Yan Jinbai smiled and said, "Father naturally thinks everything about Mother is good. Whatever Mother says is right. Mother is the most knowledgeable in our family. From now on, Mother will be the one to take the helm of all matters inside and outside the family."
Xie Wanyun glared at him and said, "You are such a disrespectful kid. You dare to make fun of me?"
The family chatted and laughed and didn't mention the matter again.
The next day, before dawn, the father and son attended the morning court.
The ministers filed in, exchanging glances with each other, wondering who would inherit the throne.
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies rang out in a high-pitched voice, "The Queen Mother has arrived!"
Behind heavy curtains, the Queen Mother walked out slowly, dressed in court robes and a phoenix crown.
All the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the Queen Mother".
The Queen Mother did not sit on the throne. She stood firmly and said, "Everyone, please stand up."
"Thank you, Queen Mother!"
The Queen Mother looked around at everyone with a sharp gaze.
The hall was completely silent.
"All the nobles are waiting for an answer from me. Today, I will bring to the court a new emperor who is both virtuous and talented, and who is benevolent and loving to his people."
Like cold water dropped into a frying pan, the court erupted in excitement. The ministers wondered what the Queen Mother was keeping secret. She hadn't revealed the new emperor, and he hadn't even appeared.
"Please let the Queen Mother know so that we can welcome the new emperor!"
Yan Suizhi also felt puzzled, and everyone stretched their necks waiting for the new king to appear.
"Where is Chief Minister Yan Suizhi?"
The Queen Mother suddenly spoke loudly.
Yan Sui was stunned. Did they want him to preside over the event? But he knew nothing.
He had no choice but to step out and bow. "I am here."
The Queen Mother made a gesture for silence, and the noisy court suddenly quieted down.
"The Chief Minister of the Cabinet, Yan Suizhi, is a descendant of the late emperor. He is benevolent, courteous, and virtuous, with exceptional talent and wisdom, and a noble character. He is worthy of the great responsibility and can inherit the throne!"
The Queen Mother's words were like a bolt of lightning, like thunder across the sky, causing a huge uproar in the court! Everyone was stunned.
This is so unexpected! How did Yan Suizhi become the bloodline of the late emperor? Unheard of!
Yan Suizhi himself was also confused, his head was buzzing, and he did not hear the exclamations and questions around him.
How could this be explained? Ever since he had learned about his origins, he had lamented his fate, but he had never considered returning to his roots.
He and Xie Wanyun had never told Jin Bai this secret. He never expected that the Queen Mother would announce it on the spot and let him inherit the throne.
He calmed himself and shouted, "Queen Dowager, this is absolutely unacceptable! How could I, a minister, dare to succeed the throne? Please, Queen Dowager, revoke your order!"
Regent Han Cheng stepped out and said, "Queen Dowager, how can we play with the royal bloodline? Since the Queen Dowager claims that Lord Yan is the late emperor's bloodline, you must provide evidence to convince others."
The chief eunuch shrieked, "Everyone, please be quiet! The Queen Mother has something to say!"
The noisy court immediately quieted down.
The Empress Dowager had already written Yan Suizhi's life story in a book, which was read out in public by the eunuchs.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. The Queen Mother had clearly made desperate preparations to push Yan Sui to the throne, even though such a secret of the imperial family was publicly announced.
The Queen Mother looked at the shocked crowd and added, "I know that it will be difficult for you to accept this for the time being. However, since this concerns the royal bloodline, I dare not falsify it, no matter how daring I am. I also have the handwritten letters between Emperor Dezong and the former Prime Minister Huang Yanjing, which clearly state the facts."
As the empress dowager spoke, she signaled the eunuch to place the letter on a jade tray and carry it away for everyone to examine to see if it was written by the emperor himself.
After it was circulated around, everyone fell silent.
"Do you have any objections, my Lords?" the Queen Mother asked majestically.
"We have no objection! We will follow the Empress Dowager's order!" all the ministers responded in unison.
"In that case, Yan Suizhi, are you willing to inherit the throne?"
Yan Suizhi stood there in a daze, his feet feeling like they were stepping on cotton.
The people around looked at him with envy, jealousy, or shock.
He himself found it incredible. Was this heaven-sent throne a blessing or a curse? He instinctively wanted to escape.
He also didn't understand what the Queen Mother was thinking. Why would she rather depose her own grandson and promote him, who had no blood relationship with her, to the throne?
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