RWNEFE -Chapter 679 The Imperial Edict Behind the Plaque of Uprightness and Brightness

“Alright! I grant it!”

Cheng Zheng slowly lifted the corners of his mouth in a faint smile and closed his eyes.

…

“He was fine just the day before—how could he suddenly be gone?” Liu Yanui rushed to the palace as soon as he heard the news.

Others also entered the palace one after another.

Shen Lanxi said, “Cheng Zheng shall be buried in the imperial mausoleum with the rank of Emperor’s consort. Court will be suspended for three days. There is no need to observe the rites of a state funeral.”

The Ministry of Rites immediately began preparations.

Even though there was no official state mourning, Cheng Zheng was still buried with the status of imperial consort. The common people, grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence, voluntarily observed a hundred days of mourning.

Since the common people behaved this way, the officials naturally did not dare to stand out at such a time.

All officials who had celebrations in their households postponed them.

Although Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing felt somewhat vexed, fortunately the marriage dates of the young men and women in their family had already been set—and the decrees had been issued personally by the Emperor.

If this had been in the past, close relatives like them would have had to observe two full years of mourning.

The matter of the Shen family’s younger generation seeking official posts was delayed again and again, and in the blink of an eye another year passed.

That year, the young men and women of the Shen family married one after another. Daughters were married out, daughters-in-law married in. Not only did the number of people in the Shen family not decrease—it actually increased.

The following year, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu were assigned to serve in the Ministry of War, both as assistant ministers.

Not long after taking office, they each entered the palace to seek official posts for their sons and daughters, but Shen Lanxi rejected them all.

“If they wish to become officials, they can either gain experience in the army or honestly pass the imperial examinations. Anyone who relies on their fathers’ glory to live is nothing but trash!”

It was the first time the Emperor had reprimanded them so sternly. Not only did the two men not resent it, they were actually somewhat pleased.

From the Emperor’s tone, it seemed she still had expectations of them.

Letting their sons go to the army for training was, in fact, a good choice.

Soon, most of the male members of the family were sent to the army for experience.

The next month, Shen Lanxi made a decision that shocked all the court officials.

“I have written the name of the heir to the throne in an imperial edict and personally placed it behind the Plaque of Uprightness and Brightness. Should anything happen to me, the court officials may retrieve the edict from behind the plaque and proclaim the heir’s accession!”

The court erupted in an uproar. No one had expected that appointing a crown prince could be done in such a way.

On second thought, however, it was good—this would reduce much bloodshed.

“Your Majesty is wise!”

As soon as Shen Lanxi’s decision was announced, the Shen family could no longer remain calm.

“Who will His Majesty write in the edict?”

All the young men and women of the Shen family became subjects of speculation, with Shen Chengfeng, Shen Emei, and Shen An being the most discussed.

Shen Chengfeng had already begun to distinguish himself in the army through campaigns against bandits and had just been promoted to the rank of company commander that year. Moreover, he already had four sons and three daughters, giving him a stable line of succession.

Shen Emei came next. She had previously accompanied her husband during his provincial appointment. Though her husband was only mediocre, he had now been transferred back to the capital as an official. After giving birth to two sons and earning merit for aiding disaster victims, she successfully entered officialdom and was now a fifth-rank assistant director in the Ministry of Works.

Shen An, though neither accomplished in civil nor military affairs, carried the title of an adopted heir and thus was also considered one of the popular candidates.

“Does anyone know whose name is written in the imperial edict?” Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing each questioned people in their own quarters.

However, not a single son or daughter dared step forward with confidence.

“Father, can’t you go and ask? After all, His Majesty will surely choose someone from our Shen family,” someone in Shen Yuanjing’s household suggested. In that branch, only Shen Emei was outstanding; the others were timid and not favored by Shen Yuanjing.

Shen Yuanjing said, “That would be inappropriate. If I go and ask, it will make me seem overly concerned about the identity of the heir.”

Although he believed the Emperor would surely choose someone from their eldest branch—after all, they were siblings born of the same mother… even if only nominally so—he still thought she would choose from their branch.

“Father, don’t forget—the eldest branch is not only you.”

There were also two uncles. Though both were stationed at the frontier, each had sons.

What if the Emperor thought men were better than women and did not choose her?

A layer of worry settled over Shen Yuanjing’s heart. Yuanjun and Yuanqing had been at the frontier for years. Although their children were in the capital, he had observed them carefully and found none particularly outstanding.

“Your name, Emei, was given by His Majesty. Since His Majesty herself is a woman, she will naturally favor women. Your chances are still very great.”

Shen Emei did not think so. Ever since she had given birth to sons, she had begun to feel that sons were better than daughters. Besides, she was not the Emperor’s own child—the variables were too many.

“Father, tomorrow His Majesty will officially place the edict behind the plaque. After that, it will be difficult to change,” she hinted, still hoping her father would go to the palace to probe the matter.

Shen Yuanjing glanced at his daughter. Not wanting her to know he feared the Emperor, he found another excuse.

“I know His Majesty’s temper better than anyone. The more you press her, the more she will act in the opposite way.”

“The best thing for us now is to do nothing and appear completely unconcerned about who is named in the edict. Only then will His Majesty regard us differently.”

Shen Emei was full of doubt. Seeing she could not persuade her father, she began thinking of other ways.

In Shen Yuanxu’s household, it was much the same.

“Father, whose name will be written in the edict?” Shen Chengfeng was restless, unable to sit still.

Shen Yuanxu said, “Stay calm. His Majesty’s mind is almost demonically shrewd. At a time like this, the more magnanimous you appear, the better. Just focus on displaying your excellence.”

Shen Chengfeng worried, “His Majesty is a woman, and Shen Emei is also a woman. When His Majesty gave her that name back then, could it have been a hidden expectation?”

Shen Yuanxu shook his head. “At that time, His Majesty didn’t even know whether Shen Emei would live to adulthood. What expectation could there have been?”

“Besides, looking at His Majesty’s health—do you believe she couldn’t live to see even your grandson born?”

Shen Chengfeng fell silent.

Indeed, he was worrying too early. The Emperor appeared even more robust than he was. He himself could not even lift that Companion Star blade.

“All we need to do is wait for the right moment.”

“Father, do you think the eldest branch will enter the palace tonight?”

Shen Yuanxu replied, “If he is wise, he will remain still.”

Back then, Fourth Grand-aunt and the Empress Dowager had both died because they underestimated their opponent.

Even now, he still could not see through the Emperor.

…

The next day, under the watchful eyes of all the officials, the imperial edict was carried in the hands of the pale-faced eunuch.

Shen Lanxi personally climbed a ladder and placed the edict behind the plaque.

Four first-rank officials stood below, holding the ladder. They were all utterly loyal to the Emperor.

Others might have cared about whose name was written in the edict; they only cared about the safety of the person standing on the ladder.

After placing the edict, Shen Lanxi turned back and glanced behind her, smiling brightly.

“There’s no need for you to hold it. Step back a little.”

Liu Yanui and the others gripped the ladder firmly and refused to let go.

Shen Lanxi did not repeat her request. Instead, she gathered her breath and leapt lightly from the five-meter ladder, her movements graceful as she landed steadily on the ground.

The officials were astonished. Her agility was even more elegant than that of this year’s martial arts champion.

“From now on, none of you need to worry that I will leave no successor!”

Shen Lanxi laughed freely and heartily.