Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 806 - 757: The Empress Dowager’s Decision

The Empress Dowager settled accounts in the autumn and finally punished Prince Xiangyang.

Fortunately, it was not execution, just exile.

The selection of the new Emperor’s candidate was brought up again in court.

The Empress Dowager, regent behind the curtain, looked sternly at the civil and military officials in the court, "Dear ministers, who can succeed to the throne?"

Prime Minister Pei, sitting in a wheelchair in the court, lowered his eyelids, his eyes looking at his nose, and his nose looking at his heart.

The corner of his eye quietly glanced at Grand Tutor Jiang standing beside him, seeing Jiang standing without a word, eyes downcast, he also remained silent.

The candidate currently favored for the new Emperor was Prince Luling’s family.

But he did not want Prince Luling to become the new Emperor; in-laws being too powerful was not a good thing.

He favored Prince Liuyang.

Although Prince Liuyang was older than Prince Luling, he was honest and loyal, unlike the cunning Prince Luling.

"Empress Dowager, in my opinion, Prince Luling can be the new Emperor." A Hanlin Scholar stepped forward and said.

The Empress Dowager’s face sank, her eyes scanning the others, "Grand Tutor Jiang, what do you think?"

"I choose Prince Luling," said Grand Tutor Jiang.

The Empress Dowager’s face grew even darker, "Are there any more candidates?"

A military officer stepped out of the line, "Empress Dowager, I choose Prince Luling!"

"Further discussion!" The Empress Dowager’s voice was authoritative, her gaze sharp.

However, the ministers in the court looked at each other, and no one answered further.

"Prime Minister Pei, tell me, is there a suitable candidate?" The Empress Dowager’s gaze turned to Prime Minister Pei.

Prime Minister Pei’s expression was cunning, "Empress Dowager, I must avoid answering this matter."

The Empress Dowager said, "Why avoid it?"

Prime Minister Pei replied, "Among the Li Royal Family, Prince Luling is my in-laws, Prince Liuyang and my enlightenment mentor, both were Hanlin Scholars. Prince Liuyang is my senior, he taught me to practice calligraphy when I was young. I cannot choose between these two people, nor is it appropriate for me to select."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "I see." She looked at the officials, "In that case, write an anonymous letter. Write your preferred candidate inside the envelope, and I, the Empress Dowager, will decide."

"Yes, we respectfully obey the Empress Dowager’s decree."

The Empress Dowager also wanted to choose Prince Liuyang in her heart, but everyone in the court chose Prince Luling, which made her very unhappy.

She ordered the eunuch to distribute identical envelopes to the ministers, instructing them to write the name of their preferred candidate inside and submit it to her chief eunuch by nightfall.

After court, the Empress Dowager returned to her sleeping quarters.

At this time, she saw the Empress standing in the great hall.

"Your humble servant welcomes the Empress Dowager back from court." The Empress approached and gracefully bowed.

The Empress Dowager looked at her, "Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be resting in your chamber instead of wandering around?"

The Empress Dowager appraised her maternal cousin with a deep dislike.

The Empress had been in the palace for five years without bearing offspring; now, the position she worked hard to get was about to be given to someone else, leaving the Empress Dowager feeling resentful.

Back then, she defeated numerous concubines to secure the position of Empress and get the late Emperor’s exclusive favor.

She was quite successful, giving birth to a son, who smoothly inherited the throne, but then...

Who would have thought the daughter-in-law she married was incompetent! Cutting off her lineage!

She coldly glanced at the Empress and walked past her.

Although the Empress knew the Empress Dowager did not care for her, there were matters she had to report, so even risking the Empress Dowager’s scorn, she had to come.

"Empress Dowager, your humble servant has important matters to report to the Empress Dowager."

"Then speak quickly." The Empress Dowager entered the inner hall.

According to past habits, the Empress Dowager would change into casual attire, have some snacks, then rest, and review memorials in the afternoon.

The Empress’s arrival interrupted her routine, making the Empress Dowager frown.

The Empress followed suit, "Empress Dowager, the Yu Wen family’s espionage in the court and West Mountain Camp was exposed by Prince Luling’s Second Young Master."

"I know."

"The matter of the Yu Wen father and son poisoning the Emperor was uncovered by the Third Princess of Prince Luling’s mansion," the Empress added.

The Empress Dowager turned around, looking at the Empress in annoyance, "I know this as well. Empress, what are you trying to say?"

The Empress knelt before the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, I wish to say that the people of Prince Luling’s mansion are all outstanding individuals with virtuous qualities. Prince Luling is loyal and honest. The recent upheaval in the court owes much to the Luling family for preemptively capturing the Yu Wen father and son, otherwise, with the Yu Wen family colluding with the five thousand garrison troops of West Mountain Camp and the nine deputy envoys of the city gates inside and outside, we all would have suffered a tragic fate. Prince Luling’s mansion has greatly contributed to the Imperial Family, and Prince Luling deserves to be the new Emperor."

