Chapter 1518 - 1520: How Can a Mere Woman be Ennobled as King_1
In the end, vexed and furious, the Ye Family lost the throne and even made the Luo Family lose face in front of the Emperor. Was this affair worth it?
"Your Majesty," the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue spoke out again, "I find Grand Dowager Luo’s words quite reasonable."
The Lord Prime Minister’s heart stirred slightly. By now, he had also figured out what the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue meant and thus, joined in, "I too, endorse the words of Grand Dowager Luo."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Luo’s face instantly filled with satisfaction. Who would have thought that little wretched thing would have this merit? Dead for so many years and still restless, carrying the surname of the Luo Family, she should have accumulated merit for the Luo Family. Otherwise, wouldn’t it have been a waste to have raised her all those years?
"Your Majesty, this consort has something to say."
Yang Chuxia also knelt and moved forward from one side.
Seeing it was her, the Emperor’s previously inscrutable expression softened considerably, "Madam Ye, what would you like to say?"
"Your Majesty," she replied, "this consort wishes to say Madam Luo is correct. My mother-in-law carried the blood of the Luo Family. In life, she called Madam Luo ’legitimate mother,’ and this merit should rightfully belong to Madam Luo. Moreover, if my mother-in-law were alive, my husband would also call Madam Luo ’legitimate grandmother.’ Following this relationship, my husband’s merits could also be counted towards Madam Luo’s account. Since Madam Luo was originally not pleased with the enfeoffment of the young son as king, then we of the Ye Family, as the juniors, should rightly yield, not compete with Madam Luo for merit, preventing Your Majesty from being put in a difficult position in between, sparing the ministers from worrying over this and affecting their New Year’s Eve dinner. Hence, this consort implores Your Majesty to retract the imperial decree and bestow the kingship to Madam Luo!"
Yang Chuxia’s remarks left everyone looking at each other in dismay.
First, there was Madam Luo, utterly baffled, for she wanted to earn the merits for her own sons and grandsons, but how had it turned into making her a king? What a joke! How could she, a mere woman, be made into a king? Wouldn’t that cause chaos to courtly order?
As for the court officials, Yang Chuxia’s words implied that they were meddling and bothering themselves over trivial matters.
As for the Emperor, after hearing this speech, the look he gave Madam Luo turned pitch black.
He immediately berated, "Preposterous! All of you have lost your senses! How could a lone woman be made into a king? Was it not your mother-in-law, was it not your husband who saved my life? How can this merit be shirked? Let there be no further discussion on this matter; can an imperial edict be changed at whim? Absurd! And you, Madam Luo, are not young anymore. You should be enjoying your later years in peace. The younger generation’s business requires less of your concern; those with a contented heart are the ones who live a hundred years."
Having said this, the Emperor turned on his heel and left.
And because of the Emperor’s words, Madam Luo’s face instantly turned the color of liver.
Locked in an invisible clash with Yang Chuxia from across the distance, Yang Chuxia tugged at the corner of her mouth, an unmistakable disdain in her eyes. If it were not for their presence in the main hall, she could have very well charged over.
Yang Chuxia was utterly indifferent to her scornful gaze. Dream on if she thought to snatch her son’s throne!
That throne, though not much to boast about, was still not someone else’s to grab. And that old witch, having harmed her mother-in-law, now wanted to take her mother-in-law’s merit; what nerve.
After the Emperor left and the matter of the kingship was settled, the ministers who had been in disarray all night finally remembered to come and offer their congratulations to the princes and Lele.
One after another, for reasons they themselves might not fully understand, they approached with two cups of wine. Regardless of whether Lele was just a child, they not only insisted on toasting but also on making him drink.
Ye Zi’an was displeased. Were these people blind?
Yangyang was even more protective, standing in front of Lele and outright protesting, "My brother is just a boy; he cannot drink wine. Even the Emperor doesn’t allow him to drink."