Chapter 6

The emperor pressed his hand down and said, "Do not rush; there are so many people in the court, is it really necessary for you to go? The day before yesterday, Hongxun was causing a stir, wanting to go to Ningguta. As soon as the news reached Changchun Garden, the Empress Dowager was heartbroken. I intend to assign him to Chahar, with General Geng Li accompanying him. What do you think?"

Hong Ce was hearing this for the first time and was momentarily taken aback, "A coffin?"

He pondered for a moment, "It is said that there is no fine wood in the coffin shop, so I sent someone to the south to buy some. Good wood depends on chance; if it takes one or two years, once the fervor has passed, it will be forgotten."

I just drank a bit too much, the air inside is stuffy, so I went out alone to get some fresh air

The queen said that since she had nothing to do, she might as well act as a matchmaker. Counting on her fingers, she mentioned, "The second daughter of Lord Chai, the sister of the Grand Minister Ji Qing, and the eldest daughter of General Erdemutu of the State Protectorate—she is the legitimate daughter of the late Saihan Wang, with a precious lineage! The last time she came to the palace to meet people, she was a tall girl with double eyelids, quite a complete young lady."

At noon, An Lingba was executed... The emperor slowly turned the ring on his finger. Today is a day of celebration, and although discussing such matters may dampen the mood, a ruler of a nation indeed has many concerns weighing on his mind. Each and every issue presses heavily upon him, and even in moments of relaxation, he cannot afford to be too lax. Fearing to disturb the grand emperor's enjoyment, he quietly inquired, "Has anything arisen from this?"

Although it did not seem like anyone was truly angry, no one came forward to plead for mercy. The banquet was set in the West Garden, and everyone crowded around the Grand Emperor as he entered the Weeping Flower Gate. As soon as they stepped inside, the fragrance of flowers mingled with the scent of cosmetics, enveloping them. The imperial concubines and noblewomen had already arrived, each adorned in splendid garments and jeweled headdresses. Upon seeing the Grand Emperor, they all hurriedly paid their respects and offered their congratulations, creating a truly vibrant atmosphere.

Drinking, listening to music, and sharing laughter to relieve fatigue is a delightful family joy, yet for Hong Ce, it feels distant. With so many people around, he cannot discern the shapes of their mouths and is unaware of what they are discussing. He remains inconspicuous in the crowd, unwilling to participate, and is perpetually quiet. In fact, this is not so bad; being oblivious to both the good and the bad, his senses are purified, allowing him to perceive the greater world.

Today is the 16th, and the moon is so large that it seems to be right in front of him. He leans against the dragon-carved pillar in the corridor, raises his hand to loosen a button on his collar, and his internal organs feel relieved, instantly filling with vitality. Squinting into the distance, he sees someone approaching along the corridor, and upon closer inspection, it is Guan Zhaojing, the steward of his royal residence. When he reaches the bottom of the steps, he tilts his head back and grins, saying: "The banquet has not yet ended, why have you come out, sir? I have instructed someone to change the palanquin; it is quite spacious inside, and there are cushions prepared on the carriage. You can take a short nap, and you will be home in no time." After a pause, he continues, "Speaking of spaciousness... this evening, a message came from Langrun Garden. I was busy attending to you while you were in the garden, and in a moment of distraction, I forgot—Her Highness the Grand Empress Dowager has given instructions to prepare a coffin, and she also mentioned that it should be spacious. You must advise her; at her age of seventy or eighty, such talk is not to be taken lightly. It is not auspicious to act too early, and it could bring bad luck.

The emperor slightly turned his head, and under the illumination of the candlelight, his thick brows gradually furrowed. "Addressing corruption is a common topic; there are not just one or two royal relatives who have been implicated. So what? If the flag bearers take the lead in challenging me, how can I justify not executing them to the people of the world?"

Originally, everyone was discussing the candidate for the position in Ningguta, but now they are considering Chahar instead? In Hongce's eyes, there is no difference; it is all the same wherever one goes. The court has raised a group of royal family members who are nominally responsible for Mongolian affairs, and they can enjoy their lives without any guilt, while he cannot. He has never understood why his imperial father sent him to govern Khalkha; it seems there are many secrets being kept from him. In the past, when his hearing was sharp, he could not inquire about the reasons, and now, afflicted by illness and unable to find a cure despite his best efforts, he has chosen to live in peace as a deaf man, no longer wishing to investigate.

Hong Ce Dao: "Your Majesty, rest assured, even if there are complications, they will certainly not arise today. This case concludes here; as for the matters preceding it, we will conceal them as much as possible. The silt in the old lotus pond must be stirred up, and what you see is merely a bowl of ink."

