We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? - Chapter 406: Your Majesty, Please Ascend the Throne!
After the Qin Kingdom’s ruler passed away, the sound of bells rang out from the imperial palace, spreading throughout the entire imperial capital.
These bells only rang when the Qin Kingdom’s ruler passed away, no more, no less, exactly nine times.
Hearing the bells from the palace, ordinary citizens looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.
His Majesty had always been in good health, how could he suddenly pass away?
But the bells were not fake, and anyone who dared to ring them falsely would be punished with the extermination of nine generations of their clan.
“Your Majesty!”
After some citizens in the imperial city accepted reality, their eyes reddened and they spontaneously knelt facing the direction of the palace.
For the common people, Qin Shengtian was absolutely worthy of being called a wise ruler, and in their hearts, his status was second only to the founding ancestor.
Officials in their residences, upon hearing the bells, initially reacted with bewilderment, doubting whether they had heard wrong.
Soon after they came to their senses, they hurriedly rushed toward the palace.
The ruler’s passing, this matter was truly monumental, and moreover, it was far too sudden.
No one could have imagined that just days ago, His Majesty had been so vigorous and full of life, yet today his soul had returned to the nine heavens.
Furthermore, the most critical issue was that now that His Majesty had passed, he had not yet determined the successor to Qin Kingdom.
Currently, among the imperial princes and princesses in the palace, only the Third Princess remained.
What were they to do?
It was very likely that all of Qin Kingdom would fall into chaos because of this.
At the same time, Prime Minister Li, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu also hurried into the palace.
Although ministers were not permitted to enter the rear palace without the emperor’s orders, given the urgency of the situation, they could not afford to worry about such things.
The three arrived at the courtyard where Empress Shi resided and saw the Qin Kingdom’s ruler sitting on a stone bench, while the Third Princess Qin Siyao kept watch by her father’s side.
Prime Minister Li and the other two knelt before the Qin Kingdom’s ruler and bowed deeply.
“Her Highness the Princess, please accept our condolences. The urgent matter now is to retrieve His Majesty’s last testament to stabilize the court.”
Prime Minister Li Ge said to Qin Siyao.
Although they knew that the passing of the Qin Kingdom’s ruler was a great blow to Qin Siyao, and that anyone would find it difficult to have the presence of mind to worry about other matters. However, this concerned matters of state and could not be delayed for even a moment.
“Testament?” Qin Siyao turned around, forcibly suppressing the grief in her heart as she looked at the three, “But Father never spoke to me about any testament.”
“There is one.”
Baili Xi sighed and shook his head.
“His Majesty once summoned the three of us to the imperial study and told us he had written a testament. He gave us three tokens, and finally, combining them with the imperial seal, the testament could be retrieved. However, His Majesty never told us where this testament was kept. His Majesty only said that when the time came, Her Highness the Princess would surely know. Does Your Highness have any idea?”
“What do your tokens look like?” Qin Siyao asked.
The group took out their tokens.
Looking at the tokens, Qin Siyao thought for a moment, and her eyes brightened slightly, “Perhaps I truly do know where it is. I will go with you to retrieve it.”
“Yes, Her Highness the Princess.” The three bowed together.
After Qin Siyao moved her father’s remains into her mother’s bedchamber, she followed Prime Minister Li and the other two to the imperial study.
On Qin Siyao’s desk, there happened to be four indentations.
As for these four indentations on the desk, Qin Siyao had never paid them any attention from start to finish, initially thinking they were some peculiar design feature but when Qin Siyao saw that the size and specifications of these four indentations were almost identical to the tokens in their hands, she understood what was happening.
Qin Siyao had Baili Xi and the other two place their tokens in the indentations on the desk, then she picked up the Qin Kingdom’s imperial seal from the desk and placed it there as well.
Instantly, the desk began to vibrate, and then the jade plate in the center opened, revealing an imperial edict before everyone’s eyes.
“By now, the civil and military officials should have gathered in the great hall. We request that Her Highness the Princess take His Majesty’s final testament and accompany us to the great hall to read it aloud.”
Baili Xi bowed and requested.
“I understand.”
Qin Siyao nodded and picked up the edict, holding it tightly in her arms.
In the great hall of Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital.
Nearly all the civil and military officials had arrived, each person’s expression very uneasy.
If His Majesty had already established a crown prince, that would be one thing but now, with the position of crown prince vacant, they were momentarily at a loss for what to do and just as the ministers were engaged in hushed discussions.
Li Ge, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu entered the great hall.
At the forefront of them was the Third Princess, Qin Siyao.
Seeing the four people, the ministers hurriedly cleared a path, then stood in their positions, and everyone fell silent.
All the ministers’ gazes fell upon the edict that the Princess held in her arms.
Qin Siyao stopped walking and turned to face everyone.
Li Ge and the other two took the lead in calling out, “We request that Her Highness the Princess read aloud His Majesty’s testament!”
The other ministers came to their senses and together shouted, “We request that Her Highness the Princess read aloud His Majesty’s testament!”
