On October 11, the early winter in the north was already getting colder.
At the hour of Mao, the sky was still dark. In the bedroom of the Crown Princess of the East Palace in the Laifeng Kingdom's Imperial Palace, Mu Lige, who looked like a beautiful woman, had already gotten up to wash and change her clothes under the help of the palace servants.
At two quarters past the hour of Mao, Mu Lige, who had changed into a court dress of Princess Minghuang painted with a phoenix spreading its wings, left the East Palace under the guidance of a eunuch, and strode towards the Golden Throne Hall.
When Mu Lige arrived, the majestic and magnificent Golden Palace was already filled with civil and military officials. Seeing the "crown princess" approach, the court officials immediately bowed to her.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Following the high-pitched chant of the eunuch chief Guo Dongbing, the court officials who were originally whispering and discussing in the Golden Throne Hall fell silent and knelt down to kowtow to welcome the emperor.
At four o'clock in the morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Nalan Yunzhi, wearing a yellow robe emblazoned with a phoenix soaring in auspicious clouds and yellow-forged, green-soled court boots, strode briskly into the Golden Throne Hall.
Passing by the hall where civil and military officials were kneeling on both sides, Nalan Yunzhi, supported by the eunuch chief Guo Dongbing, climbed the stairs and sat on the high golden throne in the center of the hall. His bright eyes were majestic without anger as he looked down at the ministers below.
"If you have the documents, please submit your report. If you don't, please leave the court!"
As usual, with the eunuch chief's loud and clear chanting of the ceremony, the Laifeng Kingdom began the morning court session of the new day.
"I have a report to make!"
General Ouyang Yiqun, holding a jade tablet, stepped out from the military officer team on the right, walked to the center of the Golden Palace, and bowed to the emperor.
"Your Majesty has been ruling the country for many years and has diligently worked to establish a solid foundation for the court. The appointment of a princess as Crown Princess is a cause for great joy and celebration throughout the nation. I believe that since the princess is already sixteen years old, she is well past the legal age for marriage. We should consider expanding her harem and appointing a princess as her legitimate ruler soon, thus continuing the lineage of the Laifeng Kingdom's royal family!"
General Ouyang Yiqun, who received a secret letter from the emperor's brother last night, had to join forces with the court officials to force the princess to marry the prince and take him as a concubine. On the one hand, this would cause trouble for the princess's husband from the countryside, and on the other hand, it would allow him to take the opportunity to place his own people in the Eastern Palace.
"What do you think of this, my dear ministers?"
Nalan Yunzhi, sitting on the golden throne, glanced at the expressionless "Crown Princess" standing in the center of the court, then swept his gaze over the ministers below. His equally expressionless face showed no emotion.
"I second the motion!"
Gu Luzhu, the censor of the Censorate (the elder sister of your Excellency Gu Changqing), also held a tablet in her hand, stepped out from the line of civil officials on the left, and bowed to the leader to report.
"I second the motion!"
General Xiao Qianqing (sister of Xiao Shujun and Xiao Qingchuan) also held a tablet in his hand, stepped out from the ranks of military officers, bowed to the emperor and gave advice.
"I second the motion!"
Minister of Works Qin Huaiyu (sister of Qin Niantang, the Xianjun of Qin) also stepped out from the ranks of civil servants to speak.
"I second the motion!"
Minister of Rites An Zhiwei (sister of the newly promoted noble An Zihao) also spoke out.
Although An Zhiwei's brother didn't have a princess, she could place her own son in the princess's backyard and have her son give birth to a royal bloodline...
…
Next, the court officials who had the same ulterior motives as Ouyang Yiqin also took the opportunity to make their presence felt, and surprisingly, they all agreed to let the princess marry a prince and a concubine to expand the harem.
"I have a different opinion."
Prime Minister Situ Luoyun, who never participated in factional conflicts among court officials, stepped out first among the civil officials holding a jade sceptre and saluted Nalan Yunzhi who was sitting on the golden throne.
"As far as I know, the Crown Princess has already married a principal husband and has several concubines, so her harem is not empty. Moreover, her husband is already pregnant, so there is no need to worry about not having an heir. Moreover, the Crown Princess is only sixteen years old, so she will naturally have more children in the future. I believe that the most urgent task is to let the Crown Princess quickly familiarize herself with the state and learn government affairs, so that she can share the heavy burden of state affairs with the Emperor as soon as possible."
"I think what the Prime Minister said makes sense. The Crown Princess is the crown prince. Since she already has a husband and is pregnant, she has no worries. Naturally, she should focus on state affairs." General Feng Cailan, the chief military commander, also spoke out in support of Prime Minister Situ Luoyun.
"The Prime Minister and the General are wrong! How could the man the princess married in the countryside be worthy of a noble marriage? Giving him the rank of a ninth-rank commoner is already a gesture of consideration for past friendship."
Prince Xiahou Jing of Pingxi, who was always eager to watch the fun, glanced leisurely at the "Crown Princess" standing upright in the center of the court and continued, "I believe that Her Highness should marry a new Crown Princess with outstanding family background, talent and beauty. We should also recruit a husband and servant for her from across the country to expand her harem and continue the royal family!"
"Madam, what do you think?"
Nalan Yunzhi, who was sitting upright, glanced at "Hua Qingcheng" below and called her name directly to ask her to answer.
Mu Lige glanced at the ministers who harbored ill intentions, then bowed to Nalan Yunzhi and said, "I agree with what the Prime Minister and the General said. I grew up among the common people, and now that I have returned to the East Palace, I should focus on my studies. Moreover..."
Mu Lige's eyes wandered as she glanced at the Prince of Pingxi, who had just advised the princess to remarry and expand her harem, and continued, "Besides, a husband who has shared your life with you should never be abandoned. Your son and I, your legal husband, Mu Lige, have known each other since childhood and have a deep affection for each other. He has not committed any adultery or committed any crime, nor has he violated the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce'. How could your son divorce him, demote him to a concubine, and marry someone else, doing such a heartless and disloyal act?"
Mu Lige's words were powerful and filled with anger. However, some of the old officials nodded repeatedly, believing that the princess was an upright person who cared about old friendships and would not curry favor with the powerful. Therefore, many of them also spoke out in support of the princess.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
