Chapter 903: In the Proper Eastern Palace

Si Yu waved her hand, and the palace attendants filed out in single file.

She turned, closed the hall doors, and stood outside.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Ever since I gave birth to Che'er, I have been uneasy day and night," Murong Jin's voice was soft, slightly trembling, "Seventh Prince excels in both civil and martial affairs, his character is noble, and he has repeatedly achieved great feats."

"I believe only Seventh Prince is the rightful heir to the throne."

Xiao Jieyun's eyes flickered slightly.

Murong Jin spoke earnestly, "I am merely a woman of the inner palace, ignorant of state affairs."

"Yet I know well that if the heir position remains vacant, the realm will be unsettled."

"If His Majesty delays appointing a Crown Prince because of Che'er, I feel truly guilty and uneasy."

She lifted her head, looked at Xiao Jieyun, tears streaming, "I ask for nothing else but that Che'er may grow up safely."

"If in the future he is fortunate enough to learn even one of the ten skills of Seventh Prince, I will be content."

"If Che'er can assist his elder brother, that too will be his blessing."

"In the future, the two brothers will be fraternal and respectful, the ruler at peace, the ministers joyful."

She bowed low, her forehead lightly touching the ground, "I wish to ask His Majesty to make Seventh Prince the Crown Prince; I beg Your Majesty's approval."

Xiao Jieyun remained silent for a long while, then reached out to help her up, "That you could say such words, I… am quite surprised."

He paused, gently patted her hand, "Very well, I grant it."

Murong Jin lifted a silk handkerchief, wiped the tears from her face, her face radiant, "I thank Your Majesty."

Xiao Jieyun personally picked a piece of fish and placed it on her plate, "Che'er is the legitimate son; I will consider his affairs thoroughly."

He hesitated, "Empress, please do not overthink and worry, you will harm yourself."

Murong Jin looked at the fish and laughed with a "Splat—" sound.

Xiao Jieyun asked, "What is it?"

"I only recalled Tuan Tuan at Fengyi Palace, when His Majesty held that all‑fish banquet."

Xiao Jieyun also laughed, "That little rascal, truly mischievous."

"Tuan Tuan is pure and kind, I greatly love her," Murong Jin smiled, "That day she came to Fengyi Palace to see Che'er; Che'er was delighted, constantly smiling at her."

She sighed lightly, "If Tuan Tuan were my child… I would give her everything."

"What difficulty is there?" Xiao Jieyun set down his wine cup and laughed, "I have already granted her the title Princess Protector; if the Empress can take her as an adopted daughter, this princess would then be renamed Zheng Yan Shun."

Murong Jin's face lit with surprise, "Is that truly, Your Majesty?"

"However," Xiao Jieyun's tone shifted, "this matter still requires the approval of Prince Ning and his wife."

"Tuan Tuan is not an ordinary child; I cannot decide for her."

He looked at Murong Jin, a gentle teasing in his eyes, "If the Empress is sincere, she could first gauge Princess Consort Ning's opinion."

Murong Jin nodded slightly, "I understand."

A few days later, the morning court.

Xiao Yuanhang, cradling Tuan Tuan, with his three sons behind him, Xiao Er and Lu Qi entered the main hall together.

Xiao Jieyun sat regally on the Dragon Throne, raised his hand.

Cheng Gonggong unfolded a royal edict and read it aloud.

First, Prince Ning and his three sons each received generous rewards; after offering thanks, they stepped aside.

Cheng Gonggong then opened a second edict.

"General Mingwei Xiao Er, protector of the Princess, ensuring her safety amidst myriad dangers. Promoted to General Huaihua and added the rank of Cloud‑Flag Officer, granted a residence in Jingcheng, one hundred taels of gold, and a hundred qing of fertile land."

"Deputy Officer Lu Qi, who follows the Princess in life and death, promoted to Zhaowu Training Officer, granted a residence in Jingcheng, one hundred taels of gold, and a hundred qing of fertile land."

Xiao Er was stunned, his dark face full of disbelief.

He had expected the emperor to grant some gold and silver, but never imagined receiving a house and a hundred qing of land.

He fell to his knees, "I thank Your Majesty for your great grace!"

Lu Qi's eyes reddened slightly, and he knelt alongside Xiao Er to give thanks.

He had roamed the jianghu for years, never imagining that one day he could own a house and lands in Jingcheng.

"Princess Protector," Cheng Gonggong smiled.

Tuan Tuan poked her little head out of her father's arms, blinked, "Is it my turn?"

A low chuckle echoed through the hall.

Xiao Jieyun took a palm‑sized rosewood box from the Dragon Desk and handed it to Cheng Gonggong.

Cheng Gonggong cradled the box with both hands, descended the imperial steps, and approached Tuan Tuan.

He opened the box; inside lay a small golden seal, resting quietly.

Tuan Tuan extended her little hand, took the seal out, "So beautiful!"

Xiao Jieyun said, "Tuan Tuan, with this seal you may freely enter and exit the front court and the rear palace; no one will dare block you."

Xiao Yuanhang set his daughter down, took her small hand, and knelt, "Thank Your Majesty!"

Tuan Tuan followed her father's bow, flipped the seal over, "Dad, there are characters on it… what do they say?"

Song Jingxian raised his hand beside them, covering his face; among his students, only this one cannot even recognize characters.

Xiao Yuanhang rose, lifted his daughter, glanced at it, and read aloud, "Immortal Envoy of the Fiery Nation."

Tuan Tuan turned the seal over repeatedly, growing more fond of it, and asked, "Imperial Uncle, can this be placed on those little notebooks?"

All the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

Xiao Ningchen raised his hand to his forehead, Xiao Ningxun held back for a while, but his lips still twitched, and Xiao Ningyuan turned his face away directly.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi simultaneously rolled their eyes, "Miss, you really dare to imagine that!"

Xiao Jieyun looked at Tuan Tuan's lovable, unwilling-to-let-go appearance, and couldn't help laughing: "This little seal won't do."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan nodded, carefully stuffing the little golden seal into the sachet, gave it a light pat, and said, "I'll put it away for now, and stamp it later when Imperial Uncle lets me."

Xiao Yuanhang laughed and said in a low voice, "That probably won't happen."

Xiao Jieyun gave Eunuch Cheng a slight nod.

Eunuch Cheng understood, unfolded another imperial edict: "Prince Jing, Xiao Ze, step forward to receive the decree."

The hall fell silent in an instant.

All the officials secretly wondered in their hearts how His Majesty would reward this Prince Jing who had achieved the foremost merit.

Eunuch Cheng cleared his throat and proclaimed loudly: "I, following Heaven's mandate and observing public sentiment, examine antiquity and pursue the present, thereby upholding Heaven's order."

"I hereby announce to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temples, and the state altars: I appoint Prince Jing Xiao Ze as Crown Prince, to properly establish the Eastern Palace!"

"Select an auspicious day to hold the investiture ceremony and announce it to the world."

Xiao Ze performed the kowtow ritual of three bows and nine prostrations with utmost respect.

He raised his head, looked toward the Emperor, and said, "Your servant, I kowtow to thank Father Emperor for your great grace!"

All the officials knelt down together.

"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

"Long live the Crown Prince, thousand years, thousand years, ten thousand thousand years!"

Xiao Ze slowly rose to his feet, the Emperor gave a slight nod, and congratulatory voices filled the hall.

After the morning court, Xiao Yuanhang, holding Tuan Tuan, had just stepped out of the hall when Si Yu hurriedly came forward and said, "Prince Ning, the Empress wishes to invite the Princess to the Phoenix Etiquette Palace."