Chapter 89

“This subject believes that the Duke of Ying and his assigned forces should be recalled and subjected to a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth.”

“The matter remains unverified—recalling the commanding general at this juncture risks sowing chaos among the troops.”

“And did Luo Xiang not sow chaos among the troops by unjustly executing a frontier general?”

“Luo Xiang’s unwarranted execution of Lu Jingshan already demonstrates his disloyal heart. Regardless, this is a challenge to Her Majesty’s authority.”

“This subject is of a differing opinion…”

Fu Ping’an listened quietly to the volley of opinions from the assembled ministers. The court was clearly split into two factions: one in support and one in opposition. However, there was also a subset who voiced seemingly supportive words, yet actually hoped Fu Ping’an would recall the Duke of Ying—which was by no means an act of true support.

If… if I did not have the aid of the live stream, if I had not read countless historical case studies, would I waver now?

Eventually, Fu Ping’an rested her gaze upon the senior ministers. Fan Yi stood with his hands folded before him, head lowered and expression grave, showing no inclination to speak. Chen Songru and Tian Fen both wore furrowed brows, eyes fixed on the ground, their thoughts inscrutable.

The Prince Regent appeared the most at ease. She had even craned her neck to look at the officials speaking behind her, watching the scene unfold like a spectator at a play.

【I Cover a Hundred Li Radius: Is Fu Lingxian thinking, ‘Finally, this rotten mess has landed on someone else’s head for a change’?】

【APENGYT: Haha, that’s exactly what it looks like.】

Fu Ping’an finally broke her silence to ask, “What is Minister Tian’s view on this?”

Tian Fen’s face flickered with hesitation. Nevertheless, he stepped forth and said, “The execution of a border garrison general is a matter of the utmost gravity. If no action is taken, it will be difficult to convince the masses and will be detrimental to the war effort. This subject believes the matter should be considered carefully…”

Fu Ping’an then turned. “And Chancellor Chen, what are your thoughts?”

Chen Songru stepped forward. “Setting aside the killing of Lu Jingshan for a moment, the matter of the letters bears the hallmarks of a deliberate frame-up. These two incidents should be treated separately. If we are to investigate the killing of Lu Jingshan, then the framing through forged letters must also be rigorously pursued, in order to cleanse the court’s atmosphere.”

The Gate Commander of the Palace, Zhao Guiming, interjected, “Why does the Chancellor presume it’s a frame-up?”

Chen Songru replied, “If the letters’ content pertained to the military campaign, the army departed over a month and a half ago. Why would the letter not have been sent out? What purpose would it serve?”

Zhao Guiming countered, “With all due respect to the Chancellor, prior to the army’s departure, security at the city gates had already been tightened significantly. It wasn’t that he didn’t wish to send them out, but that he couldn’t—hence the desperate measure of burning them in a secluded alley.”

Chen Songru sneered. “The Duke of Ying himself has already left the city. How could he be unable to dispatch a letter? Doesn’t this very fact further prove that something is amiss?”

Refuting the Chancellor even once had taken considerable courage; Zhao Guiming did not press further. It was Tian Fen who spoke next: “These are indeed two separate matters. But should we not first address the frontier issue? There is an ongoing battle, and if a change of command is deemed necessary, plans must be laid in advance.”

Fu Ping’an, however, turned her attention to Fan Yi. “Why is the Grand Tutor silent?”

Fan Yi seemed startled, lifting his head as though waking from a dream. After a long hesitation, he said, “Regarding this matter… this subject dares not comment. This subject believes it requires further deliberation.”

Fu Ping’an smiled. “The Grand Tutor shares Zhen’s view. This matter will be discussed further after court. The Morning Court shall resume. Is there other business?”

She swept her gaze across the assembly. “If there is no further business, Zhen does have an announcement to make. I believe you courtiers are absolutely correct—because the matter is of grave importance, it should be proclaimed in open court before the civil and military officials, to prevent the proliferation of baseless rumors.”

Tian Fen’s heart lurched violently. He snapped his head up, but Her Majesty’s gaze seemed to be directed at him, or perhaps past him at those behind. Tian Fen had already guessed what Her Majesty intended to announce. He wanted to stop it, yet under that imperial gaze, he momentarily lost his nerve. Instead, it was the Minister of Agriculture behind him who stepped forth: “Your subject has a matter to submit! This subject believes that if the Duke of Ying has committed such a heinous crime, the establishment of the Empress must be carefully reconsidered.”

