Chapter 243

Chapter 243

The Xingping Emperor passed away, and just like when Empress Guo died, the coffin was placed in the Grand Hall.

Once again, members of the two branches of the Xiao Family, along with Tong Sui, Madam He, and Lin Ningfang, entered the palace to pay their respects by crying.

The senior ladies, including Lady Lu, Madam Fan, and Lady Feng, knelt in front of them, but this time they only cried without reminiscing. The Xingping Emperor had rarely interacted with these female relatives as Empress Guo had.

Madam He wailed for a while but soon began to worry about Tong Sui’s condition. One must be especially careful in the first three months of pregnancy, and Tong Sui had only confirmed her pregnancy a few days ago.

However, Tong Sui wasn’t as delicate. Compared to standing below a pass and shooting arrows at the city wall for an hour, kneeling here was merely a minor discomfort for her knees.

At that moment, a young white-robed eunuch carrying a thick prayer mat approached and stopped in front of Tong Sui amidst the puzzled looks of the other women. He bowed and said, "Her Majesty the Empress said that Lady Anguo has meritorious service in protecting and saving the nation. When the late emperor heard about your pregnancy, he was greatly pleased and granted you a longevity lock. Now that the late emperor has passed away, the ritual cannot be neglected, but we must also not overly tire you, lest we fail to live up to the late emperor’s expectations. A prayer mat is specially granted to you. If you feel unwell later, you may leave the palace early."

The current Empress, Empress Wang, was the new emperor’s wife and was kneeling before the coffin alongside him.

Tong Sui kowtowed towards the Grand Hall, tearfully thanking the late emperor and Empress Wang for their grace.

Tong Sui didn’t shed many tears for the Xingping Emperor, but kneeling here, she remembered the time when her family had surrendered to his forces in Wei County. She thought of the old master finding a wise lord and feeling gratified and joyful, and just thinking of the old master brought tears to Tong Sui’s eyes.

The young eunuch helped her set up the mat and, after assisting Tong Sui to kneel properly, left.

The surrounding women praised Empress Wang’s benevolence in tearful voices.

Kneeling behind Tong Sui, Pan Yuerou discreetly rubbed her own sore and numb knees.

In the evening, Xiao Zhen hurried back to Xianhe Manor and found Tong Sui leaning against a couch in the secondary chamber. He observed her complexion and asked, "How is your body? Is there any discomfort?"

Tong Sui smiled at him and said, "It’s okay. Grandfather specially came to check on me, and everything is good."

Xiao Zhen took off the coarse cloth and official robe, which had been covered in dust from a day’s exposure, washed his hands, sat next to Tong Sui, and rolled up her trouser legs.

Her slender, well-proportioned legs were pale and smooth, but her knees were red and carried a faint medicinal scent.

Xiao Zhen lowered her trouser legs and slowly began to massage her, noticing two pots of peonies on the windowsill. He asked, "Are you thinking of the Queen Mother?"

He remembered that these two pots of peonies had been bestowed by Queen Mother Guo.

Tong Sui picked up the longevity lock placed nearby and sighed, "I was just thinking of the late emperor. I remembered these flowers were about to bloom, so I had the maid move them here."

Initially, Tong Sui resented the Xingping Emperor, but she understood he hadn’t meant to cause harm. Now that he had followed the old master, Tong Sui remembered more of the Xingping Emperor’s virtues—his appreciation of her family and his extraordinary trust in her.

Except for being overly eager in the campaign against Liang, the Xingping Emperor was a good emperor to his ministers and the people.

Xiao Zhen thought of the Xingping Emperor’s figure against the setting sun at dusk yesterday. The emperor had come on horseback and left on horseback.

"The late emperor was a man of passion," Xiao Zhen concluded after a long silence.

Being passionate and righteous, the late emperor had won the support of many generals, including the old master. But also because of his passion and righteousness, he was burdened with regret and guilt for the death of the old master and hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Liang territory, which led to his downfall.

The old master didn’t blame the late emperor, and Xiao Zhen didn’t either. As a general, one must follow the emperor’s orders. Loyalty to the emperor and serving the country was the way of heaven.

If one did not wish to follow the emperor’s orders, they should not become a general.

The new emperor, Han Bao, and his wife would stay in the grand hall to watch over the vigil for the entire night.

