Chapter 36: The Prelude to the Succession Struggle
The ancestors of the Great Qi Dynasty conquered the country on horseback, and since Emperor Gaozu, all emperors have valued riding and archery.
Every summer and winter, the emperor would lead his civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and members of prominent families to hunt in the Northern Garden.
Beiyuan was a royal hunting ground. Since its construction in the early years of the dynasty, it has been a place where the emperor and his ministers competed in martial arts and displayed their prowess.
However, since His Majesty's headaches became increasingly severe, the annual Beiyuan Hunting Ceremony has been entrusted to the Eldest Princess.
Although the emperor still personally attended the ceremony, he no longer went hunting with a bow.
The eldest princess was indeed quite skilled in riding and archery, not only among the top-tier children of aristocratic families, but also able to rival the guards of the palace and the generals of the capital's armies.
Her annual hunts were unparalleled, and even seasoned generals who fought year after year praised her archery skills, privately saying that she had "the legacy of her ancestors."
The atmosphere at the morning assembly before the hunt this year was somewhat unusual.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices suddenly suggested that the Second Prince be in charge of the pre-hunting sacrificial ceremony this year.
Upon hearing this, everyone unconsciously looked at the eldest princess standing in the front row.
Historically, the rituals of offering sacrifices to Mazu before the hunt and presenting the game to the Imperial Ancestral Temple after the hunt were always performed by the eldest princess on behalf of the emperor.
This is not only an affirmation of her abilities, but also a symbol of power and honor.
At this moment, the words of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices clearly dragged the Second Prince, who had never been involved in court politics, into the battlefield of power struggles.
At this moment, Prime Minister Cui stepped forward to reply: "Your Majesty, what the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices said is absolutely right. The Second Prince is about to come of age, and he should participate more in these royal ceremonies to familiarize himself with the rules and regulations, so as to prepare for sharing the burden in the future."
Although he didn't say it explicitly, everyone understood the implied meaning.
The second prince has reached the age where he should be involved in core affairs. The eldest princess cannot continue to hold these symbolic duties of imperial power. It is time to "return power" to the prince.
Sacrifice may seem like just a ritual, but in reality it is a symbol of power representing the emperor's communication with heaven, earth, and ancestors.
Whoever presides over this ceremony is seen by the world as being closer to the center of power, and is even considered a potential successor.
As the Second Prince's maternal uncle, the fact that Prime Minister Cui has taken the initiative to step forward speaks volumes about its significance.
He wanted to use this sacrificial ceremony to pave the way for the second prince and undermine Li Yuanzhao's position.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the old ministers who followed the Cui family and some old ministers who disliked women interfering in politics all stood up and strongly urged the emperor to let the second prince preside over the sacrificial ceremony. Their words were full of arguments such as "ancestral rites and laws cannot be abandoned", "a hen crowing at dawn is not a good omen", and "men should inherit the state".
"Your Majesty, the Princess is, after all, a woman. It is ultimately improper for her to preside over the sacrificial ceremony!"
"The Second Prince is of royal blood, so it is perfectly legitimate for him to preside over the sacrificial ceremony!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider. Do not break the ancestral rules because of momentary favoritism!"
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face somewhat pale, and his headache seemed to be throbbing again. He did not speak.
At this moment, Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Works stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that the matter of the sacrifice is of great importance and should be presided over by someone who is familiar with the ceremonies and acts with prudence. The eldest princess has presided over the ceremony for many years without ever making a mistake, and is indeed the best choice. Although the second prince needs to gain experience, there is no need to rush. He can learn from the side and preside over the ceremony when he is more proficient.”
This official was born into a poor family and was young and inexperienced. He had no connections in the court and only rose to the position of Minister of Works thanks to Li Yuanzhao's promotion.
For him, the eldest princess was his support, so naturally he would do everything in his power to speak up for her.
With Lord Zhang taking the lead, the young officials who had been promoted by Li Yuanzhao also stepped forward one after another, expressing their support for the princess to continue presiding over the sacrificial ceremony.
