face darken, but several senior ministers also secretly grumbled inwardly.
"Your Majesty is celibate, and now that you have finally decided to marry, this person is doing everything in your power to obstruct it. What is the reason for this?"
"It's one thing for you to be all alone, but His Majesty's marriage concerns the fate of the nation and the succession of the imperial heir. How can it be delayed any longer!"
"His Majesty rescued you from Pengcheng and entrusted you with important responsibilities, and this is how you repay His Majesty?"
Xiao Qi'an pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, let's set it for the 18th of August. What does the Imperial Father-in-law think?"
A seemingly casual remark carried a thunderous impact. The officials present exchanged bewildered glances. The "father-in-law" the emperor had spoken of... was right among them?!
After a long silence, the newly appointed Vice Minister of War slowly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has made up your mind, so let us decide according to Your Majesty's will."
After everyone confirmed several times, they were certain that it was Sheng Yu, the Vice Minister of War who had been delaying the conversation.
"His Majesty's chosen successor for the empress is actually the daughter of Minister Sheng?"
"Wasn't he a lonely man with no wife or children? Where did this daughter come from?"
However, these words could not be said openly, so the officials still bowed and congratulated him: "Minister Sheng has a handsome and elegant appearance and outstanding demeanor. I suppose Her Majesty the Empress must also be a fairy with a beautiful face and a stunning appearance."
Sheng Yu smiled helplessly.
After leaving the Imperial Study, he went to the Ministry of War to look at some files.
When His Majesty ascended the throne, I thought he would take over the position of Commander Feng Yu, but unexpectedly he entered the Ministry of War. The Emperor's grace is boundless, and this is an honor and dignity for the Empress's maternal family.
Busy until noon, Sheng Yu returned to his residence, only to find that the imperial envoy for the betrothal had arrived before him.
Cao Yuanlu, holding the imperial edict, led the betrothal envoy forward, followed by a large procession of palace eunuchs carrying the betrothal gifts of gold, silver, and jade. The place was bustling with activity, and the streets were abuzz with discussion.
Sheng Yu asked Chun Chan, "Where is the girl?"
Spring Cicada had never seen anything like this before, and replied in a low voice, "The young lady went shopping to listen to storytelling."
Sheng Yu had no choice but to bow to Cao Yuanlu: "My daughter has gone out and hasn't returned yet. I'll send someone to look for her right away..."
Cao Yuanlu hurriedly said, "No rush, no rush, this servant will wait."
Sheng Yu hurriedly sent someone to look for it.
Cao Yuanlu followed him into the hall and saw that his brows were furrowed and never relaxed. He couldn't help but comfort him, "Don't worry, Minister. The young lady is His Majesty's first wife and has been with him through thick and thin. Their bond is extraordinary. You have seen His Majesty's affection for her. In the future, when she enters the palace, she will be the mother of the nation and the mistress of the harem. She will never be wronged."
Sheng Yu wasn't worried about that. Besides, as a lowly subject, how could he dare to interfere in His Majesty's marriage? For an ordinary family, this would be an immense honor, and they would be too busy kowtowing and expressing their gratitude.
He had finally found his daughter and wanted to give her all the love he had missed over the years. How could a few months of companionship be enough?
Moreover, once she enters the palace, even if she gains the Emperor's favor and assumes an unparalleled noble status, she will be bound by rules and regulations for the rest of her life. In the future, she may even have to engage in scheming and intrigue with others in that treacherous palace.
He couldn't bear to part with it, but he was powerless to change anything.
His Majesty wants to make her Empress, and the girl is willing to enter the palace. What right does her father, who came from another place in the family, have to stop her?
Previously, when His Majesty came to the residence to pick her up, he could only use ancestral rules and marriage customs as reasons to keep her for a while longer.
Sheng Yu sighed, "My daughter is innocent and pure, and has been confined to the palace for many years. Now that she has finally been allowed to leave the palace, I only hope that she can unleash her true nature and live a happy and carefree life."
Cao Yuanlu reassured him, "His Majesty loves the young lady, so how could he bear to keep her confined in the palace? In the six months you were away, whenever His Majesty left the palace, he always took the young lady with him."
Sheng Yu was slightly surprised, but also worried. It was probably because the girl could relieve her headaches that she kept her by her side.
Cao Yuanlu said, "On the Lantern Festival, I personally accompanied the young lady to stroll through the lantern market, and in Pingzhou Prefecture, I spent a fortune just to let the young lady have a good time."
Sheng Yu finally couldn't help but laugh: "Really?"
Thinking of that little girl whose eyes would light up at the sight of silver, I wonder how happy she would be to receive these gifts.
Seeing that his tense face had finally relaxed, Cao Yuanlu smiled and said, "As long as the young lady makes a request, His Majesty will not refuse. Even if she dares not make a request, His Majesty will find a way to fulfill her wishes. So you can rest assured that once the young lady enters the palace, His Majesty will never let her suffer any grievances."
Sheng Yu nodded slightly, then, as if remembering something, quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "How dare I, how dare I?"
Since the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the court had undergone a bloody purge, and only since May has it slowly returned to calm.
Yun Kui couldn't stand the loneliness and wanted to go out every day in May.
The world outside the palace was completely new to her.
During the ten years I spent outside the palace as a child, I was always hungry and had to be mindful of others' opinions. I didn't even have the money to buy a candied hawthorn. Later, when I entered the palace, I no longer had to worry about food and clothing, but I lost the freedom to run wild outside the palace.
These days, I have more money than I can spend, and I can stroll around the streets every day, find decades-old restaurants in the back alleys to eat hot pot, and go to teahouses to listen to storytelling, drink tea and eat snacks. I can sit there for half a day. It's like living the life of a god.
