Many people present chuckled at these words. In most countries, men held the dominant position. However, in the country of Qingli, women were revered, which naturally touched upon the sensitivities of many. They couldn't help but utter some sour remarks to provoke and highlight their perceived superiority.
The divine maiden then glanced indifferently towards the Third Prince's location. Her eyes held no emotion, as if she were looking at a dead man. She slowly ascended from below, passing the Third Prince without even a greeting, and spoke softly to Emperor Qi.
"The Divine Maiden of Qingli, Yue Yao, pays her respects to His Majesty Emperor Qi. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years."
Her voice was as clear and ethereal as an echo in a valley, a pleasure to the ears.
"The Divine Maiden has traveled a long distance. You must be weary."
As Emperor Qi spoke, his eyes were fixed on her, his pair of็็-colored eyes seeming to possess a captivating power that drew everyone's attention to her.
"The Queen of Qingli has personally penned a letter, to be presented to Your Majesty. We hope Your Majesty will accept it."
Upon hearing this, many scoffed. Indeed, with women in charge, their gifts were so meager. Since when could a handwritten letter be considered a congratulatory gift?
The envoys beside them were all eager to embarrass Qingli. Who knew that after Emperor Qi read the letter, he would personally descend from the dais, help the kneeling Yue Yao up, and with eyes seemingly captivated by her, address everyone present.
"Effective immediately, I shall confer upon the Divine Maiden of Qingli the title of Consort Shu, granting her the authority to manage the affairs of the six palaces." He then turned to Yue Yao and asked, "Does the Divine Maiden find this satisfactory?"
She obediently and demurely lowered her head and thanked him, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty."
Then, she gently lifted the veil from her face, and all present were stunned by her beauty.
Many years ago, there was a concubine of the late Emperor who outshone all others in the six palaces, yet she still paled in comparison to the impact of the Divine Maiden of Qingli before them.
If the former was the epitome of earthly beauty, the latter was a celestial being that shook the heavens.
Even the Third Prince Jiao Ren, who had spoken disrespectfully earlier, almost lost his composure, his gaze fixed on her divine visage, unable to tear himself away.
"My beloved concubine..." Emperor Qi was so mesmerized by her eyes that he felt dizzy. Seeing her full appearance now, he would rather die beneath the peonies. The fervor and possessiveness in his eyes were so evident that he suddenly laughed heartily, "The Queen's gesture is most pleasing to me. For the next hundred years, our two nations shall enjoy eternal friendship, and no flames of war shall ever reach Qingli!" His confident tone brought many who were lost in her beauty back to their senses.
The first to feel a sense of crisis were the Duke of Wei and the Ninth Prince. Consort Wei had gained much favor since entering the palace through her beauty. However, age was a factor. To compare herself to the Divine Maiden of Qingli, who was both young and beautiful, with an air of mystery, was likely insufficient.
It was not merely a matter of stealing the Emperor's affection; the greatest fear was the birth of an heir.
Given Emperor Qi's infatuation with her, it was difficult to say whether her child would become the next Prince Ding. Such a significant threat was far more formidable than the faction led by the First Prince.
To know oneself and one's enemy was the key to victory. Yet, this person's origins were unknown, and she could already exert such influence. She could not be underestimated.
Thus, he spoke to dissuade the Emperor, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. The Divine Maiden is an envoy. If she remains in our Great Jin as a concubine, it might harm the friendship between our two nations!"
"Duke of Wei, rest assured. The letter from the Queen of Qingli precisely conveys this intention: to offer Yue Yao to me as a concubine."
"Your Majesty, this is even more unthinkable! There are thousands of daughters in Great Jin. If Your Majesty wishes to select a concubine, simply hold a grand ceremony. However, the Divine Maiden has neither offspring nor merit. To directly elevate her from a secondary concubine to a principal concubine, and bestow upon her the authority to manage the six palaces, would not outsiders mock Great Jin, saying our rules and laws are mere child's play? We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"
He then knelt on the spot, followed by a large group of officials who also made to kneel. They lowered their heads and spoke in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Emperor Qi's narrow eyes glanced at the Duke of Wei, his displeasure evident. Although the Wei family had contributed significantly to his ascension to the throne, he had never been stingy in repaying them over the years. He even showed more affection to the Ninth Prince, born to Consort Wei. Yet, the Wei family remained so aggressive, as if they did not take him seriously at all.
He spoke with a sinister tone, "Duke of Wei, you speak with great audacity. Since when has my decision been yours to make? Would you like to hand over this throne to your Wei family to sit upon?"
Though his tone was playful, those close to Emperor Qi knew he was already angered.
He was no puppet emperor. The late Emperor had many sons, all formidable. It took nearly twenty years of struggle for him to ascend the throne, a path paved with the blood and flesh of countless brothers. For the past decade and more on the throne, he had never relaxed his grip on power.
For the Duke of Wei to presume to wield authority over him based on his status was sheer delusion.
This remark caused a flicker of worry on the Duke of Wei's usually calm face. "Your Majesty, please speak with caution. It is a minister's duty to assist Your Majesty. If Your Majesty insists on taking the Divine Maiden as a concubine, then please dismiss this old minister from his post. Only then can this old minister live up to the late Emperor's trust."
Tears streamed down his face, a loyal minister offering his life in counsel.
He played this scene masterfully. Old Prince Kang and the Duke of Zheng exchanged glances, both showing disdain.
The Duke of Wei had served three dynasties. It was highly unlikely he would willingly relinquish his power. His words were merely an attempt to coerce Emperor Qi, but unfortunately, they had instead struck a nerve.
With the beauty by his side, he was naturally unwilling to let her go. Moreover, foreign envoys were present. If he, the Emperor of Great Jin, were to falter and retreat now, would he not be ridiculed?
"Oh? Since Duke of Wei is so concerned about the late Emperor, why not go and guard the imperial mausoleum? You can keep your father company there."
These words left the Duke of Wei's aged face flushed red. His eyes widened in disbelief that these words could come from His Majesty's mouth!
Then, Emperor Qi glanced at the ministers kneeling below and directly declared, "If any of my esteemed ministers wish to accompany the Duke of Wei to guard the imperial mausoleum, step forward now. I shall immediately confer upon you the title of Daoist Yuanshi and have you diligently watch over my father for the rest of your lives."
The title of Daoist Yuanshi was far more severe than a mere demotion; it completely stripped their descendants of any opportunity to enter officialdom.
Among those present, who was not a seasoned veteran of the political arena? How could they willingly abandon their power? Even if they were upright and disregarded their own careers, they surely had to consider the prosperity of their families and the future of their descendants.
At this point, no one dared to object.
Seeing the ministers bowing their heads in silence, Emperor Qi finally felt a sense of release.
The majesty of the Son of Heaven was not to be challenged. It was time they understood what it meant to serve a ruler like a tiger.
The Ninth Prince wished to speak in defense of the Duke of Wei, but was stopped by his father's gaze.
As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn.