Chapter 109: Four Years.

Chapter 109: Four Years.

Winter gave way to spring as time marched on.

From the second year of the Celestial Reign, when the court first held the Martial Exam, a full four years had passed.

During these four years, much had transpired in both the imperial court and the inner palace.

After the mansions for the elder princesses were completed, the two princesses moved out of the palace one after another.

They had reached marriageable age. Since their birth mothers were still alive, Empress Mother Huo Ling did not interfere in their marriages but deferred to their birth mothers' judgment.

Having spent years secluded in the inner palace, Noble Dowager Consort and Dowager Consort Shu were completely out of touch with the eligible bachelors from noble houses in the capital. With Huo Ling’s permission, they hosted several flower-viewing banquets at their western suburban estates.

Though called flower-viewing banquets, everyone knew the real agenda.

This dynasty did not forbid princes consorts from holding official positions, so whether from aristocratic families, military families, the nobility, or scholarly circles, all were eager to forge marital ties with the imperial family.

If a family’s son could marry an elder princess, it would be the highest honor for the entire clan.

Princess Leping, who took after her mother's temperament, was gentle and refined. She did not resist her mother’s arrangements and, after attending several flower-viewing banquets, was betrothed to the son of the Vermilion Guard’s Commander Bai. Just over a year after their marriage, she became pregnant.

In contrast to Princess Leping was Princess Yang’an.

Two years younger than her elder sister, Princess Yang’an was more vivacious and headstrong in nature.

She attended every flower-viewing banquet enthusiastically, but each time Dowager Consort Shu asked which young nobleman had taken her fancy, she either shook her head, saying none had impressed her, or nodded and rattled off several names at once.

This frustrated Dowager Consort Shu so much that she complained to Noble Dowager Consort several times.

Once, Dowager Consort Shu was so exasperated that she even vented her frustrations to Huo Ling.

Huo Ling gave it little thought, but the day after Dowager Consort Shu’s complaint, Yang’an happened to visit the palace to pay her respects, bringing some southern delicacies as gifts.

Huo Ling, of course, wanted for nothing, but she still appreciated Yang’an’s thoughtful offering.

During their casual conversation, Huo Ling asked Yang’an a few questions about her marriage plans.

Yang’an had always been strong-willed from childhood. In response to Huo Ling’s inquiries, she simply said she was in no hurry and even proactively asked Huo Ling if she could assign her some tasks, expressing her desire to lighten her mother's load.

Hearing Yang’an’s request, Huo Ling allowed herself a small smile.

Truth be told, long before this, Huo Ling had been waiting for both Leping and Yang’an to ask her for authority.

There were many matters where Huo Ling could not appear personally, so she often had the two elder princesses act on her behalf.

But that was as far as it went.

She allowed them a brief taste of entering the political sphere before pulling back.

Authority—she could grant it to them.

But if they did not ask for it themselves, she would not offer it.

Without the courage to demand it for themselves, even if they possessed the ability to wield power, they lacked the will to wield it properly.

From that day onward, whenever there were occasions requiring her representation, Huo Ling almost exclusively assigned Yang’an.

It was only when Leping surfaced from the whirlwind of wedding preparations and joy that she finally noticed this shift.

An inexplicable sense of loss rose in her heart, dimly aware that she had let slip a crucial opportunity.

Yet when she saw the set of brand-new wedding robes laid out before her, she shook her head and pushed down the strange melancholy in her chest.

Everyone has their own choices.

What she wanted was different from what Yang’an desired.

She was destined never to become a figure like her father and mother, who could shape the world at will.

A life of peaceful comfort and wealth might not be a bad thing for her.

Besides Princess Leping, Huo Ze also tied the knot.

His wife was the daughter of the Marquis of Anyuan.

Unlike the declining Marquisate of Wuwei, the Marquisate of Anyuan was one of the leading noble houses.

Lady Guan was the youngest child of the Marquis of Anyuan and the only daughter among her siblings, the apple of her father and brothers’ eyes.

As fate would have it, after Huo Ze’s coming-of-age ceremony, Huo Shiming wrote a letter to Huo Ling, hoping she could help find a suitable match for Huo Ze.

At that time, Noble Dowager Consort and Dowager Consort Shu were hosting blossom-viewing parties.

Of course, such events wouldn’t only invite men.

Young ladies from noble families in the capital were also on the guest list.

Huo Ling just packed Huo Ze off to attend and told him to choose for himself.

As it turned out, Huo Ze acted much faster than Leping and Yang’an.

After attending a few banquets, he entered the palace and announced he had set his heart on a young lady.

Huo Ling asked briefly and found that the two indeed shared some fortunate coincidences.

At the first banquet, Lady Guan’s carriage had broken down, and Huo Ze happened to ride by, lending a hand.

In the following banquets, the two had several interactions and conversations.

After Huo Ze left, Huo Ling sought out the Duchess of Jingguo and asked her to sound out Lady Guan’s inclinations.

After all, it was necessary to know whether the young lady was willing.

The Duchess of Jingguo was on good terms with the Marchioness of Anyuan and lost no time in carrying out Huo Ling’s request, quickly learning the Anyuan Marquisate’s position.

