In the Imperial Court, all the officials were on high alert.
Pairs of nervous eyes stared at the twelve jade screens behind the throne. Those who did not know the inside story were not sure who would come out from behind the screens. The officials of different factions were especially nervous.
The generals of the Wei faction were all outside controlling the troops of the nine cities. Wei Anshi, Cui Shi, and the others also did not understand. Even though they were from the Wei faction, the incident had happened so suddenly that they did not know what was happening. Their faces were also pale.
A moment later, four eunuchs with horsetail whisks floated out from behind the jade screens. Closely following them was a pair of phoenix feather fans and two slender palace maids with feather palms protecting Empress Wei as she appeared. Empress Wei was dressed in a plain silk mourning dress. She held the hand of Prince Wen, Li Zhongmao. Li Zhongmao was also dressed in plain silk mourning dress.
Seeing this scene, the golden hall exploded. Everyone immediately understood one thing: "The Emperor has passed away!"
"Silence! Silence! Imperial Censor Jiao Feng, hurry up and suppress it! " Yang Si Xun stood on the imperial stairs and shouted in a deep voice. He then turned and bowed to Empress Wei. Empress Wei walked step by step onto the imperial platform. Her pair of dignified phoenix eyes slowly swept across the officials. She said in a deep voice: "The Emperor … has passed away!"
As she finished, perhaps it was because she was guilty and ashamed, or because she still had some feelings for Li Xian as husband and wife, or because she was good at acting, Empress Wei's two clear streams of tears flowed down her face.
Hearing this, the officials immediately cried out in grief. No matter if it was real or fake, this was a necessary etiquette. In the golden hall, there were people beating their chests and stamping their feet, there were people wailing, there were people kneeling on the ground in grief, there were people silently weeping. The sound of sorrow filled the Imperial Court.
Li Zhongmao dazedly looked at the people below the stairs, his face full of terror. Seeing the situation, Empress Wei twisted his arm hard. Li Zhongmao screamed in pain. He quickly turned his head and saw his muhou's stern gaze. Li Zhongmao couldn't help but shudder. He hurriedly opened his mouth and started to cry.
Empress Wei cried for a while with everyone. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. She mournfully said: "The Emperor has a chronic illness. Last night, the Emperor's illness suddenly flared up. Aijia urgently called for the imperial doctors but it was too late. His Majesty only had time to make some arrangements before he passed away … "
At this point, Empress Wei was sobbing uncontrollably. She turned around, covering her face as she said: "Xiandi has passed away, aijia … aijia cannot control my emotions. Shangguan Zhaorong, come read the Emperor's posthumous edict."
Only then did everyone realize that Shanghai Wan'er was also on the Imperial Staircase. She was dressed in a plain mourning dress and looked like a pure lotus that had just emerged from the water. Just now, when everyone had seen the Empress dressed in white silk, they had paled in fright and hadn't noticed the internal minister following behind her.
Shanghai Wan'er wiped the corner of her eyes and put away her handkerchief. She turned around and took a yellow Imperial edict from a taijian who was holding a white silk tray. She slowly walked two steps forward and stood in front of Empress Wei. She unfolded the edict and announced loudly: "The Son of Heaven's posthumous edict!"
"Hua …"
All the ministers in the golden hall were like wheat that had been cut by a sickle, prostrating themselves on the ground. Shanghai Wan'er cleared her throat and announced in a loud voice: "My people: When the heavens send a serious illness, medicine and stone cannot cure it. When zhen was dying, zhen did not have the time to gather all the officials, and hereby pass these words to the Empress.
Wen Wang Zhong Mao, loyal to himself, honest and courteous, has long had the demeanor of the Son of Heaven, and has the bearing of an Emperor. Immediately, he was made the Crown Prince. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day. The Crown Prince will ascend the throne in front of the coffin.
But the Crown Prince is young, zhen is afraid that he cannot govern. Empress Wei shi, respectful and pious, gentle and virtuous, will listen to politics from behind the curtains, to understand the laws and to be close to the virtuous officials. An Country's Xiang Wang, zhen's younger brother, is benevolent and magnanimous, the entire sea knows of him. He will assist the government and protect the Crown Prince.
Zhen's great trip must be made clear. The officials and the people will be released after three days. Marriage is prohibited, wine and meat are not prohibited. Civil and military officials, those of third-rank and above, will cry fifteen times in three days. Once the matter is over, they will leave. Unless it is urgent, do not cry without permission … "
Shanghai Wan'er finished reading the imperial edict and slowly retreated to the side. No matter what the officials were thinking, they all prostrated on the ground and respectfully received the imperial edict.
With a distressed expression, Empress Wei said, "Aijia has already sent people to welcome the Prince of Xiang of the An Country. When the Prince of Xiang arrives, we can discuss with the officials the matters of Emperor Xian's funeral."
Zong Chuke stood at the very front of the civil officials. When he finished listening to this posthumous edict, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded. "What's going on? Isn't the Empress Dowager regent? How did it become listening to politics? What does this have to do with the Prince of Xiang? Why did he come out to be the Prince of Xiang? "
Zong Chuke suddenly sensed something and a pair of stern eyes turned to Shanghai Wan'er.
The Son of Heaven had suddenly died and a new ruler had just been installed. There was no time to make arrangements for the funeral. The civil and military officials would probably have to adjust their duties as well. The civil and military officials stood there, waiting for the Prince of Xiang to arrive. How could they remain silent?
Thus, everyone began to whisper to each other, their soft voices gathering together into a buzzing wave that pervaded the golden hall. Dressed in white like jade and standing like a lotus, Shanghai Wan'er's eyebrows were lowered and her eyes were restrained, like the Goddess of Mercy holding a willow branch in her hand.
