Chapter 485

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

'The Emperor is dead!'

The system's sudden sentence directly pinned Shen Yao in place.

It was barely dawn; Shen Yao had slept and just woke up from bed.

The system clanged out a line like that—never mind asking Shen Yao to call someone, whether she could even hold her expression was unknown.

System:... You're kidding, right? The Host clearly looks like she has everything under control.

'The Emperor really left?' She thought the other party might have met with trouble on the road.

'Left, just last night; related news has been blocked since this morning.'

'Host, quickly arrange matters in Jingcheng,' once Yu Cheng brings people back it will still take one more day.

Shen Yao got up clutching her quilt, 'No rush, Sheng'er will surely prioritize stabilizing the troops, and with Shen Zhanghe and Shen Zhanghe there, nothing will happen.'

'As for Jingcheng, Shen Chunbai is no decoration; we could predict this early, what do we have to fear?'

In just a moment, Shen Yao reined in her wandering thoughts.

It wasn't that she didn't worry about court turmoil, but years of accumulation gave her enough confidence.

The current court couldn't rebel and didn't dare to; that accident had it right—some hard bones with ambition had long been wiped out by the Emperor, and those left now had thievish hearts but no thievish guts, timid soft eggs to the extreme.

Have Hongguo send a message to the Shen Family outside the palace when free, reminding Shen Chunbai not to forget to look after the court, especially since the Emperor hasn't returned yet.

When Shen Chunbai received the message, he was still puzzled, thinking it wasn't a festival or a major event—what was the Empress doing with this?

Before noon, Shen Chunbai learned through his two sons' channels (mainly Shen Zhanghe) that the Emperor had passed and the New Emperor was about to ascend, and he was so shocked he couldn't even sit in his chair.

Pacing back and forth in his not-large study, Shen Chunbai couldn't help but want to laugh out loud.

Not easy, not easy—how long had he hoped for this? Finally, the day the Shen Family rose had come.

'No rush, no rush; the hidden news hasn't spread yet. We must first stabilize Jingcheng, wait for the New Emperor to return.'

Shen Chunbai was still thinking of that group outside—nothing was real until they returned.

Unable to sit still, he simply got up and went to the Zheng Family, meeting Zheng Daxueshi.

They could be considered proper in-laws; over these years, as the Shen Family and Shen Yao rose step by step, the Zheng Family had also basked in much glory.

Seeing this in-law who didn't usually visit come to his door, Zheng Daxueshi was puzzled—until Shen Chunbai raised a hand and pointed to the distance, and Zheng Daxueshi's expression changed slightly: The sky had fallen!

Old people step down, new people rise.

This is a power transition that has occurred since ancient times; the only drawback now is that the Former Emperor didn't die in a very conventional place—he actually died at the place of worshiping ancestors.

Why? How?

'What else could it be? That pill was fatal; the Emperor himself didn't care about life or death—who could save him.'

The system had carefully investigated the Emperor's cause of death, and when speaking to the Host, it was full of complaints.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao sighed in relief; she had almost suspected there was some unspeakable reason behind this.

Thank goodness, thank goodness—it had nothing to do with Yu Cheng; purely the Emperor himself hadn't expected it, thinking that with Daoists and Imperial Physicians around, he could be rescued like before, but the situation coming at him full force directly dragged him down.

'After Yu Cheng returns and stabilizes the court, we will leave the palace to recuperate.'

After being in the palace for over ten years in a flash, she could finally leave the palace again in a proper and legitimate way—not easy.

Shen Yao in the palace thought of leaving the palace; Yu Cheng outside the palace thought of entering the palace.

The Emperor's corpse definitely had to be brought back, and strictly controlled all the way, not letting a single bit of news leak.

Why? 'Two Uncles, Nephew is afraid that changes will occur in Jingcheng.'

What if—if someone really dared to scheme against them, even just holding it in would make people uncomfortable.

Yu Cheng looked down on these people of the Yu Family, especially since he had been targeted in various ways at He Lan; behind these matters, the Yu clan's shadow was inseparable.

Clearly all Imperial Clan Relatives, with food and drink assured yet still full of ambition—Yu Cheng couldn't feel good about it.

Regarding the matter of others coveting his things, Yu Cheng had always remembered it.

Speaking of it now with Eldest Young Master Shen Zhanghe, there was also a meaning of worry. Hearing this, Shen Zhanghe and Shen Zhanghe exchanged a glance, and the two brothers tacitly agreed.

No matter how they discussed this nephew in their hearts, on the surface they listened to what the nephew said; if he told them to go east, they absolutely could not go west.

'Eldest Young Master, Sheng'er is too young—can he really do it?' Besides, it couldn't be hidden; there were many shrewd people in the troops. If not for Li Guiquan helping to socialize along the way, the return journey might not have been so smooth.

Exactly—from when the Emperor met with trouble until now, the two of them had contributed the most as soldiers; everything else relied on Yu Cheng and others using their brains.

Li Guiquan, because he acted in the Imperial Guard, timely suppressed the news from spreading; after contacting Yu Cheng, he used the excuse of the Emperor's Imperial Edict departure—whose face was this giving? It went without saying.

'Can you or not? We're already at this point—can you make Sheng'er change his mind, or come up with a better plan?'

Even that group of Daoist culprits were still being well fed and cared for in the troops, all for the sake of returning to Jingcheng first, then meeting the Empress to discuss.

Shen Zhanghe could do nothing, because he knew he was a Fei Ji; some things really couldn't be investigated in detail, otherwise it would be asking for trouble.

Scratching his head, he turned around to instruct the guards to strictly watch over the imprisoned people; Shen Zhanghe stared with his own eyes, sharp but with all edges exposed.

That evening, stepping on the moonlight, Yu Cheng smoothly returned to Jingcheng.

Shen Yao didn't sleep; inside and outside Fengyi Palace, lights were blazing, clearly waiting for someone.

Yu Xi stayed by Shen Yao's side, pursing her lips as she looked at her brother walking toward them step by step, suddenly feeling that the face she had seen for a long time was somewhat unfamiliar.

'Mother Empress'

Yu Cheng walked up to Shen Yao, called out once, and directly knelt down with a thud.

'Son is unfilial, failed to take good care of Father Emperor,' no matter how it was said, the Emperor didn't have time to be so timely; except for him, no one saw the last face (including himself).

"Get up, this has nothing to do with you," Shen Yao understood the inside information; the Emperor's death was not difficult, and was even quite swift.

Compared to lying in bed unable to move or speak, this kind of death is more acceptable.

Yu Xi reached out to help Yu Cheng up, "Brother," what should we do about them?

She had cried for her biological father, but Yu Xi cared more about herself and her brother's mother.

"Don't be afraid, tomorrow morning," announce it, arrange the funeral rites, and once he ascends the throne smoothly, no one will gossip behind his back.

Yu Cheng patted Yu Xi's little head; his sister, born on the same year, month, and day, had an even more beautiful appearance, and even the Former Emperor had mentioned a marriage proposal before he passed.

Pity that now, regardless of anything, she must observe filial mourning for three years before it can be mentioned again.

"Enter the Dian Dian first, there are some things we need to discuss," Shen Yao raised her hand and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Yu Cheng and Yu Xi followed Shen Yao into the Dian Dian; the lamps inside were brightly lit.

The three of them each found a seat, and Yu Xi eagerly asked how the Emperor had actually died.

Yu Cheng:...

How to put this? To tell the truth would risk tarnishing her biological father's reputation, but not telling the truth, facing her biological sister's watery big eyes, Yu Cheng found it hard to speak.

Shen Yao:...

"Since your Imperial Father has already passed, there is no need to ask further," interrupting her daughter's relentless questioning, Shen Yao turned her head to discuss the arrangements for tomorrow's announcement; the Imperial Household Department would definitely handle the major part, but Yu Cheng's feud with the Imperial Household Department wasn't over, "It's better to have someone keep a close watch."

It's not that the Imperial Household Department wouldn't do things, because they didn't have that gall. But one must guard against too many eyes and mixed elements; the Imperial Household Department might secretly pull small tricks to disgust people.

This is the Imperial Household Department's usual trick; don't think that the Imperial Household Department would bow and scrape before the New Emperor. In reality, servant power can backlash against the Owner, and the Imperial Household Department will do many infamous things in the future.

Yu Cheng nodded and remembered, secretly reminding himself not to give the Imperial Household Department this opportunity.

Yu Xi looked left at her brother and right at her mother, puffed her cheeks, but in the end said nothing; instead, she rubbed her eyes to show fatigue and wanted to go to the Pian Dian to rest.

At this time, there was no need to return to the Princess Residence; Fengyi Palace still had her place.

"Go, let Xiao Ji brew you a bowl of calming medicine to drink before sleeping."

Facing her biological father's death of illness so suddenly, Yu Xi remained calm.

Such a response wasn't bad; if it were Yu Cheng, Shen Yao wouldn't even need to remind him, but Yu Xi didn't have that scheming mind and brain, fearing that if she went back to sleep, she would later feel regret.

The upcoming funeral rites are hard labor; both the Front Court and the Huang Hou must kneel and mourn.

As the Former Emperor's only surviving Princess, Yu Xi certainly could not avoid this custom.

Moreover, the burden on Yu Xi was not light; she also had to deal with the Huang Hou consorts and the ministers' families together with her.

Yu Xi nodded, and after she left, the room was left only to Shen Yao and her son Yu Cheng.

"Mother Consort"

At this time, Yu Cheng dared to speak of the Emperor's cause of death, but because he was still young, it inevitably seemed a bit awkward.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao pointed to the tea table, "I don't know how to handle those Daoists?"

Pushing them aside could avenge the Emperor, but the Emperor's reputation would also be completely ruined.

This is not a good thing for Yu Cheng, who is about to ascend the throne.