Though Huo Ling often felt her younger brother was a bit hot-headed, not the most level-headed, and looked downright silly horsing around with An Er...

As her own brother, Huo Ze’s pedigree and looks were top-notch.

His official rank wasn’t the highest among his peers, but still respectable, and he had the privilege of attending the emperor.

By all measures, he was a real catch.

Since both sides were willing, there was nothing more to say.

Huo Ling had an imperial marriage decree drawn up.

Not long after the decree was issued, Fang Shi arrived in the capital to prepare for Huo Ze’s wedding.

The day after Fang Shi arrived in the capital, she paid a courtesy visit to Huo Ling.

Huo Ling invited Fang Shi to stay for lunch and then ordered Wu Mo to escort her out of the palace.

Watching Fang Shi's departing figure,

Huo Ling gave a slight shake of her head.

Fang Shi wasn't particularly good at hiding her emotions. Although she tried her best to act as she had before, Huo Ling could clearly sense that something was different.

In the past, Fang Shi had not been especially close, but there was no distance in her words or actions.

Now, however, there was a certain degree of formality and polite detachment.

The death of Fang Jianbai had ultimately left an indelible rift between Fang Shi and herself.

...

Apart from the affairs of those close to her, the imperial court had seen even greater changes over these four years.

In the eighth month of the second year of the Tian Shou era, the first Martial Exam ended fairly successfully.

Learning from the problems that arose during the first exam, Zhou Jiamu and the Ministry of War worked together to revise the regulations.

By the eighth month of the fourth year of the Tian Shou era, the court conducted a second Martial Exam.

After two full years of preparation and promotion, news of the exam had spread far and wide.

Even people in remote towns had heard of it.

Unlike the first time, which had been hastily organized, allowing only those from the capital and nearby towns to register and participate,

the second exam provided ample time, enabling more aspiring candidates to take part.

To fully institutionalize the Martial Exam, Zhou Jiamu proposed that starting from this second exam, it would no longer be personally overseen by him but instead managed by the Ministry of War.

The examination subjects were also expanded from the original horseback archery, wrestling, stone lifting, and hand-to-hand combat to include blade demonstration and foot archery.

After passing all six subjects, candidates were tested on military strategy.

Regardless of their performance in this section, they would not be eliminated.

However, those who did well in strategy would have their rankings raised, while those who performed poorly would have their rankings lowered.

This was primarily because most martial artists lacked literary skills.

Those proficient in both were few, and military officers should still prioritize martial prowess.

The number of applicants for the second Martial Exam was unexpectedly high, topping three thousand.

After several days of competition, fifty-six individuals were ultimately selected.

Among these fifty-six, those from noble military families still made up most.

But what pleased Zhou Jiamu was that the number of candidates from humble backgrounds who made the cut had also increased.

Notably, the top scorer was a man named Qin Hu, hailing from a small county in Cangzhou, whose father was just a blacksmith.

He beat everyone to take first place, not because of his performance on the tactics and military strategy exam.

In fact, he was dead last among the fifty-six candidates in the written test.

But his performance in the Martial Exam was so outstanding that he still walked away with the top prize, despite dragging his score down with the theory portion.

The day after the rankings were announced, the Ministry of War hosted a banquet for the examinees.

On the third day after the rankings were announced, Huo Ling held a banquet in the palace.

Upon meeting Qin Hu in person, Huo Ling smiled and praised, "Truly a fierce warrior. No, I should say, a tiger of a general."

She ordered that Qin Hu be bestowed with a suit of gleaming armor and a razor-sharp prized blade.

As for the other examinees, Huo Ling only gave them blades, not armor.

Even Zhou Jiamu confided to Huo Ling,

"If the Martial Exam turns up even one Qin Hu, then the court’s effort is more than justified."

However, while some rejoiced, others were displeased.

At the first grand court assembly after the Martial Exam concluded, a court official filed a complaint, arguing that the Martial Exam was too costly and a burden on the people.

With over three thousand examinees traveling from distant regions to the capital, the cost of food and lodging along the way added up.

If they earned a rank, it would naturally be cause for celebration.

But if they failed, their trip back would still cost a fortune.

Zhou Jiamu fumed at these officials—they had already held two Martial Exams, yet they still wouldn't let the matter rest.

Though annoyed, Huo Ling kept her cool.

While the complaint was clearly meant to stir trouble, the issues raised were real.

Most examinees’ skills were pretty lackluster—only one or two out of six tests were passable at best.

Frankly, candidates like that had no business taking the exam.

"This official makes a fair point," Huo Ling said.

"Then let it be so. From now on, when we hold the Martial Exam, we’ll hold qualifying rounds first in each province, allowing all interested candidates to register and compete locally.

Only those who pass the qualifiers can come to the capital for the final exam.

Their travel expenses to the capital will be partially covered by their local provincial governments. Once they earn a rank, it will count as an achievement for their home province.

On their journey to the capital, they may stay at relay stations along the way, where accommodations and meals will be provided. This way, we avoid unnecessary burdens on the people and minimize the strain on the state treasury."

The officials in the hall had nothing to say and could only retreat awkwardly.

