He also highly praised the two ministers, Pei Xuanyun and Meng Guang, for their loyalty and dedication to the country, deeming them pillars of the state.
His words were impeccable, acknowledging everyone's contributions while also reaffirming the return of imperial power.
Then comes the most important part of today's court assembly—the investiture ceremony.
The eunuch unfurled the bright yellow scroll and loudly proclaimed the imperial edict:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Imperial Palace decrees:"
"The third princess, Zhao Wan, is gentle and kind, skilled in domestic affairs, and has been diligent day and night during her regency. She is hereby granted the title of Virtuous Princess!"
"The fourth princess, Zhao Shu, is gentle and virtuous, and has made meritorious contributions to the government. She is hereby granted the title of Prince Ning!"
"The fifth prince, Jingzhan, is loyal, brave, filial, and devoted to the king's affairs. He is hereby granted the title of Prince Rong!"
"The sixth princess, Zhaoyue, is intelligent and brave, and has made great contributions to the country. She is hereby granted the title of Prince Jing!"
So be it!
"Your subject obeys the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"
The four newly appointed princes stepped forward together and knelt to express their gratitude.
Qin Zhaoyue kowtowed along with her older brother and sister, but sighed inwardly.
Of all the characters to bestow, they had to choose "靖" (Jìng).
The character "靖" means to pacify or stabilize order. Is the Empress Dowager holding back her efforts and planning to have her continue to pacify the country and bring peace to the nation?
Well, at least the status is settled.
Now that we have the money and the throne, the basic requirements are met.
From now on, all he has to do is wait to be enfeoffed and officially begin his retirement.
However, judging from the vibrant energy the Empress Mother exudes after breaking through to the Divine Martial Realm, she probably won't relinquish power too quickly.
Qin Zhaoyue didn't really care; if it was about prosperity and tranquility, Fengjing City was naturally the first choice.
She hasn't had enough fun yet; she can enjoy a few more years of leisure before going to her fiefdom.
For the remainder of the court meeting, Qin Zhaoyue simply stood there, lost in thought.
After listening to a few words, it was nothing more than that there was no major war in the north, the south had returned to peace, and the imperial examination reform was progressing steadily.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported on the autumn harvest tax situation, and Pei Xuanyun took the opportunity to propose a survey of land and a pilot program for land redistribution. It was clear that the Empress Dowager was about to implement the long-planned new land policy.
The Empress Dowager's sudden appearance in court today was probably to catch us off guard.
Many people had not yet reacted or made arrangements. Even though they knew that this move would greatly harm the interests of the powerful and wealthy, they hesitated and no one dared to be the first to jump out and oppose it at this critical moment.
Qin Zhaoyue kept her eyes down, her expression unchanged.
No wonder he secretly returned to the palace without telling the officials; he was planning something big.
They weren't prepared at all; they hadn't even discussed who would be the first to take the lead.
As a result, such a significant national policy was proposed so smoothly, and no one dared to utter a word.
Tsk tsk tsk... This old mother's cunning is beyond my comprehension.
Qin Minghuang, sitting on the throne, almost rolled her eyes, unable to maintain her composure.
I was living a carefree life outside during this period and almost lost my composure.
How dare Xiao Liu say that others are cunning?
If she weren't skilled enough, would she have been able to see through this arrangement immediately?
Pooh!
In a seemingly calm but actually turbulent atmosphere, the morning court session finally came to an end.
Qin Zhaoyue stretched lazily and was about to make her escape.
"Qin Zhaoyue!"
A rather impolite call came from behind, coming from the fifth brother, Qin Jingzhan, whose emotions were always quite outward.
The way her other siblings looked at her clearly carried a sense of settling scores later.
Qin Zhaoyue turned her head, her face stern, and said coldly, "Shut up! Please address him as His Highness Prince Jing!"
"I...you..." Qin Jingzhan was speechless for a moment.
Taking advantage of his moment of silence, Qin Zhaoyue turned and ran without hesitation, her figure nimbly weaving through the officials who had not yet completely dispersed.
"Stop right there!" Qin Jingzhan's roar rang out from behind, filled with exasperation.
Qin Zhaoyue pretended not to hear and slipped away even faster.
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