Yu Cheng nodded, "Those people cannot be kept, but we need an excuse; we cannot implicate the Imperial Father. The key is not to let the Royal Family's reputation sound bad."

"Prayer"

Shen Yao casually pointed out a way out, "Your Imperial Father is no longer here, so these Daoists can just pray for him; at that time, it won't attract attention," and then they could calculate further.

They definitely wouldn't survive; as the killers of the father (even though Shen Yao didn't think it was entirely the fault of the alchemy), for emotional and rational reasons, Yu Cheng must avenge his biological father.

For now, they can only do it this way!

Most of what the mother and son talked about when they met revolved around the Emperor's affairs.

Seeing Yu Cheng's tired expression, Shen Yao did not linger too long but had someone take him back to rest, "Tomorrow's matters rely on you," only after sleeping well and eating full can one have the strength to socialize with the Imperial Clan and even the ministers.

Moreover, Yu Cheng had not yet reached the age of maturity; whether he could take over government affairs was still a matter of trouble.

"Regardless, the New Emperor must personally administer the government," otherwise they, mother and son, would be working hard to make wedding clothes for others, simply not cost-effective.

"Does Her Ladyship have any plans?" She Shi sat opposite Shen Yao dressed all in white; if the vigil for the spirit hadn't ended, she would rather go straight home.

Shen Yao still maintained the appearance of wanting to cry but not crying, and a weak body.

There was no way; who let her husband die? Shen Yao had to put on a look of heartbroken grief to shut the mouths of those Front Court people.

Yu Cheng had already smoothly ascended the throne as Emperor; now he was wrangling over the placement of the Former Emperor and the ministers. Once a conclusion was reached, the next step was the most critical control of government affairs.

"Let Father and Zheng Daxueshi put in more effort," as for the families of the Huang Hou consorts, if not now, when else to exert influence?

She Shi:...

She Shi's words got stuck; she thought there were several forces in the Court that were hard to separate. Biting down on the fact that the New Emperor had not yet married would make it very difficult for him to take power and personally administer the government.

"As long as the Court is stirred up, one side will always choose to compromise," and the people below cannot go against the people above; who let this be a feudal society.

Yu Cheng would not lose; a few years ago, perhaps someone might have thought of fighting it out, but right now, they were all here playing tricks and waiting for promotion.

She Shi didn't know what Shen Yao was thinking inside; she only listened to the other's orders and, after exiting the palace, would tell the message to the Eunuch and her husband at home.

Shen Chunbai naturally did not give up the discussion in the Study; the father-son trio gathered again, each guaranteeing to strictly execute the tasks given by the Empress Dowager.

"Eldest Young Master, is it useful?"

Shen Zhanghe couldn't help but ask, while touching his own fast-beating little heart.

Shen Changyu raised his hand and patted Shen Zhanghe's shoulder, "Her Ladyship's words, when have they ever been useless?"

Shen Zhanghe:... It seems so; the Empress Dowager's far-sighted ability has always made their Shen Family look up to her in awe.

"Go back and recuperate your spirit; the Yulin Guard still needs you," they were entering the Court, Shen Zhanghe was entering the Imperial Palace; calculated, Shen Zhanghe could still play a more key role.

The Shen Family father-son trio resignedly worked, dragging Zheng Daxueshi along, making the whole Court increasingly turbulent.

They advocated for the New Emperor to personally administer the government; even though he was young and unmarried, the New Emperor was not a child, and moreover, there were many Grand Scholars carefully educating him. How could he not manage the Whole Country well?

"But this does not conform to Yu Guo's court regulations," one inherits the throne only after establishing a family and career.

"The Former Emperor has passed; the Country cannot be without a ruler for a single day," what Family Rules or not, the Former Emperor had only this one son, what more could they want.

"You are all pillars of Yu Guo; for the sake of Yu Guo, you should all the more fully support the New Emperor," not supporting him means having Private Interests — afraid they aren't spies mixed in from another country.

"..."

Yu Cheng wore the Dragon Robe, sitting on the Dragon Throne with a Serious face, listening to the Argument below.

He did not stop them, nor did he Persuade them, but was like an outsider, Looking At this group tearing at One another in a war of words, as if watching a farce.

Farce?

"That's right; in their hearts they all know they cannot stop the son from taking personal rule," no matter who it is, none can block the great trend rising on the Wind.

Nowadays, the reason they jump and kick even more is still to put on a show for Yu Cheng.

After experiencing Funeral Rites, Shen Yao's once Fresh and Bright appearance has become somewhat Aged; without Deliberate maintenance, she even Occasionally makes Effort toward looking older — Nowadays who doesn't say this new Empress Dowager's feelings for the Former Emperor are genuine and deep.

"If usable then Use, if not usable then wait with Patience," wait for this storm to pass, whether promotion or Demotion, no one will keep harping on it.

"Mother Empress, Rest assured, son is Aware."

The art of managing subordinates, the Way of being a ruler — Yu Cheng studied for several years and finally put it to Use.