In the Rising Sun Palace, where the emperor usually used to discuss state affairs with his ministers, the princes and ministers who had been summoned early in the morning were making a lot of noise.
The news of the emperor's death was already known to everyone, but the edict left by the deceased emperor did not pass the throne to Prince Lu Fusu, but to Prince Lu Wuxian, Lu Fusu's younger brother. Most officials were dubious about this.
Amidst the mixed voices of "Unbelievable" and "It's true", the gong sounded.
The hall suddenly fell silent.
Accompanied by his mother, Concubine Chen, Lu Wuxian appeared in front of a large number of princes and ministers.
Wearing colorful clothes embroidered with gold and silver threads and a crown embellished with precious stones, his resplendent posture made it impossible for anyone to believe that he was in mourning.
"It's early, I'd like to thank you all."
The princes and ministers bowed silently one by one. Lu Wuxian climbed up the stairs and sat on the dragon chair. He raised his chin high and looked around the hall with satisfaction.
"As you all heard, my father passed away last night, and according to the edict he left behind, I will succeed him as emperor."
"Welcome Your Majesty..."
People who were close to Concubine Chen near the dragon chair congratulated her loudly, but subsequent congratulatory sounds were sparse.
The veteran standing in the front row showed a confused expression and took a step forward.
"I am scared... but as far as I know, the successor to the throne should be His Highness Prince Lu Fusu. What happened to His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"My imperial brother went with his father. After his father passed away last night, he learned from the edict that he was not the one to succeed to the throne. He was so sad that he committed suicide."
The hall was in an uproar.
"Quiet! My imperial brother's matter is not important. My father originally planned to pass the throne to me!"
"Can you let me see the edict with my own eyes? Your Highness Wuxian..."
Hearing the inexplicable leisurely voice, Lu Wuxian looked around and saw Zhuge Qing with his arms crossed, looking up at Lu Wuxian who was sitting high up with interest.
"Who are you?"
"How about Zhuge Qing, the doctor in the household department? Your Highness Wuxian. I and others are curious about the sudden change of the deceased emperor to a prince who is not the prince to inherit the throne, and some can't accept it. If the emperor's edict is still there, please be sure to read it here
Let me wait and take a look."
The hall fell silent again, everyone looked at Lu Wuxian.
"...How rude. Do you mean to doubt me?"
"This...it's okay to say it that way."
Lu Wuxian's face turned red with anger, he stood up and stamped his feet loudly.
"Okay, let me show you! But use your head to apologize for your rudeness!"
Facing the harsh roar, Zhuge Qing just shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay! I will offer this head to you. Please take out the edict and let us take a look."
"You are a bold and extremely rude maniac, show me clearly!"
Lu Wuxian quickly took out a piece of paper from his gorgeous clothes.
Zhuge Qing squinted his eyes and tilted his head to look at the thing. After looking at it once, he said impatiently: "This is a forgery."
"What did you say..."
"Forging an edict is a serious crime! Don't you think so? Your Highness, Prince Fusu!"
Zhuge Qing turned around and shouted towards the back.
Everyone looked over there at the same time.
A slender young man stood leaning against a pillar in the corner of the hall.
The young man slowly walked towards the princes and ministers who were so surprised that they were speechless.
"Step aside."
With a quiet word, everyone stepped back and separated to make way for the dragon throne.
Lu Wuxian stood stunned, and Concubine Chen screamed briefly.
"Lu Wuxian, the weather is really nice today."
"..."
"What's wrong? You don't look good. Why do you think you saw a dead person coming back from the dead?"
When he reached the center of the hall, Lu Fusu stopped.
"Speak! My good brother!"
"..."
"Last night your lover Cao Baoji came to me with some fine wine. I arrested her and put her in prison. But she seems to be a little lonely alone. Would you like to go in with her too?"
Lu Wuxian left the dragon chair with a pale face and stepped down the stairs.
"The edict...is true..."
"Really? You should have forced your father, who was seriously ill, to write it, right?"
Lu Fusu turned his head and looked behind him.
"Shui Xinyuan..."
Ding... there is the sound of a bell.
I don't know when, at the end of the road where the officials gave way, a young girl stood.
The girl raised her pretty and lovely face, holding a small plum branch with a bell in her hand, and approached Lu Fusu. Behind her was a girl in red clothes.
The princes and ministers began to make some commotion.
Some of them said that it was from "Snow Moon Wind Flower"...
Shui Xinyuan came to Lu Fusu's side and knelt down.
Qing'er handed the clothes to Shui Xinyuan and retreated to Zhuge Qing, who was standing nearby.
"Someone should still remember this woman..."
Lu Fusu looked around at everyone present.
"She was the palace concubine who danced the 'Snow Moon and Plum Blossoms' at Emperor Father's last banquet, Miss Shui Xin Yuanshui... At that time, she was rewarded with this dress by Emperor Father."
Lu Fusu looked at Shui Xinyuan.
After Shui Xinyuan nodded lightly, he spread his clothes on his legs.
Shui Xinyuan pulled out a thinly folded piece of paper from the seam of the red plum dress.
"please……"
Shui Xinyuan presented the piece of paper with both hands and handed it directly to Lu Fusu.