Isn't it said that the men of the Yuwen family are doomed to love troubles? If you don't encounter it, you don't encounter it; if you do, it's a lifelong matter. Now, marrying casually, what if it blows up in the future? You would have to learn from his father. Elevating one person only to make a whole group cry is truly not worth it

He shook his head, his brows and eyes still filled with a smile, "I am afraid that I might burden others; there is no rush for marriage. At present, the court is focused on combating corruption, so let us discuss it again after this period has passed"

Hong Ce still appeared calm and composed, pausing slightly before saying: "However, we must proceed gradually. If we pull too hard, we cannot guarantee that it won't affect the tendons and bones. With the left hand we must stabilize, and with the right hand we must elevate, so that the hole does not become too large. Important responsibilities cannot be borne alone, hence we must share them with others. The Emperor is wise and insightful, and he must have his own plans in mind. If I, as a humble minister, speak out of turn, please just smile and let it go."

It seems impossible to push it away, what should I do if I can't? Just pretend not to understand. After all, he is deaf; as long as he doesn't raise his eyes, no one can do anything to him

He shifted his body slightly and said, "I have spent about ten years in Mongolia, and I can get started quickly. Your Majesty need not ask anyone else; I will pack my things and set off tomorrow."

Hey, this person! The queen had no choice, blinking her eyes at the Empress Dowager and saying: "It is not good to force a cow to drink water by pressing its head."

As a junior, it is not appropriate to speak of liking or disliking the Empress Dowager. With one's own mother being neglected elsewhere, it is only natural to feel some resistance. However, one must navigate the social scene, wearing a smile as if it were a handkerchief or a bracelet carried at all times; it is simply a necessity, devoid of any real significance.

Life has become unbearable, I am tired of waiting for the King of Hell to check off my name before preparing my own coffin. In Langrun Garden, the noble consort, who is also the mother of the Twelfth Prince, is not yet fifty, and it is indeed too hasty to prepare for such matters at this early stage

At family gatherings, this topic is inevitably brought up. He entered the hall and did not see the Grand Emperor, who bluntly asked if the old man had gone to play with his grandchildren again. However, it was the Grand Empress and the Empress who waved at him. After taking a seat, the Grand Empress said: "The Twelfth Prince is twenty-three this year, busy with official duties all day long, which has delayed his lifelong affairs. Empress, take a look and see if there are any suitable families with good sons, so we can find a respectable young lady for our Twelfth Prince, and your royal father can also let go of a concern."

Zhaojing responded, and just as he was about to speak, the Gulong Princess came out and greeted him: "Father is looking for someone, why has the Twelfth Brother come here?" She approached and said, "Father just asked about the selection of candidates, and it seems this conversation is about arranging a marriage. The brothers above are all competing to have sons, but since the Seventh Brother, the line has been broken. He even asked, 'By the way, does the Twelfth Brother have a secondary consort?' I think come next spring, it is inevitable that we will have to arrange one for you." He even asked, 'By the way, does the Twelfth Brother have a secondary consort?' I think come next spring, it is inevitable that we will have to arrange one for you.

This brother has always been extraordinary. The gentlemen raised in the capital are experts in cockfighting, dog fighting, selling nonsense, and playing with women. When it comes to serious matters, only two or three of them are truly capable. Now that he has returned from Khalkha, even with his hearing impairment, he remains a reliable pillar of support. The emperor pondered for a moment and then said: "The Chahar garrison needs to be expanded, and military supplies must keep pace. This time, we will send someone over to establish a firearms battalion, equipping him with dozens of guns, not for any other reason, but to keep an eye on the Chahar prince. Ever since the incident in Khalkha last time, I have been contemplating this. Like those free-ranging livestock, if we do not enclose them, they will ruin the crops. This time, we will send someone over to establish a firearms battalion, equipping him with dozens of guns, not for any other reason, but to keep an eye on the Chahar prince. Ever since the incident in Khalkha last time, I have been contemplating this. Like those free-ranging livestock, if we do not enclose them, they will ruin the crops. Who do you think would be suitable to send?"

Due to his hearing impairment, his world has always been very quiet. He cannot hear music, the sound of flowing water or falling leaves, nor can he hear the wind or the rain. In the midst of the six dusts, one is missing; the sky is vast and tranquil, and his heart is like a calm sea. Although he was born into a royal family, he possesses a greater sense of serenity than others, which makes him appear more grounded and reliable

The Emperor nodded and sighed, saying: "The 'Records of the Advisements of Duke Wei and Duke Zheng' states, 'To govern is extremely difficult; if the law is strict, it may harm the good; if the law is lenient, it will not deter the wicked.' I find myself in such a situation now. My father, the Emperor, has grown old, and since I have taken charge, there are many matters that I cannot trouble him with anymore. Although the world appears peaceful, it harbors great corruption; on the surface, it looks splendid and prosperous, but underneath lies a heap of rotten fodder"

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "How about we set a date to meet? We, the Qi people, are not so particular; let's first see the person, and if we like them, we can proceed with the engagement." She then asked Hongce, "What does the Twelfth Master think?"

