In the fifteenth year of Xingchen Kingdom, Princess Xingyue ascended the throne, changing the national title to Xingjiu Kingdom, becoming the second female emperor.
"Wu Hen, hurry and bring the dragon robe…"
Ta Xue happily ordered. No one could have imagined that the young lady they served was actually Princess Xingyue. Now that Princess Xingyue had become the empress, their status had also risen.
"Your Majesty, your hair is done." Ta Xue looked at the clear and beautiful face in the bronze mirror and breathed a sigh of relief.
Xue Xingyue looked at the face in the bronze mirror, which no longer resembled her own, and was quite surprised. "Your Majesty, allow me to place the crown on your head."
Xue Xingyue lowered her head, and the tassels on the crown fell. Ta Xue said, "It's done, Your Majesty."
Xue Xingyue stood up. The bright yellow dragon robe made her look radiant and noble.
Ta Xue couldn't help but praise, "Your Majesty, you are truly beautiful." Big Wind Novel
Xue Xingyue looked up and saw a tall figure by the door. His gaze deepened significantly. Ta Xue and the others saw the person at the door and quickly paid their respects, "Young Marquis Ji."
Ji Wu Ran nodded, his gaze never leaving the figure in bright yellow. After a long while, he leaned in and said, "Can Your Majesty spare me a moment?"
"What time is it now?" Xue Xingyue turned to ask Ta Xue.
Ta Xue replied, "It's still early, there's still some time, about an hour left."
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes."
Ji Wu Ran stepped forward and leaned in again, "Could Your Majesty please ask these unrelated people to leave?"
Ta Xue: "..." You're the one who's unrelated!
Wu Hen: "..." Young Marquis Ji's words are truly to the point.
"Ta Xue, Wu Hen, you may leave first!" Xue Xingyue said.
Ta Xue and Wu Hen withdrew.
Xue Xingyue looked up at Ji Wu Ran and slowly asked, "Can you speak now?"
Ji Wu Ran walked forward and suddenly knelt on one knee. This action made Xue Xingyue instinctively step back a few paces. "Ji Wu Ran, what are you doing?"
Ji Wu Ran looked up at Xue Xingyue's clear and beautiful face. The words he had prepared were stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.
Xue Xingyue frowned, steadied herself, and said coldly, "Young Marquis Ji, do you have something to ask of me?"
Ji Wu Ran lowered his head. "I..."
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Ning requests an audience!"
Xue Xingyue looked at Ji Wu Ran for a long time before saying, "We will discuss any matters after the grand ceremony."
Ji Wu Ran fell silent.
Xue Xingyue walked past him. "Take the Duke of Ning to the Imperial Study."
Ji Wu Ran looked up, watching that figure, a flash of light crossing his eyes.
Inside the Imperial Study
The Duke of Ning and Meng Jiangming knelt there. Xue Xingyue walked in and saw them, slightly startled. "Duke of Ning, what is this..."
The Duke of Ning looked up at Xue Xingyue and said, "Your Majesty, this subject wishes to resign from his post and return to his hometown."
Xue Xingyue was taken aback and asked with a frown, "Why?"
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Ning kowtowed. "This subject knows he has committed an unforgivable crime. Your Majesty's benevolence does not allow you to punish me, but I am aware that my past actions no longer befit the title of Duke of Ning. Therefore, I wish to resign, and I implore Your Majesty to grant my request!"
Xue Xingyue came before the Duke of Ning and suddenly said, "What if I do not agree?"
The Duke of Ning was stunned. After a while, Meng Jiangming spoke, "Your Majesty, please grant my father's request. Father's health is not as good as before and he is unable to bear heavy responsibilities!"
"If the Duke of Ning cannot, then the heir apparent can."
Meng Jiangming was slightly taken aback. He subconsciously looked up and saw the deep gaze in the clear face. His heart trembled, and in his panic, he lowered his head. "Your Majesty..."
Xue Xingyue suddenly bent down and lightly supported the Duke of Ning. How could the Duke of Ning allow the Empress to support him? He quickly rose. "This subject is deeply honored!"
"Duke of Ning, the past is the past. I can forget, why can't you forget?"
The Duke of Ning lowered his head. "This subject dares not!"
"Duke of Ning, I know you worry that one day I will punish the Duke of Ning's residence, don't you?"
The Duke of Ning dared not speak further.
Xue Xingyue sighed. "Since that is the case, I agree to your resignation. However, the title of Duke of Ning will be held by you, Meng Jiangming."
The Duke of Ning was stunned, and Meng Jiangming was also surprised. Xue Xingyue continued, "Duke of Ning, you are old, but the heir apparent is still young. He can still contribute to my Xingjiu Kingdom. Heir apparent, you will not refuse this, will you?"
Meng Jiangming heard this, lowered his eyes, and after a long moment, knelt and kowtowed to express his gratitude. "This subject accepts the decree!"
Xue Xingyue stood up and came before Meng Jiangming. "Follow me to the Grand Hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Meng Jiangming rose and supported Xue Xingyue as they walked towards the Grand Hall.
In the Grand Hall, officials stood on both sides. Xue Xingyue, wearing the bright yellow dragon robe, walked step by step towards the dragon throne.
She looked up at the sky, which was radiant. Tian Yue, rest assured, your aunt will do as she promised!
"Mother Emperor, Father Emperor, can you see it? Xingyue is stepping onto that position, fulfilling her duties for my imperial brother and for you!"
"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
The sound was deafening.
Xue Xingyue walked to the dragon throne step by step. She touched the dragon throne. This was power, this was the coldness of high places, and this was the meaning of her being here.
She turned around and slowly sat down. "Rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
By the time Xue Xingyue descended from the Grand Hall, it was almost dark. She was supported by Ta Xue and Wu Hen. Halfway there, she remembered that Ji Wu Ran seemed to have something to tell her.
Without waiting to change out of her dragon robe, she instructed Ta Xue, "Go and summon Young Marquis Ji to my palace."
Shortly after returning to her palace, Ta Xue returned. "Your Majesty, Young Marquis Ji has already left. However, he left Your Majesty a letter!"
Xue Xingyue was taken aback. She took the letter. The handwriting flowed like water. Upon opening it, it read, "To be opened by His Highness."
"By the time His Highness reads this letter, you will already be Your Majesty. However, I still prefer to call you His Highness. I have no other business, only to say, may the heavens be high and the roads long, take care of yourselves!"