Тhе sоund оf сеremoniаl саnnоns mаrked the sucсеssion of thе Wei Kingdоm.
Guаn Zhi аnd Lingshu wаitеd аnxiouslу at the entrance оf Lоngxiаn Pаlасе. Lingshu bounсеd оn hеr tоes, muttеring excitеdlу, "I'm so thrillеd, so thrilled!"
"What аre yоu so thrilled аbоut?" Тhоugh еquаllу exсitеd, Guan Zhi fоrсеd himself tо aррear саlm to mаintain a man's сomposurе. "It's thе twо mastеrs who are аsсеnding the thrоnе аnd bеing сrоwned еmрress, nоt yоu."
"Even if it's nоt me, I'm still thrillеd!" Сlаsping hеr hаnds оvеr her heart, Lingshu's еyes sparkled. "Just imаgining the master аnd His Mаjestу stаnding side bу side, dressed in dragon robes and phoenix skirts, walking slowly toward us—my hands are trembling!"
The image she described flashed through Guan Zhi's mind, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Who could have imagined these two would reach this point today? Back when the hostage was imprisoned in Wu, how many sighed that Yin Chenbi would never ascend the throne? When the Guan family was executed, who could have foreseen Guan Qingyue escaping death? What lay between them was more than just mountains and rivers—there were the grudges of the previous generation and a sea of blood feud!
Had they been two slightly more stubborn or conflicted individuals, this harmonious and perfect outcome would never have come to pass. They had ten thousand reasons to make things difficult for each other, for themselves, and even drag those around them into the whirlpool, leaving no peace.
Fortunately, it was them.
"They're coming, they're coming!" a young eunuch outside called out. The palace servants hurried out. Guan Zhi snapped back to attention, tugged Lingshu's sleeve, and followed them outside to kneel.
The imperial carriage approached slowly. Servants lining both sides of the palace path bowed their heads and knelt. The carriage halted at the entrance of Longxian Palace. The chief eunuch led the chant, and the others followed: "We welcome His Majesty, ten thousand years, and Her Majesty the Empress, a thousand years."
"Enough," Yin Gezhi's voice was soft as he alighted from the carriage, frowning at them. "Why the formalities even at the bedchamber? All of you, disperse."
Guan Zhi and Lingshu were taken aback. Judging by his tone, had the two masters quarreled? Was His Majesty in a bad mood? How could this happen? They had just been crowned empress—how could they argue now?
As the servants dispersed, the two hurriedly looked up, only to see Yin Gezhi carefully lift someone out of the imperial carriage, cradling her in his arms as he strode toward the inner hall.
"Master?!" Lingshu was startled, forgetting all decorum as she rushed forward. "What happened to the master? Did she faint?"
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi whispered, "She was too excited last night and couldn't sleep. Today, she's exhausted—even the ceremonial cannons couldn't wake her. Let's not disturb her now; let her sleep properly."
Stunned, Lingshu froze in place.
The dragon robe swayed gently with each step, and the pearls on the phoenix crown shimmered softly. The attire was as magnificent and radiant as she had imagined. The two were not standing side by side, nor were they walking slowly, yet as she watched the new emperor's retreating figure, why did she feel even more thrilled? Her hands trembled uncontrollably, unable to calm down.
Grabbing Guan Zhi's sleeve beside her, Lingshu turned to look at him, countless emotions swirling in her eyes, choking back sobs.
Sighing, Guan Zhi reached out and patted her head. "I know how you feel."
Lingshu let out a wail and burst into tears.In the past, whenever she fell asleep at the table, her master would always carry her to bed and tuck her in. But she often fell asleep earlier than her master, so many times when her master slept at the table, she lacked the skill to even cover him with a blanket. For this, Lingshu had always felt deeply guilty.
Now, at last, there was someone who could cherish her master—someone who feared she might be cold, worried she might be tired, gently held her, and tucked her in so she could sleep peacefully... With tears welling in her eyes, Lingshu clasped her hands together, turned, and bowed deeply to the heavens outside.
Good and evil are repaid, cause and effect cycle—thank you, heavens, for your mercy!
The heavy phoenix robe was removed, and the phoenix crown on her head was taken off. Feng Yue, dazed and drowsy, felt her entire body relax and turned to burrow into the bedding!
Someone displeased stopped her, pressing a steaming hot cloth to her face, wiping away her heavy makeup bit by bit, from the corners of her eyes to her cheeks. As he wiped, he said sternly, "The imperial physician said this is bad for your health. Use it just this once, and don’t use it again in the future."
Who’s being so naggy? A bit impatient, Feng Yue frowned and said, "My body isn’t yours—why bother with me?"
The hand wiping her face paused, followed by a cold snort. Immediately, her face was scrubbed as if it were a washboard!
"Ouch!" She reached out to block him, opening her eyes angrily to glare at him. "What are you doing?"
Yin Gezhi looked down at her from above, his jaw tight and expression displeased. "My hand isn’t yours—why bother with me?"
Feng Yue: "..." How could this person be so unreasonable?
Torn between laughter and tears, and truly exhausted, she reached out and clung to his arm, pleading pitifully, "I just want to sleep..."
Her soft, pleading voice sounded quite aggrieved. Yin Gezhi’s expression softened instantly. He removed the still-tightened waistband, allowing her to lie down comfortably. Then he stood up, glancing at her with disdain. "Only you could fall asleep on such an important day."
With that, he turned and walked out.
Feng Yue paid no mind. When tired, she slept. Rolling over and wrapping herself in the blanket, she snored like thunder.
The grand ceremony had ended. Given the critical situation in the Wei Kingdom, the officials had no intention of allowing the new emperor any rest, convening a council directly in the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, the Shi clan is about to be executed, leaving numerous official positions vacant in the court."
