Chapter 104 – A Guilty Heart

Chapter 104 - A Guilty Heart

With fasting and ceremonies to honor the heavens and ancestors, followed by the new emperor's acceptance of congratulations from the court, the officials were busy for several days.

On the day of the ceremony, even the retired emperor came out to worship the heavens. Yuan Zixu appeared calm, though his sunken eyes, flushed cheekbones, and unusually reddened lips betrayed signs of fatigue. Nevertheless, he seemed lucid and composed, conducting himself with dignity and adhering strictly to etiquette, giving no indication that he was under duress. By his side were the long-missing Grand Eunuch Li Dongfu and the Commander of the Qinghou Guards, Yu Huan.

The appearance of the retired emperor reassured all the courtiers, and the fact that his attendants had not been purged further calmed the nerves of those who had offended the former prince or were part of the Lu family's faction.

The cabinet ministers' praise for the new emperor now rang more sincere, with their congratulatory messages uniformly extolling the emperor's benevolence and the unity of the realm.

During the court ceremony, Princess Yi Yang, dressed in resplendent princess attire, arrived with the King of Jingbei and Prime Minister Lu to offer her allegiance, putting the military officials at ease. The King of Jingbei, Guo, was a towering sword hanging over the court, a sleeping tiger in the northwest. With Princess Yi Yang giving birth to a princess for the King of Jingbei and sending envoys to congratulate the new emperor's ascension, it was a clear declaration of loyalty and support. This indicated that the King of Jingbei would not rebel in the near future, and with the northern border just stabilized, another two decades of peace could be expected. The prospect brought a collective sigh of relief among the wise in the court.

As for how Princess Yi Yang managed to arrive in the capital precisely during the new emperor's coronation, the high-ranking officials tacitly chose to overlook the coincidence.

The Ministry of Rites promptly issued an edict, granting Princess Yi Yang the title of Princess Zhen Guo, while the King of Jingbei received additional stipends. The title of princess was also bestowed upon Princess Yan Yun.

The cabinet found this reward somewhat speechless. After all, when the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan Yun were recovered, the King of Jingbei had already been elevated to a first-class prince, receiving double the regular prince's salary, and Princess Yi Yang had been granted the title of Princess Zhen Guo. Apart from some additional stipends and territories, there was nothing else to confer; thus, only the title of princess could be bestowed upon the young Princess Yan Yun. She had already been granted the territorial privileges of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan Yun and enjoyed the benefits of a princess. Now, her status was merely made more official.

What rewards should be bestowed upon Princess Yi Yang and Prince Jingbei if they were to achieve further merits?

Moreover, could it be that this new ruler is a puppet placed on the throne by Princess Yi Yang and Prince Jingbei?

Though the officials harbored hidden concerns, in the midst of the current national celebration, they could only suppress their worries and focus on maintaining peace for now. Fortunately, Prince Jingbei had no male heirs; he only had a young princess who was the daughter of Princess Yi Yang. It would be even better if the new emperor were to have an heir soon.

Nonetheless, all the officials noticed that the Imperial Edict from the Ministry of Rites bestowing titles on the empress and consorts was yet to be issued, leading to much speculation.

This new ruler had just reached adulthood, having not yet married prior to ascending the throne. He had not appointed a crown princess, and there was only one Liangdi with status in the Eastern Palace. Observing his daily conduct, the Emperor was known for his simplicity and self-restraint, avoiding indulgence in pleasure – a clear indication of a virtuous monarch. The officials conjectured that perhaps he intended to first confer the title of empress before proceeding to ennoble the consorts, as a sign of respect for the future empress.

As for the future empress, most court officials believed it would undoubtedly be from the Marquis Cheng'en's residence. The legitimate daughter of the Shen family had yet to marry, and it was commonly assumed that she was waiting to become the crown princess.

Upon the new emperor's ascension, the Marquis Cheng'en was elevated to the rank of duke, and Grand Tutor Ge was bestowed an honorary title of grand tutor. Other figures like Shen Anlin, Song Xiang, and Zheng Changyuan also received imperial favors. Zheng Changyuan, in particular, was granted the title of marquis, causing his household to flourish with visitors. However, when it came to the most sought-after family, it was still the late empress's residence, the Marquis Cheng'en's Shen mansion.

=====

The Imperial Study.

With the new emperor in power, the overly lavish decorations were replaced by simple, clean ones. Only incense of agarwood was lit, filling the air with a long-lasting, tranquil aroma.

"Has His Majesty decided on the Empress?" Princess Yi Yang sat calmly on an eight-legged chair at the lower end of the study, looking at Emperor Yuan Jun. "It would be best for the Emperor to decide sooner rather than later. Currently, I am arranging everything in the palace. Although I've recalled Mother's former attendants from the Palace Ladies' Bureau to take charge, palace affairs are intricate, and you need an empress to oversee the inner court. I should return to Jingbei; Yan Yun is still waiting for me."

Princess Yi Yang glanced at Yuan Jun's expression and continued, "Moreover, I can tell that Father is obviously waiting for the Emperor's decision. Although Dan Zhu and I don't see eye to eye, she is gentle and obedient, abiding by virtue. Considering Father's sake, granting her the title will also reassure him."

She smiled warmly, her lips curved while her eyes focused on Yuan Jun's reaction. "Or perhaps the Emperor has other intentions. In that case, it would be best to hold the selection process soon and settle the matter."