Opening the piece of paper, Lu Fusu handed it to his father-in-law nearby.
"Read it out."
"Your Highness?"
"Read it out loud."
The elderly father-in-law looked around nervously, then his eyes fell on the paper.
"edict……"
The expressions of the princes and ministers became nervous.
"Prince Lu Fusu ascended the throne according to the imperial edict...Other edicts presented by Prince Lu Wuxian are invalid, and the edict in this edict is true..."
"Thank you."
Lu Fusu took back the edict from the other party and held it up to Lu Wuxian.
"Want to get closer and take a closer look!"
"..."
"As you can see, this edict is hidden in the clothes that Emperor Father gave to Miss Shui. Emperor Father has long guessed that you and Concubine Chen will force him to write a new edict no matter what, so he has already made preparations to send this edict.
The edict was entrusted to me."
Lu Wuxian faltered and walked down another step.
"You should also be aware of the existence of this edict. Recently, the royal study and my bedroom have been frequently disturbed. Are you looking for this?"
"Actually...actually in that kind of place..."
"I had expected it, so I gave the edict to the person I trust most."
Shui Xinyuan couldn't help but raise his head.
Lu Fusu noticed it, looked down at Shui Xinyuan and smiled.
"I heard that Miss Shui is practicing 'Snow Moon, Wind and Flowers'. I believe she will perform a wonderful dance, so I prepared this set of clothes in advance."
"Your Highness Fusu..."
...It turns out you have always believed in me.
Even the most important edict related to your life...
...and gave it to me.
Not anyone else, but me.
"...!"
Suddenly there was a loud shout.
Lu Wuxian came running with his sword drawn.
Shui Xinyuan immediately wanted to jump in front of Lu Fusu, but was pushed back by Lu Fusu.
Zhuge Qing and several officials stood up and stood between Lu Wuxian and Lu Fusu.
Qing'er called Zhuge Qing's name.
Zhuge Qing knocked down Lu Wuxian's sword with the sword still in its scabbard, and other officials also restrained Lu Wuxian.
"Get the rope!"
Hearing Zhuge Qing's voice, the palace door opened at the same time, and the imperial army rushed in. In the blink of an eye, they tied up Lu Wuxian and took away Concubine Chen and several nobles.
The imperial army retreated, and the princes and ministers were in an uproar.
"……finished?"
"Yes, it's over."
Lu Fusu nodded and put the red coat on Shui Xinyuan's shoulders.
Shui Xinyuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Lu Fusu.
"...His Royal Highness Fusu is the emperor, right?"
"yes."
"Great...congratulations."
After smiling slightly, Shui Xinyuan prepared to retreat, and then Lu Fusu was about to ascend the throne.
But Lu Fusu grabbed Shui Xinyuan's hand.
"Why retreat?"
"Huh……"
"Go! Shui Xinyuan." Qing'er said to Shui Xinyuan.
"Qing'er..."
"You must be fine...I said so, and it will definitely be correct."
Qing'er and Zhuge Qing beside her smiled happily at Shui Xinyuan.
Shui Xinyuan looked at Lu Fusu.
"Come together... Shui Xinyuan."
There was a steady smile on his face.
The bell on the plum branch in my hand rang.
Can I believe...the moon is not far away?
Lu Fusu held Shui Xinyuan's hand.
Under his guidance, Shui Xinyuan walked forward.
Together with Lu Fusu, walk up the stairs leading to the throne.
When he reached the highest point, Lu Fusu turned around and faced the hall.
"...We will mourn the late Emperor for three days from today, and an announcement will be issued to the whole country in three days, but I will announce it to you now..."
Lu Fusu slowly looked at everyone present and said quietly: "Prince of Yuan Kingdom - Lu Fusu will succeed as the new emperor from today on. At the same time, I announce here that this girl Shui Xinyuan will become my queen."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Zhuge Qing saluted, and this time all the princes and ministers repeated it in unison.
……strangeness?
In the bustling hall, Shui Xinyuan tilted his head in confusion.
...queen...
It’s different from a concubine, right?
"Shui Xinyuan, what's wrong?"
"...His Royal Highness Fusu."
Shui Xinyuan looked up at Lu Fusu beside him in confusion.
"Am I a queen?"
"Yes what's the matter?"
"..."
...Not a concubine, but the emperor's main wife...
Shui Xinyuan's face suddenly turned pale.
"Then, then, that... doesn't the queen usually have to choose from the nobles' daughters..."
"That's generally true, but there's no rule that it has to be that way. Since she is my queen, of course I will choose her myself, that's it."
"..."
She was indeed jealous of the noble daughter who could approach Lu Fusu openly, and even cried because she had no chance to become the queen.
...But, I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it...
It will be me...
"The queen...isn't she a concubine?"
"I don't plan to have a concubine, as long as I have Miss Shui, it's enough. Speaking of which, the commotion this time was caused by the creation of a lot of queens and concubines, and the birth of different children. This problem occurred."
"..."
Feeling as if he had heard something outrageous, Shui Xinyuan just looked up at Lu Fusu blankly.
Zhuge Qing stood a little further away, looking at Shui Xinyuan's reaction jokingly, while Qing'er beside him pressed her forehead and sighed heavily.