Chapter 1
My lord ... ..." The little yellow gatekeeper's voice trembled, not daring to speak recklessly, only anxiously searching, "My lord ... ... My lord ... ..."
The young face of the Young Emperor finally broke into a smile, no longer offering advice, as he turned his gaze towards the solemn ministers standing before him, gesturing for them to take their seats. There was no need for further words; the court discussions naturally commenced.
Not all issues in the court are difficult frontier problems; there are many state affairs that the young emperor can manage. Unfortunately, the chronic ailments of many years cannot be cured overnight, so the young emperor still slightly turned to the side and said, "Please, Minister, make the decision."
The Young Emperor and the Chancellor seem to be like uncle and nephew, yet upon closer examination, they cannot truly be classified as such. When the Chancellor's mother, Lady Ru, entered the palace, she was already carrying a child out of wedlock. The Chancellor's surname is Yan, while the Emperor's surname is Yuan. However, Emperor Wen, the founder of the dynasty, held the Chancellor in high regard, and when the princes were granted titles, the Chancellor was also made a marquis. Later, after the death of Emperor Wen, the former emperor ascended the throne, and amidst the fraternal strife, there was not a single trustworthy person. The former emperor's reign was extremely brief, lasting only a mere four years. In his final moments, he hastily entrusted the regency to General Li Ji, Chancellor Cao Xuan, and Marquis Yan Xiangru to assist the young sovereign. However, over the course of ten years, Li Ji and Cao Xuan either died in battle or were convicted of crimes, leaving only the Marquis among the three, naturally placing him above all others.
The eunuch held his breath as he entered, for the young emperor was lightly sleeping and could easily be awakened, so he had to tread lightly. As he stepped forward, a casual glance revealed the bed to be empty, which immediately startled him into a cold sweat
The gilded chair beside the imperial throne in the Central Yellow Gate slightly pursed its lips and quietly suggested, "My lord, shall we remove the seat of the prince today?"
The officials responsible for the palace's security had all taken their positions. Qin Song exited the palace and reported back to the Chamberlain. The sound of horns on the Heavenly Street rippled like undulating waves, one after another spreading out into the distance. Soon, the Zhanghua Gate swung open, and the sky gradually brightened. In the morning light, civil and military officials approached slowly from both sides of the path, heralding yet another magnificent day.
The ceremony concluded, and the ministers returned to their positions. The young emperor then spoke: "It truly pains me to see my esteemed father resign from his seat; it would be better for him to return to his position."
In the grand hall, the sound of crickets can be heard, singing in varying lengths amidst the flickering lights. The young emperor, feeling lonely, can only keep some insects to liven up the summer nights, seeking companionship. A young attendant enters with beeswax, his shoes making no sound as they tread on the tiled floor. The bronze tree lamp outside the curtain has already been replenished with wax, and next is the inner chamber. The drapery sways, and on the other end of the gauze, the dragon bed exists in a state of ambiguity, not clearly visible.
The Grand Chancellor rises to report: "It has been ten years since the late Emperor passed away, and this year we are to conduct the sacrificial rites. Last year, during the ancestral temple sacrifices, the Empress Dowager ordered an expansion of fifty percent. It is unclear whether the sacrificial rites will follow the old system or be conducted according to last year's regulations. I hope Your Majesty will provide clear instructions."
Every time there are fluctuations in the court, the previous matters are often trivial, and only in the end do we see the great waves. Indeed, Situ stood up and said, "The case of the rebellion in Wuling County has now resulted in the detention of the Left General Yan Guang, Prince Zhao Yuanhang, Princess Guangyi, and the Duke's son-in-law, the official Shangguan Mingyue, all of whom are being escorted to the imperial city..."
It is both a good birth and indeed serious, which indicates that the situation for Shangguan Zhao is not looking good. The Prime Minister pretended to leave the emperor's presence, while the central palace attendants shrugged and stuck out their tongues, yet they did not dare to discuss it. Who can clearly articulate the family matters of the imperial family
Thus, the person is still detained and must undergo review. Even if the Young Emperor intends to show favoritism, no one can afford to lose face in this matter. In the court of the Great Yin, the emperor's words may be disregarded, which has become a common occurrence over the past decade; one simply gets used to it. The Young Emperor nodded slowly and said, "What the Chancellor says is reasonable. I shall await the Chancellor's news, and I hope the Chancellor will uphold justice, neither wronging nor favoring anyone."
In fact, the nobles and ministers had long been accustomed to it; while they verbally addressed His Majesty, their gazes were directed towards the Chancellor. The young emperor, observing this, slowly clenched his fists.
