The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 171: Posthumous Title of Empress

Chapter 171: Posthumous Title of Empress

Upon hearing this, Emperor Muwu’s heart raced with excitement, causing his entire body to tremble.

He reached out to receive the child, saying, "Let me have a look..."

As the child fell into his embrace, small and tender, his heart melted instantly.

Never did he imagine that, at his age of over forty, he would have another son.

The indescribable excitement overwhelmed him.

The louder the child cried, the healthier he was believed to be.

Emperor Muwu laughed and encouraged the child to cry even louder.

Only when he grew tired of holding the child did he hand him over to the midwife.

It was then that he remembered Yang and asked, "Where is the consort? She has made great contributions. I shall bestow upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort."

The personal palace maid knelt down, weeping, and said, "Your Majesty, the Consort has... passed away due to postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to the prince."

Emperor Muwu was momentarily stunned, but his grief lasted only a brief moment, for his prince had been born safely, and Yang had met a fitting end.

He let out a sigh and said, "Issue the decree to posthumously title as Empress, with the posthumous title of Mingde..."

Both the personal palace maid and the midwife knelt down to express their gratitude.

Although Yang had passed away, being posthumously titled as Empress was an honor that many women could never attain in their lifetime.

Moreover, Emperor Muwu’s decision to bestow this title held a deeper meaning.

With this, the young prince would be recognized as the legitimate heir.

The atmosphere in the Biyu Palace was filled with hidden excitement.

Emperor Muwu immediately ordered the wet nurses to take good care of the young prince, ensuring no mistakes were made.

Overjoyed, he summoned the ministers of the cabinet to share the good news.

Prime Minister Lu and the other senior officials naturally offered their congratulations.

Emperor Muwu picked up his brush and said, "This is the imperial son I have long awaited. Let his name be Ji’er." He then wrote down the characters for "Night Minister Jier," a smile forming at the corner of his lips.

Prime Minister Lu and the others exchanged glances, and with the news of Yang being posthumously titled as Empress spreading throughout the palace, they already had an inkling of Emperor Muwu’s intentions.

"Your Majesty is wise," they could only say.

Emperor Muwu nodded slightly and continued, "I have decided to appoint Ji’er as the Crown Prince. Prime Minister Lu, draft the edict on my behalf."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lu and several others’ expressions changed.

They had anticipated this, but they did not expect Emperor Muwu to be so hasty! The young prince had just been born!

Prime Minister Lu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the appointment of a Crown Prince is of great importance. It would be better to deliberate on this matter thoroughly."

Elder Xu also added, "Indeed, Your Majesty. There are rumors among the common people that a newborn child should not be immediately burdened with glory, as it may diminish their destiny."

He spoke sincerely.

Although he did not support the eldest prince, he did not want the young prince to attract too much attention, fearing that it would hinder his growth in the future. However, Elder Dou calmly remarked,

"The young prince is born into nobility, blessed with great fortune. How could he not withstand such burdens? The talk of diminishing destiny is utterly baseless!"

Others chimed in agreement, saying, "Absolutely right! By appointing a Crown Prince, we secure the stability of the nation, ensuring the prosperity of the Mu Dynasty for generations to come! Your Majesty’s decision is wise and far-sighted!"

The debate continued endlessly.

Emperor Muwu, resolute in his decision, said, "Prime Minister Lu, draft the edict!" Prime Minister Lu furrowed his brows tightly.

He still wanted to persuade further, but a contingent of Yulin Guard surrounded the study room, their arrival swift.

The crowd was filled with curiosity as the Prince of Qing strolled leisurely into the study.

Adorned in a majestic dragon robe and crowned with a jade headdress, he exuded an air of regal splendor.

A smug smile played upon his face as he toyed with a small, mysterious object, so dark that none could discern its nature.

Unlike before, he did not show the same deference, merely offering a perfunctory bow.

"Fifth brother, I did not summon you to the palace," Emperor Muwu’s face darkened.

"I am merely here to congratulate my imperial brother on the joyous news of an heir," the Prince of Qing sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.

"After all, the imperial lineage has not been flourishing as expected."

It was as if he had slapped Emperor Muwu across the face.

Clenching his fist, the emperor demanded, "Fifth brother, if you came to offer congratulations, why are there Yulin Guard surrounding the study?!"

The chief eunuch shouted, "Withdraw at once!"

The Yulin Guard remained motionless.

At that moment, Prime Minister Lu and others finally understood—Prince of Qing intended to usurp the throne!

The Prince of Qing raised his head and chuckled. "Imperial brother, these Yulin Guards are under my command. They will only obey my orders. So, there is no need for you to waste your breath."

Emperor Muwu slammed his hand on the table, his anger evident. "Do you dare to rebel?!"

"I dare not, but I am here to bid farewell to my imperial brother and to support the crown prince’s ascension," the Prince of Qing declared. "Prime Minister Lu, why don’t you draft the edict?"

Prime Minister Lu, with a righteous and resolute demeanor, retorted, "You... you traitor! You will not use the emperor’s authority to control the vassals!"

He would never write such an edict!

The Prince of Qing had anticipated this and clapped his hands. Immediately, the Yulin Guard dragged three individuals into the hall—Prime Minister’s wife and his siblings.

All three had pale faces, struggling to maintain their balance. With a gentle pull, they fell to the ground.

"Wife!" Prime Minister Lu cried out in anguish.

Then, he glared at the Prince of Qing, his voice filled with anger. "Prince of Qing, you call yourself a man, yet you bring harm to innocent family members?!"

The Prince of Qing paid no heed to such notions of masculinity. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the prime minister’s wife and siblings. "Prime Minister Lu, you must consider carefully. Do you want your family to live in peace or face ruin?"

If Prime Minister Lu drafted the edict, it would convince the entire realm. The Prince of Qing had prepared for this moment.

The prime minister’s wife shielded her daughter, her eyes shimmering with tears but her face resolute. "Husband, you cannot assist the tyrant!"

Lu Zheng, fearless and undaunted, declared, "Father, I am not afraid!"

Lu Yanyan, though fearful, did not want to lose face in front of everyone. She forced herself to say, "I... I am not afraid either! Prince of Qing, your rebellion and usurpation will surely lead to your demise at the hands of the Ninth Prince!"

They would only die a little earlier. The Prince of Qing would soon join them on the road to the netherworld, so they would not be alone.

"Well said!" Emperor Muwu exclaimed loudly.

The Prince of Qing smiled again. "Imperial brother, now you remember the Ninth Prince? You have long stripped him of his power. The Yulin Guards in the palace, even the Forbidden Army in the capital, no longer heed his command."

Emperor Muwu’s face turned pale, and his body swayed, nearly falling to the ground.

The chief eunuch hurriedly supported him. "Your Majesty, take care of your health."

But how could he take care of his health when faced with such coercion?

Emperor Muwu’s headache returned, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "The Ninth Prince... and the Black Armor Guards!"

"It’s true, there are the Black Armor Guards. This elite force, led by the Ninth Prince, is formidable, capable of facing ten enemies alone," the Prince of Qing sneered. "However, he left the city with the Black Armor Guards last night without an imperial decree. He dared to move them without authorization. I have already sent a messenger pigeon to General Liao, ordering him to eliminate the Ninth Prince, this... traitor!"

Emperor Muwu’s eyes widened, and his chest surged with blood.

"You... you all..." He clutched his chest.

"You and the Yang family..."

"Imperial brother, it’s not too late for you to realize," the Prince of Qing raised an eyebrow, his face filled with satisfaction.