Your Majesty must still cherish the bond between husband and wife with Feng Jun.
Although His Majesty cherishes Feng Jun, he did not bury him with the rites due to Feng Jun, but only with the rites due to a noble consort. His Majesty does not know whether he is concerned about Feng Jun's betrayal or wants to make room for the father of the two princes.
Even if we bury Feng Jun with the rites due to a Feng Jun, wouldn't he no longer be in the harem? There's absolutely no need to make room for him; the position of Feng Jun is already vacant. It doesn't matter who His Majesty chooses to appoint as Feng Jun.
An official, as if seeing an opportunity, quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, with the passing of the Phoenix Lord, the position of the Empress is vacant. We humbly request Your Majesty to appoint a new Phoenix Lord."
The official's words immediately earned him a sharp glare from Su Xuening.
These people are really caring.
The officials were not familiar with Su Xuening and did not know her temperament. When she shot them a sharp look, the officials who originally wanted to come out to offer advice immediately dared not utter a sound.
The official who had spoken earlier was glared at by Su Xuening and immediately panicked. Without waiting for Duanmu Junyu to speak, he forced a dry laugh and said, "Your Majesty, I was just saying it casually. You don't need to take it seriously."
After the official finished speaking, he withdrew.
This sudden change made Duanmu Junyu unable to help but laugh.
Ning'er is really something else. Usually, when faced with this kind of problem, these officials swarm around her like bees smelling honey.
Every time she received advice, it was the same old nonsense; she was sick of hearing it.
This is amazing! She didn't even have to say anything; these people automatically shut up, and even the one who was supposed to speak swallowed his words. This is truly rare.
She used to worry that Ning'er hadn't grown up with the spirit of Xi Liang, and that when she ascended the throne, these officials might not respect her.
Now it seems she was worrying unnecessarily. Because Ning'er didn't grow up in Xiliang, and because she was usually aloof and quiet, it actually made the officials wary of her. Even a single glance from her was enough to silence them.
This can be considered a good sign.
What Duanmu Junyu didn't know was that these officials were so wary of Su Xuening not only because of her aloof personality and their unfamiliarity with her, but also because she was the Crown Princess recognized by the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast, and the Emperor's only daughter, deeply favored by him.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the throne of the empress will surely be hers, and they naturally dare not offend this future empress.
Even if it means offending His Majesty, it's better not to offend the Crown Princess. After all, His Majesty is no longer young, but the Crown Princess is still very young!
After no one objected to the first imperial edict, Duanmu Junyu had Jinzhu issue a second imperial edict.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shao Yichen led troops into battle with unparalleled loyalty, yet he was murdered by Duanmu Shenghua, causing the Emperor great sorrow at the loss of a loyal and capable general. Shao Yichen is posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, and shall be buried in Haoyuan Garden. His daughter, Shao Jingling, is hereby promoted to Grand General, commanding the three armies."
Shao Jingling hurriedly came out, knelt down to receive the imperial decree: "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks you!"
Duanmu Junyu looked at Shao Jingling's face, which resembled Shao Yichen's, and said with some regret, "Your mother was the most loyal to me, but I failed to protect her and caused her to die because of me. I am sorry to her."
Shao Jingling was surprised that Duanmu Junyu cared so much about her mother. Her eyes immediately reddened, and she choked up, saying, "My mother taught me from a young age to be loyal to the emperor and love my country. It was my mother who failed to protect His Majesty, causing His Majesty to wander outside for twenty years. His Majesty did not blame my mother or implicate the Shao family. He even bestowed a title upon my mother and was willing to let me serve His Majesty. This is already a blessing for me and the Shao family. I will repay His Majesty's kindness to the Shao family with the rest of my life."
Previously, Shao Jingling actually hated Duanmu Junyu, or rather, she hated Duanmu Shenghua, who had impersonated Duanmu Junyu for the past twenty years.
Years ago, my mother led troops to accompany His Majesty on a campaign, but was poisoned. When she returned, all she found was a decaying corpse. Despite the many suspicious circumstances surrounding my mother's death, His Majesty insisted that she had been poisoned by one of her close attendants and refused to re-examine her death.
Anyone with eyes could see that the attendant by her mother's side couldn't possibly have poisoned her. She had always wanted to find the murderer. And the Emperor, who had been unwilling to investigate her mother's death thoroughly, became the object of her suspicion. She even genuinely suspected that the Emperor had killed her mother.
But she couldn't find the reason why His Majesty harmed her mother. She didn't understand why His Majesty would have no reason to harm her when her mother was so loyal to him.
Now she finally understood that she was right; the one who harmed her mother was indeed His Majesty, the one who impersonated him, Duanmu Shenghua.
Because her mother knew she was plotting against the emperor, she poisoned her mother to silence her and also seized control of the military power her mother held.
Fortunately, His Majesty returned and exposed all of Duanmu Shenghua's conspiracies. He not only avenged his mother but also posthumously honored her and even appointed her as a Grand General, commanding the three armies.
She would never forget His Majesty's kindness to her mother and the Shao family.
In addition to posthumously honoring Shao Yichen and bestowing additional titles upon Shao Jingling, Duanmu Junyu also dismissed many members of the Huiwang faction in the court.
However, since the Huiwang faction occupied 70% of the court, Duanmu Junyu could not dismiss everyone at once. She could only dismiss some important officials first, and she did not touch the remaining key officials for the time being.
However, since these people are part of Prince Hui's faction, they naturally won't fare well with Duanmu Junyu. She currently has no one under her command, and once the imperial examinations are reopened and talented individuals are selected, these people will have to be gradually replaced.
However, after Duanmu Junyu's major dismissal, the court officials were all in a state of fear.
After issuing one imperial edict after another, Duanmu Junyu issued the final imperial edict.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Crown Princess Duanmu Xuening shall be sent as an envoy to Eastern Chu. Left Chancellor Lan Jingxiao and General Shao Jingling shall accompany her on the mission and protect the Crown Princess."
The courtiers were completely bewildered, not understanding Duanmu Junyu's sudden decision to send the Crown Princess to Eastern Chu.
What happened? The Crown Princess just finished her postpartum confinement. She should be resting properly. Why did His Majesty suddenly send her to Eastern Chu?
Su Xuening was surprised that Duanmu Junyu had issued a special imperial edict. She stepped forward to accept the edict and said, "Your subject accepts the edict and thanks Your Majesty."
Lan Jingxiao and Shao Jingling also came out to receive the decree: "Your subject receives the decree."
Duanmu Junyu looked at Lan Jingxiao and Shao Jingling and said, "You two are going to Eastern Chu with the Crown Princess. You must protect her well, do you understand?"
The two immediately bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will certainly protect the Crown Princess."
Duanmu Junyu was satisfied: "Alright, let's adjourn the court. You two go back and prepare; we'll depart today."
"Yes." Although Lan Jingxiao and Shao Jingling did not know the Emperor's purpose in sending the Crown Princess to Eastern Chu, nor did they know why he was in such a hurry, they still immediately agreed.
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