"You should come and see this imperial court for yourself."
Xiao Che's deep and meaningful words left a faint ripple in Lin Wanwan's heart. She initially thought it was just a casual remark he made in the heat of the moment and didn't think much of it.
However, she ultimately underestimated just how earth-shattering the emperor's determination to keep his word and his resolve to "make an exception" for her truly was.
...
The next day, at the first light of dawn.
This was the first formal grand court assembly of the Liang Dynasty after the palace coup.
Having endured the baptism of blood and fire, and with the removal of the Regent and his core faction—the biggest cancer—the power structure of the entire court was completely reshaped. The surviving civil and military officials, whether former royalists, neutrals, or opportunists, were now filled with unprecedented awe for this young emperor.
Outside the Golden Palace, the officials lined up again according to their new ranks and titles. Dressed in brand-new court robes, their expressions solemn, they awaited the opening of the palace gates. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive; no one dared to whisper, and the air was filled with the awe-inspiring spirit of a newly established order.
"Open the hall—officials shall pay their respects—"
With a loud announcement from the eunuch, the heavy doors of the Golden Palace were slowly pushed open with a creak.
The brilliant morning light poured out from the palace, illuminating the white marble steps beneath the feet of the officials.
Led by the newly appointed prime minister, civil and military officials straightened their robes and entered in single file with steady steps. Each of them was prepared to show their most submissive and loyal side to their emperor at this first formal court assembly.
However, the moment the first group of officials stepped into the palace and saw the scene inside, everyone froze on the spot as if they had been frozen in place!
The official following behind, bewildered, nearly bumped into him. He was about to utter a mutter of discontent when he looked up and saw the scene in the hall. He swallowed all his words and his face showed the same extreme shock and horror as the former!
"What...what's going on?"
"This is insane! Absolutely insane!"
"Where are the officials in charge of rites? Are all the people in the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs dead?!"
After a brief silence, an incredibly suppressed commotion erupted from the crowd.
On the Golden Throne Hall, which symbolizes the supreme power of the empire, next to the throne carved with nine golden dragons, where only the true Son of Heaven could sit, right to the right of the dragon throne, in a place that should have been empty, there was now a chair!
It was a magnificent phoenix chair crafted from the finest golden nanmu wood, with a lifelike carving of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix on the backrest. In front of the chair, a beaded curtain made of warm pearls and translucent jade hung down, shrouding the chair in a hazy mist and adding to its mystery and nobility.
Phoenix Chair!
Next to the dragon throne, a phoenix throne shall be erected!
This is absolutely unprecedented, a crazy act that tramples on thousands of years of ancestral rules and challenges the bottom line of everyone's understanding!
The empress and concubines are forbidden from interfering in politics! This is an ironclad rule established since ancient times to prevent the empress's relatives from seizing power and causing chaos in the empress's palace! Let alone setting up a seat next to the dragon throne, even the empress stepping into the Golden Palace is considered an overstepping of the bounds!
All the officials' minds went blank, buzzing. They couldn't comprehend the absurd scene unfolding before them. Which official had lost his mind, daring to commit such a treasonous act? This was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family!
Just as everyone was horrified and discussing the matter, the unique, high-pitched voice of the eunuch once again rang out from outside the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
That announcement was like a heavy hammer blow, striking everyone's heart!
His Majesty and the Empress have arrived together?!
All eyes were instantly drawn to the entrance of the main hall, like iron filings attracted by a magnet.
Amidst the stunned and almost dumbfounded gazes of the officials, two figures slowly walked in side by side.
Walking on the left was Emperor Xiao Che. He wore a solemn black dragon robe and a flat crown. His steps were steady, his face was cold and stern, and his powerful imperial aura instantly suppressed all the noise and commotion in the hall.
However, at this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the woman beside him.
Empress Lin Wanwan, dressed in a dignified and elegant empress's formal attire, wore no makeup, yet her stunning beauty was undeniable. Her expression was calm and composed, showing none of the awkwardness or unease that an ordinary woman would feel stepping into this place symbolizing the pinnacle of male power.
What's most shocking is that her hand is being held tightly and naturally by Emperor Xiao Che!
The Emperor and Empress joined hands to attend the grand court session!
This scene shattered the last shred of hope among the officials. They finally understood that the phoenix chair beside the throne was not some absurd mistake, but rather... His Majesty's decree!
Ignoring the complex, ghost-like gazes of the officials below, Xiao Che simply took Lin Wanwan's hand and, amidst the awe-inspiring stares of everyone, walked step by step together up the steps that symbolized the highest power of the empire.
He had walked this road countless times, and each time, he was alone.
And today, he finally has her by his side.
The officials watched as their emperor, hand in hand with his empress, ascended the high platform. They instinctively assumed that His Majesty would place the empress behind the throne, appearing in a vague form of "ruling from behind a curtain."
However, Xiao Che's actions once again defied their expectations!
He did not walk towards the dragon throne that belonged to him, but went straight to the magnificent phoenix throne.
He stopped, turned around, and faced Lin Wanwan. Under the watchful eyes of all the civil and military officials, he personally and solemnly lifted the beaded curtain that was covering her.
The crisp clinking of the beaded curtains, like the ringing of a chime bell, echoed clearly in the deathly silent Golden Palace, striking the hearts of everyone present.
"Wanwan."
He looked at her, his eyes devoid of imperial majesty, filled only with the tenderness of a husband for his wife. He gestured an invitation, helping her to the phoenix chair, a chair that had never been occupied by a woman since the founding of the dynasty.
Lin Wanwan took a deep breath, met Xiao Che's encouraging gaze, and sat down gracefully without the slightest hesitation.
The moment she sat down, the entire hall seemed to tremble.
Xiao Che smiled with satisfaction. He lowered the beaded curtain, once again shrouding her figure in that hazy veil, blocking all inquisitive gazes.
After doing all this, he slowly turned around and walked alone to the lonely dragon throne. But he did not sit down; instead, he stood between the dragon throne and the phoenix throne, turning to face the civil and military officials below, who had long since turned to stone.
His voice, loud and clear, carrying an unquestionable supreme authority, resounded throughout the entire Golden Palace.
"I once said that half of this vast empire belongs to the Empress."
He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across the faces of every minister below, causing them to unconsciously lower their heads, unable to meet his eyes.
"From this day forward, my court assemblies will be dedicated to state affairs."
"State affairs,"
He deliberately emphasized his words, each one resounding and powerful, announcing his decision and this new era to the world in the most domineering and subversive way!
"It should be discussed and decided by you and me, as husband and wife!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into a deathly silence!
The ironclad rule of "the empress dowager must not interfere in politics," which had been followed for thousands of years, was shattered at this moment by this young emperor in the most thorough and tyrannical way!
He didn't want the Empress to "listen to the government," he wanted to "discuss matters together" with her!
This is not a favor, this is... a decentralization!
Lin Wanwan sat behind the beaded curtain, looking through the gaps in the jade beads at the complex faces of the officials below, their expressions a mixture of shock, confusion, awe, and even fear. Then she looked at her husband beside her, who had defied the ancestral rules and etiquette of the entire world for her sake.
She knew that from this moment on, she was no longer the empress who hid behind the scenes and tried to guess the emperor's intentions through "emojis," nor was she the behind-the-scenes strategist who conveyed plans through "codes."
She will sit with her emperor at the pinnacle of power, facing together the trials and tribulations of this vast empire.
A grand drama of governing the world, truly belonging to the two of them, is about to begin.
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