Chapter 161

Chapter 161

In August, during the autumn harvest, Qingyang received a cart of autumn grains sent to the palace by Prince Yong, delivered by his tomb guards. Though not valuable, these grains, personally cultivated by Prince Yong, embodied his deep affection for his imperial niece.

Qingyang not only praised Prince Yong's devotion to guarding the imperial tomb before the assembled civil and military officials at court but also distributed the autumn grains to the mess halls of various government offices, allowing all officials, high and low, to personally savor the Prince's heartfelt gesture.

The grain supply was modest. Qin Ren received only a bowl of thin corn porridge and a slender steamed sweet potato, which he consumed along with a few breakfast items prepared by the mess hall.

After leaving work at dusk, Qin Ren met his elder brother Qin Hong on the palace path. As they walked side by side, Qin Ren muttered, "Did you get the thin porridge and sweet potato, Brother? Good thing Prince Yong said he'd only guard the tomb for a year."

Having grown up in luxury, he was accustomed to white rice porridge; corn porridge was too coarse for his throat. Qin Ren even suspected his sister distributed Prince Yong's autumn grains to the officials precisely because she disliked corn porridge.

Qin Hong, who found little common ground with his hot-tempered second brother or his third brother, who often grumbled about trivialities, merely cast a disapproving glance at Qin Ren. He then changed the subject: "The Emperor asked you to visit Minister Xie yesterday. How is his condition?"

Xie Xunwen, the Minister of Rites, had been on extended leave since last autumn. This year, he had bravely endured to preside over their father's funeral and his younger sister's enthronement. With these two major events concluded, Xie Xunwen continued his sick leave at home and had even submitted a resignation. His younger sister, like their father before her, did not approve it, instead urging Xie Xunwen to focus on recovery—a clear sign of the Emperor's favor.

Qin Ren's expression grew solemn, and he sighed, "I fear he won't last more than a few days."

Xie Xunwen's ailments began with a leg condition. As it worsened with age, his entire body became afflicted. Even an outsider like Qin Ren found his suffering unbearable.

Qin Hong also sighed, acknowledging that birth, old age, sickness, and death were inescapable realities.

Three days later, news of Xie Xunwen's passing indeed arrived from the Xie residence.

Qingyang sent condolences to the Xie family. Since the age of three, she had frequently visited the front court, becoming more familiar with these old officials than her elder brothers. Her extensive interactions fostered a deeper bond, so each time an old official passed, Qingyang would grieve for a while.

Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng once again perceived the new Emperor's subtly concerned gaze upon him. Had he not known the new Emperor to be broad-minded and free of resentment for his past offensive remarks, Yan Xizheng might have suspected she was using his age as a pretext to hint at his resignation and retirement.

When truly incapable, Yan Xizheng would not cling to the power of the Left Chancellor. However, with his health still robust and his mind clear, Yan Xizheng wished to serve for a few more years. The initial period of a dynastic transition was most susceptible to unrest, and Yan Xizheng believed he still held some influence to assist the new Emperor through this vulnerable time.

Shortly after the Minister of Rites was replaced, in September, Marquis of Jining Li Yu, the Qingzhou Commander, suddenly died after a heavy drinking session. When the Deputy Commander's report of his death reached the capital, Qingyang remained silent for a long time after reading it. The court officials who learned the news also expressed deep regret. A respected Commander, a general who had contributed to the founding of the nation—dying on the battlefield or in the military camp would have been an honor. But to die from excessive drinking…

Considering Li Yu's increasingly corpulent physique—obesity itself predisposed one to illness, and reckless drinking only hastened the call of the King of Hell.

Setting aside the profound grief and wailing of the Marquis of Jining's Li family, Qingyang, as Emperor, now had to select a new Qingzhou Commander. Qingzhou commanded 70,000 troops and was closer to the capital than border regions like Liaozhou, Liangzhou, and Yunzhou. The 70,000 Qingzhou forces could repel pirates from the east, reinforce Jizhou from the north, and protect the capital from the west. Thus, the new Qingzhou Commander must possess military leadership and unwavering loyalty to the new Emperor.