Qin Siyao nodded, opened the testament, and read it word by word. Her voice was clear and pleasant, echoing through the great hall:
“Since I accepted the Mandate of Heaven and ascended to the throne, I have been vigilant day and night, never daring to forget the importance of the ancestral temples and the state.
In the past, I ascended the throne in my youth, and it has now been more than a hundred years.
Though I lack the virtue of Yao and Shun, I have striven to govern diligently and care for the people, never daring to be negligent.
Several years ago, I forcibly attempted to break through to the Jade Simplicity realm. Unfortunately, my Dao foundation was not solid, my true essence rebelled, my five internal organs were all damaged, and my meridians were completely destroyed.
Fortunately, the great Dao showed mercy, leaving me with a remnant breath at the brink of death. I then borrowed spiritual medicines and rare treasures from the four seas to extend my life, up until today.
However, life and death are fated, how can gold and stone preserve it?
Now my qi is exhausted and my spirit depleted. Knowing my time has come, I specially issue this final instruction. You civil and military officials must listen carefully and act prudently:
After I pass, funeral rites must be kept simple and frugal.
Do not construct earthworks or build a separate tomb palace. Simply bury me beside Empress Shi’s tomb. The stele before the tomb need not inscribe my merits and virtues.
All palace eunuchs shall be granted thirty mu of fertile land and one hundred taels of silver, and sent back to their native places.
For the responsibility of assisting in state affairs, I specially promote three people:
Chen Jin, county magistrate of Jing Prefecture’s Xiang County, who is upright in character and well-versed in common affairs.
General Lie Su Qin, whose loyalty and courage continue his ancestor’s legacy.
Lin Xinhan, governor of Bohai Prefecture, who is frugal and benevolent to the people.
They are to be summoned to court immediately to participate in state affairs.
Frost Prince Xiao Mo is my right arm. I grant him additional privileges of ceremonial authority with the nine distinctions, supreme command over all military forces inside and outside the capital, special permission to wear sword and shoes when ascending to the hall, to enter the palace without removing armor or weapons, and to see the sovereign without using the title of subject.
Third Princess Siyao possesses the qualities of fine jade, is intelligent and composed. She has assisted in managing court affairs for three years. In adjudicating criminal cases, she is as stern as autumn frost. In managing taxes and levies, she is meticulous to the smallest detail. Her talent for governance truly does not fall short of the First Prince Jingsu and Second Prince Jingyuan.
The divine vessel cannot remain vacant. I have decided to transmit the throne to…”
As Qin Siyao read word by word.
Suddenly, Qin Siyao’s voice stopped, and she stared blankly at the testament in her hands.
Many officials raised their heads and looked toward the Third Princess at the front. They saw her eyes wavering, and even her delicate hands holding the edict were trembling involuntarily.
Everyone’s minds tensed.
What they cared about most was to whom His Majesty would transmit the throne.
This concerned the very foundation of Qin Kingdom.
“Her Highness the Princess.” At this time, Prime Minister Li spoke, “His Majesty’s testament, you should not have finished reading it yet, correct?”
Baili Xi and Jian Shu also bowed respectfully, “We request that Her Highness the Princess continue reading.”
Qin Siyao glanced at Prime Minister Li and the other two, took a deep breath, and continued reading:
“I have decided to transmit the throne to Third Princess Qin Siyao.
All officials should wholeheartedly assist her, treating her as if I were still present.
If there are those who disobey orders and harbor duplicity, secretly form factions, and destabilize the foundation of the state, Frost Prince may wield my legacy sword to execute them, exterminate their nine generations, witnessed by heaven and earth.
I have often studied historical records, and there has never been a woman ruling the court. This action will surely invite criticism. However, how can we abandon worthy talent simply because of differences between men and women?
Siyao holds mountains and valleys in her heart and rivers and mountains in her belly. You elder ministers should discard prejudices and work together with one heart.
I now depart. I hope all of you will unite and protect our Great Qin’s rivers and mountains forever.
The waxing and waning of the moon, the constant nature of all things, the cycle of sun and moon, a prosperous age can be expected.
You must not be sad or anxious. Each should guard your duties, and then I will smile in the netherworld.”
As Qin Siyao’s words fell, the ministers in the court looked at each other, all doubting whether they had heard incorrectly.
His Majesty transmitted the throne to the Third Princess?
How could this be possible?
The Third Princess was a woman!
There had never been such a precedent in the world!
For a moment, whispered discussions arose again in the court, as if they could not accept this result in such a short time but in everyone’s hearts, they also felt that His Majesty would indeed issue such a testament.
Otherwise, His Majesty would have chosen a prince to adopt long ago. How could he have remained silent all this time?
Perhaps His Majesty had always known that this decision would have enormous impact and far-reaching implications.
Rather than that, it would be better to establish a testament and have it read after death. This way, it would be a done deal, and no one could refute it.
Qin Siyao, however, still stood at the front of the great hall, staring blankly at the assembled ministers.
