After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 683: Writing the Imperial Edict Establishing the Crown Prince

Since the first snowflake fell, it's as if a hole has been punched in the sky, showering every corner of the capital with silvery white light.

People went from being "hands and feet moving" to "hands and feet freezing," and there were fewer and fewer people on the streets.

There are noticeably fewer street vendors doing business; only a few who need to start a fire to do business are still persisting.

For example, wonton stalls, sesame seed cake stalls, noodle stalls, and other small businesses that can't be heated by fire have basically started to hibernate.

The lives of ordinary people are so simple: they work at sunrise and rest at sunset, planting in spring, flourishing in summer, harvesting in autumn, and storing in winter.

The nobles in the palace, however, seemed unaffected by the seasons, as they had both underground heating and a constant supply of burning charcoal braziers.

The best silver charcoal in the palace costs several taels of silver per basin; it's not burning charcoal, it's burning money.

But does anyone care? No.

Only people care whether the charcoal is burning properly and whether there is black smoke.

It needs to be warm, but not dirty, and comfortable, but not smoky.

The high price of silver wire charcoal lies in its long burning time; it doesn't require adding charcoal all night, and most importantly, it has no unpleasant odor or smoke.

At this time, the Imperial Study was burning the finest silver wire charcoal. There was a large charcoal brazier in each of the four corners of the hall, making the room warm as spring.

The emperor was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials, coughing occasionally. The chief eunuch immediately served him ginseng tea.

At this moment, the palace door was gently pushed open, and the Empress walked in, bringing with her a faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

"Your Majesty, it's snowing heavily outside. Please take care of yourself and don't overexert yourself," the Empress said softly.

The emperor put down his pen and looked at the empress, who looked quite well. "With the empress thinking of me, I am naturally fine."

The two looked at each other and smiled, then walked together to the window.

Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered down, turning the palace walls and trees white, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

"Such a snowy scene has a unique charm, cough cough cough cough, but I wonder how many more times I can see it?"

"Every snowfall this winter, I have come to Your Majesty to enjoy it together."

"Very well, being able to enjoy the snow hand in hand with the Empress will make the snow scene even more beautiful."

The emperor gently held the empress's hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"It's still a bit cold here, Your Majesty. Please have some hot tea."

The Empress walked to the table and picked up the ginseng tea that the Emperor had placed aside. A small candle kept it warm, so the ginseng tea would not get cold.

"Alright, I'll do as the Empress says."

"What was Your Majesty writing just now?"

The Empress asked this question because the Emperor had clearly finished reviewing the memorial, but had not yet put down his pen.

Moreover, the imperial edicts were reviewed using vermilion ink, and at that moment the ink was still very fragrant, and the brush was also stained with thick ink.

The Empress only glanced at him and knew that the Emperor had not been reviewing memorials.

The emperor smiled slightly, pulled the empress to the desk, and unfolded his newly completed masterpiece once again.

"I found the snow scene to be breathtaking and wanted to compose a poem, but my inspiration ran dry and I couldn't write anything that I was particularly satisfied with."

The Empress looked at the few lines of poetry; although they were not masterpieces, they were still profound in meaning.

"Your Majesty, please don't be so modest. I think this poem is very good, full of artistic conception. If one were to recite it on a hot summer day, it might even help to cool down and relieve the heat."

The empress was exaggerating, but the emperor was genuinely happy this time. His empress understood poetry, but she understood him even better.

Next summer, I fear I will have already turned to dust. Leaving this poem for the Empress will at least give her something to remember me by.

When the emperor suddenly fell silent, the empress wondered if she had said something wrong or something else.

"Empress, are you aware that I have something else to write today?"

"Oh? Is it a poem or something else? Or painting this snow scene would be nice too."

The emperor shook his head. Although he was skilled in calligraphy and painting, he didn't particularly enjoy them. Today, he was talking about serious matters.

The emperor gave his personal eunuch a wink, and the eunuch immediately understood and went to fetch something.

The Empress, puzzled, looked at the things the chief eunuch had brought.

"This is... an imperial edict? Is His Majesty about to issue a decree?"

The emperor nodded and slowly said, "My health has been deteriorating recently. This decree concerns the matter of establishing an heir."

The Empress was startled, not expecting the Emperor to bring up this matter at this moment.

"Your Majesty, this matter concerns the stability of the nation and requires careful consideration."

The Empress didn't mean to refuse, but was now the right time? Her son said that a large number of ships wouldn't be completed until next spring.

Once the fleet brings back a large quantity of silver mines, Chang'er, the second prince, will have made a contribution to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Wouldn't that make his claim more legitimate and reduce the obstacles he would face?

The emperor sighed, "My days are numbered, so I must make plans as soon as possible."

Your Majesty, our Chang'er has finally turned misfortune into good fortune, and this is something I, as his father, owe him.

Now, it's time to get back on track and let Chang'er enter the Eastern Palace.

The Empress pondered for a moment, then decided that refusing at this point would be inappropriate: "Has Your Majesty considered the consequences if this imperial edict were issued?"

"You mean...the imperial court, or the harem?"

"When can we separate the imperial court from the harem? The intricate connections between them are impossible to sever."

The emperor nodded slightly. "I am well aware that the old ministers of the previous dynasty will certainly have objections to Chang'er's current condition."

However, this is easy to solve; let Chang'er prove himself through one or two things.

I know that the other concubines in the harem who have children will not give up easily, but the Empress need not worry, I am here for you.

"My mind is made up. Chang'er is intelligent and kind, and he is our son; he is the only suitable candidate for Crown Prince."

The Empress understood the Emperor's determination and knew her son had the ability, but in the court, it was easy to dodge open attacks but difficult to guard against hidden ones.

"Your Majesty, we need to prepare countermeasures in advance to prevent certain people from making a desperate gamble."

The emperor naturally understood what the empress meant by "going all in."

He faced assassination attempts far more than just a few times or even a dozen times after ascending the throne.

I am about to die, but Chang'er is only in his early twenties, the perfect age to make a name for himself.

The Empress is right; I had indeed made many preparations beforehand.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I am not making this decision without any basis."

Besides, this decree isn't going to be announced immediately after it's written. Letting the rumors out first, while we stand backstage and watch their performance, isn't that interesting too?

After saying this, the emperor picked up his pen again and wrote down the decree on the blank imperial edict, establishing the second prince, Zhao Hongchang, as the crown prince.

The Empress stood to the side, her eyes resolute. She knew that storms in both the court and the harem were inevitable.

But for their son's future and for the stability of the Great Zhou Kingdom, they, mother and son, had to face whatever bloodshed might ensue.