Chapter 3

He took a breath and said, "The matter of the Zen position is not trivial; this is the first time I have heard the lord mention it, and I hope it will be the last time as well"

She summoned the Grand Tutor Zhang Zhongqing and the Minister of Rites Ding Baiyao to the Lecheng Hall for an audience. These two had watched her grow up. In the court, there were those who yielded to the treacherous minister, as well as those who were wholeheartedly devoted to defending the imperial authority. The old ministers were comparatively more loyal, having served through three reigns, and their gratitude for the favor they received was boundless.

The temperament of the Young Emperor has always been moderate and humble, yet now he surprisingly has the courage to confront the Chancellor, which greatly astonishes the Grand Tutor

In the court, every detail is scrutinized with utmost precision, yet in other matters, there is such a lackadaisical attitude. Even the affairs of marrying and having children can be internally managed within the Prime Minister's residence. I truly do not understand what motivates him to be so eager to seize power

This art of strategy was learned from the Chancellor, and now it can be considered as having been put to practical use. The Young Emperor said: "The Chancellor can recommend the daughters of nobles, so why can't the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Ceremonies? At this juncture, it is difficult to distinguish between the two, and in the end, I must still listen to my own opinion. I still remember last year when A Ge reviewed the troops; I had differing views from the Chancellor, and that old fox Huang Yue was evasive, making it very difficult for me to save face. Now, I will not hold past grievances against him and will establish his daughter as Empress, so that the court officials can see that I am an emperor who is magnanimous. I still remember last year when A Ge reviewed the troops; I had differing views from the Chancellor, and that old fox Huang Yue was evasive, making it very difficult for me to save face. Now, I will not hold past grievances against him and will establish his daughter as Empress, so that the court officials can see that I am an emperor who is magnanimous. In the future, if the Chancellor falls from power, as long as they bow their heads, there will be a place for them here.

"Last night, did the Prime Minister enter the palace? Did the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites know anything about it?" As the Emperor, she smiled with great restraint, also wanting to know his whereabouts, and whether there were others secretly paying attention besides herself

Thus, the saying "the disciple starves the master" is not without reason. The Chancellor fell silent for a moment, but then responded readily, "Naturally, everything should prioritize the greater good. I wonder if the Lord has a suitable candidate in mind? Among the daughters of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, which one does the Lord favor? I shall act as a matchmaker and bring her into the Changqiu Palace for the Lord."

The young Emperor, still not fully understanding life, is thinking of acting as a matchmaker for others. However, today she seems quite different from usual. The Prime Minister, responding vaguely, stands up and bows deeply to her, saying, "My matters are of little importance; the state should be prioritized. The establishment of the Changqiu Palace will be handled by me, so please rest assured, Your Majesty. It is late; please take care of yourself." After taking a few steps, he turns back to glance at her, adding, "On such a hot day, wearing too many layers may lead to a rash."

He raised his eyes and finally took a good look at her. Under the light, the young emperor was dressed in a traditional outfit, with his hair tied up. Even when not in the court, his attire still reflected a masculine style. In terms of her features, she was not particularly striking in her childhood; he had once wondered why, despite her parents not being unattractive, her eyes and nose appeared so indistinct. However, as the years passed, her ordinary features had been stretched out, revealing a unique beauty. It was not the usual grace and charm of a young girl, but rather an imperial aura that overshadowed her makeup, subtly exuding a sense of coldness. It was only then that he realized the child he had raised was gradually becoming uncontrollable; she wished to establish herself in the world.

The court is a place of unpredictable winds and clouds, where even the smallest matters can become widely known. The Grand Tutor clasped his hands and said, "I have already heard about it. May I ask if the Prime Minister was summoned by the Lord? According to the prohibitions, once the green lock gate is closed, unless it is an urgent military matter, court officials are not allowed to enter the palace. If the Prime Minister arrives uninvited, Your Majesty may certainly question him for his offense, and then dismiss Liu Shou, the Grand Master of the Household, as a warning to others"

The Young Emperor chuckled lightly and said in a slow voice, "I have heard that the Governor of Jingzhou, Huang Yue, has a daughter who is the same age as I am..."

