Chapter Eighty-Fifth: The Personage of the Empress

Chapter 85: The Empress Herself

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhu Yunxuan struggled to get up. He had tossed and turned until the late hours of the night and probably only managed two hours of sleep, leaving him feeling sore all over.

A pair of arms reached out from under the covers, pulling him back into the warmth. Liang Zhen's body pressed against his back, his face nuzzling against Zhu Yunxuan's as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you have to rise so early even when we're outside the palace?"

"I'll be back soon."

Liang Zhen playfully pinched Zhu Yunxuan's sensitive sides, eliciting a gasp. "What are you doing?"

"Can His Majesty still move?"

Zhu Yunxuan slapped his face in retaliation and insisted on pushing him away, sitting up straight.

Gao An led a team in to attend to Zhu Yunxuan's grooming and dressing. Liang Zhen also got up, leaning lazily against the headboard with a smile on his face as he watched.

There weren't as many formalities for court sessions outside the palace. Zhu Yunxuan changed into a red casual robe that accentuated his jade-like complexion. The traces of their intimate encounter from the previous night were still visible on his fair neck, hidden beneath the collar, barely discernible. Liang Zhen narrowed his eyes, amusement flickering in his gaze, but he didn't mention it.

Before leaving, Zhu Yunxuan walked back to the bed, leaning down to plant a kiss on Liang Zhen's cheek as a reminder. "Go back to sleep, it's still early."

Liang Zhen smiled and blinked his eyes. "This concubine bids farewell to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunxuan: "…"

Just as he was about to leave, he seemed to recall something and instructed someone to fetch an item. It was the string of Buddhist beads that he had previously worn on his wrist and later removed after Liang Zhen saw it.

Taking the beads, Zhu Yunxuan rubbed them gently in his palm before passing them to Liang Zhen. "Back to their rightful owner."

Liang Zhen didn't take them, instead smiling at him. "If A Xuan likes them, I'll give them to you."

"But aren't these the keepsake from your father?"

"You can wear them too. Consider it a gift from my father to his daughter-in-law."

With Liang Zhen's words, Zhu Yunxuan no longer refused and put the beads back on his wrist. He gently twirled them and headed forward.

While on this royal expedition, Zhu Yunxuan still met with accompanying officials every few days to discuss state affairs. Yesterday, the Javanese sent envoys to seek peace and request the release of their prisoners. Today, they were going to deliberate on this matter.

"Our Great Yan is a great and civilized empire. Our recent victory has taught these foreign lands a lesson, and they surely won't dare to provoke us again. Since they are sincere in seeking peace, we should release the captives to demonstrate our magnanimity."

"These foreign barbarians serve no significant purpose in our Great Yan dynasty. Our kingdom has never had the precedent of executing prisoners of war. Why bother feeding them needlessly?"

"When this matter is resolved, we can promptly return to the court. The naval battle has already ended, and the handling of the captives is merely a trivial detail. Your Majesty might as well entrust the task entirely to the Fujian-Guangdong naval fleet."

The assembly of court officials chattered, urging Zhu Yunxuan to release the prisoners quickly. Whether it was a negotiation or surrender, it was just a matter of semantics. Settling the issue swiftly would allow them to return to the capital sooner. To these officials, a distant, barbaric minor nation was insignificant. They were unaware of how hard-fought the naval victory was for the Great Yan, believing that the long-plaguing pirates had been completely eradicated with little else to consider.

Zhu Yunxuan's brow furrowed at their dismissive remarks. He had personally witnessed the power of the foreigners' ships and cannons that fateful night. If not for their preparedness and Liang Zhen's insider assistance, the outcome could have been different.

"How can it be that our Great Yan naval force emerged victorious, yet we are negotiating and releasing them as if they are being granted a favor? It might appear to outsiders that our Great Yan court is vulnerable to exploitation."

The one who dared to lecture was not the emperor seated on the imperial throne. The voice echoed from outside, growing louder with each step, laced with mocking disdain. Everyone present instinctively turned to look, and a figure emerged from the shadows, strolling into the room. Once he stood at the center, all could see his face clearly.

Countless pairs of eyes, filled with surprise and uncertainty, fell upon him. Liang Zhen smiled, looking at Zhu Yunxuan, "This subject, Xiao Nian, pays respect to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunxuan's brows knitted together. After a pause, he commanded in a deep voice, "A chair for you."

