After the death of the empress, white flags were hung everywhere in the capital as quickly as possible, and the whole city was in a solemn mood.
The Queen's last words seemed to clearly indicate why she died.
The reputations of Xian Guijun, Gu Jinxiu, and the Queen plummeted in the capital.
How the Queen treats her children in a biased manner is a private matter, unknown to outsiders. In the hearts of the people, the empress was diligent in her work and loved her people, and she was busy with paperwork. During her reign, the national treasury was full, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the country was thriving. Now that he has passed away, the funeral bells are ringing in the middle of the night. Not to mention those far away, the people in the capital are really sad. Some elders even hurriedly tied white silk ribbons, knelt in front of their homes, and cried bitterly.
The palace was also in chaos. Gu Jinxiu had conspired with Xianguijun to rebel. Now Xianguijun had been executed, and Gu Jinxiu was dragged out and tortured to death according to the order of the late emperor. The two leaders had received sanctions, but the chaos they left behind continued.
The late emperor was aware of this rebellion, but there were people in the Imperial Guards who actually participated in it. Now that these traitors have been captured, there is an uproar in the palace.
The commander of the Imperial Guards came to ask Gu Jinke how to deal with the situation.
It was late at night. Gu Jinke had been served and changed into the crown and robes of a princess, and then into mourning clothes. He knelt before the empress's coffin. Except for the sound of chanting, there was no other noise in the whole hall.
Xin Shuang, who was invited into the palace, pulled at her skirt, and Gu Jinke came back to his senses: "What's wrong?"
Xin Shuang looked at her, feeling sad, but he had to ask her: "Your Highness, all the rebels in the Royal Guards have been arrested. How do you think we should deal with them?"
Gu Jinke's expression moved, and she tried to stand up, but she had been kneeling for too long, and the winter night was cold and stiff. She moved but failed to stand up, and almost fell. Fortunately, Xin Shuang behind her supported her steadily. The ministers kneeling behind her were also anxious: "Your Highness, be careful!"
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself!"
Gu Jinke supported herself on Xin Shuang's hand and slowly stood up, raising her hand to stop the noisy noises behind her. A servant knelt down to rub her stiff and cold knees. After Gu Jinke caught her breath, she supported Xin Shuang's hand and went out.
The commander of the Imperial Guards was standing guard outside the palace. When he saw Gu Jinke coming out, he bowed and said, "Your Highness!"
Gu Jinke nodded slightly, his voice a little hoarse: "Where are the rebels?"
The commander of the Imperial Guards said that the people were detained in front of the palace and asked Gu Jinke how to deal with them. Gu Jinke looked far away and saw that there seemed to be a crowd of people kneeling in the empty square in front of the palace.
She rubbed her brows tiredly and ordered, "Lock it up first."
She was bound to use these people to establish her authority when she ascended the throne. If she dealt with them now, it would be too easy for them.
The commander of the Imperial Guards then took the order and went down. Gu Jinke stood in front of the steps. She looked back at the hall and saw Xin Shuang beside her, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, with a look of worry and distress on her face. She forced a rigid smile and said, "I know what you meant by calling me out."
After all, it is a critical period for the wake and the coffin is being kept. It is urgent to deal with these rebels. Xin Shuang must have other intentions when taking the opportunity to call her out.
Xin Shuang seemed to be relieved. "Your Highness has been traveling all the way back and hasn't rested yet. You should find some time to rest. You will be busy again when the day breaks. The late emperor in heaven would not want to see Your Highness ruining your body like this. The ministers who are guarding the spirit in the palace will understand. Your Highness should take care of yourself."
Gu Jinke nodded: "I know."
She knew that her body was very tired, but her mind was very clear and she didn't feel sleepy at all. But seeing Xin Shuang's face full of worry, he had no choice but to compromise.
She rubbed her hands together and blew a breath of hot air in front of her lips: "I'm going to rest for an hour or two and come back in the morning."
She looked inside the palace and said, "Prime Minister Gongzhong, Lord Xue hasn't come yet. Go and take a look. If they are kneeling outside the palace or on their way, persuade them to go back and come back tomorrow."
Xin Shuang nodded.
Prime Minister Gongzhong took sick leave and was previously staying at a farm outside the city. If she heard the news now, she would have rushed over quickly, but she is too old and Gu Jinke doesn't dare to let her work too hard.
As for Lady Xue, she is now at home because of Lady Qiao's matter. She is a criminal with unclear meaning and cannot enter the palace, so Gu Jinke can only persuade her to go back.
After giving these instructions, Gu Jinke found the palace he had been in before, washed up and lay down to rest.
The servant left with the copper basin, but a figure walked in. Gu Jinke was sitting on the edge of the bed. When he saw him, he called out, "Qiao Xi."
Qiao Xi was in the palace before, but because he had no official status and there were many ministers there, he could only withdraw first. Now he came over and sat on the footstool in front of the bed: "I'll come to accompany Your Highness, Your Highness, you can rest first."
Gu Jinke held his warm hand and lay down. The candlelight in the hall was dim, and the light shadows swayed gently. Gu Jinke looked at the ceiling of the tent, then slowly closed his eyes.
She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Josh sat on the footrest and breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her breathing calm down. He slowly raised his head and looked at her.
The most out-of-control moment for Gu Jinke tonight was probably when the late empress passed away. She hugged him and a tear fell on his neck. After that, Gu Jinke never showed any strange expression again, but was calm, as if he was not that sad.
Unlike her, the ministers, the second princess, the fourth princess, and other princes who came to stand guard over the coffin were crying and looked very sad.
