The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 611: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed in the Struggle for the Throne (23)

Sure enough, not long after that day, several consorts who had spoken out of turn while attending to the sickbed were demoted or placed under house arrest, with no regard whatsoever for the dignity of the several princes involved.

The reason was also quite simple:

Negligence in attending to the sickbed, disrespectful towards the Empress.

Everyone: "..."

His Majesty truly didn't even bother to put on an act.

Negligence? Who was it that, day after day without fail, endured the biting wind and sudden snow from morning till night, bearing the pungent smell of medicine to attend to the Empress's sickbed? And who was it that, seeing the fine weather, lazed about in the palace enjoying comfort, not even willing to take a single step outside?

Yet, no matter how indignant they felt, some things were true, and deep down, they felt guilty.

Just looking at the Imperial Noble Consort, still carefree and living high every day, and then looking at themselves who had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, they couldn't help but feel depressed:

This Empress, her tolerance is really a bit too good.

Someone like that, if it were them...Well, alright, they wouldn't dare either.

Putting aside other things, their nine clans and families were still important!

Despite the concerted efforts of all the imperial physicians, the Empress ultimately did not survive this winter. However, in these times, living to one's fifties was already considered a long life. Moreover, in her early years, she was caught between the emperor and the Empress Dowager, and had personally witnessed the overnight decline of her family and closest relatives.

Her own cousin executed by waist-chopping in the street.

Even the few younger siblings of the Zhou family she had previously worried about now only had the youngest sister left.

In fact, if it weren't for the Empress holding onto her position all these years, the situation for these Zhou family members would have been even worse...

The current emperor is truly ruthless!

Thinking of this, those who had been somewhat restless because of the position of the next empress immediately put away their little schemes.

And soon, the thing everyone feared most happened.

A year later, in the imperial court, the current emperor indeed brought up the matter of establishing a new empress again, and with an absolutely irreversible attitude, directly issued an imperial edict to establish the empress.

He gave these people no chance to oppose.

Crown Prince: "..."

All court ministers: "..."

What to do, it's not surprising at all!

In the court, many people secretly looked up, their eyes pausing on the face of the emperor above, which was still well-maintained.

Tsk, such a terrifying true love...

Sigh, to be honest, the fact that the current emperor hadn't abolished the empress and re-established one all these years was already beyond their expectations.

So what if it's establishing a new empress!

So what if the new empress is the birth mother of the former deposed crown prince?

A small matter!

Bah, what small matter! In the crowd, an old stickler with white whiskers nearly jumped up to curse.

You're the emperor already, what's with this nonsense about true love!

Oh, without this true love, this emperor before us would have been gone long ago...

Like a balloon suddenly punctured, the previously furious censor, who had wanted to write tens of thousands of words of remonstrance, instantly deflated.

The second year, spring was bright, with swallows from the south flying in pairs.

On the day of the empress establishment ceremony, An Ning, for once, got up very early and was enthusiastically dressing and grooming herself all the way, though she quickly deflated due to the complex and cumbersome rituals.

Seeing this, the last trace of hesitation in Xiao Qi's heart vanished completely.

Actually, whether to establish A-Yue as empress or not, Emperor Xuanming had considered it earlier. If it were back at the beginning, when he had just returned from the brink of death, with the future days still uncertain, he definitely would not have given her the empress position.

Not to mention the series of problems that would arise from an empress's legitimate son.

The new emperor not being his own child—if she were just a grand imperial consort, after his death, she could still return to the fiefdom with Yu'er. But as Empress Dowager, wouldn't she have to stay in the capital? Under the watchful eye of the new emperor, and with Yue'er being too naive, even with the position of Empress Dowager, she might not be able to gain any advantage from that mother and son pair.

But now, gazing at the bright eyes and brows of the person beside him, he had to admit that, after all, they were still "husband and wife," and sharing the same grave in life and death was just too tempting.

Besides, from the current perspective, by the time he passed away, Yue'er wouldn't be young anymore. Making the long and arduous journey back to the fiefdom might not necessarily be a good thing either.

Thinking of this, Xiao Qi decisively made his decision.

As for the two sons who might unintentionally get caught in the crossfire because of this?

Ahem... Yu'er was originally the former crown prince; keeping a low profile in the future and receiving extra attention from the new emperor is normal. Adding the identity of a legitimate son doesn't make much difference anyway!

Thinking this way in his heart, and with the occasional small hand of the person beside him pinching him, Emperor Xuanming himself soon felt exceptionally comfortable both physically and mentally, briskly casting aside all previous concerns.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire front court and rear palace, this grand wedding was undoubtedly exceptionally magnificent.

As if to showcase the joy in his heart, vast stretches of red silk were laid out from the palace gates all the way to the depths of the inner palace.

After all, with years of "diligent exercise," not to mention Xiao Qi, An Ning's own physical fitness was quite good. In the evening, after bathing, lying alone amidst the vast red silk, An Ning's enthusiasm was visibly quite high.

However, the result of such high enthusiasm was that, on the second day of the wedding, unlike An Ning herself, who was radiant with a healthy glow and spirited from within, as if... ahem... the emperor truly couldn't get up!

Early the next morning, the Crown Prince Xiao Ye, who had taken on the heavy responsibility at thirty and shouldered a lot of official duties: "..."

Imperial Father, haha!

Of course, after dealing with a pile of memorials, on the second day, His Highness the Crown Prince still diligently practiced swordsmanship for an extra half hour.

Putting aside other things, given Imperial Father's intellect, being able to play like this shows that his health these past two years has been quite well maintained.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Ye told himself once again that he could wait.