"Empress!" The Empress Dowager flew into a rage, "Do you realize what you’re saying?"

The Empress fell to the ground with a thud, "I know what I’m saying. I’m considering the Empress Dowager’s situation. If Prince Liuyang is chosen, his consort’s family and the Cui family are usually at odds. Though the Empress Dowager isn’t surnamed Cui, her legitimate cousin was newly appointed as the patriarch of the Cui family. Has the Empress Dowager thought about the future position?"

Prince Liuyang’s consort’s family nephew and the Empress Dowager’s cousin’s son fought fiercely over a family’s shop.

The Empress Dowager’s cousin’s son broke Prince Liuyang’s consort’s nephew’s leg.

Prince Liuyang’s consort’s brother filed a complaint with the Capital Prefect, but the Cui family pulled the Empress Dowager into it.

In the end, the Cui family only compensated Prince Liuyang’s consort’s brother with a thousand silver pieces, and the Empress Dowager’s cousin’s son wasn’t punished at all.

But Prince Liuyang’s consort’s nephew can never walk again and his original betrothal was annulled because of it.

Now, that young man with the broken leg has turned into a thirty-year-old man, only now did a widow consider marrying him.

He was Prince Liuyang’s consort’s brother’s only son, yet ended up in such a situation.

Prince Liuyang, like Prince Xiangyang, is a marginal loyal prince of the Li Family, where does he dare provoke the Empress Dowager?

Prince Liuyang’s consort can only swallow the bitterness.

The Empress mentioned the grudge between Prince Liuyang’s consort and the Empress Dowager’s cousin’s family, the Empress Dowager took a sharp breath and remained silent.

"I understand, you may go back now."

"Please Empress Dowager, you must reconsider! Choosing Prince Luling is the best choice. Princess Consort Luling has always been on good terms with you. When the Emperor wanted to punish the Wei family, Princess Consort Luling’s natal family, you spoke for them. Princess Consort Luling is someone who remembers favors. When she returns to the Capital, how can she not think well of you? If Prince Luling becomes the new Emperor, your days won’t be too difficult."

The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress, "But, have you forgotten something? It was the Emperor who exiled Prince Luling’s family to Zhen An Prefecture. Would they be grateful to me?"

The Empress continued, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor has already passed away. Besides, it was due to the Yu Wen father and son’s false accusations that led the Emperor to make a wrong judgment, the responsibility didn’t lie entirely with the Emperor and nothing pertains to you, the Empress Dowager."

The Chief Palace Maid beside the Empress Dowager glanced at the Empress and then at the Empress Dowager, hesitant to speak.

Receiving her look, the Empress Dowager’s voice softened, turning to the Empress, "I understand, you may go back now, I need to rest."

"Yes, Empress Dowager, I take my leave." The Empress gently exhaled and left.

When the Empress’s footsteps were completely inaudible, the Empress Dowager turned and asked the Chief Palace Maid beside her, "Zisu, what do you want to say?"

"Empress Dowager, this maid believes the Empress is right, selecting Prince Luling’s family won’t make future days too difficult." said the Chief Palace Maid.

"My intention is neither selecting Prince Luling nor Prince Liuyang? Prince Handan isn’t impossible...and there’s Prince Xiangyang..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The Chief Palace Maid replied, "Prince Handan is young, he has his own mother to serve and wouldn’t care about the Empress Dowager. Prince Handan’s mother has been a widow for many years and is always jealous of her son being kind to other women, when Prince Handan gifted good ginseng to his mother-in-law, the Handan Imperial Concubine became jealous and caused such a fuss that she starved herself. If he becomes the new Emperor, I fear the Handan Imperial Concubine wouldn’t let Prince Handan be favorable to the Empress Dowager. As for Prince Xiangyang, he is too old, has no sons, only daughters, and when he can have a son is doubtful since he’s seventy-eight, how long can he serve as the new Emperor? When he passes, whom shall we select next?"

The Empress Dowager listened and secretly gasped, did she act rashly?

The Chief Palace Maid further said, "As for other collateral members of the Li Family, if not Commandery Princes then Dukes, their stature even lower. If they become new Emperor, I fear they wouldn’t able to suppress the princes of high status and rank, causing chaos in the court again. Then, the Empress Dowager’s days would be worse."

The Empress Dowager listened, a chill swept through her heart.

It seems choosing a new Emperor cannot be capricious, cannot be based on likes and dislikes.

.

At one hour, the Chief Eunuch of the Empress Dowager Palace presented secret letters written by ministers for the Empress Dowager to review.

The Chief Palace Maid opened them one by one for the Empress Dowager.

Of the thirty letters, twenty-five bore Prince Luling’s name.