TGPSAC – Chapter 121

During the court session, many officials stepped forward. They had but one goal: to have the Imperial Grandson ascend the throne soon.

Just then, Duan Yun, who had been promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guard, walked in from outside. “Your Highness, Wang Hai has returned.”

Wang Hai?

Head Eunuch Wang!!!

“Wang Hai? Isn’t he dead?”

“He’s not dead. They say he escaped. The false emperor sent many people to hunt him down. I can’t believe he made it back.”

“Why would the false emperor hunt him? Does he have something important?”

Some seemed to know a few inside details, while others were completely in the dark. The civil and military officials in the hall began to discuss in low voices, shocked that Wang Hai could have returned.

The court assembly was a solemn affair that required silence. There were officials specifically in charge of court etiquette who would have offenders dragged out by the Palace Command for caning.

But no one stepped forward to say anything. Even Yu Jiuzhou, seated on the throne, allowed the officials’ discussions to continue.

Chi Wan stood to the side with her eyes lowered, not making a sound.

Gao Zheng had, at some point, sidled up to her and deliberately lowered his voice. “When did Wang Hai return?”

Clearly, Gao Zheng did not believe that Wang Hai could have approached the capital without the Grand Princess discovering him.

This meant that the Grand Princess wanted precisely this effect—the impact of Wang Hai’s sudden return on the officials.

Chi Wan glanced at him. “Does Lord Grand Secretary Gao not know?”

Gao Zheng froze. He met Chi Wan’s gaze, and in that moment, they both smiled. It had the air of an old fox and a young fox sizing each other up.

Gao Zheng wasn’t really asking for information; he just wanted confirmation. Chi Wan’s attitude was more than enough to tell him everything.

Sometimes, words did not need to be too direct. A mutual understanding was sufficient.

The discussions in the hall had not yet ceased. As the news spread, many began to understand the situation.

“Wang Hai has the late Emperor’s final edict. Its contents will surely overturn the edict in the false emperor’s hands.”

“I heard it’s a blood-written letter, an edict written in the late Emperor’s own blood. One can only imagine what kind of treatment the late Emperor suffered at the hands of the false emperor.”

“A treacherous minister, a traitorous villain!!!”

“When the lord is shamed, the subject dies. The late Emperor suffered such humiliation. If we do not avenge him, what face do we have to continue living in this world?”

“We swear to make the rebel pay! If we do not kill the traitor, we subjects are unwilling to live on!”

The officials were impassioned, looking as if they wanted to kill Prince Bao’an right then and there.

This was something the scholar-officials held fast to. It wasn’t that they were bad people; it was just that even in their absolute self-interest, there were still some principles they upheld.

Of course, there was also a large portion who would be the first to surrender if Prince Bao’an were to invade. Many were making their stance known at this moment not because they truly felt this way, but for the sake of making a statement.

Could they remain indifferent when their sovereign had suffered such humiliation?

If they truly did nothing, they would be finished if the Grand Princess took note of it.

Few who could stand in the court assembly were fools.

But that didn’t matter. As long as they declared their stance, it was enough. Once an attitude was expressed, it was difficult to take it back.

Listening to the various voices around her clamoring to kill Prince Bao’an, some sounded as if they wished they could march onto the battlefield themselves.

Chi Wan raised her eyes to look at Yu Jiuzhou above, but her words were directed at Gao Zheng beside her. “Lord Grand Secretary Gao, do you think Her Highness could become Emperor?”

“Of course… what?”

Gao Zheng’s body went rigid. Although he had long suspected it, actually hearing such words felt like being struck by lightning.

“Summon Wang Hai to the hall.”

“Summon Wang Hai…”

The call echoed through the hall, and only then did Gao Zheng seem to awaken from his shock and return to his position.

If that was the case, why did the Fuma tell him? No, it was the Prince of Qin Yu. Today, the Fuma was attending court in her capacity as the Prince of Qin Yu.

A Grand Princess and a Prince. What were they planning?

The Grand Princess ascending the throne? Then what about the Imperial Grandson? Wouldn’t she be snatching the throne from her own child?

No, that wasn’t right. The Imperial Grandson was too young. If some accident were to happen, wouldn’t the throne be vacant again? Without the late Emperor to establish another Imperial Grandson, even if the Grand Princess had another child, that child could not inherit the throne.

At that point, a successor would have to be chosen from the imperial clan, and Great Zhou would likely descend into the chaos of a succession struggle once more.

But if the Grand Princess became Emperor, it would be different. Any of her children would be qualified to be Emperor. If one was not suitable, another could be chosen. The throne would be kept firmly in her family’s hands. At least until her children grew up, Great Zhou would not fall into another fight for the throne.

