Chapter 261

Chapter 261

On the afternoon of the second day of the twelfth lunar month, Qiao Changshun and Feng Ji finally arrived outside Luo City, dusty and weary from the journey.

The city gates were still under tight security, with merchants and common people forbidden from entering or leaving. The guards on the city walls added an extra layer of imposing solemnity to the capital.

Even the most valiant of generals, without an army by his side, would find it hard to escape the siege of tens of thousands of guards in the event of an incident.

Therefore, for border generals to dare to enter the capital at this time, they truly had to trust Xiao Zhen, or at least be willing to take that gamble.

Qiao Changshun said heartily, "I’ll lead the way for the Duke!"

Feng Ji smiled and spurred his horse to follow.

Anticipating their arrival, Zhang Wengong had been personally guarding the city gate for the past two days. Spotting the two from afar, he quickly ordered the soldiers below to open the gate.

Everyone had guessed that Feng Ji might come with Qiao Changshun and thus expected a delay, but until they saw them with their own eyes, there was always the lingering worry of another possibility.

"Greetings, Duke."

Zhang Wengong greeted him with a smile.

Feng Ji looked him over and praised, "Not bad, you're becoming quite extraordinary."

The young men brought up by the old general, who were once raw recruits in Shuozhou, had, after five years of training and experience, gradually lost their rural roughness and transformed into true commanders.

Qiao Changshun joked, "Duke, you're being partial. Why didn't you praise me?"

Feng Ji glanced at him and, hiding his smile, said, "Let's enter the palace first."

The Xianqing Emperor's coffin was still in the grand hall, and apart from the absence of its master, the palace seemed no different from two years ago.

Wei Qi and Lu Gong, having received the news, waited in advance at the main gate.

Wei Qi asked first, "Weren't you coming with Qiao Changshun?"

Feng Ji replied, "That kid is clever. Knowing you would come to welcome me, he said he needed to stop by his home in Anye Fang, a residential district, to freshen up before coming over."

Lu Gong sighed, "Xiao elder really knows how to raise them well."

Wei Qi added, "Even dragons have nine different offspring. The Xiao Family is destined to flourish, which is why the sons of this generation are so capable."

The late emperor and the Empress might not have been bad at raising children, but two of them had died young, and the one who survived...

He shook his head, not wanting to dwell on it further.

As they walked inside, Feng Ji asked quietly, "What exactly is going on?"

Some secrets should not be committed to paper, so the letter Lu Gong wrote to him was vague, only mentioning the outcome.

Lu Gong explained everything in detail.

Feng Ji cursed under his breath, "Damn it."

It was unclear whether he was referring to Fan Zhao or the Xianqing Emperor.

After paying respects to the Xianqing Emperor, Wei Qi went to wait for Qiao Changshun, while Feng Ji followed Lu Gong to a secluded spot, a list of questions waiting to be answered by his old friend.

"I see the palace guards are still the Imperial Guard, the elite guards who protect the emperor?"

"Yes, since the new emperor has not yet been enthroned, Lord Xiao feared that soldiers from other camps might cause chaos in the palace due to their lack of discipline. He temporarily put me in charge of three thousand Imperial Guards to keep watch. The rest are still in the Southern Camp, and according to Lord Xiao's plan, they will remain there as cavalry. They were originally the Jizhou cavalry, so there's no need to retrain them."

Feng Ji: "To have such a broad mind just after turning thirty, I feel ashamed in comparison. The accomplices of the rebels..."

Lu Gong: "They were all executed just last month."

"The imperial concubines in the palace?"

"Lord Xiao isn't handling that. He has asked the two chancellors to discuss it. The second chancellor has dismissed the concubines, sending them back to their families. Without any offspring, it's simpler this way."

Feng Ji: "A fresh start, which is for the best. By the way, has Lady Anguo given birth to her child?"

Lu Gong: "Prime Minister Wei specifically asked Doctor Zhou about it. He said it should be around the eighth of this month, but it might happen earlier. There's no fixed timing for such things."

Feng Ji: "If the child is born now, he will be the son of a duke or marquis. If Lord Xiao becomes emperor after the child is born, the child will be the son of an emperor."

