Chapter 103 (End of Main Text)
With such a commotion in the back courtyard, how could Zhou Chuanxing not hear it?
He called Zisu over and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
Zisu dared not hide the truth, “The Empress wants to poison Grand Tutor Wang’s family to avenge herself.”
Zhou Chuanxing suspected that all the teachers he hired to teach Tang Xinuan the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, had been wasted.
"She's being unreasonable, so just let her be. Hurry up and dispose of the poison."
Zisu accepted the order and went to handle it.
When Tang Xinuan heard that the poison she had prepared had been disposed of, she angrily went to Zhou Chuanxing to confront him.
"My whole family was brutally murdered, and not only did you not help me clear my name, you also stopped me from taking revenge. All those claims about liking me and taking care of me were lies. You just wanted my body and fooled me."
Zhou Chuanxing cannot bear such heavy criticism.
"How did I lie to you? I've been looking for an opportunity all along."
Tang Xinuan snorted, "Where are you going to find an opportunity? You've been lazy and indulging in your little life at the Prince's mansion every day. You've long lost your fighting spirit. You're not the Erlang I knew back then at all."
These words made Zhou Chuanxing laugh in anger, "What was Erlang like when you first met him?"
Tang Xinuan: "Although Erlang was too busy to have time back then, he had a burning passion in his heart. He always kept the people in his heart and thought about how to make the Great Zhou Dynasty better and let the people live a peaceful life."
Zhou Chuanxing scoffed, "So you were just trying to fool me by telling me to rest."
Tang Xinu glared at him sideways, “All the scholars we finally selected have been dismissed from their posts. That idiot Prince Rui is even worse than me. He’s been regent for more than two months, and Yao Yuehai spends his days indulging in pleasure. He’s spent 300,000 taels of silver on beauties alone, and the national treasury is almost empty.”
If you're not in a hurry, then so be it.
The evidence against my family is irrefutable, yet you refuse to help.
"I can't count on you. As a daughter, I should be able to take revenge myself, right?"
Zhou Chuanxing had to admit that his wife's words made a lot of sense.
"Didn't you ever think about what you would do after you poisoned more than sixty people?"
Tang Xinuan had thought about it before: "What can I do? If I can escape, I will; if I can't escape, I will die."
These words angered Zhou Chuanxing.
Since they met, no matter what Tang Xinuan did, he never gave her a cold look.
I've been holding my breath all day, and it's really hard to keep it out.
He grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled her into his arms, his deep gaze fixed on her beautiful face.
His wife's gentle and kind nature quickly calmed him down.
But he still had to say, "What will I do if you die?"
Tang Xinuan hadn't thought about this question.
She was sent to the Marquis's mansion at the age of five and has been confined to the small courtyard of the Green Bamboo Garden ever since.
Her life seemed to have always been insignificant.
After escaping the Marquis's mansion and meeting Erlang, her life took on a different meaning, but she did not feel any reverence for life.
She didn't know what a person's death meant to their loved ones.
Even if it's to avenge my parents, it's just revenge.
Suddenly asked a crucial question by Zhou Chuanxing, her heart tightened, and she looked at the angry man with some confusion.
Zhou Chuanxing put his arm around her back, trying his best to control his trembling arms and calm himself down.
"Have you ever thought about how I would live without you?"
"Erlang..." Tang Xinuan opened her mouth, but had no idea how to reply to him.
Zhou Chuanxing, feeling both wronged and sad, hugged the person tightly.
"Nuan Nuan, you're not afraid of death, but I am."
Previously, I was afraid of death and worried that our army would fail, foreign enemies would invade, and my elder brother would be unable to resist.
The mother and her younger siblings were unable to protect themselves.
The people will once again suffer the ravages of war.
Therefore, I must strive to live and protect this land.
The fear of death now stems from worry...
My daughter is all alone and has no one to protect her.
He feared even more that he would not be able to meet her in the next life.
I haven't spent every day with her yet, nor have I grown old with her.
I've never seen her in middle age or old age, and I haven't made a three-life vow with her..."
Zhou Chuanxing's voice gradually choked up.
Tang Xinuan gradually learned to handle emotions like a normal person.
Sensing his sadness, she slowly raised her arms and hugged him back.
"Erlang, I'm sorry."
Zhou Chuanxing hugged the person tighter, "It's good that you know you were wrong. In the future, you must not make life-or-death decisions lightly or give up your life."
Tang Xinuan pressed her face against his chest and nodded sullenly.
President Zhou Chuan let out a sigh of relief, "I will help you get revenge."
Tang Xinuan was skeptical. "If Prince Rui becomes emperor in the future, he will only want me dead. You said I shouldn't talk about life and death lightly, but how am I supposed to protect myself?"
Zhou Chuanxing remained silent.
Tang Xinuan suddenly stepped back a little, looked up at him, her eyes full of expectation.
"Erlang, I want to be the Empress."
Zhou Chuanxing: "..."
Tang Xinuan: "I finally found a way to find talent, but I still have to go to the academy to be a teacher, to avenge my parents, and to survive. If you don't become the emperor, we will both die."
Are you willing to watch me be killed by Prince Rui?
I caused the deaths of his two unborn children; we are sworn enemies, and he will never let me go.
The Empress will not let me go either.
You might have a chance to live. After all, you are his own brother and a descendant of the late emperor.
But I'm different.
