son, don't mess around

There was deathly silence in the main hall.

Many ministers' expressions changed slightly.

They hadn't expected that His Majesty had anticipated this, and even acted so decisively!

They even wanted to label all those who opposed the eldest princess as accomplices of the traitorous Prince Xu.
Is this a firm decision to pass the throne to the eldest princess?
hiss……

Many people's expressions changed, and a chill ran through them. But then, the eyes of many ministers gradually deepened.

So what if that's the case?
His Majesty has passed away, and whether this edict can be carried out ultimately depends on them.

Of all the officials in the court, how many would agree to a woman becoming emperor?

Does His Majesty intend to arrest everyone as traitors?
If that's the case, probably half the officials in the court will be arrested. If that causes any trouble, the forces involved will be enormous like never before.

Let's see how she, the eldest princess, will handle this situation.

What good is having military power?

No matter how capable she was, how could she possibly defeat the entire court of civil and military officials?
In an instant, many ministers' gazes sharpened... No matter what, they had to stop the eldest princess from ascending the throne!

We absolutely cannot let her sit in that position.

...This was the unanimous thought in the minds of the vast majority of ministers.

This edict of succession must not be sent out of the palace today, no matter what we try.

While many ministers were pondering their next move, in the main hall, Chief Eunuch Chen continued reading His Majesty's last edict:
"I know that the Princess is still young and inexperienced, and I fear she will not be able to handle state affairs well on her own after succeeding to the throne. Therefore, I have selected Chancellor Zhao to assist in handling state affairs and to support the Princess..."

"At the same time, my uncle, Prince Jing, will assist the regent and jointly help the Princess handle court affairs. Prince Jing is hereby appointed as the Commander of the Imperial Guards, responsible for maintaining order in the palace..."

"..."

There was silence.

Many ministers looked embarrassed.

No one expected that His Majesty would be so well prepared.

Not only did he keep it a secret from everyone that he intended to pass the throne to the eldest princess, but he also had already made contingency plans.

At the last court assembly, His Majesty entrusted all state affairs to Chancellor Zhao. Now, the imperial edict further specifies that Chancellor Zhao should assist Her Highness the Eldest Princess.

Of course, more importantly...

Besides Prime Minister Zhao, there was also Prince Jing, whom His Majesty actually appointed to assist in the regency.

What does it mean?
Regent?
Given Prince Jing's status and prestige, this is tantamount to handing over the power of the court to him as well.

At the same time, he also controlled the imperial guards, so the safety of the palace was now entirely in his hands.
Doesn't this indirectly give him control over the succession to the throne?
Wouldn't the person in that position be under his control at any time?
What exactly does His Majesty intend to do?
At this moment, many people were already somewhat confused.

Since His Majesty intends to pass the throne to the eldest princess, why does he give Prince Jing such great power?

Aren't you afraid that Prince Jing will seize power?

Could this plunge the Great Ning Dynasty back into a bloody power struggle and infighting?

After Chief Steward Chen finished reading out the entire imperial edict, a brief silence fell over the hall.

Then, amidst the stares of the many ministers, their gazes gradually fell upon Wu Ru.

The Minister of Justice had a deep gaze, and his aged face was filled with a solemn expression. He couldn't quite figure out what His Majesty was thinking.

But right now, he has to stand up and stop it all.

Just as Wu Ru was about to get up, not far from him, at the very front of the crowd...

The prime minister, who had remained silent throughout, slowly and solemnly spoke: "Your subject accepts the imperial decree!"

An old, hoarse voice rang out, echoing in the hall.

In an instant, the expressions of many ministers changed drastically.

Zhao Xiang...

What does Zhao Xiang mean by this?
Has he received the imperial decree?

What does it mean?
Could it be that Prime Minister Zhao agrees to the eldest princess ascending the throne as emperor?

This……

How can it be?

Inside the hall, the atmosphere became heavy again as Prime Minister Zhao announced the imperial decree.

Wu Ru's expression changed instantly!
He hadn't expected this at all, his eyes fixed on Zhao Xiang in front of the crowd, filled with disbelief.

Logically speaking, Zhao Xiang should be the least likely to agree to the absurd idea of ​​a woman becoming emperor.

As a veteran of three reigns, Zhao Xiang was undoubtedly the leader of the conservative faction.

But now, Zhao Xiang has actually accepted the imperial decree?

Zhao Xiang's actions also caused the ministers who had initially formed a tacit understanding to suddenly have different thoughts.

Their eyes met, their gazes filled with astonishment, and... deep contemplation.

After all, apart from a few extreme conservatives, the vast majority of ministers in the court did not have much of a strong objection to who should be emperor.

Their primary concern is their own interests.

Whether a woman could become emperor was, in a sense, not within their consideration.

For their own benefit, they naturally did not want a princess with military power and a strong personality to ascend the throne.

