Chapter 273

Chapter 273

At the end of July, Xiao Zhen led three thousand elite soldiers selected from the Eastern Camp, Western Camp, Southern Camp, and the Imperial Guard to inspect Qingzhou and the four southern provinces. The accompanying generals were Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, Zhang Wengong, Sun Dian, Zhao Jin, and Qi Yun, and they also brought along the two young men, Zhang Chao and Tong Shan.

This trip aimed to inspect the garrisons in the five regions and oversee the administrative affairs of the twenty-four prefectures along the route. Before departing, Xiao Zhen issued an edict to the two governors and the twenty-four prefects, instructing them to prepare the land tax and labor service accounts as well as the various governmental documents related to water conservancy and civil engineering projects in each prefecture. This included reviewing legal cases. Xiao Zhen planned to stay two days in each prefecture, allowing the people to present their grievances if they had any.

Just as a hunter must know the mountains and forests where he hunts, Emperor Xiao Zhen felt it was essential to personally inspect each province under his rule. Jinzhou and Jiqzhou were the first he became acquainted with, followed by Liaozhou, Chang’an, and Liangzhou. By the time he became emperor, the only regions he had yet to visit were Qingzhou and the southern territories. This trip to implement the new policies provided a perfect opportunity to not only inspect the border troops but also to intimidate the restless gentry.

In the previous dynasty, emperors made grand tours, often spending vast sums on food and accommodations along the way. Xiao Zhen, however, did not allow local officials to make a fuss. He brought his own provisions, and the three thousand cavalry set up camp wherever they stopped at night according to military regulations.

With the emperor on tour, the Empress was left in the capital to oversee the state affairs.

Tong Sui, who had commanded troops before, frequently met with tens of thousands of soldiers every day. After assisting Xiao Zhen in reviewing memorials in the imperial study, she would occasionally be seen by ministers. She was not a reclusive empress hidden in the deep palace, so she didn’t even need to bother with a screen. She sat openly in the main hall, presiding over the court meetings without the need for a screen.

To this day, the civil and military officials in the capital were most familiar with the temperaments of the emperor and empress. Those who were overly rigid had been dismissed or transferred by Emperor Xiao Zhen. Those who remained in the capital were tactful. Moreover, the two leading prime ministers, the heads of the civil officials, were willing to assist the empress in handling state affairs. The leading military officials, Lu Gong, Qi Heng, and Xiao Shouyi, were respectful to the empress. Why would anyone dare to oppose her?

After all, no official in the court could compare to the empress’s long list of battle achievements.

Thus, Tong Sui’s regency went very smoothly. Everyone continued doing things as they had before.

On this day, as Tong Sui entered the main hall, she heard Wei Qi cough a couple of times. He had already deliberately lowered the sound, but the hall was so spacious that even the slightest noise became very noticeable.

Court meetings only discussed state affairs. After the meeting adjourned, Tong Sui quietly instructed Eunuch Liu.

Shortly after, a young eunuch escorted an imperial physician to the Council of State, who was there to examine Prime Minister Wei’s pulse at the Empress’s command.

Wei Qi was overwhelmed with gratitude. As the imperial physician felt his pulse, his eyes turned red.

Song Lan lowered his gaze and opened a memorial, but his thoughts drifted back to a time when he lived in Taohuagou.

Taohuagou was at the foot of a mountain. It was cool in the summer but especially cold in the winter. The first year he went there, he was unaccustomed to it and caught a cold.

The Tong family had received silver to manage the food for both father and son. The medicine was decocted by Zhou Qing, but she was often busy and would frequently have Tong Sui deliver the medicine.

At that time, Tong Sui was only eleven or twelve years old. Though young, she was sensible. After watching him take his medicine, she would feel if the kang was warm enough. If it was cold, the young girl would gather firewood and add it to the stove, making her far more reliable than the young son who only stared at her.

