Chapter 108: The Prince Regent

Chapter 108: The Prince Regent

Empress Liu personally met with Madame Chen, wife of the Director of the Chancellery, in Qi Feng Garden.

Madame Chen requested the Empress to intervene, urging her to dissuade the Emperor from his journey. She argued that a child of great wealth does not sit under a collapsing roof, let alone the Son of Heaven. With the nation's fate resting on him, how could the Emperor indulge personal whims and travel recklessly? Such actions would disregard the welfare of the world for selfish desires, unbecoming of a wise ruler.

She also stated that the virtuous Empress should speak frankly and advise the Emperor, assisting him in his rule.

Empress Liu could only inwardly admire their audacity.

She didn't dare to persuade the Emperor herself. The title of a virtuous Empress was not easily borne. Empress Liu, maintaining her composure with a smile, politely refused Madame Chen using the excuse of non-interference in state affairs. She also declined to accept the jointly signed petition from the chancellors.

Meanwhile, on Zhu Yan's end.

Since Zhu Yan rarely interacted with the wives of external officials, reaching her was a bit complicated. The request had to go through Princess Xiangyang, who conveyed the message and delivered the petition to Han Dan Garden.

Zhu Yan didn’t even look at it and directly instructed Lü Ping’an to take the petition to Zhi Yong Hall.

What a joke, expecting her to persuade the Dog Emperor.

If five chancellors couldn’t stop him, how could she? If she had that kind of influence, she would immediately use magic on the Dog Emperor to allow her and her son Ah Ji to leave for their fiefdom. Besides, she didn’t want to persuade him; she had just chosen two skilled female soldiers that morning and was looking forward to going out.

According to Zhu Yan, these chancellors still didn’t understand the Dog Emperor well enough.

Talking about what befits a wise ruler.

She believed that if they dared to say such things to the Dog Emperor's face, he would retort, "I never intended to be a wise ruler." Even more outrageously, he might add, "Don't try to kidnap me with your desires to be remembered as virtuous or wise ministers, seeking eternal fame, and force me to act as a wise ruler."

He would turn their admonitions into a pursuit of their own selfish motives, leaving them too ashamed or frustrated to respond, or even driven to extreme measures like hitting a wall to prove their integrity.

There was precedent for this. When the Dog Emperor decided to build Fu Hua Palace, the then Director of the Chancellery, Liu Leque, was nearly driven to despair by the Emperor’s harsh rebuke, questioning his life choices. Liu, who was genuinely concerned for the public good, was accused of harboring selfish intentions by the Emperor.

Of course, Liu Leque was stopped from taking drastic action.

The Dog Emperor even commented that Director Liu lacked mental fortitude, always seeking death or danger.

"Director" is a respectful title for the head of the Chancellery.

Zhu Yan had reasonable grounds to suspect that Liu Leque’s early demise was largely due to the stress inflicted by the Dog Emperor.

After Liu Leque, the Dog Emperor simply didn’t appoint a new Director of the Chancellery; the Chancellery only had Left and Right Vice-Directors.

That evening, when the Dog Emperor returned to Han Dan Garden, he complained to Zhu Yan, "I don’t know what to say about these people. Worried that I might run away, they stand guard at the palace gates, not going home even at night. With such dedication, I should send them to guard the city walls. What use are they as chancellors? They’re driving me insane."

Hearing this, Zhu Yan laughed, "Who can blame them? Given Your Majesty’s history, not just them, even I wouldn’t trust that you haven’t considered sneaking away."

Once bitten, twice shy.

Last year, the Dog Emperor secretly slipped away to Lanzhou. The chancellors only found out after he had left, through a decree and a letter he left behind. They were extremely worried until they heard he had gone to Shanzhou, which scared them even more. They were anxious and on edge until the Dog Emperor returned.

After such an incident, they had every reason to keep a closer watch on the Dog Emperor this year.

"Ah Yan knows me well indeed."

The Dog Emperor readily admitted, affectionately nuzzling Zhu Yan's cheek and pulling her to sit on his lap, reminiscing, "Sneaking out would be ideal, to avoid carrying along some burdens."

