ending
Jiang Jin stood behind Lou Xuan. Zhai Wan hurriedly checked Lou Xuan's pulse and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was no residual poison.
"You really scared me to death!" Zhai Wan turned her face away and wiped away the tears that had fallen from her face.
"Alright, alright, I'm back now!" Jiang Jin shook Zhai Wan's arm.
"Have someone bring Wei Shu up here!" Jiang Jin then realized that she hadn't seen Wei Shu in the hall.
"Your Majesty, Jiang Jin and Wei Shu harbor treacherous ambitions and intend to destroy our Great Yan dynasty!" The Minister of Rites shouted sternly at Wei Shu, who was slowly walking into the hall.
"Then you might as well commit suicide, or were you planning to side with the third prince in the first place?" Emperor Wende patted the golden handle and looked at the Minister of Rites, who fell silent.
"I am not stupid. The Crown Prince has the Dou family, the Third Prince has the Liu family, the Fourth and Fifth Princes each have their own influence outside, and Zhaoyang also has his own trump card. This has always been the way of the royal family. Just because I haven't taken action doesn't mean I don't know." Emperor Wende looked at the court officials standing below.
"You all have your own agendas, but you shouldn't be plotting a coup, rebelling, or colluding with foreign tribes." Emperor Wende sighed as he looked at Lou Zuo, who was now bound.
"Zuo'er, do you know you're wrong?" Lou Zuo subconsciously looked at Dou Gong, but under Emperor Wende's strong pressure, he didn't dare to remind Lou Zuo.
"Your subject shouldn't have cowered behind the Imperial Guards, nor should he have lacked the bearing of a crown prince." Lou Zuo's squirming in the chair made Jiang Jin turn her face away. Wei Shu beside her squeezed her fingers.
"A brother stealing his brother's wife, a ruler stealing his subject's wife—that's a sign of national ruin! Do you really think that just because you're emperor, you can do whatever you want with the world?!" Emperor Wende showed no mercy, hurling a paperweight at Lou Zuo.
"Father, Your Majesty, I..." Lou Zuo knew he couldn't argue his way out, so he could only lower his head, not daring to look at Emperor Wende.
"The fourth prince was used as a target by the third prince and sent to a manor in the suburbs to reflect on his actions; the fifth prince was sent to guard the imperial mausoleum for five years and could not return to the capital without being summoned; the crown prince, lacking virtue, was enfeoffed as a prince and sent to Liangzhou." Emperor Wende laughed in anger at the crown prince's displeased expression.
"Fool! Do you know what will happen to you if the third prince catches you? He'll send you to Liangzhou, or even to the underworld!" Emperor Wende, still not satisfied with his outburst, threw his teacup at the crown prince, soaking his magnificent robes with tea.
"Your sister committed suicide because of you; even death cannot atone for that!" Everyone was confused, but Wei Shu looked at Emperor Wende.
"Your Majesty, are those arrows flying wildly from the withered courtyard?" Emperor Wende glanced at Wei Shu, sighed, and nodded.
"I had a dream. In the first scene, the third prince cared for the people and was the lord of the city, so I passed the throne to him. I also settled you and Xuan'er in Liangzhou. Although it was remote, there was no threat there. The third prince would always show some mercy because of his will. But you, you wicked beast, actually went back on your own and caused your sister to die with you in the capital!"
Emperor Wende was heartbroken at the thought of Lou Xuan's tragic death. "If it weren't for you, Xuan'er would have been safely in Liangzhou long ago!" Thinking of this, Emperor Wende kicked Lou Zuo hard again.
"Father, you can't treat your son like this because of a dream!" Lou Zuo simply refused to believe that he had lost his throne because of a dream.
"Fine, then tell me who's in the secret room of your study, why the Crown Princess hasn't conceived, and whether Lou Zuo needs to expose everything you've done!" Emperor Wende sneered.
"The third prince loved cruel officials and harsh punishments, leading to widespread suffering and uprisings. The Great Yan dynasty was ultimately defeated and destroyed." Emperor Wende's face darkened further as he looked at Lou Zuo.
"Father, my third brother has already been killed, you can't implicate me!" Lou Zuo tried to make himself inconspicuous, but Emperor Wende still stared intently at him.
"The second time, I thought the Crown Prince was benevolent and wouldn't resort to cruelty. I never expected him to seize the Third Prince's wife and bring her into the palace, incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. The Third Prince used this as an opportunity to rebel. Xuan'er and Wei Shu fought valiantly and finally repelled the rebel army. Unfortunately, a plague broke out, and the people suffered. You actually moved south, taking troops with you, leaving your sister alone to clean up the mess!" Emperor Wende was about to kick Lou Zuo when Wei Shu held him tightly.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Emperor Wende calmed down a bit after hearing Wei Shu's voice. "Look at the good crown prince you've all supported! Stubborn and pleasure-seeking, do you still want me to make him crown prince?" Emperor Wende stared intently at the bowed crowd.