Fu Ping’an looked at him with surprise and said, “Did you not hear the Chancellor’s words, dear minister? The so-called treason is likely a frame-up. The Duke of Ying is out shedding blood for Zhen, for the nation. If I conduct a treason investigation back here, would that not wound the heart of a loyal general? Moreover, the very attempt to frame him could easily be a Ghost Barbarian plot. Given this, it is precisely here in the rear that Zhen should reassure the Duke of Ying’s heart.”

Having finished, she glanced at Wang Ji and smiled. “Fortunately, Zhen has already made a fine decision. Minister Wang…”

Wang Ji hurriedly stepped forth, her hands trembling.

Even she could see that Her Majesty was insisting on pushing ahead.

Wang Ji and the Emperor had worked together for many years. She understood her. Though the Emperor was calm the vast majority of the time, there were moments when she would suddenly act on impulse—particularly when overcome with anger.

Right now, the Emperor was undoubtedly furious.

Wang Ji fought to control the trembling in her body. She thought of the sleepless nights she’d endured, the ancient tomes she had pored over to compose this decree. But most of all, she recalled the Emperor, weary yet still diligently handling state affairs.

The Classics and Histories had taught her that subjects all yearn for a wise ruler. But why was it that upon truly encountering one, these courtiers failed to cherish her?

Wang Ji unfurled the decree and spoke with crisp finality:

“…By the edict of the Emperor: Zhen, ever mindful of the precious Mandate, continues the grand designs of the ancestors… The daughter of the Grand Commandant and Duke of Ying, Luo Xiang, named Luo Zhi, is virtuous and talented in equal measure, harboring brilliance within… She is hereby specially designated as Empress of the Central Palace. An auspicious day shall be chosen for the wedding.”

It had been far too sudden. Before the ministers could react, Wang Ji had already begun reading. Once the recitation had started, there was naturally no interrupting it—for would that not be contempt for Her Majesty and a disruption of the Imperial Court?

Thus, the ministers could only watch helplessly as the decree was read to completion, their faces a collective portrait of utter bewilderment.

You can do that?!

A beat of stunned silence. Just as the ministers seemed on the verge of reacting, Fu Ping’an stood. “Court is dismissed.”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty—”

“Your Majesty, please stay!”

Fu Ping’an ignored every voice that called out to her. But the contents of that decree swiftly swept through the court, and then through every main street and little alley.

“How could Her Majesty act so absurdly?” At the Tian Residence, Shangguan Ming, Minister of Agriculture, paced back and forth in the reception hall, his face a mask of disbelief. “Could that girl from the Luo family have slipped Her Majesty some kind of love potion during that palace banquet? Why this unshakeable insistence on her?”

Tian Fen, however, remarked, “It is precisely because there was no love potion involved that she is the only choice. The military commander Her Majesty trusts most right now is Luo Xiang. Given her guard against the Prince Regent, she naturally feels closer to the Duke of Ying. Bestowing the position of Empress upon the Duke of Ying’s daughter is a logical outcome. Besides, I’ve heard that both Chancellor Chen and Grand Tutor Fan had previously expressed their preference for Luo Zhi.”

Shangguan Ming fumed, “And she won’t even glance at the candidates we submitted? Does Her Majesty blindly trust only people like Chen Songru and a few ignorant children, intending to discard us old retainers entirely?”

After saying this, he paused abruptly and glanced at Tian Fen.

Among those “ignorant children” was Tian Fen’s own grandniece, Tian Anzhi. Because the official dispatched to Mobei to investigate Luo Xiang’s killing of Lu Jingshan was none other than Tian Anzhi, newly appointed as Inspector.

Tian Fen pretended not to notice the implication. He merely said, “Perhaps we recommended too many candidates and ended up confusing Her Majesty.”

Shangguan Ming nodded. “Indeed. Why didn’t we realize that earlier? …Speaking of which, this sudden, hurried rush to establish an Empress is suspicious in itself. It looks as though it was prompted by the decision to go pray at Qianliang Mountain. Why would Her Majesty suddenly think of going to pray?”

Tian Fen replied, “It’s late. Brother Shangguan should return home.”

Shangguan Ming clearly discerned the dismissal and could see Tian Fen was now wavering. Yet before leaving, he couldn’t resist adding: “The undercurrents of discontent among the officials ultimately circle back to Her Majesty. Though Her Majesty has now reached adulthood, her physical condition remains a cause for concern. Minister Tian must not allow temporary imperial preferences to blind you from the long-term strategy.”

