Zhang Miaoke asked arrogantly, "What are you doing here?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly and said, "Is the Princess Consort of Qi so eager to become the Empress?"
Just as Zhang Miaoke was about to speak smugly, Princess Zhaoyang tugged at her sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Alright, everyone here is here to pay respects to His Majesty. Princess Consort Yan, please come in with me."
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "Please, Princess."
Zhao Yang glanced at Yu Fengyang who was following behind but didn't say anything. Zhang Miao saw this and could only snort coldly before following the princess into the palace.
After the person had walked away, Yu Fengyang clicked his tongue twice, "This woman, as empress, probably won't even know how she died."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "As long as his backer doesn't fall, this person won't die."
Outside the Zichen Palace, court officials knelt in droves. Even the noblewomen of official rank, who were supposed to enter the palace to kneel in rites, were nowhere to be seen. Bai Chuxiao's eyes flickered slightly upon seeing this, but she calmly stepped into the hall. Yu Fengyang touched his nose but decided to follow her in.
After the emperor's death, his spirit will remain in the Zichen Palace for three days and undergo various rituals before being moved to the imperial mausoleum.
Inside the hall, Consort Wei and Chu Tianling knelt at the very front, followed by Princess Zhaoyang, Princess Qi, the eldest princess, and other members of the royal family. Behind them were dukes, marquises, and high-ranking officials such as the two prime ministers and the six ministers, as well as the women of the Crown Prince's palace and the virtuous consort. The instigators, Chu Wenzheng and Zhang the Imperial Son-in-Law, were nowhere to be seen...
Bai Chuxiao frowned. Being asked to kneel before Chu Wenxuan was indeed difficult to accept, but the situation forced her there… Fine, she'd just treat it as kneeling before the late Empress…
Having convinced herself, she stopped worrying and knelt down beside the eldest princess, pretending to kneel. After all, Yu Fengyang still held a fourth-rank official position, so no one said anything about him kneeling behind her...
After everyone pretended to cry for a while, some people couldn't sit still any longer.
"His Majesty has suddenly passed away, and the Crown Prince and Empress have also died. The succession of this empire..." a minister suddenly cried out.
Another minister hurriedly said, "His Majesty did not leave a will, and now that the Crown Prince has also passed away, Prince Qi, being of the most noble birth, should rightfully inherit the throne..."
"Your subject seconded this suggestion. A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. His Highness Prince Qi is of noble character. We urge His Highness to prioritize the well-being of the nation and to ascend the throne as soon as possible to reassure the people."
Amidst a chorus of agreement, an imperial censor suddenly declared, "The King of Qi is clearly a traitor who plotted to usurp the throne. How can someone who murdered his father and brothers be worthy of being a ruler..."
Yu Fengyang raised an eyebrow. Since ancient times, imperial censors have been the most fearless of death. Sure enough, this old man truly has backbone...
Chu Tianling's eyes darkened, but his expression remained unmoved, still appearing as a dutiful son mourning his father.
The Minister of War immediately retorted sternly, "Imperial Censor Chen, how can you speak nonsense before His Majesty's spirit tablet..."
Imperial Censor Chen angrily said, "His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Empress all died overnight. How could it be such a coincidence? Last night, there were sounds of battle both inside and outside the capital. Clearly, someone is rebelling..."
The Minister of War said sternly, "If anyone had rebelled last night, why didn't you, Imperial Censor Chen, go and defend His Majesty to the death? Why are you still standing here safely today..."
Imperial Censor Chen choked, then angrily retorted, "You're just making excuses! You're clearly in cahoots with Prince Qi!"
Several other upright officials then stepped forward to support Imperial Censor Chen, so he wasn't entirely isolated. After a brief argument between the two factions...
Chu Tianling coughed twice, and Bai Linan's eyes flickered. He said loudly, "Everyone, stop arguing. The Crown Prince went to Yunzhou to handle state affairs but unfortunately contracted an epidemic. His Majesty secretly brought His Highness back to the Eastern Palace to recuperate. However, the disease was too dangerous. The Empress who went to visit him and the Crown Princess who took care of him both unfortunately contracted it and eventually died. When His Majesty learned of this news, he was overwhelmed with grief and suddenly fell ill and passed away. It was all an accident..."
Imperial Censor Chen, still furious, demanded, "Infected with the plague? Then why is the Princess Consort of Yan here perfectly fine?"
Bai Chuxiao rolled her eyes inwardly. Bai Linan, that opportunist, changed his mind quite quickly. Had she even agreed to this flawed explanation? Wasn't he afraid she'd expose the truth on the spot? The old censor was truly stubborn. But with Chu Tianling's troops both inside and outside the city... she really couldn't say anything.
The eldest princess's face turned ashen, and she couldn't help but want to speak up. Bai Chuxiao pressed her hand down and shook her head slightly. It would be better for the eldest princess to pretend that she knew nothing. Even if Chu Tianling ascended the throne, she was still the eldest princess, and there was really no need for her to get involved in this mess...
Seeing that she remained silent, Imperial Censor Chen said in a deep voice, "Princess Consort of Yan, please come forward and speak the truth. Has His Highness the Crown Prince truly been infected with the plague...?"
Instantly, all eyes turned to her. Chu Tianling stared at her with an inscrutable expression, his gaze carrying a clear threat. Bai Linan's gaze, however, seemed to say, "Recognize the situation."
Bai Chuxiao's eyes turned slightly cold as she said calmly, "This concubine is not with the Crown Prince."
The Duke of Zhenguo immediately shouted, "Guards, drag those old geezers, including Imperial Censor Chen, away for spouting nonsense!"
After the members of Imperial Censor Chen's faction were gagged and dragged away, the ministers all lowered their heads. A new emperor brings a new court; His Majesty is gone, the vassal kings are far away, and now only Prince Qi remains in the capital. Saying more is futile… Moreover, their families are still in Prince Qi's hands. What else can they do but submit…
Bai Linan then proclaimed loudly, "In the Great Xia Dynasty, the succession is always based on the legitimate heir. Among the princes, Prince Qi's mother is a Noble Consort, making his status the most prestigious. According to the rules, the throne should rightfully be passed to Prince Qi. This old minister respectfully requests that Prince Qi, for the sake of the stability of the Great Xia Dynasty, choose a date to ascend the throne..."
Liu Xiang's face was displeased, but his family, including Consort Xian, were all in Chu Tianling's hands. If it weren't for the importance of the two sides to the stability of the court, he probably would have been killed by Prince Qi and his men last night. Now he had no choice but to bow his head for the time being...
With neither the prime minister nor the other minister having any objections, the remaining people dared not voice any dissent and could only echo their agreement... and thus, the matter of the Prince of Qi becoming the new emperor was settled...
With everything settled, the court officials returned home after the sacrificial ceremony. The noblewomen, however, remained in the palace under Consort Wei's care; their release would likely have to wait until after the new emperor's ascension to the throne.
Inside the Purple Star Palace, after everyone had left, Chu Tianling looked at Bai Chuxiao, who had a calm expression, and asked, "Do you regret it now?"
Bai Chuxiao was speechless. "Why should I regret it?" If she had to say what she regretted, she would only regret not having thought of killing him sooner.
Chu Tianling, brimming with self-satisfaction, declared, "I am about to become the new emperor, and you, who once had the chance to become empress, are now reduced to a helpless dog, at my mercy."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and slowly said, "You know I was the last person to see His Majesty, right? Did you really think His Majesty left no will?"
Chu Tianling, who had been somewhat smug, suddenly darkened his eyes. "Bai Chuxiao, what tricks are you going to pull now?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com