"Any other thoughts on the Martial Exam?" Huo Ling smiled faintly at the assembly. "Bring them up now, so the third Martial Exam runs even smoother and helps us find more top-tier generals for the court."

Others who’d planned to complain quietly backed off upon hearing this.

Since the Empress Dowager had already declared there would be a third Martial Exam, what was the point of fighting it now...

Once the wheels were in motion, there was no stopping it now.

After the grand court session, Huo Ling summoned Zhou Jiamu once again.

As soon as he saw her, Zhou Jiamu beamed, "Your Majesty is brilliant."

Wu Mo, standing nearby, burst out laughing and teased Huo Ling, "Your Majesty, doesn't General Zhou's line sound familiar?"

Huo Ling played along, "Indeed it does. I heard it just a few days ago."

Zhou Jiamu froze momentarily, then carefully thought back—it really was true.

Hastily adding, Zhou Jiamu tried to recover, "This only proves that Your Majesty truly embodies wisdom and valor in my eyes, with peerless majesty."

Huo Ling said, "Now that's a new one."

After the laughter died down, Huo Ling grew serious. "General Zhou, have you been perfectly comfortable staying in the capital?"

Zhou Jiamu replied, "Perfectly comfortable."

"Then, which do you prefer—the capital or the border?"

Zhou Jiamu was momentarily stunned before a spark of hope ignited in his eyes. "Your Majesty, do you mean…?"

Huo Ling had never planned to keep Zhou Jiamu sidelined. She had placed him in the capital, in the position of Grand Secretary of the Huiwu Pavilion, simply to observe him further.

In the matter of the Martial Exam, Zhou Jiamu had proved himself to her satisfaction.

Thus, Huo Ling felt the moment was right.

She intended to appoint Zhou Jiamu as the Lieutenant General of Yanbei, dispatching him to his post with half of the examinees.

Zhou Jiamu immediately asked, "Your Majesty, does this half include Qin Hu?"

He was fearless on the battlefield, always charging at the forefront.

But he lacked the raw ferocity—what he needed was a fierce warrior like Qin Hu to charge alongside him, smashing through enemy lines.

Huo Ling smiled. "Naturally, it includes him. Such a fierce warrior belongs on a battlefield like Yanbei."

...

The implementation and execution of the Martial Exam marked a rare point of agreement between Huo Ling and Wen Shengan.

Huo Ling wished to promote those of humble origins, while Wen Shengan was happy to see the nobility's military power diminished.

Beyond the Martial Exam, however, conflicts between Huo Ling and Wen Shengan never let up across many other court matters.

For example, when Huo Ling proposed allowing some junior imperial consorts to leave the palace and return home to marry freely, Wen Shengan, having gotten wind of it, opposed the idea alongside Chen Haoyan.

With the two regents leading the opposition, the resistance was fierce.

If the matter of the imperial consorts was just a small skirmish, then the greatest conflict between Huo Ling and Wen Shengan lay in the issue of Ji Xianshan.

Wen Shengan was profoundly displeased with Huo Ling residing in the Shouning Palace.

Only because Ji Xianshan was still young did Wen Shengan suppress his dissatisfaction, unable to voice it openly.

He waited impatiently for the day Ji Xianshan would turn six.

The moment Ji Xianshan's sixth birthday passed, Wen Shengan submitted a memorial—

Empress Dowager, it is time for the young emperor to move to Taihe Palace—the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

He has turned six and is now old enough to reside in the palace independently.

Huo Ling laughed in exasperation—just how impatient are they?

In truth, Huo Ling had already arranged for Ji Xianshan’s belongings to be packed and chosen attendants who would serve him in Taihe Palace. But seeing Wen Shengan so eager, she decided to drag her feet.

She kept Wen Shengan waiting for a full month, only beginning the relocation once other court officials also began making noises about it.

Huo Ling had assumed Wen Shengan’s next memorial would urge her to move from Shouning Palace in the front court back to Cining Palace in the inner palace.

Wen Shengan did indeed submit another memorial, though not on the subject of Huo Ling’s relocation.

He understood all too well that before the emperor’s grand wedding, the Empress Dowager would never retreat to the inner palace to live in seclusion.

After all, the late emperor’s edict had clearly stated: Before the new emperor’s grand wedding, military and state affairs shall be subject to the Empress Dowager’s decisions.

Thus, what Wen Shengan raised in his memorial was Ji Xianshan’s education.

A ruler raised exclusively by women could hardly be the wise sovereign the court officials hoped for.

More importantly, the Empress Dowager’s influence over His Imperial Majesty was already profound—he could no longer stand by while she dominated the emperor’s education.

Over the past few years, the Empress Dowager had actively encouraged the creation of folk songs and poems intended for educating children.

She even collected widely accessible writings from across the realm, compiling them into volumes to serve as the emperor’s early lessons.

This was, of course, a commendable effort.

But Wen Shengan had burned the midnight oil going through those books, and he found many passages drawn directly from the *Classic of Filial Piety*, all centering on filial obedience!

The Empress Dowager was clearly trying to shape an emperor who would obey her without question—bound hand and foot by filial duty.