White lanterns were hung in the capital.
The Liangyi Hall in the imperial palace was hung with white banners.
According to the custom, court officials and ladies went to the palace to mourn.
The empty Xingqing Palace seemed particularly deserted.
Liu Zhao sat on the steps, looking out the palace gate, without moving for a long time.
It gets light, and then dark again!
Candles were lit in Xingqing Palace, stretching the shadows long.
When Gu Jiu walked into Xingqing Palace, he felt a chill for the first time.
She came to Liu Zhao, sat with him on the steps, and held his hand tightly.
"The Ministry of Rites will take care of all matters related to the funeral, so you don't have to worry. The children have been guarding the mourning hall all day and are now asleep. They are still living in the palace. I will let Qian Fu be responsible for counting and screening the concubines in the harem, and then ask Queen Mother how to arrange for them. I will also ask the Ministry of Rites to handle Queen Mother's promotion."
After Emperor Wende's death, Empress Pei became the Empress Dowager. However, this required a procedure, and the new Emperor Liu Zhao had to issue an edict to promote her.
Liu Zhao remained silent.
Gu Jiu continued, "Regarding your succession hall, the court's intention is that the country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and they hope to hold the coronation ceremony in seven days. There are many backlogs of court affairs that need to be dealt with as soon as possible. You must cheer up."
Liu Zhao, who had not responded until now, suddenly turned around and held Gu Jiu's hand tightly.
He leaned on Gu Jiu's shoulder and said, "I'm so tired! I've never been so tired before."
Gu Jiu held his head and said, "Then don't think about anything. Have a good sleep. I'll be with you."
Liu Zhao shook his head. "I can't sleep here. The atmosphere here makes me feel uneasy."
Too big, too empty, too cold, without any warmth.
No wonder people say that the emperor is a lonely man.
He doesn't like it here.
The air here is strange and suffocating.
Gu Jiu stroked his cheek gently, "Let's go back to the palace."
Liu Zhao was fragile and sensitive. "Is it okay?"
"sure!"
"I can live in the palace now, but what should I do after I ascend the throne?" Liu Zhao asked a stupid question.
Gu Jiu looked up at Xingqing Palace and said, "If you really don't like this place, you can live somewhere else."
Liu Zhao leaned on her and said, "I want to live with you."
Gu Jiu pushed his head away and said, "We'll discuss this later."
The two left the palace and returned to the prince's mansion to stay.
The news spread quickly.
When the court officials learned that Liu Zhao did not live in the palace but still lived in the prince's mansion, they were a little confused.
"His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has not yet ascended the throne, so it is not wrong for him to not live in the palace."
"It's against the rules after all."
"His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin places too much trust in the Princess, which may not be a good thing."
"Harem chaos?"
"However, the princess is different from the previous concubines in the harem. As early as the time of the previous emperor, the princess was already involved in government affairs and helped the Ministry of Revenue to resettle refugees. Her actions over the years are obvious to all, and we cannot look at the princess with a stale mind."
"No matter how capable you are, you are still a woman after all."
"The princess is as capable as any man, and is better than most men in the world."
"Stop arguing. Let's talk about this after we finish taking care of His Majesty's funeral."
…
Regardless of the turmoil outside, Liu Zhao slept peacefully in the palace.
When I woke up in the morning, it was bright outside the window.
When I opened the window, I realized it had snowed last night.
"We've already had several snowstorms this year, and there might be a freezing disaster. We need to have the Ministry of Revenue allocate food and fodder to prepare for emergencies."
Liu Zhao muttered to himself.
Lin Shuping reminded him, "Your Highness, it's time to go to the palace. Today we have to sit in vigil for His Majesty and discuss important matters with the court officials. The Ministry of Rites has proposed several temple names and posthumous titles for His Majesty, and it's up to Your Highness to decide."
"I understand. Don't wake the princess up, let her sleep a little longer."
