Today, Ruhui Palace was much noisier than usual. The palace servants walked with brisk steps, and a festive joy lingered on everyone's faces.
Ji Zhaoxi was dragged out of her sleep. She let the elderly maids dress her, letting out a massive yawn.
Xiao Yanchen was ascending the throne; why did she have to wake up this early?
When Ji Zhaoxi sobered up a bit, she looked at her reflection in the mirror with a bewildered expression. She was wearing an extremely grand outfit—a black robe with gold patterns, its collar and cuffs embroidered with cloud dragons in gold thread.
She silently met the eyes of the elderly maid in the mirror, the two staring at each other.
The maid smiled, her face wrinkling up. It is like this, Lord Ji. The Seventh Prince said he wanted to wear the same clothes as you, so the ministers would all know about the relationship between you two.
This indeed suited Xiao Yanchen's personality.
Perhaps because he was too busy today, he hadn't shown up at Ruhui Palace at all.
The azure sky was devoid of a single floating cloud. The air was incredibly clear, to the point where one could even see the fine dust motes in the space. Sunlight hit the Hall of Supreme Harmony, refracting a piercing white light.
Up in the Bell and Drum Tower of the Forbidden City, the giant bell that had been silent all night was struck.
Dong—
The bell tolled with an air of majesty, echoing between the palace walls. It rang one hundred and eight times in succession, each strike heavy and resonant.
After the bell in the tower finished, the massive drums at the Gate of Supreme Harmony began to beat in unison. Amidst the sounds filling the sky, the civil and military officials were already waiting on the white marble square. The civil officials, led by the Grand Secretaries, lined up on the east side, while the military generals, clad in armor, lined up on the west. Outside the square stood tens of thousands of imperial guards.
When everyone was in position on the white marble square, the bells and drums ceased.
The square instantly plunged into silence. All the officials held their breath in the sunlight, awaiting the arrival of the sovereign.
Welcome—His—Majesty—
The ceremonial officer's face flushed red as he shouted at the top of his lungs, dragging out the final syllable. His voice seemed ready to pierce the sky.
The grand doors of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were slowly pushed open.
The dim hall was immediately flooded with sunlight from the square. Ji Zhaoxi stood expressionless in the center, though anyone familiar with her would know her mind had already wandered off a while ago.
A warm hand gripped her palm firmly, its thumb brushing against the back of her hand.
Xiao Yanchen did not let go. He held Ji Zhaoxi tightly, stepping out of the grand hall shoulder to shoulder with her.
Amidst the solemn drum music, the two walked up the white marble steps one by one.
The dragon robes made a soft rustling sound against the ground, a sound that seemed infinitely magnified across the square. The imperial guards on both sides kept their heads bowed, standing in two endless rows.
They finally crossed the last step. Sunlight struck the pure gold nine-dragon throne, making it appear even more supreme and untouchable.
Ji Zhaoxi stood before the throne, while Xiao Yanchen stood beside her, looking at her intently.
Ji Zhaoxi was a bit bewildered by him.
What are you doing...
Before Ji Zhaoxi could react, Xiao Yanchen rested his hands gently on her shoulders and pressed her down into the center of the cold throne.
The officials below also watched this scene with dumbfounded expressions.
The Minister of Rites walked over tremblingly. Just as he was about to raise the imperial seal and shout Long live His Highness,
Xiao Yanchen calmly took out an authentic edict stamped by the Emperor himself from his robes. His voice pierced clearly through the air.
A secret edict from the late Emperor: This Prince has a perverse temperament and is unfit to inherit the great lineage. The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicature and Revision, of the Ji clan, possesses the talent to save the world... Therefore, the throne is abdicated to Ji Zhaoxi.
A dead silence fell over the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The Minister of Rites beside them rolled his eyes back and fainted dead away, the items in his arms scattering across the floor. The few white-haired civil officials standing at the very front had completely glazed-over looks in their eyes.
Ji Zhaoxi's mind went a bit blank from the bright sunlight.
She silently observed the expressions of the officials below: shock, anger, sorrow, despair. There was also one person who maintained a face full of smiles. She looked closely—it was Eunuch Liu.
He had been watching the expressions of the officials around him, looking incredibly amused.
