On that day, Empress Wen and the Empress Dowager at the time personally issued an edict: “Today we have found the lost imperial prince Gu Chaobei, clan name Mingye, son of Imperial Noble Consort Nian. His Majesty has passed, the Crown Prince has died—this person is the only bloodline of the imperial house. He is hereby established as Crown Prince and may ascend the throne once the mourning period has passed.”
This was no slip of the tongue—it was recorded in the bright yellow imperial genealogy. The edict was still kept by Gu Chaobei. If this were an ordinary family, one might say “Oh, I misspoke at the time” and it might not matter. But this was the imperial house—edicts were not something to joke about, much less an edict establishing an emperor.
Empress Dowager Wen hesitated for a moment. Minister Gu beside her had already stepped forward. “This concerns the imperial bloodline. Empress Dowager, please be cautious. If His Majesty is truly not the late Emperor’s biological son, then all those who supported His Majesty’s ascension would be jointly charged with the crime of confusing the imperial bloodline.”
The one who most supported Gu Chaobei’s ascension was none other than she, Wen Xiuli.
Empress Dowager Wen’s face tensed as she looked toward the Emperor on the throne. Gu Chaobei still wore an extremely relaxed expression, as if he knew for certain she could not say this—fearless and confident, infuriating to behold.
“This dowager… this dowager is no longer clear.” Empress Dowager Wen shook her sleeves, pressing her lips together. “But the late Emperor’s edict was for the former Crown Prince Mingxun to ascend the throne. As for Mingye, his birth was lowly—he was merely adopted by Empress Dowager Nian but is actually a palace maid’s son. This dowager believes Prince Xiaoxin’s son Mingyu is more suitable to inherit the great succession.”
In those years when the Wen family ruled the realm, Empress Dowager Wen could indeed say whatever she wished, and even the late Emperor dared not openly defy her. On a whim she could establish or depose whomever she pleased. With a wave of her phoenix robe, everyone in the court hall followed her words.
However, now…
Gu Chaobei on the throne laughed lightly. “Does the Empress Dowager believe that the late Emperor’s edict should be paramount, that birth and background are precious, and that I fail to satisfy these two points and thus am insufficient to secure this dragon throne?”
“Precisely.” Empress Dowager Wen had long considered what to do if Gu Chaobei did not obey. The late Emperor’s edict would make his throne illegitimate and unjustified, and his birth and background would prevent Gu Chaobei from commanding respect. Once she and the Grand Empress Dowager’s support was lost, Gu Chaobei absolutely could not continue as Emperor.
Emperor and Empress Dowager faced each other—one smiling with insouciance, the other dignified in golden phoenix regalia.
Gu Chaobei looked at this old woman and suddenly felt somewhat sympathetic. He rose from the dragon throne and walked down the steps one by one, looking toward Empress Dowager Wen as he called with feeling, “Mother Empress.”
Empress Dowager Wen frowned. This person had no path of retreat—surely he wouldn’t resort to an emotional appeal?
“Imperial son.” A voice came from behind her. Everyone turned to see Empress Dowager Nian standing at the entrance to the court hall.
Empress Dowager Nian wore that high-waisted ruqun style palace attire she had loved most back then. She entered gracefully, meeting Gu Chaobei’s gaze, her eyes full of maternal love.
That palace attire was so wide that standing beside Empress Dowager Wen, it actually pushed her aside somewhat. Empress Dowager Nian put away her usual mocking smile, her face calm and gentle. “This dowager has never liked attending court. Women should keep to their own places—why interfere in men’s affairs?”
Empress Dowager Wen’s expression darkened as she looked at her.
“But hearing that today Empress Dowager Wen questioned His Majesty’s birth and moreover said what was stated when establishing the Emperor was untrue, this dowager also has words to say.”
Empress Dowager Nian turned to look at Empress Dowager Wen, smiling with a devastating beauty that rivaled her youth. “Does elder sister remember that after younger sister’s miscarriage from pregnancy, she always loved to wear this style of palace attire?”
