Chapter 530 Emperor Chongwu, Shen Lanxi!
"Rice, flour, vegetables, and other essential items for people's livelihood will be suspended for half a day."
"Officials shall continue to perform their duties as usual, and all government offices shall continue to perform their duties as usual. We must be of one mind and work together to ensure the peace and tranquility of our Great Zhou during the period of national mourning, and not give any opportunity to those with ulterior motives!"
The officials obeyed: "Yes!"
Afterwards, Shen Lanxi made arrangements for the harem.
"His Majesty is benevolent and probably does not wish to have too many concubines buried alive with him. Concubines who have borne children can continue to be supported by the palace. Concubines who have not borne children can stay in the palace or choose to leave. The palace will give them a sum of money so that they can live a worry-free life in their later years."
An official with a daughter in the palace knelt down and said, "The Regent is merciful."
Wang Bao: "If you have something to say, speak up now; otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
The officials naturally didn't want to cause any trouble.
According to the custom of the previous dynasty, all officials should stand outside the palace or kneel to keep vigil for His Majesty.
They're so old; if they were to go through this for a month, they'd be half-dead, if not dead.
Now that Shen Lanxi had spoken up and spared them these troubles, they were happy to leave.
After the arrival of the foreign ethnic groups from the southwest, they were kept at the post station.
Shen Lanxi handed over the task of settling them to Liu Yanhui.
"Your Highness, I plan to take them to visit the streets and alleys of the capital in two days, and then take them to the farms and factories in the suburbs."
This trip is enough to bring the national mourning period to an end.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Lanxi added two more places.
“Take them to visit the college and medical school, and also to see the girls’ college.”
"yes!"
Liu Yan looked at the person engrossed in handling official business, hesitant to speak.
"Is there anything else?" Shen Lanxi asked when he still hadn't left.
Liu Yanhui kept the matter to herself and turned to find Che Mingyuan, Wei Dongzhu, and others.
With orderly arrangements, the national mourning period passed in the blink of an eye.
This once all-powerful emperor, except for the moment when his death knell tolled and stirred up waves, faded into obscurity like a stagnant pool, disappearing from the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
On the morning of the second day after the end of the national mourning period, Liu Yan knelt on the ground and wrote a petition.
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. The Regent is virtuous and capable, with no shame before Heaven and Earth, and understands the hearts of the people. He is supported by the common people, and auspicious omens are frequently appearing. This is a sign that a wise and virtuous ruler is about to be born in a prosperous era. On behalf of the Ministry of Revenue, I respectfully request the Regent to ascend the throne as Emperor!"
The officials were in uproar.
The three regents looked at each other, their hearts filled with a sense of relief and clarity.
"Your subject also respectfully requests that the Regent ascend the throne!"
"I also..."
In the blink of an eye, most of the court officials knelt down devoutly, requesting Shen Lanxi to ascend the throne as emperor.
The remaining court officials who were still standing had varying expressions: some looked pale, some were bewildered, and some seemed to realize something belatedly.
Mei Nanhua knelt down: "This old minister respectfully requests the Regent to ascend the throne!"
Both Liu Mingxin and Wu Yanzhi were stunned.
The Grand Tutor was a veteran of three reigns and the teacher of the late emperor. He disliked Shen Lanxi the most and had repeatedly prevented her from presiding over the imperial examinations and from implementing new policies.
He was the last person who should have supported Shen Lanxi, but unexpectedly... he was the first among the three to stand up and support her.
Could it be that what they saw before was all fake?
Shen Lanxi had already been with the Grand Tutor for a long time...
Wu Yanzhi knelt down: "This old minister respectfully requests the Regent to ascend the throne!"
Liu Mingxin thought he was the first to see through Shen Lanxi, but he never expected... He could only smile bitterly and slowly kneel down.
"This old minister respectfully requests that the Regent ascend the throne!"
The rest of the people who were still standing were all in a daze, as if they were dreaming.
The regents appointed by the three late emperors!
It dropped so easily.
The quick-thinking minister immediately knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your subject respectfully requests the Regent to ascend the throne."
Those who reacted slowly knelt shakily on the ground, silent.
Shen Lanxi watched the scene in the hall with an expressionless face.
"Liu Yanhui, how dare you!"
Liu Yan Hui said with trepidation, "Your Highness, I am completely loyal and devoted to the foundation of our Great Zhou Dynasty and the peace of its people. If I have any selfish motives, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
Shen Lanxi frowned, her eyes gloomy, and no one could guess what she was thinking.
Wei Dongzhu knelt down and said in a strong voice, "Your Highness has successively recovered Dongchuan and Northwest China, and has made many military achievements. Afterwards, you found out the truth about the murder of the Wei family army. You are resourceful and wise. Then you introduced grain seeds, built water conservancy projects, and established factories and medical schools to improve people's livelihoods."
"The Regent has done many good deeds that benefit the country and its people, and his achievements will be remembered for generations. His benevolence, martial prowess, and wisdom surpass those of the former sages. Even if any other prince had ascended the throne, we would not have accepted it!"
Song Daoxi stepped out from behind the screen and knelt respectfully in front of the hall.
"The disciples of Guigu always emerge during times of chaos, solely to seek a wise ruler and assist him. The Regent is the destined ruler of the world, the wise ruler that Guigu has been waiting for for a hundred years!"
The entire court was in uproar!
Could it be that Guigu was also bribed by Shen Lanxi?
Could what Song Daoxi said be true?
They couldn't have imagined, no matter how hard they tried, that the wise ruler would actually be a woman.
"I earnestly request the Regent to ascend the throne for the sake of the people!" Song Daoxi declared passionately.
Liu Yan replied: "I earnestly request that Your Majesty consider the well-being of all the people!"
Most of the court officials joined Liu Yanhui in shouting.
Shen Lanxi's brows gradually relaxed, and she said helplessly, "I am a woman, and I am grateful for His Majesty's trust and the officials' support, which has allowed me to sit in my current position."
"Your Majesty trusts me, the court officials trust me, and the people of the world support me. Therefore, I will not hesitate to dedicate myself to repaying the people of the world and making our Great Zhou Dynasty more prosperous and powerful, so that foreign enemies will not dare to invade!"
Liu Yanhui's lips curled up, and she shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Officials: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor..."
With the tide turning against them, the unwilling courtiers had no choice but to kneel and pay their respects as well.
...
The news that Shen Lanxi was hailed as the new emperor by the officials in front of the palace spread throughout the capital as if it had grown legs.
In less than an hour, the Ministry of Rites drafted a title for Shen Lanxi: Emperor Chongwu!
Zhou Ruyuan received the news of Da Ding a month later.
Since arriving in Tianjin, Zhou Ruyuan has faced numerous difficulties. His third aunt is extremely cunning and doesn't let slip a single word he wants to keep. On one hand, he has to settle the Southwest Army he brought with him, on the other hand, he has to deal with the aristocratic families of Tianjin, and he also has to worry about news that is unfavorable to him. It can be said that every step he takes is difficult.
Jiang Wuyai had just given him an idea, and he was hesitating. First, he received news that his mother had been forced to commit suicide, and then Shen Lanxi declared herself empress.
After being hit by two blows, Zhou Ruyuan was both angry and resentful, wishing he could rush to the capital right now.
“Your Highness, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. Now is not the time to be bound by personal feelings. Hesitation will only lead to more trouble!” Jiang Wuyai said resolutely.
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes were red, but he forced himself not to show his vulnerability in front of outsiders.
How dare his mother, Shen Lanxi?
Isn't she afraid that he will rise up in rebellion to purge the court of corrupt officials?
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