Nong Nu Jiao

As everyone wondered, Emperor Shengwu continued, "I am old and frail, and have no interest in court affairs. Today is an auspicious day, and the Crown Prince is overjoyed. I will grant him double happiness, and I have decided to abdicate and become the Retired Emperor, passing the throne to Crown Prince Yan Chenghui."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Golden Palace fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, another uproar erupted.

Everyone's expression changed, and their eyes widened in shock.

No one expected that Emperor Shengwu, who was always suspicious and power-hungry, would choose to abdicate on the day of the crown prince's wedding.

Everyone in the Golden Palace was astonished.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but turn around and look at Emperor Shengwu.

In a short while, she understood why Emperor Shengwu did this.

It was for the sake of the Imperial Concubine.

The Imperial Concubine's heart ailment is extremely serious. If she does not leave the palace again, she may not be able to hold on for long.

She had discussed this matter with Yan Chenghui.

She felt that Emperor Shengwu was suspicious all the time, and that what he cared about most was the throne and imperial power. It was impossible for him to put everything aside and go sightseeing with the Imperial Concubine.

Yan Chenghui, however, disagreed with her.

When she asked Yan Chenghui why, he didn't say anything.

"Father..."

Yan Chenghui turned around and spoke loudly.

Emperor Shengwu raised his hand to stop him, stood up, and said, "From this moment forward, I abdicate and return to the Taiji Palace as the Retired Emperor. Crown Prince Yan Chenghui shall immediately ascend the throne, inherit the throne, rule the vast land, and reign supreme over all!"

"Official in charge of ceremonies, have them change their clothes and perform the enthronement ceremony."

Emperor Shengwu gave the order.

"Auspicious time has arrived, the new emperor has ascended the throne, and it is time to appoint the empress. Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress."

Several palace maids who had been waiting quickly entered the hall and kowtowed to Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi looked down at them, completely bewildered.

She was escorted into the inner palace by palace servants.

The group worked together seamlessly, smoothly removing her wedding dress.

Layer upon layer of formal attire changed, and in the blink of an eye, the phoenix crown was replaced by the empress's court crown, and the wedding dress was replaced by the empress's ceremonial robe.

Her shoulders were adorned with gold, jade, pearls, and jewels, exuding an air of majesty and dignity, befitting an empress.

Cen Lingyi stood there in a daze, letting everyone fiddle with her clothes.

On her wedding day, Emperor Shengwu abdicated, Yan Chenghui ascended the throne, and she was made empress. These four major events happened at once, leaving her completely unprepared and caught off guard.

She hadn't even accepted the fact that Yan Chenghui had ascended the throne and that she had been made empress when she was forced to undergo the grand ceremony of being formally appointed as empress.

Yan Chenghui stood opposite her, dressed in a black dragon robe with one foot trimmed in vermilion, adorned with twelve tassels, exuding unparalleled majesty.

Wang Deming stepped forward and presented the gilded imperial seal to him with both hands.

Yan Chenghui raised his hand to take it.

The master of ceremonies immediately announced: "The new emperor has ascended the throne, changing the era name to Qizhen, and this year shall be the first year of Qizhen. The Crown Princess, Cen Lingyi, is hereby appointed Empress, and the grand ceremony of investiture and seal of office shall be performed—"

Officials from the Ministry of Rites presented the gleaming golden book and seal of the Empress to Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi looked down.

Yan Chenghui reached out and helped her up, taking her a step forward.

She followed his movements and bowed her head to receive the treasure.

The hall was filled with the sounds of "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress" paying homage. Cen Lingyi felt as if it were all a dream.

Without any clear understanding of what was happening, Yan Chenghui ascended the throne, and she became the empress just like that?

She never imagined she would become an empress.

"The wedding banquet will be held in the Daqing Hall. All of you, please stay."

When Emperor Shengwu spoke again, he seemed much more relaxed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor Emeritus, thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

All the officials expressed their gratitude in unison.

"You two will stay in the palace tonight."

Emperor Shengwu held a banquet at Chenghui Road.

Yan Chenghui hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Don't worry, I've already ordered people to prepare Kunning Palace. Your mother didn't want to be empress, so that place has been empty and very clean."

There seemed to be a sense of loss in Emperor Shengwu's eyes.

He once appointed an empress, but later deposed her.

Kunning Palace had never been occupied by anyone else, but Xiao Yulou refused to stay there.

"His Majesty……"

Cen Lingyi spoke.

Emperor Shengwu looked at her and interrupted her, "Still calling me Your Majesty?"

"Father," Cen Lingyi smiled awkwardly, "Your subject wishes to visit Mother."

The wedding banquet is coming up, and Yan Chenghui is going to the Daqing Hall.

She happened to have some free time, so she could go and visit the Imperial Concubine.

"Go." Emperor Shengwu rubbed his temples. "From now on, the Great Sheng Dynasty is in your hands, and so is my life..."

After thinking it over for several months, he finally made up his mind.

Xiao Yulou cannot survive; even if he manages to hold onto the throne, he will not live on.

It would be better to give the throne to Yan Chenghui, which would give Xiao Yulou a chance to survive.

As for whether Yan Chenghui would retaliate against him... he couldn't guarantee it.

However, after all these years, Yan Chenghui should still have some conscience.

"Father, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Yan Chenghui responded solemnly.

*

Ninghe Palace remained quiet inside its main hall.

Inside the hall, the curtains were half-drawn, and the light was dim.

Xiao Yulou lay quietly on the bed, his face pale, his eyebrows drooping listlessly, still looking depressed and as quiet as a lifeless stone sculpture.