Empress Dowager Wen frowned, not knowing what medicine Empress Dowager Nian was selling. After thinking, she still nodded. “This dowager remembers. There were many such garments in the harem.”
“Does elder sister know why the late Emperor, who always loved slender waists, suddenly took a liking to this attire where waist cannot be seen and belly cannot be seen?” Empress Dowager Nian smiled meaningfully. “Does elder sister truly believe that when younger sister fell that time, she had already miscarried?”
Empress Dowager Wen paused, her face suddenly turning deathly pale. “You…”
No, impossible. Back then she had schemed so carefully to eliminate the child in Empress Dowager Nian’s belly—she couldn’t possibly have still been pregnant, much less given birth right under her nose without her knowing!
“When the late Emperor was on the throne, he loved this dowager deeply. Learning someone wanted to harm this dowager’s dragon child, he had this dowager feign miscarriage, then made this style of palace attire and bestowed it upon this dowager, allowing this dowager to be eight months pregnant without anyone knowing. In the final month before delivery, the late Emperor took this dowager out of the palace on tour, where the imperial prince was conveniently born, then sent to the Gu residence.”
Empress Dowager Nian’s eyes reddened slightly. “The late Emperor’s great kindness—this dowager will never forget for a lifetime.”
He had used all his strength to protect her and the child in her belly.
The court ministers erupted in uproar. Those who had been somewhat wavering now felt certain. His Majesty was not a palace maid’s son but Empress Dowager Nian’s biological child!
Gu Chaobei originally had only fifty percent odds of victory—with these words from Empress Dowager Nian, it instantly became ninety percent.
Behind Empress Dowager Nian stood the entire Nian family as well.
“You’re lying!” Empress Dowager Wen retreated two steps, face deathly pale, glaring furiously at Empress Dowager Nian. “Impossible! You must have conspired with His Majesty to lie and deceive the civil and military officials!”
“This dowager may lie, but the late Emperor would not.” Empress Dowager Nian turned to stand before the court and drew an imperial edict from her sleeve.
The edict with dragon and phoenix circular patterns was somewhat wrinkled. The moment it was unfurled, everyone in the court hall still knelt down.
Gu Chaobei also knelt before Empress Dowager Nian. Only Empress Dowager Wen remained standing.
“The late Emperor’s final edict: I have reigned for twenty-six years, unable to revitalize our dynasty, unable to achieve governance for all under heaven. Above, I have failed our ancestors; below, I have failed the people. Now departing, I originally established the Crown Prince to inherit the great succession. However, the Crown Prince is incompetent and detrimental to the nation. After much deliberation, I have decided to establish my son Gu Chaobei, lost among the people, namely Seventh Prince Mingye, as the new Emperor. May the entire court, upon seeing this son, see my face, assist him, and complete the aspirations I could not fulfill. By this decree.”
Everyone’s hearts collectively drew in a sharp breath as they cried out in unison, “Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Empress Dowager Wen narrowed her eyes, looking at Empress Dowager Nian. “Do you know the crime for falsely transmitting an imperial edict?”
Nian Chanjuan respectfully held the edict and turned it over. “The edict from that time was dictated by the late Emperor, written personally by the Prime Minister, and bears the late Emperor’s jade seal above. How does elder sister claim this is false?”
The one who wrote the edict was Minister Gu—naturally he knew what was written, and only he knew.
Empress Dowager Wen’s face turned green. She glanced sideways at the court ministers nearby—even Scholar Fu had lowered his head. With the edict revealed, no one could shake Gu Chaobei’s throne anymore.
Gu Chaobei was the child of the late Emperor and Nian Chanjuan? Empress Dowager Wen stared blankly at Empress Dowager Nian for a long while, finally understanding that despite her lifetime of cleverness, in the end she had merely made wedding clothes for others.