Lu Gong: "Yes, so after Longshun pays his respects to the late emperor, we officials need to go through the motions and discuss it. Tomorrow morning, we'll formally request it three times."

——

At the Marquis’s residence, Zhang Wengong had sent word about Feng Ji and Qiao Changshun's arrival in the capital.

Tong Sui was delighted: "Finally, I'll get to see Longshun again. The last time was during the New Year's last year."

Xiao Zhen: "Do you miss him that much?"

Tong Sui said nothing and threw a cushion at him.

Xiao Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He caught the cushion and moved closer to her, extending his hand: "Go ahead and pinch or hit me if you want, but don't throw things. What if you hurt your back?"

Tong Sui: "If I do, it's your fault."

Xiao Zhen: "Alright, I won't say such things again. But he won't come here today; he needs to avoid suspicion."

The other brothers might need reminders, but Longshun certainly knows what’s appropriate.

Tong Sui: "Prime Minister Wei and the others should arrive tomorrow, right? What are you going to do?"

Xiao Zhen: "What do you think?"

Tong Sui smiled: "After you declined last time, Old Master Ma told me a few stories about the ancient ritual of three offers and three refusals of the throne. He said that ministers would propose the enthronement three times, and the person being offered the throne would refuse three times. Only on the fourth time would they accept. However, Old Master Ma also mentioned that the first few emperors' refusals were genuine humility or due to circumstances that made it inappropriate to ascend early. Later, it became just a formality, and because it lacked sincerity, it drew criticism."

Xiao Zhen: "Yes, too much of anything is bad. Yuan Loushan, Zhao Liangchen, Feng Ji, Xie Jian—they are all renowned generals who have served under three dynasties. They trust me, and they've come a long way to be here. How can I waste their time with formalities? Moreover, there might be conflicts at the borders at any time, and I need them to return quickly to defend our territory."

The dust has finally settled after half a month of stability, but the couple, who had finally settled down, found themselves unable to sleep tonight.

When Xiao Zhen turned over again, Tong Sui teased him: "You don’t have to show up tomorrow, so even if I'm not in good spirits, no one will notice. If you don't sleep now, people might guess you're only pretending to be calm."

Xiao Zhen turned to her: "I'm not pretending. I really don't care whether they want to enthrone me or not."

Anyone who opposes will face consequences, including imprisonment.

Tong Sui: "Then why are you nervous?"

Xiao Zhen: "It's been a year since I last saw Longshun. It's not just you who misses him; I do too."

Tong Sui: "..."

Xiao Zhen leaned over and kissed her with a smile.

Once he started, it was hard to stop, but Xiao Zhen still didn’t dare to be too forward, so he guided her hand instead.

Tong Sui said with disdain, "My hand is sore."

Xiao Zhen: "Just think of it this way, if you don’t do it this time, I might not be able to become a dragon tomorrow night."

Tong Sui: "..."

——

On the third day of the tenth lunar month, after breakfast, Madam He had just been playing hide-and-seek with Huai Zu when the doorkeeper reported that more officials had arrived, a large group of them once again.

Hiding under the table in the west room, Madam He was so startled that she almost knocked the table over!

Feeling a slight pain on her forehead, Madam He wore a joyful expression. She handed Huai Zu to the wet nurse and ran to find her husband, wanting to go out and see the commotion on the street.

Xiao Shouyi: "Last time, we didn’t know why they came. This time, we already know. What’s the point of going to see them again? Just wait at home."

Madam He: "What if the second son refuses again? Sigh, I’m more worked up about this than he is!"

Xiao Shouyi: "No, last time it was because the border generals were missing. This time, even Longshun and the others have come. There’s no reason for the second son to refuse again."

Madam He: "Forget it, I’ll go find Aman. You stay here and wait!"

Leaving her husband and the equally calm daughter-in-law behind, Madam He called her daughter, and the two of them rushed to the Marquis’s residence, pulling at each other along the way.

Xiao Zhen had already gone out, and only Liu Chu and Yan Mingxiu were with Tong Sui.