But Cen Lingyi looked around the inner hall and a strange feeling arose in her heart.

Her gaze fell on the table beside her.

Seven or eight dishes, including steamed chicken, honey-roasted mutton, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, were steaming hot. Next to them was a bowl of chilled lotus seed jelly, the bowls and chopsticks placed somewhat haphazardly, clearly indicating that someone had eaten there recently.

Cen Lingyi looked around. Who would be eating here?

Could it be my mother?

She turned to look at Xiao Yulou on the bed.

Xiao Yulou opened his eyes at this moment and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye: "Little Six, did you come alone..."

Her voice still sounded so weak.

"Mother, I came alone. They all went to the Daqing Palace for the wedding banquet."

When Cen Lingyi heard her speak to her, she quickly went over and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in hers.

"Isn't today your wedding day with Yuan Zhao? Why are you dressed like this?"

Xiao Yulou's gaze fell on her, and he was so surprised that his eyes widened, and he almost jumped out of bed.

That damned Emperor Shengwu actually stole his own son's wife and made Cen Lingyi his empress?

"It was today, our wedding day. We had just finished all the ceremonies when my father suddenly announced that he would abdicate and let Yan Chenghui ascend the throne. Then, they changed me into this dress and I became the empress."

Cen Lingyi was still somewhat dazed at this point.

"That tyrannical emperor abdicated?" Xiao Yulou suddenly sat up, grabbing her hands. "Yuan Zhao is the emperor now, and you are the empress, isn't that right?"

She was somewhat eager, her face beaming with joy.

"Mother, you..."

Cen Lingyi opened her eyes wide in astonishment, taken aback by her actions.

How could Mother look like she was on her deathbed before? Apart from her pale face, everything else has returned to normal. Her temperament and manner of speaking are as straightforward and fierce as before.

"I'm not sick. I'm lying to that lousy, incompetent ruler. I'm not that fragile!"

Xiao Yulou got out of bed, stretched his limbs a couple of times, and sat down at the table.

Cen Lingyi stared at her retreating figure, still in a daze.

She seemed to understand a little; her mother was deliberately feigning illness so that the doctor would tell her she needed to go on a trip to see the sights in order to recover.

This forced Emperor Shengwu to make a choice.

Emperor Shengwu, a man of great wisdom, failed to see through his mother's act.

Of course, she didn't realize it either.

I wonder if Yan Chenghui noticed it?

"Xiao Liu must be hungry after a long day, right? Come and have something to eat with me."

Xiao Yulou turned and greeted her.

"I'm tired and hungry, and these clothes are heavy too."

Cen Lingyi continued her words and walked towards her.

This empress's robes are heavy and tiring to wear.

"Let me help you change."

Xiao Yulou got up and helped her sit down in front of the dressing table. He quickly removed the hairpins from her head and took off her clothes.

"You can wear mine. This outfit is new; I've never worn it before."

She went to the wardrobe and took out another set of clothes.

"Mother, what happened to your complexion? You look so pale."

Looking at her deathly pale face in the mirror, Cen Lingyi couldn't help but ask.

"This is lead powder." Xiao Yulou pointed to his face. "You can see it in broad daylight, which is why I said I don't like being in the light."

Cen Lingyi laughed upon hearing this: "Mother is truly intelligent and capable."

"How could he not be powerful?" Xiao Yulou laughed. "I won't force him to abdicate. You two are married, and your father is back. He might still have a lot of trouble to cause."

Cen Lingyi nodded, agreeing that this was indeed the case.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat down at the table. Cen Lingyi treated her as an equal, and the two ate heartily, getting along very well.

"Looks like you're really hungry today. Even the cat ate more than you at dinner tonight."

Xiao Yulou laughed at her.

"I'm so tired today. I actually ate quite a lot during the day, but I'm still hungry."

Cen Lingyi also smiled.

Early in the morning, her mother fed her a lot of food, and her sisters in the family also gave her food.

On the way to the East Palace, Yan Chenghui prepared a lot of food in the imperial carriage.

If she was hungry, it was in the Golden Palace, where so many eyes were watching; she dared not steal any food.

"That's how it is in the royal family, there are so many rules," Xiao Yulou said with a smile. "But it's alright, Yuan Zhao dotes on you, he wouldn't want you to suffer."

Cen Lingyi felt a little embarrassed by what she said, and smiled with her lips pursed.

"Go back and tell Yuan Zhao that I will take that tyrannical emperor away and travel around. You don't need to worry about me."

Xiao Yulou thought for a moment and said.

"But doesn't Mother dislike him?"

Cen Lingyi looked at her, her heart filled with sympathy.

"At this age, what's the point of liking or disliking someone? If he stays, he'll only cause you trouble. I'd rather take him with me. Once he's out there, he's not an emperor anymore; I can just do whatever I want with him."

"What Mother Consort said is also true."

Cen Lingyi found it amusing to recall how she had manipulated Emperor Shengwu.

"Did that tyrannical emperor allow you to stay in the palace tonight?"

Xiao Yulou picked up a handkerchief and wiped Cen Lingyi's lips.

"Yes, Father said that Kunning Palace has been prepared."

Cen Lingyi let her wipe the corners of her lips, feeling a warm feeling in her heart.

She's already so grown up, but her mother still treats her like a little kid from back then.

"Then hurry back. Today is your wedding day. Don't keep him waiting."

Xiao Yulou withdrew his hand and smiled.

Cen Lingyi blushed, stood up and bowed: "Then Xiao Liu will take his leave first."

"Go."

Xiao Yulou waved his hand and watched her leave.

She beckoned Wangyue to come in and tidy up the table, then lay back down on the bed and pretended to be sick.