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Join the ServerFan Chuan’s loss of control meant that the next morning, if Xiao Tao and the maidservants hadn’t come to wake them, they would have slept right through.
After that, the soon-to-be enthroned empress was glared at by her own empress countless times.
The night before, Shen Lingwei had warned her not to be forward, but Fan Chuan just wouldn’t listen, leading to her being listless early in the morning.
In the end, Xiao Tao had to prepare bird’s nest for Shen Lingwei; only after drinking it did her spirits recover a bit.
Only then did Fan Chuan behave, quietly letting the palace attendants dress her in the new dynasty’s imperial robes, which the Imperial Robe Bureau had worked day and night to complete in just a few days.
Fan Chuan’s robes were embroidered with golden thread in swirling dragon patterns, looking very imposing.
Since she was a female emperor, special hairpins and headpieces were also prepared for her.
Although somewhat hurried, it was still very good.
Shen Lingwei’s phoenix robes were similar, completed by several embroideresses in the palace working day and night.
The phoenixes on them were also embroidered with golden thread, looking calm and magnificent.
Wei Lan, on her side, had also gotten up very early.
She had Xi Ye go to the outskirts early in the morning to dig up the large stone.
Of course, Xi Ye couldn’t take soldiers to dig it up; that would be too fake.
Wei Lan had already arranged for a few clever villagers.
When the time was right, they would “dig up” the stone tablet.
This was exactly what was needed for today’s coronation ceremony.
After all, most ancient people revered the supernatural.
Although it might not fool the scholars, it would be very effective for commoners.
So, Xi Ye left the capital before dawn with her people.
To make Fan Chuan’s rule appear legitimate, they were working hard.
Since the Imperial Robe Bureau hadn’t yet finalized the design for the officials’ court robes, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear old court robes, Fan Chuan ordered the officials to wear blue clothes and tie up their hair.
For Wei Lan and Lu Zijin’s clothes, Fan Chuan didn’t specify, letting them wear whatever they wanted, since they were family.
But Wei Lan didn’t rush to Zhao Ming Hall.
She waited for Xi Ye to return, gave her a few more instructions, and then entered Zhao Ming Hall.
Fan Chuan had Lu Zijin and Wei Lan stand at the head of the officials.
The founding of the dynasty had been too hurried; she could only give titles first, with rewards to be distributed later.
Soon, the ceremonial officer read the edict, the officials knelt to listen, and then they welcomed the Dazhao empress and her consort to court.
Led by Wei Lan and Lu Zijin, the officials performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations for Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei.
After the series of ceremonies was complete, Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei were already seated on the dragon and phoenix thrones.
Fan Chuan swept her gaze over the crowd and said, “Dazhao has just been founded, and everything needs to be rebuilt.
I still need your full support.
This founding was not easy.
If not for my cousin selling her fortune to fund the military, I might not have even reached the capital.”
“The coronation ceremony was somewhat rushed.
Regarding the rewards for the attending generals, I will distribute them based on merit later.
Now, Lu Zijin and Wei Lan, step forward to receive your titles.”
“Your servant is here.”
Lu Zijin and Wei Lan quickly stepped forward.
Fan Chuan hadn’t mentioned this to them before, so they were both surprised for a moment.
Fan Chuan smiled at them and continued.
“Lu Zijin is granted the title of Defender of the Nation Grand Princess, with the right to participate in state affairs.
She is granted an estate of five thousand households, one million taels of silver, and two hundred thousand taels of gold.”
Lu Zijin quickly smiled at Fan Chuan, bowed, and expressed her thanks.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Wei Lan is granted the title of Prince of Ning, with an estate of five thousand households, one million taels of silver, and two hundred thousand taels of gold.”
Fan Chuan continued.
Hearing this, Wei Lan’s eyes lit up.
This meant Fan Chuan had repaid the silver they had invested, and added quite a bit more besides.
