Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

The wind howled at the altar of Heaven, and all the officials knelt and bowed their heads, the entire place solemn. Only the words of the Ministry of Rites official, "First confer titles, to ensure the continuation of the lineage," floated lightly in the wind. They seemed to be loyal advice, but in reality, they were gradually coercing the new emperor to compromise with worldly rules.

On the high platform, Ling Xianru stood with his hands behind his back, his black dragon robe covering his entire body with imperial majesty, and the pearl tassels hanging from his crown swayed gently, concealing the coldness surging in his eyes.

He didn't get angry immediately, but lowered his eyes, his gaze locking onto Wei Rong precisely across the layers of people on the jade steps.

In that brief moment when she turned her head to the side, her plain clothes were cool and aloof, her brows and eyes were indifferent, showing no trace of jealousy or anxiety, nor any pretense of magnanimity.

It was this composure and certainty that allowed all the hidden obsessions and biases in Ling Xianru's heart to finally emerge.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling officials of the Ministry of Rites offering their advice. His voice was not loud, but it carried the overwhelming, cold power of the emperor, drowning out the clamor of the court music.

"Before I ascended the throne, I was in exile across the five continents, living on the edge of a knife, suffering from poisonous insects, and was on the verge of death several times."

"Back then, no one advised me to protect myself, and no one hoped that I would have many children in the future. Now that I hold the reins of this vast land and wield the power of life and death over the eastern border, it is now your turn to teach me how to live, how to love, and how to choose my bedmate?"

One sentence silenced the entire hall.

Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites felt a sudden chill run down his spine, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty dares not! I was only considering the fate of the nation..."

"Why should the fate of the nation depend on the beauties of the harem or relatives by marriage?" Ling Xianru's tone was extremely calm, yet every word was sharp. "The fate of the nation lies in the governance of officials, in the hearts of the people, and in the defense of the borders, not in my bed."

He took a step forward, his dragon boots crushing the golden bricks of the high platform, his aura imposing and awe-inspiring.

"Today, I hereby issue this decree to Heaven, Earth, all officials, and all nations: My marriage is in accordance with her heart, and the continuation of our lineage depends on her wishes."

The entire court was deeply moved, and no one dared to look up in disbelief.

No emperor throughout history could have done this.

Entrusting the selection of concubines and the birth of offspring to one woman?

Ling Xianru's gaze fell once more on the figure in plain clothes below the steps, frank and straightforward, unafraid of the world's criticism:

"People say that Wei Rong has a special identity, that she is not a woman from Donglin, and that she once lived in the Central Palace of Dajing. But everyone knows that when I was on the verge of death and the Gu poison flared up, it was she who sacrificed herself to protect me; when the palace was in turmoil and weapons were drawn, it was she who disarmed me with her bare hands and shielded me from all danger; when I returned from my arduous journey, she was the only one who stayed by my side, never scheming or avoiding death."

"The matter of having offspring will be left to fate. If I have a son, he will be hers; if I have no son, I will choose a virtuous member of the imperial clan to succeed me."

"From this day forward, the matter of selecting concubines for the palace shall no longer be discussed in the court, and members of the imperial clan shall no longer use their offspring to influence my will. Anyone who makes such a fuss shall be guilty of disobeying my will and shall be punished for interfering in politics."

Once the last sentence is uttered, it becomes an ironclad rule for emperors, leaving no room for ambiguity.

All the officials in the court held their breath and lowered their heads, no one daring to utter another word.

The last remaining hopes of the women from aristocratic families were utterly shattered. Those officials who had dreamed of using their daughters to climb the social ladder and secure power through marriage all turned pale and dared not raise their heads again.

The envoys from various countries looked at each other, and they understood perfectly well that this young new emperor of Donglin had truly valued the entire country over a single person's affection.

At this moment, Wei Rong, who had been standing silently in place, finally stepped forward lightly.

She walked unhurriedly up the jade steps, her white clothes fluttering in the wind, her steps graceful and composed, until she reached the emperor's side.

The officials were shocked—since ancient times, only the emperor was allowed to stand on the high platform during the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, and neither the harem nor foreign officials were allowed to set foot there. Yet she dared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the new emperor in public!

Wei Rong stood beside Ling Xianru, looking directly at the thousands of court officials below. Her voice was clear and steady, neither humble nor arrogant, each word resonant and powerful.

"Your Excellencies are concerned about the fate of the nation and the continuation of its rule; this is a matter of public interest, and I will not comment further."

"But the stability of the empire has never relied on women filling the harem and bearing children. Your Excellency's advice to Your Majesty to select candidates today may seem to follow ancient customs and common sense, but in reality, it places the heavy burden of court stability and the continuation of the dynasty on women."

