Turbulent.
Passionate.
And pressured.
Emperor Zhao Wen—it wasn’t her father, nor her eldest brother, nor her fourth brother, but herself!
That deeply buried ideal of saving the world and bringing peace to the people, of achieving great deeds as a woman—would it ultimately be realized?
Tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
But this was not the time for excitement or joy. Zhu Xuanyi immediately knelt and prostrated herself before Emperor Hui, crying out with immense fear and unease, “Father—”
Instantly, everyone in the garden knelt.
The throne changing hands, a woman ruling the world—what a tremendous upheaval!
Would the Emperor be enraged by this?
Only Zhu Xuanyu remained standing.
He was snapped back to reality by that cry of “Father.” Emperor Zhao Wen was not his father, nor was it him, not even Prince Chen.
It was Shunyang.
“An unprecedented, groundbreaking ascension—it turns out it meant a princess ascending the throne, a woman ruling the world!”
Why?
He had always taken his father as his role model, harboring a benevolent heart for the people. Where had he fallen short?
Was it because he had unintentionally caused the death of Shunyang’s son, leading to Prince Chen’s accusations, Shunyang’s revenge, and his father’s disappointment?
Those sinister tactics were merely for self-preservation!
For Shunyang, a mere woman, to ascend the throne—it must, it must be a military coup!
“Shunyang, you rebel and usurper!”
She married into the Yue family, with the Yue family’s support.
But the Yue family was his maternal family!
Marquis Wu’an was his own uncle, who had always looked after him.
Yue Guantang was his cousin, they grew up together, as close as brothers. Why, why…
Because of the child’s death?
That was unintentional. He had explained it to his uncle and cousin—hadn’t they forgiven him?
How could Shunyang know about future events? If she denied it now, but the Sky Screen said she did, how could she defend herself?
At this moment, she deeply understood that she needed not say much. All she had to do was kneel before Emperor Hui in this panicked, fearful, and uneasy manner.
Emperor Hui ignored the Crown Prince, his gaze heavy as he looked at the prostrating Princess Shunyang.
How did Shunyang come to power?
Surely, it couldn’t have been without the Wang family’s support. After all, the Sky Screen itself confirmed that Queen Wang was the woman behind the Sage Ruler.
Surely, it couldn’t have been without the Yue family’s support—how could it be done without the military?
Surely, it couldn’t have been without the support of civil officials. Which civil officials would they be?
Censor Lu Fengqiu was her teacher.
Duke Shen and Wang Jijiu were her maternal grandfathers, along with some cousins.
The Minister of Personnel had publicly praised her.
Some officials promoted from the provinces after her inspections…
Who else, who else?
Praise—hadn’t he himself praised her too?
Yiyi, so kind and filial, so clever and decisive.
If only Yiyi were a man, he would surely have made her Crown Prince, gathered virtuous ministers for her, and entrusted the Great Yin’s throne to her.
Not long ago, he had thought this.
A woman as Emperor—how could a woman be Emperor?
The Crown Prince was sufficient to maintain the status quo; he had never considered deposing him.
Princess Shunyang ascending the throne as Emperor—was it truly a military coup and rebellion?
Did it happen before or after his death?
Zhu Xuanyi, praised by the Sky Screen as the “Great Yin’s Filial Daughter,” knelt on the ground, her palms sweating. Would His Majesty kill her?
The Sky Screen acknowledged her achievements; with public opinion on her side, His Majesty would not kill her.
But could she still ascend the throne as Emperor, as the Sky Screen foretold?
“Yiyi, rise.”
What if it was rebellion? What if it wasn’t?
Emperor Zhao Wen, the Sage Ruler praised and recognized by Heaven itself!
“Zhao” was not enough, “Wen” was not enough—only when the critical and cautious ministers bestowed upon her the posthumous title “Zhao Wen” were they satisfied.
Heaven’s will is thus.
Is Heaven’s will truly thus?
“Yiyi, come sit by my side.”
Zhu Xuanyi looked up, tears welling in her eyes: “Father—”
Emperor Hui personally helped his beloved daughter to her feet.
Queen Wang temporarily set her heart at ease.