For Qin Siyao, she had never imagined such an outcome.
She was to take up her father’s heavy burden and become the Qin Kingdom’s ruler?
Could she truly serve as this sovereign?
Did she truly have this capability?
Father had asked her to help him handle court affairs. Could it have all been for today?
Gradually, the voices of the crowd became increasingly blurred in Qin Siyao’s ears.
In the end, Qin Siyao seemed to hear only her own heartbeat and at this moment, from outside the great hall, came the sound of footsteps.
This sudden sound of footsteps caused everyone to turn and look.
A tall and upright figure walked step by step into the great hall.
When this man appeared, the ministers fell silent again, and some officials did not even dare to look directly at him.
Originally, this man’s power and prestige had already reached the pinnacle in Qin Kingdom.
After the edict was announced, if this man before them were to proclaim himself emperor and rule Qin Kingdom one day, they would not find it surprising!
Moreover, even if this man did not proclaim himself emperor, as the current Princess’s consort, the prince born between him and the Princess in the future would inevitably be Qin Kingdom’s next sovereign.
And when this man appeared, Qin Siyao’s eyes flashed with brightness, and her delicate hands gripped the edict in her hands tightly.
Finally, the man walked past the assembled ministers and knelt on one knee before the woman. His resonant voice spread throughout the entire great hall:
“This subject Xiao Mo! Respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!”
Before the ministers could react, Li Ge, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu, the three dukes, bowed and called out loudly:
“We subjects respectfully welcome Your Majesty!”
Seeing that Frost Prince and the three dukes had all expressed their positions, the ministers looked at each other. What objections could there be?
Finally, all civil and military officials bowed together and called out in unison:
“We subjects! Respectfully welcome Your Majesty!”
As the ministers’ voices fell, the entire court fell into silence, and Qin Siyao still stood motionless in place.
“We request that Your Majesty ascend the throne!” Xiao Mo spoke again.
“We request that Your Majesty ascend the throne!” Li Ge, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu echoed together.
“We request that Your Majesty ascend the throne!” The assembled ministers echoed together.
Qin Siyao looked at Xiao Mo, looked at the assembled ministers, lowered her head, and looked at the edict.
Finally, the woman turned around and looked at that Qin Kingdom throne that was not tall, yet seemed to reach into the heavens.
At last, the woman’s legs beneath her skirt stepped forward, walking toward the stairs.
“Third Sister, Second Brother is leaving. From now on, you must take good care of yourself.”
One step.
“Third Sister, this expedition against Jin Kingdom, Big Brother cannot guarantee he can return. Father and Mother, I leave them to your care.”
Two steps.
“Jingsu, Jingyuan, Mother is coming to see you. But after this, it will be hard on Siyao. Can Siyao truly bear it…”
Three steps.
“Siyao, from today onward, you will help Father handle government affairs. You don’t know how? No matter, Father will teach you properly.”
Four steps.
“Siyao, actually you are truly very intelligent. Your talent is not inferior to your eldest and second brothers at all.”
“Daughter, you are good in every way, but you are too kind. You must remember, in the court, one cannot be kind.”
“In the future, if there is anything, tell Xiao Mo. You may not trust others, but Father believes that Xiao Mo will never let you down.”
“Daughter, from now on, the matters of the court are entrusted to you.”
Five steps, six steps, seven steps…
With each step Qin Siyao took, her mind recalled the words her second brother, eldest brother, mother, and father had said to her.
“Siyao’s father… I’m sorry…”
When Qin Siyao took her final step.
She had already arrived at the elevated platform, and the throne of Qin Kingdom was right before her.
Qin Siyao turned around. Below the elevated platform was her most beloved person and the full court of civil and military officials.
“Xiao Mo, I don’t want to hide behind you anymore.”
“I want to cultivate properly! I want to stand together with you! To shoulder everything together with you!”
“I want to protect you too!”
Qin Siyao clenched her small fists and sat upon the dragon throne of Qin Kingdom’s ruler!
The moment Qin Siyao sat down, above the imperial palace of Qin Kingdom, the qi fortune of rivers and mountains continuously condensed, and a golden giant dragon continuously circled above the palace.
“Roar!”
The sound of the dragon’s cry spread outward.
Outside the imperial city, the citizens of Qin Kingdom’s capital raised their heads and looked at the golden giant dragon above the palace.
Thick sovereign majesty pressed down from the clouds, causing the citizens in the imperial city to involuntarily kneel toward the palace.
All the ministers were shocked in their hearts.
Right now, the Princess had not yet held the coronation ceremony, yet she had already summoned such a heaven and earth phenomenon. Looking at the history of all nations over thousands of years, this was extremely rare.
“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Xiao Mo’s voice echoed through the great hall.
“We subjects! Pay respects to Your Majesty!”
The three dukes and all civil and military officials called out in unison.
“Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, rest assured…”
Qin Siyao sat upon the throne, gazing at the sky beyond the great hall.
“This Qin Kingdom, your daughter and Xiao Mo will guard it for you.”