However, the people who were guarding Gu Jinke knew that there was something wrong with Gu Jinke's condition, so Xin Shuang persuaded her to rest and Qiao Xi came to accompany him. Now that Gu Jinke can sleep peacefully, Qiao Xi is truly relieved.
But when he could see Gu Jinke's features clearly in the dim candlelight, he froze slightly.
There were winding tear marks in the corners of Gu Jinke's eyes, and wet water marks on his eyelashes.
Josh gently stroked her hand, sighed softly, and leaned down to kiss her fingertips.
His Highness is really a very soft person.
…
Gu Jinke didn't sleep for long. When it was dawn, she got up and washed. Xin Shuang came to serve her and brought some news: "Prime Minister Gongzhong has entered the palace, but she took off her official uniform and went to the spirit of the late emperor to apologize. She knew everything that Gongzhong had done. He said that he was sorry for not teaching his children well."
Gu Jinke was silent for a while before saying, "Please take care of the coffin a little bit!"
Xin Shuang nodded: "Master Xue is also kneeling in front of the coffin."
Gu Jinke nodded, led his men back to the coffin, and knelt down.
But this time, as soon as she knelt in front of the coffin, the ministers knelt down and said, "Your Highness, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Please read the late emperor's will and invite a new ruler!"
Gu Jinke slightly turned sideways, nodded, and looked at Fang Rui who was guarding here.
Fang Rui's eyes were still red, but she had dressed very neatly and looked very energetic. She took the box and stepped forward: "The late emperor's will!"
Gu Jinke lifted his robe and knelt down.
Fang Rui opened the box, took out the Ming Emperor scroll from the box, slowly unfolded it, and then her deep and slightly hoarse voice came out.
"I have received the order from Heaven... Princess Gu Jinge is kindhearted, benevolent, filial, and caring. She loves the people and has the support of the whole nation. She is the right person to ascend the throne... All the civil and military officials shall work together to assist me... I decree this!"
After Fang Rui finished reading, she looked at Gu Jinke.
Gu Jinge knelt down and said, "Your son accepts my order!"
Fang Rui smiled slightly, folded the imperial edict in half and handed it over respectfully. Gu Jinke took it with both hands raised high and then stood up. When they reached the center, all the officials knelt down again and said, "Long live the emperor!"
Fang Rui also knelt down, and bowed with the other ministers: "Long live the emperor!"
The sky suddenly brightened, and a ray of morning light slowly shone into the hall, shining on Gu Jinke. Her body was dancing with golden light, so bright that it was impossible to look directly at her. The ministers could only hear her clear and powerful voice: "Stand up!"
After the new emperor handed over power, the mourning period began. The Ministry of Rites also began to prepare for the new emperor's coronation ceremony. According to the ancestral system, the mourning period should be 27 days, replacing the month with the day.
However, other domestic affairs in Jin would not stop because of mourning, and Gu Jinke was completely busy.
In addition to cooperating with the requirements of the Ministry of Rites and familiarizing herself with the procedures of the enthronement ceremony, she also had to participate in the wake every day and handle government affairs.
When the empress was buried in the imperial mausoleum, she would finally have concluded a matter. Standing in front of the imperial mausoleum, Gu Jinke looked at Fang Rui and said, "You have decided."
Fang Rui nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I have served the late emperor for my entire life and I am used to it. Please let me stay in the imperial mausoleum and accompany the late emperor for the rest of his life."
Gu Jinke looked at her face which had aged in just a few days, and reluctantly turned his head away: "Okay."
Fang Rui grinned and knelt down: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Gu Jinke helped her up.
All the ministers here have been driven away, and there are only a few left. Gu Jinke took one last look at the tablet above, bowed, then turned and left.
Fang Rui watched her increasingly calm figure slowly walk away, then turned back and knelt down. She looked at the tablet above her and said, "Your Majesty, from now on, this old servant will stay here with you."
…
After dealing with this matter, Gu Jinke returned to the palace and shifted her focus to the border. When she came back from the border, the Barbarian Kingdom had been completely defeated, and all she had to do was to finish off the mess, calm the people, and tame small-scale rebellions. However, the late emperor had passed away, and some court officials suggested that they should observe mourning for the late emperor and not start a war.
But there were also people who held opposing views, believing that the current situation was very good and that they should seize the opportunity to completely control the Barbarian Kingdom. The two groups of people argued fiercely in the court.
Gu Jinke had been silent before and had not given a clear answer. But when she went to court that day, as usual, while listening to the quarrel between the two sides, she suddenly raised her hand.
Because the coronation ceremony had not yet been held, according to etiquette, Gu Jinke was temporarily the acting emperor of Jin at this time. She sat high up on the phoenix chair that the previous emperor usually sat on. She was not wearing the serious crown and robes, and even had mourning clothes on her head and waist. She looked very young, and her clear phoenix eyes looked at the ministers below, then she raised her hands.
The ministers below suddenly became quiet, and for a moment they were a little panicked. The unfamiliar power emanating from the young emperor made them dare not speak. They secretly raised their eyes to look at her and saw that Gu Jinke's face was indifferent: "Lord Chen!"
Lady Chen was the one who proposed to observe mourning for the late emperor and not to start a war. She was an old-fashioned person who strictly abided by etiquette. Hearing Gu Jinke calling her name, the old minister suddenly trembled. Somehow, she suddenly remembered the reputation of the new emperor before he ascended the throne. She said in panic, "The old minister is here!"
The new emperor's eyes fell on her and he opened his lips to speak.
Lord Chen suddenly knelt down: "Your Majesty..."
The author has something to say:
Sorry, I'm late~ I think the ending will be in these two days~
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution during 2022-07-23 23:55:19 ~ 2022-07-25 0:20:42~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Moying°★★★20 bottles; Lyapril6 bottles;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
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