Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 395: The Second Imperial Decree

Grand Tutor Xu unrolled the imperial decree.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since Our accession to the throne... to protect the state before danger arises, to maintain order before chaos emerges... Our Dragon Body declines daily, and with each contemplation sleep eludes Us. If Our final affairs can be handled with vigilant care, We may pass peacefully, ensuring the eternal prosperity of our Great Jin Dynasty... The Crown Prince, who so resembled Us, should have rightfully inherited the throne, yet fell on the battlefield—a tragedy for our Great Jin... The Imperial Grandson Chu Hongyu, who has won the hearts of all under heaven, is fit to ascend the throne."

"The Regent has served with sincere dedication, Grand Tutor Xu maintains loyal devotion, and the Grand Secretary possesses both talent and wisdom... These five individuals, with the Regent as their head, shall serve as ministers assisting the state until the young Emperor comes of age to rule independently..."

"All officials and citizens shall observe twenty-seven days of mourning before setting aside their mourning garments. Regional princes need not return to the capital..."

"So it is decreed!"

After the decree was read, there was only a moment of silence before all present kowtowed in unison.

"We receive the decree!"

Reviewing the several-hundred-year history of the Great Jin Dynasty, there were indeed historical precedents where an imperial grandson succeeded to the throne despite the existence of other princes. This was not particularly difficult to accept.

Moreover, the other princes lacked powerful maternal clans. As a young emperor, without the support of a maternal clan, it would be difficult to maintain a stable position on the throne.

Therefore, after only a brief moment of surprise, the ministers acknowledged the authenticity of the imperial decree and collectively paid homage to the new sovereign.

"We kneel before Your Majesty! May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"

Chu Hongyu remained immersed in grief over his grandfather's passing and hadn't listened carefully to the decree. Only when several ministers escorted him to the highest position did he realize what was happening.

He immediately looked toward Yun Chu.

Yun Chu gave him a meaningful glance.

Understanding her unspoken message, he took a deep breath and said, "All beloved ministers may rise."

The officials stood up together.

Yun Chu looked toward Chu Rui in the crowd.

This man had devised such a profound scheme.

Using the first decree to test the limits of the civil and military officials—if no one could overturn the first decree, then Chu Rui could rightfully ascend the throne.

When the first decree encountered problems, he immediately arranged for the second decree.

The new decree established the Imperial Grandson as the new sovereign. The young emperor, not yet eight years old, required numerous ministers to assist in governing.

With the Regent designated as the head in the imperial decree, this meant the other four assisting ministers must follow Chu Rui's lead. Among those four, Grand Tutor Xu was coerced into loyalty to Chu Rui, and two others from the cabinet were likely Chu Rui's lackeys. Only the Chief Grand Secretary probably hadn't yet been drawn into Chu Rui's schemes.

Yun Chu pressed her lips together.

Chu Rui understood her vulnerabilities too well. By having Yu Ge'er ascend the throne, she had to acknowledge the decree's authenticity and accept Chu Rui as an assisting minister.

After the new sovereign's position was confirmed, they would wait for the late emperor's burial in the imperial mausoleum before holding the coronation ceremony. All these arrangements were entrusted to the Ministry of Rites.

The entire palace adopted plain decorations. Palace attendants changed into white garments, wearing small white flowers in their hair. The lanterns throughout the palace compounds were also white. The continuous sound of weeping permeated the air, with sorrow evident everywhere.

Yun Chu couldn't help but think of her previous life.

When she died in her thirties, the Emperor had still been alive and well. Yet in this life, the Emperor had passed like this...

While she had changed her own fate, she had also altered many others' destinies. Some who should have died long ago still lived, while others who should have lived had died early...

Chu Yi...

Her eyes reddened.Just now, a court official proposed building a cenotaph for Chu Yi at the imperial mausoleum, as there was no body, this was the only way to proceed.

She refused.

