"Long live Your Majesty!"
Zhang Ruyi ascended the throne with a cold look. A black Mianfu with a golden dragon design made her look like a great man. She was only 13 years old when crowned as the third Su Empire Emperor and the youngest ruler in history to ever exist. As for her identity, no one knew that the young Emperor was a female. The secret was kept by the Suzhou Kingdom for the sake of the previous Emperor, Zhang Luo. Therefore, only the people of the palace know about it. Even the people of Suzhou didn't know that their new Emperor was a female.
*Mianfu - Formal dress is worn by emperors and royal families in historical China and other East Asian countries.
"Becomes a ruler? Huh! Many people died because of this." She mumbled alone.
It was true that people fought each other just for this title. Power, wealth, and fame. If given choices between family and power, most people will choose the latter. This title had blinded many people for centuries. The family seems not important to them as they are willing to kill their blood just to be on top.
While people adore this title, Zhang Ruyi thought it was a burden that she had to bear. Those power, wealth, and fame are nothing to her if they cannot bring true joy and happiness to her life.
"Perhaps, this is the fate for those who were born into rulers' families. Hatred, jealousy, and death. A destiny to get the throne." She muttered to herself.
Zhang Ruyi turned around and looked at everyone in the Main Hall. All of them kowtow to her and greet her several times. The Imperial Secretary, Zhan Ruo comes closer and kowtows in front of her.
"Bixia, congratulations on being the new Emperor of the Su Empire!"
*Bixia (Bìxià) - Your Majesty
Zhang Ruyi raised her hand as a gesture to tell the Imperial Secretary to stand up. Zhan Ruo immediately stood up and returned to his place. As a new Emperor, she wants to rule the kingdom in her own way. Zhang Ruyi doesn't want to be like the Emperors before her. After all, this is not her desire. She never had thought to be an Emperor, but since the throne is now in her hands everything will be done in her way. Zhang Ruyi raised her head and took a deep breath. She will make the first decree after being crowned.
"As the new Emperor of the Su Empire, I, Zhang Ruyi will make my first decree. From today on, under my rule, there will be some changes in the formalities and customs of the palace."
The ministers were shocked and began to whisper among themselves. They have no idea about what the Emperor has said just now. Zhang Ruyi was sure the ministers must be wondering. To make them silent, she coughed.
"A-hem!"
Without saying anything, the Main Hall was suddenly silent. All eyes were pointed at her. Zhang Ruyi went to the desk and unfolded an empty scroll. She took a brush and started writing something. Once finished, she called the Imperial Secretary.
"Secretary Zhan, take this decree and read them out loud."
Zhan Ruo comes to the Emperor and takes the scroll. His eyes widen when he read the content of the decree. Those who saw his expression were curious and eagerly wanted to know what was inside the scroll.
"Secretary Zhan?"
Zhang Ruyi calls his name when she notices that he is still standing like a statue, holding the scrolls but hasn't read them yet. Zhan Ruo immediately read it when he heard his name was called.
"The decree from the Emperor! The first decree. From now on, there will be no more Beauty Pageants competition. The second decree. The Lotus Palace Harem will be closed and there will be no more concubines and consorts in the palace. The end of the decree!"
Everyone was shocked. The Main Hall started to get noisy again. That was the first time they heard such a decree. No one expected that the new Emperor could give them a big surprise. Besides being the first female Emperor, she was also the first Emperor in history who did not want a Harem in the palace. Not to mention that she is also the youngest ruler in history that has ever existed.
Zhan Ruo turned around and returned the scroll to the Emperor. Zhang Ruyi accepted it and took the Imperial Seal and stamped the scroll with it. The Main Hall was still noisy as the ministers did not stop talking about the new changes in the palace. Once again, she coughed to silence them but this time louder than before.
"A-HEM!"
Silence just in one blink of eyes. They bowed to the Emperor and adjusted their position. A moment later, the Minister of Ceremonies, Huang Jun, went to the centre of the hall and kowtow to the Emperor.
"Forgive me, Bixia. Bixia, I don't mean to offend but as we all know, Beauty Pageants and the Harem system are the main customs in the palace and have already been practised by the royal family for 2 generations. Is it appropriate if we discard it?"
The other ministers looked at Huang Jun. They agreed with what he had just said and kowtow to the Emperor to support him.
"Bixia, please think again!" (All ministers)
Zhang Ruyi stared at Huang Jun. She folded the scroll and put it aside. Huang Jun gulped as his eyes met the Emperor's and his hands began to tremble. Although the Emperor is still young, she is very mature in terms of behaviour and thinking. Zhang Ruyi stood up and moved forward with her arms crossed behind her back.
"Rise!" She commanded.
The Minister of Ceremonies stood but he did not return to his place. He stood still in the hall to hear the Emperor's next words.
"Do the customs and formalities create us or are we the ones who created them?" She asked.
Huang Jun looked at the floor while the other ministers looked at each other. They could not deny that the customs and formalities were created by the ruler himself. Noticing that nobody answered her question, she looked at Huang Jun.
"Minister Huang?"
Huang Jun was startled when the Emperor called his name.
"W-we created them." He answered the question with a stutter.
"Right? Now return to your place."
Huang Jun bowed and returned to his place with slow steps. The other ministers only looked at him. Zhang Ruyi know that most of them were tied with the old customs and formalities but she can't help them with it. No matter what happens, they still have to accept the new changes. It only costs them their time to be able to be familiar with it.
"I know most of you were tied with the old customs and formalities but fish cannot live on the land and you cannot ask the chicken to swim like a duck."
Zhang Ruyi turned around and returned to her seat. The hall remained silent. They didn't have any words to say. The emperor is right. How can you ask a fish to live on land if it needs water to breathe and make chickens swim without paddle legs? Maybe she still can keep the old customs and formalities but she chooses to discard them.
"Starting today, The Lotus Palace Harem will be closed, and there will be no need for morning greetings to the High Lady anymore. We'll also stop attending the Beauty Pageant Competition which is an annual event for the royal family."
So, that is how the new Emperor ruled her kingdom. Ruling with her way and made her name as the first female Emperor in history, and also the first Emperor without concubines and consorts.