Chapter 679 The Imperial Edict Behind the "Upright and Just" Plaque!
"Very well! I grant your permission!"
Cheng Zheng slowly raised the corners of his mouth and closed his eyes.
...
"She was perfectly fine just the day before, how could she just disappear like that?" Upon hearing the news, Liu Yan rushed to the palace.
Others also entered the palace one after another.
Shen Lanxi: "Cheng Zheng will be buried with the rank of Emperor and Empress, in the imperial mausoleum. Court will be suspended for three days; no state mourning rites are necessary!"
The Ministry of Rites immediately took charge.
Even though there was no national mourning ceremony, Cheng Zheng was buried with the rank of Emperor and Empress. The people, grateful for the Emperor's love for them, spontaneously observed a hundred days of national mourning.
Since the common people all went this way, the officials naturally dared not show their faces at this time.
Officials who had happy occasions in their families postponed all of them.
Although Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing were annoyed, fortunately, the wedding dates for their sons and daughters had been set.
It was His Majesty who personally issued the decree.
In the past, those who were close to them would have to observe a two-year mourning period.
The Shen family's sons and daughters' desire to enter officialdom was repeatedly delayed, and another year passed in the blink of an eye.
That year, the sons and daughters of the Shen family married one after another, and the daughters of the Shen family left home to become new brides. The number of people in the Shen family not only did not decrease, but actually increased.
The following year, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu were assigned to the Ministry of War, both serving as Vice Ministers of War.
Not long after they took office, the two men went to the palace one after the other to seek official positions for the men and women, but Shen Lanxi refused them all.
"If they want to become officials, they either need to gain experience in the military or honestly take the imperial examinations. Those who rely on their fathers' glory to make a living are all useless!"
The Emperor's first stern rebuke did not elicit any resentment from the two; on the contrary, they were somewhat pleased.
Judging from His Majesty's tone, he still has expectations for them.
Sending them to the military for training is not a bad option.
Soon, most of the men in the family were sent to the army for training.
The following month, Shen Lanxi made a decision that shocked all the court officials.
"I have written the name of the heir apparent on the imperial edict and personally placed it behind the plaque of 'Uprightness and Brightness.' If anything happens to me, the court officials can retrieve the edict from the plaque and read aloud the heir apparent's ascension to the throne!"
The officials were in an uproar, never expecting that the method of establishing an heir could be like this.
On second thought, this is for the best; it reduces a lot of fighting.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The Shen family couldn't sit still after Shen Lanxi made her decision.
"Whom will His Majesty write in the imperial edict?"
All the sons and daughters of the Shen family became the targets of suspicion, with Shen Chengfeng, Shen Emei, and Shen An bearing the brunt.
Shen Chengfeng has already distinguished himself in the army by suppressing bandits. He was just promoted to commander of a thousand men this year. In addition, he has four sons and three daughters, which makes his position as successor secure.
Shen Emei was the second. She had previously accompanied her husband on his official post outside the capital. Although her husband was a law-abiding official, he had now been transferred to the capital to serve as an official. After giving birth to two sons in succession, she successfully entered the imperial court by helping disaster-stricken people. She is now the Director of the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank official.
Although Shen An was neither good at literature nor martial arts, he was considered a popular candidate due to his adopted status.
"Does anyone know who is named on His Majesty's imperial edict?" Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing asked each other in their respective rooms.
However, none of the children had the confidence to stand up.
"Father, can't you go and ask? His Majesty will definitely choose someone from our Shen family." In Shen Yuanjing's household, only Shen Emei is promising; the other children are all timid and shrinking, and are not favored by Shen Yuanjing.
Shen Yuanjing: "That's not appropriate. If I ask, it will seem like I care too much about the status of the heir."
Although he felt that His Majesty would definitely choose someone from their main branch, after all, they were siblings from the same mother... even if they were siblings from the same mother in name only, His Majesty would still choose someone from their main branch.
“Father, don’t forget, there’s more than just you in the main house.”
She also has two uncles, both of whom live on the border, but both of them have sons in their households.
What if His Majesty thinks men are more capable than women and doesn't choose her?
Shen Yuanjing felt a sense of unease. Yuanjun and Yuanqing had been stationed at the border for many years. Although their child was in the capital, he had observed him closely and found that the child was not outstanding.
"The name Emei was given by His Majesty. Since His Majesty is a woman, he will naturally favor women. Your chances are still very high."
Shen Emei didn't think so. Ever since she gave birth to a son, she felt that sons were better than daughters. Besides, she wasn't His Majesty's biological daughter, so there were many uncertainties.
“Father, His Majesty will officially place the imperial edict behind the plaque tomorrow. By then, it will be difficult to change it.” She still wanted her father to go to the palace to find out what was going on.
Shen Yuanjing glanced at his daughter, not wanting her to know that he feared the emperor, so he could only find another excuse.
"As His Majesty's younger brother, I know his temperament best. The more we push him, the more he will do the opposite."
"The best thing for us to do now is to do nothing and appear to be completely unconcerned about who is on the imperial edict, so that His Majesty will look at us differently."
Shen Emei looked doubtful. Seeing that she couldn't persuade her father, she turned to think of other ways.
The same thing happened in Shen Yuanxu's room.
"Father, who will be written on the imperial edict?" Shen Chengfeng was restless and agitated.
Shen Yuanxu: "Calm down. His Majesty is so wise that he is almost supernatural. Especially at times like these, you should be more magnanimous and just show your excellence."
Shen Chengfeng asked with concern, "Your Majesty is a woman, and Shen Emei is also a woman. When Your Majesty named Shen Emei, did you have any expectations in mind?"
Shen Yuanxu shook his head: "At that time, His Majesty didn't even know if Shen Emei would come of age, so what was he expecting?"
"Furthermore, given Her Majesty's health, do you believe she can live until your grandson is born?"
Shen Chengfeng was speechless for a moment.
Indeed, he was worrying too early; His Majesty's health seemed better than his own. He couldn't even lift the Star Companion Blade.
"We just need to wait for the right opportunity!"
"Father, do you think the eldest branch of the family will enter the palace tonight?"
Shen Yuanxu: "If he were smart, he would have remained still!"
Back then, my fourth great-aunt and the Empress Dowager died because they underestimated the enemy.
He still can't see through His Majesty!
...
The next day, the imperial edict, which had been the focus of all the officials' attention, was held in the hands of a pale-faced eunuch.
Shen Lanxi personally climbed the ladder and placed the imperial edict behind the plaque.
Four high-ranking officials, all loyal to His Majesty, were holding the ladder below.
Others wouldn't care who's on the imperial edict; they only care about the safety of the person climbing the ladder.
After putting the imperial edict away, Shen Lanxi turned around and glanced back, smiling sweetly.
"I don't need your help, just step aside."
Liu Yanhui and the others held on to the ladder tightly and refused to let go.
Shen Lanxi didn't ask them to let go again. Instead, she gathered her strength and leaped down the five-meter-high ladder, landing steadily with graceful movements.
The officials were amazed; his movements were even more graceful than this year's martial arts champion.
"From now on, all officials will no longer have to worry about me having no successor!"
Shen Lanxi laughed heartily.
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