novelraw Chapter 393
Chapter 393
A casual remark frightened Ji Yao so much that he immediately fell to his knees.
The new emperor had been acting so amiable lately that he had momentarily forgotten—this was a sovereign, but also a general who had once slaughtered his way into the capital over a mountain of corpses!
Yan Zheng tapped his knuckles twice on the dragon desk. "However, what you said makes sense. Gu Sun has disciples all over the world, and the political situation is unstable. It is better for these scholars to stay quiet." He frowned in thought for a moment, then said lightly, "Go and tell him that his youngest son, Gu Bingzhi, can return to the capital. His two grandsons have also reached the age for examinations and can participate in the imperial exams. Oh, right..."
He paused, rummaging through a pile of memorials to find two reports. "His fourth son, Gu Lanzhi, favored his concubine and abused his wife, driving his original spouse, Madam Yue, out of the estate. Now, the matter has been reported to the Shuntian Prefecture. Let him handle this issue."
His words were methodical and unhurried, but the chill in Ji Yao's heart only deepened.
How was this looking after him? This was clearly forcing Gu Sun to make a choice!
Whether to protect Gu Feiyan, or to protect the entire Gu clan...
Sure enough, when the words reached Gu Sun's ears, the old minister trembled like a leaf. After struggling for a long time, he slowly, inch by inch, knocked his head against the ground. "This old minister... receives the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"
To receive the decree and give thanks meant he had chosen the latter.
Sympathy flashed in Ji Yao's eyes. "Old Sir, do not blame the Emperor. After all, Her Majesty the Empress has weathered the storms with him. Their bond is extraordinary."
How could Gu Sun not know? But thinking of his granddaughter, he could not help but burst into old tears. "Feiyan was foolish... We spoiled her too much. She always thought we could cover for her no matter what, but..."
Ji Yao patted his shoulder and turned away.
Saying anything more would be useless. He could see it clearly now: offending the new emperor might not guarantee death, but offending the empress was an absolute death sentence.
Outside the Imperial Study.
When Chu Ruoyan entered, she ran into Ji Yao. She saw the newly appointed Minister of Revenue flinch in terror, almost performing the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Confused, she touched her cheek. Was she really that scary?
As soon as she walked in, she heard Yan Zheng say joyfully, "Ayan, come and look. These are the honorary titles I had the Ministry of Rites draft."
In front of her, he never referred to himself as the royal "We."
Chu Ruoyan walked over and saw the dense list of titles submitted by the Ministry of Rites. She read aloud, "Rouzhen, Duanjing, Zhaoyan... Why do these sound like titles for a woman? Shouldn't yours be something like Kaiyuan or Shengwen?"
Yan Zheng pulled her into his arms, prompting the nearby maids and eunuchs to lower their heads.
"They are for a woman. They are for you."
Chu Ruoyan's eyes widened instantly, and she hurriedly stood up from his embrace. "Are you crazy? The honorary titles of empresses in past dynasties were only given after death. There has never been a precedent of conferring one while they were still alive!"
"Ayan!" The man stood up as well, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Past dynasties are past dynasties, and this dynasty is this dynasty. If I want to give you an honorary title, who can say otherwise?"
After speaking, he picked up a vermilion brush and circled the title Zhaoyan. "This one is not bad. It signifies illustrious virtue and merit, and it has your name in it. Let's go with this one."
Chu Ruoyan gasped, feeling that her man had truly gone mad. If word of this got out, the Censorate would be petitioning tomorrow to accuse her of overstepping ancestral rules and disrupting the court's order!
Yan Zheng seemed to see through her thoughts. He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't worry. I haven't appointed the Censor-in-Chief or the Vice Censor-in-Chief yet. We will wait until your empress coronation ceremony is over."
Seeing that he had considered everything so thoroughly, Chu Ruoyan could not think of any rebuttal for the moment. She could only say, "Anyway, let's wait until your enthronement ceremony is over..."
She would slowly find a chance to talk to him later.
Yan Zheng kissed her lips in satisfaction. Yin Shun coughed softly, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has also submitted the schedule for the enthronement ceremony. Would you like to take a look?"
So he hadn't even finished his own business, yet he was already arranging hers?
