Chapter 281: Chapter 281
"Abdication... as expected!"
Watching the handwriting that was identical to his own in every stroke, even matching his pauses without any difference, Zhao Zhen's pupils contracted once more. After a moment, he sighed helplessly, stood up, and took the familiar goat-hair brush from his daughter's hand:
"For this day, Fukang, you have been preparing for a long time, haven't you!"
"Indeed! Since the day you treated your daughter as merchandise to be given away, to be honest, these past ten years I haven't spent a single day without thinking about today..."
As these words fell, Zhao Zhen's hand holding the brush trembled slightly for a moment!
This truly was... a cursed fate!
Thinking of his previously filial and considerate daughter, and today's Li family cousin who once again met a bloody end on the spot.
Undoubtedly, what he regretted most over these years was that day.
If only... if only he had known earlier...
"Conspiring to seize the throne, even if it's seamless today, there are still many discerning people in this world. Fukang, you... aren't you afraid of idle gossip from the world in the future?"
"Moreover, this dynasty treats scholar-officials with the greatest leniency. Today, your methods are so..."
What answered him was still An Ning's casual yet inexplicably confident voice: "These matters don't require your concern, Father! Your daughter naturally has her own calculations..."
After decisively arresting all the rebels.
The next day in the imperial court, Zhang Maoze personally held up a bright yellow imperial edict and announced with a sorrowful expression the central decree of the official's decision to pass the throne to the Princess.
"Alas, the official's spirit has been weak these years. Some time ago, due to the rebellion, he became so angry that his health deteriorated further. Often unable to speak clearly and feeling incapable of governing, after deep consideration, the official decided to pass the throne to the Princess!"
"Ah this... the official..."
Everyone instinctively wanted to say something, but looking at the person before them and recalling the events of that night, their hearts chilled, and their doubts ultimately remained unspoken.
After several important court ministers successively met the "ailing and weak" official who was also "having difficulty speaking," the last traces of suspicion were completely abandoned.
Although... they had no choice but to abandon them anyway!
Hadn't they seen this person's methods? Her own cousin was killed without hesitation, and the Li family with blood ties was similarly dealt with swiftly. All those involved in this case, both principal conspirators and accomplices, were executed without exception, and their family properties were completely confiscated.
During this period, the number of families visited by the Imperial Guards reached several dozen households...
What, too harsh on scholars?
When it involves suspected treason, what harshness is there?
Sigh, because of selfish interests that harmed the official to this extent, it's only natural that the Princess holds anger in her heart.
In short, due to her thunderous methods, while the ministers remained as silent as cicadas in cold weather, in the first year of the Jiayou era, this enthronement ceremony arrived with extraordinary speed, yet without losing any sense of grandeur...
On the tenth day of the month.
Watching as the Princess, dressed in the crimson official robes symbolizing the emperor's identity, stepped up to the highest platform step by step. At this moment, no matter what the officials thought in their hearts, they all displayed an attitude of sincere submission.
While the court ministers were , with the sudden change of regime, there were inevitably rumors and gossip among the common people, especially among scholars, particularly since many people had been punished earlier.
Just when everyone thought that with her methods, she would inevitably fly into a rage, unexpectedly, she did not...
While the ministers were anxious with apprehension, they saw that the previously renowned Morning Gazette suddenly published a major news item.
Instantly, all previous discussions disappeared.
Before Chen Hour arrived, when the sky was still tinged with dark blue, a long queue had already formed at the entrance of the imperial estate located in the suburbs of Bianjing.
At a glance, most were farming families wearing short coarse clothing, eagerly gazing toward the open space at the estate entrance.
Each person had more or less a few rough cloth bags at their waist or in their hands.
The reason was simple: the highly anticipated Morning Gazette had just published a piece of news yesterday:
In short, thanks to the efforts of the Princess... no, now it should be said the official, and a group of researchers over many years, they finally developed a new type of drought-resistant rice seed last year.
Most crucially, after experiments on the imperial estates, the yield per mu had reached a full six dan.
That was a full six dan! More than double the previous yield.
Upon hearing this news, the farmers almost doubted their ears.
They knew that even in water-rich areas like Jiangnan, with favorable weather conditions, producing two to three dan per mu was considered good. In northern regions like Bianjing, achieving two dan per mu was already a blessing from heaven.
If it weren't for the Morning Gazette having built considerable credibility over the past year, and being under the Princess's authority, with every piece of news published bringing unexpected benefits to those who acted quickly and smartly...
People simply couldn't believe their ears. It wasn't until young literate villagers read it aloud dozens of times that everyone finally believed.
They rushed immediately to nearby areas to inquire about the news.
Fortunately, to alleviate people's concerns, parts of the imperial estates had recently been unusually open to outside visitors.
When they personally saw the fields of golden yellow, especially the heavy drooping rice ears, undoubtedly the farmers' eyes turned green with envy.
Many even shed tears on the spot.
Since this was a demonstration opportunity, harvesting, threshing, weighing and other processes were all conducted before everyone's eyes, leaving no possibility of fraud. Many people probably suspected they were dreaming.
Especially since the Morning Gazette clearly stated:
For this promotion, all registered residents of Bianjing could receive enough seeds for one mu of land without payment, simply by presenting their household registration.
"This... the official truly possesses great virtue!"
"Nothing less than a Bodhisattva reborn!"
What? Illegitimate succession, ruthless methods? Pah! Thinking of the faint rumors that had been circulating earlier, an old village chief immediately spat contemptuously.
Nonsense about illegitimacy - this was clearly divine blessing, divine blessing!
Nonsense about ruthlessness - with such a compassionate heart, showing such consideration for the common people at such a young age, how could the official not be a good person?
As for the struggles at the top, whether the official was male or female, what did it matter to common folks like them!
He heard that the improved seeds researched on the official's estates weren't limited to this one either! Right, he also saw soybeans earlier. If this...
The more he thought, the more the old man felt filled with energy and determination.
What's seventy years old? This old man can still keep living!
Similar scenes occurred throughout Bianjing, and even in every corner of the country...
In short, a wave of "rumors" about An Ning had not even truly spread before completely dissipating amidst this wave of public excitement.
Some people, unable to bear seeing their Bodhisattva-like benevolent official being slandered, even voluntarily reported those who spread such nonsense.
After interrogations, happily collecting a bunch of well-hidden rebels, lying comfortably on a soft couch, An Ning couldn't help but lightly click her tongue!
Not bad, it seems the national treasury can fatten up another wave.