Chapter 82: The New Emperor Part 3

Biding her time was the mark of the finest rulers.

Outside, winds and rains battered the entire Imperial Capital. The new emperor’s ascension ceremony awaited only the Previous Emperor’s burial. Yet the new emperor hadn’t reached the age of majority, and the Previous Emperor hadn’t appointed regents. Could she rule personally right away?

Some didn’t want the young emperor to assume power so quickly. The Left Prime Minister and Right Chancellor led the charge, with Left Prime Minister Qin Li personally visiting Radiant Benevolence Palace to inquire the Wise Noble Consort’s stance on selecting regents. Little did he know that Wise Noble Consort Gu Liangrou, grief-stricken after the Previous Emperor’s death, had fallen ill and refused visitors.

All palace affairs were handed to Xun Changqing. Unable to proceed, Qin Li consulted the Right Chancellor and jointly submitted a memorial stating the emperor was too young and could only rule personally after the grand wedding.

The joint memorial was intercepted by Yuan Qingming before reaching the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion and sent directly to Splendid Clarity Palace.

Xun Changqing looked at the names atop it but didn’t find Right Chancellor Qian Fang. He had been Minister of War; after Shao Cheng was dismissed, the Previous Emperor chose him as Right Chancellor. Not from humble origins, he was Imperial Capital nobility with his own faction. Yet he hadn’t eagerly joined the others in suppressing her. Compared to Xun Yi, she was less reliable.

Suppressing this young emperor to prevent personal rule allowed alignment with Xun Yi. After all, the young emperor had no power outside and had recently been embroiled in rumors.

Xun Changqing sat in the side hall, clad in white mourning garb. Her slender frame curled into the chair. Due to mourning, only a few precious white jade hairpins adorned her black hair, making her appear all the more gentle and dignified, though her brows now carried the solemn air of an emperor. She pinched the joint memorial, dangled it by her ear, and instructed Zi Jin beside her, “Copy this and send it to the Pingnan Prince. Test the waters.”

Personal rule only after the grand wedding? With the Previous Emperor’s passing, the new emperor must mourn for three years. After three years, she’d be a puppet emperor, and wresting power back wouldn’t be easy. What a fine scheme.

Zi Jin did as told, sitting at the desk quietly copying. Xun Changqing seemed to think of something, jumped down from the chair, went to Zi Jin’s side, circled Qin Li’s name, and said joyfully in a low voice, “Investigate this person. Also ask Wei Lingci if she has any dirt on him. I was worrying about vacancies; he’s delivered himself perfectly.”

She was just months from majority. They clung to her age to bully her, but the Previous Emperor’s lack of regents clearly meant she could rule personally.

She would fully accept the Previous Emperor’s intent. With Wei Lingci, she had enough; no other regents needed. More would cause trouble—one sufficed.

The Wise Noble Consort seemed particularly at ease with her, holing up in Radiant Benevolence Palace claiming illness and dumping all the mess on her. Wei Lingci hadn’t entered the palace since returning home that day—clearly avoiding her—and wasn’t afraid she’d botch everything.

With a sigh, Xun Changqing shrank back into the chair. The ascension was in a few days. Though no mishaps expected, without Wei Lingci, something felt missing. She sighed again before heading to the main hall.

Though adopted, appearances must be kept; daily vigils were unavoidable. Fortunately, the summer heat sped decay, so the Previous Emperor’s coffin was sent early to the Imperial Mausoleum.

She suddenly felt Qin Li’s dim wits benefited her: first, to probe Xun Yi; second, to reveal whose hearts lay outside in the court.

Zi Jin acted steadily. In less than half an hour, she delivered the copied memorial to the Prince’s Mansion.

Word of the interception had already reached Qin Li, who rushed to the Prince’s Mansion seeking Xun Yi’s aid.

Zi Jin arrived a quarter-hour after him and spotted his carriage upon entering, quickening her steps inside. This place was most familiar to her, and as the new emperor’s attendant, no one dared stop her.

But Xun Yi’s study was forbidden. Guards blocked her outside. Without her speaking, someone went to summon Xun Yi.

Hearing the report, Xun Yi was surprised, but seeing the Left Prime Minister in his study, he understood. Unable to invite her in, he went out himself. Zi Jin skipped lofty pleasantries, handed over the item, and turned to return to the palace.

Zi Jin’s attitude remained as deferential as ever, but when she encountered Xun Yibai, her brows lifted slightly. She passed without saluting, infuriating Xun Yibai behind her.

Evidently, Xun Yibai’s rebuke of Wei Xiao that day had displeased Xun Changqing.

In the study, Xun Yi spread the joint memorial and angrily hurled a book at Qin Li, cursing, “The Previous Emperor didn’t appoint regents. What nonsense are you stirring? Even if you wrote this rubbish jointly, you should have sent a cautious messenger. Now she knows—how is this prince to save you? So many people—can this prince save them all?”

Qin Li hurriedly caught the memorial, his face ghastly pale. Without Xun Yibai supporting him, he might have collapsed. Glancing at it, his expression grew more panicked. “Your Highness, this isn’t our copy, but the content is the same.”

Xun Yi shot him a look of utter disappointment. “Do you think the little emperor is a fool? She sent the original—sparing you?”

Xun Yibai, who had just entered, overheard the key points. He took the memorial from Qin Li, examined it closely, and agreed, “Father, Xun Changqing hasn’t reached majority; she’s still a child. The Wise Noble Consort is refusing audiences. You needn’t rush to yield power. Wait until her wedding.”