But now, seeing Zhao Xiang's choice has caused many people to waver.

Even Prime Minister Zhao has sided with the Eldest Princess?
Although no one knows exactly what's going on, for many people this is already a very clear signal... Even Prime Minister Zhao has decided to support the Eldest Princess, so why should they continue to oppose her?
What would be the consequences of opposing it?
Even more alarming, some have already noticed that something is amiss today... The main hall's doors are closed, and outside are fully armed imperial guards.

What happened today was probably premeditated!

For them, there is probably no other choice.

"Prime Minister Zhao!"

From the crowd, Wu Ru spoke in a deep voice, his gaze profound as he stared at Zhao Xiang's back: "There has never been a precedent of a woman becoming emperor. Is our Great Ning Dynasty so incompetent that we would allow a woman to ascend the throne? What will the people of the world think? What will those foreigners think? Wouldn't this make our Great Ning Dynasty a laughingstock?"

"This old minister firmly opposes it!"

Wu Ru's words naturally represented the thoughts and ideas of many people present.

Before the crowd, Zhao Xiang slowly stood up from the ground, turned around, and looked at Wu Ru behind him. The two met eyes, and Zhao Xiang's aged face showed a sharp gaze.

"Minister Wu, this is His Majesty's last edict!"

"His Majesty has no heir, and as His Majesty's younger sister, the Eldest Princess is legally and morally qualified to succeed to the throne. His Majesty's abdication to the Eldest Princess is perfectly appropriate!"

As he spoke, Zhao Xiang's voice remained calm, yet it carried an indescribable air of oppression.

"The eldest princess has been intelligent and talented since childhood. Just as His Majesty's last edict stated, the dynasty is in turmoil and crisis, and this is the most critical moment. Although the eldest princess is a woman, she went to the front line alone to lead the army and fight against the rebel army of Prince Xu. Such heroic spirit is quite like that of Emperor Taizu!"

"The Crown Princess's ascension to the throne is the key to stabilizing the court and bringing peace to the realm!"

Zhao Xiang's voice was calm, yet resounding.

Wu Ru's gaze changed; he stared intently at Zhao Xiang. Then, his gaze fell on Li Yunjing beside him.

Then, as if he understood something, his expression changed several times.

"You, you..."

At that moment, he instantly understood.

It's all part of a scheme.

A trap that had been set up long ago.

They were the ones they were plotting against.

From the moment they stepped into the palace this morning, they had no choice. Wu Ru's face turned deathly pale. He looked around and met many pairs of extremely complicated gazes. At that moment, Wu Ru's aged body swayed. How could he not understand what had happened?
only……

"Zhao Chuan'an!"

Wu Ru spoke in a low voice from his throat: "Do you want to make enemies of the whole world?"

"Do you intend to drag my Great Ning Dynasty into an abyss of no return?!"

Wu Ru's low questioning did not elicit any response.

Zhao Xiang's gaze was icy, his tone utterly unquestionable as he coldly declared, "Her Highness the Eldest Princess's ascension to the throne is by His Majesty's will. As subjects of Da Ning, we are duty-bound to uphold His Majesty's wishes and assist Her Highness the Eldest Princess!"

"Our dynasty is in peril, and the Eldest Princess has been ordered to quell the rebellion of Prince Xu. His Majesty's edict of succession has already been sent to the front lines. Once Her Highness the Eldest Princess ascends the throne at the front, it will be proclaimed to the world!"

"As your subjects, we are duty-bound to guard the capital, manage state affairs, and await the return of the new emperor!"

Zhao Xiang's words once again caused an uproar in the hall.

This also caused many people's expressions to change completely.

Has the edict of succession already been sent out?

Finished!

It's too late!

Once the edict of succession is sent out, no matter how much they oppose it, it will be too late.

Once the eldest princess announces her ascension to the throne at the front lines and commands the imperial army, what will become of these people?
Should we continue to oppose it?
Can't we continue to oppose it based on ancestral rules?
But what good would such opposition do?
What benefit would that bring them?
Many people looked extremely grim. They had been closely monitoring every move the court made during this period, but they still hadn't expected that the edict of succession would be sent out quietly.

It's too late to stop it now!

silence!

There was a moment of silence in the hall, then a voice suddenly rang out.

"As a member of the royal family, the Princess is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people. Her succession is a matter of course. I, Liang Yongkang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, will do my utmost to assist Her Highness the Princess, devoting myself to the cause until my dying breath!"

Among the crowd, Liang Yongkang knelt in the hall, shouting loudly with a strong voice and a firm gaze.

His Majesty's passing was extremely bad news for Liang Yongkang.

Upon learning that His Majesty had passed the throne to the Princess, Liang Yongkang felt a renewed surge of excitement and hope.

The eldest princess had no power or influence in the court. Once she ascended the throne, she would inevitably have to cultivate her own power in the court to counter the ministers.