An estate of five thousand households was essentially a guaranteed income for life.
This was awesome.
As she thanked her, she thought about the rewards: two hundred thousand taels of gold, equivalent to two million taels of silver.
Combined with the two million taels of silver granted to her and Lu Zijin, that meant they had a total of four million taels of silver.
Just thinking about it made Wei Lan happy.
She was only in her twenties and could already retire!
Shen Fangzhou watched Lu Zijin and Wei Lan receive such rewards and was almost insane with envy.
He looked up at his daughter on the phoenix throne and couldn’t help but have other thoughts.
Lu Zijin and Wei Lan were the emperor’s cousins.
He was the emperor’s father-in-law!
Shouldn’t Fan Chuan show him some appreciation?
But Shen Fangzhou waited and waited, and Fan Chuan didn’t mention any further rewards.
Instead, she directly began to encourage the officials to serve Dazhao well.
It was at that moment that an imperial guard rushed in, flustered.
“Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
Urgent news!”
Fan Chuan already knew what it was about in her heart, but she still frowned and asked, “What is it?
Why the panic?”
“Your Majesty, a villager on the outskirts, while ploughing land this morning, discovered a stone tablet with characters carved on it.
The villager was illiterate and reported the matter to the city patrol office.
The imperial guards have brought the stone into the palace.”
The guard quickly said.
“A stone tablet?
Bring it into the hall for me to see.”
Fan Chuan said.
Soon, several imperial guards carried a large stone tablet into the hall.
They removed the red cloth covering it, revealing the inscription:
The Great Zhou emperor was decadent and debauched, treating the people like fish to be sliced.
Thus, he brought extermination upon his clan.
Now, Heaven sends an auspicious sign: Fan shall replace the Zhou.
Then the seas will be calm, and the realm will enjoy peace and prosperity.
Many ministers curiously looked at it.
Wei Lan even walked over to examine it, admiring her own craftsmanship.
The characters she carved were very neat and straight.
Of course, to prevent anyone from noticing the similarity to the characters on the imperial seal, she had deliberately used a different carving style.
As Wei Lan walked over, many other court officials also joined in to see.
Even Shen Fangzhou walked over.
After a few glances, he understood the meaning and was just about to offer some flattery to Fan Chuan.
Wei Lan had already beaten him to it.
“Your Majesty is wise!
The hearts of the people are with you!”
With Wei Lan’s flattery, the ministers all knelt and shouted in unison.
“Your Majesty is wise!
The hearts of the people are with you!”
Fan Chuan saw Wei Lan’s serious expression and almost lost her composure.
Fortunately, she was sitting on a throne over a dozen steps above everyone else, and those below wouldn’t dare look at her expression.
She cleared her throat and then said, “What is the meaning of this?”
Wei Lan quickly replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this is an auspicious sign from Heaven, showing that Your Majesty has Heaven’s blessing.
That Dazhao should replace the Great Zhou is the will of Heaven.
This tablet is proof.”
Fan Chuan clasped her hands together to keep from laughing at Wei Lan.
After all, she knew very well whether this tablet was a heavenly sign or carved by Wei Lan herself.
The ministers below, wanting to curry favor, also began to chime in.
“Yes, Heaven blesses our Dazhao!
Your Majesty truly has the hearts of the people.”
“Yes, Your Majesty is the true dragon.”
“Your Majesty, this humble official feels that the detailed carvings on the tablet must have been bestowed by a true deity.
It should be framed.”
“Yes, yes, it should be framed.”
Shen Fangzhou, seeing he had been beaten to the punch, didn’t want to miss his chance to show goodwill to Fan Chuan.
He quickly said, “Your Majesty, this humble official feels that this matter should be announced to the world.
That our Dazhao has the protection of the gods and will surely enjoy smooth sailing in all things.”
Fan Chuan nodded.
“Prime Minister, you are very thoughtful.
I will leave this matter to you.