"The Liu family, who followed the Third Prince in his rebellion, will be exterminated along with their entire clan. All the officers of the Weiwei and Wuwei Guards, and the Imperial Guards, all of the fifth rank and above, will be executed. Zhaoyang, you and Jiang Jin must purge the Third Prince's faction and the Fourth Prince's faction without mercy." Emperor Wende sighed as he looked at Wei Shu.
"Alright, I'm tired too. Keep your ulterior motives to yourselves. If I find out, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Emperor Wende dismissed the crowd. The officials, however, were still deeply immersed in what had just happened and couldn't shake it off.
"That's why His Majesty indulges His Highness so much. In reality, His Majesty knew about our every move all along. Although it was said to be a dream, it was actually a resurrection!" Jiang Jin whispered to Zhai Wan. Now that everything was settled, they could relax a bit.
Jiang Jin had intended to thoroughly investigate the accomplices with Lou Xuan today, but Lou Xuan sent him back to his residence.
"I won't hold your silence due to poisoning against you, but if anything like this happens again, I'll settle all scores, old and new!" Lou Xuan tapped Jiang Jin's forehead.
"Then I thank Your Highness for not scolding me!" Wei Shu stayed by Jiang Jin's side, watching her without showing any sign of distress, but he was still worried.
"Ah Jin, are you really alright?" Wei Shu helped Jiang Jin into the carriage. As dawn broke, the sounds of swords and spears echoing through the city all night finally subsided.
"His Majesty had the foresight to give me the antidote, so naturally I'm fine. Besides, I was still alive when I climbed into the coffin, which is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."
Jiang Jin leaned on Wei Shu's shoulder, "It's a good thing we're both alive, and that I wasn't left alone." Jiang Jin played with Wei Shu's hand, watching the curtains flutter in the wind.
"When did you realize that something was wrong with your body?" Wei Shu was somewhat annoyed that he hadn't noticed Jiang Jin's abnormality sooner.
"It was probably around the fifth day of the fourth month. But when Fu Ci made me take the poison, I knew he wouldn't let me off easily. He hates His Highness so much, how could he let go of the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to His Highness?" Jiang Jin leaned wearily against Wei Shu.
"So that's why you risked your life to see why the person behind the scenes was wearing a mask?" Wei Shu draped a cloak over Jiang Jin.
"Just pure curiosity. Besides, wouldn't it make me look useless if I didn't send out any useful information while we were with the enemy for so long?" Jiang Jin hugged Wei Shu's waist, looking sleepy, as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Your elder sister is doing well in the Jiang family. She said that staying there is useless to her and would only give others an opportunity to take advantage of her, so she might as well go back to the capital.” Wei Shu said softly, touching Jiang Jin’s face.
"Okay, I'm a little sleepy now, let me rest for a bit." Jiang Jin hugged Wei Shu and fell into a deep sleep. Wei Shu didn't dare to move, but gently placed his hand under Jiang Jin's nose. Fortunately, her breathing was steady. This time, he was truly relieved.
Anche stopped in front of the Wei residence. Abei saw Wei Shu carefully carry Jiang Jin out of the car and stride into the inner courtyard.
"Your wife is fine, just a little tired. Let her rest a bit more." Wei Shu covered Jiang Jin with the blanket before quietly leaving the room.
"Have someone prepare a bath and have the kitchen make some nourishing soup for Madam." Wei Shu knew Jiang Jin wasn't listening to him right now, but he still lowered his voice.
"This servant will take care of it immediately." Abei bowed and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Jiang Jin was indeed alright. She knew that Jiang Jin must have been involved in the turmoil in the capital last night, and her heart was filled with anxiety and worry. Watching her being carried back to the manor by Wei Shu, her heart seemed to slow down a second. Fortunately, she was just tired and sleepy; otherwise, she didn't know how she would have survived.
"Lou Zuo, from today onwards you will stay in your mother's palace and diligently study etiquette. If you slack off, I will have your mother appear in your dreams and give you a good scolding!" Emperor Wende looked at Lou Zuo kneeling below, trembling, and finally suppressed the urge to hit him again.
"Xuan'er will begin attending court tomorrow. He may ask me any questions he may have. Anyone who disobeys will be demoted. Furthermore, all those who participated in the resistance against the rebels today will be rewarded." Emperor Wende was somewhat satisfied to see that Lou Xuan showed no emotion whatsoever.
"Father Emperor, Father Emperor..." Lou Zuo was led away by Eunuch Lin. As he passed Lou Xuan, he tugged at Lou Xuan's skirt.
"Sister, sister, save me!" Lou Zuo's voice drifted further and further away, but Lou Xuan remained unmoved by pity.
"Father, I will certainly be upright and honest, and will not indulge in pleasure or oppress the people," Lou Xuan knelt on the ground and looked at the seated Emperor Wende, promising.
"Xuan'er, your father never listens to empty talk. You have a year to take control of the entire Great Yan and eliminate the accumulated abuses of the aristocratic families. If you cannot do this, then even if your father passes the throne to you, it will only be a push on your deathbed." Emperor Wende stroked the dragon throne, looking at Lou Xuan, and for the first time, he lowered his guard.