“Mr. Song, I hunted this rabbit myself. I didn’t shoot it accurately, and my father said the pelt wouldn’t sell for much. Since you’re afraid of the cold, I made you a pair of shoes. They might be a bit ugly, but they’re quite warm. Please try them on?”

Perhaps it was because autumn arrived too quickly, or perhaps Wei Qi had infected him. Before long, Song Lan also began coughing.

However, there were no court meetings on these two days, and when Song Lan went to present matters in the imperial study, he would deliberately hold back from coughing in front of Tong Sui.

Tong Sui noticed his flushed face and the tone of his voice, which was characteristic of someone suffering from a cold.

Soon after Song Lan returned to the Council of State, an imperial physician arrived, sent by Her Majesty the Empress to feel his pulse.

Wei Qi looked up and saw Song Lan wiping tears from his eyes, not just a couple of drops.

After the imperial physician left, Wei Qi teased, “Without Her Majesty here, Brother Song, isn’t this a bit too much?”

Song Lan paid him no mind.

In Huai’an, Xiao Yan, riding a horse, suddenly sneezed several times.

Xiao Ye immediately rode a short distance away and said, somewhat exasperated, “I told you to wear more, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve caught a cold. Serves you right.”

Xiao Yan: "It's nonsense, but it must be your third sister-in-law thinking about me."

Xiao Ye, Sun Dian, and Zhang Wengong exchanged glances, speechless.

Coughing, Zhao Jin said, "Though I’m an outsider here, I’ve heard enough to know that’s hard to believe."

Qi Yun smiled without saying a word.

Xiao Yan fell silent.

After some laughter and conversation, half an hour later, the group arrived at Huai'an City, where the local governor had already gathered his subordinates to await them.

Xiao Zhen intended to stay in Huai'an for two days, and three thousand soldiers would be staying with him at the official post station.

Huai'an was a land of fish and rice, with many wealthy and influential families. Among them, the Gu family was the most prominent, having produced many high-ranking officials in the past. The current elder of the Gu family was highly respected and was the leading figure among the local gentry. This time, the new policy of the imperial court required the gentry to pay land taxes. Elder Gu, however, led the gentry in open opposition. When the local governor tried to persuade them, they resisted. When the governor sent troops to intimidate them, Elder Gu tied a white silk ribbon to the old locust tree at the alley entrance, vowing to take his own life if the new dynasty mistreated scholars, to protest on behalf of all literati.

The governor frowned. "Your Majesty, I can’t afford to push him too hard. I can sacrifice my career, but I can’t risk Your Majesty being criticized by the scholars of Huai'an."

Xiao Yan angrily said, "That old fool! Always threatening to die—what kind of scholar does that make him? He’s no different from the village thugs! Your Majesty, let me handle him. If he really ties the rope, I’ll kick the stool out from under him."

Xiao Zhen asked the governor, "How many gentry families are involved?"

The governor replied, "Seven in total. Including their clans and servants, they number around five thousand people. The Gu family alone accounts for two thousand."

Taking the Gu family as an example, some relatives might be distant, but they all trace back to a common ancestor. Thus, there is some interaction, especially when it concerns the entire Gu clan. When such issues arise, all those with the Gu surname gather together to face external threats.

Xiao Zhen: "With so many descendants in the Gu family, has anyone committed a crime?"

The governor replied, "Yes, but the Gu family is too powerful. Some commoners are too afraid to report to the authorities, some have settled privately after receiving compensation from the Gu family, and even when cases are brought to the officials, I cannot do much due to insufficient evidence."

Xiao Zhen: "Announce that tomorrow, I will personally hear cases against the Gu family. Anyone with evidence can report and receive a reward. If the accused are found guilty, the victims will be compensated twice their losses."

The governor, invigorated, said, "Yes!"