Would Emperor Hui truly make Princess Shunyang his successor? Though he appeared supportive now, that might not be the case.
Benevolence was his defining trait, yet so were his inability to utilize talents effectively, indecisiveness, fickleness, and tendency to abandon tasks halfway.
[Queen Wang was a remarkable individual—strict adherence to propriety formed her outward appearance, but in essence she was progressive-minded, bold, and open.]
Progressive-minded?
Wang Zhan expressed that he hadn’t noticed any particularly progressive thinking in this daughter of his.
As the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy who cherished classical texts, he pondered more deeply on such matters—could it be that his daughter had developed some extraordinary new ideology?
[When Queen Wang turned fifty, Your Majesty Xuanyi commanded the then Prime Minister Liu Feiran to compose a birthday tribute. True to his name, Liu Feiran demonstrated exceptional literary talent—the tribute was resplendent in diction and sincere in emotion. Even as seas changed into mulberry fields and times shifted, it could still move listeners to tears.]
Meanwhile, at the Censorate.
Liu Feiran, who had just returned to the capital after his second provincial assignment to serve as a censor—
Prime Minister!
Who would have thought he could become Prime Minister.
Currently he was merely a minor sixth-rank Attendant Censor in the Censorate, yet in a few years—
How many years exactly?
Queen Wang’s fiftieth birthday—how old was Queen Wang now? Ah, forty-three, wasn’t it?
In just seven years, he would rise from a minor sixth-rank official to Prime Minister?
Who could have imagined!
Colleagues cast glances his way.
“Congratulations, Feiran! Your future knows no bounds!”
Liu Feiran reined in his joyful expression, saying, “It all depends on His Majesty’s cultivation and Emperor Zhaowen’s trust!”
Thus thanking both Emperor Hui and the Princess.
“Aside from Chancellor Wang Zhan, the Queen’s father, Feiran is the second official mentioned by the Sky Screen!”
The speaker was Lu Fengqiu. Until today, he had been Deputy Censor-in-chief, and after today… he might remain Deputy Censor-in-chief.
But he possessed an exceptionally special identity—he was Princess Shunyang’s enlightenment teacher. His transfer from local administration back to the central government two years ago owed much to Princess Shunyang’s influence!
The Censor-in-chief, head of the Censorate, patted Lu Fengqiu’s shoulder with a knowing smile.
Liu Feiran and other colleagues remarked: “How do we know the Sky Screen won’t mention Fengqiu’s name?”
If the Princess ascended the throne, could her closely connected tutor possibly not contribute?
Who would believe that!
[This article first recounted Your Majesty Xuanyi’s sorrow at losing her birth mother young, then extensively described Queen Wang’s meticulous upbringing and unwavering support, allowing her to experience maternal love as profound as the ocean.
So what did this meticulous upbringing refer to? According to the birthday tribute, Queen Wang cultivated her qualities of kindness, resilience, courage, and fearlessness, encouraging her to uphold integrity while embracing innovation and daring to strive, making her realize she wasn’t merely a woman, but a person.
A person who, apart from gender, was no different from other men in the world. This essentially meant that, against the backdrop of a male-dominated era, the Princess was told she was equal to those imperial princes—and equality meant seizing power was perfectly justified.]
Emperor Hui cast an inscrutable look at Queen Wang: Well done! I entrusted you with raising the Princess, and you taught her these heretical doctrines! No wonder Xuanyi thought of becoming emperor—it was your influence!
It must be said that Emperor Hui regretted enfeoffing Wang Qingran as Queen.
At the Wang residence.
Madam Wang revealed an understanding smile and said, “This is about treating women as people, as equals to men!”
This ideology was far more important than sewing a few garments or preparing some meals for the princess.
Zhu Xuanyi listened attentively, thinking to herself: But it’s not just these things.
The queen mother placed great emphasis on physical health—not through consuming tonics, but through physical exercise.
Thus, although Zhu Xuanyi couldn’t wield a sword on the battlefield, she was capable of horseback riding and deer hunting.
If she could successfully ascend the throne, she must pass these values on to all women in the kingdom!
