Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 797 - 656 Emperor Li (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets)_1

Chapter 797: Chapter 656 Emperor Li (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets)_1

Jingtai Emperor had passed away, and cries of sorrow filled the entire palace.

Yu Hongshang was also in deep grief, her eyes swollen and red, her face like deathly pale, she stood stiffly on the spot, unable to accept the reality of the Emperor’s demise.

However, as Jingtai Emperor’s designated Jianguo (Caretaker) Princess, she couldn’t afford to lose herself entirely in sorrow.

After temporarily arranging for Jingtai Emperor’s body, Shaofu Yu Jie, his eyes bloodshot and his face pale, hurried into the palace.

His battle with Dasiming had just concluded not long ago.

Together, they managed to injure Dasiming, forcing her to flee the capital.

Just as Yu Jie stepped out of the ’Tianxingtai’ summoned by Dasiming, he received the bad news of Jingtai Emperor’s death.

Fortunately, Li Xuan had a great victory over Liang Heng at Chaobai River with an inferior force, preventing these traitorous officials from succeeding.

The forty thousand musketeers of Shenji Camp demonstrated awe-inspiring power on the battlefield.

Li Xuan’s military abilities were even more surprising to Yu Jie.

Yu Hongshang then called upon all ministers of the 3rd-rank official and above to the auxiliary hall.

"The most important task at hand is the funeral affairs of my father and the queen mother," said Yu Hongshang solemnly. She turned to Minister of Rites Hu Ying and said, "The position of Dazongzheng has been vacant until now. This matter can only be delegated to Earl Dazong. You will be in charge of all the ceremonial rites and regulations. I will have Shangshu Shang Hong of Zuochun House and Qing of Honglu Temple assist you."

The Minister of Rites, Hu Ying, became solemn, "Your orders are my commands!"

Shang Hong too, reinvigorated, bowed, "I shall not fail the task entrusted by Jianguo."

His current situation was quite awkward. Although he was a member of the cabinet, he was not listed as a Grand Secretary by Jingtai Emperor.

Shang Hong knew why. Firstly, there was an issue with his position in the past. Secondly, his student, Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen was currently in exile.

After Jingtai Emperor announced the legacy, Shang Hong wanted to resign.

But after some thought, he decided against it.

Firstly, his lifelong ambition was to bring peace to the world and resignation would be tantamount to giving up on that dream. Secondly, this was not a good time to resign, as it could be seen as siding with the opposition.

Shang Hong knew of Li Xuan’s ruthless nature. Before he could leave the court, Li Xuan would surely have him killed.

Therefore, Shang Hong was relieved when Yu Hongshang remembered to call upon him, a Daxueshi of Zuochun House, at this time. This could somewhat alleviate his embarrassing position in the court.

Yu Hongshang gave a slight nod, then spoke solemnly, "With father’s ascension to heaven, I am heartbroken and unable to take care of political affairs for the time being. However, due to the rebellion for Zhengtong’s restoration, there is disorder in and out of the court, internal troubles and external threats, making the nation’s steps difficult. Moreover, there are many political affairs to handle and every day’s delay affects the people’s livelihood.

"Hence, during father’s funeral, you all should focus more on the court affairs. The responsibilities that the cabinet and six ministries should bear must not be neglected. Qian Long, during this period, if County Prince Fenyang thinks that there’s no problem, you can directly authorize military and political matters without asking for my opinion.

"Also, regarding the rebellion case of Zhengtong and the subsequent pacification matters, County Prince Fenyang will lead, together with Shaofu Yu Jie and Shangshu Yu of Ministry of Punishments, to eradicate the remnants of Zhengtong’s rebellion."

All officials present exchanged glances, thinking internally how much more Princess Hongshang trusted Li Xuan, even more than Jingtai Emperor did.

They had all heard about these two and knew about Yu Hongshang’s long-standing affection for Li Xuan, causing them to secretly worry about it.

Nevertheless, everything Yu Hongshang said was reasonable.

Even though she was grief-stricken by Jingtai Emperor’s death and was in mourning, inadvertently causing her to be unable to manage political affairs. However, her concern for the state and the people was evident, this was undoubtedly the quality of a wise monarch.

Also, the late emperor specifically mentioned Li Xuan before his death, and instructed the successor to honor him as "Father Shang," thus it was clear that this County Prince Fenyang was intended to be the leader of the eight regent ministers.

Yu Hongshang’s arrangements strictly adhered to the late emperor’s wishes.

Therefore, the regent ministers didn’t hesitate and accepted their duties with bows.

Li Xuan stepped out from the crowd of officials, "Your Highness, I wish to decline the title of County Prince Fenyang and Father Shang! Since the founding of Jin Dynasty, no minister has been conferred a royal rank. As for the title of Father Shang, it’s beyond a servant’s duty. I am fearful and dare not accept it!"

The title of County Prince Fenyang and Father Shang, although they came from the will of Jingtai Emperor, it didn’t mean that he could comfortably accept them.

The crux was that these were merely honors, they wouldn’t bring him any practical benefits. Instead, they could potentially sow the seeds of disaster for himself and the Li family.

Li Xuan was not worried about any lingering troubles, but he believed that he still had to show an attitude of ’abdication’ in front of all the ministers,

Especially that ’Father Shang’, what was that?

Throughout history, few who dared to be the ’Father’ of the emperor ended well.

Before him, there was a ’Father’ Wang Zhen.