As long as you don't become emperor, I'll be caught no matter where I flee to.
Even if they don't get caught, they'll still live in constant fear.
Are you willing to do that?
Zhou Chuanxing was naturally reluctant to part with it.
But he had studied the classics since childhood, and his bones were filled with the ideas of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.
He can only accept what his elder brother, the Emperor, gives him.
His elder brother refused to give it to him, so he had no choice but to accept it.
Today, the young girl has presented reality to him, and he knows he must make a choice.
He couldn't protect the little girl if he couldn't ascend the throne.
Give me some time.
Zhou Chuanxing didn't have much time to consider, because Prince Rui had already begun to take action.
As planned by Prince Rui, on February 18th, a group of civil officials he had gathered launched an attack on the emperor, executed Zhou Chuanxing, and made him the crown prince.
Everything went smoothly, and he ascended the throne as emperor.
Otherwise, all the military generals he contacted would lead their troops to force the emperor to abdicate.
Then, an imperial edict bearing the imperial seal was issued to order Zhou Chuanxing's execution.
As long as the emperor is in his hands, Zhou Chuanxing, who has lost his military power, is not afraid that Zhou Chuanxing will not submit.
When Zhou Chuanxing received the news, he was playing chess with Tang Xinuan.
The little girl was a highly skilled chess player, calculating ten moves ahead for every one she made. She played three games in total, and he didn't win a single one.
The little girl even allowed him to take back his moves.
With two strategists on either side, he still couldn't defeat the little girl.
There's a lingering sense of regret.
Such a clever woman, I wonder what it would be like if the two of them had children.
Actually, there was another reason why he wasn't keen on vying for the throne.
The emperor had no sons, and his brothers fought tooth and nail over him.
Once he takes office, he will face the same situation again.
It would be better to relinquish the throne to someone else now, and he and his wife could travel the world, live like a pair of immortal lovers, and spend their lives freely.
Unfortunately, Prince Duan did not have the qualities to be an emperor.
Prince Rui is selfish and narrow-minded, lacks a sense of the big picture, and has no regard for the people.
The Great Zhou Dynasty quelled the flames of war and achieved the peaceful and prosperous era it enjoys today. This was won by him after more than a decade of fighting and with the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
How could he bear to watch his country fall into war again?
Furthermore, the Lady has an irreconcilable feud with the Empress and Prince Rui, and without imperial power, he cannot protect her at all.
When he picked her up from the gate of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion, he made a promise in his heart to protect her for the rest of his life.
It's just that making him emperor isn't taking his life, so how could he not do his best?
"Nuan Nuan," Zhou Chuanxing said, putting down the chess piece and holding Tang Xinuan's two soft little hands. "Be a good girl and stay in the manor. Your husband will go and fight for the most precious thing in the world for you."
Tang Xinuan truly wants to be empress.
His concern for Erlang's safety was genuine.
"Erlang, I'll go with you."
Zhou Chuanxing pulled the person into his arms, as if embracing the whole world. "Don't be afraid, I will definitely come back to pick you up safely."
Tang Xinuan nodded obediently: "Then hurry back, I'll wait for you to come back."
She untied the delicate ribbon from her waist, intending to give it to Zhou Chuanxing.
He rejected her.
"You keep it to protect yourself; I don't need it."
Zhou Chuanxing ordered Tao Guan to stay behind and led Zi Su and the others to protect Tang Xinuan's safety.
Tang Xinuan tightly clutched a small white porcelain bottle, her eyes filled with tears, gazing longingly at Zhou Chuanxing. "I kept a bottle of the poison that was prepared for Grand Tutor Wang's family that day. If you can't come back safely, I'll drink it and stay with you for all eternity."
Zhou Chuanxing turned his head and forced back the tears that were about to spill.
"I won't give you that chance."
Next, Zhou Chuanxing led his men and stormed into the palace.
Although the emperor took away his military tally, he secretly returned it to him afterwards.
Most of the soldiers in the capital now are veterans who have followed him for over a decade.
All that's left is for him to raise his arms and give the call.
A separate page for the family genealogy, bestowing titles and honors upon the family, granting titles and privileges to wives and children...
Which one isn't worth risking your life for?
The people that Prince Rui had gathered were all a rabble. In less than two hours, most of them were killed, leaving only the remaining forces to struggle desperately.
Prince Duan, Chu Yanqing, and Princess Chaoli had already been tricked into entering the palace by Prince Rui.
At this moment, he is imprisoned in the Hall of Mental Cultivation along with the Emperor.
Zhou Chuanxing stormed into the palace. Seeing that all was lost, Prince Rui held a knife to the emperor's neck, forcing Zhou Chuanxing to commit suicide.
"Second brother, why was I able to succeed? Because I didn't have as many weaknesses as you."
At this moment, Prince Rui was flanked by Chu Yannuo on his left and Wei Minzhao on his right.
The two had practiced martial arts since childhood, and it would have been easy for them to protect him and kill the emperor.
Seeing his elder brother being held hostage, Zhou Chuanxing's eyes blazed with fury. "Fourth brother, you beast, release our elder brother right now!"
The Emperor is Prince Rui's lifeline; how could he possibly release him?
"I will not let you go until you are dead. Today is the day to test your brotherly bond. I want to see if you will die on your own or let your brother die."
Prince Duan was poisoned and could not exert any of his power.
"Second brother, whether you live or die, he will not release the emperor."