The little yellow gatekeeper listened carefully and, with a thud, knelt down, "My lord, what on earth is the matter? My heart is about to shatter from fear."
Your Majesty, I do not know whether the Young Emperor is willing to be called so. The Young Emperor is a reserved person, his emotions do not show on his face, and he is not close to anyone. In his youth, he was a small figure sitting on the grand dragon throne, thin and lonely. Now he has grown taller and has a striking appearance. However, he is somewhat frail; with proper care, he will surely become a dignified and great man like the late Emperor in the future
Qin Song is the Huangmen Ling who manages the emperor's affairs of state, and he is well acquainted with this aroma. The lord loves fragrant items; he does not attend court without the scent of green cassia. After years of being permeated by this fragrance, every table and chair in this grand hall has absorbed its essence. Unlike the solemnity of the Western Palace, the extravagance of the Northern Palace, the Southern Palace is, in fact, the most pleasant place in the entire imperial city, at least before the court officials enter in droves.
The young emperor sighed and turned to ask the chancellor, "What is your opinion, my lord?"
Among these individuals, there was one who stood at the foot of the steps, separate from the others. The morning light illuminated his face, and the golden and silver threads of his collar accentuated his striking appearance, with a fiery brilliance between his brows. "To see the sovereign without kneeling, to serve as a subject without being named, to ascend the court in sword and boots"—this was the privilege bestowed upon him by the late emperor. Not to mention bowing in reverence, even the young emperor, upon meeting him, had to respectfully address him as 'Father of the Prime Minister'.
The doors of the Zhangde Hall are half-closed, yet the windows are open, allowing a gentle breeze to flow through, causing the curtains to sway lightly, adding a touch of enchanting color.
The Young Emperor seemed not to have heard his words, as he lowered his head and muttered to himself: "Guanzhi is quite intelligent, passing the throne to him seems very appropriate. And then there is the son of the King of Wei; I have always felt that the Crown Prince of Wei is smarter than I am, more suitable to be emperor..."
Perhaps it is due to the increasing age of the lord that the chancellor wishes to return to governance, thus he no longer ascends the throne, but instead takes a seat at the head of the ministers. Two yellow-clad attendants moved the heavy chair down, and upon looking again, the grand hall appeared bright and spacious. Each returned to their respective places, and this was indeed the best arrangement
The Chancellor sat upright and spoke with authority: "Whether the father and son are guilty of the same crime still requires thorough investigation. Not participating does not necessarily mean being unaware. Such a heinous crime, knowing yet failing to report, is tantamount to conspiracy against the state. Your Majesty is merciful, and we all understand that, but if this case is mishandled, it could undermine the very foundation of the state. I implore Your Majesty to remain calm and patient; after the hearing, everything will naturally become clear."
The young emperor remained silent for a while, then let out a deep sigh: "You may go, unless there is an urgent matter, you are not permitted to enter."
It is well known that the young Emperor Shao had a close relationship with the fourth son of the Duke, Shangguan Zhao. The Minister of Works glanced at the Chancellor and then clasped his hands towards him, saying: "The case of conspiracy is of great importance; detaining all four members of his family is also for the sake of facilitating the investigation"
The Young Emperor pondered for a moment, "This proposal is excellent..." However, he reiterated, "Please let my father make the final decision"
The young eunuch hesitated and finally responded with a "Yes," but then stepped back out of the inner chamber. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss, so he quickly moved aside to spy. He saw the young emperor slumped down, his hand relaxing, causing the brocade blanket to fall to the floor, revealing a stark bloodstain in the center of the white fabric. The young emperor looked down again, and in fear, closed his eyes.
The Prime Minister's political views align with those of the Emperor, "Throughout history, sacrifices have always adhered to rituals and laws, naturally following the old system. The Spring and Autumn sacrifices differ from the Great Sacrifice; the Empress Dowager is sincere towards Heaven and Earth, and the increase in miscellaneous expenses is not without justification."
In the palace, the people have always referred to the regent ministers as "Junhou". In fact, the title of "Changcehou" was merely a noble title conferred upon him during the reign of Emperor Wen in the early years of the Huangjian era. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Personnel and held the position of Grand Commander of the Capital. As the late emperor entrusted the care of the young Emperor Yuanyou to him, he was honored with the titles of Grand Preceptor and Chancellor, and he took on the responsibilities of regent and supervising the state.