She did not believe Chu Yi was dead.

Yun Chu looked up at the stars, forcing back her tears.

In the darkness, she saw a figure approaching.

The vulnerability on her face vanished instantly, replaced by indifference.

"Crown Princess... oh no, I should address you as Empress Dowager now." Chu Rui walked step by step toward her. "To leap from Crown Princess to Empress Dowager—you are probably the Empress Dowager in history who experienced the least struggle to attain the position."

Yun Chu smiled faintly. Then should this widow say thank you to the Regent?"

Chu Rui gazed at her and said slowly, "I could have supported the Seventh Prince, or even the Ninth or Tenth Prince, yet I chose the Imperial Grandson instead. Do you know why?"

Yun Chu remained silent, her expression cold.

"Naturally, it was for you." Chu Rui's voice softened. "I did not wish for you to suffer..."

"Hah!" Yun Chu let out a scornful laugh, cutting him off. "The Regent's wife and child have just died. Instead of returning to keep vigil for your wife, you speak such words. Don't you find it ridiculous?"

Chu Rui's face darkened instantly.

Under the cold white glow of the lantern, his features appeared sinister.

His lips pressed into a tight line as he turned and strode away, his sleeves fluttering.

Yun Chu stepped into the mourning hall. All members of the imperial family were kneeling before the spirit tablet, weeping and burning paper offerings. On the first day, everyone was present; for the next forty-plus days, they would take turns keeping vigil, though it would still be exhausting.

She knelt down unobtrusively, bowing her head and silently burning paper offerings.

The night passed just like that, and before she knew it, dawn had broken.

Yun Chu stood up and said, "All the honored consorts, please take the children back to rest for now and return later."

Shu Fei and the others were now senior consorts, while Yun Chu was the Empress Dowager and the sole mistress of the inner palace. Naturally, everyone followed her instructions.

Outside the mourning hall, the wives of officials were still wailing, but inside, only Yun Chu and Chu Hongyu remained.

This was the first time the mother and son had been alone since the late emperor's passing.

Chu Hongyu's voice was extremely hoarse. "Mother, you should go back and rest too. I can stay here alone."

"Yu Ge'er, your mother will stay with you," Yun Chu said gently. "You are the new sovereign. Every move you make is watched by all. No one will go easy on you just because you are young. So, for the first three days, you must remain in the mourning hall at all times. Right now, it's just the two of us. Lean on me and sleep for a while. When others return, you can continue the mourning."

Chu Hongyu shook his head firmly. "I can still manage..."

Yun Chu took his hand. "You may be fine now, but that doesn't mean you will be later. Your imperial grandfather would not want to see you kneeling without rest. Be good and listen to your mother. Sleep for a while."

Chu Hongyu looked at the spirit tablet before him, his eyes reddening, then obediently lay down to sleep with his head on Yun Chu's lap.

With his eyes closed, his voice hoarse, he murmured, "I always told Father that I wanted to be the Crown Prince. I never thought I wouldn't even have the chance... Father was too good at slacking off. How could he disappear at such a critical time... But it's alright, I've grown up now. I can protect Mother, and my younger sister and brother..."

He drifted into sleep, still mumbling.

Yun Chu gently patted her son's back, looked up at the spirit tablet, and said, "Imperial Father, rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will protect the empire and leave no opening for anyone to exploit..."After the late emperor's passing, the funeral procession was held only after forty-nine days of the body lying in state.

Each day, court officials and female family members took turns mourning, while members of the imperial family kept vigil in three shifts. A heavy cloud of sorrow hung over the palace.

Chu Hongyu was scheduled for morning vigils daily, which concluded only after noon. Emerging from the mourning hall, he glanced at the several ministers of state kneeling at the foot of the steps. With his hands clasped behind his back, he cleared his throat and said, "Grand Tutor Xu, Minister Li, Minister Zhou, Minister Qiu, accompany me to the Imperial Study."