Although Prince Rui's army was defeated, he still had a good chance of winning because he could use the emperor to command the other feudal lords.
"Prince Chu, go and kill Zhou Chuanxing."
Chu Yanqing hurriedly stopped him: "Big brother, don't be an accomplice to evil, don't go down the wrong path."
Chu Yannuo pointed his sword at Zhou Chuanxing, "As long as you let my cousin leave, I will leave here immediately, regardless of your fighting."
Zhou Chuanxing promised his wife that he would go back.
The lady has prepared poison; he cannot return, and she will not live on alone.
But my brother's life...
“Young Master Chu, Nuan Nuan and I are truly in love, and I will not let her go.”
Prince Rui was overjoyed. "Prince Chu, if you kill him, Tang Xinuan will be yours. I swear I will personally officiate your wedding."
Chu Yannuo raised his sword and lowered it.
The sword fell swiftly, piercing directly through Prince Rui's abdomen.
Prince Rui's hand trembled, and he slashed the Emperor's neck.
Both were seriously injured.
Zhou Chuanxing cared about the Emperor's life, but Chu Yannuo did not.
Sun Qingzhao is right. Since he and his cousin are destined to be apart, then he should put her in the most honorable position.
He would not hesitate to suffer a thousand cuts.
"Chu Yannuo, you..."
Prince Rui simply couldn't believe that Chu Yannuo would aim his sword at him at such a crucial moment, wishing him a terrible death.
Without hesitation, Chu Yannuo drew his sword like a bloodthirsty wolf, wiping the blood off the blade with his sleeve.
Whether I die peacefully or not, you won't see it, Prince Rui.
He grabbed Prince Rui and shouted at the remnants of Prince Rui's army, "Your master has been executed, so lay down your weapons!"
The situation in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was constantly changing, and Zhou Chuanxing rushed forward to treat the emperor.
Seeing that Prince Rui was on his last breath and there was no point in continuing to resist, Wei Minzhao simply abandoned Prince Rui and fled the palace.
Prince Duan was poisoned by the bone-softening powder, and his whole body was weak. He struggled to run to the Emperor's side.
Seeing the sword pierce the Emperor's neck, he was frantic with worry. "Brother, quickly call the imperial physician! The imperial physician—"
The emperor, on his deathbed, struggled to pull out the imperial edict he had prepared in advance from his bosom.
"Ah Xing, Your Majesty... I can't go on. I'm entrusting the Great Zhou Dynasty to you..."
"No!" The Empress suddenly rushed over and snatched the imperial edict from the Emperor's hand.
With one hand on her lower abdomen and the other holding the imperial edict, she said with great determination, "Your Majesty, I am two months pregnant. The imperial physician said it is most likely to be a prince. How can the throne be passed on to someone else?"
Prince Rui was barely clinging to life.
I am very gratified at this moment.
He was beyond saving, but he left behind his child.
What difference does it make if this child ascends the throne, or if he himself ascends the throne?
When the emperor heard that he was pregnant, he was inevitably shocked and overjoyed on his deathbed.
He stretched out his hand towards the Empress, "I...have a Crown Prince?"
The Empress dared not approach Zhou Chuanxing, but nodded from a step away. "Your Majesty, we have a Crown Prince. The throne cannot be passed on to anyone. After I give birth to the prince in seven months, I will support him to ascend the throne."
"Let the second and third brothers serve as regents..."
Before the empress could finish speaking, a long sword pierced her from behind. Feeling the pain, she looked down and saw the blood-dripping blade piercing through her abdomen.
As Prince Rui watched the Empress being stabbed, his last hope shattered. He roared like a wild beast and soon collapsed in a pool of blood.
The empress, a weak woman with no strength to even kill a chicken, was pierced through the abdomen by a sword and died within moments.
Chu Yannuo wiped the blood off his face and sheathed his sword.
He then snatched the imperial edict from the Empress's hand and announced to the public: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Great Zhou Dynasty has lasted for 194 years, and is now in a time of great turmoil. Internally, there are treacherous officials and corrupt elements that cannot be eradicated, and externally, there are wolves eyeing us covetously..."
I have specially selected a wise and virtuous ruler for the Great Zhou Dynasty, so that he may lead the Great Zhou Dynasty to prosperity and abundance.
Zhou Chuanxing went into battle at the age of thirteen and participated in over a hundred battles without a single defeat.
He possessed a compassionate heart and hoped that after my death he would become a wise and enlightened ruler, to comfort my heart…
This imperial edict was very long.
There was self-reproach from the emperor, and there were also expectations for the next emperor.
There were also additional instructions.
On the day the imperial edict was proclaimed, Zhou Chuanxing immediately ascended the throne.
The funeral arrangements for the late emperor should be kept simple...
Sun Qingzhao had been hiding behind a pillar. After Chu Yannuo finished reading the imperial edict, he immediately ordered someone to bring a yellow robe and drape it over Zhou Chuanxing.
"The new emperor is here. All traitors and rebels shall be executed immediately."
At this moment, the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from the crowd as they paid homage to the new emperor were deafening.
The sound, emanating from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, seemed to soar through the clouds like an eagle, circling above the palace before spreading throughout the capital and eventually reaching the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.
Zhou Chuanxing watched his elder brother die in his arms, heartbroken.
His father and mother have both passed away, and now even his elder brother has abandoned him.
