Emperor Jingming secluded himself in Yangxin Hall, refusing to hold court, see the Empress, or meet with the Crown Prince. However, he summoned the Crown Princess alone.
Standing in the dimly lit hall, Jiang Si curtsied to Emperor Jingming: “Daughter-in-law greets Father Emperor.”
Emperor Jingming glanced at Jiang Si and said to Pan Hai: “All of you, leave.”
Pan Hai hesitated for a moment.
This seemed somewhat inappropriate.
“Hmm?”
Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow, and Pan Hai quickly led the palace servants out.
The Emperor could do as he pleased; nothing was inappropriate!
Only Jiang Si and Emperor Jingming remained in the hall.
Emperor Jingming gazed deeply at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si spoke first: “Does Father Emperor have any instructions for daughter-in-law?”
After a moment of silence, Emperor Jingming’s voice sounded older than usual in the empty hall: “Seventh Prince’s wife, I have a question for you.”
“Please ask, Father Emperor.”
Emperor Jingming asked slowly: “Are you the Crown Princess of Great Zhou, or the Holy Maiden of the Wumiao?”
Jiang Si’s heart jolted, but she replied without hesitation: “Daughter-in-law is, of course, the Crown Princess of Great Zhou, Ajin’s wife.”
Emperor Jingming stared at her, seeing the composure and openness she had always displayed.
He smiled slightly, his tone gentle: “I understand. You may go now.”
“Daughter-in-law takes her leave.” Jiang Si curtsied and withdrew.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Yu Jin asked: “Why are you back so soon? What did Father Emperor want?”
Jiang Si dismissed the attending palace servants and said softly: “Father Emperor asked if I was the Crown Princess of Great Zhou or the Holy Maiden of the Wumiao.”
Yu Jin was stunned, his expression gradually becoming serious: “Father Emperor is suspicious?”
Jiang Si sighed: “Father Emperor is just momentarily confused.”
An emperor who had ruled for decades and was not senile would not truly be confused.
“How did you answer?”
Jiang Si smiled: “Is there any need to answer? Of course, I am your Crown Princess.”
Yu Jin’s eyes shone brightly as he embraced his Crown Princess.
After seeing Jiang Si, Emperor Jingming summoned Han Ran, the Commander of the Jinlin Guards.
Among the officials, no one knew better than Han Ran the reason for the Emperor’s recent dejection. Being summoned now, he was undoubtedly anxious.
He couldn’t help but be nervous; he knew too much!
“Your subject greets Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jingming looked down at his kneeling minister, his feelings complex.
He had considered silencing this man many times but never acted on it.
He was the Emperor, the highest authority in Great Zhou. Having his embarrassing secrets known was undignified, but how lonely would it be to have no one to share a secret with?
After enjoying Han Ran’s nervousness for a while, Emperor Jingming finally spoke: “Han Ran, I have a task for you.”
“Please instruct, Your Majesty.”
“The Wumiao and Xuemiao share the same origin but have long been at odds. Now the Xuemiao are at a complete disadvantage. Arrange for some people to establish themselves in the southern borderlands and secretly assist the Xuemiao.”
Han Ran was surprised: “Assist the Xuemiao?”
He had thought the Emperor would severely punish the Xuemiao tribe, not give such an order.
Emperor Jingming smiled faintly: “Watching a show is only exciting when both sides are evenly matched. Go now.”
He both believed and disbelieved Elder Hua’s words.
It was certain that the Empress Dowager was a foreign pawn, but whether she was sent by the Wumiao or the Xuemiao was hard to say.
Since he couldn’t be sure, he naturally wouldn’t destroy the Xuemiao tribe.
Watching the two tribes of the same origin fight each other endlessly was most beneficial to Great Zhou’s interests.
Afterward, Emperor Jingming summoned several important ministers. The doors of the Imperial Study remained closed for a long time before opening.
Two days later, Emperor Jingming finally held court.
The civil and military officials were moved to tears, looking at Emperor Jingming on the dragon throne with a feeling akin to reuniting with a long-lost love.
Many officials secretly thought: that they had been too ungrateful before; having an emperor like this was truly fortunate. They would never argue with the Emperor again… well, that might not be realistic, but they would try to be agreeable for at least half a year to avoid another unexplained court suspension.
“Read the edict,” Emperor Jingming commanded.
Pan Hai unrolled the jade scroll and read aloud: “Since ancient times, the emperor’s governance of the world has always prioritized respecting heaven and following the ancestors… The Crown Prince is hereby ordered to ascend the throne and become Emperor…”
The court was in an uproar.
This was an abdication edict!
“Your Majesty—”
Facing the emotionally charged officials, Emperor Jingming calmly said: “I have been feeling unwell recently and wish to enjoy my remaining years in peace. There’s no need for further persuasion.”
The officials looked toward Minister Gu and others.
Minister Gu and his colleagues remained calm, clearly aware of the situation.
The other officials were dumbfounded.
Emperor Jingming turned his gaze to the Minister of Rites: “Prepare for the abdication ceremony.”
After the abdication ceremony would come the new emperor’s coronation. With this, Great Zhou welcomed its new ruler.
After Yu Jin’s ascension, he followed tradition by appointing officials and granting amnesty, and the capital’s atmosphere became as vibrant as the midsummer.
