Chapter 1114: The Bill of Rights

The entire venue began to grow noisy with the arrival of Liu Zheng.

Where there is joy, there is naturally sorrow.

Many were currying favor with Liu Zheng, while many others were lamenting for the Emperor.

There were all sorts of people.

Liu Zheng watched quietly.

He waited until the Prince of Qin and Zhu Zhen also walked over at the same time.

The three giants finally gathered together.

At this moment, the scene instead fell silent.

The constitutional monarchy of the Longyan Dynasty had been planned for so long; if it were truly reversible, Vice Minister Liu would have died long ago! Since he was still full of vigor today and stood here as if looking down upon the world, it meant that constitutional monarchy in Longyan was already an irreversible fact.

No one could change it.

Unless Xie Tianyao were to come back to life.

Everyone looked at Liu Zheng, regardless of whether their gazes were filled with anticipation, excitement, resentment, or murderous intent.

Even Zhu Zhen and the Prince of Qin were quietly waiting for Liu Zheng's instructions at this time.

But Liu Zheng was still waiting.

No one knew what he was waiting for.

Finally, after a moment, a group of people slowly walked in from outside the hall, under the escort of the Imperial Guards.

Everyone turned their heads to look, and their expressions changed instantly.

The people who arrived were precisely all the prominent figures in this Imperial Palace.

Empress Dowager, Zheng Fu.

Secondary Empress Dowager, Dong Shuyu.

Longyang Princess, Xie Chan.

As well as Grand Eunuch Zhou, who had already resigned and intended to retire, the masked and armed Secret Guard, Yuan Qingming, and the various concubines from the halls of the inner palace.

Upon seeing this group of people, everyone could not help but gasp.

Because these people were, without a doubt, the most authentic royal clansmen of Longyan at this time.

Royal clansmen.

They were even closer to the current Emperor of Longyan, Xie Ming, than those Feudatory Kings. Men and women, young and old.

After Zheng Fu walked in, she looked deeply at Liu Zheng. This gaze contained too many things... Since the first time she saw Liu Zheng in Liangzhou, who could have imagined that in these few short years, he would go from the son of a wealthy merchant she had almost killed to the existence that now held sway over Longyan.

Her own son had died because of him.

Yet, if she wanted to survive, she could only forcibly suppress the hatred in her heart, because she could not avenge this hatred...

Therefore, she could only stand on the same side as Liu Zheng.

Her mood at this moment was extremely complex.

She still did not quite understand why Liu Zheng had not tampered with the last will and testament at the most critical moment to let Xie Chan become the Female Emperor; if that had happened, the people on this boat could have all taken flight together.

He had the ability, the opportunity, and likewise, the capital to do so.

Yet he did not...

So her mood at this moment was even more complex.

Grand Eunuch Zhou's gaze toward Liu Zheng was much kinder. This eunuch, who had followed Xie Tianyao for almost his entire life, had always held a high position and had always been the man who best understood Xie Tianyao's thoughts—of course, if he could still be considered a man. The former Grand Eunuch had also been one to turn his hands to create clouds and rain, yet he retired the moment he said he would, without the slightest hesitation. Because of this, he had earned the respect of many.

Xie Chan's gaze toward Liu Zheng naturally contained love; this goes without saying.

She did not want to be any Female Emperor and let this deep palace bind her...

Seeing her future husband acting so imposingly at this moment, with everyone looking to him for guidance, was enough for her. She had always known that Liu Zheng was a man who did great things, and she mindlessly believed that Longyan would move toward glory under Liu Zheng's leadership.

If not glorious, that was fine too.

In any case, it did not matter whether she was a member of the Xie family or not.

She was already Liu Zheng's wife, and she was willing to marry into the Liu Family.

The other royal clansmen's gazes toward Liu Zheng were naturally filled with hatred; among them, Dong Shuyu's was the most intense. However much Xie Ming hated him, her hatred was multiplied several times over.

But, was there a Method?

Now, was there anyone left who could turn the tide?