A succession struggle was immensely draining for Great Zhou, something it couldn’t recover from in a year or two. If the previous struggle between the three princes were to happen again, Great Zhou might truly be finished.

The Grand Princess as Emperor could guarantee at least twenty years of peace for Great Zhou. More importantly, it could also guarantee twenty years of prosperity for his Gao family.

In the days since the Grand Princess had taken full control, the world had witnessed her every action. If she were not a Kun Ze, but a Qian Yuan, Great Zhou might never have gone through all this.

But she was a Kun Ze, a princess. And so… the Fuma had told him this news.

It seemed he was destined to be the one to stick his neck out.

Gao Zheng understood. He lowered his head, hiding his expression, feigning disinterest in the chaos of the court.

The court only gradually quieted down when Wang Hai entered.

Wang Hai was filthy from head to toe, his clothes tattered and torn, with not a single spot intact. His hands were raw and bloody, and a huge scar ran across his face. It was clear that he had suffered greatly and faced many life-and-death situations on his journey.

Wang Hai staggered into the great hall. After just a few steps, he fell to his knees and crawled forward rapidly, crying out, “Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant was incompetent! I failed to protect His Majesty and allowed him to be murdered by that traitor, Prince Bao’an!”

He dropped a bombshell right from the start, capturing everyone’s full attention.

The crowd’s gazes were already fixed on him, but now they pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word he said.

Someone spoke up, asking, “Quickly, tell us what happened.”

“His Majesty passed away. How did you manage to escape?”

“Insolence! Is this the time to be questioning Head Eunuch Wang?”

Chi Wan had anticipated that someone would raise questions. She simply committed the person’s face to memory.

They had people planted in Prince Bao’an’s camp, so it was certain that he had people planted in theirs as well.

But Prince Bao’an definitely had fewer people left here than they did.

Chi Wan was a woman with the script. In it, Prince Bao’an was the protagonist, which meant she knew everything that had happened before his rebirth. Moreover, any name written down in the novel could be considered highlighted.

She knew who Prince Bao’an valued and trusted, which was like having a list. Outside of this list, Prince Bao’an had almost no one he could use.

She also had a rough idea of the people Prince Bao’an had cultivated after his rebirth.

By that time, the Embroidered-Robe Guard had been established, and its agents had already infiltrated many places. Her intelligence network was already cast wide. Even without the script, she was not flying blind.

Fortunately, not many in the court questioned Wang Hai. Everyone wanted to know what had happened at the imperial villa in Jiangning.

Wang Hai paid no mind to the officials in the hall. He sobbed, “This servant should have followed His Majesty in death, but His Majesty ordered me to bring something to Your Highness. This servant could only cling to life until now. Thanks to His Majesty’s blessing, I was able to return to the capital and see Your Highness.”

Hearing these words, the crowd stared intently at Wang Hai, wanting to see what this item was.

The real final edict? Or something else?

The late Emperor had already left the Imperial Seal with Her Highness the Grand Princess. He likely had nothing else he could hide on his person. What could it be that would make Wang Hai risk everything to bring it back?

Yu Jiuzhou, who had been silent for a long time, finally asked, “What did the late Emperor have you bring back?”

Trembling, Wang Hai tore open the inner lining of his clothes in front of everyone. With a rip of fabric, a corner of the object inside was revealed.

He took the item out. The crowd could see it clearly now; it appeared to be a blood-written document.

A blood-written document?

So it was true. The news was correct. What Wang Hai held was the final edict written in Emperor Shengyuan’s own blood.

What had been mere speculation was now thoroughly proven as he held the item in his hand.

Holding the edict, Wang Hai stood up, his demeanor changing. He seemed to once again become that Head Eunuch Wang who looked down on everyone except His Majesty, the Empress, and the Grand Princess.

He opened the blood-written document and announced in a loud voice, “The final edict of the Emperor of Great Zhou.”

The officials knelt in unison. Yu Jiuzhou also rose from her chair and slowly knelt on the ground. Chi Wan, naturally, was no exception.

This was a sign of respect for the dead, and besides, they already knew the contents of the edict.

“We, who have received the Mandate of Heaven…”

The edict’s contents seemed brief, with many of the opening pleasantries omitted, suggesting the urgency of the situation at the time.

“Prince Bao’an, Yu Yichen, is a treacherous minister and a rebel.”

This sentence proved that Prince Bao’an was no good, certified by the late Emperor himself.

What came next was the main point—the final edict, which was also a decree of succession.