"No one is born to be an emperor, but a bad emperor will bring untold suffering to the people." Emperor Wende waved for Lou Xuan to leave the Zichen Palace. Looking at the sun high in the sky outside, Lou Xuan laughed heartily for the first time.
She walked to the garden and then from the garden to the palace gate, looking at the majestic city walls and the people below them, and thought, "So this is what it means to have power."
Lou Xuan observed that the clashes of the previous night among the people of the capital had clearly not left any lasting impression on them, and they were still setting up their stalls and doing business.
"Your Highness, this is a letter from Lady Wang Wu. She has successfully reached Bianzhou." Xueya had been with Jiang Jin from the time she was a princess trapped in the palace to the time she held power. No one knew better than her how much hardship Lou Xuan had endured.
"As long as she keeps her mouth shut, I won't go so far as to kill her." Lou Xuan glanced at the letter and then handed it to Xueya. "Burn it. There will be no more Third Prince's Consort, Wang Wu Niangzi, in this world. From now on, she'll only be herself." Lou Xuan kept her promise and spared Wang Wu Niangzi's life.
"News has come from Your Highness's inner palace that Lady Wang does not want to go to the imperial mausoleum with the Fifth Prince." Lou Xuan said softly, looking at the city wall. "Either she stays in the inner palace or returns to the Jiaofangsi, or she can accompany the Fifth Prince as a concubine and return to the capital to enjoy wealth and honor. There is no other way out for her here."
At noon, the scenery outside the Zichen Palace remained unchanged. After a year of training, Lou Xuan was no longer the naive princess she once was.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Army Guard will each send thirty elite troops to guard the city gates, rotating shifts with the Left and Right Guards and the Thousand Ox Guard." Jiang Jin, dressed in a purple official robe, stood beside Lou Xuan.
"How much power has Chang Yi taken back?" Lou Xuan asked, touching her slightly protruding belly.
"Feng Niang said there's a 50% chance, but the rest needs to be planned slowly." Jiang Jin helped Lou Xuan sit in the Zichen Palace. Looking at the magnificent palace, she felt a sense of unreality.
"His Majesty and the Empress have moved to the temporary palace; this imperial city is now your domain." Zhai Wan, dressed in the robes of the Imperial Physician and carrying a medicine chest, approached the two.
"I can finally freely admire the flowers and trees in the Imperial Garden. I heard that Prince Chong is supervised by his wife to study every day?" Jiang Jin asked, looking at Lou Xuan as she took out the cotton bellyband from her stomach.
"Well, anyway, Father just hopes he'll be reasonable and not do anything immoral." Lou Xuan finally felt relieved after returning to the inner palace and lying on the couch.
"When will I be able to safely give birth?!" Lou Xuan felt increasingly restricted in her movements due to carrying this cotton belly every day.
"It'll be soon, it'll be soon. In three months, His Highness will be able to give birth safely." Zhai Wan poured the prepared medicine for the pregnancy into the flowerpot as usual.
"Has the baby girl been found?" Naturally, one must be extremely cautious about matters involving the extermination of ten generations of a family.
"Your Highness, rest assured. Although women are allowed to enter the court, their ideas are deeply ingrained. You can find newborn girls in any of the baby girl towers."
Zhai Wan was used to hearing crying from the tower in the middle of the night when she accompanied her senior brother on house calls; the next day, it would be completely silent. This was the tragic fate of women.
“Now that we’ve opened a breach, we’ll let you close it. If men are allowed to take the lead again, it will bring thousands of times more oppression.” Jiang Jin comforted Lou Xuan as she re-tied up her cotton bellyband.
Three months later, Crown Princess Lou Xuan successfully gave birth to a princess, a cause for celebration throughout the land. In October of the same year, the phoenix and the dragon sang in harmony, and golden light shone for thousands of miles. Crown Princess Lou Xuan ascended the throne as Empress An Tai, and appointed Jiang Jin, the Chamberlain of the Palace Attendants, as Grand General of the Imperial Guards, Zheng Xi as General of the Imperial Guards, and Yue Niang as Grand General of the Imperial Gate Guards.
The remaining women who entered the court were distributed among the three provinces and six ministries. At the same time, the number of scholars from poor families increased dramatically, but the recommendation system for entering officialdom was heavily suppressed. Regardless of social status, everyone had to enter officialdom through the imperial examination. There were three male and three female examiners whose names were concealed. Anyone found cheating would be executed by slow slicing or have their entire family implicated.
Thus began the era of women. During Emperor Antai's reign, he implemented sweeping reforms, paid attention to the people, reduced taxes and levies, and achieved a balance between scholars from humble backgrounds and noble families. In the thirty-sixth year of Fengtian, Emperor Antai abdicated and passed the throne to the Crown Princess. Thus began the most glorious moment for women in the Great Yan Dynasty in thousands of years!
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