Chu Ruoyan was momentarily speechless and pushed him back into the dragon throne. "Eunuch Yin is right. Hurry up and attend to proper business!" After saying this, she remembered something and turned to look at Yin Shun. "Eunuch Yin, you've returned too?"
Yin Shun bowed. "Thanks to His Majesty's grace, this old servant is able to serve the two of you once again."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. After all, Yin Shun had served the late emperor for most of his life and had plenty of experience and tact. Having him by Yan Zheng's side could help share much of the burden.
After they had the imperial lunch together at noon, Chu Ruoyan finally said, "Father, Aunt, and the others haven't returned yet. I want to leave the palace for a bit to visit my uncle and aunt first..."
Yan Zheng immediately stood up. "Yin Shun, prepare the carriage. I will go with Ayan."
Chu Ruoyan hurriedly stopped him. "Don't. Your government affairs are piled up like a small mountain; how can you spare the time? Besides, I'm just going to visit my uncle and aunt. If the Emperor accompanies me, who knows how the people outside will gossip about me!"
Yan Zheng sneered, "Who would dare!"
"Even if they don't curse me aloud, they definitely will in their hearts. I know you want to give me face, but it's better to keep a low profile at this time. Let's wait until everything settles down, alright?"
The woman's clear eyes looked at him just like that, and Yan Zheng surrendered on the spot. "Alright. I'll have Yin Shun and Meng Yang go with you, and the shadow guards will follow to protect your safety. Ayan, you must promise me: go safely and return safely!"
After all, the great chaos had just ended, and the situation was still not entirely stable.
Chu Ruoyan originally wanted to say that Yin Shun was unnecessary, but seeing his solemn expression, she feared that if she argued further, he really would insist on going himself. Thus, she relented and agreed.
In front of the Cao Estate's main gate.
Old Madam Cao and Cao Yang and his wife stood waiting quietly.
Chu Jing was still sighing with emotion, "It feels just like a dream. Husband, can you believe it? The Chief Grand Secretary became the Emperor, and Ruoyan has become the Empress..."
Cao Yang didn't find it surprising. Given how the late emperor had been slaughtering people left and right recently, even if the world didn't belong to the Yan family, it would no longer belong to the Murong family.
Old Madam Cao said in a deep voice, "Times have changed. The Chu girl has flown up to the high branches. We must absolutely not act as we usually do. We must welcome her with the attitude of subjects. Do you understand?"
The entire Cao household resoundingly agreed.
Soon, a bright yellow large palanquin carried by eight people appeared before them. In front and behind it, yellow and red satin dragon and phoenix fans and pheasant tail fans were held high. The procession was massive and imposing. But what startled the Cao family the most were the escorts...
One was Yin Shun and the other was Meng Yang, both highly favored figures before the new emperor.
Dispatching these two to accompany her fully demonstrated how highly regarded Empress Chu was!
"This old woman greets Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Cao Yang, along with his wife and children, greets Her Majesty the Empress!"
Everyone in the Cao family bowed down. Chu Ruoyan hurriedly stepped down from the imperial carriage and helped them up. "Great-aunt, Uncle, and Aunt, please don't do this. Quickly, get up."
Cao Yang, however, insisted, "Etiquette cannot be discarded!"
Only after performing half a bow was he forcibly pulled up. Chu Ruoyan sighed, "Uncle, what am I to do with you acting like this? I originally wanted to come and ask for your advice. The Emperor insists on giving me an honorary title..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Cao Yang's eyes widened. "What? An honorary title!!"
Seeing his massive reaction, Chu Ruoyan felt even more despair. If even her open-minded uncle couldn't handle it, she could only imagine the immense uproar Yan Zheng would cause when he brought it up at her empress coronation ceremony.
Yin Shun smiled genially and said, "Your Majesty, First-Rank Madam, and Lord Cao, why don't we head inside the manor before continuing this conversation?"
Old Madam Cao nodded. "Yes, yes! Please, Your Majesty, do come inside first."
Chu Ruoyan's lips twitched slightly. Just as she was about to step over the threshold, the sudden clatter of horse hooves erupted behind them. She turned to look, only to see Xie Zhizhou galloping wildly toward them. His clothes and hair were in disarray, and his face was deathly pale.
"Father-in-law! Mother-in-law! Ling'er is missing! Do you have any idea where she went?!"