Chapter 5

The heir? The father has forgotten that I am in a difficult situation... two women... how can I bear an heir? Am I to adopt one instead?

Fu Wei lowered his head and kicked a stone by the roadside. Qin Song watched from the side and softly said: "Is Your Excellency going to Yong'an Palace?"

The Chancellor nodded, "Moreover, the heir to the throne is a matter of great importance; only by having a prince early can the great dynasty of Yin ensure its lasting stability"

He bowed deeply and said, "It is my duty to share the burdens on your behalf, Your Majesty, so please rest assured."

Fu Wei felt a myriad of conflicting emotions within her. Observing the situation, it was evident that the Prime Minister was determined to proceed. This was often the case between the ruler and his ministers; both parties were fully aware of the underlying truths, yet they had to maintain a facade of righteousness, creating an awkward atmosphere akin to a mutual performance. If she were to categorically refuse, it was likely that this plan would ultimately come to nothing. ... If she agreed, the relationship would shift from uncle and nephew to father-in-law and son-in-law ... . ... The thought alone sent shivers down her spine. If she were to categorically refuse, it was likely that this plan would ultimately come to nothing. ... If she agreed, the relationship would shift from uncle and nephew to father-in-law and son-in-law ... . ... The thought alone sent shivers down her spine.

He led her into the room, where she walked around with her arms crossed, observing the intricately carved beams and painted rafters. Sunlight streamed through the hollow patterns, revealing that the Prime Minister was a man who greatly enjoyed the pleasures of life

She squinted her eyes, slowly feeling a strange sensation creeping up her spine. The person in the painting was very beautiful, with a delicate profile and hair as dark as clouds. But why was she wearing a cap of nobility instead of a hibiscus crown?

So is this to be a polite refusal? The young emperor is quite thoughtful; he was well-prepared, but he did not expect that those above would give no ground whatsoever

From the threshold of the street-facing door to the main hall of the residence, there is quite a distance. At a glance, there is not a single guard in the courtyard; only a person in a long robe stands under the eaves with their sleeves tucked in. The long wind lifts the ribbons on both sides of the hairpin, fluttering lightly as if they are about to fly up into the sky

She clasped her jade belt around her waist and looked around, "Why is the residence of the Prime Minister so desolate? Is it that the guards are insufficient? I will issue an order to have the Chief of the Guards dispatch a group to assist in guarding the Prime Minister's residence, is that acceptable?"

The Prime Minister offered a hand gesture and returned a bow, saying nothing at all

The carriage ascended the main road, experiencing a slight bump along the way. The Prime Minister's residence was built in the most prosperous area of the eastern city, and one could say that its scale of construction was indeed somewhat presumptuous. After Fu Wei disembarked, she paused at the steps to examine the entrance, which had undergone several renovations and now bore a resemblance to the Chengfu Hall of the Western Palace. However, these were ultimately trivial matters, and she chose not to dwell on them. She lifted the hem of her robe and ascended the steps, expecting to find three thousand attendants waiting for her in the courtyard, but to her surprise, there were none.

The Chancellor pressed his lips together in silence, his lowered eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. After a long while, he sighed: "In the sixty years since the establishment of the Great Yin Dynasty, every emperor has sought to pacify the world through iron and blood, yet Your Majesty is the only one of true virtue. You cannot bear to harm others, but do you still remember yourself? The fate of the state rests upon Your Majesty's shoulders. If even a hint of Your Majesty's background were to be revealed, would the various lords remain as compliant as they are now? The Empress is the person closest to Your Majesty; ignorance of her heart is akin to wielding a sharp blade that could take Your Majesty's life at any moment. Does Your Majesty truly believe it is necessary to take such a risk? For the sake of a stable world, what is one mere person worth? I have taught Your Majesty that those who achieve great things must know what to pursue and what to forgo. Please weigh the importance of each matter carefully, Your Majesty."

She immediately appeared very familiar, raising her hands from a distance, "Ah, my esteemed father knew I was coming and has gone to the trouble of welcoming me."

Now that it is established, how can one compare the descendants of功臣 with those of the fallen? Fu Wei had long anticipated that matters would not be so easily resolved; he merely intended to create a foster daughter, which would catch her off guard. Huang Yue's daughter, even if conferred the title of Changqiu Palace, would not feel the slightest guilt. However, the girl mentioned by the Prime Minister is different; if her origins are indeed true, how could she bear to send her into the fire pit? With her entire family perished, leaving only her, to then deprive her of a lifetime of happiness would be nothing short of brazenly bullying a lonely girl.

