Chapter 766: Zhao Zhang Wei To Become The Emperor Soon!
Chapter 766: Zhao Zhang Wei To Become The Emperor Soon!
Zhao Zhang Wei’s move was very clever and thoughtful.
As soon as ministers heard that even Xi Ying and General Li were aware of all this, they seemed to believe everything to a great extent.
However, they were still very shocked.
“It’s presumptuous.”
Minister Xin said sharply. Only he could dare to speak like this about an Imperial Prince, after all, it was his ancestors who had given the Xin to Zhao Clan.
Zhao Zhang Wei looked calm and never refused Minister Xin. In fact, he said calmly
“First Prince has been detained. A deeper investigation is still being done. The head of the Imperial soldiers, Wu Dang is already a witness. Benwang wishes for the ministers’ guidance.”
All the ministers expressed their support for Zhao Zhang Wei when they heard his words.
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Late at night, Yi Huiqing was woken up by the sound of the Gong. She was, of course, aware of when the Gong was used in Xin.
She was shocked.
However, as soon as she composed himself, she ordered Lin Fan to remove the red lamps and red curtains from the Xinhe Palace.
White curtains were put on as this was the mourning period.
Soon, she herself got dressed in clothes according to the occasion. Though on outside, Yi Huiqing had to pretend to mourn over the Emperor’s death, she was actually delighted. And she didn’t feel any guilt about that.
She had been aware of the Emperor’s contempt for hers and Li Clan and hence she only felt that now both of the clans would be safe.
She also exited Xinhe Palace for the first time since the last banquet. Just a few days back, the girls had entered the Imperial Palace to compete for the seat of the Empress.
Since the Emperor was dead, now she with Yun Weilan would have to make arrangements to return those girls to their households.
She was informed by Lin Fan that Zhao Zhang Wei had already left Xinhe Palace and was now making some arrangements.
Yi Huiqing merely nodded her head and silently decided to do her own part. To talk with Yun Weilan about the arrangements, she went to see her.
However, when she was outside Delan Palace, she didn’t go inside when she remembered Zhao Zhuang Chen’s disgusting behavior toward her last time. Going inside his Palace would be the same as going inside a wolf’s den.
Instead, she sent Lin Fan inside Delan Palace.
However, standing a few steps away, Yi Huiqing saw how her maid was stopped outside the Delan Palace only before she could enter, and then Lin Fan walked back to her.
“My Lady, they said no one is allowed to enter the Delan Palace. It has been ordered by His Highness, Second Prince.”
Yi Huiqing frowned in confusion and looked at so many Imperial soldiers who were guarding the entrance of Delan Palace.
Her eyes flickered suddenly and she suddenly had a guess inside her mind.
A healthy Zhao Wang Lei was suddenly dead and soldiers were keeping an eye on Delan Palace.
What did it mean?!
Yi Huiqing did have a guess but she was not sure.
Without trying to inquire anything, she, instead, decided to make all arrangements on her own.
.
.
.
Zhao Wang Lei’s burial was carried out the same evening.
Not a single minister had left the Imperial Court since the morning. There were many things to do including the investigation of the last night’s attack which was now given to Minister Xin.
The burial was done very extravagantly. After all, Zhao Wang Lei was the Emperor of Xin.
As Zhao Zhang Wei’s face was emotionless as he completed the rituals of being a son. His phoenix eyes were red which made him look full of despair at his father’s death, however, in truth, he was very reluctant to perform all these rituals for Zhao Wang Lei.
He had never regarded the latter as his father.
However, he didn’t have any other way.
Zhao Zhang Wei could only hide his disgust and silently do all the rituals. Inside his heart, he was thinking of Yi Huiqing.
He had not seen her for so many days.
He wanted to tell her so much but he had to stay patient.
Zhao Zhang Wei was hoping that after this, everything between him and Yi Huiqing would become alright.