"Does that mean Your Majesty has reached an agreement with the chancellors?"

The Dog Emperor nodded, "Of course. I don’t have time to dawdle with them. They even thought of breaking through from the inside, persuading the Empress and you to convince me. The Empress is obedient, and you’ve long been on my side."

At this, the Dog Emperor was pleased. Both Empress Liu and Ah Yan had not disappointed him. If they had indeed been swayed to persuade him...

He would have to consider who really controls the harem.

Perhaps it’s time for a change?

"For this trip, each of the three departments will send one person to accompany me. Menxia Province will send Linghu, Shangshu Province the Deputy Director, and as Xie of Zhongshu Province needs to stay behind, he will select a suitable person. Additionally, while I’m away, Ah Ji will act as regent in name, staying at the summer palace."

Ah Ji as regent?

Zhu Yan was initially shocked, then realized the Dog Emperor was being utterly heartless, “Ah Ji is only five years old.” He’s barely more than a toddler, “No, he doesn’t understand anything. How can you trust him to act as regent? Isn’t this a joke?”

Zhu Yan found the idea absurd and was so agitated she dropped the formal address, speaking directly.

The Dog Emperor had anticipated Zhu Yan’s opposition, but seeing her so worked up, he quickly explained, "Don’t worry, it’s just in name. I’m doing this to ease everyone’s minds. All affairs will be handled by Xie of Zhongshu, Hua of the Imperial Attendants, and Guo the Deputy Director. Anything unresolved will be reported to me."

Zhu Yan then understood. It was all about the title, to reassure the chancellors.

“If Ah Ji were three or four years older, I could indeed entrust him with real regency powers, and I would have no worries while away,” the Dog Emperor mused, feeling regretful. If Erlang hadn’t passed away, he would have been ten this year, perfectly suitable as a crown prince to act as a regent, which would have been more appropriate.

He wouldn’t have had to worry about a successor.

Alas, what a pity.

"Ah Yan, don’t underestimate Ah Ji. He has already recognized characters for a year at Renben Pavilion with Li Hanlin and studied for several months with Xu Jiujiu. Just yesterday, Ah Ji read a petition in Zhi Yong Hall without any difficulty," the Dog Emperor added. This was also why, amidst the stalemate with the chancellors, he proposed Ah Ji as the regent.

Knowing they couldn't stop him, the chancellors eventually accepted this proposal.

On the other hand, after leaving the palace, Xie Wu, the Director of the Chancellery, who hadn't yet decided on a candidate to accompany the Emperor, immediately returned to the council hall. He summoned two Vice-Directors of the Chancellery, Yu Gao and Mu Zhu, planning to select one of them to accompany the Emperor.

But as soon as Xie Wu began to speak, Yu Gao had no choice but to admit, "Director, I can’t ride a horse."

Hearing this, Xie Wu instinctively turned to the other Vice-Director, Mu Zhu. Under his superior's stern gaze and feeling immense pressure, Mu Zhu confessed in a low voice, "Neither can I."

"Useless," Xie Wu cursed in anger, his gray beard quivering. If he were ten years younger, he would have volunteered himself. How could they not even ride horses? It was beyond his expectations. "You’re imperial scholars. When you rode in processions... Never mind, never mind."

Xie Wu waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to dwell on the past. The dynasty was militarily strong at its founding, with several previous Directors of the Chancellery being military leaders turned politicians. How did it come to this, where his subordinates couldn’t even ride horses? The nation had been at peace for fifty years, neglecting military readiness to this extent.

He was beginning to agree with the Emperor’s foreign policy.

Otherwise, they would all become weaklings.

"Go, call the three Attending Secretaries of the Chancellery who accompanied us to the summer palace. Let’s see if any of them are skilled riders." Xie Wu was no longer picky, selecting candidates based on their ability to ride and physical strength. The two thousand Dragon Martial Army troops led by Zhang Su were accompanying the Emperor, and if the Chancellery's representative lagged behind, not only would the Emperor frown upon it, but Zhang Su and others would ridicule them.