This is quite troublesome. She does not shy away from saying, "The other day, I mentioned the matter of the appointment to my father. I have secretly thought about it myself. With my... half-broken body, if I were to truly marry a good girl, it would ruin her life. If my father were to recommend a descendant of a treacherous minister, I would feel more at ease. But now, hearing all this, it is not the case at all. What should I do? I have thought it over and over, and I fear I will have to disappoint my father's good intentions. I know my father is also thinking of me, afraid that if I appoint someone of unknown background, it will lead to trouble in the future. If my father were to recommend a descendant of a treacherous minister, I would feel more at ease. But now, hearing all this, it is not the case at all. What should I do? I have thought it over and over, and I fear I will have to disappoint my father's good intentions. I know my father is also thinking of me, afraid that if I appoint someone of unknown background, it will lead to trouble in the future. However, since the girl is someone my father has nurtured, his feelings for her must be very deep. I truly cannot bear to let her down, and I hope my father can understand my heart and not blame me.

The Chancellor lowered his head to look at her, "I received news that the Lord is coming, so I have sent everyone away to prevent Your Majesty from mistakenly thinking that my faction is numerous, which could create further discord between the ruler and his subjects"

What kind of three-headed, six-armed yaksha can marry a woman and still have children? It certainly deserves a closer look

The young emperor wore a blank expression, likely startled by the chancellor's remarks.

Fu Wei was left speechless by his words, thinking to herself why he had to be so direct; she would understand a more tactful approach. She had practically come to him inviting ridicule, but for the sake of uncovering the truth, it was worth enduring the humiliation.

The chancellor's gaze speaks volumes; who would marry their own daughter to a false man, unless they were mad? He said: "I have no family, nor any intimate confidante, as Your Majesty is well aware. Since I have no family or dependents, how could I possibly have such a grown daughter?"

The Prime Minister observed her with a cold gaze; her awkwardness was not to be scrutinized too deeply, as it could be attributed to the shyness of a young girl. He clasped his hands together and said, "My lord, may I have the honor of meeting my adopted daughter?"

"Jianye!" She turned around and called to the Huangmen Ling who was serving nearby, "Quietly prepare the carriage for me, I am going to visit the Prime Minister's residence."

Fu Wei can be considered someone who has experienced the storms of life, yet even so, he remains astonished and speechless

Among the twenty-eight meritorious officials, I have never heard of such a dismal fate after their demise. If what the Prime Minister says is true, she truly wishes to meet that adopted daughter.

The Young Emperor said no more, rising to leave the palace. On the way back, he did not take a carriage, instead strolling through the corridor, pondering as he walked, realizing that he would need to think things over again. Originally, establishing a successor was a good thing, but that Minister of State's meddling turned a good situation into a disappointing trap. Was Yan Xiangru's entire life merely to make her suffer? Genji had not wronged him; he was unable to let go of his desire for power, so why not become the emperor himself? Was Yan Xiangru's entire life merely to make her suffer? Genji had not wronged him; he was unable to let go of his desire for power, so why not become the emperor himself

"Establishing a successor is no trivial matter; it is necessary to report back to the Yong'an Palace for the Empress Dowager's decision." She glanced at the Prime Minister, "Father Prime Minister, is your precious daughter currently in the residence? Why have I never seen her before?"

The Prime Minister's lips curled slightly, "Your Majesty, state affairs are demanding, and you seldom visit my residence. Where would there be an opportunity to see her? Moreover, young ladies of the inner chambers lead secluded lives, and she is still quite young. I fear that she might inadvertently offend Your Majesty, thus I have never allowed her to meet esteemed guests"

If he is still willing to deal with her in the court, then beneath the court, the chancellor's attitude is akin to those great literary figures whose words are worth their weight in gold. Even if you are the emperor, visiting him feels like a humble request for a calligraphy or painting. Fu Wei has had the most dealings with him throughout her life and generally understands his temperament; when he is cold, you must be warm, otherwise, you might not even be able to continue the conversation.

