Chapter 143: The Choice.

Chapter 143: The Decision

"So, have you decided?"

Huo Ling gave Huo Ze ample time to think before speaking again.

"The title of Duke of Chengen can only be inherited by the father of the Empress or the Empress Dowager. Originally, you were unqualified. Now, I am willing to make an exception. Will you accept my generosity, or do you prefer to learn the hard way?"

Huo Ze swallowed hard, his voice strained: "Sister, these accusations are too harsh against Father. All these years, he’s followed your orders. Even... even when you transferred him from Xingtang Pass, he dared not show resentment..."

Huo Ling raised an eyebrow, cutting him off: "So my decision left him resentful. He put on such a good act in front of me—I never saw his private dissatisfaction."

She tapped the memorial: "Forming factions to seize power, being unworthy of his position—was I wrong about anything?" This memorial was proof enough.

Huo Ze paled. He instinctively reached for her arm but stopped, clutching her sleeve instead.

He pleaded desperately: "Submitting this will humiliate Father and make our family a laughingstock. Sister, for Father’s years of toil, if not his achievements, spare him this once."

Huo Ling asked: "Did you ever speak like this to the Duke of Chengen?"

Huo Ze opened his mouth but stayed silent.

Huo Ling pressed: "You worry this memorial will shame him before the court. But when he submitted his, did you warn him it would make me lose face?"

Over the years, she’d demoted Chen Haoyan and Cui Ming, forced Wen Shengan out, finally cementing her authority.

Opponents had no choice but to bow to her will.

She was ready to act freely—until her own father stabbed her in the back.

How ridiculous.

The first challenger wasn’t the suppressed nobility or Wen faction remnants, but her own father.

What would the court think?

After a long silence, Huo Ze blurted: "Sister, just give me one more chance! I’ll persuade Father to apologize. Let’s talk things through as a family."

There was no way he’d submit that memorial.

As Father’s only son, he’d never be harmed. But his sister?

She resented them both now. Her promises might prove empty. Even if honored, his dukedom would bring no dignity, his career finished.

"You’ve made your choice." Huo Ling turned away. "Summon the guards—"

Cui Hongyi entered promptly: "Your Majesty."

"Prepare a palace chamber. Escort the Imperial Uncle there—house him comfortably until he reconsiders. Bring him back when ready."

Huo Ze stiffened.

Her message was clear: she was holding him hostage.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"Sister, as an outsider, it's improper for me to stay long in the palace. Besides, Guan Shi and the children are waiting for me at home..."

Even now, Huo Ze still hoped to move Huo Ling with sentiment.

Huo Ling, however, laughed softly. "What does that matter? The palace is vast, and the Emperor remains unmarried. There are plenty of places to stay. This Empress Dowager hasn't seen Guan Shi and my precious nephew for some time now. If you miss them, you can always inform the eunuchs, and I'll send an entourage to bring them into the palace for a short stay."

Huo Ze's words caught in his throat, afraid that continuing would lead Huo Ling to hold his wife and son hostage.

The eunuchs lifted him by both arms and forcibly dragged him out.

Regret grew and spread in Huo Ze's heart. If only he had known... if only...

As he stepped out of the main hall, Huo Ze tripped over the high threshold. Glancing sideways, he caught sight of Ji Xianshan waiting in the corridor and shot a pleading glance.

But before he could utter a word, Cui Hongyi ordered the men to quicken their pace, dragging him away from Ji Xianshan.

Ji Xianshan stood silently, observing the scene.

"Your Majesty," Wu Mo approached Ji Xianshan. "You may see Her Majesty now."

"Mother." Ji Xianshan poured her a cup of tea. "Have some tea first."

Warmth spread from the teacup to her palm, softened Huo Ling's expression somewhat. "When did you arrive?"

"I just got here."

Both mother and son tacitly avoided mentioning Huo Ze.

Ji Xianshan said, "There's something I don't understand and would like your guidance, Mother."

Huo Ling asked, "About the Northern Expedition?"

"Yes. From your attitude, it seems you don't agree with sending troops against Great Mu."

"Do you support the Northern Expedition?" Huo Ling took a sip of tea, suddenly understanding where the Duke of Chengen's confidence stemmed from.

Ji Xianshan hesitated. "...I naturally yield to Mother's wisdom."

"But I'd like to hear your thoughts first." Huo Ling pulled Ji Xianshan to sit down. "During this time, the Duke of Chengen has instructed you extensively and must have told you much about Great Yan and Great Mu. So, what do you think?"

