Chapter 839 The Truth - Adoption
Uncle Rong's words were undeniably moving. But even after the initial感动 (moved feeling), doubts still lingered.
"Perhaps this is just your side of the story?"
Gu Renjie was slightly annoyed when he saw that some people still didn't believe him.
"We have both physical evidence and witness testimony. What other evidence do you want?"
Gu Renjie's words immediately drew attention. Seeing that things had developed to a certain point, Yun Yichen slowly stepped forward.
"These things and witnesses are indeed insufficient to prove that the Emperor Jin is the son of his seventh uncle. But what if we add a letter written in his own hand by his seventh uncle?"
As he spoke, Yun Yichen slowly took out a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to the nearest minister.
The letter quickly passed through the hands of everyone and returned to Yun Yichen's hands. "I know many people are unaware of the Seventh Imperial Uncle's notes, so let a few of those who have seen them identify them."
After Yun Yichen finished speaking, he looked at the old minister behind him and asked, "Lord Liu, would you like to take a look?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Liu, who had been named, shook his head immediately. "There's no need to look. Back then, the Seventh Prince's excellent handwriting was favored by the late Emperor, and after that, his calligraphy became something that almost everyone wanted to learn. So I'm certain that this calligraphy was written by the Seventh Prince."
Lord Liu's words immediately drew countless echoes.
Everyone readily admitted that the letter was written by the Seventh Prince, and the argumentative individuals, after hearing what these people said, could no longer find any rebuttal.
The room returned to calm, and Uncle Rong then said, "Back then, I successfully found the lady, but she passed away two days later due to a difficult childbirth. I had no choice but to flee with the young master to the State of Jin."
"It was quite a coincidence. At that time, the Crown Prince of Jin had gone out to run some business, and it was really inconvenient for me, a man, to take care of the young master. So I thought of finding a family to temporarily adopt the young master. Just as I was considering where to send the young master, I bumped into two maids who were secretly looking for the baby."
"Seeing that the maid's clothes were nice, I asked about her situation and learned that the newborn child in the Crown Prince's residence had died because the two maids had not taken good care of him. In order to avoid being discovered, the two maids discussed finding a child to take the place of their master. So, I gave the young master to the two maids, and my condition was that they work in the Crown Prince's residence."
"The two maids were quite capable. Seeing that I was willing to help and keep it a secret, they really brought me into the Crown Prince's residence. From then on, the young master became the next Crown Prince of Jin."
Although Uncle Rong's narration felt like storytelling, wasn't the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty itself just like a book?
Therefore, most people believed his words, and even those who did not believe him couldn't help but believe him when Uncle Rong took out the bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom.
"Before my master sent me to find the young master, he gave me this imperial edict, which clearly stated that the throne should be passed on to my master."
After Uncle Rong finished speaking, Gu Renjie waved his hand, and a palace attendant took the imperial edict and handed it to everyone for inspection.
If one piece of evidence is not enough to prove anything, and one person is not enough to prove anything, then with so much evidence in hand, can't it prove something?
So, after seeing the imperial edict, everyone believed it.
The hall fell silent; no one knew what to say.
Gu Renjie ordered his men to remove everything before looking at the assembled officials below the stage.
"If we follow the imperial decree of my grandfather, then my throne is indeed illegitimate."
Upon hearing Gu Renjie's words, the officials were startled and immediately knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler, truly deserving of the title."
"Worthy of the title? My father slaughtered his brothers to become the emperor of the Great Zhou. As his son, how can I be truly deserving of the title? Although my father has been a competent emperor all these years, I have thought it over and over and finally made a decision."
Gu Renjie's last words were like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of all the officials.
Some even wondered, "Could it be that our Emperor intends to abdicate?"
The ruler of the Great Zhou abdicated in favor of the ruler of the Jin state. Although both rulers were members of the Great Zhou royal family, their natures were fundamentally different!
How could two countries have the same ruler? They must unite into one country. And it was their ruler who abdicated. If the ruler of Jin still harbored resentment towards Zhou, wouldn't Zhou become Jin?
No, no, this is absolutely not allowed.
Everyone's minds raced, and several thoughts quickly came to mind.
Just when everyone was on tenterhooks, they heard Gu Renjie say, "Seventh Imperial Uncle was the crown prince chosen by the Emperor. As the Emperor's son, in order to atone for the Emperor's sins, I have decided to posthumously confer the title of Emperor Shengde Daxing on the late Seventh Prince, placing him on par with the late Emperor. I will then adopt the Seventh Prince and address him as my son."
Under normal circumstances, if Gu Renjie had issued such an edict, it would have certainly been met with opposition from the entire court.
But now, the imperial edict establishing the monarch is right there, and it is still the decree of the late emperor. What can they say?
Besides, given Gu Renjie's personality, if he were unhappy and abdicated, the royal grandson who grew up in Jin would become their emperor, which would be truly absurd.
The saying goes, "When faced with two evils, choose the lesser." Given the choice between abdicating the throne and changing the father, everyone obediently chose the option of the new emperor adopting the seventh prince.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Everyone kowtowed in unison, as if Gu Renjie would immediately change his mind if they were too late.
Gu Renjie was very satisfied with this and immediately told everyone to stand up.
Seeing that it was almost noon and he had achieved his goal, Gu Renjie immediately began his final task—the investiture of a king.
Because Xu Yunzhi was a descendant of the Lu family, Gu Renjie directly bestowed upon him the title of Prince Su. As for Yun Yichen, the son of the eldest princess, given his status as a member of the Wei royal family, Gu Renjie only bestowed upon him the title of Prince Ping.
Although they are usually addressed as "Your Highness," there is still a slight difference between a prince and an ordinary king.
Yun Yichen thanked the new emperor expressionlessly, and when he turned back, he still had that same unsmiling look.
The ministers originally wanted to oppose Yun Yichen's enfeoffment as a king, after all, it was already the limit for a member of the Wei royal family to serve as the chief minister in their Great Zhou for so many years.
Now he wants to be a prince in their country. If outsiders see this, wouldn't they laugh at the Zhou Dynasty for having no one to serve them?
However, just as they were about to speak, Yun Yichen merely gave them a cold glance, and those who were about to speak immediately swallowed their words.
So what if the royal family of Wei can be princes in the Great Zhou? Even the Emperor of Jin can be the emperor in their Great Zhou, what else can't they do!
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