Chapter 529: Anointing the Crown Prince
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wei Huai’en brought the young eunuchs to help the old emperor change his clothes, then let Wei Liao in to carry the old emperor out.
At this moment, the old emperor was already very sick. He could not even stand up. Usually, he could only lie in bed. Today was the day to confer the title of Crown Prince. He had to be there personally and could only force himself to stay awake.
Wei Liao quickly walked in and knelt on one knee in front of the bed, waiting to carry the old emperor out.
However, the old emperor said.
“Let Xiao Juan carry me.”
Wei Huai’en could only ask Wei Liao to leave and invite Xiao Juan in.
Xiao Juan knelt on one knee and bent down. When everyone helped the old emperor onto his back, he felt a weight on his back. Then, he stood up with the old emperor on his back and steadily walked out the door.
The old emperor leaned on Xiao Juan’s back and said weakly.
“In the past, I believed some rumors. Thinking that Ah Zhuo’s fate was not good, I sent him to the temple.”
“I didn’t pick him up until he was 20 years old. As a father, I owe him a lot.”
“However, he ignored the past and spent the past six months serving me with all his might. He’s a good child like you.”
Xiao Juan walked forward without looking sideways.
He knew that the emperor must have a purpose for saying these words, so he did not answer and only listened quietly.
The old emperor took a deep breath and continued.
“Although I’ve already issued a decree to make Ah Zhuo the Crown Prince, there are still many objections in the court.”
“They felt that Ah Zhuo had grown up in a temple since he was young. He was ignorant and did not have any outstanding achievements. He could not bear the burden of inheriting the throne.”
“In order to reduce their prejudice against Ah Zhuo,
I changed the narrative of your deed of capturing the spy of the Chen Nation in
Liaodong County and rescuing the kidnapped woman.”
“I’m having Ah Zhuo to take the credit for this deed. In exchange, Tang Guixi could continue to lead the East Expedition.”
“You should be able to accept it, right?”
Xiao Juan said expressionlessly, “I submit to His Majesty’s arrangements.” The old emperor smiled in satisfaction.
“I knew you wouldn’t mind. You’re a good child. You’ve done a lot for me over the years and didn’t let me down.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already told Ah Zhuo.”
Xiao Juan said, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
Wei Liao and Wei Huaien were just a step behind them. Even though the old emperor’s voice was very soft, Wei Liao and Wei Huaien could still hear him clearly.
Wei Huai’en’s expression did not change, as if he had not heard anything.
The corners of Wei Liao’s mouth curled up slightly into a mocking smile.
However, this smile disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Juan carried the emperor into the carriage.
After the emperor was settled, Xiao Juan jumped out of the carriage and rode to the front of the team.
At this moment, everyone was already here. Xiao Juan led the Eagle Guards to clear the way in front. The large group marched towards the city gate.
When they arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it was already noon.
The civil and military officials knelt on the ground and quietly listened to Wei Huai’en read the imperial edict loudly.
This imperial decree was dictated by the emperor and written by a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. A huge part of it was praised for the beautiful quality of the Seventh Prince, Shen Zhuo. For example, he was born with auspiciousness and had been talented since he was young. He knew how to love the commoners at a young age and had secretly done many good deeds that no one knew about.
When Yu Niaoniao heard this, she did not think there was anything wrong.
Wasn’t it just business flattery? It was just a process.
However, next, Wei Huai’en mentioned what happened in Liaodong County last year.
All the credit for designing the capture of human traffickers, rescuing the kidnapped woman, finding the spy of the enemy country, breaking the huge conspiracy of the Chen Nation, returning the commoners’ fields… was given to the Seventh Prince, Shen Zhuo.
It was because of Shen Zhuo’s secret arrangements that Xiao Juan could do these things.
In short, all of this was Shen Zhuo’s achievement.
As one of the people who had accompanied Xiao Juan through life and death in Liaodong County, Yu Niaoniao could not take it anymore.
She was about to look up when Xiao Juan, who was kneeling beside her, reached out and pressed her down.
She turned to look at Xiao Juan, only to see him looking down at the ground. There was no anger or surprise on his face, as if he had known that such a thing would happen.
Yu Niaoniao wanted to ask what was going on.
However, considering that it was not appropriate to make a sound at this moment, she could only shut her mouth and choose to remain silent. Whatever else Wei Huai’en said next, Yu Niaoniao could not listen to a word.
She was filled with anger now.
She had never hated Shen Zhuo so much.
It was clearly not his achievement. How could he accept all of this with a clear conscience?
Didn’t he feel guilty?!
After reading the imperial edict, Shen Zhuo stood up and took it with both hands. The emperor personally put on the golden dragon crown that represented his new status. Everyone shouted in unison, “Long Live the Crown Prince!”
Yu Niaoniao kept her mouth shut.
Shen Zhuo stood at a high place and looked at the scene of the civil and military officials submitting to him. At this moment, it was as if all living beings were ants, and he was the emperor who controlled the life and death of everyone in the world.
This condescending feeling was too fascinating.
Next was to worship the ancestors and tell their ancestors about Shen Zhuo becoming the Crown Prince so that they could bless the Shen family’s territory to be passed down from generation to generation.
When the entire ceremony was completed, it was already afternoon.
During this period, everyone had to kneel non-stop. It was boring and tiring, and they could not eat or drink. They could not even go to the toilet.
If it were in the past, Yu Niaoniao would definitely be dizzy from hunger.
But now she was so focused on sulking that she forgot to be hungry.
Yu Niaoniao returned to the carriage and Chun Feng immediately served refreshments.
“You must be hungry, right? Quickly eat something to fill your stomach.”
Yu Niaoniao said angrily, “No! I’m full of anger!”
Chun Feng hurriedly asked, “Who made you angry? Tell Duke Lang and ask him to avenge you.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “There’s no point in telling him.”
The emperor had personally issued the imperial edict. The contents were decided by him. If anyone dared to question it, it was equivalent to going against the emperor.
Even if Xiao Juan was Duke Lang, he still could not resist the imperial power.
Chun Feng did not know the inside story and did not understand what Yu Niaoniao meant. However, seeing that Yu Niaoniao had no intention of explaining in detail, she tactfully did not ask further and asked.
“What do you want to eat when you get home later? Or do you want to sleep and rest first?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “I have to go to the palace later.”
Chun Feng said, “Then you should eat something first, lest you feel uncomfortable when you enter the palace later.”
Yu Niaoniao thought about it and agreed. It was not worth starving her body for that bastard Shen Zhuo, so she grabbed the cake and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing hard.
Looking at her ruthlessness, it was as if she was biting someone’s flesh instead of cake..
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