As a minister personally promoted by the late emperor, he had a clean background and no power or influence, so he naturally had a great chance to catch the eye of the princess.

Once he gains the favor of the eldest princess, he might have a chance to advance further in the future...

Therefore, after a brief weighing of the pros and cons, Liang Yongkang immediately made up his mind... He wanted to become the most loyal subject of the Princess.

Now is the opportunity to demonstrate your loyalty!
Therefore, Liang Yongkang shouted loudly and firmly declared his loyalty to the Princess in front of everyone.

Liang Yongkang's voice naturally attracted the attention of many officials nearby.

Suddenly, all sorts of gazes were drawn to it.

Surprise, shock, anger...

Besides, what most of the other officials were thinking was... Damn, he beat us to it?

Liang Yongkang's loud shouts brought many ministers back to their senses.

With Prime Minister Zhao publicly supporting the eldest princess's ascension to the throne, it's almost a certainty that she will become emperor.

With Zhao Xiang's support, even if there are still opponents in the court, they probably won't be able to stir up any trouble.

At this point, it's natural to show your loyalty.

With a new emperor ascending the throne, one must certainly make a good impression.

Unexpectedly, Liang Yongkang beat him to it!
Immediately, many people looked at Liang Yongkang with envy and indignation. Meanwhile, other officials also began to scramble to show their loyalty.

"Your Majesty, I also support the Crown Princess's ascension to the throne!"

“That’s right. The eldest princess is of royal blood, the purest royal blood of our Great Ning Dynasty, and should rightfully inherit the throne!”

"Your Majesty, I support the Eldest Princess becoming Empress."

"I also support this..."

Liang Yongkang's loud shouts seemed to shatter the balance within the hall. Immediately, officials began to kneel down, demonstrating their loyalty.

Naturally, some officials in the crowd also looked uneasy. Once the princess ascended the throne, they would definitely not have a good ending.

This is absolutely not in their interest.

Therefore, they still want to try to struggle.

Among them, the conservative faction, led by Wu Ru, was the most serious.

"We object!"

“I also object. The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed. How can a woman become empress?”

"A woman becoming empress is an act that leads to the downfall of a nation!"

These officials were sharp-tongued and resolutely opposed the eldest princess becoming empress.

Standing in front of the crowd, Li Yunjing quietly watched the lively scene unfold before him.

How similar this scene is to one from more than a decade ago?
Back then, weren't these officials in the court also arguing fiercely?
They talk a lot about benevolence and morality, but aren't they actually calculating for their own benefit?

So many years have passed, and the people in the court have changed, but nothing has changed.

"Minister Wu!"

Li Yunjing looked up at Wu Ru standing in front of the hall: "His Majesty's will bequeathed the throne to the Eldest Princess, yet you all so brazenly defy the decree. Do you not respect His Majesty and intend to rebel?"

These words caused many ministers to change their expressions slightly.

Wu Ru's gaze darkened: "We have absolutely no intention of rebelling, but Your Majesty's decision to pass the throne to the Eldest Princess is something this old minister resolutely opposes!"

"Your Majesty is foolish. How could you commit such a destructive act that would lead to the downfall of the nation? Even if it costs me my life, I will never allow such a thing to happen!"

"So, Minister Wu isn't afraid of death?" Li Yunjing glanced at him.

Wu Ru said coldly, "What does it matter if I die?"

"Since that's the case, then I will grant Minister Wu's request!"

Li Yunjing said calmly, "Minister Wu has openly defied the imperial decree and disobeyed His Majesty's last will and testament; this is an act of treason."

"Guards, remove Wu Ru from his post, seize him, and throw him into the dungeon!"

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar all around.

No one expected that Prince Jing would actually arrest the Minister of Justice?
Is this guy crazy?

Wu Ru, as the Minister of Justice, enjoys extremely high prestige in the court. Yet, Prince Jing is arresting him without warning.
Dismissed from office and imprisoned in the imperial jail?

Is he really going to turn the Great Ning court upside down?
Wu Ru's eyes narrowed sharply as he stared at Li Yunjing. However, Li Yunjing remained calm and composed, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Good, good!"

Wu Ru didn't get angry but laughed. He sneered twice, looked at Li Yunjing, and then looked at Zhao Xiang who was silent to the side, and sneered repeatedly: "I don't need you to arrest me, I'll walk by myself!"

"His Majesty is foolish, allowing the two of you to control the court and wreak havoc... Now, the Prince of Xu in the north is causing chaos with the Third Prince, and the dynasty is on the verge of collapse. Yet, the two of you intend to support the Eldest Princess to ascend the throne. This is illegitimate and unjust. What are you trying to achieve?!"

Wu Ru looked up to the sky and roared in grief: "My Great Ning Dynasty will be destroyed by the two of you sooner or later!"

"At that time, you two will surely be sinners for all time!!"

"..." (End of this chapter)