They were either scholars from humble backgrounds or marginalized officials ostracized by aristocratic families, and all of them owed their current positions to the Princess. Naturally, they wanted to band together to protect their "roots."
For a time, two distinct factions emerged within the hall.
The faction led by Prime Minister Cui strongly advocated that the Second Prince take the lead, while the officials from humble backgrounds, led by Lord Zhang, strongly supported Li Yuanzhao. The two groups knelt on the ground in a dense crowd, arguing back and forth, turning the court into a noisy marketplace.
A simple sacrificial ceremony was treated as if it were a major event affecting the fate of the nation, with both sides on the verge of conflict and neither willing to back down.
Apart from Prime Minister Zheng and a few self-proclaimed upright officials, they remained firmly in the court ranks, observing the situation with indifferent expressions.
They were unwilling to side with Prime Minister Cui, nor did they want to get involved in the conflict between the eldest princess and the second prince. They simply stood by and watched, awaiting the emperor's decision.
Li Yuanzhao stood at the front, her court dress accentuating her upright posture. Her expression remained unchanged, as if she had not heard the argument between the two sides.
After the arguing had subsided, the Emperor finally spoke leisurely, "Yuan Zhao has indeed presided over the position for many years without ever making a mistake, however..."
He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the arguing ministers below, a hint of hesitation in his voice, clearly indicating he was weighing his options.
Seeing that His Majesty's attitude was ambiguous, Cui Xiang quickly pressed on, saying, "Your Majesty, we are not questioning the Eldest Princess's abilities, but the Second Prince does indeed need more experience. Moreover, presiding over a ceremony such as the sacrifice to Mazu, which is related to the spirit of the army, is a man's job. Having the prince preside over the ceremony will better demonstrate the martial spirit of our Great Qi."
"Oh?" Li Yuanzhao finally spoke, his gaze sharp as he looked at Prime Minister Cui. "According to Prime Minister Cui, women cannot display martial spirit? Is the land of my Great Qi only protected by men? Where does Prime Minister Cui place my mother?"
Everyone knows that His Majesty's throne was largely secured by Empress Shen's military achievements.
It was only when Empress Shen led a large army to quell the rebellion that the Qi dynasty was able to stabilize its rule.
As a result, she developed a host of chronic illnesses and died young.
This achievement, inscribed on a stone tablet in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, is unparalleled.
Prime Minister Cui was caught off guard by the question, his expression changing slightly. "Your Highness, you flatter me. That was not my intention, it's just..."
"But what?" Li Yuanzhao pressed on. "When my mother was fighting on the battlefield, did anyone say that women couldn't lead troops? The women's army under General Yang, a founding hero, expanded the territory of the Great Qi. Did anyone say that women couldn't be martial? In Prime Minister Cui's eyes, are their achievements less important than a man's business?"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and said, word by word, "Prime Minister Cui's words are likely to chill the hearts of women throughout the land!"
Upon hearing this, the court fell silent instantly, and even the emperor's expression changed.
Perhaps it was because he was thinking of his deceased wife who had fought for him all her life, but when his gaze fell on Li Yuanzhao, there was a touch of complex tenderness in his eyes.
This is the only child left by the Empress, and his features are full of the spirit she possessed back then.
The Emperor finally relented, "Let Que Nu handle this matter. Yuan You is still young and not familiar with the ceremonial rules. If he were to preside over it rashly, he might make a mistake. It would be good for him to watch from the side and learn."
Prime Minister Cui wanted to say something more, but the Emperor raised his hand to stop him.
"This matter is settled; there is no need for further discussion." The Emperor's voice deepened, carrying the majesty of an emperor. "Court adjourned."
The figure on the dragon throne rose and left, leaving the entire hall in silence.
Prime Minister Cui stood frozen in place, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.
He ultimately underestimated Li Yuanzhao.
With just a few words, the emperor was moved by his longing for his deceased wife and his old feelings were stirred up, causing him to completely side with her.
This battle over the right to perform sacrifices ended in victory for Li Yuanzhao.
But everyone understands that this is just the prelude to the struggle for the crown prince position.
As the emperor's health deteriorates, the power struggles in the court will only intensify.
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