New Students (End)
Taking charge of the overall situation? A princess? Are you kidding me!
"this……"
These words sparked a commotion below, with people in purple and red robes each holding their own version of events and arguing endlessly.
After a heated debate, someone looked up, holding a ceremonial tablet, and said emphatically, "The princess is a woman; how can she stand in the court? Lord Cui, you have lost your composure today."
Prime Minister Cui calmly asked, "Lord Zhang, now that all the men of the Yan family are dead, do you have a way to bring them back to life?"
Several heads of princes and nobles lay scattered in the hall, their faces contorted in grotesque expressions as the wind blew through them, causing everyone to gasp in shock. Zhang Xuan's face paled slightly, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Why can't they be adopted from within the imperial clan?"
"Adoption?" Xie Yuan scoffed. "Are you referring to the heir of the Prince of Pingnan? That fellow has only one arm; what right does he have to rule the world?"
The late emperor had seven brothers and sisters, but only the eldest princess is still alive and has children. She married a prince who died young, and their son bears the surname Xiao.
The Prince of Pingnan did leave behind a crown prince, but unfortunately, some time ago, this brat was fighting with a tiger and accidentally had one of his arms bitten off.
King Qin… Zhang Xuan shook his head: There is no hope at all.
It seems that the position of Beichen is vacant.
Above, Yan Ying slowly stood up.
She was kneeling beside the saint, her body covered in blood.
Now, with one hand supporting himself on the jade platform, his chest heaving violently, the sorrow and hatred in his eyes transformed into a spirit that soared through the clouds and chased the sun, striking the oars midstream.
She nodded to Prime Minister Cui, then looked up at the noisy crowd below and called out:
"Gentlemen, Yan Ji murdered his father and emperor, harmed his own brothers, causing the death of our father and tarnishing the nation's reputation. This is a great tragedy for the country. I am of the late emperor's bloodline and the legitimate son of the empress. I am rightfully the rightful heir. What makes me unfit to be emperor?"
She looked at Zhang Xuan, her gaze sharp as a blade, "Lord Zhang, can you find a better candidate?"
"Should we find my cousin, have him change his surname to Yan, and have him inherit the throne?"
To make Xiao Yin change his surname? How could that be allowed? It's absurd!
The old imperial uncle, who was still enjoying a banquet in Chang'an at the invitation of the eldest princess, rushed over upon hearing the news. Upon hearing this, he jumped up and retorted, "How can this be?! How can the Yan family's empire be changed hands?"
Zhang Xuan was about to say something more, but he made the final decision: "What does it matter if she is a woman? Yan Ying has always been intelligent and diligent, and she is a legitimate daughter of the first wife. She should be the one to govern the world!"
The room was quiet.
What does it matter if she's a woman? These words sounded grand and dignified, but everyone knew that what the old imperial uncle was implying was: her surname is Yan.
The imperial power and the aristocratic families have been fighting for so many years. If the dynasty collapses in one fell swoop, how can the Yan family hand over their empire so easily? If that were to happen, how would he face his ancestors a hundred years from now?
Yan Ying clearly understood what he meant.
She had this idea in mind when she asked Xiao Yin to bring the old imperial uncle from Jizhou.
But... isn't this empire ultimately for the common people, after all the fighting and strife? Tongguan is so far from Chang'an, even if the emperor were to announce it to the world, the news would probably take several months to spread.
Therefore, she would make her reputation spread further and further, so that the people of Great Yan, and even foreign countries, would remember her virtuous name, Yan Ying!
For myself, for all women in the world, and for the Great Yan Dynasty.
She said in a deep voice, "The rebellious son who murdered the emperor has already been punished. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Today, I, as the heir to the throne by the bloodline of the late emperor, will certainly follow the late emperor's last will and testament, secure the country and its people, and bring prosperity to the Great Yan, thus comforting the spirit of the late emperor!"
...
After the dark winds and rain, the sun finally came out, and the sky seemed to have been washed clean, azure and clear, like glass.
On the eighth day of the fourth month, Yan Ying ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Xuanhe.
In the first year of the Xuanhe reign, the Emperor, being benevolent and virtuous, granted a general amnesty. He rigorously investigated rebellious parties, arrested corrupt officials, reformed the salt and iron administration, increased salaries, resettled displaced people, and also greatly promoted education, including the establishment of girls' schools.
Praises immediately arose.
Twenty years later, Chu Lian's name, both before and after her death, was finally cleared of all grievances.
...
Liu Mansion.
Xie and Liu were reclining on a couch in the courtyard, the sunlight filtering through the grass and trees onto their faces, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance.
Today, we have specially invited entertainers to sing. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments are like the chirping of orioles in the mountains and the clear sound of mountain streams, making people's hearts and souls fly away.
Xie Lingxi's right hand was bandaged with white gauze, so she couldn't hold chopsticks and instead ate the sweet fermented rice balls that someone next to her fed her.
"Speaking of which, I heard that Chu Liying has asked the Emperor for leave to return to her hometown and will be leaving Chang'an soon."
Liu Xu had also heard about this, and only shook his head slightly: "It's not returning home, it's just a temporary rest."
How could His Majesty, in his quest to win over the hearts of the people, let go of such a fine and flawless porcelain blank as Chu Liying? Just a few days ago, His Majesty bestowed upon him a thousand taels of gold. Now that he has returned to his hometown, he is probably going to pay respects to his own father.
Under the scorching sun, Xie Lingxi half-closed her eyes and joked, "Why doesn't His Majesty reward us with a thousand taels of gold? He really is biased."
Yan Ying was indeed the most deserving candidate for emperor—combining strength and gentleness, kindness and severity.
She pretended to give Liu Xu a warning, then immediately promoted him, adding a note: "Lord Liu has a beautiful wife and a golden house, and his career has been so successful that it is truly enviable. I cannot give him anything more."
“Extra…?” She couldn’t help but laugh when she recalled those words. “It’s as if I’m some kind of greedy person.”
Liu Xu lifted her right hand and asked with pity, "Does it still hurt today?"
"No."
This injury was caused by drawing a bow.
Xie Lingxi witnessed Yan Ji drawing his sword and forcing the emperor to abdicate under the eaves of the Sparrow's Head that day. The scene was one of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, which stained the bluestone slabs red.
The bow was made of fine iron. She was weak and not very strong. After the princess and Chu Liying finished their performance in the hall, she used all her strength and shot the rebel kneeling in the hall without missing a beat.
As the arrow was released, her hand lost its strength, injuring flesh and drawing blood. Though her body ached, she felt a strange sense of peace within her.
The nightmare-like entanglement of their past lives finally came to an end with Yan Ji's death.
The bright prologue of this life has only just begun to be written.
Xie Lingxi snapped out of her reverie and looked around with longing. She saw swallows circling their nests and grasshoppers hopping across the leaves in groups.
Her husband beside her was as graceful as a willow or bamboo, radiating a gentle glow.
Outside the wall, people were playing and leaving footprints in the mud.
She tilted her head back, extending her slender, white fingers to touch the sunlight. "Will there be more days like this in the future?"
Liu Xu caught her hand in mid-air, gently yet firmly: "Of course."
May every year bring you joy and good fortune.
—The End—
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
