Chapter 197: Emperor Zhaoxin

Chapter 197: Emperor Zhaoxin

On the tenth day of the sixth month in the twenty-fourth year of Emperor Yuanhua, the heavens absolved all sins, and the skies stretched clear and boundless.

Qiu Huanian blinked awake at five in the morning, stifling a yawn, as Du Yunse helped him out of bed.

Summer mornings break early, and a faint glow already filtered through the gauze window. The morning chill mingled with lingering fragments of dreams, while the air carried a serene fragrance.

Qiu Huanian nuzzled against Du Yunse, clinging to his warmth, resisting the idea of getting up.

Du Yunse’s thumb gently brushed behind Qiu Huanian’s ear, the slight roughness from years of holding a brush causing a faint tickle.

Qiu Huanian chuckled and shivered slightly, feeling more awake.

“Ah, it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten up at this hour. It must be tough for you to go to work every day.”

Du Yunse helped Qiu Huanian out of bed, letting him lean on his shoulder to put on his shoes, then led him to the enamel washstand to freshen up.

“Once we get to Tianjin, we won’t need to wake up at this time anymore.”

Qiu Huanian wiped his face with a silk handkerchief and turned to ask, “Has the date been set?”

“This has been in the works for a long time. It’s just a matter of time before it begins. His Majesty will issue the decree as soon as he ascends the throne.”

“Tianjin Prefecture will take over the former Hejian Prefecture’s magistrate’s office. The Ministry of Personnel has already sent people to renovate it. Once we arrive in Tianjin, our family can move in directly.”

In ancient Chinese administrative architecture, from imperial palaces and princely mansions down to county offices, the design followed the principle of “official affairs in the front, living quarters in the back.” This meant the building was divided into two parts: the front for official business and the back for residence.

In the case of the Forbidden City, the front was where civil and military officials attended court and the emperor handled state affairs, while the back was reserved for the imperial concubines. For a county office, the front was where the magistrate conducted official business, and the back was where the magistrate’s family lived.

Though the scale, form, and status varied greatly, the underlying principle was the same.

Du Yunse was appointed as the magistrate of Tianjin Prefecture, the highest-ranking official in the prefecture, and naturally, he could bring his family to live in the magistrate’s office.

Tianjin Prefecture was formed by merging two prefectures into a directly administered prefecture. The magistrate’s rank was third-grade, two levels higher than an ordinary magistrate, so the office should have been more spacious and ornate.

However, Du Yunse was in a hurry to take office and didn’t have time to expand or build a new magistrate’s office. A quick renovation of the former Hejian Prefecture’s magistrate’s office would do.

Neither Du Yunse nor Qiu Huanian cared much for pomp and circumstance; they only wanted to live comfortably and contentedly.

Thinking about leaving the capital, where they had lived for over a year, Qiu Huanian felt a twinge of reluctance. But this feeling was quickly overshadowed by the excitement of new opportunities.

With the establishment of Tianjin Port and the official opening of maritime trade, he could finally learn about other nations in this era and seek out valuable crops, technologies, and riches!

Though he couldn’t set sail himself anytime soon, organizing expeditions to explore the world sounded fascinating.

At the same time, Tianjin Port would soon host merchants and envoys from various countries. The thought was thrilling—he could study how to profitably trade with foreigners, bringing in gold and silver, and kickstarting international commerce.

Filled with anticipation, Qiu Huanian attended the new emperor’s coronation ceremony.

This was arguably the grandest ritual in feudal dynasties, showcasing the culmination of millennia-old rites and regulations.

As a highly accomplished county magistrate, Qiu Huanian’s position was near the front, just one rank behind the Azure Phoenix Lord. Many princesses and county magistresses of royal blood stood behind him.

Some felt slighted, their faces showing hints of displeasure. However, the ceremony’s seating arrangement was strictly determined by the Ministry of Rites according to protocol and imperial decree. No one dared to cause even the slightest disturbance during the new emperor’s coronation.

Du Yunse stood among the ranks of civil and military officials, also near the very front.

The new emperor’s accession proclamation was written by the renowned great scholar Wen Huiyang, and its recitation was entrusted to Wen Huiyang’s disciple, the unprecedented six-time top scorer in imperial examinations and Hanlin Academy Compiler, Du Yunse.

