On the ninth day of the fifth month, it had been eight days since the emperor had attended court.
The court and the country were already in turmoil. Officials were guarding the palace gates, demanding to see the emperor. Seeing that there was already a show of force to force the emperor to abdicate, Shen Mingzhuang knew that the time had come.
Outside the Taiqunji Hall, a dense mass of officials knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty has not attended the morning court for seven days, and today marks the eighth day. Is Your Majesty ill, or is he being held hostage? We, your humble servants, are filled with utmost loyalty and only beg Your Majesty to come out and meet us to reassure the people!"
The leader was the Duke of Wei. His shout was met with a hundred responses, and half of the ministers behind him joined in. Outside the Taiji Hall, a loud shout could be heard even several palaces away.
Tan Yonglin stepped out, righteous and awe-inspiring, standing against the wind, exuding an air of heroic sacrifice. Upon seeing him, the Duke of Wei's lips twitched, thinking to himself that this matter would not be easily fooled today. Did the palace really think that such a big thing could be kept secret?
Jiang Wang has been working diligently and wholeheartedly on state affairs over the years. If nothing had happened to him, why would he have not shown up for so long?
Yin Enci had a plan in mind. He instructed his followers to make a big fuss about this matter today. As long as Jiang Wang got into trouble, they would use the pretext of "purging the court of corrupt officials" to prove that Jiang Wang was being blackmailed and unable to govern.
"Chief Steward Tan, everyone wants an answer today regarding His Majesty's condition. Is His Majesty still lucid? Have he made any arrangements for state affairs? Are there any treacherous officials trying to use the emperor to command the princes? We urge His Majesty to come out and answer these questions personally!"
Tan Yonglin stood with his hands in front of his chest, expressionless, exuding solemnity.
"Duke of Wei, that's an extreme statement."
Tan Yonglin coldly looked at the Duke of Wei, "His Majesty is only unwell, which is why he has been delayed these past few days. Everything His Majesty does is in accordance with the will of the Emperor. But why has the Duke of Wei brought people here to force the abdication of the throne?"
"The Duke of Wei is a pillar of the state and a key minister. Is this action inappropriate? Or has the Duke of Wei harbored rebellious intentions upon seeing His Majesty's ill health?"
These few words were like a silver needle piercing a boil, instantly stripping away any semblance of dignity. The Duke of Wei's face darkened, caught off guard by the exposure of his true colors. He coughed twice, awkwardly touching his nose, then straightened his back with feigned bravado. "Chief Steward Tan, we only wish to see His Majesty. You've slandered us without cause, slapping such a heavy label on me. Could it be that you harbor some ill intentions?"
Tan Yonglin snorted coldly, standing still. "Duke of Wei, there's no need to rush. His Majesty still has His Highness the Crown Prince as the heir apparent. What's the hurry?"
These words showed no mercy to the Duke of Wei, directly revealing his ambitions.
The Duke of Wei's mansion has been trying to seize power for quite some time, but their bigger conspiracy doesn't end there.
Shen Mingzhuang stood inside the tightly closed door, listening to the shouts outside, but his mood was unusually calm.
"Has the situation at the Crown Prince's Palace been resolved?"
Shuangyue stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready. The Duke of Wen's mansion has indeed taken action. Your Majesty is truly a prophet."
Shen Mingzhuang sneered. It wasn't that she was a prophet, but rather that she understood the motives of those wolves in sheep's clothing. After waiting for so long, they should be getting impatient by now.
Something is bound to happen at the Eastern Palace. These days, the eyes of the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Wen will be fixed on the Taiji Hall and the Eastern Palace. Jiang Wang has not made any moves. As long as Xuan'er is in trouble, the world will change hands.
If the young prince who has been missing were to appear now, he would be the only choice to become the ruler of the country.
In this way, the situation that Jiang Wang had painstakingly reversed over the years would inevitably crumble.
This is not what Shen Mingzhuang wants to see, and it is something she absolutely cannot allow.
Having not had a proper rest for two days, she rubbed her temples wearily, looking at the thick booklet that Jiang Wang had left for her in advance. It wasn't actually that thick; compared to the stacks of memorials, it was quite thin.
Only now does Shen Mingzhuang truly understand Jiang Wang's hardships.
Being the ruler of the world is truly exhausting. She was heartbroken and mentally drained by Jiang Wang's policies and measures over the past few years, not to mention having to keep a close watch on everything and listen to every whim for the sake of the stability of the country.
Shen Mingzhuang closed the booklet and let out a long sigh of relief. The noise outside was getting louder and louder, so she got up and went into the inner room.
He Wenqing looked at her exhausted face and clicked his tongue in surprise, "Tell me, is it really worth it for this pathetic country?"
“This is not a broken country, it was won with his life, and I must protect it for him.”
Shen Mingzhuang spoke casually, but He Wenqing shook his head and sighed, "I really don't understand why he has to be the emperor, why he has to make his own son the emperor."
Hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang, who was originally in a heavy mood, couldn't help but laugh.
She wasn't from this world; her beliefs aligned with those of China. Therefore, she didn't see anything wrong with He Wenqing's words. If the system were sound, it wasn't impossible to select the best ruler. However, such reforms came at too high a price. Her ambitions lay elsewhere; she was merely acting out of a desire to protect what her beloved cared about.
Such is the tide of history; she was alone and powerless, and it was inevitable that she would not be able to carry out such a major reform.
"We've been working on this for so long, but there's still no improvement. Is this really going to continue forever?"
Looking at Jiang Wang, who remained unresponsive on the dragon bed as always, Shen Mingzhuang felt somewhat depressed. She didn't know if she could hold on, or how long she could hold on. Xuan'er was still so young. If she didn't hold on, who could hold on for her?
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