Chapter 174 Inviting the Empress Dowager to Reign as Emperor 86
As it turned out, Liu Fei was right.
After the court assembly, Zhang Liang submitted a memorial requesting the emperor's deposition. Empress Lü Zhi remained silent for a moment, then spoke as a mother: "He is my child. Although I also want to plead for him, for the sake of the Han Dynasty, I have no choice but to make the better decision."
Do any of you have any objections?
"I have no objection."
"Your subject dares not."
Those who value orthodoxy may have objections, but they also prioritize the interests of the nation.
As for the emperor, Emperor Gaozu had more than one son, so there were quite a few left.
As for taking advantage of this to rebel... basically no one thought about this question. They didn't know if there were gods three feet above their heads before, but they knew that there really was a national spirit three feet above their heads.
Some even thought that persuading the Liu family of the Han dynasty to be incompetent would be easier than rebelling themselves.
The process of deposing the emperor and installing a new one was only smooth in the first half. Everyone had no objection to deposing Liu Ying, but in the later stages, opinions differed on who should be installed as emperor.
Zhang Liang had already retreated to his seat, keeping his eyes down and no longer offering his opinions. In any case, this matter would probably be debated for a long time, and who knew when the edict to depose the emperor would be proclaimed to the world.
The selection of an emperor will not be decided overnight. Their court meeting was extended indefinitely, with the morning session, lunch in the palace, and the afternoon session continuing the argument.
It should be noted that Liu Ying was only sixteen years old when he ascended the throne, and he just turned eighteen this year. He hasn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet.
Among Emperor Gaozu's grown sons, the oldest were Liu Ying and Liu Fei, while the rest were still young children.
When someone suggested Liu Fei, Empress Lü remained silent and did not respond.
Everyone knew in their hearts that the emperor was Liu Ying, but the real power lay with the empress dowager. After deposing the emperor, the second person they needed to persuade, besides the Han dynasty, was Empress Lü Zhi.
However, Empress Lü hesitated to agree and even refused to summon the ailing King of Qi, causing great anxiety and unease among the court officials.
A few days later, rumors began to circulate that Empress Lü was plotting to replace the Liu family members of the imperial clan and usurp the throne.
During court assemblies, only the Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, leaving the imperial throne vacant. Some people couldn't help but submit a memorial stating, "A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day."
No matter how much she said or how she put it, the central idea was just this one sentence. Some people even thought that Empress Lü was worried about her own position, and that her words implied that since the new emperor was young, the empress dowager could continue to hold power and rule as regent.
When things could no longer be delayed, the ministers gathered together to find King Liu Fei of Qi, who was staying at home.
Upon entering Liu Fei's temporary residence, Liu Fei was pushed out in a wheelchair by a man who was none other than Liu Fei's confidant. He was deeply saddened: "I never imagined that the wheelchair that Prime Minister Wei Sheng made out of compassion for wounded soldiers would be first used by my king."
Liu Fei, in his wheelchair, had a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, and his speech was unclear: "Gentlemen... um... is it... appropriate to find Benwa?"
Ministers: ...
It's alright. Even if Liu Fei is gone, there are other members of the Liu clan. Although the great-grandfather's younger brother has long since traveled far and wide, it's not impossible to find him... right?
Some people still wouldn't give up: "His Highness Prince Qi is..."
The trusted aide standing behind Liu Fei sighed with excellent acting skills: "His Highness was greatly frightened at the banquet that day. He fainted after returning and even bumped into the steps."
"Later, they also invited a court physician, and the Empress Dowager also sent an imperial physician, but they just couldn't cure him."
Liu Fei struggled to speak: "This article... is not... glorious, Chairman... need not... suffer for the country."
The ministers: ...No, it's their misfortune that's the problem.
—-
So what about the emperor?
Sigh... During the court assembly, one of Empress Lü's die-hard loyalists suggested, "Why doesn't Her Majesty the Empress Dowager become Empress...?"
Before the second half of the sentence was finished, the entire court of officials opposed it, although some remained silent.
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu, who looked middle-aged, glanced at Zhang Liang standing next to him, somewhat puzzled. Why wasn't Zhang Liang going to offer his opinion on such an important matter? He wanted to refer to the standard answer.
Zhang Liang, who was being spied on: ?
What's going on? Why is Wei Sheng staring at him? What is he thinking?
