However, the Cui family had only themselves to blame for such a result, so no one was surprised.
Because the crimes they committed were too serious. They plotted to kill a prince, the legitimate son of the emperor … In order to let the King of Shu ascend the throne, they killed the two princes of the Empress. They didn't stop until the birth of the Eldest Princess, the Empress couldn't bear another child and no one could shake the position of the eldest son of the King of Shu …
The Cui family and Imperial Concubine Cui used such cruel means to ensure that the King of Shu would ascend the throne.
They probably didn't expect that the throne would eventually fall into the hands of Prince Qi, who they had never taken seriously.
After the eunuch announced the result, the Cui family was taken away.
Then, a few dry coughs suddenly came from the hall.
"The Cui family has committed heinous crimes, and it's not a pity that they finally got such a bad result." Prime Minister Qin walked out of the crowd, glanced down, and said, "You all know that the Cui family is insane. In order to establish the position of the eldest son of the King of Shu, they secretly killed the two princes of the Empress … However, I'm afraid you don't know that the third child of the Empress was also a prince, right?"
As soon as the words came out, the officials were in an uproar.
"What!"
"Prime Minister Qin, are you serious?"
"How is that possible? The third child of the Empress is obviously the Eldest Princess!"
"Yes, I still remember that the Empress and Princess Ning gave birth at the same time. Princess Ning gave birth to Crown Prince Li Xuan. The Empress, the Empress …"
…
The uproar lasted for a long time. Even the censors did not stop them, because they were deeply shocked and incredulous after hearing Prime Minister Qin's words.
Gradually, the uproar subsided.
Finally, someone found some clues.
The Empress and Princess Ning gave birth at the same time. The Empress gave birth to the Eldest Princess, and Princess Ning gave birth to Crown Prince Li Xuan. Prime Minister Qin said that the Empress actually gave birth to a prince …
Prime Minister Shen, the ministers of the six ministries, and several other officials in the court looked calm, as if they had already known about it.
County Marquis Li and several old generals, who were most trusted by His Majesty, were also not surprised.
Most importantly, when Prime Minister Qin said these words, His Majesty did not stop him.
Thinking about it, the Empress had lost two princes. If His Majesty didn't have any doubt in his heart, it would be unreasonable.
Thinking deeper, why did Ning Wangfei come to the capital when she was about to give birth? Why did the Empress also move out of the Imperial Palace at that time and move with Ning Wangfei …
The more he thought about it, the more he thought about it!
In the hall, the doubts on the faces of the officials gradually disappeared. The various princes appeared astonished, Prince Xin's countenance turned pale, and Qi King's body trembled, unable to stand steadily.
Prime Minister Qin spoke again, "Back then, Her Highness lost two princes in succession. His Majesty already had some doubts, but the Cui family was powerful. Not only could they stir up the court, but they could even directly intervene in the court. In order to protect the princes, His Majesty made such a decision …"
"His Majesty handed the princes over to Prince Ning and brought the princess back to the palace. Until now …" Prime Minister Qin took out a box from his sleeve and said, "This is the jade archive that proves the identities of the two princes. If any of you don't believe me, you can come forward and verify its authenticity …"
Whenever a member of the royal family was born, their identity jade archive would be engraved at the same time they were born. If this jade archive was really from 20 years ago, then Crown Prince Li Xuan was the princes of the first line. What Prime Minister Qin had said would naturally not be false …
A few senior officials walked forward. After carefully verifying the jade archive, they nodded slightly and silently retreated.
At this point, the officials no longer had many doubts.
With the deaths of the first two princes, His Majesty grew suspicious. In order to protect the third prince, he exchanged him with Ning Wangfei's remaining daughter …
Therefore, Crown Prince Li Xuan … was actually the legitimate son of His Majesty and Her Highness. Princess Royal — it should be called Princess now.
At this moment, the eunuch cleared his throat and continued, "For the past three years, I have been ill for a long time. Thus, all the government affairs have been decided by MIngzhu. As a woman, MIngzhu has been in charge of the important affairs of the court. She has been working hard day and night and has never been tired … Therefore, I hereby grant her the title of Princess Yongle.
It was not uncommon for a princess to be granted the title of Princess. In the past few decades, there had been a few princesses who had been granted the title of Princess due to their favoritism.
Putting aside the degree of Princess MIngzhu's favoritism, she had contributed greatly to the court, the people, and the Jing Kingdom. A mere title of Princess was nothing at all.
After reading an imperial edict, the eunuch picked up another one. With a solemn face, he said loudly, "Since ancient times, the emperors have inherited the heavens and ruled the world. They must establish the Crown Prince and prolong the country …
My legitimate son, Li Xuan, is a heroic and extraordinary person. Following the will of the heavens, I hereby abide by the first imperial edict and submit to the public opinion. I solemnly inform the heavens and the earth, the ancestral temple, and the country to confer the title of Crown Prince and appoint him as the Crown Prince in the East Palace.
I have been ill for a long time and cannot be neglected for too long. I hereby appoint the Crown Prince, Li Xuan, as the leader, to hold the imperial seal and establish the government hall. Princess Yongle will be his assistant. The two of them will manage the affairs of the commoners and supervise the country. All the matters reported by the officials will be decided by the two of them … "
Thump!
As soon as the eunuch finished his words, Prince Qi's face turned pale. He trembled and collapsed on the ground.
Then, the entire hall fell into absolute silence. Almost everyone had a look of contemplation on their faces. No one spoke.
Two imperial edicts and three matters.
Princess Yongle had just become Princess Yongle and was given the title of Princess by His Majesty. The title remained the same, but the meaning was completely different.
Li Xuan, the legitimate prince whom His Majesty had entrusted to Prince Ning many years ago, naturally became the Crown Prince and entered the East Palace.
The third matter was also the most important.
The Crown Prince supervising the country and the Eldest Princess assisting the government. This was something that had never happened in previous dynasties. It was also the first thing they thought of and felt incredible.
But when they thought about it carefully, they felt that it couldn't be more normal.
The country and the court had long been inseparable from the Eldest Princess. If the Eldest Princess was a man, they would disobey the Emperor's order and admonish her to death. They would let her sit in the position that should have been hers.
However, she wasn't. This was already the best and most suitable ending.
Crown Prince Li Xuan was the legitimate prince and also the most powerful one among all the princes of His Majesty. It was he who promoted the Academy of Science and made a great contribution to the country.
But he only knew science and didn't know how to govern the country. He was not the most suitable person to sit in the position.
Someone knew.
His Majesty gave the Princess the title of Princess again so that she could rightfully sit in the position and exercise the power of assisting the government.
As for Prince Qi …
Flushed with success, the horse's hooves were swift, the horse accidentally lost its footing.
It turned out that from the beginning to the end, Prince Qi had never touched that position.
He didn't do it before and he wouldn't do it in the future.
As for why they thought that Prince Qi was already on the throne …
Li Yi felt that many people were looking at him with unkind eyes. He felt as if his back was being pricked by needles.
He slightly tilted his head and asked the Minister of Revenue beside him, "Lord Qin, why are they looking at me?"
Qin Huan looked at him for a long time and finally couldn't help asking, "I'm also very curious. Why did Lord Li accept Prince Qi's gift?"
Li Yi thought for a while and said, "He sent it to me. Isn't it a little impolite to return it?"
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