thefictionvixens Chapter 57 Your Highness, You Are to Become Regent!
Chapter 57 Your Highness, You Are to Become Regent!
A few days later, at the Suzhou dock.
The official boat slowly sailed away from the shore, its hull creating calm ripples on the water.
Wu Feng stood at the bow of the boat, watching the Suzhou city wall gradually disappear into the distance.
The remaining two-thirds of the Ming family's wealth have been counted, packed, and shipped to Kyoto.
A lake breeze, carrying moisture, caressed his face, and he exhaled softly.
What needed to be done has been done; things in Suzhou are settled; it's time to go back.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Kyoto, Taigokuden.
The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on the hearts of every courtier, like a heavy stone.
The dragon throne has been hanging vacant for over a month.
Eunuch Hou bowed countless times, his smile almost frozen, repeating the same old line: "My lords, His Majesty still needs to rest. Today's court assembly..."
"Eunuch Hou!"
A low growl, barely containing his anger, interrupted him.
Prime Minister Su Shenzhi stepped forward. Over fifty years old, his hair and beard were slightly gray, and his face was ashen as he stared sharply at Eunuch Hou.
"If you continue to offer this excuse today, I will lead the officials of the Six Ministries to kneel outside the Imperial Study until we see His Majesty!"
"right!"
"How is His Majesty?"
"We must get an explanation today!"
The ministers of the six ministries all spoke out, and the crowd was filled with indignation.
They weren't fools. With such a commotion in Suzhou, the Princess's people mobilized the Suzhou camp and wiped out the entire Ming family overnight!
How could His Majesty possibly ignore such a momentous matter if he were alive?
What infuriated them even more was that Wu Feng was not an official appointed by the imperial court, so they couldn't find any grounds to impeach him.
Ultimately, this debt can only be attributed to the eldest princess, who was in full charge of the aftermath of the Taiping Villa.
But the princess is royalty, and only His Majesty can deal with her.
His Majesty has not shown himself for a long time, and the answer is almost obvious.
His Majesty is in trouble!
Fine beads of cold sweat trickled down Hou's forehead. He bent even lower, his lips trembling, yet he couldn't utter a single complete word.
He knew he couldn't hide it anymore.
At this tense moment, a clear announcement came from outside the hall:
"Her Highness the Eldest Princess has arrived... His Highness Prince Jing has arrived..."
All eyes turned to the palace gate.
Li Yunrui walked in.
Today she wore a dark palace dress made of the finest soft satin, which shimmered with a dark luster as she walked, accentuating her curvaceous figure and slender waist.
Her long hair was styled into an elegant bun, adorned with several jade hairpins.
Her face was lightly made up, her eyebrows and eyes were charming, but the corners of her mouth held a faint, almost languid smile.
Prince Jing followed a step behind her, his expression solemn.
The moment the two appeared, the noise in the hall instantly subsided.
Su Shenzhi and the others suppressed their surprise and doubt, and bowed in unison: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Jing and Your Highness the Eldest Princess."
Li Yunrui walked at a leisurely pace until he reached the bottom of the imperial steps, then said softly, "My lords, there's no need for such formalities."
Her gaze swept over Su Shenzhi and the six ministers, finally settling on the ashen-faced Eunuch Hou. She sighed softly, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"It seems we can't hide it anymore."
She turned to the assembled ministers, her tone clear:
"The palace will provide an explanation regarding His Majesty's matter. Therefore, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Six Ministries will remain. The rest of you may leave the court for now."
The ministers looked at each other, and finally looked at Su Shenzhi.
Su Shenzhi pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Soon, only Su Shenzhi, the six ministers, Chen Pingping, Fan Jian, the eldest princess, and Prince Jing remained in the hall.
As if granted a pardon, Eunuch Hou wiped his sweat and stepped aside.
The palace doors were slowly closed, isolating the outside world.
Su Shenzhi was the first to speak, his voice deep and serious: "Your Highness, what is the true state of His Majesty? Please speak frankly!"
