“My unwavering intent to wait for the Crown Prince’s return remains the same.”
Duke Montaner concealed his true feelings as he spoke.
“As Duke Bert said, in these troubled times of consecutive droughts causing poor harvests and provocations from emerging nations, my conclusion is that the only way to unify the unsettled public sentiment is for the rightful ruler to appear as soon as possible. A house with only a steward but no proper owner does look a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it?”
“…….”
“Thus, I have reluctantly come to this resolution against the late Emperor and his successor, the Crown Prince.”
After expressing his opinion with a formal appeal, the Duke added,
“Whenever the Crown Prince returns, I will relinquish the throne.”
The assembly was abuzz.
“That… that is not permissible. According to the royal laws of Luzencia, once one ascends the throne, they cannot step down until their death.”
‘So that’s my point.’
“Exceptions can be made.”
A fleeting smile appeared on the corners of the Duke’s mouth, but no one noticed.
Duke Bert spoke next.
“First, we should resolve the matter of moving up the coronation. The matter of transferring the throne to the Crown Prince can be considered after his return.”
Indeed.
Everyone nodded, realizing that their worries were needless.
How could someone already dead reclaim the throne?
“Then, those in favor of advancing the coronation are….”
“We don’t need a formal vote, do we?”
Someone spoke even before the chairman could finish.
“None among us gathered here would be against His Grace the Duke ascending to the throne as soon as possible.”
“Exactly. I would even support holding the coronation today. The throne has been vacant for too long. If we are simplifying the formalities, there’s no need to delay any longer.”
Everyone vehemently agreed. The reason was simple.
The Duke’s coronation would help them maintain their wealth and power.
Of course, if the Crown Prince were alive, they would not have supported this illegitimate Duke for Emperor. The throne must be passed on to a direct royal descendant. Absolutely, even if it meant placing a puppet.
That was the deeply-rooted belief of the majority of the Grand Nobles who dominated the Council.
But now, with that belief having lost its place, only pragmatism remained.
The Duke must be elevated to Emperor. Only then can we be assured of a comfortable life and glory that will extend to our descendants.
“Your Majesty, what should we do? Shall we proceed with the vote?”
The Chairman asked.
The very act of asking revealed his belief that this vote was meaningless.
The Duke was unwavering.
“Of course, we should. The issue is important. However.”
“……”
“If even one person opposes, let’s consider this matter nonexistent.”
A look of confusion crossed the faces of the ministers.
“Your Majesty, there’s really no need to go that far… A simple majority vote would suffice.”
“Moving up the coronation date is a grave matter. If even one person opposes, it’s only right to withdraw the proposal.”
Why did it have to be this way…
Everyone looked at each other, sharing their confusion while secretly admiring the Duke’s integrity.
But what they didn’t know was this:
The Duke couldn’t have said that unless he was certain that no one would oppose.
“Then let’s decide by vote.”
Chairman Lermer continued in a rigid manner.
“Those in favor of moving up the coronation date, please raise your hands.”
Even though everyone knew the outcome, it was a strangely tense moment.
Even the usually composed Chairman Lermer seemed tense, as his Adam’s apple bobbed while he looked around the room.
Sigh.
He picked up the wooden hammer.
“The proposal passes unanimously…”
“I oppose.”
A deep, unexpected voice drew everyone’s eyes to the entrance of the hall.
A young man, not seen before, was leaning against the doorway.
His audacious gaze scanning from one end of the table to the other, along with his unknown identity, irritated the proud members of the Noble Parliament.
“Who are you?”
Someone spoke in an angry tone.
“Only members of the Parliament are allowed here. Leave immediately.”
Another called out to the guards outside, but strangely, no one came running.
The man smiled at their confusion.
“As far as I know, there are also others who can attend the Parliament meetings.”
The nobles stared at the man incredulously.
Does he look sane but is actually crazy?
Or has he been drinking in broad daylight?
Otherwise, right now…
“Are you claiming to be a direct royal descendant? If that’s not true, you’re liable for making a blasphemous statement against the royal family.”
The man’s eyes sparkled instead, contrary to the intended intimidation.
The man straightened his body that had been leaning against the door.
“Why should stating my identity be considered blasphemy against the royal family?”
He’s completely mad. If we don’t remove him immediately…
Everyone thought so, but no one could muster the strength to call the guards. For some reason, their mouths wouldn’t open.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
