Chapter 127 Empress Zhaode
The King of Yue and the elders of the inner cabinet, who had rushed to the palace with the news from various means, heard these words clearly. They almost suspected that they were still dreaming. The moonlight that was as calm as water just now was blocked by dark clouds, and in an instant, thunder and wind arose, and heavy rain poured down.
The rain blurred the eyes and eyebrows of the people who were so close. Jiang Rufei, who had become familiar with the elders in the meetings for more than a year, stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with his brother, "The country is in mourning, and the bells should be rung."
There was no sadness in her voice, and her stepping forward was more like a hint of power struggle. The cute and taciturn girl straightened her back, and her aura was somewhat similar to that of her brother. The King of Yue, who always smiled, did not smile at all. He did not move and looked at Jiang Hengyun.
The paper in Lu Xi's hand had already fallen into Jiang Hengyun's hands. He read it in a deep voice, repeating Jiang Rufei's order just now, and the people standing in front of the hall then moved.
The sound of the emperor's funeral bell pierced through the rain curtain and spread far and wide. The death of the emperor who had been away from power for many years could not stop the operation of the state machine. Instead, it increased their busyness. People walked hurriedly, and when they looked at the brother and sister standing in front of the hall, there was always deep meaning in their eyes.
Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who has stood behind the court for so many years, would really give up when he is within reach of the top?
Concubine Yuan stumbled out of the obstruction and fell to the ground, shaking her head wildly, "No, it's impossible, he loves me, he said he loves me!" Her thick-soled boots stepped on the mud around her, splashing a stain. The people in the center of power who came and went treated her as nothing. It was not until she was held down and dragged away by Lu Xi and the eunuchs that Concubine Yuan truly felt the cold butcher's knife hanging over her head.
The news that Concubine Yuan committed suicide to follow the late emperor and the unusual contents of the late emperor's will were quickly placed on the desks of those who were paying attention. The elder of the Xiao family, who had rushed to the capital when the emperor was seriously ill, sat at the bottom and sneered, "Empress? That would have to make the crown prince happy."
They did not want to see a future where a crown prince ascended the throne, but a female emperor ascending the throne was even less in their interest.
The disrespectful discussion reached the ears of Minister Xiao, who was sitting upright at the top of the table. She smoothed out the wrinkles on the note and smiled softly, "Excuse me, uncle."
Xiao Qian walked out of the door, ignoring the very obvious scolding behind her. She led the black horse left by her daughter, ran through the rain, and headed towards the East Palace.
She had already betrayed them once out of cowardice, and had given too much for them. Now that her daughter was no longer in the capital, she had nothing to worry about, so why should she be cowardly again?
The heavy rain covered the faint cries in the palace. The imperial guards and eunuchs, who were completely under the control of Jiang Hengyun, moved quickly. Si Li accompanied the brother and sister who had completely lost their father back to the East Palace. She couldn't suppress the doubts in her heart. She didn't suspect that there would be fratricide like others. After all, she saw the relationship between the brother and sister. It was just that Jiang Hengyun would accept the emperor's arrangement like this, and Jiang Rufei was not surprised at all. It was really a bit unreasonable.
After entering the warm room, the dampness on her body was somewhat dispelled. Jiang Rufei turned around and saw Si Li's frowning brows. The arrogance she had when she and her brother faced the ministers together just now suddenly disappeared. "Why are you so surprised?" She glanced at Jiang Hengyun and took Si Li's hand and walked inside. "He had been planning to leave the burden to me and take you out for a walk. It's true that after getting married, my sister has become a little white cabbage with no one to love her."
Si Li was amused by her and couldn't maintain her serious expression as she was about to ask them about the real business. Only then did she understand why Jiang Hengyun had always dragged Jiang Rufei to do things. The retreat and future arrangements had been prepared quietly, but he had never boasted about it out loud.
When she decided to marry him, she never thought Jiang Hengyun would do this. She thought the capital would be her only activity area in the future, at most when the emperor went on tour, but she got such a surprise.
All power in the world is within his grasp, but he only wants to hold on to her.
Si Li's heart softened. Jiang Rufei's voice scolding her brother faded in her ears. She slowed down her pace and turned to look at Jiang Hengyun. The young man's black robe was wet by the rain. When he saw her looking at him, his cold expression disappeared and he smiled.
This was the person she loved, who made countless concessions for her when she was still hesitating.
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The last words of the late emperor were copied onto the silk imperial edict and sealed with the imperial seal, becoming an irreversible will. The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court, which had already made preparations for the crown prince to ascend the throne, were stunned by the news of the empress. The Minister of Rites ran around everywhere, and the young Hanlin Academy was also surprised and in a commotion, causing the people in the Imperial College to be uneasy.
Secret discussions of conspiracy were circulating in the streets and alleys and teahouses and restaurants in the capital, and everyone felt that the princess was plotting to usurp the throne with ulterior motives.
