III. Enfeoffment
Princess Wuyin... Chen Mincai called out, and before he could pay his respects, Prince Yi had already plunged into her embrace, laughter bubbling forth.
Since ancient times, imperial daughters have all been conferred the title of princess, and only those sisters of the emperor who are held in high esteem can be granted the title of eldest princess, adorned in the same ceremonial attire as the princes. I never expected Liu Xiu to bestow the title of eldest princess upon the righteous king, this little girl who is merely ten years old, who astonishingly, just like her name, has become an eldest princess on par with the princes.
I smiled and patted her shoulder: "Moreover, Liang Song is the eldest son of Liang Tong, and Dou Gu is the nephew of Dou Rong. What kind of family background and status do these two possess?"
Chen Min smiled slightly and said, "What can be eaten in this season? This is a tribute from the prefectures, considered this year's early peaches, and there are only two baskets in total. His Majesty has rewarded the feudal lords and ministers, and there are no extras left at the Imperial Kitchen."
You go to the palace and inquire when His Majesty will leave court
I secretly stifled a laugh, yet I heard Zhong Li's voice softly and sweetly say: "Mother, Liang Song did not bully elder sister."
Her gaze dimmed, and those words struck me like a sharp sword piercing my chest. It occurred to me that her commanding demeanor was a perfect replica of a queen.
Like a thunderclap erupting from flat ground, the slender shoulders of the righteous king trembled slightly, and he lowered his head like an ostrich
Liu Yang turned his head and angrily scolded: "Why aren't you coming over to apologize to your mother? Just because you have become a princess, have you forgotten who gave you life? Is the title of princess really that impressive? Your mother fell into a coma for a full three days just to give birth to you..."
My heart sank as I stared blankly outside the palace. The tall towers loomed like mountains. The summer cicadas on the treetops suddenly became noisy, their sharp cries piercing my eardrums. A pang of pain shot through my heart, and I withdrew my gaze, slowly saying: "I understand"
In ancient times, feudal lords were established to serve as a barrier to protect the capital. The Zhou dynasty conferred titles to eight hundred lords, all of whom shared the same surname and contributed to the founding of the state, assisting the royal family, honoring the Son of Heaven, and enjoying a long-lasting reign, thus setting a precedent for future generations. Therefore, the poem states: "Greatly open your domain, to assist the Zhou lineage." The virtue of Emperor Gaozu shone throughout the world, and he also prioritized kinship, conferring titles upon his brothers and sons without violating the old regulations. Your Majesty's virtue spans heaven and earth, reviving the ancestral lineage, rewarding merit and achievements, fostering harmony among the nine clans, and all the meritorious officials and royal family members have been granted titles and extensive lands, some even with attached counties. Now, the royal sons, relying on heaven, are capable of donning their robes and performing their bows. Your Majesty is humble and gracious, yet has not yet deliberated, and the ministers and common people are all filled with expectations. It is advisable to take advantage of the auspicious time in midsummer to establish titles and positions, to broaden the feudal assistance, clarify kinship, honor the ancestral temple, and reinforce the state, in accordance with ancient practices and traditions, to satisfy the hearts of the people. I request that the Grand Minister of Works present the map of the territory, and the Grand Minister of Ceremonies select an auspicious day to prepare the rituals.
A harsh and intense scolding, filled with both fear and intimidation, finally frightened the righteous king into submission. She had always been one who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Although she presented herself as a proud and fearless young lady, deep down she was the most useless of individuals
The heart that had been raised suddenly relaxed slightly, and inexplicably, I felt an immense expectation for this child's abilities
I lowered my head and cast my eyes down, letting out a faint hum from my nasal cavity
In addition to the tenth prince, the three princesses also hold noble titles—Eldest daughter Liu Yi, titled Princess Wuyin; Second daughter Liu Zhongli, titled Princess Nieyang; Third daughter Liu Hongfu, titled Princess Guantao
Zhong Li cast a smiling glance at her sister: "Eldest sister actually likes Liang Song, right? Since you like him, why do you always provoke trouble? Aren't you afraid of becoming increasingly annoying?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Wang became angry and retorted: "You are so cunning! Mother, you do not know that during the Shangsi Festival, she played with Dou Gu and even helped him with the purification ritual..."
So be it, just like this...
Although I was mentally prepared, I did not expect it to happen so quickly: "Is this your father's intention?"
This way ... ... is also acceptable
I couldn't help but chuckle: "Your mother knows her own capabilities and has a sense of self-awareness. If you have any questions in the future, you may consult your second uncle."