"Your Majesty, the gifts for the Wu Kingdom have all been escorted out of Lidu. The Wu Kingdom’s envoy respectfully requests Your Majesty to finalize the troop deployment as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, the position of Grand Commandant is of great importance. Those previously promoted by Prime Minister Shi are clearly unfit. We await Your Majesty’s instructions."
A cacophony of reports echoed incessantly in the imperial study. Any other emperor might have been driven to distraction by the noise, but Yin Gezhi showed no urgency. He flipped through memorials while listening to them, waiting until they had all finished speaking. Only then did he close the memorial and wave to the side.
The chief eunuch presented twenty scrolls of imperial edicts, respectfully placing them in the hands of Qiao Tangjie, who stood at the forefront.
"The court lacks personnel. Rather than appointing new people, it is better to reinstate former officials. I have drafted edicts to restore the official positions of eight individuals who were wrongfully exiled or imprisoned, filling the vacancies among civil officials. As for military officers, the names written on the other twelve edicts should be familiar to all."Twenty imperial edicts! Edicts aren't dumplings to be handed out like this! Qiao Tangjie's eyes widened as he looked at Yin Gezhi, wanting to speak but not daring to. The court officials whispered among themselves, their faces filled with apprehension.
"What is it?" Yin Gezhi asked. "Is there something improper?"
"Your Majesty," Qiao Tangjie spoke after a moment of thought. "Perhaps it would be better to issue them separately? Issuing so many edicts at once might..."
"Now is a time when talent is urgently needed," Yin Gezhi interrupted his concerns, speaking gravely. "These twenty edicts will surely make it known throughout the Wei Kingdom: I thirst for worthy individuals. As long as they are of upright character and willing to serve, no matter where they are, I am willing to extend a respectful invitation."
Everyone felt a tremor in their hearts, a surge of fervor they hadn't experienced in a long time sweeping through them!
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Qiao Tangjie shouted with trembling reverence, thinking to himself that he truly still didn't understand His Majesty well enough and needed to put in more effort!
The twenty imperial edicts were carried out of the palace one by one by swift horses, heading in all directions.
"By the Mandate of Heaven."
In various different places, the edicts were unrolled, and the eunuchs read in sharp voices: "The Emperor decrees..."
Yin Yanzhong knelt on the ground, listening. Luo Hao also bowed his head respectfully. The news of Emperor Wei Xiao's search for talent spread as if on wings, quickly flying through Lidu and toward every corner of the Wei Kingdom.
For a time, the court flourished. People with scars still on their faces donned court robes and kowtowed three times to the person on the dragon throne. Qiao Tangjie watched with satisfaction, then heard the orderly clanking of armor outside the hall.
Emperor Wei Xiao's expression was gentle as he rose from his throne and descended the steps, leading a group of court officials to stand at the entrance of the hall to watch.
The renowned generals who had vanished overnight in the past now stood fully armored. Holding their helmets, they walked step by step toward their direction.
"General... General Yin! Isn't that General Yin!"
"Deputy General Luo! Luo Hao, the most valiant under General Guan's command back then!"
"Madam Qiu is actually here too... Where have they been all these years!"
Watching in shock, everyone murmured among themselves. Qiao Tangjie observed them and suddenly seemed to understand something.
These people... they were all the ones who had fought countless victorious battles under Guan Canghai. Back then, it was precisely because they suddenly disappeared that the Wei Kingdom had no one to lead the troops and suffered repeated defeats. His Majesty's insistence on overturning the Guan family's case was not without reason. If the hearts of the ministers are not warmed, how can the court be revitalized and the Wei Kingdom restored?!
Watching as Emperor Wei Xiao personally went down to help the bowing people rise, Qiao Tangjie quietly wiped away a tear and glanced at the sky.
The Great Wei... there is hope for revival!
Feng Yue, dressed in a eunuch's robes, hid beside Yin Gezhi, secretly watching, her eyes also slightly reddened. What a soldier wants most is the opportunity to achieve merit, protect the people's peaceful lives, and ensure not an inch of the nation's territory is lost. This group of veterans still had a chance. But she did not.
Just as she was thinking this, the emperor beside her suddenly turned his head and said indifferently, "Eunuch Wang, return to Longxian Palace and fetch a cloak for me."
Snapping back to attention, Feng Yue lowered her head. Pinching her throat, she replied, "As you command."
Yin Gezhi did not allow her to wander around. It had taken several days of threats and persuasion to get Eunuch Wang to allow her to come and join the excitement. She couldn't give herself away now!
Bowing, she headed toward Longxian Palace. Feng Yue sighed. She had seen what she wanted to see. It was better to go back and stay quietly, lest he discover her and subject her to another round of mockery.
However, the moment she stepped into Longxian Palace, Feng Yue was stunned."Master." Lingshu was pouring tea for someone when she saw her and quickly waved her over. "Come quickly, we have guests."
The main hall was filled with many people, but that wasn't the main point. The real question was, how did Lingshu know it was her who had returned? Was her disguise so easily recognizable?
Puzzled, she walked over. As soon as she stepped across the threshold, she felt her eyes light up.
"Your humble subjects greet Her Majesty the Empress!" A sea of colorful skirts knelt down in unison. Feng Yue was stunned. Her gaze swept over them before finally settling on Mama Jin's bowed head. "What's going on?"
"Boss... ah, no, Your Majesty!" Mama Jin rose cheerfully, taking her hand to support her. "The weather is lovely today, so I brought them to the palace to express our gratitude."
"Gratitude?" Feng Yue was utterly confused. So many major events had occurred recently that she hadn't paid much attention to Dream Return Pavilion. What were they thanking her for now?
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