As the new Empress, it became easier for Jiang Si to meet with the Grand Elder. After some arrangements, she met with the disguised Grand Elder in her chambers.
In the inner room, Jiang Si personally poured tea for the Grand Elder: “Is the Grand Elder leaving?”
The Grand Elder took the cup without drinking, gazing deeply at her: “It’s time to go.”
Jiang Si raised her cup to her lips: “Then I wish the Grand Elder a safe journey and a quick return to the Wumiao to manage affairs.”
“Thank you—” The Grand Elder hesitated slightly before continuing, “Thank you, Holy Maiden.”
Jiang Si didn’t deny the title, and after a moment of silence, she asked: “Even now, you’re unwilling to tell me the other two prophecies?”
The Grand Elder smiled slightly: “At this point, are the other two prophecies still important to the Holy Maiden?”
Jiang Si blinked, her voice carrying a young woman’s softness: “They are important. I’m very curious, and if I don’t know, I won’t be able to sleep well. If this continues, I won’t have the energy to be the Empress of Great Zhou, let alone anything else.”
The Grand Elder’s smile froze.
The conversation that had just been full of zen-like wisdom suddenly turned into this?
The Holy Maiden was blatantly threatening her. She was an old woman now; how could this girl be so shameless?
However, at this point, there was indeed no need to keep some secrets hidden.
The Grand Elder finally spoke: “When the previous Grand Elder divined the first prophecy, his abilities were still limited, and the meaning was vague. He only knew that the Wumiao’s prosperity was somehow related to Great Zhou having no legitimate heir.”
Jiang Si was stunned: “Just because of a vague prophecy, you sent the Empress Dowager to Great Zhou?”
The Grand Elder looked at Jiang Si and said: “When it concerns the survival of our tribe, it’s better to believe it exists than to doubt it. Now it seems we might have made a mistake…”
Jiang Si: “…”
“You already know the second prophecy—that the seventh son of the dragon would bring the dawn, dispelling the darkness of the Wumiao.”
Jiang Si lowered her gaze in deep thought, then asked: “After Ajin was born, he was sent out of the palace with the reputation of being unlucky for the Emperor Emeritus. Was this related?”
The Grand Elder nodded: “The Empress Dowager received such an order, though she didn’t know about this prophecy. The third prophecy is somewhat strange—”
“What is it?”
The Grand Elder uttered two words: “Borrowed seed.”
Jiang Si was stunned, then realized: “So, my grandmother wasn’t abandoned by a scholar, but rather—”
The Grand Elder’s expression was complex: “She should be considered an accidental success. Back then, after receiving the hint of ‘borrowed seed’ from the prophecy, the tribe arranged for twenty-nine young women to come to Great Zhou. They became wives and concubines of Great Zhou men. If they gave birth to boys, they would continue living there. Once they had a daughter, they would return to the Wumiao with that daughter…”
Jiang Si didn’t want to hear more: “Grand Elder, you don’t need to say anymore. I understand.”
Concerning the survival of an entire tribe, she could understand the Wumiao’s actions, but she couldn’t appreciate them.
The Grand Elder clearly understood Jiang Si’s thoughts and sighed inwardly: But we ultimately did the right thing, didn’t we?
The Grand Elder left quietly, just as she had quietly arrived in Great Zhou, though this time she had a companion.
Jiang Si remained in low spirits due to the third prophecy.
Yu Jin rushed to cheer her up as soon as he finished holding court.
“Asi, has the Grand Elder left?”
“Yes, she has.”
“Good riddance. Don’t let her come again.” He didn’t welcome such an unpleasant guest who made Asi unhappy!
Jiang Si was somewhat troubled: “I’m still the Holy Maiden of the Wumiao. If they have issues in the future, I’m afraid I’ll have to help.”
Yu Jin understood her dilemma but smiled dismissively: “It doesn’t matter. After I please Father Emperor for a few years, I’ll eliminate the Xuemiao. With their mortal enemies gone, the Wumiao won’t have so many troubles to bother you with.”
Mentioning the Emperor Emeritus, Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile: “Speaking of which, Father Emperor seems to laugh more often since becoming Emperor Emeritus.”
Yu Jin’s face darkened.
The old man was clever; why else would he have passed on the burden so early?
“Your Majesty, something terrible has happened—” Xiao Lezi rushed in urgently.
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “What is it?”
Xiao Lezi was out of breath: “The, Emperor Emeritus—”
Yu Jin and Jiang Si exchanged a glance and quickly stood up: “What happened to the Emperor Emeritus?”
An elderly person couldn’t compare to the young; hopefully, there wasn’t a health issue.
Xiao Lezi, still panting, said: “The Emperor Emeritus saw General Xiaotian fighting with Jixiang again. He ran over to stop them, but General Xiaotian knocked him down!”
Yu Jin and Jiang Si rushed towards the Imperial Garden upon hearing this. From afar, they saw Emperor Jingming waving a golden willow branch, shouting at Erniu with full vigor: “Such a big dog, can’t you go easy on Jixiang a bit? Huh?”
If not for Jixiang’s sake, at least for his sake as the Emperor Emeritus!
Yu Jin and Jiang Si exchanged smiles, deciding not to disturb the Emperor Emeritus as he scolded Erniu. They strolled towards the area filled with a flourish of flowers.