Chapter 1358 -1193: Doubt

“There is one more imperial edict; I shall read it personally!” The Empress Dowager glanced at everyone and spoke to Gu Chengyu.

The officials looked at each other in confusion. The imperial edict for succession had already been issued; why was there another one to follow?

“Hear the decree, ministers!” The Empress Dowager took the second edict and unfurled it.

Gu Chengyu knelt down with the officials, staring at the white jade steps before him, his heart a mix of emotions!

“By the decree of the Emperor, following the mandate of Heaven: Insomuch as Emperor has spread virtue and grace throughout, respecting all things… Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Gu Chengyu, has served the nation with great merit, recognized by all, and his deeds shall last forever. Now, as Heaven wills, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Gu Chengyu is appointed Regent King to assist the young Emperor in governing the nation.

Hereby decreed!

The twentieth of March, second year of Guanghui.”

The issuance of this edict surprised both civil and military officials alike. They hadn’t expected the Emperor to make such a move on his deathbed.

“Bolder than the limits, may the Empress Dowager allow me to raise an objection!” Yu Zheng jumped out first. With most individuals in the court beginning to support Gu Chengyu, if Gu Chengyu were to become Regent King, how could they see better days in the future?

An eight-year-old puppet Emperor and a remarkably skilled Regent King; needless to say, the future of the Dayan Dynasty would belong to Gu Chengyu, indistinguishable from him ascending the throne. If the Eldest Prince remains incompetent, whether he can govern independently in the future is uncertain.

“Granted!” The Empress Dowager glared contemptuously at Yu Zheng, eager to see what nonsense they could spout.

Her son had barely passed away, and these people dared to oppose the imperial edict already? If her son were still alive, would they dare show such contempt?

She too had been worried that Gu Chengyu might control the government, making it difficult for Ye to reclaim power. However, after seeing these scheming faces, she understood her son’s intentions.

Whether Gu Chengyu would change his intentions in the future and cling onto power, at least for now, he has no such thoughts. Yet at this moment, these individuals have already schemed for Zhao’s dynasty.

Compared to these heartless ones, she would rather place her trust in Gu Chengyu. The objections to this edict are merely out of fear that the court will fall under Gu Chengyu’s control, rendering them unable to manipulate Ye.

“To the Empress Dowager, as the Emperor has passed, the throne should be inherited by the Eldest Prince without objection! However, though Minister of the Ministry of Justice Gu Chengyu has contributed to the court, he merely holds the standard third-rank position. It is inappropriate to rashly elevate him to first-rank Regent King. He is neither of royal kin nor an influential minister from the maternal side; having him regent is hard to accept. Moreover, non-royal princes have always been a taboo in the court; haven’t non-royal princes instigated rebellions less often?”

Yu Zheng deemed that both the Empress Dowager and the Empress would be unwilling for Gu Chengyu to become Regent King, where the Eldest Prince is young. Whether for personal interest or for the court, they wouldn’t want such a significant authority in Gu Chengyu’s hands.

Then, if not now, when should they provoke matters?

The Empress Dowager, being older, might lack such ambition, but the Empress, still in her prime, would she remain unmoved? If not her, what about the Lang Family behind her?

“I agree with Lord Yu’s reasoning. We arrived only to find the Empress Dowager and others waiting outside the hall before the Emperor’s passing; within the hall was only Gu, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. How do we know how the edict came to be? I doubt the authenticity of this edict and request the Empress Dowager to scrutinize it, lest you be deceived by treacherous ministers.” Lang Ping immediately stepped forward in agreement.

As the royal father-in-law, naturally, he hoped for the Empress to govern from behind the curtain. Such significant authority should not be given to Gu Chengyu.

Twelve years remain until the Emperor reaches maturity, even if crowned early, sufficient for the Langs to strategize. In a few years, the Lang Family could become one of the leading aristocratic families in the capital.

By then, even if the Emperor governs independently, the Lang Family would have firmly established themselves in the court as an unyielding entity, ensuring the Langs prosper for a hundred years.

Gu Chengyu sneered, knowing these individuals would not comply. But they had the edict in hand; unless the Empress Dowager and Empress forsake the Emperor’s final will, was it possible?

With the Emperor’s body still warm, if the Empress Dowager and Empress indeed acted in such dishonor, it would earn the world’s condemnation. Both illogical and unlawful.

Lang Ping shot a glance at the Empress, who hesitated, then looked at the edict in Gu Chengyu’s hand, her tear-filled eyes betraying complexity.

Ere now, consumed by grief over the Emperor’s passing, she hadn’t focused on court affairs. At her father’s reminder, the realization dawned on her.

The throne rightly succeeded by Ye was expected; yet, Ye was still young. Should Gu Chengyu persist in ruling when Ye seeks power, how would it be?

Moreover, while alive, the Emperor had been wary of the Langs, with only her father among their ranks in high positions, while other clansmen held lower offices. If she could govern from behind the curtain, seizing the opportunity to promote her family, it would fortify Ye’s reign.

The Lang Family could even ascend to the capital’s top tier aristocracy—wouldn’t this be a win-win situation?

Contemplating thus, the Empress felt they couldn’t permit Gu Chengyu as Regent King; otherwise, what of the Lang Family’s prospects?

“I second the motion!”

“I second the motion!”…

Gu Chengyu surveyed the ministers seconding the motion, committing their names and faces to memory, seeing they were displeased with him. Yet, they were naive; the more they opposed, the less likely the Empress Dowager would acquiesce. Not only would she refuse, but she would also guard against them.

Now, with the Eldest Prince ascending during such a difficult period, their actions were akin to Sima Zhao’s ambitions, universally perceived!

Compared to him, their impatience should worry the Empress Dowager more, lest the little Emperor should fall prey to their devouring greed, leaving nothing behind.

As for the Empress, Gu Chengyu glanced back at her, indifferent to her thoughts, irrelevant!

“Whether this edict is Emperor’s handwriting, you may verify! Furthermore, it bears the Jade Seal’s imprint; how dare you suggest forgery?”

Gu Chengyu carefully stored the edict, realizing they exploited the young Emperor’s vulnerability!

“With only you and the Emperor inside, how do we know you didn’t seize him and force this edict?” Lang Ping scoffed, claiming no eyewitnesses existed, so unanimous accusations, albeit true, could transform fact into illusion.

Should this edict be overturned, its benefits need not be mentioned. He had long pursued factionalism, gaining substantial ministerial support.

Gu Chengyu shook his head at their relentless persistence!

Just as the Empress Dowager prepared to dismiss them, a youthful voice echoed from the front, “This edict is indeed genuine; Father discussed it with me long ago!”

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