Chapter 76 Two Imperial Edicts
On the fourth day of the sixth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Hong'an era, the emperor issued two imperial edicts, both of which were related to Zhou She.
The first letter concerned Zhou She's impending coming-of-age ceremony at the age of twenty. Therefore, a marriage was arranged, with a chosen auspicious day for his wedding to Gu Xunhui, the second young lady of the Gu family.
This was not unexpected.
After all, what Tianmu said made perfect sense. It was not surprising that the emperor continued to follow Tianmu's advice.
What truly surprised them was the second imperial edict.
The emperor then ordered Zhou She to change his surname to Zhong, relocate his family genealogy, and be adopted by the late crown prince, thus establishing him as the imperial grandson.
The imperial edict caused a stir throughout the court.
Before issuing the imperial edict, the emperor did not consult with his ministers at all.
Not long ago, they were vying for the position of crown prince, making headlines throughout the city; who would have thought that things would turn out like this now…
The ministers all had different expressions.
For example, Xiao Yichun, although he had not anticipated the emperor's actions, had some expectations in his heart, so he accepted it very smoothly without any stumbles.
Now that the emperor has chosen an heir, most of the disputes in the court can be resolved.
Fang Jingruo and the others were naturally even more overjoyed.
They are openly loyal to Zhou She. If the Third Prince ascends the throne, he will definitely suppress them. Where will their future glory be?
Fang Jingruo recently returned from her hometown and joined the Hanlin Academy.
The emperor also gave him the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, but since the position of Crown Prince was vacant, it was just a nominal post.
Who knew that a nominal position would become a real one? Fang Jingruo was caught off guard and instantly became a favorite of the emperor and the future crown prince.
Although he had long been an acquaintance of Zhou She.
His colleagues' attitudes towards him underwent a complete 180-degree turn. These people originally thought that although the Emperor had designated him as a capable and virtuous talent, he was ultimately constrained by the future emperor and probably wouldn't reach the level the Emperor had described.
Now... everyone chuckled coldly.
Fang Jingruo really got a great deal!
Would Emperor Zhongzong really make him a confidant? Of course not.
Fang Jingruo is just too representative, so Tianmu mentions him repeatedly.
However... some people think that it's also because he loves writing books.
Don't people in later generations love to read unofficial histories? I'm afraid that his biography of Fang Hou, as well as many other stories, have been studied repeatedly by later generations.
Could it be... that they're also going to try writing storybooks like Fang Jingruo?
The group of civil officials remained outwardly calm, but their hearts were filled with restless ambition.
Fang Jingruo: "..."
Why do these people look at him with such shrewdness in their eyes?
Not only the entire court of officials, but even Zhou She himself was greatly shocked.
It turned out that the cake the emperor had painted for him was not only real, but also quite delicious. He placed the cake directly in front of him and handed it to him steadily.
The resentment that had been lingering in his heart vanished instantly, leaving only praise for Emperor Hong'an: His Majesty is truly a good emperor!
With the imperial decree issued, any doubts or objections that might have existed before gradually dispelled the people's thoughts of resistance as Tianmu tirelessly explained the situation.
Except for one person—the Third Prince.
When the Third Prince first heard this, he initially thought it was just a rumor circulating in the capital.
He only realized it was all true when the imperial edict was indeed issued to the world and announced to the court officials.
The Emperor actually abandoned his own son as his heir because of Tianmu's slander!
The third prince was shocked, angry, terrified, and powerless.
He didn't understand. His second brother lost favor because of rebellion, his fourth brother because of betrayal by his own flesh and blood, and the five emperors because of their foolish and reckless actions. What about him?
He only lost one battle and his life. At most, one could say he lacked military talent, but for the emperor to personally lead an expedition is a rare occurrence. Why should he be stripped of his throne and handed over to Zhou She?
In a panic, the third prince immediately rushed to the palace.
At the same time, the emperor was having a private conversation with Zhou She.
The emperor was still in high spirits. Whether it was because he had come to terms with things or because he was indeed in good health, his once wrinkled face now had a faint glow, and his long beard lay smoothly on his chest.