"The princess also has to go to the palace to keep vigil, so she can only sleep for another half an hour at most."
"Half an hour would be nice. Prepare the carriage and horses and wait for me to enter the palace."
"I obey your command!"
Seven days later, the court held a coronation ceremony and Liu Zhao officially became emperor, with the reign title Jingming.
Next year will be the first year of Jingming.
The Ministry of Rites discussed the temple name for Emperor Wende.
Emperor Jingming Liu Zhao chose "Cheng" from among many temple names, and that was Chengzong.
The court officials were surprised.
His temple name was "Cheng", and he was known as a wise ruler.
Just like Emperor Kaiyao’s temple name is “Wu”, which is a praise in appearance but an insult in reality.
Emperor Wende reigned for more than ten years. If you think about it carefully, he can indeed be called a wise ruler.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Lord Lu was the first to step forward, his eyes moist.
Liu Zhao chose the temple name "Cheng" for Emperor Wende, which was the greatest affirmation of Emperor Wende's many years of reign.
Other court officials followed closely behind, praising him one after another: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Liu Zhao looked at the word "Cheng" circled with cinnabar pen on the document, and felt deeply moved.
My father deserves the reputation of "Emperor Chengzong".
During his more than ten years in power, he reversed the shortcomings of Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao, issued decrees to reduce taxes and exempt labor service, and allowed the people to rest and recuperate, thus allowing the dynasty to breathe.
Over the past decade, except for the years of successive natural disasters, the following few years have definitely been the best years for the people in decades.
If Emperor Wende had reigned for another seven or eight years, he would definitely have been worthy of the reputation of being the ruler of the revival.
However, no one can escape birth, old age, sickness and death.
…
When Liu Zhao ascended the throne and became emperor, he should have lived in the imperial palace.
However, at night, he still left the palace and returned to the prince's mansion.
This incident caused criticism among court officials.
"Your Majesty, this is against the rules."
"Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and should live in the imperial palace."
"The palace is just a hidden residence, and can be given to the princes as a reward. But Your Majesty must not continue to live in the palace!"
"How can a son of a wealthy family stand under a dangerous wall? For the safety of Your Majesty and the country of Great Zhou, Your Majesty, please move into the palace."
"Your Majesty, please move into the palace!"
Emperor Wende's funeral had not yet been completed, the first year of Jingming had not yet arrived, and the accumulated state affairs had not yet been dealt with, but the court officials took the lead in making a suggestion.
The theme is about where the emperor should live.
After the court officials had finished arguing, Liu Zhao said, "I will move into the palace. But not now, and not tomorrow. This matter will be discussed after the late emperor's funeral is over. I dismiss the court!"
The court officials were dumbfounded!
Do you have to be so willful?
Suddenly everyone had a bad feeling in their hearts.
Liu Zhaohui was an emperor even more willful than Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao.
It's over, it's over!
Many court officials glared at Lord Lu.
Look, what kind of person was chosen? He is so willful. He doesn't live in the palace but lives in the prince's mansion every day. How disgraceful.
Lord Lu looked up at the sky. They were a bunch of guys with nothing to do. All they did all day was stare at the troubles happening in the emperor's harem.
When it comes to handling government affairs seriously, everyone is a half-baked person.
Liu Zhao came to Xingqing Palace.
Xingqing Palace has been redecorated and looks less depressing and dull than before.
Gu Jiu had been waiting for him for a long time.
She asked, "Has there been a quarrel with the courtiers?"
Liu Zhao shook his head. "They weren't arguing. I just got tired of listening to them and left the court early."
Gu Jiu held his hand and said, "Xingqing Palace is not as bad as you think."
“But it’s not as good as I thought!”
"If it doesn't work, just move to another palace."
"I think the palaces over there in the garden are wonderful."
"It's a bit far." Gu Jiu reminded him.
Liu Zhao held his hand tightly and asked, "Do you want to live in Weiyang Palace?"