From then on, no one stood in front of him to shelter him from the wind and rain.
Looking at all the ministers kneeling in the hall, and at this vast land, the responsibility on his shoulders grew heavier and heavier.
...
The palace was in chaos that night, so Zhou Chuanxing sent someone to let Tang Xinuan know she was safe and sent a large number of guards to protect her.
The plan was to spend two days clearing out the rebels in the palace, and then bring her back to the palace on the third day.
The Empress and Consort De had been managing the inner palace for over a decade.
No one can guarantee that the remaining rebels can be completely wiped out in one go.
However, that very night, Tang Xinuan changed into men's clothing and secretly entered the palace.
Disguised as a young eunuch, he stayed by Zhou Chuanxing's side.
Zhou Chuanxing led Prince Duan, Chao Li, members of the royal family, and all civil and military officials, all dressed in mourning clothes, to kneel before the mourning hall.
To bid farewell to the late emperor.
"Erlang, please accept my condolences." Tang Xinuan didn't know how to comfort Zhou Chuanxing. He must be very sad to lose his closest relative.
Zhou Chuanxing suppressed his immense grief and looked at his wife, who was dressed as a eunuch.
For the rest of their lives, only the two of them remained, supporting each other through countless trials and tribulations, and the passage of time.
“Nuan Nuan…” His voice choked with emotion, even a grown man couldn’t contain his grief, “I have no brother anymore.”
Tang Xinuan gently hugged him and coaxed him like a child, "My brother loves you so much, he will definitely be watching over you from heaven. He certainly doesn't want you to be too sad. The road ahead is long, I will accompany you."
At this moment, Zhou Chuanxing needed tremendous mental support.
Tang Xinuan is the one who can support him.
"Nuan Nuan, you're all I have left, don't abandon me."
Tang Xi felt a pang of heartache for him; at this moment, the usually strong man seemed like a fragile little baby.
Especially when he held her and begged her not to abandon him, the feeling of being shattered and vulnerable overwhelmed her.
"Fool, we're husband and wife, how could I possibly abandon you?"
Regardless of the circumstances, Zhou Chuanxing is now the emperor.
He couldn't be too affectionate with his wife in front of others.
He only hugged her for a short while before letting go.
"Nuan Nuan, be good and go rest with Eunuch Wei. I'm fine here."
Tang Xinuan was worried, "I'll stay with you."
Zhou Chuanxing was worried about her health.
The matter of dealing with the late empress will not be resolved in less than a month.
We can't let the lady's health, which she has finally managed to recover from, be ruined.
"Go on, I have some things to take care of. There's no point in you staying here."
Not long after Tang Xinuan left, Zhou Chuanxing ordered his men to throw Chu Yannuo into a death row cell.
His first act upon taking office was to strip Wu'an of his title of Marquis.
Chu Yannuo assassinated the late empress, who was pregnant at the time. If this is not dealt with, it will be impossible to explain to the world.
According to the calculations of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, the seventh day after the late emperor's death is an auspicious day, and it is the perfect time to hold the enthronement ceremony.
Zhou Chuanxing summoned the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, Chu Yanqing, and Yao Lin to his side and asked, "According to custom, how much silver does the enthronement ceremony cost?"
The two senile officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
Yao Lin and Chu Yanqing were well-prepared.
However, Yao Lin was unsure of the new emperor's thoughts and did not dare to speak.
Chu Yanqing was young and inexperienced, so he could only give a rough figure: "If there is no need to renovate the palace, the cost of the emperor and empress's crowns and robes, gold and silver jewelry, venue decorations, banquets, etc. will be about three million taels of silver."
With the national treasury empty, spending three million taels of silver just to hold a grand ceremony is truly extravagant.
Zhou Chuanxing frowned. "What about the coronation ceremony?"
Chu Yanqing: "I checked the total cost of the late Empress's investiture these past two days, and it was three million taels of silver."
Zhou Chuanxing pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's do it together."
The Minister of Revenue's face darkened considerably.
He knew perfectly well what the new emperor was thinking.
By combining the two grand ceremonies, all the necessary items, including the venue and the costumes, could be obtained in one go, saving at least half the money.
At the height of the Zhou Dynasty's wealth, the cost of a new emperor's ascension to the throne was in the tens of millions of taels of silver.
The new emperor has saved money to the extreme.
He's a cunning old fox. Before Zhou Chuanxing ascended the throne, he fooled him every time he could.
Now that he has ascended the throne, he is a powerful emperor with real authority over the military. If he still wants to be the Minister, he will definitely do his best to fulfill his duties.
With a little thought, I came up with many ways to save money.
They were then presented to the new emperor one by one.
Zhou Chuanxing was very satisfied.
They wanted to present a glamorous image, with the new emperor's ascension to the throne giving the Great Zhou Dynasty a fresh look, while minimizing the expenditure of money.
The budget for the coronation ceremony and the empress's investiture ceremony was reduced to less than two million taels.
Next, he issued five imperial edicts to seize the property.
The Prince Rui's Mansion, Yao Yuehai's Mansion, the Duke of Wei's Mansion, the Right Chancellor's Mansion, and the Grand Tutor Yao's Mansion.
A total of five million taels of silver and countless jewels and land were seized.
The coronation ceremony and the empress's investiture ceremony were held simultaneously.
Zhou Chuanxing also gave Tang Xinuan a great gift: to exonerate the Tang family and execute the entire Wang family.
