Chapter 399
As soon as these words were spoken, the palace servants waiting in the hall were so frightened that they knelt all over the floor.
Chu Ruoyan also reached out and rubbed her temples.
Was he joking? The imperial throne was supreme, and there could only ever be one person standing in that position.
If she really appeared at the enthronement ceremony, never mind others, just those pen-pushers in the Censorate would risk their lives to impeach her for the crime of a hen crowing in the morning, usurping male authority.
This was much more serious than giving her an honorary title!
She pursed her lips and pretended not to hear him, but Yan Zheng continued on his own, In my life, there are only two people who matter most. One is already dead, and I couldn't even retrieve his body. Therefore, I absolutely cannot afford to lose the other.
Saying this, he took her hand and gazed deeply at her, A-Yan, stay with me, alright?
His ink-black eyes were filled with affection. Chu Ruoyan's heart softened. She raised her head and moved closer to the corner of his lips, Yan Zheng, I will stay with you, but not on this day.
The man frowned in dissatisfaction, but then saw the little lady leaning in closer, reaching his ear to whisper a few words.
His furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and finally, he looked at her with a hint of a smile, A-Yan, you said it yourself.
Chu Ruoyan's face grew hot. She stood up and shot him a playful glare, I said it. So, Your Majesty the Emperor, please go quickly!
Yan Zheng laughed loudly and stood up, seemingly pleased by this address of Your Majesty the Emperor. Before leaving, he deliberately added, When A-Yan calls me that, it always sounds more pleasing to the ear than from others, but I would still prefer to hear you say it at night...
Chu Ruoyan's small face turned bright red. She grabbed a soft pillow at hand and threw it at him.
Bang!
Unfortunately, the rascal slipped away fast, and it only hit the door.
The palace servants in the hall cowered even more, seemingly completely unprepared for the Empress to be so bold as to raise a hand against the Emperor.
Nanny Zhou was used to it. She smiled and handed over the morning tea, What did Your Grace just say to the Emperor to make him change his mind so quickly?
Chu Ruoyan touched her burning cheeks, What else could I say? I just coaxed him by saying I'll accompany him for more than just this one day, and that I've accepted the Zhao Yan honorary title he wanted to bestow, and...
Her voice paused, ultimately too embarrassed to continue talking about their intimate marital matters.
How could Nanny Zhou not guess? She smiled even more happily, Your Grace, this is a good thing. If the Emperor is not satiated by you, he won't go looking for other women. You must know that in this world, so many official wives have to take in concubines for their husbands' rooms while they are pregnant!
It would have been better not to mention this. Speaking of it, the young woman complained endlessly, Nanny, but I'm already several months along. How can I stand him tossing me about like this? How about, when my father returns, I go back to live at the Duke's estate?
Anyway, Yan Zheng always had to behave a bit more properly in front of her father.
Hearing this, Nanny Zhou quickly waved her hands, That won't do. How can an Empress not live in the palace? If Your Grace is truly in a difficult position, why not... She whispered something into Chu Ruoyan's ear, making the latter's eyes widen instantly, The old divine doctor even knows about this?
It is absolutely true! Lao Xu told this old servant. Back then, there was a wealthy merchant who was addicted to this aspect and wanted no one else but his favorite concubine. So, he brought his pregnant concubine to beg the old divine doctor for an abortion. The old divine doctor scolded him severely, and then taught him a few tricks, which was how the concubine's child was saved.
Chu Ruoyan was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, Heiya, go invite the old gentleman into the palace tomorrow. Just say I have important matters to consult him about!
After saying that, she realized something was wrong, Nanny, what the old divine doctor taught was for men, not women. This...
Oh my dear Empress, aren't these kinds of things mutual? Listen to this old servant, you can't go wrong!
Only then did Chu Ruoyan agree half-skeptically.
The sky was clear, the air was fresh, and a gentle breeze blew smoothly.
On the day of the enthronement, Yan Zheng set out from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, passed through the Duan Gate and Meridian Gate, and finally arrived in front of the Fengtian Hall.
After completing the tedious procedures of offering sacrifices to Heaven, following a shout of Kneel from an official of the Ministry of Rites.
All the officials knelt down with a rustling sound.
Just then, a line of soldiers walked up holding memorial tablets.
At the very front were the tablets of Great General Yan Xu and Heir Apparent Yan Xun, followed by the other young men of the Yan family, as well as the soldiers who died in the battle of Hangu Pass, including the generals of the Mei family who sacrificed their lives in the recent battle against the Southern Barbarians.
Most of the courtiers looked at each other in dismay, unable to understand why the Emperor brought out so many memorial tablets during such a solemn enthronement ceremony.
They saw Yan Zheng stand up and slowly say, I am of military origin, and I deeply know that the stability of the people and the security of the nation all rely on the blood shed by our soldiers! Therefore, today, at the time of my enthronement, I invite these heroic spirits to bear witness. From now on, I will not fail Heaven above, nor the people below. I hope all my ministers will strive alongside me!!
As soon as these words fell, all the ministers' hearts were shaken.
This was to elevate the status of soldiers!
Whether it was the previous dynasty or the Great Sheng Dynasty before that, they all valued civil officials over military ones. It seemed the world was about to change from now on!
However, Cao Yang, standing at the very front, bowed first: Your Majesty is wise!
Seeing that he, the head of all officials, had spoken, the other ministers had no choice but to echo: Your Majesty is wise!
No matter what the ministers thought in their hearts, this action won tremendous praise among the common people.
The previous dynasty had done a terrible job in treating veteran soldiers, wounded soldiers, and their surviving dependents. Several government offices would pass the buck to each other, and there were even cases where the families of martyred soldiers ended up wandering the streets.
So, as soon as the new Emperor took the throne, he established new government offices, exempted soldiers from taxes, and also reduced corvee labor in several disaster-stricken areas... Once these various benevolent policies were issued, the people were overjoyed, and they took the opportunity to bitterly curse the previous emperor who only knew how to exterminate entire families.
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Yan Zheng handed over a drafted edict. Chu Ruoyan opened it and read: Confer the title of Prince Rui upon Murong Rui. Empress Pei is to move to Ningshou Palace and continue to enjoy the honors of an Empress as before... Eh, why is the Prince of Qin still here? You're keeping his royal title?
Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow, If I don't keep his title, what will happen to your second sister?
Chu Ruoyan chuckled, It's hard to say if my second sister and he even have a chance. Why do you seem so certain they can get back together?
Yan Zheng thought to himself, who has the free time to care about those two? He was merely worried that as long as her second sister remained unmarried, she, as the elder sister, would continue to worry.
If she worried, wouldn't he be the one to suffer?
However, these thoughts couldn't be spoken aloud. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek, A-Yan, since court is suspended today anyway, why don't we try Old Divine Doctor Qin's method again...
The little lady's eyes widened, Try again?
Ever since that improper old man taught him, this rascal had been pestering her for days.
At first, he knew how to restrain himself, doing it once every two days. But how long had it been before his true colors were revealed!
Yan Zheng spoke with perfect justification, How can practice make perfect if we don't try it more often?
Fortunately, Yin Shun gave a dry cough and walked in, Your Majesty, Your Grace, Duke Chu has returned...
Hearing about his father-in-law, Yan Zheng indeed restrained himself, but immediately after, he saw his sixth brother burst in, covered in blood: Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, hurry! Come out of the palace with me!!!