The seat was placed to Zhu Yunxuan's left. Liang Zhen thanked the emperor and sat down gracefully, yet with an air of nonchalance. He leaned back into the chair, his gaze casually sweeping over those present.

Most were familiar faces. Zhu Yunxuan had brought almost half of his courtiers on this royal tour. Three of the six cabinet ministers accompanied him, with the chief minister remaining in the capital to govern. Now standing at the forefront was the deputy minister, who, back when he ranked among the last in the cabinet, had often been driven to rage by Liang Zhen's antics in the imperial court.

It was he who initially urged Zhu Yunxuan to release the prisoners.

The hall fell silent for a moment, only to be followed by hushed whispers among the ministers. All eyes turned to Liang Zhen, filled with astonishment, confusion, and even helplessness.

Feeling helpless, Zhu Yunxuan coughed softly, urging everyone to quiet down. The chief deputy nearly popped out his eyeballs as he gritted his teeth, demanding of Liang Zhen, "Who are you?"

Liang Zhen turned to look at Zhu Yunxuan, a smile in his eyes. He replied to the question, "Didn't I just say? My surname is Xiao, my given name is Nian, and my father is Xiao Junbo."

...!!!

Who was Xiao Nian? He was the future Empress of Great Yan, the biological father of the prince! But standing before them was Liang Zhen, the traitorous king who had been punished three years ago! No one could resemble another person so closely; their appearances were entirely different, not to mention the arrogant tone and demeanor that vividly resembled the former Prince Zhao! They wouldn't mistake him for anyone else, even if he were ashes!

When the young prince suddenly appeared, they secretly admired the emperor's resilience, imagining the struggles he faced concealing his pregnancy without being discovered, while also battling the treacherous king. A single misstep would have meant the loss of two lives. Yet, it turned out that the child was sired by that very traitor! What Xiao Nian? What pseudonym due to certain circumstances? Rubbish!

The faces of the courtiers flushed red and then paled, their grievances bottling up inside. After enjoying their bewildered expressions, Liang Zhen found it amusing. "Weren't we discussing the foreign captives? Carry on."

Zhu Yunxuan asked directly, "What's your opinion?"

Liang Zhen smiled. "I agree with His Majesty's previous stance. This war cannot be fought in vain. Since these foreigners dared to collude with pirates to invade, they must pay the price. If they wish to retrieve their captives, they must first provide ample compensation to the court of Great Yan. It's said that Viscount Porand is the nephew of their king, a member of their royal family. If they want him back, they should show some sincerity."

The Deputy Minister reflexively countered, "That's easier said than done. What if they refuse to surrender?"

"Then we keep fighting until they yield," Liang Zhen replied coolly.

"Their homeland is thousands of miles away, and even the Java Island they occupy in the South Seas is distant from our Great Yan. There has been no enmity between us. Why waste our military strength?"

Liang Zhen interrupted with disdain, "If there truly was no animosity, they wouldn't have colluded with pirates to invade our Great Yan borders. Such wolfish ambitions must be crushed early on. Do you really want to wait until they become a real threat to our dynasty?"

Without giving the other man a chance to refute, he directly proposed to Zhu Yunxuan, "Duke Ding has yet to return with the Fujian and Guangdong naval forces. Gyeryong isn't far from Java Island either. Why not have them sail over for a show of force? As I understand it, the Western Continent is currently plagued by constant warfare. Many of those foreign troops stationed in the South Seas have already recalled half their forces, especially those from Java Island, who suffered heavy losses in their battle against our Great Yan. Most of their remaining ships have returned to their home soil, leaving them incapable of resisting our naval forces. Even just a brief show of force at their doorstep would be enough to intimidate them into surrendering obediently."

"Moreover," Liang Zhen continued leisurely, "they're eager to earn in Great Yan because their homeland is at war, requiring vast sums of silver for support. If they persist in refusing to surrender, we'll prohibit all their trading activities within our borders. Then, it will be them who grow anxious. The Western Continent is dotted with countless small kingdoms; if they don't cooperate, others will vie for trade relations with our dynasty. The initiative is already in our hands."

Someone dissented, "If they're so short on funds, how can we expect them to pay reparations after surrendering?"

