Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai exchanged a smile, their hearts filled with the joy of victory.
Finally, they arrived at the palace gates. The palace guards, seeing their weary yet determined figures, were all deeply moved.
They immediately opened the gates to welcome the returning group of brave and fearless warriors.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze quietly arrived at the emperor's palace of the Great Zhou Kingdom.
The palace was deathly silent, with only the emperor on the dragon bed, his face pale and his eyes closed, a testament to the life that had once been there.
Qi Hanlin knelt on the ground alone, his head buried in his arms, his shoulders trembling.
Hearing someone enter, he looked up, his eyes filled with terror and helplessness. When he saw Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze, his eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen saviors.
"Royal Uncle, Royal Aunt, you're finally back!" Qi Hanlin cried out anxiously, his voice trembling with emotion.
Qi Guze walked over quickly and gently helped Qi Hanlin up, saying, "You've had a hard time these past few days."
His voice was gentle, and his eyes were full of comfort and encouragement.
Qi Guze remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the late emperor lying on the bed. "Now that the late emperor has passed away, we should begin preparations for his ascension to the throne."
Looking into his determined eyes, Xu Yuehuai knew that this was part of his plan. Although it was somewhat sudden, she trusted Qi Guze's decision.
The next morning at court, Qi Guze, as regent, stood on the throne in the Golden Palace. His sharp gaze swept over the ministers who were whispering amongst themselves.
He ordered preparations to be made for Qi Hanlin's ascension to the throne, but this immediately aroused opposition from the ministers.
“Your Highness, the late Emperor’s body is barely cold. Is it too hasty to discuss the matter of ascending the throne at this time?” a minister stepped forward and said loudly.
Qi Guze's eyes turned cold. "When the late emperor was alive, he had already decided that Prince Qi Hanlin would ascend the throne. This is just acting in accordance with his last wishes."
The minister immediately glanced at the Marquis of Ningyuan beside him, who then gave him a look, and he continued speaking.
"Then we must wait until the late emperor's funeral is held, and the princes observe mourning for several months to show their filial piety and grief, before the enthronement ceremony can be held!"
Qi Guze looked at the minister, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Gentlemen, now the capital city and the border regions are all within the new emperor's sphere of influence. Although I, Qi Guze, am the regent, I have no ambition to seize the throne. I only wish to assist the new emperor and bring peace to the world."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the ministers' faces. "I know some are dissatisfied, and some have doubts about the new emperor. But please remember, this empire belongs to the late emperor, and it belongs to Prince Qi Hanlin."
His words silenced the entire hall.
The ministers looked at each other, each with their own thoughts.
"Now, Qi Hanlin will inherit the throne and become the new emperor of our Great Zhou Kingdom. This is the late emperor's last wish and a blessing for the world."
Qi Guze's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the hall.
He walked up to Qi Hanlin and personally helped the future emperor up, saying, "Hanlin, you will be the greatest emperor of this land, without exception."
Qi Hanlin held Qi Guze's hand tightly, tears glistening in his eyes. "Uncle, thank you. I will do everything in my power to make the Great Zhou Kingdom prosperous and strong."
Qi Hanlin's enthronement ceremony was held as scheduled, and the whole country was jubilant. The new emperor was warmly welcomed and supported by the people, which left other officials speechless even if they wanted to oppose him.
At the highest point of the palace, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai stood gazing into the distance.
Their mission was complete, and this land was about to enter a new era. Both men felt a deep sense of emotion.
"My final mission in the Great Zhou Kingdom is finally complete," Qi Guze said, his eyes showing a hint of weariness, but even more so, relief and pride.
Xu Yuehua nodded silently. "Yes, we did it. Perhaps we won't be needed here anymore. I believe that Hanlin scholars will be able to be good emperors."
“Okay,” Qi Guze took her hand, “Let’s go then.”
Just as they were about to leave the Great Zhou Kingdom and return to the Wuling Kingdom, Yan Qing suddenly sent news that the Empress Dowager was making a huge fuss in the palace, wanting her former son, Bei Ye, to return and inherit the throne.
Qi Guze stared in shock at the message Yan Qing had sent, "How could this be?"
Xu Yuehuai frowned as well. "I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be so irrational. But it's not surprising, considering she couldn't even recognize her own son before."
Qi Guze was silent for a moment, then asked, "What should we do now?"
Xu Yuehuai pondered for a moment, "Let's go back and take a look first. After all, she is Qi Hanlin's biological mother, and it's not easy for him to handle this matter. It would be more convenient for us to go."
Qi Guze nodded. "Okay, let's go back and take a look."
The two returned to the palace and went to the inner palace. There they saw the Empress Dowager sitting by the bed, her face pale and tears welling up in her eyes.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?" Qi Guze asked.
The Empress Dowager looked up at him and said, "You are my son, Ah Qi, why won't you inherit the throne?"
Qi Guze was stunned. "I am not some Ah Qi, I am Qi Guze."
The Empress Dowager seemed not to hear him. "Why are you unwilling? You are my son, and you have the responsibility to inherit the throne. Don't let that wild boy who just came here become emperor!"
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai quickly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The so-called A-Qi you speak of is actually Bei Ye of the Mingyue Kingdom. He is now the new king of the Mingyue Kingdom, and he is not your son at all! He is the son of Princess Chuchu and the late emperor!"
You need to accept this fact!
"No! I won't accept it!" the Empress Dowager suddenly shouted hysterically. "I want my son back! I want him to inherit the throne!"
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness and worry in each other's eyes.
They knew that the Empress Dowager's emotions were very unstable, and if not handled properly, it could cause an even bigger upheaval.
"Your Majesty, you need to calm down." Qi Guze tried to soften his voice. "Even if you want Bei Ye to come back and inherit everything in the Great Zhou Kingdom, he won't be coming back now. The Great Zhou Kingdom needs a stable leader now, and Hanlin is the most suitable candidate."
The Empress Dowager seemed not to hear him. "I want my son back! I want him to inherit the throne!"
She kept repeating that sentence, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Xu Yuehuai sighed, "Your Majesty, you must face reality. Hanlin is a capable leader who will lead the Great Zhou Kingdom to prosperity."
The Empress Dowager suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with a crazed light. "Get out of my sight! I don't want to see you!"
The Empress Dowager rose from her bed, her face pale and her expression agitated.
She grabbed the surrounding objects and threw them at Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze, shouting angrily, "Get out of my way! I never want to see you again!"
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