The next morning, officials and soldiers from Xiao Zhen's entourage went to the counties or villages where the Gu family members resided, loudly announcing that the emperor would hear cases related to the Gu family. Upon hearing this, the news spread quickly, reaching those who had been wronged by the Gu family. Thus, villagers who had their legs broken by the Gu family's dandies came to report, and those whose lands and wives were taken also found officials to cry out their grievances.

Seated in the main hall, Xiao Zhen let the governor preside over the trials. When witnesses were needed, Xiao Zhen sent cavalry to fetch them. In just one day, six charges were established against the Gu family. While none were capital offenses warranting extermination, several direct descendants were sentenced to penal labor, imprisonment, or even execution.

That evening, the other gentry families rushed to the officials, agreeing to pay the required taxes and promising to remain compliant.

Upon learning this, Elder Gu, feeling abandoned by his gentry friends and disturbed by his anxious clansmen, had no choice but to meet with the governor, stating his willingness to cooperate with the new imperial policy.

The governor sneered, "As subjects of the Great Wei Dynasty, following the new policy is our duty. If you do not cooperate, I will arrest you tomorrow."

Elder Gu, sweating profusely, said, "We will definitely cooperate, please rest assured!"

The governor: "You may leave now."

Elder Gu: "What about the investigation?"

The governor: "Given your family’s noble tradition, you should have raised your clansmen better. As for the black sheep, we’ll root them out to help you preserve your family’s honor."

Ridiculous! We need to make an example of someone to enforce the new policy. Now that the Gu family has offered themselves, how could we let them off just because they are afraid?

A thorough and strict investigation was needed to instill fear in the other gentry families, ensuring they wouldn’t dare to harbor any lucky thoughts again.

From Luoyang to Qingzhou, from Qingzhou to Hezhou, Jingzhou, and finally back to Luoyang from the north, Xiao Zhen toured for three full months before returning to the imperial palace on the third day of the eleventh lunar month.

It was exactly noon, and Tong Sui was having a meal with Chengzu.

The little one was about to turn one year old, plump and healthy. He was still learning to speak clearly, but he walked very steadily and could feed himself with a spoon quite steadily too.

Xiao Zhen had entered without announcing his arrival, riding his horse directly to Qianyuan Palace. After dismounting, he walked towards the back palace with purposeful strides.

The winter wind was cold, and a heavy velvet curtain hung at the entrance of the main room. Tong Sui had just scooped a spoonful of soup and was about to drink it when she saw from the corner of her eye that the curtain was suddenly lifted high, and a tall, strong figure stepped in.

Tong Sui’s hand shook, and she stared at him in disbelief.

Xiao Zhen paused at the doorway, his gaze fixed on her.

A Fu, seeing this, hurriedly led the palace maids out. The wet nurse, seeing the little prince eating heartily, followed A Fu out.

Once the door curtain fell, Xiao Zhen took large steps to Tong Sui and lifted her into his arms, burying his face in her warm and fragrant neck.

Tong Sui tightly clung to his shoulders, happily saying, "You're back today. Why didn't you send a message in advance? I could have gone to welcome you."

Xiao Zhen: "If you came to welcome me, it would waste time riding back in a carriage. My horse is faster."

He looked up at her, and Tong Sui, observing his features from his eyes to his face, felt concerned and said, "You've lost weight."

Xiao Zhen: "As long as I haven't tanned."

Tong Sui smiled. After spending three months in the cold autumn and winter winds, his face had roughened a bit, but it didn't matter. He was still handsome.

The couple gazed at each other. Having finished half his bowl and struggling to scoop up the last few grains, Chengzu, getting anxious, sat on his little chair, swinging his legs and waving a small spoon at his mother in protest.

Tong Sui then let go of Xiao Zhen and added some more rice for the little one.

Chengzu continued eating, occasionally glancing at his father, who had sat down next to him. His bright black eyes, like those of a phoenix, showed no sign of strangeness or resistance.

Xiao Zhen gently said, "Call dad."

Chengzu pointed at the rice in his bowl and said, "Look, look, look!"