Prince Rui was the younger brother of Emperor Hui's son He Lin and the uncle of Emperor Ling. Emperor Cheng favored Consort Xu and even considered deposing the eldest son and enthroning the youngest, causing Emperor Hui a very difficult time. He was even poisoned and nearly died.
Because of this, the naturally gifted and diligent Emperor Huidi suffered from poor health and only lived to the age of forty. It was with great difficulty that he raised his only son, Emperor Lingdi. It was for this reason that he was pampered a little, leaving him without any trace of an imperial aura.
Emperor Ling died young, leaving only one son, the late Emperor He Qi. Therefore, although the three subsequent emperors suppressed the line of Prince Rui to the end, in terms of closeness, his sons and nephews were undoubtedly the most qualified to ascend to that position.
The Empress Dowager's stance was clear, so none of the courtiers wanted to risk bad luck. Regardless of whether or not there were relevant individuals on the previous list, all those mentioned later were far removed from Prince Rui's faction. Some even deliberately distanced themselves from the lineage to avoid suspicion.
Empress Dowager Lin became more and more angry as she listened.
If she hadn't heard them enumerate so carefully, she, who had been in the palace for over twenty years, would not have known that there were so many people in the Great Chu Imperial Family. And the fact that these people could describe it so clearly showed that they had done a lot of research during this period.
Everyone wants to claim the credit for following the emperor, right? Empress Dowager Lin thought coldly.
When a new emperor ascends the throne, he will naturally be very tolerant to those who recommend him.
It is possible that some people have already colluded with each other in private to push the person they chose up.
After all, having lived in the deep palace for so long, Emperor Ling and the recently deceased Emperor Daxing were both reluctant to attend to government affairs. Some matters even had to go through Empress Dowager Lin, so she knew a little about these official affairs. Thinking about it now, her heart was filled with hatred, bitterness, and fear.
A new emperor appoints new ministers, and before the dynasty is over, people's hearts have already changed.
The selection process naturally took more than a single day to finalize. Not to mention Empress Dowager Lin's approval, even the ministers themselves were divided. Therefore, they only narrowed down a few candidates that day, and further discussions were still needed.
He Qing still maintained the frequency of visiting Kunhua Palace to pay respects every day. If the Empress Dowager did not see him, he would leave immediately and never stay.
She appeared calm on the outside, but she was actually a little anxious in her heart, because according to rumors, the candidate for the new king seemed to be almost decided.
Fortunately, perhaps because she had come so often and left a deep impression, when Empress Dowager Lin heard the announcement from her subordinates, she did not immediately refuse. Instead, she asked the people around her, "Aunt Qiu, what day has Master Huiru been here?"
"It's the fifth day, Your Majesty." Aunt Qiu, the female official following behind her, bowed and replied.
Empress Dowager Lin thought for a moment and said, "It's rare that she's so willing. Please come in."
When He Qing met Empress Dowager Lin, he first shared a passage from the sutra. She had recently devoted all her energy to studying the Daoist texts, and combined with the seemingly plausible memories in her mind, she had occasionally come up with new theories, which she considered to be a small gain. Speaking of this to Empress Dowager Lin, her restless mood eased considerably.
Perhaps because it was easier to speak the truth when relaxed, Empress Dowager Lin sighed after listening to the Taoist scriptures. "Master, have you heard about the selection of a new ruler?"
As soon as she said that, she realized that something was wrong, and she quickly stopped and looked up at He Qing's expression.
He Qing's expression remained unchanged, but she didn't shy away from the topic. She nodded slightly and said, "I've heard a little bit." Seeing Empress Dowager Lin's surprise, she explained, "There are all kinds of rumors in the palace. Although I wanted to ask, I'm still a mortal, and I can't help but be bothered by them."
Empress Dowager Lin had been carrying many things on her mind lately, desperate to talk about them. However, she couldn't bring herself to share them with anyone close to her, nor with the court officials or the royal family, so she could only ponder them on her own. Her spirits had been failing for the past few days. If it weren't for the unfinished funeral, which prevented her from falling ill, she might have already died.
Although He Qing is not very old, he is of the same generation as her. Now he is also very insightful and has become a monk, so he is the best person to talk to.
Empress Dowager Lin looked her over, waved her hand and ordered everyone around her to leave, then asked, "What rumors are there outside?"
He Qing said softly, "Everyone says that King He Yuan of Zhongshan is the most virtuous and worthy of the throne."
Hearing this name, Empress Dowager Lin was startled. While rumors of the new emperor's selection were rampant, the actual list of candidates had been kept secret. No one knew except her, a few important ministers, and the elder princes of the imperial clan. The Prince of Zhongshan was on the list, and it was indeed Empress Dowager Lin's choice, but... how had this news spread?
No one answered.
He Qing took two quick steps to the door, opened it and looked out. The familiar courtyard was completely silent, with no sign of anyone.
This situation wasn't surprising. Although He Qing was a princess, she was in such a situation after all, and it was hard to say how devoted the people around her were. The maids had her under their control, and they seemed more like the masters of this Fangchen Palace than she was.
So she only paused for a moment before leaving the house and heading towards the side hall. Sure enough, just after passing the Moon Gate, she heard voices.
He Qing had been desperate to see a living person, but she hadn't thought about what to do after meeting them. So, upon hearing the voice, her steps faltered. She had never been one for assertiveness, and she didn't know how to interact with others in this situation.
But she is different now after all.
After dying once, even though she did not undergo a complete transformation or be reborn in nirvana, everything in her eyes seemed to have undergone some subtle changes, which gave her some courage to take the most difficult step.
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