AWB Chapter 157 The New Emperor
Chapter 157 The New Emperor
Zhang Miaoke said proudly, "What are you doing here?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly and said, "Princess Qi is so impatient to enter the palace?"
Zhang Miaoke was about to speak proudly when Princess Zhaoyang pulled her sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Alright, we are all here to pay homage to His Majesty, Princess Yan, please come in with me."
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "Princess, please."
Zhaoyang glanced at Yu Fengyang who was following him but didn't say anything. Seeing this, Zhang Miaoke just snorted coldly and followed the eldest princess into the palace first.
After the people left, Yu Fengyang clicked his tongue twice, "This queen probably didn't even know how she died."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "As long as the backer doesn't fall, this person won't die."
The court officials were kneeling outside the Zichen Palace, and the ladies of high rank were supposed to kneel in the palace to offer sacrifices, but there was no one there. Bai Chuxiao's eyes flickered when she saw this, and she calmly stepped into the palace. Yu Fengyang touched his nose and decided to follow them in.
After the emperor's death, his spirit would stay in the Zichen Palace for three days and then be moved to the imperial mausoleum after various sacrifices.
In the palace, Concubine Wei and Chu Tianling knelt in the front, followed by Princess Zhaoyang, Princess Qi, and the other members of the royal family. Behind them were the Dukes and Marquises, as well as the two prime ministers, the six ministers, and other important officials of the court. The women of the East Palace and the virtuous concubine, including the instigator Chu Wenzheng and Prince Consort Zhang, were nowhere to be seen...
Bai Chuxiao frowned. It was indeed difficult for her to kneel down and worship Chu Wenxuan, but the situation was pressing... Never mind, she would just kneel down to the late queen...
After convincing herself, she stopped struggling and knelt down beside the princess in a pretentious manner. Yu Fengyang was still a fourth-rank official after all, so no one would say anything if he knelt behind her...
After everyone pretended to cry for a while, someone couldn't sit still anymore.
"His Majesty passed away suddenly, the Crown Prince and the Queen have also passed away, the inheritance of this country...", a minister suddenly shouted
Another minister said hurriedly, "Your Majesty did not leave a will, and now that the Crown Prince has passed away, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi has the most noble birth, so the throne should be inherited by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi..."
"I second your proposal. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Your Highness the Prince of Qi is a man of noble character. I ask Your Highness the Prince of Qi to put the country first and ascend the throne as soon as possible to reassure the people."
Amid the seconding of the proposal, an imperial censor suddenly said, "The King of Qi is clearly a traitor who is plotting to usurp the throne. How can a man who killed his father and brother be worthy of being a king..."
Yu Fengyang raised his eyebrows. Since ancient times, the censors were the least afraid of death. As expected, this old man really had a backbone...
Chu Tianling's eyes darkened, but his expression remained unmoved, still looking like a good son mourning for his father.
The Minister of War hurriedly said in a stern voice, "Censor Chen, how can you speak nonsense in front of His Majesty's spirit..."
Censor Chen said angrily, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the Empress all died overnight. How could it be such a coincidence? Last night, there were continuous sounds of fighting inside and outside the Imperial City. It was obvious that someone was rebelling..."
The Minister of War said sternly, "If there was a riot last night, why didn't you, Censor Chen, go and defend His Majesty to the death? Why are you still standing here safely today..."
Censor Chen choked and said angrily, "You are making up stories. It's obvious that you are in cahoots with the King of Qi."
Afterwards, several other upright people came out to support Chen Yushi. Chen Yushi was not alone. After the two factions argued for a while,
Chu Tianling coughed twice. Bai Linnan's eyes flickered slightly. He said loudly, "Everyone, stop arguing. The Crown Prince went to Yunzhou to handle government affairs, but accidentally contracted the disease. His Majesty secretly took His Royal Highness the Crown Prince back to the East Palace to recuperate. Who knew that the disease was too dangerous? The Queen who went to visit and the Crown Princess who was taking care of them accidentally contracted the disease and died. When His Majesty heard the news, he was in unbearable grief. He died of a sudden illness. Everything was an accident..."
Censor Chen was still angry and asked, "Infected with the disease? Why is the Princess of Yan still here?"
Bai Chuxiao rolled her eyes in her heart. Bai Linnan, this fence-sitter, changed quickly. Did she agree with this set of flawed statements? Wasn't he afraid that she would tell the truth on the spot? The old man, the censor, was really stubborn. However, Chu Tianling's troops were everywhere inside and outside the city... She really couldn't say anything.
The eldest princess's face turned pale and she couldn't help but want to speak. Bai Chuxiao held her hand down and shook her head slightly. The eldest princess should just pretend she knew nothing. Even if Chu Tianling ascended the throne, she would still be the eldest princess. There was really no need for her to wade into this muddy water...
Seeing that she remained silent, Censor Chen said in a deep voice, "Princess Yan, please speak a fair word. Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really infected with the disease..."
For a moment, everyone's eyes were on her. Chu Tianling also stared at her with an inexplicable look. That look was threatening no matter how you looked at it. However, Bai Linnan looked at her with a look that said, "Recognize the situation.
Bai Chuxiao's eyes were slightly cold, and she said lightly, "This concubine and the prince are not in the same place"
The Duke of Zhenguo immediately shouted, "Come here, take away these old men who are talking nonsense, Censor Chen."
After several people from Censor Chen's group were gagged and dragged away, the ministers all lowered their heads. A new emperor appoints new ministers. His Majesty is gone, and the princes are far away. Now there is only one prince in the capital, the Prince of Qi. No matter how much they say, it will be useless... Moreover, their families are still in the hands of the Prince of Qi. What else can they do but surrender...
Bai Linan said loudly again, "The heir to the throne of Daxia is always the heir to the throne. Among all the princes, the mother of His Royal Highness Prince Qi is the Imperial Concubine, whose status is the most noble. According to the rules, the throne should be handed over to His Royal Highness Prince Qi. This old minister respectfully requests His Royal Highness Prince Qi to choose a day to ascend the throne for the stability of Daxia..."
Prime Minister Liu looked unhappy, but his family, including the virtuous concubine, were all in Chu Tianling's hands. If he hadn't valued the importance of the two ministers to the stability of the court, he would have been hacked to death by the King of Qi and his men last night. Now he had no choice but to bow his head temporarily...
The two prime ministers had no objections, and the rest of the people did not dare to have any opinions either, so they could only agree... The matter of the King of Qi being the new emperor was thus confirmed...
Everything was settled. After the worship, the court officials returned home. As for the ladies, they were kept in the palace by Concubine Wei. As for when they would be released, it would have to wait until the new emperor ascended the throne.
In Zichen Palace, after everyone left, Chu Tianling looked at Bai Chuxiao who had a calm face and asked, "Do you regret it at this moment?"
Bai Chuxiao was speechless, "Why should I regret it?" If she had to say she regretted it, she only regretted not finding a way to kill him earlier.
Chu Tianling said with great enthusiasm, "This king is about to become the new generation emperor, and you originally had the opportunity to become the queen, but now you can only let this king control you like a stray dog."
Bai Chuxiao raised a smile and said slowly, "You know that I was the last person to see His Majesty. Do you really think His Majesty didn't leave any will?"
Chu Tianling, who was originally somewhat proud, darkened his eyes, "Bai Chuxiao, what tricks are you going to play now?"