When Tang Xinuan saw the imperial edict exonerating the wronged party, she couldn't help but shed tears.
"emperor……"
The Tang family suffered injustice for fifteen years, but finally their names were cleared and their innocence restored.
My parents can rest in peace now.
Zhou Chuanxing personally wiped away his empress's tears, saying, "I still prefer you to call me Erlang."
Tang Xinu held back her tears and gently called out to him, "Erlang."
That cry of "Erlang" melted the heart of Zhou Chuanxing, this tough man.
“Nuan Nuan,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “The coronation ceremony and the empress conferment ceremony will be held at the same time. First, we will pay homage at the ancestral mausoleum, and then we will meet with the civil and military officials. The process is very complicated. You just need to pay homage at the ancestral mausoleum with me. Be a good girl, rest well, and don’t make me worry.”
Since the late emperor passed away, Tang Xinuan has not done anything, but she has to kneel and pay respects in front of the mourning hall every day.
Now that she is the Empress, many palace servants seek her advice when they don't know what to do.
Although she didn't offer much help, she certainly worried a lot.
For example, in the past two days she appointed three female officials in the harem to be in charge of the late emperor's burial and the new emperor's ascension to the throne, respectively.
I've been quite tired these past two days.
Especially since she had to fast for three days before the ceremony and couldn't eat any meat, she felt that she wasn't as strong as before.
She obeyed Zhou Chuanxing's instructions very well, saying, "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."
The coronation ceremony officially began.
Zhou Chuanxing, along with Tang Xinuan, all the civil and military officials, members of the royal family, and all the noble ladies of the capital, knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times to pay homage to their ancestors.
The Empress's court dress was very heavy, and with the phoenix crown and other headdresses on her head, Tang Xinuan had to use all her strength to make it to the ancestral mausoleum.
When it came to the three kneelings and nine kowtows, she could only kowtow once before she couldn't lift her head up.
Not wanting to embarrass Erlang, nor to be disliked by the Zhou family ancestors, she could only grit her teeth and obey the orders of the Ministry of Rites, struggling to carry out her mission.
But when she kowtowed for the eighth time, she couldn't hold on any longer and fainted.
Before she fell into a coma, she was filled with self-loathing.
She was definitely the first empress to faint at her coronation ceremony.
In front of all the civil and military officials, she actually failed to complete the three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Is it because the Zhou family ancestors did not accept her as their daughter-in-law?
"Someone, summon the imperial physician—"
Seeing that Tang Xinuan had fainted, Zhou Chuanxing rushed over and held her in his arms.
I knew she wasn't in good health, yet I've been going through all this time with her.
Worried that she wouldn't be able to endure it, they only told her to persevere until the ancestral worship ceremony was over, but her body couldn't even make it through the ceremony...
"Isn't the Empress's health a bit too poor?"
"That's right, the Emperor didn't take any concubines while he was in hiding."
Soon, members of the royal family began to whisper among themselves; some were genuinely worried about the emperor, while others had other ideas.
"Now that the coronation ceremony is over, it's time for the Emperor to fill his harem."
"With the Empress's current health condition, how can she have children? If she ends up like the late Emperor, it won't be a good thing for the court."
...
Zhou Chuanxing acted as if he hadn't heard anything, waiting for the imperial physician to come and examine him.
Physician Zhang was the first to arrive. He placed his finger on Tang Xinuan's pulse and his face quickly lit up with joy.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your Majesty the Empress is overjoyed! You will soon have a prince or princess."
Zhou Chuanxing suspected he was hallucinating.
Last year, it was Physician Zhang who examined Tang Xinuan and concluded that she would have difficulty conceiving.
He has already made plans to never have children.
Are you serious?
How could Physician Zhang lie about something so important?
"Your Majesty, it must be the spirits of our ancestors, otherwise how could we have discovered that the Empress is pregnant today?"
Next, two more imperial physicians made the same diagnosis as Physician Zhang.
Zhou Chuanxing's trip has finally moved from abstract concepts to concrete actions.
He personally settled Tang Xinuan in, and then returned to the ancestral temple to kowtow and express his gratitude.
He, Zhou Chuanxing, has a child.
I'm pregnant!!!
The rest of the process was kept simple. Zhou Chuanxing was not comfortable entrusting Tang Xinuan to anyone, so he personally escorted her back to her palace and ordered Zisu and others to take turns guarding her before rushing to the Hall of Diligent Governance to meet with the civil and military officials.
When a new emperor ascends the throne, he will certainly announce many decrees.
Zhou Chuanxing originally intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with the civil and military officials.
Ever since he learned that Tang Xinuan was pregnant, his heart had been with his wife.
After patiently listening to the imperial edict and completing the remaining enthronement procedures, he ordered his ministers to disperse.
He rushed to the Kunyuan Palace where Tang Xinuan lived.
Tang Xinuan had just woken up when she heard that she was pregnant. Overjoyed, she felt more helpless than anything else.
Physician Zhang hadn't left yet. She called him over and asked, "Second Prince... wasn't His Majesty unable to have children due to his injury? How come he can have them again?"
After a moment's thought, Physician Zhang said directly, "His Majesty's health has always been fine. It seems that His Majesty is worried about His Majesty's frail health, which is why he said this."
Tang Xinuan discovers the truth for the first time.
I can't help but be moved by having such a thoughtful husband.
