Chapter 268

Mu Yuanzhi personally went over to support the Grand Empress Dowager and sit her down, while Gu Rongjin stood to the side as background, only offering greetings and not interjecting further.

"Great-grandmother, don't worry, the Prince Jia said that all members of the imperial family will be treated well," Mu Yuanzhi said.

The Grand Empress Dowager snorted: "You've rebelled, why say so much?"

"Great-grandmother..."

"It's also that unfilial good-for-nothing!" the Grand Empress Dowager sighed, then asked Mu Yuanzhi, "Was it really him who killed the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince was the current emperor's older brother, the late emperor's eldest son; the late emperor had not appointed a crown prince, so the heir position remained vacant until his deathbed, when he finally planned to pass the throne to the eldest son, but it was still usurped by the four regents together with the former emperor (the second prince).

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head: "I don't know yet; Prince Jia will investigate."

"Forget it, I can't bear to watch!" the Grand Empress Dowager closed her eyes, "I've long wanted to stay out of worldly affairs; tell Prince Jia to act as if this Grand Moon Palace doesn't exist."

"Grandmother, do you wish to remain in the palace to spend your twilight years, or go to a place with beautiful mountains and waters?"

A strange sound reached the Grand Empress Dowager's ears, and she looked around curiously.

Mu Yuanzhi smiled: "It's Prince Jia; he's come to see you, your esteemed self!"

The Grand Empress Dowager snorted: "You're here to have this old woman endorse you, so your throne will be more legitimate."

Prince Jia entered, first offering proper greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager, then personally brought a gift: "This is the spirit bird from the Infant Void Kingdom that I searched long for; it mimics speech faster than a mynah and is very perceptive."

He took out a bird cage from behind him as if by transformation magic; inside the cage was a very beautiful, all-white bird. The bird opened its beak: "Long live the Grand Empress Dowager! Good night! All kinds of well-being!"

Zhang Mama couldn't help but laugh.

Really quite honest and adorable.

Mu Yuanzhi thought Prince Jia was really impressive, actually managing to figure out the Grand Empress Dowager's preferences, even though he clearly hadn't grown up in the palace since childhood.

"You've already gotten into the palace? Just giving a bird and that's it?" the Grand Empress Dowager still didn't let anyone off with her words, but her eyes had already been fixed on this spirit bird.

Mu Yuanzhi gave a glance to the maid Shu'er; Shu'er understood, went over, took the bird cage, and handed it to the Grand Empress Dowager to look at.

No matter what the Grand Empress Dowager said, Prince Jia always appeared receptive, listening humbly and standing respectfully.

He didn't look at all like someone who had just seized the realm; instead, he seemed like an ordinary filial son and virtuous grandson, trying hard to win his grandmother's favor.

"This bird really has spirit; it must be hard to find." Mu Yuanzhi chimed in.

The usually silent Gu Rongjin nodded vigorously: "Exactly, exactly, Grand Empress Dowager, this grandson truly has filial piety!"

I don't know why, but even though he was speaking up for himself, Prince Jia always felt that Gu Rongjin's words were strange, sounding like an insult.

"You two are singing in harmony here, making me dizzy with your noise!" the Grand Empress Dowager could no longer hide the smile at the corners of her mouth; she teased the spirit bird, and the bird spoke a few more auspicious phrases, making her smile even richer.

The Grand Empress Dowager sighed, waved at Prince Jia: "Come over, let me take a good look at you."

Prince Jia stepped forward, half-crouching to give the Grand Empress Dowager a good look.

"You, this child, were sent away as a hostage since you were little; you were only four, at that age you didn't understand anything, you probably don't even remember me, do you?" As she spoke these words, the Grand Empress Dowager's eyes held a hint of pity: "I still remember the day you left the palace, holding a doll in your hands; that should have been an age of fine clothes and food, free of worries."

Prince Jia froze, and many waves surged in his heart.

"Grandmother still remembers."

"Of course I remember; you were so young, yet you had to go as a hostage, even though there was absolutely no need to send you over, given our strength, the Infant Void Kingdom was utterly unworthy."

She naturally knows the intrigue involved.

Back then, there were many factions in the court; Prince Jia's birth mother's family had no power or influence; Prince Jia himself was naturally talented; plus the former emperor had not named a crown prince; all these reasons made this child a sacrifice.

But she never imagined that fate would play such a huge joke, twists and turns, and yet the throne still ended up in his hands.

Prince Jia concealed all his emotions, smiling at the Grand Empress Dowager: "It's all in the past; with Grandmother caring for her grandson, the grandson is happy."

The Grand Empress Dowager nodded, saying to Prince Jia: "Since you are kind-hearted, I hope you will treat my good great-grandson well."

She said while pulling Mu Yuanzhi over, "Don't go back on your word after crossing the river."

"Grandmother, please rest assured; the grandson will surely generously reward Miss Mu and Master Gu."

"As for Master Gu, never mind."

Gu Rongjin: "What do you mean 'as for Master Gu, never mind'? The Grand Empress Dowager certainly doesn't want Miss Mu to be said to be marrying down, does she?"

As soon as he said that, everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became much livelier.

Mu Yuanzhi then laughed: "Just say whether I'm marrying down or not."

"Yes yes yes, my wife being able to marry me is my great fortune across three lifetimes!" Gu Rongjin then took the opportunity to go over and pull his wife back.

After everything settled, officials submitted memorials; the Grand Empress Dowager personally issued an edict, supporting Prince Jia as the new emperor, and had the National Teacher select an auspicious day to hold the ancestral worship and enthronement ceremony.

Upon the new emperor's enthronement and rewarding of merits, Gu Rongjin, due to originally having a princely title to inherit, was enfeoffed with three thousand households, equal to his father, Prince Pingnan; other feudal princes were also enfeoffed with five hundred to one thousand households each; Qiu Shihuai was granted the title of Grand Marshal and Grand General, concurrently holding the post of Minister of Works.

The National Teacher was enfeoffed as Defender of the State Duke, with three thousand households.

Qilin, Yuan Yan the monk, and Yun Jing Lou, these three people all refused official positions; the new emperor then rewarded them with ten thousand taels of gold and deeds to luxurious mansions.

Others, such as imperial princes, all submitted to the new court and were enfeoffed as idle princes.

As for the former crown prince Pei Shangyan, he refused to submit, and to this day he remains detained in the Imperial Court of Justice.

When it came to Mu Yuanzhi, the new emperor deliberately went to ask her whether she wanted to continue staying in the palace.

"With Gu Rongjin here, I can only stay here as well." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin, upon hearing that, said: "Don't force yourself, Xiao Yuanzhi; if you want to wander the four seas and roam the martial world at ease, I will naturally follow you."

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head: "No forcing; I have no particular obsession with retiring to the martial world, and besides, you have the ambition to serve the country, so I will definitely follow you."

She said while linking arms with Gu Rongjin.

"My wife is truly wonderful!"

They showed affection oblivious to everyone else; the new emperor couldn't help clearing his throat, then said: "Good, I will enfeoff Miss Mu as Defender of the State Princess; this is a brand-new title representing your new beginning. Miss Mu, you don't want to be a relative of the Pei clan, so being my niece is fine, right?"

Mu Yuanzhi smiled: "I am grateful that Your Majesty does not disdain me; thank you for your grace."

"In private, we don't need so many formalities."