Her clear and limpid eyes seemed both somewhat compassionate and completely expressionless as she quietly looked forward. Although she was standing in the golden hall, she seemed to have nothing to do with these waves, with these ripples, with Zong Chuke's cold and harsh gaze.
Empress Wei had a sorrowful expression. Supported by Li Zhongmao, she slowly retreated behind the beaded curtain and sat down on the couch. When her back touched the cushion, Empress Wei couldn't help but give a sigh of relief: "It seems that we have successfully passed … …"
… …
The Prince of Xiang paled in fright at the emperor's arrival. The people sent by the palace were urging him to hurry, but he had no time to grieve. He hurriedly dressed himself and followed the warriors sent by the palace into the carriage.
Only when the carriage began to move did the Prince of Xiang begin to weep. Although his brother's personality had undergone a major change after his return from Fang Province and his brotherly affection had become much weaker, they were still brothers. How could the Prince of Xiang not be grieved at the sudden news of his death?
As for his safety in the palace, he was not worried. If Empress Wei dared to act against him right after the emperor died, she would undoubtedly be forcing the members of Li Tang's imperial clan to immediately rebel. Moreover, if Empress Wei wanted to kill him, she would only need to send someone to deliver a blow. There was no need for such an unnecessary move.
While the Prince of Xiang was being escorted by the palace guards to the palace, Zong Chuke had already invited the Empress to a side hall in the middle of the court. Upon seeing Empress Wei, Zong Chuke impatiently stamped his foot and said, "Empress, you've gone senile!"
Empress Wei's face immediately darkened as she unhappily asked, "What did you say?"
Zong Chuke's words had been somewhat thoughtless in his anxiety, but when he saw Empress Wei's complexion, he realized that he had been somewhat lacking in etiquette. He hurriedly apologized, "Empress, please forgive this subject for speaking indiscreetly. This subject was worried for Empress. Why does Empress not take this opportunity to accept this subject's proposal and become regent as the Empress Dowager? "
Empress Wei's complexion slightly relaxed as she slowly said, "So it was for this reason. Sit down first!"
A young eunuch at the side brought over a brocade stool. Empress Wei sat down first and said to Zong Chuke, "Minister Zong, aijia has seen your proposal, but aijia feels that aijia's intentions are a little too obvious if aijia follows your plan."
Zong Chuke somewhat affronted as he stared into Empress Wei's eyes and asked, "Is this Empress's own intention, or has Empress heard slanderous words from someone else?"
Empress Wei weighed Wan'er's words and associated them with the methods Wu Zetian had used in the past. She felt that Wan'er's words were very reasonable. This was truly the idea of an experienced strategist, so she happily accepted it. But in front of Zong Chuke, she would not admit that this was Wan'er's suggestion.
A person who wholeheartedly wanted to be the Emperor would not want his subordinates to look down on him. Furthermore, she was a married woman and was naturally at a disadvantage in terms of gender. She needed to create an image of intelligence and wisdom to convince the officials.
Empress Wei said unhappily, "In such a short time, who can aijia discuss it with? This is aijia's own idea. After aijia made up my mind, I ordered Shangguan Zhao Rong to draft the edict. What, is there something wrong? "
Zong Chuke heard that this was Empress Wei's own idea and couldn't help but grimace. Just now, he had seen Empress Wei's unhappy expression and knew that Empress Wei had just taken power and her mentality had not adjusted. What she hated the most was other people denying her intelligence. But he couldn't say anything else and could only say against his will, "This … … there is nothing wrong. But this subject feels that Empress could have used xiandi's posthumous edict to properly intimidate the government. Doing this now, you have let go of a great opportunity. "
Empress Wei smiled and said, "Minister Zong's loyalty, aijia naturally knows. However, in some matters, haste makes waste. Minister Zong was too hasty. Empress Wu is talented and bold, but didn't she still become Empress Dowager for eight years, waiting for everything to be ready before ascending to the throne?
Aijia may not need to wait for eight years, but some necessary formalities still have to be done. Right now, we should first stabilize the hearts of the people. As long as the power is firmly in our hands, what is it to let Zhong Mao be the Emperor for a few days? "
Zong Chuke sighed inwardly and helplessly raised his hands in a salute, saying, "Empress has great foresight and is not something this subject can match."
… …
A light carriage escorted by a dozen sturdy guards appeared in front of the Changle Gates. After a fully armored officer examined the fish seal, he respectfully said, "The Empress has decreed that all carriages and horses are not to enter the palace. Your Highness, please get off the carriage and walk. All the guards are waiting outside the palace. "
"Ah Niang, even I have to be restricted when entering the palace!" The curtain of the carriage was raised and Princess An Le resentfully walked out.
Walking under the tall palace walls, she looked at the corner of the eaves that occasionally poked out of the walls. Under the azure sky, it was like a palace in the sky. The displeasure in Princess An Le's heart gradually dissipated and she suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement.
Just now, when she heard that her father had died, An Le had been slightly sad, but she was even more shocked. Now, walking on this smooth and serene imperial path, passing through the thick and tall palace walls, feeling the supreme imperial power, she suddenly became excited.
"Father is dead, Li Zhong Mao, that lowly person raised by a servant, has become the Emperor, but the power is still in my mother's hands. If Mother can imitate Emperor Ze Tian and become the Empress, then I … …
"I have the blood of the Li Family, I have the blood of the Wei Family, and I am also the daughter-in-law of the Wu Family. These are my unique assets. Li Zhong Mao, that lowly servant, cannot compare to me. In time, won't I become the Empress Dowager, Ze Tian for three generations?"
Thinking of this, An Le's blood suddenly expanded. She couldn't help but clench her fists. It was as if an electric current had suddenly passed through her body, causing her to experience a feeling of bliss that far surpassed the pleasure of bed.
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