After the burial was finished, he as the son of the dead also ought to observe the mourning period.
Many ministers had hoped that Empress Dowager would come out to attend her son’s burial ceremony, however, not a single word from her chamber was heard the whole day.
The entrance of the Imperial Court was opened on the same day. Zhao Zhang Wei didn’t wear a dark-colored robe when he attended the meeting.
However, no one was to discuss the matters of the Empire’s people but the attack on the Emperor last night was to be discussed.
Minister Xin had already talked to the head of the Imperial Guards, Wu Dang, and heard everything that the latter had seen when he had entered the Imperial Chambers.
Afterward, he also talked to Xi Ying and General Li as to how they got to know regarding the attack.
When Xi Ying informed Minister Xin it was Yun Weilan who informed him about the attack, Minister Xin was surprised as well as confused.
“But how did Princess Consort get to know about this?”
“The prince wanted Minister Yun’s help and hence had asked Princess Consort to talk to him. However, Princess Consort didn’t inform her father about anything. It is just that she as a woman had many restrictions to go outside the Imperial Palace and hence when the news reached this Lord’s ears, it was already very late.”
Minister Xin nodded his head in understanding.
Minister Xin told the same in the Imperial Court and especially requested all the ministers to keep Princess Consort, Young Prince, and Yun Clan out of the investigation since Princess Consort had tried her best to save His Majesty.
Xi Ying was satisfied when he saw that Yun Weilan was free of any doubt and suspicion.
Since Yun Weilan was a woman and had many restrictions on herself, it was easy to make her free of any blame.
Minister Yun who had been on pins since the moment he got to know that Zhao Zhuang Chen who was also his son-in-law has killed the Emperor, was about to cry when he heard this.
For the first time in his life, he felt immense love for his daughter. She did great by not helping her husband.
Their whole can could be implicated if she had done otherwise.
Even after all this, Yun Weilan was summoned to the Imperial Court.
It was only when her details matched with what Xi Ying had said did everyone believe everything.
She was asked to go back to her chambers afterward.
Seeing the pale face of Princess Consort, Minister Xin couldn’t help but assure her that no innocent person would be implicated before she left.
Yun Weilan was grateful and silently left.
The Imperial Court was silent for a long time after this.
Minister Xin sighed as he looked at the vacant throne and then at Zhao Zhang Wei, Fortunately, Xin still had an Imperial Prince.
It was just…he didn’t know if Zhao Zhang Wei was really capable of managing the throne. However, if he was or was not, they had only this option. As the ancestor of the clan who had given the Empire to the Zhao Clan, Minister Xin felt responsible for teaching everything to Zhao Zhang Wei.
Without any hesitation, he spoke seriously as he stood in the center of the Imperial Court
“The throne can’t be kept vacant for long.”
All the ministers nodded their heads in agreement and looked at Zhao Zhang Wei. Minister Xin was satisfied when he saw that Zhao Zhang Wei looked calm.
He himself took the initiative to say.
“Your Highness, this minister requests you to ascend the throne as soon as possible. The enemies would think that Xin is in a vulnerable situation if the news got out before the new Emperor took over the Empire. Xin can be under the threat.”
Zhao Zhang Wei didn’t look eager.
After a moment of silence, he said calmly
“Benwang thinks that it would be better to punish His Majesty’s criminals first. Only then Empire can be free of the shadows of the horrible past.”
His words were reasonable and Minister Xin agreed immediately.
Keeping everything inside his mind, he put forward the proposal of Zhao Zhuang Chen being given a chance to say something on his side.
It could be seen that Minister Xin didn’t have any hope for Zhao Zhuang Chen and hence he also said that if not being able to prove that he was innocent, Zhao Zhuang Chen should be executed publicly the same evening.
Everyone accepted this proposal.
Without any need to say anything else, everyone understood that the day after tomorrow would be the day when Zhao Zhang Wei would be crowned as the new Emperor.