Madam He covered her chest and said, "Sigh, my heart is beating faster than it did when I married your second uncle."

Yan Mingxiu: "Then please come and sit down. Have some tea to calm yourself."

——

Outside the Marquis’s residence.

The doorkeeper opened the door, and as Xiao Zhen appeared, the civil and military officials kneeled down.

This time, they were all present. Wei Qi and Song Lan led the civil officials to kneel on the left, while Feng Ji and Lu Gong led the generals to kneel on the right.

Wei Qi: "Marquis Xiao, you are capable of enriching the people with your civil abilities and securing the nation with your martial skills. You are a wise ruler jointly recommended by us court officials and the border generals. At this critical time when the northern regions have just stabilized and much is left to be done, we request that Marquis Xiao ascend to the throne as emperor immediately, to protect the new dynasty and ensure eternal peace for our people!"

Civil and military officials: "Please, Marquis Xiao, ascend to the throne as emperor immediately!"

Xiao Zhen looked at the border generals: "Generals, do you truly believe that I, Xiao, am capable of shouldering this great responsibility?"

Feng Ji looked up and said in a resounding voice, "Yes, I have traveled a thousand miles to come here because I want to support the wise ruler in my heart. Looking across the court, only Marquis Xiao’s prestige and virtue are widely known throughout the world. Therefore, I ask Marquis Xiao to put aside any doubts and take on the responsibility for the sake of the people’s well-being. From now on, whatever concerns the emperor will also concern us. Even if we are to be reduced to dust, we will serve you loyally until the end."

Xie Jian: "If you don’t agree today, I’ll kneel here until the end of time and never return to Jingzhou."

Yuan Loushan: "Only with you as emperor can the borders be stable. What’s the point of me returning to Liangzhou?"

Zhao Liangchen: "I came from Da Tong, and along the way, the people in the counties were all praising your kindness. Please ascend to the throne and follow the will of the people!"

The remaining border generals: "If you do not ascend the throne, we will kneel here forever, no matter how long it takes!" Qi Heng, who had been about to speak, fell silent.

It's understandable for civil officials, but how come these border generals are all so eloquent?

At this moment, people from the capital, having heard the news, flooded in like a tidal wave, filling the street where the Xiao Family lived, and stopped only when they reached both sides of the officials, filling the alley on their knees: "We humbly request Your Majesty to ascend the throne!"

Xiao Shouyi and Lin Ningfang led the servants from the Duke's residence out, kneeling in the small area in front of their gate, joining the plea for Xiao Zhen to become emperor.

At the same time, Liu Chu and Yan Mingxiu led Madam He, Xiao Yuchan, and the servants from the Marquis’s residence to kneel behind Xiao Zhen in the courtyard.

Tong Sui sat alone in the hall. She couldn't see the crowd outside, but amidst the waves of earnest requests for Xiao Zhen to ascend the throne, after a sudden silence, she heard Xiao Zhen's resolute voice: "Since all of you regard me as a wise ruler, I shall take on this great responsibility, and strive to live up to the people and the realm!"

"Long live the wise emperor!"

After three kneelings and nine kowtows, the imperial guards guided the people to exit the alley, and the officials, following the new emperor's order, stood up, each visibly relieved.

They had already run back and forth three times, saying all kinds of praises, and if the emperor hadn't agreed, they would have had to go for a fourth round of hassle.

Wei Qi: "Since Your Majesty has ascended the throne, please move into the imperial palace as soon as possible. We've already had the Imperial Astronomer select an auspicious date. The coronation can take place on the sixth day, to announce it to the realm."

Xiao Zhen: "The coronation ceremony can follow the auspicious date, but there's no rush to move into the palace. I will only move in together with the Empress once she is well enough."

Wei Qi: "But, Your Majesty, if the Empress hasn't given birth yet, it's fine to move these two days as well."

Xiao Zhen: "Neither the Empress nor I are in any hurry. Moreover, the late emperor's coffin is still here. Rushing in would be disrespectful."

Wei Qi: "..."

Got it. We'll arrange the late emperor's funeral right away!