Nian Chanjuan—this woman she had fought her entire life—had ultimately defeated her. She actually had a son, and Wen Xiuli herself had personally placed him on the throne!
“Ha ha ha.” Empress Dowager Wen laughed three times, retreating further, nearly falling. “So that’s how it is. So that’s how it is.”
No wonder the Nian clan had pledged allegiance when the late Emperor was critically ill, and moreover put away so many years of arrogance, willingly bowing to her.
All because of Gu Chaobei.
The claims about the late Emperor pledging love to that palace maid with a wooden hairpin, the claim that she hated Minister Gu but the prince was still in his hands—all lies to deceive her.
And she hadn’t suspected a thing—she had believed it all!
Before her eyes, Nian Chanjuan revealed a triumphant smile. Gu Chaobei also seemed to be smiling at her. The entire court looked at her as if viewing a fool, laughing at how she had made wedding clothes for months without knowing, and now learning the truth, there was no longer any foothold for her in the court hall.
Empress Dowager Wen reached out trying to grasp something but caught nothing. Her vision went black, and her world came crashing down.
Yuwen Changqing caught the Empress Dowager’s falling body. Gu Chaobei spoke with a pained expression. “Empress Dowager Wen has worried over state affairs and is already overworked to illness. From today forth, I issue a grace edict permitting the Empress Dowager to retire in the Eastern Palace. She need not attend court and may peacefully spend her remaining years.”
“Our Emperor is wise.” Half the people in court knelt down.
The other half dared not kneel. Gu Chaobei smiled as he supported Empress Dowager Nian. He was in no hurry—having taken this step, all subsequent matters would gradually improve.
The screen that had vexed the late Emperor for so many years was finally removed from the court hall.
Gu Chaobei sat on the dragon throne, feeling his vision open and broad, no longer constrained.
“Transmit my edict: starting today, the capital shall first implement the new policies. If effective, they shall be extended to other prefectures and counties. Those who actively promote the new policies shall be recorded, and rewards shall be conferred upon them all in due time!”
“We ministers obey the edict.” Minister Gu cupped his hands. The ministers behind him bowed down together.
Someone like Empress Dowager Wen would not easily accept an edict to stop attending court. As soon as the session ended, Gu Chaobei decided to go to the Eastern Palace to add two more cuts to the wound. He brought Shen Guiyan and summoned the consorts of the six palaces to together pay a sympathy call on the fallen Empress Dowager.
Wen Xiuli lay in bed, tears never ceasing.
“In his entire life, he did nothing—used it all to love Nian Chanjuan.” Empress Dowager Wen clutched Fanghua’s sleeve, eyes open as she asked softly, “Was this dowager truly not worth even a bit of his affection?”
Nanny Fanghua opened her mouth, not knowing how to answer. Empress Dowager Wen’s disposition was too domineering—not winning the late Emperor’s love was truly within reason.
“This dowager kept thinking that once he died, finally he wouldn’t come with Nian Chanjuan to irritate my eyes. In the end, even after death he pulls this move on this dowager. This dowager truly wishes she could dig up his grave, drag him out, and ask him—everything he owed this dowager in this lifetime, does he simply not plan to repay it?” The more Wen Xiuli spoke, the more fiercely she cried.
Fanghua embraced her in comfort. “Your Ladyship, the late Emperor’s passing is already done. Today’s court matters—you need not take them too much to heart. Even if you no longer attend court to govern in the future, the Wen family’s position is something His Majesty cannot shake in the slightest.”
Empress Dowager Wen sobbed for a while, then clenched her hands. True enough—she still had the Wen family. She had misjudged, raising a tiger thinking it a rabbit. But if this tiger wanted to come out and bite her, she still had the Wen family, didn’t she?
In this Eastern Palace, there were a hundred imperial guards. No matter who entered, they could not harm her in the slightest. Once she recovered from this setback, there would surely come a day when she could rise again!