Chapter 47 (Please Follow for Updates) God Bless Your Majesty

"Today, We wish to discuss the matter of appointing an imperial heir together with you all."

Zhao Zhen's voice was unhurried, yet it stirred an invisible ripple within the Chuigong Hall.

Han Zhang and Xue Pu exchanged glances, a flash of shared astonishment crossing their faces.

In the past, His Majesty would either stall and evade the topic or fly into a rage and sweep his sleeves in departure.

Yet today, he actually wanted to discuss it with them!

The veteran ministers lowered their gazes, their minds spinning rapidly—could His Majesty be testing them?

"Lord Xue, in your view, among the various imperial clansmen, who is capable of bearing such a great responsibility?"

Zhao Zhen's expression remained calm as he stared directly at Xue Pu.

Xue Pu felt a shock in his chest, his jade ceremonial tablet trembling slightly. "Such a momentous matter should be decided entirely by Your Majesty's sacred judgment."

"Lord Han, what do you think should be done?"

Han Zhang saw out of the corner of his eye that Duke Ying, Zhang Fu, was shaking his head at him in warning. He prudently replied, "This old minister only knows that to eat the ruler's stipend is to shoulder the ruler's burdens."

"Your Majesty is supremely wise and divine. Whichever talented imperial clansman Your Majesty chooses to establish as Crown Prince, this old minister will willingly shatter his body and soul to pledge loyalty to Your Majesty and assist the Crown Prince!"

"No matter what, this minister implores Your Majesty to establish a Crown Prince early to secure the foundation of the state!"

"A fine 'sacred judgment'! A fine 'eat the ruler's stipend and shoulder the ruler's burdens'!"

"You repeatedly pressure Us to establish an heir, and now We ask you whom we should choose."

"And look at you—not one of you can name a precise candidate!" Zhao Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like a blade as he slowly swept it across the crimson- and purple-robed ministers in the hall.

At this moment, Liu Xingzhi, Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, looked around and spoke up, "Your Majesty, in former times, Qin Shi Huang discarded the eldest prince Fusu and established Huhai, leading to the collapse of the Qin Dynasty in the second generation."

"Looking across past and present, how many dynastic successions have been triggered by deposing the elder and favoring the younger?"

"Prince Yong is not only the eldest among the imperial relatives, but he has long enjoyed a reputation for virtue. This minister believes that Prince Yong should be adopted into the lineage and established as the heir apparent!"

At these words, the expressions of the many ministers who had already pledged allegiance to Prince Yong shifted unpredictably.

Wu Yong, Commander of the Five Cities兵马司 (Garrison Command), glared at him with undisguised contempt.

"Lord Liu's words are quite mistaken. Was Emperor Taizong of Tang the primary-consort-born eldest son? Yet he still ushered in a golden age."

"Your Majesty, this minister believes that Prince Yan should be established. Prince Yan possesses outstanding talent and has rendered numerous meritorious services to the imperial court over the years!"

Beneath his wide, flowing sleeves, Zhao Zhen clenched his fists tightly, though his expression remained indifferent.

"Do my lords have any other talented individuals to recommend? Speak freely."

Within the hall, the ministers fell silent like cicadas in winter, glancing at one another with not a single soul daring to speak.

Sheng Hong kept casting sidelong glances at Zhao Han, his heart pounding frantically. He was terrified!

Zhao Zhen looked coldly at the crowd.

Suddenly, he snatched up a teacup resting to the side and hurled it violently to the ground.

With a sharp crash, the cup shattered into pieces, sending a chill down the spines of the ministers standing closest.

"A pack of unprincipled scoundrels who neither revere their ruler nor their ancestors! I am not yet in my grave, yet you already have your favorites picked out!"

"How can the private affairs of the Son of Heaven be meddled with by the outer court!"

"If Us today were to follow your counsel and establish an heir, there is no guarantee that future powerful ministers would not use the establishment of an heir as a pretext to coerce the sovereign."

"If any of you dare to presumptuously debate the adoption and establishment of an heir in the court ever again, it shall be treated as treason!"

Han Zhang, Xue Pu, Zhang Fu, and the other senior ministers of the court simultaneously raised their eyes to look at Zhao Zhen, their expressions a mix of astonishment, shock, and doubt.

"Court dismissed!"

Zhao Zhen flicked his long sleeves and strode directly out of the Chuigong Hall, not waiting for the civil and military officials to complete their grand bows.

Zhao Han looked with suspicion at that receding bright yellow figure. The old emperor's thunderous rage today was utterly contrary to the benevolent and lenient demeanor he had previously understood, and he had uttered such uncompromising words.