The emperor, dressed in plain clothes, said to Zhou She with a gentle smile, "My empire will be handed over to you one day. If you are afraid, speak up now, lest you disappoint me."
His words were clearly just casual remarks.
After all, if he were truly going to take Zhou She's opinion into consideration, he would have consulted Zhou She long before the imperial edict was written.
However, Zhou She was also an ambitious man, and he pretended not to hear any fear or apprehension: "Your Majesty is right. I will certainly be careful in my words and deeds and never disappoint Your Majesty."
The emperor chuckled.
His gentle gaze suddenly turned serious, filled with a heavy expression, as he said to Zhou She, "Prime Minister Xiao once told me that you are intelligent by nature, but a little lazy. However, I certainly believe that you will grow into a reliable ruler."
Zhou She should be. The emperor's tone shifted, tinged with a hint of sadness: "I trust you, but I'm not at ease..."
Before the emperor could finish speaking, a soft knock came from outside the hall.
The emperor abruptly turned his head, extremely displeased at being interrupted, and coldly snorted, "Who?!"
Standing outside the door was Zhao Wen. He wore a wry smile, his sleeves tucked tightly around his waist, feeling utterly unlucky.
The emperor was discussing secret matters inside, and he was disturbing him from outside. Wasn't he courting death?
However, the Third Prince remained kneeling outside, refusing to rise. Judging from the previous emperor's attitude, ignoring him would be tantamount to courting death.
I'm caught in a dilemma, and I'm really at my wit's end.
Seeing that the Third Prince was about to stand up and go crazy because he still didn't report, Zhao Wen had no choice but to give in.
He lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, the Third Prince is requesting an audience outside and has been kneeling for quite some time."
The emperor seemed to have anticipated this event. His eyes changed slightly, and after a long silence, he said, "Make him kneel."
Zhao Wen was deeply shaken.
Inside the hall was Zhou She, and outside was the Third Prince. It seemed the Emperor favored Zhou She more than the other two.
But it makes sense. The ability to establish a crown prince is far superior to that of the current third prince in terms of the foundation of the country.
Zhao Wen quickly retreated, pretending that nothing had happened.
The conversation was interrupted, and the emperor turned his head back, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
His son's attitude made him lose face, so he remained silent for a moment: "If you are truly as cold-blooded and ruthless as Tianmu says, turning against your own family..."
He paused for a moment, and Zhou She guessed that he was thinking: the emperor would not consider passing the throne to him.
Emperor Hong'an looked directly into Zhou She's eyes, as if trying to see through them to understand all his innermost thoughts: "I have made you my grandson, to inherit the throne, and you are also a member of the Zhong family. But my fourth son is dull and reckless, and knows nothing about the affairs of the world. I am not at ease with them."
These are things that shouldn't be said at this time.
According to the normal procedure, it should be that the emperor, on his deathbed, left Zhou She his last words.
Now, however, he has already laid out all his thoughts.
Of course, Zhou She couldn't tell him, "Actually, I've wanted to kill your sons for a long time."
The emperor, of course, knew this as well.
But faced with the fate of the nation, he still chose to abandon his son. Emperor Hong'an came to terms with it; if his son didn't want to inherit, so be it. His only worry was that his sons would court death.
Zhou She remained calm and composed: "Your Majesty can rest assured that as long as the princes do not do anything to shake the foundation of the country, I will not take any action against them. I will certainly ensure that they enjoy wealth and honor and live out their old age in peace."
The third prince knelt outside the palace. Upon hearing that the emperor did not want to see him, he was immediately disoriented and barely managed to maintain his elegant demeanor.
He waited for a long time, and finally the main hall opened, revealing a figure standing inside.
The midday sun was so intense that it made it impossible to see his face clearly.
In his haste, the third prince mistook the figure for his father's and was about to go forward to say something when the figure drew closer and closer until it gradually came into his view.
The third prince's eyes widened.
Zhou She! That's Zhou She!!
As Zhou She approached, the Third Prince almost thought that the other party was going to say something to coerce, entice, or intimidate him.