There were voices of condemnation that it was against ancestral rules, ridiculous, and inappropriate. What's worse, someone even shouted that it was a hen crowing at dawn.
However, the students who knelt at the palace gate and made trouble were soon taken away by the imperial guards under Jiang Hengyun. Qin Daxueshi personally wrote a letter to resign, ashamed that he had not managed the Hanlin Academy well, and begged the emperor's daughter for mercy. The people who were talking nonsense and stirring up trouble in the teahouses and restaurants were also escorted to Jingzhao Yin by the imperial guards of the East Palace. The former crown prince, who was very famous for killing, acted quickly to stabilize the turbulent capital.
Those who are concerned can't help but sigh: The Crown Prince is obviously a good person, why did the Princess succeed to the throne?
Only Commander Hulu, who had pledged his loyalty to the princess under Jiang Hengyun's watchful eyes, knew that such a swift and effective move was entirely the work of Princess Fei.
The Lin family, who were ready to make a move, looked for the princess's study companion, but were denied entry; the Si family and the Xiao family, unwilling to give up, secretly met with Yuan Fangtong, and the voices supporting the second prince gradually leaked out; Elder Liu Ge kindly added Liu Wuling's name back to the family tree, and went to the academy in person to pick her up, but was met with a cold shoulder.
The undercurrents in the capital were reflected in the reports of the imperial guards and secret guards in the East Palace study, which became the best aid for Jiang Rufei to stir up trouble and establish her authority.
After the late emperor's coffin was laid to rest, he was buried with the posthumous title of Emperor Ning Huai. Huai means gentle and incompetent. Jiang Hengyun did not choose a praise posthumous title for his father, nor did he give him a bad one. The plain word Huai tells the whole story of the emperors during the reign of Jingwen.
The sky was clear and bright on the day of the burial. The imperial mausoleum had been built long ago. Si Li stood behind the brother and sister, watching the team walk into the depths of the tomb. When she and Jiang Hengyun walked back, she asked, "Doesn't he know that this is just the mother's cenotaph?"
Jiang Hengyun curled his lips, "If he wants to deceive me, let him do it."
One year after the death of the emperor, the emperor observes mourning for 27 days. No matter how the new and old ministers in the court petition, or how the people who secretly support the second prince to ascend the throne make a fuss, under the suppression of the imperial guards and the support of the prince, the day of Jiang Rufei's ascension to the throne finally arrives.
Si Baifu was no longer the first among the civil officials. After Si Baifu was implicated in a power-seeking conspiracy and was deprived of his position and imprisoned, Liu, the old minister, became the first in the inner cabinet. His face was rosy, and he looked old in the past. Xiao Qian, who was previously predicted to join the cabinet, stood behind the old ministers, and in front of her was the newly-joined scholar Qin Daxueshi.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this supporting position will probably have to be left to someone who comes later.
The beads on the front and back of the crown swayed slightly, and the hem of the court robe embroidered with mountains, rivers, sun, moon and golden phoenixes dragged very long. Under the gazes of the courtiers with different expressions, Jiang Rufei walked steadily past the steps carved with flying dragons outside the Fengtian Hall. Someone secretly glanced at the former crown prince Jiang Hengyun who was standing at the first place among the military generals. There was no reluctance on the young man's solemn face.
After three kneelings and nine kowtows, the reign title was changed to Zhaode, the imperial edict was read out, and the bells and drums of the Meridian Gate rang, representing the arrival of a new era for Daning.
After the grand court meeting that had not been held for many years, the new emperor Jiang Rufei and the ministers went to Wenyuan Pavilion. As a spectator, Si Li had no other arrangements. After the ceremony ended and she returned to the East Palace, she breathed a sigh of relief, "It's finally over. I was almost eaten by those ladies! Each of them was as shrewd as a ghost, hoping to get information from me." In the nearly one month before the enthronement, the brother and sister dealt with the old ministers in the court, while Si Li faced the visiting cards that were delivered to the East Palace like snowflakes, comforting and fooling each one, and even her voice was almost hoarse.
The new Jinning Prince Jiang Hengyun, who was given the title of the country, stood in front of the East Palace gate and looked back at the Fengtian Palace with an unpredictable look. Si Li walked forward a few steps and saw that he didn't catch up, so he turned back and held him, pinching his palm with his little finger, "Why, Your Highness, you don't want to leave?"
"It's a pity that the Queen Mother can't see it." Jiang Hengyun held her mischievous hand and took off the overly grand gold hairpins on Si Li's head, leaving only a few lighter hairpins. Just as the two were about to enter the door, they saw Qinghe coming from outside and bowed his head, "Your Highness, Yuan Si is kneeling outside the palace gate and asking to see the princess."
Si Li was stunned for a moment before she remembered who Qinghe was talking about. Si Tang must have married into the Dongyang Duke's mansion, so she changed her name. "Dongyang Duke..." Si Li hissed, and suddenly remembered Si Baifu who had caused trouble in the capital before. She tilted her head and asked Jiang Hengyun, "Is the person who was imprisoned with Si Baifu the Prince of Dongyang Duke?" Jiang Hengyun knew that she was not "Si Li" and there was no need to respect such a char siu father.