Guiyi was the officially invested Imperial Grandson and could inherit the throne even without a decree, but it would be missing a step in the process.

Everyone knew the Emperor was in Jiangning. Even if the Grand Princess produced a decree of succession, everyone would know it was a fake.

It would be easy for someone to make an issue of it, especially the false emperor in Jiangning.

But what Wang Hai held was the genuine decree. With this, the Imperial Grandson could ascend the throne immediately.

Wang Hai looked at the edict, his tone growing lofty. “We mistakenly trusted a villain and have come to this end. We hope Wang Hai brings back this edict to convey Our wish. The Imperial Grandson, Yu Chengzhao, is still young…”

Hearing this, the hearts of the civil and military officials skipped a beat. What did this mean? The Emperor didn’t want to enthrone the Imperial Grandson? Was the succession changing?

Who could it be? The Prince of Shunchéng?

After all, the edict had branded Prince Bao’an, Yu Yichen, a traitor, so the throne certainly wouldn’t go to him. After thinking it over, the only candidate left was the Prince of Shunchéng.

The officials couldn’t help but steal glances at Her Highness the Grand Princess. If she had known this, would she still have allowed Wang Hai into the hall?

They figured the Grand Princess must have thought the Imperial Grandson’s ascension was a certainty, which was why she had summoned Wang Hai without hesitation.

It made sense. Back then, the late Emperor thought he still had more than a decade to live, so he established an Imperial Grandson whom he could personally groom. But now that he knew he only had days to live, with a young ruler, the state would be in doubt. A dignified emperor passing the throne to an infant who was barely a month old at the time would have no face to meet his ancestors.

Yu Jiuzhou’s expression remained unchanged. She simply listened quietly.

In the next second, Wang Hai uttered a part of the edict that shocked all the civil and military officials. “Today, We pass the great lineage to the Grand Princess of Qin, Yu Jiuzhou. We hope that you, Our ministers, will work together to assist her…”

Who? The Grand Princess Yu Jiuzhou?

Was this madness? A Kun Ze could become Emperor?

Many were filled with questions. Just as they were about to voice their opposition, they saw Gao Zheng walk to the center of the hall. “This subject respectfully obeys the sacred edict. I humbly request Her Highness the Grand Princess to ascend the throne as Emperor.”

He didn’t even look for a reason, nor did he mention how the Imperial Grandson was too young to be Emperor. He merely expressed his stance.

The old fox was still very clever. If he were to say something about the Imperial Grandson being too young, he would be slapping his own face from before, and even the faces of the Grand Princess and the Fuma. So he offered no reason, only unwavering support.

Chi Wan followed immediately after. “This subject seconds the motion. I humbly request Her Highness the Grand Princess to ascend the throne as Emperor.”

One was the Grand Secretary, the other the Fuma, a newly ennobled Prince with real power and a prestigious title.

With these two in agreement, should they also agree?

No, they would never compromise!

Just as the dissenters were about to speak, they witnessed a shocking scene. A portion of the officials in the hall knelt and proclaimed, “We subjects respectfully obey the late Emperor’s edict and jointly request Her Highness the Grand Princess to ascend the throne as Emperor.”

Seeing this, another group of people knelt. This group’s voices were a little softer; they had clearly seen the first group kneel and, worried they would be marked for not kneeling, followed suit.

The first group was understandable; they were Her Highness the Grand Princess’s people, waiting for her to take the throne so they could be promoted. The second group were fence-sitters. Never mind the Grand Princess, if the false emperor came, they would kneel and bow just the same.

And then there were those who were inflexible, who would never allow a Kun Ze to be Emperor.

“Your Highness, the authenticity of this edict has not yet been verified. This subject requests a thorough investigation into its veracity.”

“We subjects second the motion.”

This court session was a rather large one. All officials in the capital of the fifth rank and above, as well as visiting officials from the provinces of the third rank and above, were present. This naturally included the nobles in the capital and officials from various agencies, numbering over a thousand people in total.

Among them, more than three hundred seconded the motion to verify the edict’s authenticity. They were using the excuse of verifying the edict to oppose Yu Jiuzhou’s ascension.

Chi Wan narrowed her eyes, looking at the man in the lead. Her tone was icy. “If the edict is proven to be genuine, will you then obey it?”

Her question stunned them into silence. They dared not answer.

Because even if the edict was real, they did not want a Kun Ze to ascend the throne.

A princess was a princess. Even a Grand Princess with absolute power was still just a princess. How could she ascend the throne as Emperor?

