RPAGF Chapter 421: The Emperor's Edict
Chapter 421: The Emperor's Edict
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qinglong's face darkened: "What do you mean, mother? Are you blaming me for not protecting the country and society passed down by the previous emperor? Or are you blaming me for inheriting the throne?"
Although she was not his biological mother, Emperor Qinglong always respected the Empress Dowager and was quite filial to her. He also gave her face very much. This was the first time that the mother and son had such a harsh questioning and a tense confrontation. The ladies who followed the Empress Dowager were so nervous that they didn't know what to do.
The Queen Mother said righteously: "Even if it makes the emperor unhappy, I have to say that this prince is not destined to be the prince, which is why the heavens have given him so many warnings. If the emperor insists on doing this, I am afraid that the heavens will punish our Jin'an Dynasty more, and then it will be too late to regret it!"
Emperor Qinglong stared at the Queen Mother with cold eyes: "Have you forgotten that the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs?"
The Queen Mother also did not give in: "Although we are women, we also care about our country. There is no reason for us to watch the emperor continue to be confused!"
Emperor Qinglong's eyes became colder and colder, and the murderous intent in his eyes was revealed without any concealment.
The Queen Mother sneered: "Your Majesty, do you want to kill me? You beg me to die like this. I only hope that my death can awaken your Majesty's reason and save our Jin'an Dynasty from punishment from heaven!"
Emperor Qinglong: Very good, so this means that I am a tyrant who does not accept loyal advice, and even you women in the harem are no better than that?
Since you are so determined to die, I will grant your wish!
With murderous intent surging in his heart, just as he was about to issue an order as the empress dowager wished, the eldest princess stepped into the Chongzheng Hall holding an imperial edict, followed by the empress, who was dressed in armor and holding a spear, looking very heroic.
Following behind them were the generals who remained in the capital, led by Ye Xuan Ke, General Zhenyuan, and General Pingnan.
When he saw them, all the anger and murderous intent in Emperor Qinglong's heart disappeared, and was replaced by an inexplicable sense of peace.
Seeing them, the Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly: "Yongan, what are you going to do?"
Yong'an is the name of the eldest princess. The late emperor loved this eldest daughter born to his first wife very much. He almost concentrated all his love for all his children on her, which can be seen from the name Yong'an.
"What? Of course, I'm here to read the imperial edict left by my father."
The princess proudly held the imperial edict in her hand and said, "Princess Miao, please accept my order!"
Miao Fei, a familiar yet unfamiliar and long-lost name.
The empress dowager was stunned for a long time, and then she remembered the scene when she was canonized as a concubine by the late emperor.
At that time, the late emperor said to her from his high position: "Miao Fei, my two children still need your love and care."
That’s right, the late emperor only mentioned his two children.
At all times, the late emperor only had the two children born to him and the late empress in his heart, and they were the only ones he recognized. It seemed that except for the late empress, the children born to these concubines had nothing to do with him, and not only did they not receive the slightest care, they were not even recognized by their father.
Even the reason why she was promoted from a noble lady to a concubine was because she took good care of his children and because her son blocked the deadly poison for his son.
How ridiculous!
She accepted it. After all, she knew from the beginning that the emperor and the empress were deeply in love, and even if her son had not been poisoned that time, he would have had other plans, so she really did not blame them.
But when she saw the imperial edict in the eldest princess's hand and the arrogant look on her face as she called her Princess Miao, resentment arose in her heart.
Why? Why couldn't she warm the man's heart even after giving everything she had?
How could she not be sad? How could she not hate?
The eldest princess was still as high and mighty as when the late emperor was alive: "Princess Miao, are you not going to accept the order?"
The Queen Mother had no choice but to kneel and kowtow: "I accept your order!"
The purpose of the edict left by the late emperor was very simple, which was to give her the title of empress dowager. However, if she dared to use the emperor's favor to interfere in state affairs or play power games, both Emperor Qinglong and the eldest princess could depose her from the position of empress dowager and make her live in seclusion in the palace of the secondary capital and not allow her to return to the capital.
No one had expected that the late emperor would leave such an edict to the eldest princess in the end. She felt extremely regretful for having impulsively followed the empress dowager to put pressure on the emperor.
The late emperor did not trust the empress dowager at all!
But it makes sense. The late emperor and the late empress had a deep love for each other. After the late empress passed away, the late emperor focused on state affairs and ignored the harem. How much affection could he have for the concubines?
If the empress dowager had not taken good care of the two children born to the late queen, how could she, a mere noble lady, be named a concubine, and how could she become the empress dowager?
After reading the imperial edict left by the previous emperor, the princess looked down and asked, "Miao Fei, do you know your mistake?"
"I know my mistake."
What else can she do in this situation?
The princess put away the imperial edict and said, "Since the Queen Mother has admitted her mistake, she can continue to worship Buddha in the Ci'an Palace!"
Prince Yu is no longer with us. As long as she can behave herself as before, the Emperor and I will certainly not make things difficult for her.
Then, the princess cast a cold glance at the ladies kneeling on the ground: "I don't care what your intentions are, but I'm sure you are all familiar with the people following me. They are absolutely loyal to the emperor and the prince. I hope you will carefully consider whether your husbands and sons are capable of competing with them!"
Over the past twenty years, the eldest princess was deceived by Ji Hongwen and indulged in the grief of love. Later, she married the Duke of Yingguo, Yu Xiunian, and their deep love made everyone forget that she was brought up by the late emperor himself, and her knowledge, means, abilities and talents were beyond the reach of ordinary girls.
Now, with one move, he defeated the Queen Mother and the others without any chance of defense.
Although their husbands or sons have a say in the court, how can a mere civil official compete with a military general who holds military power?
It was at this time that they remembered that behind the prince was not only Shengyun Mountain, but also General Dingguo, his maternal grandfather's family.
Moreover, General Zhenyuan and old General Pingnan both support the prince. Fang Yichen, who is now guarding the border of Northern Chu, and Yu Ziche, who is now guarding the border of Southern Vietnam, are also the prince's men.
It can be said that all the military power in Jinan is in the hands of the prince. How can others fight for it?
The Queen Mother was helped back to Ci'an Hall by the palace maids arranged by the Princess, and the crisis in Chongzheng Hall was averted without a trace.
Emperor Qinglong calmed down and relaxed: "Sister, if you hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid I would have executed them."
At that time, he really couldn't control the murderous intent in his heart.
He was truly grateful to the eldest princess, whether for her succession to the throne and her help in stabilizing the court, or for her unconditional support during every crisis, or for helping him resolve the crisis this time.
However, when his eyes fell on the imperial edict in the eldest princess's hand, he still felt quite resentful: "I know that the one my father loves and trusts the most is my sister."
The eldest princess also laughed: "Don't be so ungrateful. Father is worried about you, so he has considered everything so carefully."
Emperor Qinglong looked at the sunlight outside the palace, his eyes narrowed slightly: "Everything outside the palace should be resolved by Wentian."