His silence was the greatest support he could give to Lü Zhi; he would never express any opinion.
There were people who supported Lü Zhi, but few were in high positions. The shrewd individuals kept their mouths shut. Fan Kuai, however, wanted to express his agreement because of his wife, but he didn't have a chance to speak because Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu stepped forward.
"In my opinion..."
The ministers thought the prime minister was going to lead the opposition, and they were ready to follow suit. As long as they put an end to the empress dowager's hopes today, they could consider supporting which prince to ascend the throne tomorrow.
They looked on with anticipation.
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu: "With Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's abilities, she is certainly capable of being a wise ruler."
The ministers: ?
They turned to look at Shusun Tong, the great Confucian scholar who established court etiquette and various rituals after the Han Dynasty unified the world: "Why don't you give your opinion?"
Shusun Tong: ?
He told Qin Er Shi (the Second Emperor of Qin) nonsense, told jokes to the King of Chu, and when he surrendered to the Han Dynasty, he changed into Confucian clothing on the spot because Liu Bang disliked it.
Hilarious! Would someone as pragmatic as him object on the spot? Of course not.
The last time I opposed Liu Bang's decision to depose the crown prince, it was because I knew nothing would happen. But who is Empress Lü? She's even more ruthless than a villain. She deposed her own son, so why would she care about a mere minister?
The etiquette he established didn't include the rule that the Empress Dowager couldn't succeed to the throne, so it was none of his business.
Besides, he'd been waiting for ages and the big 'Han' hadn't objected yet, so when did it become his turn to speak?
But Empress Lü called him by name: "Everyone is looking at the great scholar Shusun. I'm sure the great scholar has his own insights."
Shusun Tong inwardly wiped his face; he was truly unlucky. He stammered, trying to shift the blame: "Hiss... well, back then, I was only appointed by His Majesty to formulate court etiquette and many rituals for national temple sacrifices. I haven't considered the issues that everyone is concerned about now..."
Shusun Tong said that he was unable to help.
The ministers questioned Shusun Tong's slickness, asking why he would back down at this time, given that Confucian scholars are supposed to be of high moral character.
Shusun Tong: If I were a fool, I would have died during the reign of Qin Er Shi.
If you want to live a long life, you have to be pragmatic.
Didn't you see that the Han Dynasty didn't care even after all this arguing? Doesn't that prove that whether Empress Lü became empress or not made no difference to her?
The country itself isn't worried about its own lives, yet they're here questioning this and that.
"That's not appropriate either. Only with the late emperor's edict can we be rightfully in charge... Why not ask His Majesty if he has realized his mistake?"
"Yes, it's only natural for young people who haven't yet come of age to make mistakes."
Lü Zhi knew that the matter was now officially under her control: "Announce it."
Young Liu Ya entered with her attendants, one of whom carried a brocade box: "Please don't worry, everyone. The Empress Dowager does not have the late Emperor's edict, but I do."
She waved her hand, signaling the attendants to step forward: "Please, Prime Minister, Marquis of Liu, and all of you, take a look at each of you."
The first to receive the edict was Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu. He had known about the existence of this secret edict for a long time, but only glanced at its contents. He lingered for a long time at the place where the Imperial Seal of the State was affixed.
Only then did he speak, saying, "It is indeed the late emperor's own handwriting; the princess is rightfully to inherit the throne."
The imperial edict then reached Zhang Liang's hands. He had taught Liu Ya the Huang-Lao philosophy, and he knew a little about this edict. After carefully reading it and confirming that it was correct, he said, "What the Prime Minister said is true."
The imperial edict was passed down from high to low positions, and almost everyone who had submitted a memorial and received a reply from Liu Bang could clearly recognize that it was in Liu Bang's own handwriting.
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. "Should we make a princess? What kind of decorum is this?"
Liu Ya finally retrieved the edict establishing him as emperor and knelt in the center of the main hall: "I know that I am young and incapable of governing the country and bringing peace to the people. I beg Your Majesty to rule the court and assume the throne!"
Wait a moment!
They agreed, how could they disagree? A princess with a will, isn't that the legitimate line?
"No, Her Highness is rightfully the Crown Princess, she should be the monarch..."
Do they truly support Liu Ya? That's debatable.
Perhaps it's just a delaying tactic, or perhaps there are other reasons.
In short, with Empress Lü Zhi's ascension to the throne as a precedent, they agreed to the princess's ascension.