Watching over the vigil didn’t require kneeling; even the strongest person would be exhausted after a full night on their knees.

In front of the coffin, there were two white cloth kneeling pads, with Emperor Han Bao and Queen Wang sitting side by side.

After patrolling the palace, Marquis Fan Zhao returned to the grand hall and sat on the ground directly facing the coffin inside.

Seeing this, Queen Wang said to Emperor Han Bao, "Your Majesty, please grant Marquis Fan a cushion. It's late at night, and the stones are cold; even the strongest man cannot endure such conditions."

Han Bao instructed Liu Gonggong, "Go and tell Marquis Fan to return to his mansion or his duty room to rest. The Empress and I will watch over the late emperor’s vigil."

Liu Gonggong left.

Marquis Fan Zhao’s stubborn voice, loud and clear, reached inside the hall. "I'm not leaving; I want to accompany the late emperor on his final journey."

Han Bao looked at his wife.

Queen Wang sighed, "Marquis Fan is also expressing his filial piety..."

Han Bao said, "Filial piety? When did I gain an extra brother?"

Queen Wang lowered her head and, after a moment, when Han Bao's expression had softened, she continued softly, "I have already granted a cushion to Lady Anguo today. Marquis Fan has been by the late emperor's side since childhood, and their bond as monarch and subject is extraordinary. If Your Majesty does not grant him a cushion, people might suspect a rift between you and Marquis Fan. Your Majesty, the late emperor has just passed, and it is crucial to maintain stability in the court."

Only then did Han Bao give a subtle nod to the chief eunuch, Chang Gonggong, standing beside him.

Chang Gonggong immediately fetched a cushion and went outside, but before he could speak, Marquis Fan Zhao, glaring angrily, said, "I, a full-grown man, am not as delicate as a pregnant woman. Take it away!"

Chang Gonggong was startled by the shout.

Inside the hall, Han Bao clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger.

Queen Wang said, "...Marquis Fan probably doesn't know that the cushion was granted by Your Majesty and thought Chang Gonggong took the liberty to do so."

Recalling the teachings of his late father, Han Bao took a deep breath.

State affairs could not be delayed; even though the late emperor had not yet been buried, Emperor Han Bao had to attend court and handle state affairs.

The Second Chancellor first drafted several new era names to be implemented next year, and Han Bao chose "Xianqing." From then on, he would be known as the Xianqing Emperor, symbolizing a new era of peace and prosperity.

Government affairs in various regions continued as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary. The Xianqing Emperor was primarily concerned about the two border generals, Lv Sheng and Huang Qilin, as well as the potential threats from the Liang Kingdom and Ling Kingdom to the south.

Wei Qi said, "The military strength of the Liang and Ling Kingdoms is far from what it used to be. They won't initiate conflicts with our Great Yu for several years. The late emperor had already dispatched secret agents to monitor Lv Sheng and Huang Qilin. If they make any moves, the secret agents will report back to the court immediately. Your Majesty need not worry too much."

Xianqing Emperor said, "Lv Sheng is no major concern; to the east, there is Zhao Liangchen, and to the south, there is Yuan Loushan's army to deter him. Huang Qilin would never dare to move north. What I'm worried about is his potential secret alliance with the Ling Kingdom to launch a coordinated attack on Hezhou, catching Hezhou off guard. If Hezhou falls, the Ling Kingdom could advance straight into the heart of the capital from the eastern front."

The twenty-four-year-old Xianqing Emperor stood with his hands behind his back in front of the map. His expression was solemn as he considered the potential threats to Hezhou.

Wei Qi, watching the Xianqing Emperor's finger trace the map, furrowed his brow slightly before responding, "Your Majesty, Hezhou has 40,000 naval troops and 40,000 elite infantry. It can defend against the Ling Kingdom to the south and guard against Qingzhou to the north. Hezhou did not fall during the six years of war in the previous dynasty; it should be fine now."

Xianqing Emperor said, his voice heavy with worry, "Is that so? But who is the commander stationed there now? During the previous dynasty, it was the renowned general Qin Sizhu who defended Hezhou. Who is stationed there now?"

Hearing this tone, Song Lan realized that the Xianqing Emperor harbored doubts about Pan Yong's loyalty and looked at Wei Qi for reassurance.