Qiu Huanian stood inside the hall, with a clear view of the ceremony's proceedings. More people were lined up outside, filling the expansive area in front of the Fengtian Hall. They could see nothing clearly and could only follow the loud commands of the Ministry of Rites officials, repeatedly kneeling and rising.

Even so, entering the imperial city and participating in the coronation ceremony in front of the Fengtian Hall was an honor that countless nobles coveted but could not attain.

Qiu Huanian once again saw the retired Emperor Yuanhua, who had secluded himself in the Kunning Palace.

The last time he saw Emperor Yuanhua was a year ago during the Longevity Festival. At that time, though Emperor Yuanhua was over fifty, he was vigorous and exuded the aura of a powerful ruler.

However, in just a year, Emperor Yuanhua had aged rapidly. His hair was half black and half white, the flesh on his face no longer clung to his bones, and his movements had become slow and sluggish. It seemed as if he had aged not one year, but ten.

Emperor Yuanhua said nothing more. He calmly gazed at the officials inside and outside the Fengtian Hall and handed the imperial jade seal, symbolizing the nation's destiny, to the new emperor.

Du Yunse, holding the hem of his court robe with one hand, stepped up to the high platform. He took the bright yellow imperial decree from the tray held by the Ministry of Rites officials with both hands, faced the solemn crowd, and unrolled the scroll.

Everyone couldn't help but think that after today, Du Yunse would no longer be just a Hanlin Academy Compiler of the sixth rank.

The court robe he wore was of the third rank. Rising to such a high position just a year after passing the imperial examination was truly enviable and awe-inspiring.

The decree written by Wen Huiyang was eloquent and grand, and when paired with Du Yunse's resonant voice, it echoed throughout the towering hall.

As the last word fell, the clouds in the sky suddenly dispersed, and brilliant sunlight poured down without reservation, illuminating the vast world.

The new emperor ascended the throne, changing the era name to "Zhaoxin," signifying the clarity of the great path and the renewal of the old. This year would end, and the next would be the first year of Zhaoxin.

The era of Emperor Zhaoxin of Great Yu had arrived.

Emperor Yuanhua did not linger. After the decree was read, he walked straight out of the hall. The crowd bowed their heads, watching the hem of the mighty emperor's robe rise continuously until he completely exited the Fengtian Hall, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Son of Heaven.

The coronation ceremony was not yet over. After the main rituals were completed, Emperor Zhaoxin, who had just received the jade seal, would bestow rewards upon the realm.

The new emperor's ascension was a cause for universal celebration. Amnesty, tax reductions, and the opening of special imperial examinations were all customary and would be praised by countless people as truly beneficial edicts for the populace.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites brought out the prepared imperial decrees and began to read them.

The general amnesty would reduce the punishment of criminals by one degree, but not all criminals could benefit. Crimes such as rebellion, treason, heinous acts, immorality, disrespect, and filial impiety were not included in the amnesty, collectively known as the "Ten Abominations."

Thus, those from rebellious families imprisoned in the dungeons would not escape punishment due to the amnesty.

Great Yu had enjoyed favorable weather in recent years. Under the leadership of Qiu Huanian, the Qishu County Princess, agricultural technology had continuously improved, and the nation's grain production had steadily increased.

With this foundation, Emperor Zhaoxin directly reduced the land tax by fifty percent for all farmland in the realm for this year and the next. After the decree was read, many officials familiar with taxation were secretly astonished. Upon understanding the reason, they couldn't help but feel admiration for the Qishu County Princess.

In addition, the opening of special imperial examinations was officially announced. The special examinations would include the provincial, metropolitan, and palace exams. An additional provincial exam would be held this August, and the metropolitan and palace exams would be held in the capital next year, the first year of Zhaoxin.

If Yun Cheng successfully passed the provincial exam this year, he would not waste the opportunity and could come to the capital next year to take the exams.

After reading these major customary edicts, it was finally time to reward specific individuals.

According to protocol, Emperor Zhaoxin would first ennoble the person who wrote his accession decree. Elevating this person's status would make his own ascension appear more in line with the will of heaven and flawless.

Qiu Huanian stood near the front and saw Wen Huiyang in the civil officials' line, dressed in formal court robes.

Wen Huiyang's face was calm, his eyes filled with a firm light. He adjusted his robe, held the ivory tablet with both hands, and just before the decree was read, suddenly took a side step out of the line.

Qiu Huanian's heart skipped a beat. He had a strong premonition that Wen Huiyang was about to do something earth-shattering.