She thought about how she had argued with Zhou Chuanxing after he mentioned not wanting children.
At this moment, I feel more and more that I am being unreasonable.
Seeing Zhou Chuanxing come in from outside, she hurriedly went to greet him, without even bothering to put on her shoes.
"Erlang, we have a child, we have a child."
Zhou Chuanxing's heart was entirely with his empress. Noticing that she wasn't even wearing shoes, he bent down and picked her up.
"The imperial physician told you to rest more, yet you're still walking barefoot."
Tang Xinuan was so happy that she forgot about these details for a moment.
She held Zhou Chuanxing's fingers tightly, repeating over and over, "We're having a baby."
Zhou Chuanxing was even happier than she was.
Of the three brothers, only the eldest had a daughter; the Zhou family was far too small.
He used to think that for decades, only the two of them would live in the palace, and it must have felt desolate.
Soon a baby who looks just like them will be born. They will call him "Father" and her "Mother," and a sense of joy will well up within them.
"Nuan Nuan, you are truly my lucky star, thank you."
Tang Xinuan was too embarrassed to take credit for it, saying, "These things require the joint efforts of both of us."
Even someone like Zhou Chuanxing has moments of embarrassment.
"It's good that you know how hard your husband works."
That evening, Zhou Chuanxing didn't go anywhere; he had dinner with Tang Xinuan and the two rested together.
Since the late emperor's passing, Zhou Chuanxing had barely slept a wink. Today, after the enthronement ceremony and learning that he was pregnant, he felt at ease and fell asleep shortly after lying down on the bed.
Tang Xinuan went to bed a little later than him, and also fell asleep happily.
However, the next morning, I suddenly became a little worried.
"Erlang," she said, her face full of worry, as she pulled Zhou Chuanxing's hand to her lower abdomen, "Do you think our child might...?"
My cousin used to think that she would give birth to a mentally challenged child, which is why he wouldn't let her have any.
Although she never believed she was stupid, after being told so many times, she couldn't help but worry.
Zhou Chuanxing gently comforted her, "Our daughter is so intelligent, of course the child will take after us, both smart and healthy. Don't worry, Erlang will take care of everything."
Tang Xinuan outwardly listened to Zhou Chuanxing's words, but secretly she couldn't help but consult the imperial physician.
Since Tang Xinuan left the Marquis's mansion, her health has been taken care of by Physician Zhang, who knows Tang Xinuan very well.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. You are a genius, and your child will be a genius too."
Tang Xinuan didn't hope her child would be a genius; she would be content as long as he was as good as an ordinary person.
Zhou Chuanxing had just ascended the throne and was very busy with the affairs of the previous court.
However, he has been in power for nearly two years and has handled government affairs quite well.
However, the imperial court lacked talented individuals.
He reinstated all the students who had been suspended from their posts, but new employees need time to learn and adapt before they can take on major responsibilities on their own, so he still had a tough time.
With endless memorials to review and political affairs to handle, he had very little time to spend with the Empress.
During this time, Tang Xinuan spent her time resting during her pregnancy and managing the affairs of the harem.
Just because she doesn't know how to manage a household doesn't mean she doesn't know how to use people.
In the existing harem structure, some useless female officials were removed, and some useful female officials were added.
At first, many of the older palace maids relied on their seniority and pretended to comply but did not perform their duties properly. Tang Xinuan was not one to be soft-hearted. Those who deserved to be punished were punished, and those who deserved to be exiled were exiled. She also had several bodyguards who knew martial arts to protect her. Lianqiao and Baihe were itching to do it, and they finally got their chance.
At Tang Xinuan's command, the two of them rushed to start.
Two weeks later, who would dare to underestimate this new empress?
A month after his coronation ceremony, Zhou Chuanxing encountered trouble.
Chu Yannuo was imprisoned in a death row cell by him and no action was taken against him.
Recently, several people have submitted memorials requesting him to issue an imperial edict to punish them.
The group was adamant: to assassinate the empress, especially since she was pregnant, they would show no mercy.
A group of people believed that he had performed a great service by killing the traitor Prince Rui and deserved a great reward.
Zhou Chuanxing could handle other cases swiftly and decisively, but Chu Yannuo was different.
The Empress knew that Chu Yannuo had been imprisoned, but she had never mentioned it to him. He really couldn't figure out the Empress's attitude.
Now that the two have finally tied the knot and his wife is pregnant with his child, he doesn't want to create any discord over something like this.
On that day, after a group of ministers demanded that he execute Chu Yannuo in the court, he kept Sun Qingzhao behind alone.
Although he disliked this person very much, he had to admit that this person had a lot of ideas.
In private, Zhou Chuanxing didn't follow the rules too much, letting Sun Qingzhao sit down and talk freely.
"Minister Sun, what's your opinion on Chu Yannuo's matter?"
Sun Qingzhao was a meritorious official who helped the emperor rise to power, but he was inexperienced and had no background, so Zhou Chuanxing did not promote him after he ascended the throne.
However, promotion was only a matter of time, and Zhou Chuanxing planned to hone his skills for a few years before entrusting him with important responsibilities.
Sun Qingzhao was quite satisfied with his position as a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel.
Upon hearing the Emperor's inquiry, her ulterior motives resurfaced.
"Your Majesty, if I can help you resolve this matter, could Your Majesty grant me a reward?"