An elderly man with a graying beard stepped out from among them. “The Grand Princess is a model for all Kun Ze in the realm. With sacred virtue, you oversee the court. You should be magnanimous and righteous. It is not proper for you to become Emperor, lest you appear selfish.”

What did he mean? He was saying that because Yu Jiuzhou was a Kun Ze, she should set an example for all Kun Ze in the world.

And what did they think a Kun Ze should be? A virtuous wife and good mother? Obey her father before marriage, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband’s death?

He also felt that since Yu Jiuzhou was already the Regent Grand Princess, she should be grateful and not act like a scheming villain, eyeing the throne. Otherwise, she would be selfish.

Absurd! Utterly absurd!

Chi Wan took a step forward. “This Prince is asking you: if the edict is proven to be genuine, will you then obey it?”

Her gaze was cold, and many lowered their heads under her stare.

By referring to herself as “This Prince,” she was no longer speaking as the Fuma. As the Fuma, there were some things she could not conveniently say for Yu Jiuzhou. But as a Prince, she was the most honored person in the court after Yu Jiuzhou. Her words carried the weight of many.

At this moment, the Prince of Shunchéng also stepped forward. “This subject respectfully obeys the late Emperor’s edict and humbly requests Her Highness the Grand Princess to become Emperor.”

One was a prince of the imperial clan, the other a prince of a different surname who was also the Fuma, and then there was the Grand Secretary.

As the officials were weighing their options, old Prince Kang also declared loudly, “This subject humbly requests Her Highness the Grand Princess to become Emperor.”

This meant that several of the most powerful figures in Great Zhou all supported the Grand Princess becoming Emperor.

Old Prince Kang represented the authoritative faction of the imperial clan, while the Prince of Shunchéng represented the new generation. This meant the entire imperial clan of Great Zhou had agreed to the Grand Princess becoming Emperor.

The Grand Secretary’s agreement represented the agreement of more than half the civil officials.

As for Chi Wan, she currently commanded the capital garrisons and the Imperial City Division, holding the capital’s lifeline in her hands. It could be said that if she disregarded Her Highness the Grand Princess and her own reputation, she could kill most of the people in the capital at will.

There was another point: she had won a war that the entire court of civil and military officials had not dared to fight. She had intercepted the Beining army that had invaded Great Zhou and was about to reach the capital’s gates, and had driven them out. It could be said that she was now the foremost military official.

Even if the Marquis of Pingliang and Xu Chenlu were to return, they would not be able to outshine the Fuma’s brilliance.

After this battle, the Fuma was subtly becoming the God of War of Great Zhou. The Marquis of Pingliang had won many victories, but none as great as this one.

Unless the Duke of Xu returned. But the Duke of Xu was Her Highness the Grand Princess’s maternal grandfather. Would he not support her?

Those who had tried to object fell silent. Did they even have the right to object anymore?

After a moment of thought, the gray-bearded old man found a way to save face. “As long as the edict can be proven genuine, we will respectfully obey the late Emperor’s will.”

That was all that was needed.

Chi Wan took the edict from Wang Hai’s hand and placed it in the old man’s. “See for yourselves.”

This…

This was the late Emperor’s final edict, written in blood. Whose hands wouldn’t tremble?

The calligraphy belonged to Emperor Shengyuan. The old man had once tutored Emperor Shengyuan and was naturally familiar with his handwriting. It was also stamped with a small seal.

He immediately looked up and asked, “Where is His Majesty’s small seal?”

Wang Hai wept softly. “His Majesty worried the small seal would fall into the hands of the traitor, so he smashed it then and there. But His Majesty had me bring this.”

He produced another item: the key to the inner treasury of the Shaofu.

The Shaofu was divided into an inner and outer treasury. The inner treasury managed the emperor’s private funds. There were two keys; one was held by Wang Hai, the other by Emperor Shengyuan.

Only when both keys were used together could the Emperor’s private funds be accessed.

Given Emperor Shengyuan’s greedy nature, the fact that he would entrust the key to the inner treasury to Wang Hai was enough to convince the crowd that the edict was genuine.

The edict was, of course, genuine. Neither Chi Wan nor Yu Jiuzhou had lied.

Wang Hai had induced Emperor Shengyuan to write the edict. The reason Emperor Shengyuan had agreed was, in fact, a final act of madness before death.

Emperor Shengyuan only wanted to spite Prince Bao’an and cause trouble for him. He wanted to tell Prince Bao’an that he would rather pass the throne to a princess than give it to him.

And so, Emperor Shengyuan wrote the final edict.

With the help of the Palace Command and the Embroidered-Robe Guard, Wang Hai escaped from Jiangning, bringing the edict with him.