Liang Zhen curled his lips. "They'll have no choice but to pay. If they can't pay now, we'll arrange for installment payments. In the future, half of every tael they earn in our realm will go toward repaying their debts and interests until their obligations are cleared."

A subtle smile flickered in Zhu Yunxuan's eyes. He intervened, silencing those still debating and questioning, and issued an imperial edict: "My mind is made up. Follow General Xiao's plan. Send out the order – instruct Duke Ding to lead the naval forces to Java Island."

The ministers: "..."

Very well, henceforth the court of the Great Yan will not only have an emperor whose word holds great weight, but also an empress who openly interferes in politics. Let them proceed as they will.

Yet, at this moment, someone ignorant of the situation stepped forward, still the same censor who had previously been reprimanded by the young prince for being "too fierce, not likable." He rose and loudly challenged Liang Zhen, "You claim to be General Xiao Junbo's son. What proof do you have? Clearly, you are actually..."

Zhu Yunxuan's expression instantly turned cold. Others shook their heads inwardly; this person was indeed a fearless fool, yet they couldn't help but look to Liang Zhen, curious about his reaction. Liang Zhen's expression remained unchanged as he smiled calmly, interrupting the censor, "Proof? Why would I need evidence to prove that I am my father's son? May I ask, esteemed Censor, how do you verify that the son your wife bore is truly your son, and not the offspring of neighbor Wang or Zhao?"

"You—!"

Someone couldn't hold back a snicker, causing the censor to turn red with anger, raising his voice regardless, "What was your status in the capital three years ago? How did you meet His Majesty and conceive the crown prince? Do you dare to say?!"

Liang Zhen clicked his tongue. "Are you trying to pry into the Emperor's private affairs?"

Zhu Yunxuan intervened promptly, speaking calmly, "Enough. General Xiao and I share a deep bond. Back then, due to the uncertainty surrounding the South Sea affair, it was inconvenient for him to reveal his identity in public. Hence, our relationship was kept from the public eye. There is no need to mention this matter again in the future."

The ministers: "......."

The censor: "............"

With the Emperor insisting on turning a blind eye to the truth, what could they possibly say?

Let us return to the matter at hand. When it came to the affair involving King Zhao, only the former House of Marquis of Anle and the House of Prince Xian were truly held accountable. This was due to the fact that Prince Xian himself had long been a thorn in the Emperor's side. There were already rumors of discord between the Liang family members and Liang Zhen, stemming from their private disagreements. Furthermore, those subordinates of Liang Zhen who were exiled were indeed proven to harbor disloyal intentions and had actively incited him to rebellion. Their punishment was therefore entirely justifiable.

As for the others, even those high-ranking officials who had been close friends with Liang Zhen, they were merely demoted and had to behave themselves for a while. Back then, they believed it was due to the emperor's benevolence, not wanting to destabilize the foundation of the kingdom. Now, looking back, it was clear that it was a battle between gods, and they were spared from the collateral damage as mere mortals...

After all, when a married couple quarrels at the foot of their bed, they reconcile at the head of it by the end of three years. Why should they, outsiders, meddle in their affairs?

The censor attempted to protest further, but he was forcefully pushed back into the line by the people on either side of him, silencing his voice.

With the matters discussed, the assembly of courtiers withdrew. Exiting the chamber, they all still felt as if they were in a daze, an surreal sensation lingering. They looked at each other, and could not help but smile bitterly. After three years of tranquility, they had suddenly returned to their former state. How could one mere 'bitter' character encompass the depth of their suffering?

Zhu Yunxuan rose to his feet but was promptly pulled down onto Liang Zhen's lap. Gao An, perceptive as ever, led the servants away, granting them privacy.

With a hint of annoyance, Zhu Yunxuan nudged Liang Zhen's shoulder. "Instead of resting in your chambers, you come here to show off? And you didn't even bother to inform me beforehand."

Liang Zhen chuckled, brushing the tip of his nose against Zhu Yunxuan's face. "It just so happened that everyone is here today. Let them witness it clearly, sparing me from their endless curiosity and annoyance."

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed lightly. "Seems like you're quite pleased with yourself."

Liang Zhen continued with a smile. "Well, I still need His Majesty's cooperation. Thank you for granting me this favor, Your Majesty."