The Chancellor bowed deeply and said: "The sovereign and his ministers do not sit together. Your Majesty's profound favor is acknowledged by this humble servant. In previous years, due to Your Majesty's youth, I was apprehensively entrusted with the duty of assistance, and not a single day passed without trepidation. Now that Your Majesty has grown older, from this day forth, I shall be below, and you shall be above; the rites must not be neglected"
The Grand Minister of Ceremonies presented a memorial: "Your Majesty's authority extends across the seas, and your virtue spreads in all directions. The vassal states beyond the borders seek Your Majesty's gracious favor, hoping that you will dispatch envoys to promote the culture of the Central Plains and jointly cultivate a lasting friendship for ten thousand years"
He lowered his eyelids and stepped forward, placing his hands on his waist and raising his arms to assist the Young Emperor. The Young Emperor wore the Heavenly Crown and a scarlet gauze robe, descending from the carriage with composure. Upon ascending the throne, he immediately heard the Chief Attendant's sharp command of "Kneel!" The crowd of officials, like they had all suddenly lost their legs, instantly shrank down by half; then came another command of "Bow!" and the officials prostrated themselves on the ground, burying their faces in the dust.
The heavy palace doors had been closed all night, and when they opened the next day, the lingering scent of osmanthus still filled the air
A sudden thunderclap echoed, and the young attendant, clutching his sleeves, hurriedly ran out of the Zhangde Hall, immediately calling for someone: "Quick, quick, hurry back to report to the lord..." He leaned in to whisper, his voice lowered to an almost inaudible level, making it impossible to discern the content of his words
The little yellow gatekeeper swallowed hard and asked, "My lord, what is the matter?" While speaking, he looked around anxiously, "... Did you have a nightmare?"
When the young emperor spoke these words, there was no sign of anger on his face, yet his demeanor did not match his heart, which is a common ailment among young emperors and regents. After the court session, the young emperor left with his hands behind his back, and the chancellor paid him no mind. As he stepped out, the sunlight was dazzling; he raised his hand to shield his eyes, and the shadow of his fingers fell across his face. In that shadow, he blinked and instructed the chief of justice in a soft voice: "The lord has decreed, neither unjust nor lenient. That Shangguan Zhao, ensure he is thoroughly investigated for me."
Once again, a gust of wind howled, causing the oil lamp to flicker and sputter. The dust curtain hanging from the bedpost swayed, lifting the light satin, revealing the young emperor standing at the corner of the bed, clutching a brocade quilt, his face expressionless, with his temples dampened by sweat
Turning around to survey the surroundings, everything is in order, just waiting for the appointed time to welcome the ministers into court
The long winds sweep across the land, a single roar echoing for thousands of miles, and the early summer season remains unabated. However, it is much better at night; if the day is like a fierce general ready for battle, the night is akin to a maiden singing softly in her boudoir
Qin Song returned to the hall to welcome the young emperor in his palanquin. The emperor's palanquin was covered with a swallow's wings, obscuring the ruler's face; only a thin jaw and a tightly pursed embroidered mouth were visible
The Young Emperor finally raised his head and said, "At that time, the Grand Marshal reported to me that in the case of the Wuling Commandery, only the father and son, Shangguan Mingyue and Shangguan Jun, were involved. How did it become four people this time when they were escorted to the capital?"
The Zhangde Hall is the front hall of the Eastern Palace, and as the residence of the Son of Heaven, it is built with extraordinary grandeur. Upon first entering this place, one may experience a palpable fear of the vastness and height, fearing that some unseen corner may harbor ghosts or strange beasts, ready to launch a sudden attack when one is unprepared, taking one's life. When the young emperor first entered the Zhangde Hall, he could not sleep well throughout the night. A five-year-old child, in a common household, would still be lying in his mother's arms, yet the young emperor had to sleep alone. There was not a single person close by, not one. He ordered the palace maids to light several more lamps, and gradually he adapted, and ten years passed.
He has been in charge of the Nanguo for many years, from Emperor Wen to Emperor Shao, from the Huangjian era to the Yuanyou era. He is always well-versed in the preparations before the audience. Standing by the corridor, he assigns tasks with mere gestures, without a hint of noise. The attendants below, all nimble and quick, arrange the mats and set up the lamps without needing his instructions. He ascends the steps, directly to the throne of Emperor Shao, which he must personally arrange. He fluffs the cushion a bit, removes the copper wedges from the corners of the foot mat—recently, the sovereign has been growing rapidly, and the dragon's feet can now firmly rest down, so there is no need for support.
The Grand Minister of War hurriedly stepped forward to respond: "Your Majesty, before I transfer the case to the Court of Judicial Review for examination, it is indeed as such."