If Wang Hai hadn’t suggested writing it in blood, and offered to use his own blood instead, Emperor Shengyuan would never have been willing to use his own.

Wang Hai had performed a great service. Not only did he get Emperor Shengyuan to write the edict, but he also brought it back.

Yu Jiuzhou would certainly reward his merit.

She swept her cold gaze over the crowd, her tone devoid of emotion. “Wang Hai has rendered great service in escorting the late Emperor’s final edict and effects. Ennoble him as an Earl. His niece may be adopted to inherit his title.”

A eunuch being granted a noble title?

Many wanted to object, but feeling the chill emanating from Her Highness the Grand Princess, they held their tongues.

Wang Hai kowtowed excitedly. For a eunuch, what he desired most was power and a legacy. Now he had both, and a noble title at that. How could he not be thrilled?

This act also showed everyone that Her Highness the Grand Princess was clear in her rewards and punishments. She was never stingy with those who followed her.

Some had already been supporters, some had gotten the answer they wanted, and others knew they could no longer object.

In an instant, everyone knelt, seemingly in unison. “We subjects humbly request Her Highness the Grand Princess to ascend the throne as Emperor.”

Those who had opposed did not speak. It didn’t matter. Silence was enough, as long as it wasn’t opposition.

Yu Jiuzhou looked down at Chi Wan, her tone still calm. “I have just heard the final edict, and now all you ministers have nominated me. I am truly filled with trepidation…”

Yu Jiuzhou was not refusing. This was a standard procedure. Only after three refusals and three entreaties could one formally take the throne.

This was an important ceremony in an emperor’s succession, a way of demonstrating one’s attitude.

After the court session ended, Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou sat together in the carriage returning to the Princess’s Residence. They exchanged a look and suddenly burst into laughter.

Everything that happened today had been arranged by Chi Wan. When she learned that Wang Hai had been back for some time, just hidden away by Yu Jiuzhou, she had come up with this idea.

Bring everything out into the open. She believed that as long as old Prince Kang, Gao Zheng, and the Prince of Shunchéng all gave their support, the matter would be basically settled.

Besides, there were quite a few of Yu Jiuzhou’s people in the court, and they were eager for her to become Emperor.

Although they might have also felt deep down that a Kun Ze could not be Emperor, when they calculated everything, only with Yu Jiuzhou becoming the Kun Ze Empress would their interests be served.

As for Yu Jiuzhou’s staunchest loyalists, they would certainly support her becoming Emperor.

As for the rest, whatever their reasons for supporting her, their support was all that mattered.

Chi Wan smiled and lay down in Yu Jiuzhou’s arms. “Your Highness, how was my performance today?”

Yu Jiuzhou gently stroked Chi Wan’s hair. Hearing her question, the corners of her lips curved up slightly. “Not bad.”

“Just not bad?”

“Very good.”

Yu Jiuzhou dotingly complied, letting Chi Wan squirm on her lap for a moment.

“Then how does Your Highness plan to reward me?”

Like a kindergarten child who had behaved well and wanted a sticker from the teacher, Chi Wan smilingly asked for her reward.

Yu Jiuzhou raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?”

A title? Money? Or something else.

She felt that Chi Wan was definitely not someone who would ask for the first two.

As expected, Chi Wan got up and pressed herself on top of Yu Jiuzhou. “Your Highness, I’m hungry.”

Yu Jiuzhou: “…”

Sometimes she didn’t know if she was feeding a child or feeding Chi Wan.

Obviously, Chi Wan was not the type to fight with a child for food. She knew where to draw the line.

Yu Jiuzhou could not refuse Chi Wan. The carriage was large enough, and stable enough.

By the time the carriage arrived outside the Princess’s Residence, the two were already drinking tea, and they disembarked with perfect composure.

That is, if one ignored the flush on Yu Jiuzhou’s face.

Chi Wan held a bunch of grapes in her hand, eating them leisurely, a satisfied smile on her lips. “The grapes are delicious.”

Yu Jiuzhou’s steps faltered for a moment. She pretended not to have heard anything and continued walking forward, but it was obvious that her gait had become unsteady.

Her reaction made Chi Wan unable to hold back her laughter. Perhaps no one but Yu Jiuzhou knew what she was laughing about.

Chi Wan quickened her pace to catch up. As if by magic, a red rose appeared in her hand. She held the flower in front of Yu Jiuzhou. “Your Highness, to celebrate our perfect coordination.”

However, Yu Jiuzhou walked away without a backward glance, not even sparing a look at the flower in her hand.

She fumed inwardly: Using a flower as a metaphor again!

---

Get instant access to all chapters now.