Chapter 854: Reciprocity

Although the matter of having a child is still uncertain, the wedding cannot be postponed any longer. If this child can really be kept, he cannot let Xie Yun wear the phoenix robe with a bulging belly.
So the next morning, at the morning court, Yin Ji stuck to his original plan and proposed summoning Xie Ji to attend the court.
The courtiers had already anticipated this, although they still had concerns, but they managed to restrain themselves. It was not until Yin Ji brought up the idea of letting Xie Ji take charge of the defense of the capital area that the courtiers erupted, even pragmatic officials like Zhao Cang were unable to stay silent and started voicing their objections.
Yin Ji looked at those furious faces and couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Then he sighed helplessly, "Since all of you think it's not appropriate... let's have Xie Ji stay at the Ministry of Works for a while."
As soon as these words came out, the courtiers were somewhat pleasantly surprised. Over the years, Yin Ji had always made decisions on his own, ignoring the advice of the courtiers no matter how hard they tried to persuade him. Just now, when they heard that the Emperor wanted to assign the crucial task of defending the capital to Xie Ji, several courtiers had even prepared themselves to offer their dissent, but they didn't expect him to actually compromise.
After a momentary daze, the courtiers regained their composure and enthusiastically hailed the wise emperor.
Yinji raised his hand and said: "There is one more important matter... I am reaching the age to marry, and I believe it is time for a grand wedding ceremony. What do you all think?"
The emperor is getting married? Great! That's wonderful news!
Although the emperor has people in his harem, he only has one daughter, who is from the rebellious Wang clan. He doesn't even have a son, which is truly worrying.
The stability of the country is of utmost importance to the emperor.
During these three years, there have been many courtiers who couldn't hold back their suggestions to the emperor to choose a concubine and establish an heir, but he ignored them all. The courtiers also dare not advise him further, afraid that if they say the wrong thing, they will never be able to speak again.
But now the emperor was actually having such thoughts himself, so how could they not go along with it?
"May I ask Your Majesty, which family's daughter has caught your attention?"
Zhao Cangman couldn't wait to speak up. He had been promoted by Yin Ji to this position and truly hoped that the emperor would have many children and blessings.
Yin Ji showed a surprised expression: "Can you guess?"
The courtiers exchanged glances, should they guess?
Qi Yan tightened his grip on the pen tablet, hesitated for a moment, then sighed lightly and stood up: "Earlier, I heard of an extraordinary event. It is said that the Emperor's sincere feelings moved heaven, invoking the compassion of gods and buddhas, and miraculously resurrected the Xie family girl who died in an internal conflict three years ago. She rescued the Emperor from danger on the battlefield. Can this be true?"
Without waiting for Yin Ji to speak, the other courtiers burst into laughter, saying, "Qin, how can we take such folk tales seriously?"
However, the officials who accompanied the emperor on his journey north remained silent. During the previous campaigns and the great battle in Fengzhou, they were caught up in their own affairs and had no time to pay attention to the people around the emperor. They didn't think much about this story. But on the way back to the capital, the imperial entourage was anything but quiet.
Even without mentioning this, they have all seen the Emperor chasing after a girl with a beaming face. Where is the previously mysterious and unpredictable tyrant?
This story may not be true, but the person definitely is.
"Who said this is fabricated?"
Yin Ji spoke lightly, a hint of smile fading from his face. "My Ah Yun has returned, but she didn't come back from the dead. It was a coincidence that she was saved back then, she never died."
The courtiers exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim. They were all too familiar with this approach, this rhetoric.
Those who were sent to the emperor's harem all used similar excuses, but how many assassins were among them? The emperor was so clear-headed before, how did he get so bewitched now?
"Your Majesty, we cannot trust this person. It concerns the stability of the empire. Please remain calm."
The courtiers all advised against it, especially given the fact that the Xie family has gained access to the court. It seems like a conspiracy by the Xie family. Even Zhao Cang's face showed doubts: "Your Majesty, it's better to investigate this person's identity."
殷稷眼神沉下去：“朕说的话，你们是不信了，祁卿，你也与阿蕴相熟，不如你来说说？”
The courtiers' gaze turned to Qi Yan, forcing him to speak: "Fellow colleagues, this person is indeed the former Miss Xie. I can attest that I personally saw her being rescued back then, but I never expected her to return."
"So you're saying no one has seen her in these few years, how can Minister Qi guarantee that the person who comes back is Miss Xie?"
Qi Yan frowned, this is indeed a difficult matter to explain. Xie Ji and Tang Ting are both witnesses, but not many people know Tang Ting, and Xie Ji's words... will only deepen the suspicion of the officials."
Xie Yun's initial concerns have indeed occurred. The idea of resurrection is something that court officials will never accept.
Yin Ji lowered his gaze and quietly looked at the dragon head on the dragon throne.
Zhou Yao raised his voice and said, "How could the Emperor and that Xie girl be mistaken after all these years? You haven't even met them and you're already saying they are not. Where is the evidence?"
Xue Jing also chimed in, and for a while, the courtiers split into two factions, arguing incessantly.
Yin Ji raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, giving a low cough.
The familiar smell of impatience spread throughout the court, and everyone instinctively fell silent.
"No more noise?"
Yin Ji leaned his elbow against the dragon's head, slightly leaning his body to the side, with his fingertips supporting his chin.
"That story was indeed made up, created to be shown to the people, and also to be seen by A Yun... but not for you to see. We knew from the beginning that you would object, but today, we didn't come to negotiate with you."
他冷淡的眸子扫过在场所有朝臣，眼底并没有威胁之类的情绪，可朝臣却仍旧低下了头，无人敢与他对视。
“朕先前已经为你们退了一步，诸卿，礼尚往来，你们也不该来逼迫朕啊。”
"He chuckled lightly and said, 'Do you all think it's this reason?'"
"The courtiers were as quiet as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound. They were wrong. They had thought that once the emperor had dealt with the rebels and eliminated the internal threat, his temperament would become milder. But now it was clear that he was still the tyrant who was capricious and terrifying with just a glance."
No one dared to speak again, not even high-ranking officials like Zhao Cangman, and it wasn't because they were scared. It was clear from the emperor's demeanor that his decision was final and change was impossible. It would be unnecessary for further conflicts to arise between the ruler and his subjects.
“臣恭贺皇上立后。”
他开口，算是缓和了紧绷的朝堂气氛，也给了方才反对的朝臣一个台阶下。
殷稷却摇了摇头：“是大婚，不是立后。”
In the eyes of courtiers, no matter which one, it is an honor, but only he knows that he is marrying his beloved as Jilang, not as the Emperor, to establish a queen for Da Zhou.
That's different.
"Cai Tianxi, make an announcement."