The young emperor on the throne awaited his response, yet he seemed to relish this moment of her anxiety, taking his time before slowly speaking: "The daughter I mentioned is not my biological child, but my adopted daughter. When I served as the Grand Commander of the Capital, I had a highly trusted deputy general. This general died in the line of duty during the great battle at Shuo Fang, and with both his parents and wife deceased, he left behind only a young girl with no one to care for her. Seeing the child in such a pitiable state, I took her into the Prime Minister's residence to raise her. For the past ten years, I have nurtured her with great care, treating her as my own. Previously, in the court, several officials were concerned for Your Majesty, and I did not intend to mention her. However, since there was no resolution from the discussions, I thought that although the child may be somewhat simple-minded, she is quite endearing. Moreover, her father had made significant contributions to the stability of the borders of the Great Yin, and if the descendants of meritorious officials are not to be honored, then who else deserves it? Your Majesty is a wise ruler, with a clear and just path of governance. When the decree to establish a consort is announced to the world, who among the people would not sing praises for Your Majesty?"

Is this person deemed reliable by the father?

Fu Wei shook her head and murmured to herself: "Was there really such a person among the generals dispatched from the capital during the chaos in Shuo Fang back then..."

With a smile, "So it is, I must have overlooked it after all. I have noted the requests from the Prime Minister and the others, and a decision will be made in five days. Today's court discussion ends here; the case of Wuling still requires expedited review... Thank you for your efforts, my esteemed father."

The Empress Dowager has never directly governed, and her understanding of the cruelty of politics remains superficial. Complaining to her only causes her worry, without providing any assistance

In order to retain power, even the deeply buried secrets have been unearthed; the Prime Minister has secretly kept a woman, presumably waiting for this day! Those who were previously busy with recommendations wore expressions of deep secrecy, their tablets listlessly resting in the crook of their arms. It seems that a marriage alliance with the emperor is no longer feasible, but it is still quite intriguing to glimpse into the Prime Minister's private affairs

The Chancellor said, "It must be the flesh and blood of the sovereign, otherwise the state will inevitably fall into decline"

Since it is to be done quietly, it is naturally inappropriate to make a big fuss. Fu Wei changed into a deep robe at the Zhangde Hall, with fine crimson piping along the edges of the black satin. This was the most beautiful piece among all her casual clothes.

She leaned slightly and sat cross-legged, saying, "It would be good to meet you even just once."

She turned around and smiled, "I have come today specifically to discuss matters of the court with you, my lord. The person you mentioned earlier, is it true that he is not your biological son?"

The young emperor leaned against the dragon-headed chair and turned his body slightly towards him, showing no signs of displeasure. The chancellor observed this and felt a sense of emotion; indeed, a child's transformation can happen in an instant. The young emperor has grown up and learned to control his emotions, making it all the more difficult to navigate the balance of power

Exiting through the Middle East Gate, a car was parked outside. She rarely left the palace and only remembered visiting the Prime Minister's residence on her ninth birthday. The Prime Minister was not someone who knew how to care for children. That day, the weather was exceptionally cold, and it seemed to have snowed heavily. The Prime Minister suggested drinking wine to ward off the chill and filled her cup to the brim. A nine-year-old child has no capacity for alcohol; she was competitive and, imitating him, drank it all in one go, only to become so drunk that she lost consciousness. If the daughter of that meritorious official were to fall into his hands and be 'meticulously cared for' by him, one could only wonder what kind of state she would end up in.

Life has always been like this: one gains some and loses some, and Heaven never allows one to live too comfortably. The glory that stands above the masses is something she exchanged for the joy of being a young lady. While others don red and green attire, she is adorned only in the emperor's robes; while others wear bright ornaments, she is left with only the jade pendants on her crown to fill her ears. She sees the palace maids in the Northern Palace painting their brows and applying lip color, looking undeniably beautiful, yet she cannot be like them. The only thing she can do is to stand before the mirror, adjusting her attire over and over again, then comforting herself with the thought: does looking good allow one to hear the shouts of 'Long live the emperor'? No! Therefore, compared to the allure of beauty, she prefers power more.

The Prime Minister raised his hand and clapped, his wide sleeves cascading down, revealing a pair of long, fair arms. However, there was a long scar on his right arm, seemingly a remnant of an old ailment, the scar gradually fading to a light flesh color. Before Fu Wei could ponder this further, she heard footsteps coming from under the eaves. She turned her head to look, and the window frame resembled a continuous picture frame, with people walking within the painting, disappearing at one end and reappearing at the other.

Her face flushed red, and she suddenly felt that he was intentionally trying to embarrass her. This was nothing more than a mockery of her, a false phoenix still wishing to take charge; as long as he was willing, he could expose her at any time.