Tian Fen fixed his eyes on Shangguan Ming. So, he’s finally voiced his true intention.

The great aristocratic clans… had begun to see Her Majesty as a threat.

Though the Emperor had worked hard to maintain balance—every time she promoted someone from a humble background, she ensured the aristocratic families also received various opportunities. For example, in the expansion of the Imperial Academy, the children of great houses were allotted more slots. It was simply that they disdained certain specialized subjects, inadvertently leaving openings that those from humble backgrounds, and even alchemists, had seized.

This strategy had fooled some at first. Now, more and more people realized: Her Majesty is boiling the frog slowly.

Her Majesty was truly too astute. But not everyone believed the Child of Heaven should be so astute.

And then, of course, there was the matter of Her Majesty’s unshakeable poor health.

Thinking of this, Tian Fen let out a heavy sigh as he watched Shangguan Ming’s figure retreat into the distance.

In truth, this was the most vexing dilemma of all: Her Majesty’s health. Whispers from the palace suggested that the Emperor had reached adulthood without any sign of First Bonding.

Previously, the promise of potential heirs had been a decisive advantage the Emperor held over the Prince Regent. Now, it had become the Emperor’s shackles…

The decree establishing the Empress arrived at the Duke of Ying Manor with immediate priority.

Considering that the Duke himself was far away on the frontier, the Emperor had thoughtfully dispatched a Palace Servant Chief to deliver the edict, thus allowing seamless entry into the inner residence. And so, Luo Qionghua knelt alongside her mother on the floor and received the imperial decree.

In a state of absolute, jaw-dropped shock.

Just one hour earlier, the Duke of Ying’s close friend, Chen Songru, had sent a rider at full gallop, informing Chang Min of everything that had transpired during the Morning Court: how the great aristocratic families had rallied officials to accuse the Duke of Ying of treason before Her Majesty. When Chang Min heard this, the blood drained from her face, and she nearly collapsed in a faint.

This was the crime of treason.

A crime punishable by the extermination of nine familial lines.

Though she and the Duke of Ying had long feared something like this might happen, facing the reality of it was something no ordinary person could easily accept.

Then, when she heard the frontier messenger declare that the Duke of Ying had executed a border general, her vision went black. She truly did faint for a few moments.

Her steward had pressed on her philtrum to revive her. When she came to, she found Luo Qionghua already there, clasping her hand and saying with anxious certainty, “The Emperor will never believe something like this.”

Chang Min was heartbroken by her daughter’s naivety. “How can you be so naive? The Prince Regent herself is the Emperor’s own aunt, and even she was reduced to this state because of such accusations. Do you think we’d fare any better?”

She thought of that Jade Scepter and was filled with bitter regret. “I should have stood my ground from the beginning. I should never have let you vie for the position of Empress… It’s all over now… utterly over…”

Nearby, the servant sent by Chen Songru had been struggling to get a word in edgewise. At this moment, she finally cut through Chang Min’s lament: “Madam, if you’d let me finish! Something else happened after that…”

Before the servant could continue, a household servant came running in panic: “An imperial decree has arrived from the palace!”

Chang Min’s eyes widened in terror. “A decree for the confiscation of property? So quickly? Is there no investigation at all?”

Chen Songru’s servant burst out, “No, Madam! It’s the decree to establish the Empress! I was just about to tell you! Her Majesty defied the objections of all the ministers and insisted on reading the decree of investiture aloud. Young Miss Luo is now, unshakably, the mother of the nation!”

Chang Min stared in disbelief. “Truly?”

The household servant urged them: “Madam, please change into ceremonial attire quickly! The palace envoy is already waiting—and it’s good news! It’s the Chief Palace Servant, and she’s smiling!”

Chang Min rushed with Luo Qionghua to don formal robes and then went to receive the decree. The edict was read aloud: every character made sense, but strung together, they seemed to lose all meaning. It wasn’t until the imperial edict was placed into Luo Qionghua’s hands that Chang Min truly believed it—if this weren’t the establishment of an Empress, it wouldn’t be given to her daughter.

The moment the Chief Palace Servant departed, Chang Min grabbed Luo Qionghua’s hand, her voice thick with emotion: “Her Majesty truly didn’t believe it?”

Luo Qionghua declared, “I knew Her Majesty wouldn’t believe it.”

Gradually recovering her composure, Chang Min’s expression was deeply complicated. “Such immense imperial grace… how can we ever repay this?”