But in the end, the hem of Zhou She's clothes swept past him, creating a slight arc.
Zhou She said nothing, but his actions and posture were enough to make the Third Prince feel aggrieved, as if he had suffered a great humiliation.
He was speechless, staring blankly at Zhou She's back, almost vomiting blood.
The adoption ceremony had to be completed before the ceremony for establishing the crown prince, and the emperor did not mind postponing Zhou She's marriage as well.
In this way, the wedding will be the grandson's marriage ceremony.
From a member of an aristocratic family to the crown prince, the leap is quite remarkable.
Upon hearing about the matter of adoption, Zhou Xuyan almost broke down on the spot. However, having been immersed in officialdom for many years, he was not as impulsive as the Third Prince, who immediately rushed to the palace to demand an explanation from the Emperor.
Demanding an explanation is such a ridiculous act.
What grounds or authority do these subjects have to demand an explanation?
Even the Third Prince, in the end, was nothing more than a subject.
The emperor has taken a liking to your son and allowed him into the royal family. That's an immense fortune and honor. If you're not grateful, what are you planning to say?
Therefore, Zhou Xuyan silently brooded for several days, and together with the princess who had already figured things out, they remained silent and stayed at home.
Zhou Ze didn't know whether he should be happy or not.
He used to worry that his elder brother would take away his position and resources, but now he doesn't.
No... how can you say they didn't rob? You should say they robbed even more, faster, and more ruthlessly.
But after thinking for a long time, the princess finally managed to utter only one sentence: "If I were a man, this would indeed be reasonable."
If the princess were a man, the adoption would be prioritized among the children of his brother from the same mother. Choosing Zhou She would be the most appropriate choice, both in terms of law and bloodline.
Although everyone knew in their hearts what the emperor really wanted.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. On June 20th, the Emperor issued an edict at the palace gates, and Ming Zhan, the Minister of Rites, read the adoption edict aloud in public, clearly stating the decision to adopt Zhou She to the late Crown Prince.
Zhou She was present and listened attentively.
Although Lord Mingzhan's hands trembled and his eyes were blurry, and he read very slowly, this slowness made people feel even more tense, excited yet a little nervous.
This will be the beginning of everything, not the end, but the start.
After the imperial edict was read, the emperor personally handed him the golden seal. Zhou She knelt and kowtowed three times, signifying that he and Princess Zhaoping and Zhou Xuyan could no longer have a proper father-son or mother-son relationship.
Zhou She felt somewhat melancholy. He had been father and son with Zhong Zhun and Zhou Xuyan for nearly twenty years. Their kinship was thin, but not nonexistent.
But this is a necessary procedure.
Zhou She composed himself and stopped thinking about it. Until the last kowtow, Zhou She felt no more emotion.
He felt only peace. The road ahead was long, and he would continue to walk it step by step.
In September of the same year, Zhou She married Gu Xunhui.
On their wedding night, Zhou She, having been forced to drink a bellyful of wine, stumbled into the courtyard.
Gu Xunhui sat upright on the bed, a red veil covering her face, her hands placed neatly on her knees.
Zhou She stood in front of her for a long time.
Gu Xunhui slightly raised his face, the red silk veil falling: "Why don't you lift the veil, my lord?"
She asked with a smile, her voice brimming with undisguised laughter.
Zhou She was somewhat nervous.
He was worried that the smell of alcohol on him was too strong, so he wanted to take a step back. However, he was also worried that Gu Xunhui would overthink things, so he stood motionless for a long time, like a wooden or clay sculpture. After a while, a small gold hairpin fell from his sleeve.
It is not the same as the shape on the sky.
This was made a few months after he returned to Beijing. It didn't follow the original design of the sky curtain, but instead had a completely new look and was made into a completely different hairpin.
The sky is referring to them in another world, but in this timeline, he and Gu Xunhui are now...
It is also unique.
Zhou She turned his head away and lowered his voice. In the quiet room, his gentle voice even sounded a little tender.
He whispered, "Zhaoniang, from now on we are husband and wife."
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