Zhou Chuanxing was quite magnanimous. "Just don't try anything with the Empress. She's pregnant now, and I can't possibly let her go out to reorganize the Imperial Academy."
Sun Qingzhao wouldn't dare to do that.
The Empress is pregnant with the Emperor's child; this is the most momentous event in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Your Majesty misunderstands. Your humble servant wishes to ask for the hand in marriage with Miss Lianqiao."
Zhou Chuanxing was taken aback at first, then laughed.
"Lian Qiao is an orphan with no parents. Although I have been kind to her, she still needs to make her own decision about her marriage. As long as she agrees, I will marry her off in a grand and glorious manner."
Sun Qingzhao was confident he could trick people into going back.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince Chu can be killed or spared."
Zhou Chuanxing gave him a cool glance, "Nonsense!"
Sun Qingzhao: "Although the Crown Prince of Chu killed the Empress, the Emperor is seriously ill, and the child in her womb..."
Upon meeting Zhou Chuanxing's cold gaze, she stopped abruptly.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Chu has rendered a great service by beheading the ringleader of the treason."
None of that matters. What matters is what you think.
The Emperor frowned: "What should I think?"
Sun Qingzhao: "Your Majesty, a dead person is far more dangerous than a living person."
Zhou Chuanxing didn't understand, but he held his teacup and listened to Sun Qingzhao continue.
Sun Qingzhao: "Your Majesty grew up in the Marquis's mansion and spent fourteen years together. This is an indelible fact. Now that he is in prison, Your Majesty may not have experienced the pain of separation and death yet, but once he dies, it will be like a thorn firmly stuck in Your Majesty's heart."
Years later, will she regret failing the Marquis's family in raising her?
After all, the Marquis's family only had this one son.
With the death of the Crown Prince of Chu, the Marquis's family line will be cut off.
Zhou Chuanxing's hand holding the water glass trembled slightly.
Sun Qingzhao continued, "So, not only can you not kill him, but you must also raise him well, keeping him there like a mascot, so that the Empress will only remember the despicable things he did."
In the end, Zhou Chuanxing did not kill Chu Yannuo.
He released the man from the death row and, for his meritorious service in killing the traitor, bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Anguo.
The day Chu Yannuo was released from death row, Sun Qingzhao was the one who picked him up.
"Congratulations, Duke Anguo! You have survived a great calamity and are sure to be blessed with good fortune."
Chu Yannuo's eyes were full of mockery.
He himself knew perfectly well what his social standing was as the Duke of Anguo.
It's all thanks to my cousin.
The fool he once despised, who wouldn't let her be his wife and wouldn't allow her to have children, is now the Empress, the mother of the nation.
He gazed at the clouds drifting across the sky, and a sudden, inexplicable pang of pain shot through his heart.
If he had the chance to do it all over again, he would definitely not ask to marry the Wei family girl.
...
Three months after Zhou Chuanxing ascended the throne, all the civil and military officials seemed to have agreed beforehand to submit memorials requesting that he fill the harem.
These ministers, who had not initially seized the opportunity to rise to power, naturally needed to become the emperor's father-in-law and deeply bind themselves to the royal family in order to preserve their wealth and status.
They were all wrong; Zhou Chuanxing only valued ability.
After reviewing most of the memorials, he took the initiative to call on Chu Yanqing: "Master Chu, help me with some accounting."
Chu Yanqing was prepared.
"Based on the customs of the inner palace and the information left over from before, I have summarized that the fixed annual allowance, clothing and jewelry, makeup and gifts, and festival rewards required for a noble lady are roughly equivalent to one thousand taels of silver."
This doesn't even include the monthly allowances for the palace maids and eunuchs who serve her.
An ordinary concubine would need about three thousand taels of silver, while a noble concubine would need at least five thousand taels.
Based on the average lifespan of women in the Great Zhou Dynasty, they would have to live in the harem for at least thirty years.
The nobleman's total expenses amounted to 30,000 taels.
An ordinary concubine would receive approximately 100,000 taels of silver.
The imperial concubine wants 150,000 taels of silver.
"Your Majesty, do you think my calculations are correct?"
Chu Yanqing's scheme left the entire court of officials dumbfounded.
Their original plan was that if the emperor refused to hold a selection of concubines, they would shift the blame onto the empress.
Jealousy was a serious crime for women in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Moreover, the Empress has always been raised in the Marquis's mansion as a fool; she is not worthy of being the Empress.
They were just waiting for their daughters, sisters, and relatives to enter the palace so they could find a way to win the emperor's favor and then kill the empress. Then they would be the rightful imperial relatives.
Why is Princess Duan bothered with all this?
Zhou Chuanxing has Tang Xinuan as his only woman; how could he possibly allow other women into his harem?
"Master Chu is right. I don't want to support idle people in my harem, and I'm not rich enough to support concubines, consorts, and noble ladies. If any of you want to send your daughters or sisters into the palace to be raised, you should first pay these expenses. I will build a separate courtyard in the palace to support them."
Don't worry, I won't go even once, and I certainly won't disturb them.
If I take them, I'll feel embarrassed to ask you for the money again.
Since some impoverished areas haven't yet secured spring planting, you should invest some resources and recommend more women to the palace.
Oh, and the money for repairing the villa was also paid out.
A distinguished guest stays for five thousand taels of silver per year.
The concubines paid 10,000 taels of silver per year.
