With Jiang Yi's support, Xu Jiujiu boldly began the ritual of declining the throne three times and yielding it three times.
The ministers, imperial clansmen, princes... of them all, the imperial clansmen opposed her most loudly, while the princes' reactions were rather muted.
Having their own aunt ascend the throne was better than having someone from a collateral branch take it. Eventually, she would have to return it anyway. As for the court ministers, there was even less to say-they only cared who would give them more upon taking power.
The old codgers of the imperial clan clung to ancestral law and vehemently objected, but after Jiang Yi invited them up into the sky for a little fresh air, they agreed.
A few days later, to reassure the people, Xu Jiujiu made only cursory preparations before ascending the throne as empress at the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Star Luo City.
Above the altar, incense smoke curled upward.
Xu Jiujiu led the assembled ministers in paying homage to the Xu Family's ancestors at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
"Alas! August Heaven bestowed its favor upon our Star Luo Empire. The ancestors of our Star Crown Sect rose in a time of peril, gathered the power of starlight, and drove out the armies of the Sun Moon Empire. From that day forth, the Star Crown Xu Family received Heaven's mandate and became the rulers of the Star Luo Empire."
"I, Jiujiu, of the Star Crown Main Line, hereby succeed to the throne! Though I am a woman, how could I dare not remain vigilant day and night, striving tirelessly to govern well?"
"Above, I shall not betray the weighty trust of the Star Crown Ancestors; below, I shall not betray the fervent hopes of the Star Luo Empire's myriad people! Heaven above and