This statement indicates that while there may be coercion to take money, there is no coercion to enter the bridal chamber. Some individuals have experienced the pleasures of life early on, but it does not mean that everyone is engaged or committed early. If one does not have such intentions, then it is better to discuss it at a later time

The emperor nodded and smiled, saying: "There is no rush for this. First, order Lu Yuan to handle the aftermath. We will go through the annual records of the heads one by one to stabilize the morale of the troops. The remaining matters can be dealt with later."

Indeed. Zhaojing said, "The Empress thinks long-term, only mentioning to prepare it. Every year, it should be brought out to see the light and receive a fresh coat of paint. By the time she is laid to rest, there will be at least twenty or thirty of them, that is the meaning."

A man should marry when he reaches adulthood, this is a principle. He had previously gone to Khalkha and had not been in the capital for a long time, nor did he have the habit of seeking a concubine at the age of thirteen, so there are no outsiders in the Wang residence at present, and those who come and go are all children born in the family

Hong Ce Dao: "This has been the case since ancient times; the affairs of the court have always been challenging, and it is not something unique to our current situation. The country is prosperous, and while there are many who seek to profit, they still abide by the law and do not dare to act recklessly. The enforcement of the law by An Ling Ba Wu serves as a warning to all officials. The Emperor only needs to observe further; when the source is clear, the flow will be clear as well. If one is determined to govern, it is not to say that all excess can be completely eradicated, but it is certainly possible to curb it by seventy to eighty percent."

The queen spoke for a long time waiting for a response, but the other person was distracted in the middle and finally replied, "What did the empress say? I wasn't paying attention."

To speak with him, one must first capture his attention. The emperor gently tapped his elbow, and he immediately set down the teacup and turned around. His clear, azure eyes could see through to the depths of one's heart

The empress dowagers do not enter the garden, for the relationship between the retired emperor and the retired empress does not allow for the presence of others. It is not that the retired empress is particular about this; it is a decree from the retired emperor. A sovereign must devote his affections to one person, which inevitably leads to neglecting many others. This has been the case for the retired emperor's generation, and it is the same for the current emperor's generation. The men of the Yuwen family possess the talent and ambition to bear the weight of the nation, yet they are unable to manage their affections. Over time, this will inevitably lead to turmoil within the inner court.

It is indeed somewhat unreasonable to apply the paint several more times. However, the Dowager is quite stubborn; once she sets her mind on something, it must be accomplished, and no one can do anything about it. She has only this one son, and it seems she is not pleased, so if she is going to cause a fuss, who else would she target if not him

The adults were discussing while the child wriggled in the embrace of the Grand Emperor. The old man asked what was going on, and the little prince, wearing split-crotch pants, spread his legs and joyfully relieved himself onto the ground. The child managed to urinate quite well, without splashing a drop on the Grand Emperor. Children, whenever they show a bit of cleverness, are praised as if they are unparalleled in the world. The Grand Emperor, amused, rewarded the little prince with a small Japanese sword, and without delay, instructed the chief steward: "Hongyang is not even as good as a child! When he arrives, do not let him enter the garden; have him wait in the Hall of the Nine Classics and Three Affairs. In this entire room, who is like him? Don't let him say later that the wheel broke and was of no use. The whole family waits for him alone; he has such a big face." Saying this, he stood up and led everyone out the door, but after taking a few steps, he turned back to add, "Send someone to reprimand him, and do it sternly. If you show him leniency, it will only encourage him further. His wife is also a dead weight; the two of them, both mediocre, together are quite amusing!"

Hong Ce is an understanding person. Since he has sent Hong Xun to Chahar, it is necessary to consider another candidate for Ningguta. He responded affirmatively, "The situation in the north is also critical. With tens of thousands of armored soldiers and flag bearers, it is not a trivial matter if they cause a disturbance. My brother listens to your instructions; if you wish to dispatch someone, we can set off immediately."

The queen reassured him: "It won't affect both sides, so what is there to be afraid of? Do you know the tricks of raising pigeons, Twelve Master? When a flock of pigeons takes to the sky, if one more returns to the nest at night, what should be done? First, don't let it fly; let it wander on the ground for two days to recognize its home. If it's a male, find a female pigeon; if it's a female, pair it with a male pigeon. Once it has a family, it won't leave and can live a stable life. Look, even the birds are busy starting families, let alone us, right? And don't mention being a burden anymore; with your character and talent, you would stand out even in the Golden Hall. Who would dare to criticize the offspring of dragons and phoenixes? The emperor wouldn't spare them either."