Indeed, she is a remarkably intelligent woman! I couldn't help but praise her, pointing at that pile of bamboo slips, "Fortunately, you haven't studied much; otherwise, those with doctorates and scholars would surely feel ashamed and be at a loss for words in your presence."
"Yes." After paying his respects, Liu Yang also exited.
The conversation between the two sisters became increasingly gossipy, causing the younger sisters-in-law to giggle incessantly on the side. I had a clear understanding of the situation, so I said: "Today we are going to the temple to pay respects to our ancestors. You all must be tired, so go back and rest. Yiwang, Zhongli, Hongfu, since you have received your titles, you will inevitably have your own princesses. I do not ask for much from you, but I hope you will study diligently, understand the rules, and cause less trouble for the Emperor, so as not to bring shame to the royal family"
There is also the Crown Prince
Retreating to advance has always been a tactic commonly employed by Liu Xiu. After the princes were enfeoffed, on the surface, everything seemed to be a replica of the enfeoffment during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. However, the fundamental difference lies in the fact that the three princes enfeoffed by Emperor Wu were already adults, and thus they had to leave the capital for their respective states immediately. They could not return to the capital without a summons from the court. A prince who is not at the center of imperial power naturally poses no threat to the crown prince
The sun was truly scorching, so I turned and returned to the hall. As I left, I cast one last glance at the twin towers beyond the palace walls, and my heart was once again filled with a deep sense of melancholy
This time, the emperor's reply was concise and to the point, consisting of just one word—"Approved!"
Taking a bite of the peach flesh, being an early variety, although the texture is delicate and juicy, the taste is not very sweet, merely a faint sensation like clear water gliding over the tip of my tongue. The peach flesh, though not sweet, carries a subtle sweetness that has already seeped into my heart and mind. I happily finished off two peaches, and Chen Min handed me a damp cloth. While wiping my hands, I smiled and asked, "Let me test you, in the past, when Emperor Wu implemented the Enfeoffment Policy to divide royal power, how were his own princes enfeoffed as kings?"
Chen Min promptly supported me, and I looked at him coldly. Yi Wang appeared flustered, mumbling incoherently: "This... this..."
Seeing that she had suffered enough from her lessons, I found her crying pitifully. Just as I was about to help her up, a thought suddenly struck me, and I took the opportunity to ask: "I heard that you always like to trouble the official Liang Song?"
I remained silent; as the elder brother, Liu Yang needed an opportunity like this to establish his authority among his younger siblings
Regarding the various experiences of Empress Gao, Lü Zhi, it was only after arriving here that I truly engaged with the legendary life of Lü Zhi. After objectively putting myself in her shoes, I transitioned from an initial rejection and disdain for her to a profound admiration in the end—Liu Xuan was right, Empress Gao commanded great influence; if I could learn even a fraction of her true teachings, I would not be inferior to any court official in the Han court.
She pouted unwillingly and pushed my hand away: "Mother, you are scolding me again. I am an adult now." With her hands on her hips, she raised her chin, striking a pose of nobility. Just as I felt that her haughty demeanor looked somewhat familiar, she began to laugh triumphantly, "Mother, my rank is now much higher than yours, and my sisters cannot compare to me..."
What is the noble person so happy about?
The small body trembled slightly, and after a brief pause in her cries, her ears turned as red as if they could bleed: "I... I didn't trouble him, it was he... he bullied me..." After stammering through her words, her cries grew louder again, attempting to mask her anxiety
Chen Min was perplexed
Shame! Shame! The younger sister is not embarrassed, yet the elder sister feels so ashamed that she does not know where to place her hands and feet. She jumps up from beside my feet, saying, "How can you still call yourself a princess!"
The child understands. Liu Yang, full of vitality, had a refreshing face with bright brows and eyes, which surprisingly exuded a layer of icy coldness under the blazing sun. In the depths of his dark eyes, my bent figure was reflected, emanating a sense of resolute pressure.
"Hmph." Chen Min chuckled, "His Highness the Fourth Prince is indeed clever; he anticipated that the noble would be reluctant to eat, so he had me peel it before sending it over. Noble, please eat quickly; it is hot today, and this cannot be left out for too long. If it spoils, wouldn't that be a waste?"
Looking at her graceful and beautiful figure, I suddenly sighed: "In due time, I must surely find you a good family."
"Go ahead." I sighed deeply, "There are things above that I do not understand. If it is inconvenient to ask your father the emperor, it would be advisable to seek counsel from Marquis Gao Mi."
King Yi stood dazed in place, his face ashen. I felt a pang of compassion; although I intended to teach him a lesson, seeing him in such a pitiful state, seemingly frightened out of his wits, made me feel a sense of pity. Sighing, I was about to say a few comforting words to help him learn from this experience and not to be so arrogant in the future, when a sudden sharp shout erupted from the doorway: "Liu Yi Wang!"
