Font Size:
Ji Yucang proved through actions that once one starts indulging in pleasures, it becomes a matter of either never doing it or doing it countless times.
In the nights that followed, Shen Ning experienced extreme pleasure and, the next morning, extreme soreness in her waist and legs.
She expressed great dissatisfaction with this, momentarily unable to determine whether it was her physical strength that was lacking or if there was an inherent difference between men and women in such matters.
Since her body had recovered, she extended her martial arts training time each day, eager to improve her physical strength, as she truly did not want to be so embarrassed again.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Ji Yucang appointed Chu Yunxiao as the Grand General of the Southern Expedition, leading an elite force of 100,000 soldiers and 10,000 cavalries, heading straight for Nan Dynasty.
From this day forward, it signified that Nan Dynasty’s fate was sealed with no chance of recovery.
While dealing with the military campaigns, internal affairs were not neglected.
After Qin Yanshu was executed, the imperial uncle and his wife remained silent for a long time. The entire court believed they had accepted their fate, but unexpectedly, they were secretly rallying officials, planning to impeach the Regent for abusing his power after the New Year and forcing Ji Yucang to relinquish his regency powers and return governance to the Emperor.
After the court session on the sixth day of the first month, several memorials requesting the Emperor to govern personally appeared in the court. Initially, Ji Yucang was busy with the logistics of the army’s departure and did not pay attention. However, as more and more memorials appeared on his desk, he finally brought up the matter on the tenth day, discussing it with the entire court.
“The late Emperor passed the throne to the Emperor because he believed the Emperor was capable of ruling the country. However, the Emperor’s actions since his ascension have been greatly disappointing,” Ji Yucang sat on the throne, coldly surveying the officials in the hall. “The Emperor is ignorant and stubborn, lacking in judgment. If he were to govern personally now, he would only be manipulated by others, leading to the loss of imperial power. After much consideration, I have decided that the Emperor should not govern personally for the time being. If any of you find my regency inappropriate, perhaps we can discuss enthroning a new Emperor. What do you all think?”
“Enthroning a new Emperor?” The Imperial Uncle, Qin Guoju looked at him in disbelief. “Is the Regent planning to claim the throne for himself? That would be an illegitimate and unjustifiable act of usurpation!”
“There’s no need for such excitement, Lord Imperial Uncle.” Xie Tinglan said with a faint smile. “I’ve heard that Princess Pingyao has her eyes on the throne. The Princess was greatly favored by the late Emperor and holds the Dragon Whip and the Imperial Fan. Most importantly, she has a private guard regiment bestowed by the late Emperor, indicating that the late Emperor also had high hopes for Princess Pingyao.”
When the Right Prime Minister made this statement, the entire court was shocked, their expressions changing dramatically: “What did the Right Prime Minister say?”
“Princess Pingyao has her eyes on the throne? Preposterous, absolutely preposterous!”
“She’s a woman who indulges in debauchery, disregarding moral principles and rules. That’s already bad enough, but now she wants to bring such untraditional ideas into the imperial power, aspiring to the throne as a mere woman? It’s simply unthinkable!”
“Absolutely impossible!”
“If Princess Pingyao dares to harbor such thoughts, it’s a great insult to the heavens. The late Emperor’s spirit in heaven would never agree!”
“If Princess Pingyao truly dares to aspire to the throne, this old official would rather die by ramming into a pillar. Otherwise, I would have no face to meet the late Emperor, nor our ancestors—”
“Are you all so indignant that you’re condemning me?” Princess Pingyao seemed to enjoy appearing out of nowhere. She walked into the hall with a cloak, looking at the protesting and dissatisfied expressions of the crowd, sneering repeatedly, “What’s wrong with being a woman? Weren’t you all born from a woman’s womb? Go ask your mothers, without them, where would you be? Constantly belittling women, don’t you find it laughable?!”
The officials were speechless, their faces red with shame and anger: “Since you know that a woman’s duty is to bear children, why do you shamelessly aspire to seize the throne? Heaven created men to achieve great deeds and women to support their husbands and teach their children. Each should fulfill their respective roles! If everyone were like you, Princess, ignoring the distinction between men and women and confusing their responsibilities, wouldn’t that lead to chaos in the rules and the complete loss of moral principles?”
Princess Pingyao was too lazy to argue with them about grand principles. She simply said: “Being a woman, I can’t seize the throne? The more you say I can’t, the more I’ll show you I can!”
After saying that, she turned to Ji Yucang, as if issuing a challenge: “Uncle, the throne should be occupied by the capable. If you have no intention of becoming Emperor, why not depose the current Emperor and enthrone your niece as the female Emperor? It would also make history in Yong Kingdom with an unprecedented female ruler. Your niece thanks you in advance, Uncle.”
With that, she bowed slightly in a gesture of respect, then coldly surveyed the officials in the hall with a clear sense of provocation before turning to leave.
The officials pointed at Princess Pingyao’s retreating figure, simply unable to believe: “How dare the Princess have such a treasonous thought? If the late Emperor knew, he would surely… surely…”
“Regent, the Princess is so ambitious that she might cause turmoil in the state. Please, Regent, you must stop her!”
Thud, thud—the officials all knelt down.
“Please make a decision, Regent!”
“Regent, the Yong Kingdom throne must not fall into the hands of a woman!”
“Please uphold the legitimate succession of the throne, Regent, and do not let Princess Pingyao destroy our great Yong Kingdom!”
“You, Regent, are the one chosen by destiny. You can repel enemies from the outside and root out traitors from within. If the Yong Kingdom is to flourish for a thousand years, only you, Regent, are fit for the heavy responsibility. Please reconsider!”
The Imperial Uncle’s face was a mix of green and pale. The memorials accusing the Regent of harboring ambitions were suddenly interrupted by Princess Pingyao, and these brainless officials had indeed lost their composure in an instant.
Simply beyond stupidity!
“Princess Pingyao has always spoken recklessly. Whether she truly has ambitions is yet to be determined.” Ji Yucang tapped the armrest lightly, his voice cold. “However, I have recently received some memorials accusing the Imperial Uncle of corruption and collusion with certain officials in the court.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Qin Guoju’s face turned ashen: “This is slander!”
“Starting tomorrow, the Imperial Uncle need not attend court. We will make a decision after the truth of the matter is investigated.” Ji Yucang rose and ordered, “Court is dismissed!”