Li Yunrui did not answer immediately. She gracefully walked to a chair to the side, sat down elegantly, and then looked up at everyone, slowly saying:
"My elder brother was injured during the western expedition. After returning to the capital, his injuries flared up, resulting in... shattered meridians and a coma."
"What?!"
"All meridians shattered?!"
Su Shenzhi and the six ministers were shocked and paled.
Fan Jian and Chen Pingping exchanged a glance. Although they had guessed it before, their hearts sank when they heard the words "meridians completely shattered" with their own ears.
With injuries like these, there should be absolutely no chance of survival.
"How is His Majesty now?!" the Minister of Revenue asked urgently.
"He remains unconscious." Li Yunrui's voice was still gentle, yet it struck everyone's hearts like an ice bead. "The imperial physicians are helpless. We originally thought that the Emperor would wake up soon, so we did not inform you. Now... the Emperor is still unconscious, and you all need to be prepared."
The hall was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing.
After a long while, Su Shenzhi took a deep breath and looked intently at Li Yunrui: "Your Highness, may we, your humble servants... possibly see His Majesty in person?"
Li Yunrui nodded slightly: "Of course. Gentlemen, please follow me to Chang Le Palace."
……
The Chang Le Palace was filled with the smell of medicine in its sleeping quarters.
Emperor Qing lay on his dragon bed, his face ashen. Even in his unconscious state, his brows were tightly furrowed and the veins on his forehead were visible, clearly indicating that he was enduring immense pain.
Several imperial physicians stood respectfully to the side, not daring to utter a sound.
Su Shenzhi and the others approached and were deeply shocked.
After carefully questioning the imperial physician, the answer he received was consistent with what Li Yunrui had said.
It is a miracle that Your Majesty's life force has not yet been extinguished; when Your Majesty will awaken depends entirely on Your Majesty's own will.
"Before His Majesty fell into a coma... did he make any arrangements?" Su Shenzhi asked hoarsely as he turned to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager, who had been sitting silently by the couch, slowly raised her eyes, took out a bright yellow imperial edict from her sleeve, and handed it to Eunuch Hou.
Eunuch Hou unfolded the scroll and read aloud in a slightly trembling voice:
"...If anything happens to me, Crown Prince Chengqian will succeed to the throne. Since the new emperor is young, I hereby appoint Princess Li Yunrui and Prince Jing Li Zhiyun to jointly assist in governing the country and ensuring its stability..."
Regent!
The eldest princess will serve as regent!
Although the imperial edict stated that he would jointly assist Prince Jing in governing, everyone understood that Prince Jing had been idle for many years and had not been involved in court affairs. The word "jointly" was probably more symbolic.
This decree, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirred up huge waves in everyone's heart.
Having a princess assist in governing is unprecedented in this dynasty!
But with the imperial edict before them and the seal clearly visible, no one dared to question it.
Li Yunrui accepted the imperial edict respectfully handed back by Eunuch Hou, her fingertips lightly brushing across the silk surface, her face revealing little emotion.
Only in those alluring eyes did a fleeting, extremely quick, and profound light flash.
She raised her eyes, looking at the assembled officials with their varied expressions, her voice regaining its unique, slightly languid, and alluring softness:
"Your Majesty's situation is special. Before your elder brother awakens, the daily affairs of the court will still be handled by Chancellor Su and the Six Ministries in accordance with the law. If there are any difficult matters, please come to me or my brother Prince Jing for discussion."
Prince Jing immediately responded, his attitude clear:
"My lords, please seek out my sister. I have never been good at politics, and this time I have been ordered to assist my sister. Everything is for her sake."
Everyone understood that Prince Jing was both avoiding suspicion and making a statement.
Su Shenzhi gave Li Yunrui a deep look, exchanged glances with the six ministers, and finally bowed in unison: "Your subjects... obey the decree."
Li Yunrui's lips curved slightly, her smile radiant yet revealing an indescribable calmness, as if she had everything under control.
She stood up, her dark palace dress trailing on the ground, and walked towards the rosewood chair that symbolized temporary authority.
From this day forward, she will no longer be just the eldest princess who lives in seclusion in Guangxin Palace.