The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

Following the first person's speech, many court officials stood up and seconded the proposal.

The Emperor of Chu leaned on the dragon throne and watched coldly.

"Your Majesty, I will report to you."

The left prime minister Huang Fengding stepped forward.

"That's right."

Huang Fengding turned his head and looked at the people behind him before speaking, "Since the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty, there has never been a precedent for deposing an empress. The empress was appointed by the order of heaven and earth, and was personally appointed by the late emperor. She is the legitimate empress of the Great Chu. Aren't you questioning the late emperor's decision by saying this?"

These people were loyal to the late emperor in the past, but later on, the late emperor probably hated them.

"This……"

Those who had stood up looked at each other, thinking that the Left Prime Minister was talking about the late emperor.

"Hmph, Lord Left Prime Minister, please don't put such a big accusation on us. The late Emperor didn't know that the Empress was morally flawed and acted so unworthy of her position. We, the ministers, are simply complying with Heaven's will and relieving His Majesty of his worries and difficulties by proposing the dethronement of the Empress."

When Zuo Xiang's faction saw that their leader had spoken, they also started a confrontation.

"I think you've all forgotten that the two Empress Dowagers, grateful for the late Emperor's kindness, requested to go to the temporary palace to pray and recuperate. As the daughter-in-law of the royal family, the Empress willingly discarded her finery and noble attire to serve the Empress Dowagers in the temporary palace for many years, personally attending to every detail. This is truly the utmost filial piety and kindness. For this reason alone, if the Empress were deposed, wouldn't it hurt the hearts of all the filial sons in the world?"

"Moreover, the Queen left behind capable people to assist in the management of the harem. The harem has remained safe and sound for all these years. Isn't this the Queen's credit? The Prince was not only cared for by his biological mother, but also taught by His Majesty. What Lord Chen just said, could it be that he is questioning the Prince's upbringing? As for the Queen being childless..."

Shao Qing's tears suddenly fell, and he knelt in the hall with his nose curled.

"The untimely death of the crown prince, three months earlier, is a source of grief for the entire nation. I believe the facts surrounding the death are suspicious, and I implore Your Majesty to order a reinvestigation of the crown prince's untimely death, and to bring those responsible to justice."

Shao Qing is the Queen's cousin. Coincidentally, he was transferred back from the local area two years ago and has always been a very low-key person.

No one expected that he would use a big move right from the start today.

Now the court officials began to whisper to each other, and some of them even looked unhappy.

When the King of Chu first came to power, he did not have a firm grasp on the court, so they took advantage of the loophole.

But things are no longer the same as before. If we conduct a thorough re-investigation, we might find out something.

His Majesty is already somewhat dissatisfied with their actions. Regardless of whether they are found out or not, it is just an excuse to deal with them.

"That happened twenty-two years ago. Even if we conduct a thorough investigation, what can we find? Your Majesty, this is unacceptable."

Many people stood up to oppose it, but Shao Qing said nothing and waited for the emperor to make a decision.

The Emperor of Chu had many children who died young, but his son and the Empress's son were different after all.

That was the child he had been waiting for for a long time. He looked very healthy, but he was gone just like that.

"Master Shao, this makes sense."

The Emperor of Chu said this in a deep voice, his face calm and composed, making it impossible to tell what he was feeling.

When the King of Chu said this, some people below became secretly panicked.

Those things back then couldn't withstand investigation. How many people were involved? As long as there was a clue, they would follow the clues...

"Your Majesty, premature death is perfectly normal. Great Chu has just settled down. Why add to the turmoil over this matter?"

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. If word gets out to the people, it will damage the reputation of the royal family."

"Hey, Master Ma, what you said, how can the reputation of the royal family be damaged? If there is no reason, then it is because the legitimate prince is blessed with great fortune. In the next life, the Immortal Master was reluctant to let him go, so he took him back. And if there is anything strange, it is an outsider's problem."

"Okay, stop arguing."

The Emperor of Chu held his forehead, looking exhausted.

"There is no precedent in the Great Chu for deposing a queen. The matter of deposing a queen should not be mentioned again."

Looking at Shao Qing who was still kneeling on the ground, he said, "Master Shao, please get up."

The King of Chu looked at the courtiers and asked, "Minister Wang, what do you think?"

Minister of Rites Wang Fa stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if we thoroughly investigate this matter from twenty-two years ago, firstly, it would alarm the harem and force the Empress Dowager to return to the palace, which is unwise. Secondly, the Empress's son's untimely death is a regret for the Great Chu. Rehashing this matter, regardless of whether there was any reason for it, would be disreputable and would tarnish the reputation of the royal family. Your Majesty, please consider this carefully."

Wang Fa prostrated himself in the hall, feeling very gloomy.

"Your Majesty, please think again."

The court officials knelt down in a flash, and the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Shao Qing took advantage of everyone's lowered heads to exchange glances with the Emperor of Chu.

"When the Queen's son died young, I was deeply grieved. The Queen gave birth only after the Empress Dowager left the palace, and she dragged her sick body to serve her. Such filial piety cannot be slandered. Those who have just submitted a petition to depose the Queen will each receive ten lashes as a warning to others."

"Minister Tian."

Minister of Personnel Tian Zhi knelt forward, moved a little, and bowed again, "I am here."

"None of these people will receive a distinction in the moral examination this year. Instruct your subordinates to note down each one for me."

The King of Chu spoke these two words with great seriousness.

Since his test scores were not excellent, there was no possibility of promotion for at least five years, especially since this incident was recorded.

The officials who had just submitted their memorials were so frightened that they collapsed on the ground, especially Lord Pu who was the first to make the memorial.

He couldn't help but look to the left and front, but the man never looked at him.

"I have been granted the Mandate of Heaven, yet I have no children. This pains me deeply. ... I decree that the Empress's son, Prince Fusheng, be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum. A hundred years from now, he will be buried alongside me and the Empress, and offered sacrifices by the descendants of the Great Chu."

The child who died prematurely finally had a name, Chu Qinliu. In the 24th year of Mingde, he was officially canonized as Prince Fusheng and buried with the emperor and empress.

"Blessed Saint, Blessed Saint..."

The queen knelt before the Buddhist temple and murmured, "What a pity that I have no blessings."

Liu'er was the name the two of them gave to their unborn child before he was born.

Meiyu Liuye, this name sounds nice whether it is for a boy or a girl.

Now I feel that this name is not well chosen. Liu'er, Liu'er, the one I want to keep so much is impossible to keep.

The Queen held a Buddhist rosary in her hand, gazing at the Bodhisattva statue above. The smoke rising slowly from the incense in the altar blurred her vision, making it difficult to see through.

Deposed queen, hum.

Queen Zhu raised the corners of her lips, and the angle of her lips became wider and wider, which was frightening to look at.

Everything is in her palm.

The turmoil caused by the dethronement of the queen was like a pebble thrown into a lake, which disappeared without a trace after a wave.

Everything was peaceful in the court. The people who had caused the trouble not only did not hurt the queen, but also helped the legitimate prince who died early to get a title. Although he did not continue the throne with the current prince, Yudie remembered it clearly.

But a deeper crisis quietly fell, and Yumen was in chaos.

Liu Huaian was so anxious that he kept pacing around the room. When he heard hurried footsteps outside, he looked up.

"Mr. Magistrate."

"Don't be polite at this time. Tell me, what's the situation now?"

The subordinate's forehead was covered with sweat, and he immediately described the situation briefly.