After the court session, Duanmu Shenghua went directly to Duanmu Qingxin's palace.
Seeing Duanmu Shenghua approach, Duanmu Qingxin said with some dissatisfaction, "Aunt, why didn't you speak up for me in court just now?"
Duanmu Shenghua gave her a cold look: "Duanmu Junyu has made up her mind, and she won't listen to me no matter what I say."
Duanmu Shenghua had her own difficulties, but Duanmu Qingxin only felt that she was deliberately fobbing her off, and said coldly, "Forget it, it's better to rely on yourself than on others. Fortunately, I managed to secure the opportunity to be conferred a title with that bastard tomorrow."
Duanmu Shenghua frowned with worry: "Are you really planning to attend the investiture ceremony tomorrow?"
Upon hearing Duanmu Shenghua's words, Duanmu Qingxin's expression instantly changed, and she stared sharply at Duanmu Shenghua: "Imperial Aunt, are you on my side or not?"
She had always thought that her aunt was supportive of her, or even the only person in the entire Western Liang who supported her.
Her father had already abandoned her, but her aunt still stood by her side.
But now it seems that she isn't as supportive of her as she thought!
Seeing that Duanmu Qingxin had misunderstood her, Duanmu Shenghua became a little anxious and quickly explained, "No, I'm just worried that something might go wrong tomorrow, and I'm worried about you..."
"Are you worried that I won't gain the Vermilion Bird's approval?" Before Duanmu Shenghua could finish explaining, Duanmu Qingxin interrupted her coldly: "So you think that bastard is more likely to gain the Vermilion Bird's approval?"
These words left Duanmu Shenghua speechless, and in fact, that was exactly what she was thinking.
Although she was unwilling, she had to admit that Duanmu Junyu's daughter might be more likely to gain that stinky bird's approval than her own daughter. After all, it was Duanmu Junyu, not her, who gained the stinky bird's approval in the first place!
She had lost to Duanmu Junyu before, but now that her daughter is being compared to Duanmu Junyu's daughter, she truly couldn't have predicted this outcome...
Seeing Duanmu Shenghua's expression, Duanmu Qingxin knew her answer and immediately said angrily, "How long has Duanmu Xuening been in Xiliang? How many times has she seen the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast? I grew up in the Xiliang Imperial Palace and have seen the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast far more often than she has. How can I be inferior to her?"
Duanmu Shenghua remained silent, her gaze deep.
This child is still too naive. Sometimes, some things are not judged by the length of time.
Seeing that Duanmu Shenghua still didn't believe her, Duanmu Qingxin was furious: "I don't think I'm inferior to Duanmu Xuening in any way, nor do I think she's better than me in any way. Since the Vermilion Bird is a divine beast, it will definitely make the right choice. I believe in it, and I also believe that I will never lose!"
Looking at the confident Duanmu Qingxin, Duanmu Shenghua couldn't help but think of herself back then.
When she learned that she would be chosen by the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast along with Duanmu Junyu, she was just as confident, thinking that apart from Duanmu Junyu being more beautiful and two years older than her, Duanmu Junyu was in no way comparable to her.
She was smarter and more quick-witted than Duanmu Junyu, and her methods were more ruthless and efficient. Given this comparison, she was convinced that the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast would not choose her.
But things didn't go as planned. The Vermilion Bird divine beast didn't choose her, and Duanmu Junyu ultimately triumphed. In the end, it was Duanmu Junyu who became the crown princess and ascended the throne.
Duanmu Qingxin didn't want to say anything more to Duanmu Shenghua: "I'm tired and want to sleep. Aunt, you should go back first! We can talk about everything else tomorrow."
At this moment, Duanmu Qingxin no longer regarded Duanmu Shenghua as her lifeline. If she didn't know that most of Xiliang's military force was in Duanmu Shenghua's hands, Duanmu Qingxin probably wouldn't want to pay any more attention to her.
Duanmu Shenghua gave Duanmu Qingxin a deep look.
She knew that Duanmu Junyu wouldn't listen to anything she said now, and since Duanmu Junyu had already issued an imperial decree, it seemed that the only solution was to directly cause a scene and use military force.
Regardless, we should still give it a try. Even if she succeeds in her uprising and elevates Xin'er to power, Xin'er will still need that jerk's approval in the future, so it's better to try now.
What if Xin'er could win that stinky bird's approval? Wouldn't that make everything wonderful?
"Then I'll head back now, and we'll discuss everything after tomorrow."
Duanmu Shenghua turned and left.
Whether or not she should use military force, and how she should use it, will all be discussed after tomorrow's investiture ceremony.
After Duanmu Shenghua left, Duanmu Qingxin's expression instantly turned extremely sinister.
Never give her the chance to ascend the throne, otherwise she will not let go of Duanmu Xuening, Duanmu Shenghua, or even the Empress Dowager!
The next day, after the morning court session, everyone moved together to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The investiture ceremony for the Crown Princess of Xiliang had to be held at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and had to be completely public, which meant that all the people of Xiliang could come and witness the ceremony.
Inviting the Vermilion Bird to Xiliang is the most important ceremony, which is why it is allowed to be witnessed in this way, which can also be regarded as a way to demonstrate fairness.
Since anyone could attend the ceremony, Duanmu Junyu also brought Su Yun'an, Bai Shi, Pei Luo, You Yi, and Dao Yi along.
It's unclear who leaked the news, but when Duanmu Junyu and Su Xuening went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple together, they were immediately surrounded by onlookers.
"It's Her Majesty the Empress! Her Majesty has actually shown her face today. It's been a very, very long time since Her Majesty has revealed her true appearance."
"So Your Majesty is this beautiful!"
"You don't know this, but when His Majesty was young, he was the most beautiful woman in our Western Liang. How could he not be beautiful? I didn't expect that after all these years, his appearance hasn't changed much."
"Is that His Majesty's illegitimate daughter? She looks exactly like His Majesty, but younger."
“They really are exactly the same. The boy behind them is the same too. They look just like His Majesty. It seems they were all just brought into the palace. They are His Majesty’s illegitimate daughters and sons.”
"They actually resemble His Majesty more than the previous Crown Prince. The Crown Prince doesn't look much like His Majesty at all."
"I heard that His Majesty seems to prefer her illegitimate daughter and son, and even intends to make her illegitimate daughter the crown prince!"
"Wasn't it said before that His Majesty was grooming the Crown Prince? How did the Crown Prince become that illegitimate daughter?"
"However, no matter how much His Majesty likes this illegitimate daughter and wants to make her the crown prince, he still needs the approval of the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast."
"Therefore, His Majesty has also permitted the Crown Prince to participate in this investiture ceremony, so that she may also undergo the test of the Vermilion Bird divine beast."
"That shows that His Majesty still cares about the Crown Prince, so this can be considered fair competition."
"Who do you think the Vermilion Bird divine beast will approve of more?"
“Look at all the empresses, they were all born of the legitimate wife. The Vermilion Bird is a divine beast, how could it possibly be interested in an illegitimate daughter?”
"I also think the Crown Prince will definitely win. Just wait and see, the one who will be named Crown Prince in the end will definitely be the former Crown Prince!"
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