This is astonishingly good news, even more exhilarating than a heavenly omen. Marriage equates to assuming power, and it seems that the days of the Chancellor's exuberance are coming to an end. The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites are overjoyed, bowing deeply to the Young Emperor, saying, "We congratulate Your Majesty. Your Majesty has truly grown into adulthood; may the late Emperor in heaven be comforted by this!"

At this moment, he did not resemble an emperor at all, but rather appeared as a young scholar seeking guidance under his tutelage. The Prime Minister's gaze was as calm as water, lacking any discernible flavor, "Please, Your Excellency, offer your guidance"

It was surprisingly smooth; Fu Wei was still contemplating how to deal with his upcoming difficulties when unexpectedly, he readily agreed.

Could it be a deception? It is easy to go too far and become untrustworthy. He should understand the situation that regents face once the emperor takes power, right? Even if he still retains the authority to reject counsel and criticism, as she gradually promotes Genji and sidelines him, his limited power to reject will no longer have any effect on her

The Grand Tutor, upon hearing this, suddenly realized, "My lord, this strategy is indeed brilliant. To match strength with strength is called righteousness, while to strike unexpectedly is called cunning. Jingzhou is adjacent to the capital, and moving south can support the king, while advancing west can directly seize Liangzhou. Huang Yue is a person of indecision; if he were to form alliances through marriage, he would naturally feel grateful to my lord for not holding past grievances against him, and would certainly look to my lord for guidance."

The young face of the Young Emperor displayed an ambiguous expression, "There is no rush in selecting a candidate; we need to deliberate further. As long as my father knows my intentions, I have nothing to fear." She paused and gently blinked, "Father, I have a question for you."

During the reign of the Great Yin, the emperor attended court every five days. As an emperor who did not personally govern, he primarily focused on reading. Occasionally, he would go to the Mingguang Hall to listen to reports and petitions. The important state affairs had already been intercepted by the Prime Minister, and what reached him were merely updates on the surplus grain in the granaries and which scholars had been promoted in the Taixue.

The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites exchanged glances and then looked towards the Young Emperor. The emperor, adorned with a crown of purple gold, tilted his head slightly, with the red silk tassels hanging down, illuminating his cheeks to a white as pure as spring snow. Suddenly turning his head, he appeared somewhat embarrassed and said, "I remember that during the lecture last month, the Grand Tutor mentioned the matter of establishing the Longqiu Palace. At that time, although I was inclined, I hesitated due to the Chancellor and did not dare to agree lightly. I know that many ministers in the court share this thought, yet no one has the courage to propose it in the hall. Therefore, after careful consideration, I personally spoke with the Chancellor last night."

If one were to truly seek accountability, would that not also implicate oneself? The Young Emperor shook his head, "The Chancellor has grown up in the palace since childhood; even if he entered the palace recklessly last night, I cannot be too harsh in my criticism. To be honest with both of you, there is a matter I have been contemplating for some time, which has been somewhat difficult to broach. Since the Chancellor had an audience with me last night, I brought it up with him. Today, I have summoned both of you to seek your opinions on the matter."

Fu Wei was rendered speechless by his words, stammering as she stood up and said, "I will escort you, my father."

Indeed, it is the case that the emperors of the Great Yin were enshrined in the central palace at the age of sixteen. Once they married, it signified their coming of age, and the regents were required to return governance to the emperor. From that point onward, the distinction between ruler and minister became as insurmountable as a chasm, never to be crossed again

The Prime Minister is not a dull person; when she casually asked him if he remembered her age, he anticipated that she had this intention. It was also his own oversight, having grown accustomed to her silence and forbearance, that he nearly forgot her existence. Now, she is taking a step back to advance, using the matter of the Zen position to compel him to express his stance, which shows that she had long been prepared for this.

The young emperor paced around the room, remaining silent for a long time

Fu Wei was meticulous in his calculations, and both the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites were greatly encouraged by the enlightenment of the young emperor, leading to a lively and pleasant conversation among the three, filled with laughter. However, the discomfort in his body was indeed quite vexing. Fu Wei felt a dull pain in his abdomen again, a pain that was difficult to articulate, and he could only make a strenuous effort to conceal it. He hastily gave a few instructions and sent the two ministers away.