Oh, and the framing of the tablet, you will also handle.
Be sure to find the best craftsman for it.”
“Yes, Your servant accepts the decree.”
Shen Fangzhou quickly expressed his thanks.
The Dazhao dynasty had just been founded; he needed to do many things to keep his position as Prime Minister from being replaced.
Clearly, many others in the court were thinking the same.
These days, everyone was working with great enthusiasm, afraid of being arrested and their property confiscated by Fan Chuan.
“So, my beloved ministers, you have worked hard.
Go about your duties.”
After Fan Chuan finished speaking, a female official by her side loudly announced, “Court dismissed!”
The ministers withdrew one by one.
Wei Lan and Lu Zijin also went out together, planning to wait for Fan Chuan and the others in the imperial study.
Along the way, people constantly flattered them.
They both dealt with it politely and then slipped away to the imperial study.
With no one else around in the study, Wei Lan finally hugged Lu Zijin and laughed.
Lu Zijin pinched Wei Lan’s earlobe and laughed.
“The bad dog was putting on quite an act.”
“Was not.
I was just helping His Majesty.”
Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin tightly and took a deep breath.
Lu Zijin looked at her little Qiankun leaning against her and acting spoiled, and smiled, shaking her head.
“You’re the Prince of Ning now, and still so clingy.”
“Being clingy has nothing to do with that.
I like you, wife.
No, it’s ‘Grand Princess’ now.”
Wei Lan said, then pointed to her own lips, looking like she wanted her wife to kiss her.
Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan helplessly.
Her little Qiankun was just so delicate and soft.
She leaned in and kissed Wei Lan.
Wei Lan immediately nuzzled against her happily.
This scene was just witnessed by Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei.
Fan Chuan’s lips parted slightly.
No, she hadn’t seen that wrong, had she?
Her cousin and Wei Lan… how was it strange?
Logically, shouldn’t it be her cousin acting spoiled with Wei Lan?
Why was it reversed?
Fan Chuan glanced at Shen Lingwei.
Shen Lingwei also seemed a bit surprised.
But Shen Lingwei quickly looked away, not wanting to see more.
What one does not look at, one does not see.
Fan Chuan cleared her throat outside the study.
Inside, Wei Lan and Lu Zijin realized someone was coming.
Wei Lan sat up from Lu Zijin’s arms and rubbed her hands together, giving Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei outside the study a few awkward smiles.
She was just acting spoiled with her wife.
It shouldn’t be a big deal to have been seen, right?
Lu Zijin glanced at Wei Lan, then looked at Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei.
“Hello.”
“No problem, no problem.
It’s fine.”
Fan Chuan could only say this; after all, she had to save face for Wei Lan too.
She would just have Shen Lingwei ask her cousin privately.
Did Wei Lan’s behavior mean she couldn’t perform?
So, the four quickly began working.
The awkward atmosphere was finally somewhat eased.
***
Back at home, Zhang Qingwen quickly came up to Shen Fangzhou.
“My lord, how did it go?
Who is the empress?
Is it Shen Lingwei?”
Shen Fangzhou sighed and nodded.
“It is Lingwei.
But when I saw her this time, she wasn’t very warm to me.
His Majesty rewarded her and her cousin today, but completely ignored me.
Could she be holding a grudge against me for past matters?”
“How could that be, my lord?
Lingwei must just be very busy.
She is the most outstanding child in our residence, and now the honorable empress.
She will surely support our household.
You are a Qiankun and can’t easily enter the inner palace.
I’ll send a visiting card in a few days and go see Lingwei.”
Zhang Qingwen quickly said.
After all, if she could win Shen Lingwei over, her own children’s futures would be assured.
“That’s fine.
But not right now.
There are too many things happening.
Lingwei won’t have time to see you.”
Shen Fangzhou reminded her.
“I know.”
You’ve got to see this next! Not Me, The Fans will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Not Me, The Fans
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