[So, what does “all manner of support” refer to? It is widely known that supporting the princess’s ascension is one aspect, while another is reflected in the matter of the princess’s marriage.]
Queen Wang raised an eyebrow: Is it time to talk about that matter?
Well, let’s talk about it then.
Emperor Hui frowned slightly: The princess’s marriage? Could it be that Queen Wang had been scheming so early on?
[Emperor Hui’s mother was a low-ranking consort who passed away early. He was adopted by Empress Gao, which gave him the opportunity to later become emperor. After Empress Dowager Gao’s death, Emperor Hui gradually bestowed favors upon his maternal family, granting official positions to relatives with little talent, and even intended to marry Princess Shunyang to his maternal cousin.]
A new illustration appeared, with the name “Mu Yu” written beside it.
He gazed at the princess, his eyes filled with longing for her. The princess, however, looked away, ignoring him.
“The way Mu Yu looks at the princess is just too…”
A soldier at Nanwoshan glanced at General Yue, sensing a chilling aura emanating from him.
[Mu Yu was shallow-minded, and neither the princess nor Queen Wang liked him. On one occasion, Queen Wang’s palace attendants overheard Mu Yu complaining to his mother that the princess was exchanging letters with her teacher Lu Fengqiu, accusing her of being unchaste.]
The Censorate.
Lu Fengqiu: …
Unchaste?
Mu Yu, have you lost your mind??
She’s the princess, my student! How could you interpret the exchange of letters and mentorship between teacher and student in such a way?
A dirty mind sees filth everywhere.
Colleagues in the Censorate: Oh… So even after Lu Fengqiu was assigned to a provincial post, he still exchanged letters with the princess. No wonder his official career has been so smooth!
Envy!
Duke Shen’s residence.
Duke Shen said to his youngest son, “How dare such a shallow and lowly common-born son aspire to marry the legitimate princess of the dynasty?”
The youngest son of Duke Shen: But that shallow common-born son is from the emperor’s maternal family. Isn’t the marriage arrangement the emperor’s decision? Father, it’s a good thing you’re saying this only within the residence.
Duke Shen was merely venting his frustrations quietly.
[A scholar living during the Zhaowen era of the Great Yin Dynasty wrote a book titled “Records of the Purple Clouds,” which primarily describes Your Majesty Xuanyi and her court officials, briefly touching upon this incident.]
Lu Fengqiu, Liu Feiran, and other court officials: Wait, let’s not talk about Mu Yu for now. Tell us about “Records of the Purple Clouds,” and about Your Majesty Xuanyi and her court officials!
That magnificent, well-governed, and harmonious era of Emperor Zhaowen of the Great Yin Dynasty, which countless people yearn for and wish they could travel through time to witness—did I play a part in it?
[The book records that Queen Wang was extremely angered upon hearing this, believing Mu Yu to be utterly selfish and self-centered, with no respect for women. Even someone as noble as the princess, if married to him, would be considered beneath him in his eyes.]
Duke Shen looked at his youngest son: “Is he insane? My granddaughter is of the highest nobility, bestowed with the fiefdom of Shunyang, the land of dragon ascension. How could marrying him make her beneath him?”
The younger uncle of Princess Shunyang was also indignant: “The princess is his sovereign, and he is her subject. How dare this brat treat the princess with such disrespect!”
Duke Shen: “I think he’s asking for a beating!”
The young uncle immediately understood—Mu Yu was still in Luojing. Once the sky screen event concluded, he would find someone and an opportunity to give him a beating!
[At this moment, Emperor Hui was about to issue an edict for the marriage arrangement. Queen Wang, failing to dissuade him, devised a plan and summoned her trusted aide.]
The dimly lit palace was illuminated by only a single candle. Queen Wang’s expression was icy as her confidant leaned in to listen—”Mu Yu is crude and devoid of virtue, unfit for the princess. I intend to eliminate him.”
Emperor Hui: “Queen!”
Mu Yu was his own nephew by blood—how dare the queen be so bold as to attempt killing a member of the imperial clan!
Emperor Hui was truly enraged.
The Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine. The gentle and virtuous Queen Wang actually—actually would do such a thing!
How deeply concealed her true nature was!