Jiang Hengyun nodded slightly, and Si Li touched his chin, "Bring her in and see what this is about."
Si Li knew that the Dongyang Mansion and Si Baifu had sent people to invade the palace to kidnap the second prince, but the Duke of Dongyang was paralyzed in bed and acted cautiously. All the intersections were limited to the Crown Prince and had nothing to do with him. Therefore, the Dongyang Mansion only seized the title and kidnapped the Crown Prince, but did not take any action against the Duke of Dongyang and his property.
Si Tang, who appeared in front of Si Li who was about to watch the show, was not in a good condition. Her hair was disheveled, she was wearing linen clothes, and her face was covered with coal dust. She looked like a madman who had fled. When she saw Si Li drinking tea, Si Tang's sunken eyes sparkled. She rushed to Si Li's feet in two steps and reached out to grab her skirt.
Jiang Hengyun frowned. Before he gave the order to throw the man out, Qinghe grabbed Si Tang, who was about to take action, and made her kneel not far from Si Li.
"Sister! Sister, save me!" Si Tang didn't catch it, and withdrew his hand as if he had been electrocuted. He hugged himself and burst into tears, "Yuan Fangtong, that beast, hurt me. His father is also a lunatic!"
Si Li was shocked. Jiang Hengyun and his men had handled the court affairs without hiding anything from her. She had a lot of intelligence at hand. She had only heard that Duke Dongyang was paralyzed, but not that he had gone mad. Seeing her surprise, Si Tang, like grabbing a life-saving straw, told her everything he had experienced after marriage.
"Wait." Si Li listened to the incoherent crying, and finally understood what Si Tang was going to do from the sex life between Yuan Fangtong and Si Tang and the complaints of Dongyang Gong about torturing his daughter-in-law. She summarized, "So, you want me to help you get a divorce from Yuan Fangtong? Just because the way your father-in-law looked at you made you uncomfortable?"
Oh, this reason for divorce really makes people think too much.
Si Tang looked up in surprise, "Yes! Sister, sister help me! Sister save--" Her words were interrupted by a cup of warm tea splashed towards her. The splashing tea made her cough. After finally stopping, Si Tang looked up and saw that Si Li, who had a smile on her face just now, had a cold face.
"Are you awake?" Si Li said calmly, "You've had everything you wanted since you were a child, and you can make anyone you want bow their head to. You agreed to this marriage and now you want to divorce. You want me to do things without doing anything. You really have a good dream."
Si Tang's smile froze on his face, his skin, which still had half its original color, twitched, and some resentment appeared in his eyes.
Si Li had seen enough of her resentment, and waved her hand to let Qinghe take the people out. Qinghe had just received a message from outside the palace, hesitated for a moment, and whispered a few words in Si Li's ear. Si Li was stunned and looked at her sister, "For the sake of our sisterhood, I have reminded you many times, this is the last time, be good."
What?
Before Si Tang could figure out what this meant, he was grabbed by the shoulders and dragged out of the East Palace and thrown out of the imperial palace gate. Outside the palace gate, Jian Jiwen, with a serious face, helped Ji Wanqing get off the car and stand still. After hearing that something happened in the Dongyang Mansion, the two of them immediately rushed thousands of miles from Xingling Mansion to the capital. "Here we are."
"Mother!" Si Tang turned around and walked out of the palace dizzy. The moment he saw his mother, tears burst out. He ran forward a few steps, hugged Ji Wanqing and burst into tears.
Ji Wanqing was knocked back a few steps and leaned against the carriage. She smiled gratefully at Jian Jiwen who put his hand behind her to protect her from getting hurt. She patted her aggrieved daughter on the back and said, "Let's go. Mother will take you to find them and get a divorce."
Jian Jiwen stopped Qinghe, who had completed her mission and bowed to them, and was about to return to the palace, and asked in a gentle voice, "Ali, she..."
"Her Majesty is busy, so she won't see you." Qinghe was polite, but his refusal was very obvious.
In the East Palace, Si Li sighed, "It's better to have a mother."
Jiang Hengyun stretched out his long arms and wrapped them around her. Si Li smiled, "Well, it's good for me to have you."
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The author has something to say:
In fact, combined with the foreshadowing in the previous part, the story is very simple. Dongyang Gong was old and had a crush on his stepmother, who was almost like his white moonlight. Then Ji Wanqing got married, and he felt sorry for it. He wanted to make his white moonlight's daughter a couple with his own son to fulfill his dream. Yuan Fangtong was a playboy. After he was imprisoned, Dongyang Gong's family scattered. As his daughter-in-law, the stinky sister was sensitive to Dongyang Gong's aberrations, and with the collapse of power, she was completely scared.