During the Pingzhou Prefecture incident, His Majesty gave her three thousand taels of silver and insisted that she spend it all in one night. She had no choice but to spend it lavishly. Although she enjoyed it, it didn't fit her habit of being frugal for many years. She still preferred to carry silver in her pocket and stroll slowly through the shops, buying some cheap but favorite snacks and trinkets, and she enjoyed bargaining.
Of course, she also had to see how the dozens of prime shops His Majesty had given her were doing. As the owner behind the shops, she went there without revealing her identity. Seeing that her shops were in excellent locations and doing brisk business, she was overjoyed.
After getting tired of walking around, they found a teahouse under their own name, and Huaiqing and Huaizhu found a secluded tea table to sit down and continue listening to storytelling.
"It is said that this Jade-Faced War God General is not only renowned for his bravery and resourcefulness, but he also always leads from the front in every battle. Wherever he goes, the children of Northern Wei tremble with fear..."
"Bravo!" The entire audience clapped and cheered in unison.
"The Jade-Faced War God was exceptionally discerning in recognizing talent among his soldiers, treating them with respect and humility. He not only ate and lived alongside them, but even personally shielded his men from enemy blades..."
Upon hearing this, the people showed expressions of both admiration and worry. "How is the Jade-Faced War God?"
The storyteller gently waved his paper fan: "The Jade-Faced War God has swept through thousands of troops; how could he easily let villains succeed?"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"This Jade-Faced War God is not only incredibly brave and invincible, but also extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a tall and imposing figure, and eight-pack abs..."
The female customers in the store all blushed, and some even teased, "How do you know he has eight-pack abs? Have you seen them before?"
The storyteller laughed and said, "Of course, some people have seen it."
Yun Kui listened with great interest, completely unaware that someone else had moved to her side.
She covered her face and chuckled, but then suddenly heard a voice beside her: "Jade-faced War God, extremely handsome, and with eight-pack abs?"
Yun Kui trembled with fright and quickly turned around to look. She saw the man in a black and gold brocade robe with wide sleeves looking at her with a half-smile.
"Your Majesty... why are you here?" She almost stammered.
Xiao Qi'an said, "The betrothal envoy came to deliver the decree, but the Empress was busy and not at home, so I had no choice but to come and find her myself."
Yun Kui's eyes widened: "An imperial decree? Is it an edict to make her empress?"
Xiao Qi'an was very dissatisfied with her reaction. "What, you don't want to?"
Yun Kui quickly shook her head: "I just feel... it's too sudden."
"I haven't had enough fun yet!"
The thought had just popped into her head when she belatedly remembered that he could read minds, so she quickly put on a smile and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds for him.
Xiao Qi'an's face darkened: "Your good father went against everyone's wishes and postponed the date to August."
Yun Kui counted on her fingers, "That means there are still three months left!"
Xiao Qi'an saw the smile in her eyes and gritted his teeth inwardly: "Don't you want to enter the palace? Don't you want to marry me?"
Yun Kui: "Of course not!"
Xiao Qi'an curled his lips and said, "You seem to be having a good time, your mind is wandering, and you're no longer needed by me."
Here we go again. When I'm in a good mood, I refer to myself as "I," and when I'm in a bad mood, I use "朕" (the imperial "I").
Yun Kui raised her chin and said, "Then I didn't just eat, drink and have fun outside the palace. I also made a lot of efforts to restore His Majesty's image in the eyes of the people."
Last month, an imperial edict was issued to the world, announcing that the heads of Emperor Chunming and his wife were hanging on the city wall. No one could believe that the benevolent and wise Emperor Chunming was the criminal who killed the late emperor and 50,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, the rumored tyrannical and bloodthirsty crown prince ascended the throne, causing widespread panic among the people, who feared that what awaited them was a life of heavy punishments, taxes, and misery.
Yun Kui wandered around the streets and discovered that even if the truth came out, His Majesty's reputation among the people would still be that of a handsome but ruthless and tyrannical ruler. The people were easily swayed by rumors, and Emperor Chunming took advantage of this to make the Crown Prince infamous among the people and lose their support.
Yun Kui then thought of bribing storytellers to tell the story of the Jade-Faced War God in the busiest teahouses and restaurants in the city, and hiring a few commoners to embellish the story. Thus, the heroic name of His Majesty the Jade-Faced War God slowly spread throughout the city.
Xiao Qi'an frowned: "So what if I'm heroic? Why do I have to announce to the world that I have eight-pack abs?"
Yun Kui secretly touched his waist. "You don't understand! A husband's appearance is a wife's glory. My husband is handsome, so I don't want to hide it."
The girl's dark, bright eyes gazed at him, and her soft little hands, even through the thin fabric, easily elicited a reaction from the slightest touch, sending shivers down his spine.
Xiao Qi'an's eyes darkened.
Just as she was about to speak, Huai Zhu stepped forward and reported that someone from the manor had arrived and asked the young lady to return to the manor immediately to receive an imperial decree.
Yun Kui quickly stood up, "Then I'll go back first..."
Before she could finish speaking, the man casually instructed, "Just say your young lady is taking a nap upstairs and will return in two hours."
Yun Kui: "...Isn't this inappropriate?"
Before he finished speaking, he was picked up and carried horizontally.
The man stepped upstairs, looked down at her, and said, "What's wrong with that? I issued the decree. You can accept it whenever you want, and no one dares to say a word against it."
Yun Kui is the owner of the teahouse and often comes to listen to storytelling, giving the storyteller some advice and guidance. So she simply reserved a private room on the third floor for her to rest in on weekdays.
This wasn't the first time Xiao Qi'an had come to this place, which served as their "secret base" outside the palace. He went upstairs familiarly, walked to the innermost room on the east side, kicked open the door, and put the person directly on the bed.
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