"Throughout history, countless emperors have had harems overflowing with children, yet their empires still crumbled and their dynasties fell into chaos. This shows that rise and fall depend on politics, not on marriage and procreation."

Her gaze swept over the group of restrained and fearful senior officials from aristocratic families, her tone calm, yet every word she uttered pierced to the heart of the matter:

"Your Majesty's mind is made up. The vacancy of the six palaces is not due to willfulness or recklessness, but rather to a single-minded focus on matters of state and a lack of interest in infighting within the inner palace. From now on, the court should focus on governance, the people's livelihood, and border defense, rather than spending its days speculating about the emperor's private affairs and pressuring him to marry and have children."

"If you all truly desire a better future for Donglin, then you should focus on strategies to bring peace and stability to the people and strengthen the foundation of the nation, rather than being bound by old customs and traditions."

His words left the entire room speechless.

Could this be some kind of fox spirit who has cast some kind of curse on their new king?

But... for some reason, it makes some sense.

Such magnanimity, composure, and insightful understanding already surpass half of the mediocre officials in the court.

Ling Xianru quietly turned her head to look at her.

The morning sun shone on her brows and eyes, making them clear, bright, open, and upright.

Throughout his life, he had witnessed the intrigues of the imperial harem vying for favor, the sycophancy of court officials, and the shallowness of people following the crowd. But Wei Rong alone remained forever clear-headed, forever independent, and forever his equal.

He raised his hand and, in front of thousands of his subjects, firmly grasped her hand.

Their fingers were interlocked, the emperor's palm warm and strong.

The ceremony is complete.

With his final words, the day-long coronation ceremony officially came to an end.

As the sun sets in the west, twilight descends upon the imperial city.

The daytime hustle and bustle faded away, and the entire East Palace became quiet and secluded, with soft candlelight that shielded it from the harsh realities of the imperial court.

All the palace attendants and servants inside the palace were dismissed, the courtyard gates were locked, and no one was disturbed.

During the day, Ling Xianru, who had been presiding over the grand ceremony with an imperial air and despite a low fever, removed her imperial crown and heavy dragon robe, wearing only a plain, dark-patterned everyday dress.

Having endured days of national mourning, palace coups, and the stress of grand ceremonies, coupled with the lingering effects of the Gu poison, a faint weariness lingered between his brows. Yet, when he looked at Wei Rong, his eyes were deep and warm, filled with a long-suppressed affection.

Wei Rong stood by the window, gently raising her hand to gather the light gauze hanging from the windowsill. The evening breeze ruffled her hair, creating a gentle and peaceful scene.

She heard soft footsteps behind her, and the next moment, a warm body gently leaned against her, and arms slowly wrapped around her waist.

Ling Xianru gently rested his chin on her neck, his breath warm and deep, carrying a hint of weariness and dependence.

"Thank you for today," he said softly.

Wei Rong turned her head slightly, her eyes softening: "I'm just telling the truth."

"No one else dares to speak, nor is anyone worthy to speak." Ling Xianru tightened his arms, holding her firmly in his embrace, his voice low and tender, "Only you dare to stand shoulder to shoulder with me, dare to stand up for me, and dare to confront the old customs of this court."

He used to scheme against her at every step, tricking her into coming to the east, using poison to keep her, and using a palace coup to consolidate his power. His methods were despicable and his selfish motives were obvious.

But looking back, it was true that he protected her, it was true that he feared her leaving, and it was also true that she was the only one who could warm his lonely life.

Wei Rong turned slightly to meet his deep eyes and said softly, "Ling Xianru, today you abandoned the harem and rejected worldly affairs for me. Aren't you afraid that in the future the world will criticize you for being a foolish and corrupt ruler?"

Ling Xianru lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently caressing the fabric at her waist, his eyes filled with a sincere and obsessive sincerity:

"When I had spent half my life wandering and had nothing, no one cherished me, believed in me, or waited for me. Now that I possess the world, if I cannot even protect or keep the people I love, what use is this vast empire to me?"

"I care not about the criticisms of the world, the writings of history, or the judgments of future generations."

He leaned down, his nose gently touching her forehead, his movements tender and restrained, a stark contrast to the ruthless and decisive emperor of the daytime court.

In the stillness of the night, only the two of them remained in the main hall. Shedding the solemnity and rules they had to follow during the day, what was revealed was Ling Xianru's deep-seated longing for Wei Rong.

My breathing is burning.

When Wei Rong was kissed, it felt as if she were being held in the palm of someone's hand in a very precious way.

That burning hand was not content with just holding her slender waist.

"Hmm~"