The heart beats uncontrollably, and I have finally reached this point. If the distribution of fiefs among the ten princes reflects Liu Xiu's affection and regard for his children, then placing the fourth son, born of a concubine, in the same position as the legitimate eldest son, the crown prince, clearly indicates that this is no longer merely a matter of favoritism.
I feel heavy-hearted, even more so than before. Chen Min misunderstood my feelings and approached me softly, saying: "You need not worry, the two princesses are still quite young and are unlikely to act inappropriately."
This year, the peaches ripened quite early
However, my five sons, the oldest of whom is only twelve years old this year, still have eight years to go before reaching adulthood
Zhong Li was not angry; instead, in a soft voice, he said slowly and unhurriedly: "Yes, I like him. When I grow up, I will ask my father to arrange a marriage for me, and I will marry him"
Are there others besides you
Even though Chen Min is clever and intelligent, able to guess that I might be using ancient analogies to comment on the present, he still cannot articulate the reference. After pondering for a while, he cleverly responds: "The noble person has chosen the Grand Marshal; in the past, Empress Wei should also have a courtier who is not inferior to the Grand Marshal, who should present petitions and offer advice to the emperor."
Mother! Father has conferred upon me the title of Princess Chang, does this mean I have already come of age
Young man, you must take care of yourself
In recent years, when I found my days in the palace to be dull, I would go to the Cloud Terrace to browse through ancient texts. I do not know why, but immersing myself among the piles of bamboo slips naturally allowed my tense nerves to relax. Later, Liu Xiu learned of my habits and specifically arranged for the Guangde Hall at the Cloud Terrace to serve as my sleeping quarters. Occasionally, when he had free time, he would also come to the Guangde Hall to rest.
Chen Min, feeling embarrassed, turned red and dared not respond to the remark. After a while, she found a topic to divert the conversation: "Noble one, who exactly proposed the feudal system for the princes back in the day?"
The righteous king knelt at my feet, holding onto my legs and weeping loudly: "Mother, I was wrong, I will never dare again in the future..."
No
I let out a faint sigh: "It should be so, as it is meant to be."
I stand in the courtyard, gazing at the disheveled smile of the girl, and suddenly feel that this little girl before me is undergoing a transformation akin to that of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis
I stretched my body. With absolute certainty, the results will be revealed today
The Cloud Platform has four high pavilions, serving as a treasury for storing treasures and manuscripts. After Liu Xiu ascended to the throne, he relocated from Gaoyi to Luoyang, bringing with him a total of over 2,000 precious texts, all of which were meticulously stored in the Cloud Platform and the Lan Platform to the north of the Cloud Platform
I received the bamboo slips, carefully placed them into a cloth bag, tied it with a cord, and sealed it properly. Chen Min brought me some fruit, and on the lacquer tray lay two peeled peaches, about the size of a fist, glistening with honey-like juice.
I was taken aback, softly uttering an "oh" as I picked up the peach, my hands sticky with its juice. After a moment's thought, I set it down again, deciding, "I should leave it for Yang'er and the others."
Ah... I smiled faintly and uttered four words, "Glad to see it succeed"
"Indeed." My tone grew cold, and after a moment of silence with a stern face, I gathered my composure and bowed to her, saying, "Noble Lady Yin pays her respects to Her Highness, the Princess..."
Yes
Eight years is sufficient to give rise to numerous unexpected variables
Oh? Then this...
The incident of the righteous prince colliding with his mother is due to the child's lack of proper guidance. Mother, please do not be angry or upset; if there is any reprimand, the child will take it on behalf of his younger sister
"Thud!" Liu Yang knelt directly in front of me, followed closely by Liu Cang, then Liu Jing, Zhong Li, Hong Fu, and even Liu Heng, who, under the guidance of the wet nurse, all crouched down on the ground like little frogs.
"You have become a long princess," I sighed as I reached out my hand to re-braid her hair into a twist. "If you cannot change this unruly temperament, you will always remain a child."
"The Empress and the noble lady each have one portion." Chen Min pouted, a smile appearing in her eyes, "This other one is for Your Majesty; His Majesty has instructed it to be sent to the Western Palace."
Liu Yang seemed to notice that I was in a bad mood and cleverly flattered me by saying, "If the child has any uncertainties, he may also seek guidance from his mother"
"As the doctrine of propriety states, my daughter, the princess of Han, is free to choose whom she wishes to love"
Flipping through Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian," one cannot help but feel the myriad joys and sorrows of the imperial families. This monumental work, later known as the "Historical Records," is now treasured and placed within one of the high pavilions of the Nangu Palace Yuntai.
