bookcurios Chapter 278 Ascending the Throne
Chapter 278 Ascending the Throne
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Molan also bowed in response, but because she was in military uniform, she did not perform the female kneeling ceremony.
None of the children of the Sheng family should be underestimated.
It can even be said that the eldest daughter and son, who were previously thought to be the most outstanding, turned out to be the most mediocre among their family.
The old emperor knew without asking that all this kung fu was probably learned in a private school.
Zhuang Xueji is a man of great talent. Even though he is over fifty years old, he can still teach etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and mathematics clearly.
The bloodline of the Sheng family is indeed something worth talking about. If the teacher dares to teach, these children will really dare to learn thoroughly.
Such an excellent bloodline will also be integrated into my Zhao family...
Thinking of this, the old emperor felt even more relieved.
He looked at the conspicuous white gauze on Molan's head, and couldn't help but think of what Zhao Ceying had mentioned in his report just now, that the fourth Miss Sheng had been in a coma a few days ago due to a head injury while fighting with the assassins while rescuing Zhao Zongquan.
"I hope the wound on your head is not serious."
"It's out of the way."
"You still have to be careful, Doctor Xuan, come and take a closer look. Let alone any symptoms left, even a scar would be a waste of the unpolished gem given by God."
"Thank you, Your Majesty for your grace."
……
This is just a greeting and condolence, and we must not discourage the ministers who are here to save the emperor.
After a few words, Empress Cao suggested that as it was too late, they should go back to their house to rest first and discuss all matters later when they went to court tomorrow.
Empress Cao urged the old emperor to go and rest, but the old emperor insisted,
"I need to write the edict of succession myself to feel at ease."
"..."
When the crisis was over and everything was settled, Empress Cao truly felt that making Zhao Ceying the crown prince was not a good idea.
But the old emperor's stubbornness did not give Empress Cao a chance to persuade him.
He picked up his pen and wrote an imperial edict. At the same time, he drafted another imperial decree, which listed the rewards for those who had made contributions in rescuing the emperor.
Zhao Ceying was adopted by the old emperor and Empress Cao, and was made the crown prince, who would inherit the throne in the future.
The fourth daughter of Sheng was promoted to princess and given the title "Jingguo".
After the throne was established, Zhao Ceying's wife, Princess Jingguo Sheng, was made the Crown Prince's Consort.
Sheng Tang, the official of the imperial court and the envoy of Dongshanghemen, was conferred the title of Earl of Yongqin.
The palace maid Wanxia was named county princess, given the title of Protector of the Country, and given a large amount of gold and silver, as well as a mansion in the capital.
The second wife of the Sheng family, Lin Qinshuang, was conferred the title of first-rank lady.
Zhao Zongquan was specially conferred the title of Duke of Cheng'en, and was granted the fiefdom of Yuzhou, with double the treatment of a prince.
All soldiers who had made meritorious contributions in protecting the emperor were awarded 100 taels of silver, and all officers were awarded 1,000 taels of silver, and were promoted to the first-class rank and exempted from examination for five years.
The old emperor wrote down everything, big and small, one stroke at a time. When he finally put the seal on his head, his eyes dimmed like the candle that was about to burn out.
"emperor!"
Amid Empress Cao's desperate cries, the old emperor collapsed on the table.
But how much of this desperate cry was for the emperor and how much was for herself? I'm afraid that apart from Molan, only Empress Cao herself knew the answer.
Now as the old emperor's grandson, Zhao Ceying must be taking care of him by his bedside.
He knelt on the ground, holding the medicine bowl, and fed the medicine into the old emperor's mouthful by mouthful.
However, how could this bowl of medicine bring back the old emperor, who was already at the end of his rope?
The blood had just faded from the palace, and in the blink of an eye it was covered with white again.
Zhao Ceying did not sleep all night and looked a little dazed. The only comfort he had was that Molan sat beside him and held his hand.
Molan's hands were like a piece of warm jade, warm, dry yet smooth.
Unlike him, the continuous running around and impact would only make him break out in cold sweats.
So much so that now, he had to stroke the handkerchief before holding Molan's hand.
He inherited Zhao Zongquan's cautiousness, and at this moment Zhao Ceying had to re-examine himself.
But what makes him different from his father is that he has someone by his side who he can rely on and who will never leave him.
Correct.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
The Sheng family is my in-laws! Molan is my queen!
I didn't do well, and that's as it should be.
Because I am only twenty years old, and I am the son of the Yuezhou militia commander.
But during the ten years he studied in Bian Jing, he was not "alone" in the court.
At this moment, Zhao Ceying realized what marrying Molan had given him.
All the connections you need.
This, even if it is just for a new official, is a precious and valuable asset.
Treat the Sheng family well, but don't rely too much on them, and don't push them out of everything.
This is by no means a one-time fortune.
You have to stay calm. The only people you can trust are your own family, because the emperor and the empress always have the same stance, at least now that there is no adult royal heir.
Don't be afraid, don't be too suspicious, don't be too timid.
Don't embarrass Molan.
All night long, Zhao Ceying was doing detailed psychological preparation, and he went over in his mind countless times all the typical cases recorded in the history books he had studied in Zhuang Xuejiu's private school, which the new emperor had encountered when he ascended the throne.
When the sky turned pale, when the eunuchs and maids in the palace came to help him wash and dress, and when he changed into new clothes and put on a tall hat befitting the status of the crown prince, and looked at his own reflection in the bronze mirror, Zhao Ceying also figured out who the big enemy waiting for him all the way here would be.
It couldn't be the remnants who supported Prince Yong and Prince Yan.
But it was Empress Cao, who would soon become Empress Dowager Cao.
……
Just as Zhao Ceying expected.
Under the pleas of some old ministers, Empress Dowager Cao had to reluctantly agree to rule the country from behind the curtain.
The ascension of a new emperor to the throne is bound to lead to instability in the government. I hereby implore the Empress Dowager to rule the country from behind the scenes to stabilize the country and maintain peace.
Look at what these words say, how nice they sound.
As the emperor who ascended the throne as the "grandson", Zhao Ceying was naturally not in a position to refute.
The Sheng family did not express their opinion at this time, so Zhao Ceying understood.
At this point he agreed that the pros outweighed the cons.
A fight with Empress Dowager Cao was inevitable, and it would take some time.
A few more days.
With the congratulations of all civil and military officials in the court, Zhao Ceying ascended the throne.
"Long live the Holy Spirit, long live the Holy Spirit, long live the Holy Spirit—"
Seeing his former classmates and elders kneeling before him, Zhao Ceying felt a sense of disappointment and gradually understood why King Yan was so crazy.
The throne is a problem that cannot be given up.
But what are these troubles, these responsibilities, these obligations compared to the tremendous power in one's hands?
Fortunately, he had long warned himself to guard against arrogance and impatience, and to think about everything at least three times before speaking, making a decision, or continuing to think.
I remember that they used to joke with each other in the private school of Zhuang Xuejiu.
It was Molan's sister Rulan who made fun of him and said, "You speak so fast, you can't be a high-ranking official at first glance!"
He was confused at the time, but now, combined with Rulan's few words, he understood.
When the new emperor ascended the throne, many things needed to be done.
The first thing was the formal reward for meritorious officials and the implementation of grace after ascending the throne.
It may not be a general amnesty, but some favors should be given.
After pondering for a while, he called Molan, who had been crowned as queen at this time, to discuss the matter together, or rather, to ask her for a review.