As expected by everyone, she became the wife of the Marquis after being married off

"Your Highness and I pay our respects to the Princess."

"I met my aunt."

Li Changyang walked to the front and stood in front of them, with Tang Hai beside her. She swept her eyes over the ministers below her, and the majesty of someone who had been in a high position for a long time pressed down on their backs one by one.

"The Emperor once summoned me to take care of him while he was on his deathbed. At that time, the Emperor specifically gave me this secret decree and told me not to open it unless it was absolutely necessary. Now the court and the country are in chaos, and the country cannot be without a ruler for a day."

Li Changyang turned to look at Li Xuli who was bowing his head, and said in a serious tone: "I have never opened this imperial edict. If it is about which prince is chosen, I will never disobey it."

Li Xuli was stunned. He looked up at Li Changyang and at the same time glanced at Meng Changce who had a calm expression on his face.

"Yes."

Li Changyang handed the secret decree to Tang Hai: "In order to reassure you, I have specially invited Chief Steward Tang to come and witness it."

The officials present immediately understood the meaning of the princess' words. It was obviously meant for them. However, it did put their minds at ease.

"I believe in the Princess!"

Tang Hai took the secret decree respectfully, narrowed his eyes and said: "I was indeed present when the emperor handed the secret decree to the eldest princess. Now that the emperor has passed away, I had originally wanted to follow him." When he said this, his tone was a little choked.

Tang Hai raised his sleeves to wipe away his tears and sighed: "If it weren't for the emperor's original instructions, we wouldn't be here today."

"Okay, that's all nonsense. But it's not good for us to watch it alone. It's better for us to watch it with an adult." Tang Hai said frankly.

"This..." The ministers looked at each other and exchanged glances.

Li Changyang laughed and said, "I think this is a good idea. Please recommend someone to work with the chief steward."

Li Xuli stood in the crowd, watching the officials discussing in a low voice. He then looked through the crowd at Meng Changce, who was leaning against a pillar with his arms folded, and when he raised his eyes, their gazes met.

Zheng Chengsi broke the situation by speaking: "How is Lord Chen?"

Everyone first looked at Zheng Chengsi, then at Lord Chen who was recommended, and after a pause they all nodded.

This Lord Chen is the one from Jingzhao Prefecture who is upright and incorruptible, rigid and stubborn, but extremely just. He is also a person who dares to speak his mind compared to Emperor De.

Although such a person may not be liked by the officials in the capital, he is a well-known figure among the people, and his character of not fearing power makes him a good choice.

Lord Chen stepped forward with a determined look, bowed and checked one by one: "I am willing to bear witness with the chief steward."

Tang Hai narrowed his eyes and nodded.

With everyone present as witnesses, the two of them opened the secret decree.

Lord Chen was shocked at first, then surprise flashed in his eyes, and finally he fell silent.

Tang Hai and Lord Chen looked at each other, nodded slightly, and read out the imperial edict.

The general meaning is to make the Sixth Prince the new emperor, and his teacher, Marquis Changning, the regent. Prince Jingyang will manage the three departments, and Zheng Chengsi will be in charge of the Imperial Guards to assist the new emperor until he takes power.

After that, several officials were promoted. This imperial edict changed the situation of officials in the court.

None of the adults present had expected that the sixth prince would be the one to ascend the throne in the end.

The imperial edict issued by Emperor Yingde also divided the power in the capital into three factions, which checked and balanced each other. It seemed to be a carefully planned plan to assist the Sixth Prince.

Wang Shuo raised his lips slightly, and knelt down first and said loudly: "Thank you for your grace, the late emperor. I will never let you down."

As soon as he said this, everyone knelt down to receive the imperial edict, which also represented their recognition.

-------------------------------------

There was only one person. When the queen learned about this, she was not shocked but extremely angry, even to the point where she couldn't control herself. She had never thought! She had never thought that it would be the son of Concubine Chun, whom she had never taken seriously.

"Empress." The nanny knelt on the ground, looking at the queen who was suppressing her anger.

The queen sneered, looked down at the nanny who served her personally, and smiled in confusion: "For so many years, I have carefully arranged everything and planned to let Xu Li ascend to that position, but I didn't expect it!"

"I didn't expect it!" The Queen loudly smashed the cup beside her onto the ground. "He actually made her wedding dress. Why would he let me down for all the hard work I've put in for him over the years?"

The nanny cried and grabbed the queen's legs, and worriedly advised: "Your Majesty, no matter whether the crown prince or the sixth prince ascends the throne, you are the legitimate mother, the empress dowager, and no one can surpass you!"

"The new emperor has ascended the throne. He dare not risk the world's disapproval and disrespect you at this time. At least... at least Prince Zheng is still here. He has the military power in his hands and will definitely not let anything happen to you!"

The queen was stunned and looked down at the loyal nanny who was holding her.

Yes, she is right!

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Chen requests an audience."

The nanny quickly got up, looked at Li Xuli who was standing motionless at the door, then looked at the queen who was frowning, wiped her tears and walked away.

After everyone had left, Li Xuli walked towards the queen, first glanced at the mess on the ground, and then met the queen's eyes.

"Mother."

The queen snorted and looked at him with a sneer.

Li Xuli's lips moved, and he opened his mouth but said nothing.

He looked up at the queen and knelt down, kneeling on the broken porcelain pieces, with his brows lowered and his back straight.

The queen was startled and reflexively stretched out her hand to help the man up. Her brows trembled as he knelt down, but the hand she stretched out was trembling and she did not pull the man up as usual.

"Mother, now that I know what I have done, you will definitely not forgive me. But I want to save your life and escape from everything in the palace. I am an unfilial son, and I will raise an ungrateful person for the rest of my life."

Li Xuli said no more and kowtowed three times to the queen.

The porcelain shards had already cut his knees, leaving blood all over the floor.

"Mother, you have lived your whole life for the glory of the Zheng family. I was afraid that when father passed away, he would take you with him. Now that won't happen. He promised me that you will leave this palace that has trapped you all your life and spend your old age in peace."

"Your son will pray for you every day from now on."

Li Xuli kowtowed three times, then stood up tremblingly. Looking at the queen with trembling eyes, he turned around and left Kunning Palace in pain.

The queen felt as if she had lost Li Xuli at this moment. She clearly wanted to chase him, but her body seemed to be bound by an invisible rope and she could only watch his thin and lonely back as he left.

Li Xuli's departure was not leaving the palace, but leaving the capital. He even left a petition, gave up his status as a prince, and handed over the mistakes of Emperor Yingde to Jingzhao Prefecture.