If the new Emperor isnāt benevolent enough, he probably wouldnāt leave such an edict.
With this edict in place, surely someone will come visit him secretly, and then anyone with disloyalty will be unmistakably revealed.
Ah, my dear cousin, even on your deathbed, youāve left me something to do.
"Go, set up the incense table!"
According to the late Emperorās edict, worship towards the north!
Soon the incense table was ready, Ye Ziāan lit the incense, "Ah, you couldnāt hold on after all. But at least you had a conscience and didnāt make this old body of mine run another errand."
"But, why canāt you bear to see me live a good life? Iām at the age of enjoying my twilight years, and yet youāve found something for me to do. I hope your son can understand your good intentions."
The incense was inserted into the incense burner, and after three bows, the monarch-subject relationship of this life came to an end.
The smoke from the incense burner swirled gently, as if responding to Ye Ziāanās words.
After Ye Ziāan finished worshipping, Mu Shaoling also stepped forward to bow a few times, but his words were not so polite.
"Ah, I know you must be envious and jealous of me, seeing us having such an idle time in Funan, so youāve found something for us to do."
Mu Shaoling snorted, "Why canāt you stand to see others doing well? You know I donāt like the Imperial Medical Institute, yet you insist on sending my son there? To make me worry about him? Dream on, each generation has its fortune, I couldnāt care less about him, so your hope is in vain."
"Iāve told you before, donāt push yourself too hard if youāre not well. You never listened to advice, and now look at you? Remember to walk slowly on the road to hell, maybe weāll catch up with you someday."
Yang Chuxia and the others were behind, listening to his words, their faces filled with lines.
These words are a bit too straightforward.
The servants were even more frightened and trembling, these words were utterly disrespectful.
After Mu Shaoling finished worshipping, Yang Chuxia and the others also stepped forward and bowed.
Capital City
The new Emperor had already ascended the throne, and the late Emperor had been buried.
Yet the Empress, now elevated to Empress Dowager, couldnāt sit still, because to her, the edict left by the late Emperor was utterly absurd.
Itās like placing a sword over her sonās head, always worrying that it might drop.
"Your Majesty!"
"Mother Empress, why have you come?"
Baili Mingshen looked up from the memorials, only after becoming Emperor did he realize how hard his father had worked.
"My child, youāve worked hard. In the future, you will surely become a wise ruler like your Father Emperor."
"Mother Empress, Father Emperor was a man of great talent and ambition, I fear that no matter how hard I try, I cannot reach his level." After a pause, he continued, "What important matter brings you here?"
Empress Dowager Situ glanced at the Imperial Study, waved her hand and sent the others away.
Seeing this, Baili Mingshen felt a slight dissatisfaction in his heart. He was the Emperor, so why did these people listen to his Mother Empress first?
"What are your thoughts on your Fatherās edict?" The Empress Dowager went straight to the point.
"What do you mean, Mother Empress?"
"Your Father Emperor appointed Ye Ziāan as Grand Chancellor, giving him the power to depose you, do you know what this means?"
Baili Mingshen furrowed his brows, "I naturally understand."
"You understand, yet youāre still sitting here." The Empress Dowager said harshly, "Do you want to become a deposed Emperor?"
"Mother Empress!" Baili Mingshen said, "The harem must not intervene in state affairs, please return, and do not bring up this matter again."
"What state affairs are these?" The Empress Dowager said indifferently, "Itās just a mother protecting her son."