"Not allowed!" Yu Hongshang shook her head decisively with a complex look in her eyes, "It’s said that a son should not discuss his father. This is the last wish of the late emperor. It is not a decision for the palace and the court officials. The title of County Prince Fenyang and Father Shang were entrusted with the late emperor’s high hopes. He hoped that the County Prince Fenyang would become a pillar of The Court like Lu Shang and Guo Ziyi, helping the young master and consolidating the court’s policy. Therefore, County Prince Fenyang must not refuse; you must not go against the intentions of the deceased emperor."

Li Xuan was rendered speechless, this was precisely his dilemma.

The ritual law of the Jin Dynasty respected the deceased greatly.

If the emperor was still alive, he did not have to abdicate himself, the court would allow Jingtai Emperor to revoke the edict.

But this Emperor had already passed away, to whom should he go to argue with?

However, the group of officials present were quite satisfied with Li Xuan’s humble attitude, and they could also empathize with his helplessness.

At this time, the Grand Secretary Chen Xun pondered, "Your Highness! I believe that the rise and fall of the palace and the succession of the new emperor and the regency of the princess should be announced as soon as possible, so that local officials can be informed at an early date to calm the hearts of people inside and outside the court.

Moreover, for the convenience of intra-court correspondence, it would be best to assign posthumous titles and temple names to the Emperor Xing as soon as possible."

In his opinion, the most appropriate thing to do at this point was to keep the death a secret. Once the situation in the court became stable, it would not be too late to prepare for the Emperor’s funeral.

However, in order to legitimize the young master’s position and allow Princess Changle to supervise the country with legitimate reasons, the late emperor actively called hundreds of civil and military officials into the palace to announce his last wishes. This ’not announcing the death’ was not an option.

In this situation, it is better to openly demonstrate the death of the Emperor, the succession of the young master, and the regency of the Princess to prevent various speculations about the central court.

After hearing this, Yu Hongshang slightly nodded her head, "The words of the Grand Secretary are very appropriate. The matter of the new Emperor’s succession can be drafted by the Decree Room as soon as possible, and announced to the realm by the Tongzheng Division. As for the posthumous title and temple name of the late Emperor —"

She couldn’t help but look sideways, her eyes flickering as she looked at the several Ritual Officers and Hanlin Scholars present.

Yu Hongshang knew the goodwill of Chen Xun. The so-called ’convenience with official documents’ is just an excuse. This Grand Secretary believes that the present situation is more suitable for discussing this issue.

The so-called ’posthumous title’ is the manifestation of conduct; the so-called ’temple name’ represents achievements.

As for the temple name, it is the title of the emperor when he is worshipped in the Grand Temple.

Yu Hongshang naturally hoped to give Jingtai Emperor a beautiful posthumous title and a superior temple name, but this matter was not up to her to decide.

However, several Ritual Officers and Hanlin scholars present who had the right to decide on this matter are either members of the Emperor’s faction or loyal and honest officials close to the Emperor.

"In the minister’s opinion, the posthumous title of the late Emperor can be ’Jing’!" Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, looked around at the group of officials without hesitation, "’Jing’: Benevolence and fairness are ’Jing’; great worry is ’Jing’; promoting righteousness and acting rigidly is ’Jing’; dedicating to greater vision is ’Jing’; achieving through righteousness is ’Jing’; virtuous conduct can be revered is ’Jing’; law and righteousness are equal is ’Jing’; brightness illuminates all around is ’Jing’.

Weighed by Your Majesty’s achievements, it is enough to carry it. The honorific title for the late Emperor can be ’The Emperor who conforms to heaven, establishes the path, is respectful, benevolent, secures stability, prospers in literature, spreads martial arts, displays virtues, and greatly esteems filial piety’. This can honor and elevate his virtue and achievements. As for Your Majesty’s temple name, it can be ’Emperor of the Age’."

’Emperor of the Age’ is the honor of a ruler who keeps things as they were, and it also implies that the lineage is transferred from a collateral branch to the main branch.

After the officials heard the words, they found that the posthumous and temple titles were simply more than appropriate.

The presiding Hanlin scholar present could not help but admire and salute the Minister of Rites Hu Ying saying, "You are truly deserving of the title of Earl Dazong!"

As the head of the current Hanlin scholars, the Patriarch of the literati, he couldn’t pick at his words.

"Then how should we confer the posthumous title to the True Emperor Zhengtong?" A right Shilang of the Ministry of Rites interjected from behind, "Although His Majesty had attempted a coup and restoration, damaging the foundation of the state, he had also ruled the Jin Dynasty for several decades. According to the ritual law, the court should assign a posthumous title to him."

"It can be fixed as the word ’Li’, making him Li Emperor!" Hu Ying said emotionlessly, "It is ’Li’ for not regretting past mistakes; it is ’Li’ for not thinking and receiving; it is ’Li’ for knowing mistakes and not correcting them! There is no need for a temple name. In the minister’s opinion, the virtues of Li Emperor should not be worshipped in the Grand Temple; it would only disgrace the Great Ancestor and Emperor Taizong of Jin!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan thought that this posthumous title was fitting.

He remembered that in another world, after the death of the Dai Emperor of Ming, the posthumous title given to him by the Zhengtong Emperor was ’Li’.

Zhengtong Emperor did not allow the nameplate of the Dai Emperor of Ming to be entered into the Grand Temple, nor did he permit people to worship the Dai Emperor, hence he did not confer a temple name to him.

The title ’Dai Emperor’ was granted posthumously by Zhu Yousong, the Emperor of Nanming near the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Jingtai Emperor was the only emperor who was not buried in The Thirteen Mausoleums after the capital of Ming moved north.

Li Xuan thought that although he couldn’t save Jingtai Emperor in this palace coup, the outcome was still different from that in the other world.