GBP Chapter 214 Everything should be done in order of arrival
Chapter 214 Everything should be done in order of arrival
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have reigned for three years, and have always worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, never daring to neglect the affairs of the state or the well-being of the people. Now, I have received the favor of Heaven, and auspicious celestial light shines brightly, with the two stars of Fu Bi shining together. Heaven has bestowed this divine grace upon Wangxiantai, and has instructed the Imperial Preceptor to interpret its phenomena and explain its meaning. The sun and moon shine brightly, giving rise to Yin and Yang, and establishing the order of Heaven and Earth. You, the youngest daughter of the Xin family, Mo Yan, are virtuous, kind, and intelligent beyond compare. Your virtuous conduct and wise words are exemplary. You uphold the dignity of the Emperor above and care for the weak and suffering below. Your words and deeds should serve as a model for all." Among the exemplary women of the land, there are many virtuous women like the Empress. Throughout history, every dynasty has first established a Queen Mother in the Central Palace, followed by the Crown Prince. Xin Shi Mo Yan, with her auspicious arrival, is ordained by Heaven and is thus rightfully established as Empress. She shall be granted the golden edict, accompany the King, and share in the ancestral temple with me. The prosperity of the kingdom depends on the presence of virtuous and capable women at the Emperor's side, ensuring the eternal stability of the nation. Therefore, I hereby establish Mo Yan as Empress, residing in the Central Palace, holding the Empress's seal and edict, managing the affairs of the six palaces, and serving as the mother of the nation. An auspicious day will be chosen for the grand ceremony of her investiture. This edict is hereby proclaimed to all the people of the land. Respectfully obey!
After he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. No one expected that the Emperor Yuan's delay in agreeing to the marriage proposal of Princess Danhua was actually because he wanted to make her Empress Yuan.
"Princess Danhua, receive the decree!" Wang Si closed the imperial decree, walked up to Xin Moyan with a smile, and gestured for her to reach out and take it.
Xin Moyan was stunned. Was this the solution His Majesty was talking about? It was just changing the marriage partner, a temporary fix, so... he really meant it?
Seeing that she was pursing her lips and not speaking, Wang Si felt a little embarrassed and quickly repeated, "Your Highness, please accept the decree."
"I won't..." She was about to refuse, but then she remembered that this was an imperial edict. Would she be beheaded for disobeying the edict in public?
Throughout the entire process, Yuan Huaijun only focused on her expression. Seeing that she hesitated to accept the imperial decree, he stood up, calmly walked to her side, and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. Ignoring the shocked gazes of the Empress Dowager, the concubines, and the officials below, he lightly lifted his sleeve and tightly grasped Xin Moyan's wrist.
"Your Majesty?" She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Yuan Huaijun was too strong, and she couldn't break free. Her heart was pounding faster and faster.
"Yan'er, be good."
He glanced sideways for a moment, then turned back, glanced calmly at those below, and said in a deep voice, "I am moved by the signs of Heaven. Princess Danhua is destined to be the new Empress of Yuan Qi. This is the will of Heaven and also the will of my heart. Therefore, I have prepared this decree before the banquet, intending to announce it to the world at this time when the emperor and his subjects are enjoying themselves together."
Xin Moyan tilted her head back, her eyebrows almost knotted together, and asked in a voice that could only be heard by the two of them, "Your Majesty, I think this is just a temporary measure. You're not serious, are you?"
"Hehe~ My word is as good as gold. Yan'er, you are smarter than anyone else, how could you not know my intention?"
Her eyes widened, and her face turned deathly pale. "No, but I don't want to..."
Before she could speak, Yuan Huaijun tightened his grip, staring intently at her face and saying seriously, "Yan'er, be careful what you say now."
Upon hearing the imperial edict and seeing Emperor Yuan's words, the two prime ministers immediately became anxious. "Your Majesty, our Emperor sincerely wishes to marry Princess Danhua of your esteemed country. Why has Your Majesty suddenly issued this decree? Does Yuan Qi have no intention of befriending Yelan?"
"Prime Minister Wu, you are too kind. Since I ascended the throne, I have maintained friendly relations with all countries and have never intended to make enemies. You two just heard that this imperial edict was personally drafted by me before the banquet. It was before Ye Lan proposed marriage. It is truly regrettable that your country has no queen. However, Yuan Qi also has no queen and prince. The strange phenomenon this morning has been witnessed by all the people of the world. Yan'er being the Yuan Empress is the will of Heaven and a blessing for our dynasty. I cannot disregard the country and its people. Moreover, there is a proper order to things. Since I drafted the edict first and Ye Lan proposed marriage later, all the officials and courtiers have witnessed it. As for the selection of the Ye Empress, I will soon order the relevant departments to select the most beautiful and talented woman in the world. She will certainly not disappoint the expectations of the entire Ye Lan kingdom."
"Your Majesty, the Emperor's mind has already been made up for this trip. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."
His face visibly turned cold, and his deep voice faintly revealed a hint of imperial majesty, "In my great nation of Yuanqi, is it not possible to find a woman better than Princess Danhua? Furthermore, guests follow the host's lead. Whom I choose to make empress is none of your business."
Their faces flushed red, and they were at a loss for words. They understood the unspoken meaning behind Emperor Yuan's words very well. They had thought that by using the diplomatic relations between the two countries as an excuse, and considering that she was just a princess, Emperor Yuan would not dare to refuse. They never expected that Princess Danhua was so important to him. Not only was she designated as Empress Yuan, but Emperor Yuan was also using the power of the Yuanqi Kingdom to coerce him. How were they going to explain this to His Majesty?
“Ah Ling, this…” Shui Yi bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.
Xin Moling remained silent, his eyes fixed on the man above him. He hadn't even had a chance to speak with Yuan Huaijun in detail when the imperial edict was already prepared.
The atmosphere was frozen solid. Emperor Yuan's aura was too powerful, and the sharp and domineering look in his eyes frightened everyone so much that they dared not breathe.
The ministers were greatly alarmed. The only time His Majesty was in this state was three years ago when he ascended the throne and angrily beheaded more than a dozen corrupt officials in the court. Now, he was determined to succeed.
Upon seeing this, Wang Si immediately knelt on the ground with a thud and shouted loudly, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
In an instant, all the civil and military officials in the Chao'en Hall knelt down.
"Long live the emperor! Long live the empress!"
"Long live the emperor! Long live the empress!"
The unified shouts grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the entire Chao'en Hall. Apart from Consort Ning, who was confined to her quarters, the other three stared in disbelief at the scene before them. Xin Moyan had become Empress so effortlessly.
Xin Moyan was extremely annoyed. Her wrist was being tightly gripped by Emperor Yuan, and she couldn't break free. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Xuan Yuan leaving alone. She subconsciously swallowed. How was she going to explain this to him?
"Master...Master?" Liu Qing strode after him. Judging from his master's expression, it seemed someone was about to suffer.
"Love flows."
He stopped and turned to look into the hall, a faint crimson glint in his eyes.
"What are your orders, Master?"
"From this day forward, Yelan is not allowed to touch any of my properties. All business dealings with them shall be suspended. Yelan's Junjing Pavilion, Xixiang Pavilion, and Yunxiang Tower shall be closed. Without my order, no goods or materials shall be supplied to Yelan merchants. The coal mines of Baiqing Kingdom shall be prohibited from transporting coal to Yelan."
Liu Qing's mouth dropped open. Apart from the Minghai Sea behind it, Yelan's other resources were supplied by the three kingdoms. In recent years, the master had focused on Yelan, basically controlling a large part of Yelan's economy. Now that it had been cut in half, the impact would be huge...