Yuan Jun put down the scroll in his hand and rubbed his temples with his fingers. Though he had reviewed documents for the Crown Prince before, they had already been screened by the cabinet. Now that he was the Emperor, he had numerous reform plans to implement and needed to appoint suitable personnel in each department. These tasks were mentally exhausting.

With fasting and attending court sessions, he was lacking in rest, but he maintained his composure, showing no signs of strain as he meticulously carried out all the intricate rituals of the grand ceremony.

When asked about his hidden concerns by the Elder Princess, Yuan Jun couldn't help but reveal a hint of fatigue. "I'll have to trouble you, Elder Sister, to assist me for a while longer. Once I stabilize the previous administration, it will be better. The Inner Palace has been under Empress Lao's control for too long, as you know. Your presence and guidance are crucial to uproot the problems and alleviate my worries."

Princess Yi Yang chuckled. "Is that why you're not allowing Rong Liangdi to enter the palace? Are you afraid she might become a target? She has spent a long time in the palace and is no less clever than us. If Brother trusts her, let her enter. I can guide her for some time, and she'll quickly adapt. With my help, she'll be able to manage the palace staff."

Yuan Jun avoided a direct response. "I'll take care of Rong Liangdi's arrangements. Elder Sister, please look after her in the Princess' residence and ensure she doesn't suffer any injustice." He then asked, "As for Second Sister, how do you plan to handle her situation?"

Princess Yi Yang didn't dwell on Rong Bi but instead smiled. "Both sides have been interrogated. Yuan Yixue now realizes that the situation is hopeless. She insists that Yu Huan coerced her using Mother's life, asking us to intervene and severely punish him."

"However, when we questioned her attendants, it turns out that Lady Lao initially wanted to arrange Yu Huan as her prince consort. After Lady Lao was deposed, she tried to manipulate Yu Huan. She bribed an eunuch in charge of the Qinghou Guards' barracks to sneak into Yu Huan's quarters at night. It would've been impossible to succeed, but coincidentally, Tang Xi's two pots of wine knocked out everyone at the celebration, leaving Yu Huan heavily intoxicated. That's when she struck. She thought Yu Huan, fearing disgrace, would agree to help her... All the confessions are there. She's truly naive. I wonder how someone like Second Sister could come from a person like Lady Lao."

Yuan Jun responded, "What did Yu Huan say?"

Princess Yi Yang commented, "Indeed, he didn't mention anything about the princess's seduction nor spoke ill of Second Sister. He kept his silence like a tightly sealed jar, only seeking a swift death to fulfill his loyalty."

"I gave him two options. Either he marries the princess, and his wrongs would be concealed under a luxurious quilt, stepping down from his position as commander and taking on an idle post, thus enjoying wealth and comfort. The other option was to serve the Retired Emperor within the palace. As long as the Retired Emperor is alive, he must dedicate himself solely to serving, not leaving the palace or taking a wife."

Yuan Jun pondered for a moment before responding, "He chose the second option?"

A hint of admiration appeared on Princess Yi Yang's face. "Yes, he proved to be a man of honor. He said it was his duty to see things through to the end and not betray the Retired Emperor's trust."

Yuan Jun replied, "Let us accommodate his choice then."

Princess Yi Yang remarked, "Empress Lu truly has an eye for talent. She picked a suitable match for a princess after such a long search. It's just unfortunate that Second Sister made the wrong move."

Yuan Jun asked, "What arrangements do you have in mind for Second Sister now?"

Princess Yi Yang replied, "Her royal title shall be revoked, and she'll first become a Taoist nun. In a few years, if she behaves well and still wishes to marry, we'll find her a husband. If not, we'll let her be."

Yuan Jun nodded slightly, clearly approving of this course of action.

Princess Yi Yang continued, "Commoner Lu has already left the palace to join Second Brother's household... Consort Jiang is also willing to leave the palace and join Third Brother's residence. The Ministry of Rites is discussing a title for Fourth Brother as well. But aren't you worried they might conspire together once more?"

Yuan Jun said calmly, "A grasshopper in autumn, what fear is there? It's all because of Father's actions; why take out anger on our siblings?"

Princess Yi Yang sighed. "Too much benevolence might invite others to bully you. But I know you can handle it. That's fine, but what about Father... What are your plans?"

Yuan Jun replied, "If he wants to seek immortality, let him."

Princess Yi Yang asked, "Continue taking those golden pills?"

Yuan Jun shook his head. "I've stopped the golden pills. For them, he even summoned me and requested to participate in the grand sacrificial ceremony, asking me to continue letting Daoist Chong Xiao refine the pills for him. It's ridiculous that he thinks I'm hindering his path to immortality. He spoke with utmost tact, expressing regret for his past actions, and even listed his contributions, believing that my connection to immortals is due to his suppression and challenges."

Princess Yi Yang gazed deeply into his eyes. "A connection to immortals... It's not entirely untrue."

Yuan Jun knew whom Princess Yi Yang was referring to but remained silent.

Instead, she asked, "Heng usually makes decisive decisions. Why the hesitation now? Why have you avoided Concubine Rong since ascending the throne?"

Yuan Jun looked at Princess Yi Yang. His dark eyes, once as calm as a bottomless abyss, now seemed ignited by a longing. The young emperor, praised by his subjects as a sage, had a burning obsession and stubbornness in his eyes: "I regret it."

"I do not wish to let her go."

"Yet, is the first act of my ascension to the throne to renounce a past promise? It troubles my conscience."

"My heart is burdened with guilt, hence I dare not meet her."