Gu Jiu was dumbfounded, shook his head, and said honestly, "To be honest, I'm not really willing to do that. And my mother is not willing to move out of Weiyang Palace either."
"If she doesn't move, we won't follow her. We don't need the Weiyang Palace anyway. Your identity doesn't need the Weiyang Palace to prove it. Tomorrow I will issue an edict to make you the queen." Liu Zhao said bluntly.
Gu Jiu said: "There is no rush for this matter. Let's first think about how to place the concubines in the harem."
Liu Zhao didn't hesitate at all. "Everything must be done according to the rules. Concubines with children can leave the palace and live with their children. Concubines without children will all go to Gratitude Temple to become nuns."
…
Liu Zhao issued an edict, honoring Empress Pei as the Empress Dowager and making Gu Jiu the Empress.
Empress Pei became Empress Dowager Pei and occupied the Weiyang Palace, refusing to give it up.
"I'm used to living in Weiyang Palace. I'm afraid I won't feel well if I live in another palace."
Lin Shuping was ordered to ask Empress Dowager Pei, and he got this answer.
He smiled awkwardly, "Weiyang Palace was originally the residence of the Empress. The Empress Dowager's residence was in Cining Palace."
Empress Dowager Pei said, "I love living in Weiyang Palace. I am not used to living in other palaces."
Lin Shuping had no choice but to go back and report.
Eunuch Wen wanted to persuade Empress Dowager Pei, but Empress Dowager Pei waved her hand to stop him.
"You don't need to persuade me, I have made up my mind."
She just wants to live in Weiyang Palace.
Let her give Gu Jiuteng some space to dream.
Gu Jiu had never fulfilled her filial duty, so she didn't have to follow the rules and live in the Cining Palace.
Lin Shuping told Liu Zhao that Empress Dowager Pei was unwilling to move out of Weiyang Palace and was determined.
"I understand!"
Liu Zhao was not angry.
This matter had been anticipated long ago. Sending Lin Shuping to the Weiyang Palace today was just a way out.
Let everyone know the attitude of Empress Dowager Pei. It was not that Gu Jiu was unwilling to live in Weiyang Palace, but that the Empress Dowager was unwilling to give up Weiyang Palace.
…
Ever since Emperor Wende passed away, Chang En's life has been somewhat difficult.
He awaited his fate, life or death! It all depended on Liu Zhao's conscience.
I guess it’s most likely death!
He even prepared the poison to commit suicide, waiting to take it as soon as the order came.
Halfway through the funeral, he finally waited for Qian Fu to arrive.
Chang En smiled bitterly and said, "Don't bother Eunuch Qian. We have already prepared the poison."
Qian Fu raised his eyebrows, "Did Eunuch Chang misunderstand something?"
"There is no misunderstanding. His Majesty cannot tolerate our family, and we know it very well."
Qian Fu said, "Eunuch Chang, you underestimate His Majesty's magnanimity. His Majesty has no intention of letting you die, but rather intends to use you."
Chang En was surprised. "Reuse our family? That's impossible! His Majesty already has you, Lin Shuping, and other eunuchs by his side. What can our family do?"
Qian Fu took out a map of the palace and pointed to several palaces in the imperial garden. "Your Majesty intends to start construction to connect these palaces into one, which will serve as the Queen's residence. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Works, and Your Majesty has appointed Eunuch Chang as the supervisor. Here are the design drawings. Ensure that this palace is built according to the drawings."
Chang En was surprised, "The Queen doesn't live in Weiyang Palace?"
"The Empress Dowager is accustomed to living in the Weiyang Palace and does not want to move. The Empress, out of filial piety, has decided to find another residence. The other palaces are unfit for the Empress's status. Only the palaces in the Imperial Garden, after renovation, are worthy of the Empress's status."
puff!
Empress Dowager Pei was the first to suffer a loss.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
Here comes the third update!
I'm exhausted!
Have a good rest and try to resume updating at the old time as soon as possible.
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