Zhou Jin was in a terrible state, his breathing became rapid. He tried to call out to Zhou Changling at the top of his lungs, but his loudest voice sounded like a tiny mosquito's buzz, extremely weak.
However, because Zhou Changling was constantly paying attention to Zhou Jin, he still managed to keenly catch Zhou Jin's voice.
Father has woken up!
Zhou Changling stopped in his tracks, turned around, and returned to Zhou Jin's bedside.
Zhou Changling: "Father! Who exactly killed you?!"
Zhou Changling: "My son will avenge you!"
Zhou Jin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but it was extremely difficult.
Zhou Changling hurriedly put his ear close to Zhou Jin's mouth and heard Zhou Jin's panting words.
Zhou Jin: "My son, I bequeath the throne to you."
Zhou Jin: "You must—manage this empire—well—"
Zhou Jin: "The culprits are—the Empress Dowager and—the Empress, I have already—cough cough—"
Zhou Jin: "Execute them—huff—huff."
Zhou Jin: "Don't—make things difficult for—the Bai family—the Bai family is—pregnant—with—my—dragon prince."
Zhou Jin: "I want you to—swear—an oath!"
Zhou Jin's voice was intermittent, but Zhou Changling listened very attentively, taking notes one by one. However, when he heard the last note, his gaze darkened.
Zhou Changling: "Father! I..."
Zhou Changling wanted to tell him that he wouldn't make things difficult for Bai Shi, but he wanted to possess her. However, seeing Zhou Jin's stubborn eyes staring at him so intently, Zhou Changling finally swallowed his words.
Zhou Changling said, enunciating each word clearly, "I, Zhou Changling, swear to Heaven today that I will not make things difficult for the Bai family's daughter, much less bully the Bai family."
Zhou Changling was relieved to see the satisfied look in Zhou Jin's eyes, realizing that Zhou Jin hadn't been driven mad by him.
Zhou Jin: "Summon Grand Minister."
After Zhou Jin finished speaking, she closed her eyes. Zhou Changling knew that she was saving her last breath.
Zhou Changling opened the gates of the Taiji Hall and found that Li Mu and all the ministers were already kneeling at the entrance.
Zhou Changling: "Please come in, everyone. My father has summoned me."
Zhou Changling looked grief-stricken. The ministers, who had just arrived, did not know what had happened, but seeing the King of Jing's expression, they understood a little.
Zhou Changling knew that those who came at this time were all loyal ministers whom his father had investigated. His steps were heavy. He realized that he had long missed his father's most vulnerable moment, while his father was working tirelessly and bearing everything alone.
General Mu: "Your Majesty!"
Minister Bai: "Your Majesty!"
Other court officials: "Your Majesty!"
Zhou Jin forced her eyes open and pointed to the luminous pearl on the bedside table. The others understood what she meant, but Li Mu, quite perceptively, pressed it.
Sure enough, the luminous pearl was a mechanism; a box popped out, revealing two imperial edicts inside. Only then did everyone understand what it meant.
Li Mu took the imperial edict and read it aloud under Zhou Jin's approving gaze.
Li Mu: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the seventh prince, Zhou Changling, is of exceptional talent and intelligence, and is capable of undertaking great responsibilities. I am at ease with this, and hereby pass the throne to the seventh prince, Zhou Changling, hoping that he can bring prosperity to the country and protect the ancestral legacy."
Zhou Jin: "I hope that you, my esteemed minister, will protect my son and spare no effort in teaching him."
Zhou Jin stared wide-eyed and instructed the court officials to try their best to speak clearly. Zhou Changling's eyes reddened; he hadn't expected Zhou Jin to protect him so much.
The court officials all expressed their loyalty and pledged to assist Prince Jing.
Zhou Jin stopped them from continuing. He gestured for Li Mu to open another imperial edict. Li Mu, being an old servant of the emperor, quickly understood the meaning.
This imperial edict bestowed upon Bai Lingxi's unborn child, regardless of gender, the title of Prince An, and granted him the wealthy lands of Jiangnan as his fiefdom, allowing him to command an army of 10,000.
As soon as Li Mu finished speaking, everyone looked at Zhou Changling, wanting to see the new emperor's reaction.
Zhou Changling had no complaints whatsoever. He willingly kowtowed to Zhou Jin, indicating that he would do as he was told and would never break his promise.
Seeing that the new emperor Zhou Changling did not object, the others naturally did not raise any objections either.
Minister Bai, who was kneeling on the ground, was overjoyed. He never expected his daughter to have such good fortune. With the new emperor's promise, nothing bad would happen to her. She would enjoy wealth and honor for the rest of her life, and live a smooth and peaceful life.
Zhou Jin closed her eyes contentedly after seeing that Zhou Changling had agreed, and fell asleep forever.
Zhou Changling: "Father!"
Zhou Changling's face was filled with grief and heaviness; with this, the era belonging to Zhou Jin had come to an end...
——————
Prince Jing's Mansion.
Zhao Xueqi: "What did you say? The Emperor has passed away!"
Zhao Xueqi suddenly stood up and walked around the room excitedly. She was overjoyed. She never expected that she would be able to move into the palace so soon after marrying into the family.
Wouldn't that mean I'd soon be the empress of the world?
Xiao Cui: "Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master!"
Xiao Cui: "From now on, the princess will be the most honored woman in the entire world."
Zhao Xueqi was quite pleased with these compliments. It seemed that her dream was not a lie; the emperor had indeed passed away, and she would soon be the empress.
Suddenly remembering something, Zhao Xueqi said to Xiao Cui, "Go and see if Master has returned yet?"
Xiao Cui: "Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Cui left in a hurry, but soon returned.
Xiao Cui: "Your Highness, the Prince hasn't returned yet, but we just ran into Steward Li. He told us to put away all the brightly colored clothes and decorations, wear plain clothes as much as possible, and stay indoors as much as possible."
Zhao Xueqi felt that her dignity had been challenged. She was clearly the mistress of this palace and would become the ruler of the world in the future, but now she was being controlled by a mere steward. A strong sense of resentment welled up in her heart.
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