Could it be that some concubine in the inner palace was pregnant again?

The thought had barely surfaced before he dismissed it himself. It had long been common knowledge that the old emperor found it difficult to produce heirs; if there truly were good news, word of it would surely have spread long ago.

Could it be that he already had a candidate in mind? One who was neither Prince Yong nor Prince Yan.

Yet that scoundrel Zhao Zongquan was still in Yuzhou hoeing the fields and farming.

Zhao Han shook his head, feeling that the phrase "accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger" had suddenly become vividly concrete.

Upon exiting the Chuigong Hall, Sheng Hong walked side by side with Zhao Han.

He muttered in a low voice, "Today the Emperor was like a completely different person compared to the day he summoned me."

As he spoke, Sheng Hong could not help recalling that day in the Wenhua Hall when the Emperor had smiled benevolently and beckoned to him, saying, "Lord Sheng may be seated to speak."

Seeing that Sheng Hong's forehead was still dotted with a fine layer of sweat, Zhao Han spoke gently, "Was my esteemed father-in-law frightened?"

Hearing this, Sheng Hong immediately straightened his posture, twirled his beard, and shook his head repeatedly. "You jest, my good son-in-law."

"To say the least, this old man has drifted and surfaced in officialdom for decades. What kind of battle formations have I not seen?"

A smile instantly crossed Zhao Han's face; he had clearly seen earlier in the hall that Sheng Hong's face had been as pale as paper, nearly causing him to drop his court tablet.

Near the palace gates, Sheng Hong smiled warmly and said, "My good son-in-law, in a couple of days is the Old Madam's birthday."

"The Old Madam is advanced in years and dislikes grand, superficial celebrations."

"She is only hosting a family banquet in the Shou'an Hall, and she specifically instructed me this morning before I left home to make sure to tell you."

Zhao Han's expression turned solemn, and he quickly cupped his hands. "It was this junior's oversight. With so many affairs occupying me lately, I have failed to find the time to pay my respects to the Old Madam."

"I beg father-in-law to convey my apologies on my behalf. In a couple of days, this junior will certainly arrive early to kowtow and offer birthday wishes to the Old Madam."

Sheng Hong nodded with great satisfaction. "That is for the best. The Old Madam and Hua'er will be beyond pleased to know you are coming."

Meanwhile, in the Wenhua Hall, a thin wisp of blue smoke curled upward from the bronze incense burner.

The Emperor leaned lazily against the dragon throne, toying in his hand with half of a delicately carved twin-heart jade pendant.

On the sandalwood chair below, Hanlin Academician Hai Ning furrowed his brow tightly and asked with a puzzled expression, "This old minister dares to speak boldly."

"Your Majesty, you have been toying with that jade pendant for nearly half an incense stick's time, and you hurriedly summoned this old minister here—what on earth is this about?"

Zhao Zhen sighed softly, "We have a matter on Our mind and scarcely know how to broach it."

This remark left Hai Ning all the more bewildered.

"Your Majesty's words shame this old minister. You are the Sovereign, and this old minister's only duty is to go through fire and water for Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen's gaze grew deep and profound as he lowered his voice, "How is Zhao Han, the top scholar of the recent imperial examinations, faring in the Hanlin Academy?"

Hai Ning raised an eyebrow, cupped his hands, and replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, he entered the Hanlin Academy only yesterday. Though the time has been short, it is already sufficient to see that he is an impeccable, scrupulous, and exceptionally talented gentleman. After a few more years of rigorous tempering, his future will be immeasurable."

"Why did Your Majesty suddenly ask about him? Is there something amiss with Editor Zhao?"

Zhang Maoze, standing to one side, interjected in a soft voice, "Lord Hai, could your eyesight be failing you? Having attended Your Majesty for decades, can you truly not see the resemblance between Editor Zhao and Your Majesty..."

The words trailed off abruptly, leaving a meaningful smile hanging on Zhang Maoze's face.

Hai Ning was startled at first, but a moment later, he hastily stood up, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief as he stared at Zhao Zhen.

"When this old minister first saw Editor Zhao yesterday, I thought his eyes and brows bore a likeness to Your Majesty's."

"I merely assumed it was a coincidence, never imagining that he might be Your Majesty's..."

Before he could finish, Hai Ning's throat caught. He dropped hurriedly to his knees and kowtowed, crying, "Heaven bless Your Majesty, Heaven bless the Great Zhou! Your Majesty need never worry over the succession of the throne again!"