Ji Xianshan indeed had many questions.

During the grand court assembly, he had sensed the palpable tension between Huo Ling and Huo Shiming. The scene he had just witnessed further confirmed his thoughts.

Mother and the Huo family must have developed a rift.

Naturally, Ji Xianshan was curious about this, but it wasn't the most pressing matter at hand. He knew how to prioritize, and in his view, the most urgent issue now was the Northern Expedition mentioned in the Duke of Chengen's memorial.

Ji Xianshan presented his thoughts on the Northern Expedition in detail.

Huo Ling asked, "Are these thoughts your own, or did the Duke of Chengen tell you?"

After a moment of recollection, Ji Xianshan replied earnestly, "The Duke of Chengen never broached the Northern Expedition directly with me—had he done so, I would have come to seek your opinion immediately. These conclusions are drawn from the Duke of Chengen's teachings and intelligence from the imperial spies."

When one leaf blocks your view, many things remain unclear.

But looking back now, the signs become apparent. "During the New Year festivities, the Duke of Chengen often mentioned the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun in my presence. He even suggested adding studies about Qiang Rong and Great Mu."

Here is the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Huo Ling raised her eyebrows slightly: "Did this matter originate with the Duke of Chengen, rather than being your own spur-of-the-moment idea?"

Great Mu had always been Great Yan's greatest threat, especially since last winter when Great Mu's succession crisis worsened. Thus, when Song Xu approached her saying Ji Xianshan intended to add such a course, Huo Ling didn't give it much thought.

She couldn't control every detail. As Ji Xianshan grew older, her parenting approach evolved to focus on major issues while letting minor ones slide.

Ji Xianshan nodded: "The Duke of Chengen's proposal matched my own thinking, so I agreed to it."

Huo Ling handed Huo Shiming's petition for war to Ji Xianshan: "Read this too. After reading it, tell me again—should we go to war?"

During the grand court assembly earlier, Ji Xianshan had only glimpsed the petition out of the corner of his eye, unable to discern its specifics.

Now, as he carefully perused it, he realized more officials had cosigned it with the Duke of Chengen than he had imagined.

Moreover, General An Hongyu's name was right there among them.

If there was anyone in the court who knew Great Mu best, it would undoubtedly be An Hongyu.

Under normal circumstances, Ji Xianshan would have earnestly considered An Hongyu's proposal. Compared to his own total inexperience, An Hongyu's judgment was naturally more trustworthy.

But now...

Ji Xianshan looked up at Huo Ling: "I know, Mother, you've always hoped to take back the Yan-Yun territories. When you chose the era name 'Celestial Reign,' you were already planning a northern campaign against Great Mu. You don't fear war with Great Mu, but you disagree with the Duke of Chengen. You believe now isn't the right time."

Huo Ling smiled, her face showing satisfaction: "I fear this might be Great Mu's plot."

Ji Xianshan started: "Great Mu's plot?"

The realization hit him: "Is Emperor Yongqing feigning illness?"

Huo Ling replied: "That's exactly what I suspect."

Ji Xianshan felt a jolt.

Many of Great Yan's supposed advantages were predicated on Emperor Yongqing's stroke and unconsciousness.

If he was feigning illness, then these advantages were merely what the enemy wanted them to believe.

Huo Ling had laid things out clearly. While Ji Xianshan trusted her judgment, he was reluctant to abandon such a rare opportunity: "What if this isn't Great Mu's plot?"

Huo Ling asked: "Son, is it difficult for Great Yan to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures?"

"Difficult."

This was a feat several generations had failed to accomplish, seen by all as an unparalleled achievement.

"Such a monumental task that generations couldn't complete—why do you think we can achieve it now? While our national power has grown, have we established clear superiority over Great Mu?"

Ji Xianshan reread the petition with this question in mind.

The conditions listed were indeed Great Yan's advantages.

But were they enough to secure victory?

"The Northern Expedition's purpose is to reclaim Yan-Yun. Without success, it becomes a drain on our strength."

Huo Ling's voice pulled Ji Xianshan back.

She looked at him, her gentle tone belying words that hit him hard:

"The officials who cosigned likely didn't consider the consequences. Their faults can wait. But the Duke of Chengen—who proposed this war and drafted such a detailed petition—do you think he was unaware of the risks?

"If he knew yet persisted, gambling with soldiers' lives and rallying officials to pressure the throne—how should he be punished?"