If there really was no one...

He’d rather admit early to the Emperor that he had no suitable candidate, endure a reprimand, than face embarrassment later.

Fortunately, one of the three Attending Secretaries was proficient in horsemanship.

Xie Wu looked at Cheng Duan, who stepped forward. He was tall and burly, and Xie Wu patted his solid shoulder with satisfaction. He even secretly decided that next time he needed to select staff from the Ministry of Personnel, he would choose someone like Cheng Duan. Xie Wu kept him aside to explain things and dismissed the others.

Cheng Duan was competent in his duties and responses during his rotation in the Emperor’s presence. If this trip went smoothly, Xie Wu intended to promote him.

Satisfied with resolving the candidate issue, Xie Wu felt relieved.

The next morning in the council hall, seeing Hua Guang with dark circles under his eyes, Xie Wu asked, "Didn’t sleep well last night?"

"Could you?" Hua Guang retorted irritably.

Xie Wu shook his head at Hua Guang's early morning irritability, "We both know we can’t stop His Majesty. This is the best approach."

"The Fourth Prince is only five years old," Hua Guang said in a lowered voice, still quite agitated.

"It’s easier to mold a young child. Don’t you want to personally shape him into a benevolent ruler like the former Emperor?"

Hua Guang was about to say that a son resembles his father, but then he realized something was amiss. The current Emperor was nothing like the former Emperor. Grudgingly agreeing with Xie Wu, he thought about the former Emperor in his dreams last night. The current Emperor was far too unpredictable. The former Emperor, during his twenty-four years of reign, had left the imperial palace fewer times than the current Emperor in just one year.

Moreover, the former Emperor was open-minded, receptive to advice, loved his people like his children, empathized with his subordinates, lived frugally, shunned extravagance, practiced quiet governance, did not overburden the people, and had a harmonious relationship with his ministers, open and trusting.

With so many noble virtues, it was a model of a benevolent ruler, yet he lived only to his forties.

Deeply moved, Hua Guang's eyes moistened, and he felt like crying.

Seeing Hua Guang's sentimental state, Xie Wu understood. He and the other old ministers could all relate to the nostalgia for the former Emperor. A non-troublesome Emperor made the chancellors' jobs much easier.

Wiping his tears, Hua Guang regained his composure, looked at Xie Wu, steady as a rock, and leaned in to ask softly, "Do you have inside information? Is the Emperor planning to appoint the Fourth Prince as the Crown Prince?"

Hearing this, Xie Wu met Hua Guang's hopeful gaze and couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing. While the Emperor trusted him, he was a favorite of the former Emperor, not the current one. If the Emperor really intended to leak information to build momentum, he wouldn’t disclose it to him. "You should ask Linghu about this."

Thinking it over, Hua Guang realized that made sense. "Then why do you think the Emperor suddenly brought up the Fourth Prince?"

"With no children in the central palace, the death of the First Prince, and the Third Prince’s disability, the Fourth Prince, being the eldest and born of Consort Zhu, has significance. The Emperor is fond of the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Gongyang Commentary. The tutor he appointed for the Fourth Prince, Xu Jiujiu, specializes in these texts. You can weigh the implications yourself."

Xie Wu paused, then added, "But there’s no need to rush. A prince not born of the central palace, even if appointed as Crown Prince, must be at least thirteen years old. The Fourth Prince is still young."

The Prince as regent.

Not only did this stir speculation among the ministers, but also within the harem. When Su Wanqing in Empress Liu’s Qifeng Garden heard the news, she almost lost control of her composure.

She understood all too well the significance of a prince serving as Regent.

In her previous life, among all the princes, only her Ba Lang had held this significant role when he was over twelve. Now, the fourth prince, merely a five-year-old, was appointed as Regent.

What about her Ba Lang then?

Su Wanqing returned to her Lingfeng Pavilion and, in a fit of rage, spat out a mouthful of blood.

The author has a message: