Chapter 1271: 23 Things About the Fake Emperor and the Powerful Officials
On the eighth day after the Spring Festival, the morning court was resumed and all officials came to pay their respects.
At the same time, the news of Yuan Chizhi's return to the court spread throughout the imperial capital.
Everyone was half relieved and half nervous, wondering how Yuan Chizhi would get along with His Majesty after returning from his unprecedented contribution.
With such outstanding achievements, being granted a title of nobility or appointed as prime minister is no problem, but being too successful to be feared by the ruler is also the most taboo thing for a minister.
At the morning court session, all officials consciously stood on both sides, leaving the widest path for Yuan Chizhi to enter the court in armor.
Yuan Chizhi walked in from outside the hall without looking around and stood in front of Shi Li.
"As a minister, I have fulfilled my mission and put down the rebellion in the north." Yuan Chizhi bowed, then raised his head and looked at Shi Li.
Shi Li looked at him, and they understood each other tacitly.
"My dear, what reward do you want?"
Yuan Chizhi was not in a hurry. He first listed the people who had made meritorious contributions in the three armies and asked for rewards and titles for them.
When everyone received the rewards they deserved, everyone subconsciously held their breath, knowing that the highlight was about to begin.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yuan Chizhi took out the tiger talisman and handed it to the eunuch beside Shi Li.
"I, your humble servant, would like to ask for a marriage with your majesty using my merits and the tiger talisman."
This time, all the civil and military officials in the court were completely shocked.
First, I didn't expect Yuan Chizhi to hand over the tiger talisman so easily. Second, I didn't expect that he was just asking for a marriage. Could it be that the awe-inspiring Yuan Chizhi is actually a love-brained person?
Everyone was puzzled and wondered in their hearts whose girl it was that Yuan Chizhi went to such great lengths to propose to her.
Yuan Chizhi did not let everyone guess for too long. After handing over the tiger talisman, he directly revealed the answer.
"I beg to marry your majesty."
Ministers: Ah...it's your Majesty?! What the hell?!
Everything was silent. Before Shi Li could reply, the censor fainted from overwhelmed by the shock. Then an old minister in his sixties followed suit.
The faces of others twitched, as if they had been acupunctured by a martial arts master.
Shi Li was also prepared. Several imperial doctors were already waiting outside the hall. They calmly rescued the few who had fainted, and then looked at Yuan Chizhi with a smile.
He replied casually: "I agree."
All the officials: Crazy! All of them are crazy!
After the censor was rescued, he was about to bang his head against the pillar without saying a word, but was stopped by the guards who were prepared and protected him tightly on both sides.
The fainted old minister trembled and pointed at Shi Li and Yuan Chizhi with tears in his eyes, "Two...two men..."
"I have never admitted that I am a man." Shi Li smiled and said this sentence that would make the censor and the old minister continue to faint.
No one in the court dared to speak.
Most of them were Shi Li and Yuan Chizhi's confidants. Even though they thought this matter was too absurd to be true, they did not dare to say a word due to their status and position. They just kept shaking their fingers in their sleeves.
"I believe that I have worked diligently since ascending the throne and have done countless things that benefit the country and the people."
Shi Li saw that everyone had almost digested the information, so he slowly stood up and glanced at the people below, "You all know what women's education is like now. If you have extra thoughts because I am a girl, are you serving as officials in the court for the peace and prosperity of the country, or for something else?"
Once the spine-piercing words were spoken, no one dared to object. Only a few stubborn censors and old ministers were so angry that they trembled all over and could not speak.
Shi Li also knew that it would take time for them to accept this fact. She was not in a hurry, because these few people could not cause any big trouble anyway.
But before leaving the court, she left behind something that shocked everyone even more.
"My throne will only be passed on to people of virtue and talent, regardless of gender. If you are interested, why don't you spend more time cultivating future generations?"
After all, they are people from later generations. The abdication system is always better than the hereditary system. This truth is understood by everyone.
But when this happened to the ministers, it immediately caused a storm of uproar.
Those who are quick-witted no longer care whether the person sitting on the dragon throne is a man or a woman.
The only one who remained calm was Yuan Chizhi, who remained silent.
He stood at the head of the ministers, raised his head and looked at Shi Li with a smile on his lips.
He didn't care who sat on the top seat, nor did he care who the seat would be passed to. Anyway, he had already gotten what he wanted.
If he and Shi Li really have children in the future, if he wants to sit in that position, he will have to rely on himself. Otherwise, even if it is passed on to him, he will not be able to sit in it safely.
Yuan Chizhi looked at Shi Li, his eyes full of love and pride that he himself had not noticed.