“My son is filial, but it is inappropriate for me to become emperor.”
Liu Ya objected: "That's perfect. I can't think of anyone more suitable than the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid I'm too old to take on this heavy responsibility."
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu stared at Zhang Liang. He had stepped forward first, but now it wouldn't be his turn.
Zhang Liang: ...
The apprentice he brought is really here to collect a debt, but for the sake of his disciple!
Zhang Liang stepped forward and knelt down: "Please, Empress Dowager, assume the throne and rule as emperor."
Fan Kuai followed suit and agreed with the matter, and Lü Zhi's faction unanimously agreed.
Wei Sheng Jiujiu remained silent. One of the ministers, thinking he was supporting the princess, spoke up: "Prime Minister, you must stand up for the princess!"
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu: "Ah... I have no objection."
Another silence fell. None of the founding members objected, nor did the person holding the imperial edict. They had become the laughingstock.
“A hen crowing at dawn! Absolutely a hen crowing at dawn! I shall die right here today!” A minister well-versed in Confucianism was about to smash his head against a pillar.
Shusun Tong, who was standing to the side, stopped the man. He couldn't let anyone die in the main hall today, otherwise he felt he would be in trouble.
Moreover, he genuinely thought these people were stupid, their brains had gone bad, and they didn't know how to be flexible at all.
His voice was icy: "Lord Wang, are you truly sure?"
Minister Wang glared angrily at Shusun Tong: "I've wanted to say this to you for a long time. You first served in the tyrannical Qin, then switched allegiance to the former King of Chu, and later, you opportunistically switched allegiance to His Majesty. Does someone like you deserve to establish court etiquette?"
Shusun Tong: ?
'Han': Who are you cursing?
"You are aiding and abetting evil!"
Shusun Tong looked at him as if he were a fool: "Then it seems that the Great Zhou, which strictly adhered to the rule against hens crowing at dawn, did not achieve immortality either."
"Princess Liu Ya has been able to see the spirit of the nation since childhood, and has presided over the sacrificial ceremonies at the national temple for more than two years. The last person to see the spirit was Gaozu, who overthrew the Qin Dynasty and became the founding sage emperor. If you stop this here, what do you think your evaluation will be in the history books if anything happens to the Han Dynasty in the future?"
Shusun Tong easily grasped the opponent's weakness. As a Confucian scholar, how could he not understand these people's thoughts? Apart from the truly foolish, the rest were all after their reputation.
What if someone dies in a car accident and doesn't receive a posthumous name?
"..."
“Lord Wang, go ahead and crash, I won’t stop you.” Shusun Tong released his grip on the man’s sleeve, a mocking expression on his face.
"You...you!" He immediately pretended to faint on the spot.
"I believe that those who cannot adapt to the times will sooner or later perish like the Zhou and Qin dynasties."
Empress Lü then spoke: "I feel guilty, and I will need everyone's assistance in governing in the future."
"The matter of ascending the throne will be entrusted to Grand Master of Ceremonies Shusun, and the matter of bestowing the title of Crown Princess upon the princess will be handled at the same time."
Shusun Tong bowed and accepted the decree: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail to live up to your trust."
Liu Ya kowtowed: "Long live the Emperor! Your Majesty is wise!"
Empress Lü watched as the people below knelt down one by one, from Wei Sheng at ninety-nine years old to the lowest-ranking official, all addressing her as "Your Majesty."
She closed her eyes slightly. She had finally come this far. Mother, she had done it.
Sorry, Liu Bang, the great 'Han' of the future belongs to her, and her mother is now hers alone.
"Dismiss the court."
Empress Lü Zhi stood up and left the main hall. Behind her, the ministers who had been waiting for the Han dynasty were still standing there. Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu had already started walking out. He wondered what he should eat this afternoon. He was hungry after all the commotion. He would ask Qing Ai what she wanted to eat later...
Before Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu could escape the scene, he was stopped by Zhang Liang, who smiled and asked him, "Didn't anyone notify me?"
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu was puzzled: "Wasn't today all due to tacit understanding? I thought it was because Marquis Liu didn't tell me, after all, the princess... Her Highness the Crown Princess didn't tell me about the will."
Zhang Liang: ...
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Author's Note: I suddenly realized that the Writer's Assistant is much better for typing on a tablet. I won't need to specifically turn on my computer to post articles on a PC anymore. [Exaggerated praise]
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