This was too harsh a statement, and everyone immediately knelt down to apologize, having no choice but to acquiesce to the Empress Dowager's proposal. Then the Minister of the Imperial Clan Affairs Department stepped forward and requested that the late emperor be buried first, and then the Ministry of Rites would prepare the funeral rites according to the old rules and simultaneously issue an obituary.
After everything was done and everyone had left in order, and only the servants were left in the hall, He Qing stood up.
Empress Dowager Lin's expression, which had just relaxed, immediately tensed up again, her brows furrowed tightly, "Anping? Why are you here?"
Princess Anping, this was the title given to her in a hurry when He Qing's nephew ascended the throne two years ago and lavishly rewarded her. When he checked the royal family relatives, he found that she had grown up without even a title, so he gave her the title in a hurry.
She was just like her name, unremarkable and unremarkable, attracting no one's attention. If she hadn't stepped forward at this moment, the Queen Mother might not even have remembered that such a person existed.
In the past, He Qing would have been very afraid of this rather strong imperial sister-in-law, but now, perhaps because he knew what was going to happen next, or perhaps because the tired look on her face was too clear, He Qing suddenly found that the fear in his heart was insignificant.
She took a few steps forward, knelt before Empress Dowager Lin, and directly stated her plan, "Anping wishes to be ordained as a monk and pray for the great Chu royal family. I beg your permission, sister-in-law."
This proposal was obviously beyond Empress Dowager Lin's expectations. She was startled and turned around to carefully look at this sister-in-law, whom she had no impression of.
She is a grown-up girl now and should get married in one or two years.
"Why do you think of this?" she asked.
He Qing said calmly, "The palace has been quite unstable in recent years. Anping is of royal blood and is supported by the people of the world. He has no other abilities, so he can only do his best in this way."
She had gone over these words in her mind countless times, and when she spoke them aloud, they seemed to flow smoothly and without any flaws.
Empress Dowager Lin was clearly deeply moved. She was different from He Qing. Although He Qing had also experienced many things, the impact on her was negligible. But for Empress Dowager Lin, every misfortune was almost like a death sentence. The situation was changing so quickly that she couldn't help but feel fear.
Especially after losing her husband and son one after another, although she managed to concentrate on handling affairs, she was actually very mentally unstable.
At this time, she also wanted to seek some support.
Even if it is something illusory.
So after a brief consideration, she didn't object, but instead said, "Have you thought it through? Once you become a nun, you will no longer be a princess of the royal family, and you won't be able to marry and have children."
He Qing kowtowed and said, "When my brother was alive, he built a palace for asking questions in the imperial garden. Anping wishes to stay here for a long time to cultivate. I ask my sister-in-law to help me."
Empress Dowager Lin suddenly understood why she had made this choice. Perhaps she had been frightened by the series of misfortunes of the past few years, and dared not hope for the future, so she simply sought stability. At least with the reputation of praying for the royal family, no matter what happened in the future, no matter who sat in that position, they would be able to tolerate her.
He looks quiet, but he is actually a smart person.
Empress Dowager Lin naturally had no objection. She was the one who made the final decision on this matter, and she immediately ordered an edict to be issued in the name of the late emperor, conferring upon He Qing the title of Supreme Master Huiru, granting him residence in the Asking Dao Palace, where he would study Daoist teachings, observe the precepts, and pray for the well-being of the Great Chu royal family.
Although the Tianzhang Pavilion housed portraits and calligraphy of the ancestors of the Chu Dynasty, this confidential location was accessible only to the emperor and important ministers. Bringing ministers to the Tianzhang Pavilion to view calligraphy and pay homage to the ancestors was a way for the emperor to demonstrate his trust. This practice, passed down to this day, has become the highest form of courtesy for ministers.
Although He Qing was a princess of the Chu Dynasty royal family, she had never been to the Tianzhang Pavilion or even the ancestral temple. How could she know the appearance of Taizu and even draw it?
But Empress Dowager Zhang didn't ask.
Perhaps it was precisely because they had both once been unknown that she understood more clearly how much He Qing had changed. In Empress Dowager Zhang's view, there was something mysterious about He Qing. But since this mystery offered no harm to her, she naturally didn't question it. There are many things in this world that cannot be revealed to others.
She followed He Qing's lead and thought about it, then asked another question, "Are you going to pretend that Taizu has entered your dream?"
He Qing nodded and whispered, "You are pregnant with a prince, so it makes sense that your ancestors appeared in your dreams. And Emperor Taizu, who protected the Chu Kingdom, gave advance warning, so no one dared to neglect it. However, to make this happen, we need a prop. This painting is a self-portrait of Emperor Taizu, hidden in the Ganguang Palace and never shown to the public. Please write it down and take people to find it as evidence."
Empress Dowager Zhang nodded slightly, and did not ask how she knew about the portrait that had never been shown to anyone. She just memorized a few features of the portrait.
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