Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity

Chapter 918 - 754: Holy Edict

Zhijie House was the hot pot shop of Ye Zhiqiu, and it was decorated quite elegantly, so later they changed the shop’s name to something more refined.The shop was small, but had an upper floor with three private rooms, and business was usually very good.

"Next time, you must honor us with your presence!" Gan Dianji was quite regretful; now that Gu Chengyu held a Standard Sixth Rank position, he actually wanted to curry favor.

"Ying, what’s wrong? Are these dishes not to your liking?"

The Empress wiped the corner of her mouth and looked at her granddaughter, who was holding her chopsticks without moving and staring blankly, and then she asked gently.

The Empress was in a good mood today because news had just come that the Emperor had declared the Second Prince as the Crown Prince.

Afterward, Guangning Palace was filled with joy, and all the concubines from the harem came to offer their congratulations.

By noon, the Imperial Kitchen came to ask if they should serve the meal, and only then did the concubines take their leave.

Today marked such a joyful occasion in Guangning Palace, and the Empress wanted her daughter and granddaughter to stay for the meal.

The only flaw was that the Emperor went to Jinghua Palace.

For such a great event, the Emperor didn’t come to personally congratulate, but went to Princess Consort Jing’s place instead—this was undoubtedly a slap in the Empress’s face.

Today at noon, the Emperor should have dined with the Empress at Guangning Palace, especially with his eldest daughter and granddaughter present.

The Empress waited until past noon, and only after De’an personally conveyed the Emperor’s decree, did she ask the palace maid to request the meal from the Imperial Kitchen.

This made the concubines present laugh at her, but when they left, the Empress still smiled warmly, showing no sign of discontent.

In fact, how could the Empress not be angry? The Emperor’s actions severely undermined her authority as the ruler of the harem!

He probably hurried to comfort that wicked woman, Princess Consort Jing, who was not known for her good temper. The Emperor was just fond of her ways, indulging and favoring her frequently.

But how could the Empress lose her dignity in front of the concubines? No matter how angry she was inside, she had to maintain her composure on the surface.

Besides, her son had become the Crown Prince, so the Emperor not dining at her palace couldn’t ruin her good mood.

At her age, how could she possibly hold onto the Emperor? Those young blossoms are much more endearing!

She was past her prime and had long since accepted it.

With three thousand beauties in the harem, if it weren’t for the ancestral rules, the Emperor would not even stay at Guangning Palace on the first and fifteenth of the month. At most, he would come during the day to chat intimately!

But the recent years have seen less of the Emperor during the day, likely because their sons had grown up and he worried they might usurp the throne—he was wary of everyone!

With so many charming women in the harem, how could the Emperor still think of her? Even a little respect was considered a big deal.

The Eldest Princess sighed slightly, glanced at her mother, and then at her daughter.

"Ying, your grandmother is speaking to you! What are you thinking about?" Her tone carried a touch of anger, as her daughter’s demeanor had been off since they entered the palace today.

"Oh!" Qin Yingyuan snapped back from her thoughts when she heard her mother’s slightly stern voice.

She looked at the dish of white pear phoenix breast on the table, her grandfather’s favorite dish.

Just as she was about to mention it, she realized.

Her grandfather hadn’t eaten at Guangning Palace today, and bringing it up would only sadden her grandmother. She shouldn’t be so insensitive.

"Grandmother! The mandarin fish dates here are the most delicious; they’re my favorite! Grandmother still remembers what Yingying likes."

Gu Chengyu finished his lunch and quickly began drafting the Holy Edict!

He didn’t return to his office; he intended to write it in Wenhua Pavilion, avoiding having to deal with Chou Yifan. After contemplating for a while, he dipped his brush heavily in ink.

When it comes to the Holy Edict for establishing the Crown Prince, it’s not just one document.

This particular edict was for the Ministry of Rites, to prepare for the Crown Prince’s inauguration ceremony. The content was relatively brief, not a challenge for Gu Chengyu. There’s another edict meant to be announced to the world, which was more elaborate.

Gu Chengyu had to carefully choose the wording for this one, making sure there were no mistakes.

Gu Chengyu thought for a moment and wrote, "To the Ministry of Rites: The Emperor, in succession, maintains the state for long-term peace and stability by establishing the heir, flourishing the foundation of the state to ensure the Ancestral Temple’s prosperity..."

In less than an hour, Gu Chengyu completed the first Holy Edict for the Ministry of Rites. He carefully reviewed it, focusing on the name of the Crown Prince.

The legitimate son, Zhao Dun, yes! That couldn’t be wrong.

The Crown Prince’s name was something that had to be correct; if it were wrong, even a hundred heads wouldn’t suffice.

Cautiously setting it aside to let the ink dry before storing it away.

Of course, this copy wasn’t sent directly to the Ministry of Rites. It had to wait for Zhang Hai and the Emperor’s review before another copy could be made and delivered to the Ministry of Rites.

The Holy Edict, unlike a Holy Decree, didn’t require the Emperor’s personal writing, just needed his review.

In fact, drafting Holy Edicts should be the responsibility of the scholars from the Hanlin Academy. However, firstly, the Emperor hadn’t designated which scholar to draft Holy Edicts or edicts, and secondly, Gu Chengyu understood that Zhang Hai entrusted him with the task because he valued his handwriting.

Both Holy Edicts and Holy Decrees had to be written neatly and elegantly, the phrasing so refined that nothing could be added or removed.

Since this was a task initially assigned by the Emperor, Gu Chengyu still had time to draft it.

If one day the Emperor suddenly felt inspired or if things got urgent, they might be summoned to the Imperial Study Room. There, the Emperor would dictate, and the officials would draft the Holy Decree or Holy Edict.

There wouldn’t be time for drafts then, testing the writer’s flow and adaptability.

Firstly, they must keep pace with the Emperor’s dictation, and secondly, prevent any sudden changes from the Emperor.

In conclusion, it’s a challenging task, and without a solid foundation, one simply cannot undertake this duty.

Of course, without outstanding ability in this area, the Emperor wouldn’t appoint someone to this task.

Gan Dianji glanced at the sky outside, and then at the diligently working Gu Chengyu. After a moment’s thought, he decided not to disturb him.

It was almost time to get off duty, but Mr. Gu seemed to have not finished his task. However, Mr. Gu had instructed that nothing was to interrupt him.

The draft Gu Chengyu was working on was important, and he didn’t dare make any move. Otherwise, if Mr. Gu failed to complete the task, he too would be in trouble.

About another half hour passed before Gu Chengyu let out a sigh of relief.

He set down the pen in his hand and carefully checked the content.

He reviewed it twice from top to bottom, and after confirming there were no errors, Gu Chengyu completely relaxed.

Nice! Not a single mistake, the paper clean and tidy, the handwriting rounded and elegant, seemed flawless.