Wei Qi, having anticipated the young emperor's thoughts when this topic was brought up, said, "Your Majesty, Pan Yong is both brave and strategic. Even Qin Sizhu could not outmatch him. If Qin Siszu could hold Hezhou for many years, Pan Yong should have no problem doing the same."

Xianqing Emperor sneered, "Pan Yong, a blacksmith by trade, likely had little formal education. He rose to the rank of third-rank guard commander thanks to the old Xiao elder and secured a commission as an imperial envoy by fawning over Marquis Fan, earning a minor achievement. Moreover, Pan Yong killed Qin Sizhu using dishonorable methods that cannot be openly discussed. In a fair fight, he would never have been a match for Qin Sizhu, let alone face Huang Qilin or the Ling Kingdom's navy in open battle."

Wei Qi replied, "A hero’s worth isn’t determined by their birth. Pan Yong's ability to kill Qin Sizhu and stabilize Hezhou for two years are genuine military achievements. How can Your Majesty make such disdainful remarks simply because of his lowly background?"

Xianqing Emperor said, "I don't mean to look down on him, but I can't overestimate him either. In any case, he's not suitable to continue defending Hezhou."

Wei Qi asked, "Then whom does Your Majesty have in mind?"

Xianqing Emperor replied, "Wang Dingxian has successfully defended Hanzhou for years, winning nine out of ten battles, and is well-versed in naval warfare. His reputation is enough to intimidate the troops of the Ling Kingdom. I intend to transfer him to guard Hezhou and move Pan Yong to Hanzhou."

Wei Qi said, "The Wang and Qiu families continue to greedily hold vast tracts of land in Hanzhou and Jiangzhou. The revenue they submit amounts to less than one-tenth of their actual assets. The late emperor chose not to pursue their crimes for the sake of stabilizing the southern frontier. How can Your Majesty entrust the critical region of Hezhou to Wang Dingxian?"

Xianqing Emperor smiled, "The late emperor held them back, so they were reserved in their actions. Now that I'm giving Wang Dingxian an important role, he will feel immense gratitude and proactively return the ill-gotten assets."

Wei Qi said, "Even if he does return them, this man..."

Xianqing Emperor interrupted Wei Qi with a stern expression, "I've reviewed Wang Dingxian's record. He has successfully defended Hanzhou for years, winning nine out of ten battles. He looks far more suitable to guard Hezhou than Pan Yong. During the late emperor's time, the Ling Kingdom and Huang Qilin didn't dare make any rash moves, which allowed Pan Yong to hold Hezhou for two years. But now, things are different, and I must act now to ensure our defenses are secure. Prime Minister Song, what is your opinion?"

Under the Xianqing Emperor's icy gaze, Prime Minister Song Lan lowered his eyes and said, "In terms of military achievements and reputation, Wang Dingxian does indeed surpass Pan Yong."

The Xianqing Emperor was pleased, "Then it's settled. Have the edict drafted."

When the decree was first announced in the court, Fan Zhao immediately stepped forward and glared at the emperor's father-in-law, Wang Bangxian, saying, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, Wang Dingxian is an ambitious man who nearly lost several battles against the Ling Kingdom's navy and only survived thanks to Xie Jian's timely reinforcements. We cannot entrust such a man with an empty reputation!"

Wang Bangxian, the esteemed Minister of Personnel, was furious at being publicly insulted and called a petty man, but since Fan Zhao hadn't mentioned him by name, he couldn't refute.

The Xianqing Emperor was displeased and stared at Fan Zhao, "No one is sowing discord before me. Marquis Fan, you shouldn’t judge a nobleman with your petty mindset."

Fan Zhao said, "Then why, Your Majesty, do you want to replace Pan Yong?"

Xianqing Emperor sneered, "Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. Although Wang Dingxian has had some near-defeats, he also has dozens of victories. What has Pan Yong achieved besides scheming to eliminate Qin Sizhu?"

Fan Zhao opened his mouth to speak, but Lu Gong quickly pulled him back, blinking rapidly to suppress Fan Zhao's temper.

After the court session ended, Fan Zhao could no longer contain his anger and glared at Wang Bangxian's retreating figure, cursing loudly.

Lu Gong said, "Stop it. The imperial decree has been issued; what good does it do to shout here?"

Fan Zhao said, "I need to speak with the emperor. He must have been misled by the Wang family!"