No.

Seeing that everyone had finally arrived, Liu Zheng turned around with the Prince of Qin and Zhu Zhen.

The entire venue was filled with a rustling sound.

Liu Zheng knelt down first and shouted, "Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

The whole venue shouted and knelt in unison.

At this instant, Xie Ming was extremely excited, his face turning flushed. Since he had inherited the throne, this was the first time he had been so excited.

This was what an Emperor was!

This was the feeling of being an Emperor! This was ruling over the world!

He took a deep breath and slowly raised his hand: "All officials, rise."

"Thank you, Emperor!"

Everyone stood up at the same time.

Just as Xie Ming had not yet fully savored the pleasure of being Emperor, Liu Zheng stepped out again. His imposing back once again knocked Xie Ming's state back to its original form.

Everyone, also from that habitually respectful gaze, shifted away from Xie Ming and once again landed on Liu Zheng.

Because no one knew what would happen next.

They had not known beforehand about this method of inviting the imperial clansmen over.

After all, this process of constitutional monarchy was truly the first of its kind for Longyan.

Liu Zheng glanced at Zhu Zhen.

Zhu Zhen nodded and stepped forward: "Emperor, the late Emperor was benevolent and righteous, prioritizing the state and the people of the world above all else... Therefore, today, the Cabinet, upholding the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling the late Emperor's great expectations, hereby reads the 'Bill of Rights' approved by the late Emperor's final edict! Emperor, what do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The entire hall erupted in noise.

Bill of Rights?

What is this thing?

In fact, in this world, Britain's "Bill of Rights" had already emerged, and the Li Dynasty had one as well.

It was just that the Longyan people were not particularly familiar with it.

The entire hall suddenly fell silent.

Xie Ming was already trembling with rage.

Did he still have room to resist?

No.

Did he still have room to refute?

Also no.

He nodded blankly.

Only then did Zhu Zhen turn around, pick up a dossier, and begin to read.

Longyan's "Bill of Rights" was a bill determined by the Cabinet after careful deliberation over a recent period. This was absolutely unprecedented in Longyan history. Because never before had a law been able to take effect against the Emperor's will.

But now, there was one.

This bill was originally intended to restrict imperial power.

It also meant that from this day forward, the entire Longyan would enter a true society ruled by law. Using law to replace imperial power.

Zhu Zhen's reading had already begun.

Every clause was like a sharp blade, fiercely stabbing into the hearts of these imperial clansmen.

Every clause had put in enough effort to restrict imperial power.

Every clause was highlighting the status of the law.

As Xie Ming listened, cold sweat began to pour down.

As the imperial clansmen listened, their faces turned pale.

As the various Feudatory Kings and the assembled officials listened, their fists clenched.

This was indeed a moment of great historical significance.

The reading of the Bill of Rights was concluded.

The entire hall knelt and bowed once more.

Shouting "Long live."

The sound of

"Long live" was continuous and unending.

Everyone was grateful for the imperial family's relinquishment of power.

Everyone was thankful for the Xie Family's magnanimity.

Society must develop.

Imperial power must be restricted.

Anyone with a bit of sense knew what the law meant for Longyan.

Xie Ming was now streaming with tears.

His whole body slumped onto the Dragon Throne.

The imperial clansmen knelt and wept in a heap.

Liu Zheng, with a cold face, said nothing.

The Longyan Dynasty henceforth entered a constitutional monarchy ruled by law. The "Bill of Rights" provided a powerful legal guarantee for restricting the formerly supreme imperial power. It also established the principle of "Parliamentary Supremacy." From then on, the Emperor would occupy a position of "reigning but not ruling."

Power is something that is never enough to go around.

At this moment, the people present finally began to realize the benefits of a constitutional monarchy for their own interest group.

However...

In the near future, they would finally understand.

Why Liu Zheng had to endure the stigma of being a "traitor" to insist on establishing a constitutional monarchy.

His vision was never limited to just one Longyan.

It was.

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