The Imperial Concubine received 30,000 taels of silver a year.
Pay for thirty years in one lump sum.
Furthermore, now that these concubines have entered the palace, I am responsible for protecting their safety and providing them with food, clothing, and shelter. I certainly do not have the money for that.
The cost of renovating the villa should be included.
The imperial concubine's earnings over thirty years would definitely not exceed one million taels of silver.
"The Imperial Concubine is a first-rank official. Spending one million taels of silver to buy a first-rank title is a good deal, isn't it?"
Sending his daughter to the palace to become an imperial concubine was a way to seek personal gain.
This is the first time I've ever heard of someone paying money to enter the palace.
They also had to live in a special villa, where the emperor would never set foot.
How can they compete for favor then?
He favors the empress, so be it; he's jealous, so be it. Why go to such lengths?
That's really impressive!
This much silver is just the starting point; who knows what other tricks the emperor might pull after sending his daughter to the palace?
Soon, these eager ministers shrank back in fear.
They were afraid that the emperor would exploit them.
Zhou Chuanxing was very slow but satisfied with what he saw.
"Anyone who wants to participate in the talent show should go to the Ministry of Rites to register. The registration fee is one thousand taels of silver. We will not be responsible for keeping a nameplate for them."
The entire court wanted to lock the fate of such a stingy emperor and empress.
Don't ruin other girls' lives.
No wonder the Emperor married that "fool" from the Tang family; it turns out that's how he planned it.
"Alas, haven't you heard? Before the coronation ceremony, the emperor asked the Minister of Revenue how much silver would be spent on the coronation ceremony and how much silver would be spent on the empress's investiture ceremony."
Upon hearing the report from Princess Duan, our Emperor, without a second thought, ordered the Ministry of Rites to combine the events.
The Emperor even plans his own coronation ceremony in this way; any girl entering the harem would be skinned alive.
"Never mind, never mind, I dare not send my daughter in."
"Exactly, isn't this like sending someone a hostage? They're asking for money every other day, who can stand that?"
"It serves him right that he only has one woman, the Empress."
...
Now that the new dynasty has just begun, everything is in need of rebuilding, and there are many places where money is needed.
Zhou Chuanxing wasn't afraid at all that he had sent his daughter in.
Anyway, there's plenty of space in the harem. Just pick one place, lock people up there for a few years, and they'll dream of getting out.
He'll release them when the time comes.
We should be grateful to him.
Don't expect him to give back a single penny of the money you've collected.
Seven months later, Tang Xinuan went into labor.
The Emperor has been on edge these past few days.
Tang Xinuan was in poor health, but fortunately, after she became pregnant, the imperial physician diagnosed her several times and found that there was nothing wrong with her body. Otherwise, he would have been so worried that he would have turned a whole layer of hair white.
In the days leading up to her delivery, he ordered people to stay with Tang Xinuan at all times.
He also put aside political affairs as much as possible and spent most of his time with her.
Unfortunately, on the day of his delivery, there were matters to attend to at court, and he had to leave for a while.
Upon seeing Eunuch Wei rushing over to inform him, he abandoned state affairs and hurried to the inner palace.
The Empress was in poor health, and after giving birth to this child, he refused to have any more.
He thought the Empress was having a difficult childbirth, so he ran all the way to the inner palace, his mind filled with many dangerous images.
He even imagined that when the imperial physician asked him whether to save the mother or the child, he would choose his empress without hesitation.
As for the children, we can simply adopt one from the clan.
But when he arrived at the inner palace, the baby's loud cries could be heard.
"Your Majesty, great news! The Empress has given birth to a little prince. The baby was only in the womb for less than half an hour when she gave birth and is now resting."
The emperor paused, glancing at the child in the wet nurse's arms, but couldn't make out the redness of the baby.
She strode into the delivery room.
"Nuan Nuan, how are you?"
Tang Xinuan's delivery went very smoothly. She's not feeling too well right now, but that gives her time to dream about having a second child.
"Second Prince, I have just given birth to a prince, but I would like to have a princess."
Zhou Chuanxing felt sorry for her. The Empress had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and he took a handkerchief and gently wiped it away.
His eyes were filled with affection and concern.
"There's no rush. You should focus on getting better first."
He held the Empress's slender, white fingers to his lips and kissed them repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion.
"Thank you, Nuannuan, our Great Zhou Dynasty has an heir."
A smile welled up in Tang Xinuan's eyes, her expression full of smug satisfaction at having made a great contribution. "Erlang, you also deserve credit for this."
Zhou Chuanxing ordered someone to bring the little prince over. Although he was a military general and could lift a cauldron, he couldn't hold a baby weighing only a few pounds properly.
It took a lot of effort to lift it up with both hands.
“Nuan Nuan, look at our son, how handsome he is, he’s definitely our own child.”
Tang Xinu sat up a little and stared at the child in Zhou Chuanxing's arms.
Many images flashed through my mind like fleeting shadows.
Not being able to grow up under the care of her family is the regret of her life.
This child is not only a continuation of her and Erlang's lives, but also a continuation of the Tang family.
"Erlang, can my brother name this child?"
Zhou Chuanxing readily agreed, "Alright, I'll write him a letter right now and tell him that he's become an uncle."
End of main text.
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Author's Note: Extra chapters will be updated according to the ranking.
My little cuties, leave a comment below if you want to see which part.
I'll write whenever inspiration strikes.
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