Did she just reach the absolute peak of being an honest person?
Xiao Yanchen turned around and, under everyone's gaze, took the pearl-adorned imperial crown of the Son of Heaven.
His voice was deep, but his eyes were filled with mirth.
Since Royal Father is unwell, then I—his only legitimate eldest son—shall personally crown the new Emperor.
Xiao Yanchen carefully placed the crown atop Ji Zhaoxi's head. The clinking sound of the pearls on the crown was clearly audible across the square.
A few ministers could no longer stand steady, holding onto each other for support. Under everyone's horrified gaze, Xiao Yanchen was the first to kneel before Ji Zhaoxi on the throne.
Your subject, Xiao Yanchen, greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live!
The tens of thousands of imperial guards outside the square knelt in unison. Their armor clashing against the ground produced a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the entire square.
Long live! Long live! Long, long live!
The shouts of tens of thousands of men frightened the civil officials who were still murmuring, turning their faces pale. They had no choice but to follow suit and kneel.
Ji Zhaoxi watched this scene, her eyes shining astonishingly bright.
She silently swore in her heart that she would definitely be a good emperor from now on!
The new Emperor ascended, and a general amnesty was declared across the world.
The Noble Consort and Xiao He were also released from the palace, taking residence in a mansion somewhere in the capital.
The imperial palace was a place of heartbreak for the Noble Consort. First herself, then her father, and finally her son.
Fortunately, she still had Xiao He by her side.
The person who had accompanied her into the palace back then was Xiao He, and the one accompanying her out now was still Xiao He.
After ascending the throne, Ji Zhaoxi was beyond thrilled. Calling herself Zhen left and right, she sat on the throne reading memorials, making Xiao Yanchen serve her tea and water.
The night was deep, the sky presenting a rich, dark azure. With no clouds to block the view, the stars above were exceptionally prominent.
As soon as Xiao Yanchen entered the hall, he saw the newly crowned Majesty leaning askew in a pile of brocades, sound asleep with an unfinished law book still clutched in her arms.
Xiao Yanchen leaned in, his eyes full of tenderness, and secretly touched the dark circles under her eyes.
Emperor Ji Zhaoxi fell asleep even earlier than the master detective Xiao Xizi.
And so, the next day, Ji Zhaoxi officially began her career as an emperor.
Between three and five in the morning, before the sky had even brightened, the hall was already bustling with activity.
She draped herself over Xiao Yanchen with her eyes closed, letting him dress her.
Xiao Yanchen kissed her forehead and frowned, saying, Xixi, how about we just skip the morning court?
Ji Zhaoxi struggled to open her eyes and said seriously, No. Since I became the Emperor, I must fulfill an emperor's duties.
The morning sunlight filtered through the wooden windows, casting light onto the long desk.
Ji Zhaoxi wore casual attire, her long hair pinned up with a jade hairpin. After taking a few sips of tea, her eyes gradually cleared.
Xiao Yanchen sat beside her in a relaxed posture, sipping his tea.
The high-ranking minister opposite them clutched his memorial tightly, looking as if he were walking on thin ice.
The Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicature and Revision wore an ingratiating smile. Just a few days ago, he had relied on his wealth of experience to mock Ji Zhaoxi, never expecting that in the blink of an eye, Ji Zhaoxi would become the Emperor.
Ji Zhaoxi held the files regarding the refugees of Qin County.
Lord Lin, Ji Zhaoxi looked calmly at the Minister. This file states that the funds allocated to Qin County will take until March to arrive. But Zhen remembers that in the corruption case the Court of Judicature and Revision tried this year, there was still hard silver being withheld.
The Minister of Revenue was starting to sweat profusely. He stammered, "Your Majesty, those funds are for emergency needs..."
Beside him, Xiao Yanchen gave a cold sneer.
The Minister of Revenue: ...
Ji Zhaoxi coughed lightly and spoke, "My intention is to resolve our most pressing crisis first. As for the national treasury, once I finish investigating the unjust cases currently in my hands, the confiscated properties will be used to replenish it."
She looked over at the Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple, who straightened his back and nodded.
The Emperor truly lived up to the fact that she came from their Dali Temple; she still favored their Dali Temple the most!