The young emperor lowered his eyes and said, "If it were not for being left with no other choice, I would not dare to rashly discuss this with you, my esteemed father. In the past, the late emperor entrusted me to you, and with the various lords of the Genji clan eyeing us covetously, the court has been able to maintain itself until today, all thanks to your hard work and contributions. Although I do not speak of it, I am well aware in my heart. You have remained single even as you approach your thirties for the sake of the great Yin, while I, at such a young age, am eager to marry, which is indeed somewhat inappropriate. However, matters of the emperor are related to the state, and you understand this better than I do. I am truly in a difficult position now, remaining indifferent for fear of criticism from the court officials. If I were to truly establish a consort, how could I face her with my current state? You are my mentor, teaching me the principles of governance and the ways of the world. If you were in my position today, what would you do?"

The Chancellor clearly appeared to be dismissive, stating, "I am not skilled in management, nor do I have the leisure to ponder over others, thus for me, having no family burdens is the best."

Did the Prime Minister never consider having an heir? By marrying a lady, it would be better in the future to have someone to inherit the Prime Minister's legacy

How does the Prime Minister say? I suspect he will surely have many excuses

Perhaps this approach is somewhat cruel, as the girl chosen to be the empress will have to live as a widow for the rest of her life. However, in politics, there is no room for the compassion of women. If we are to discuss it, Huang Yue has repeatedly been at odds with her, and the Huang family has suffered enough to warrant extermination. Now, by sacrificing one daughter, she grants them wealth and honor, which can be considered a fair exchange.

She smiled shyly and said, "I often wonder why the Prime Minister has not married to this day. Has he been hurt in love? Or does he have someone in his heart, suffering from the inability to speak?" This was her first time discussing such intimate matters with him, and in her view, the feelings of this powerful minister were worth exploring. In the past, she had been too timid to ask, but now she felt she had grown up and should have the right to talk about such things.

However, the young emperor still showed no signs of joy. "The Chancellor has held absolute power for many years; how could he easily grant me my wishes? I suspect he will certainly manipulate the selection of the empress. With so many guests at the Chancellor's residence, if he chooses a trusted confidant to send his daughter into the palace, it would spell disaster. Therefore, I must entrust this matter to both of you and ask you to find a suitable candidate for me. The internal affairs of the empress involve five crucial matters that pertain to the fate of the nation and cannot be neglected. It is essential to have someone with a solid background to ensure a safe and reliable selection." Thus, I must entrust this matter to both of you and ask you to find a suitable candidate for me. The internal affairs of the empress involve five crucial matters that pertain to the fate of the nation and cannot be neglected. It is essential to have someone with a solid background to ensure a safe and reliable selection.

She stood by the window watching him walk out of the palace gate, where the gatekeeper had lit a torch and approached. The number of people was even greater than during her night stroll. She gently tugged at the corner of her mouth, turned around, picked up the scroll from the desk, and tossed it into the painting tube

The Prime Minister said it was unnecessary, and without waiting for her to offer her respects, he rolled up his wide sleeves and left with a flourish

Fu smiled and said, "That being said, my father does not have a favored young lady in his heart. My father toils daily for the affairs of the state; how can he return home to find even one person who understands his feelings? It is utterly impossible for me to not worry about my father, having been raised under his guidance. If it were not for the heavy responsibilities on my shoulders, I would wish to personally serve my father... Let us wait a little longer; once I have completed my tasks, I will certainly find a virtuous and gentle young lady for my father, how does that sound?"

The Young Emperor shook his head, "What is strange is that he actually agreed."

In the past, due to a lack of hope, everything seemed lengthy and tedious. Now, at least there is something to strive for, and with great ambitions in mind, it is essential to find trustworthy individuals for discussions

The chancellor's response was succinct, "Your Majesty need not worry about me. It is not difficult to have a son. When I feel the time is right, I will simply find a woman in the household."

The two ministers, upon deliberation, suddenly felt the weight of their responsibilities. With one hand on their chest and the other pointing to the heavens, they swore an oath, saying, "We, the ministers, are favored by the grace of the late Emperor, and our loyalty to the sovereign is as evident as the heavens and the earth. Your Majesty can rest assured; we will immediately make preparations, and once the roster is ready, we shall present it for Your Majesty's review."

Not even a connection to the family is desired, truly a cold-hearted person!

When the emperor issues a command, how can one not comply? The two ministers immediately rose and said, "We shall heed the lord's instructions"