"Yang Er..." I was momentarily lost in thought. The actions and demeanor of this father and son are sometimes truly strikingly similar.
In the third month of the fifteenth year of the Jianwu era, the Grand Minister Dou Rong, the Marquis of Gushi Li Tong, the Marquis of Jiaodong Jia Fu, and the Marquis of Gaomi Deng Yu, among others, jointly submitted a petition to the emperor, requesting the division of fiefs for the imperial princes
"Mother!" The Prince of Yi exclaimed excitedly, his cheeks flushed with excitement. He held the long hem of his pure blue deep robe, and due to running too quickly, the braid tied on his head had come undone.
Duke Liu Fu of Youyi, with a fief in Zhongshan, is located 1,400 li north of Luoyang. It comprises 13 cities, with 97,412 households and a population of 658,195; Duke Liu Ying of Chu, with a fief in Chu, is located 1,220 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 8 cities, with 86,170 households and a population of 493,027; Duke Liu Yang of Donghai, with a fief in Donghai, is located 1,500 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 13 cities, with 148,784 households and a population of 706,416; Duke Liu Kang of Jinan, with a fief in Jinan, is located 1,800 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 10 cities, with 78,544 households and a population of 453,338; Duke Liu Cang of Dongping, with a fief in Dongping, is located 975 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 7 cities, with 79,012 households and a population of 448,270; Duke Liu Yan of Huaiyang, with a fief in Huaiyang, is located 700 li southeast of Luoyang. It comprises 9 cities, with 112,653 households and a population of 547,572; Duke Liu Jing of Shanyang, with a fief in Shanyang, is located 810 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 10 cities, with 109,898 households and a population of 606,091; Duke Liu Heng of Linhuai, with a fief in Linhuai, is located 1,400 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 17 cities, with 136,389 households and a population of 611,083; Duke Liu Yan of Zuoyi, with a fief in Zuofengyi, is located 688 li west of Luoyang. It comprises 13 cities, with 37,090 households and a population of 145,195; Duke Liu Jing of Langya, with a fief in the State of Langya, is located 1,500 li east of Luoyang. It comprises 13 cities, with 2,804 households and a population of 579,967
I let out a sneer, concealing the true reason for my inner turmoil: "Do not say that they are still young; even if they are, what is wrong with that?"
Noble person
The trajectory of history is strikingly similar, or perhaps both Liu Xiu and I are deliberately emulating this trajectory. In the past, Huo Qubing first submitted a memorial requesting the enfeoffment of the imperial princes, followed by the Chancellor leading the officials in several petitions, ultimately resulting in Emperor Wu of Han breaking the precedent under a posture of being "pressured" by the court officials. Now, history seems to be repeating itself once again, with Wu Han's petitions being rejected, then resubmitted, and rejected again, dragging on a tug-of-war for two years, with the final outcome to be determined today.
Chen Min was momentarily taken aback, staring at me in astonishment.
Chen Min smiled gently and said, "Your Excellency, you flatter me; I am deeply grateful." As she spoke, she indeed performed a bow to me.
On the second day of the fourth month, a grand offering was made at the ancestral temple.
"Esteemed person, this is..."
According to the Han system, princesses are granted the title of county princess, with ceremonial attire equivalent to that of marquises. The daughters of various kings are titled as township princesses or pavilion princesses, with differing ranks, and their ceremonial attire corresponds to that of township lords or pavilion lords
On April 11, the Grand Minister Dou Rong was instructed to announce at the temple that all eleven sons of Emperor Jianwu, excluding the Crown Prince Liu Qiang, were to be granted the title of Duke, including the youngest prince Liu Jing who was still in swaddling clothes. However, despite being granted the same title, the fiefs awarded to the princes varied greatly in value, with some being significantly more substantial than others
Yes
There, Liu Yang, accompanied by a group of younger siblings, stormed into the courtyard in a fit of anger
"Did you not guess it all correctly?" I said with a calm smile, enunciating each word clearly, "Generalissimo - Huo Qubing!"
A large group of people suddenly left, and only Liu Yang remained motionless, still kneeling on the ground. I found it strange and was about to ask him what was the matter when he suddenly straightened up and said, "My son, the title and fief have been decided, and tomorrow I will accompany His Majesty to the Quefei Hall to attend the court."
Mother
"Mother," Liu Yang said hesitantly, "the Marquis of Gaomi stated that he has done all he can and will no longer interfere in matters of state from now on"