Qingyang already had a candidate in mind for the new Commander, though she had initially considered this person for Jizhou, as Jizhou Commander Guo Yanqing was the oldest. Who would have thought that Li Yu would be the first among the several Commanders to pass away?

Before Qingyang could summon the candidate for a discussion, Fan Zhong rushed to the Imperial Study to recommend himself. The mountain of a man, Imperial Guard Commander, knelt before Qingyang and spoke earnestly: "Whatever wealth and status I have today are entirely due to the late Emperor's promotion. I remained loyal to the late Emperor and am equally devoted to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty believes I am more useful in the Imperial Guard, I will continue to guard the imperial city for you. If Your Majesty believes I can better serve you in Qingzhou, then I swear I will manage the Qingzhou troops well for you. As long as I am there, I will never allow any mishaps in Qingzhou!"

Fan Zhong might appear to be a brute, but he had actually mastered strategy and tactics during the late Emperor's eastern and western campaigns. However, with many renowned generals during the late Emperor's reign, Fan Zhong, as a junior, never had the chance to distinguish himself. Thus, he diligently served as the Imperial Guard Commander. As Lv Guangzu, Deng Chong, and Li Yu passed away one after another, Fan Zhong finally saw an opportunity to be posted as a field general—though he feared the new Emperor might mistake him for a brute like Prince Yong and Deng Chong.

Qingyang had never regarded Fan Zhong as a brute. A true brute would not sincerely respect a three- or four-year-old princess, nor would he be the first to support a Crown Princess.

Over the years, although Fan Zhong had no opportunity to earn merits outside, Qingyang had witnessed how he trained the 3,000 elite troops of the Imperial Guard and how he arranged troops in the Imperial Guard's small training ground. Initially, when she found Fan Zhong's words and actions inconsistent with his rough appearance, Qingyang even asked her father about Fan Zhong and heard nothing but praise from him.

Her father was closest to Deng Chong and Prince Yong, sometimes praising and sometimes scolding them. But her father never mentioned any flaws in Fan Zhong, which spoke volumes about Fan Zhong's steadiness and trustworthiness.

Qingyang trusted her father's judgment even more than her own assessment of Fan Zhong after knowing him for over a decade.

After telling Fan Zhong to rise, Qingyang asked, "If you go to Qingzhou, who will serve as my Imperial Guard Commander?"

Fan Zhong thought Zhang Su would be quite suitable, but he was not foolish enough to make decisions for the Emperor or recommend anyone without authorization. Not recommending anyone was always safe, while recommending someone might not align with the Emperor's true intentions.

Just as during the late Emperor's discussions with senior officials about the Crown Prince selection, Fan Zhong grinned foolishly: "The imperial city belongs to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty orders me to serve as the Imperial Guard Commander, I will guard the imperial city with my life. But if Your Majesty asks me to recommend someone else, I don't have Minister Yang's eye for talent. This matter is best decided by Your Majesty. I will only pass on all my skills for guarding the imperial city to the chosen candidate."

Qingyang smiled. Fan Zhong was so articulate that she felt somewhat reluctant to transfer him away from the capital.

Reluctant as she was, Fan Zhong was indeed the best candidate in Qingyang's mind for the new Qingzhou Commander.

That night, after lying down in bed, Qingyang rested on Zhang Su's chest and mentioned Fan Zhong's self-recommendation.

Zhang Su had the scholarly, handsome face of a literati but the robust build of a military family descendant. However, when he was physically and mentally relaxed, his broad, sturdy chest was not rigid. On gradually cooling autumn nights like this, Qingyang enjoyed being held firmly in his arms and also liked actively lying on his warm chest.

But as she spoke halfway, Zhang Su's entire body tensed up completely. Qingyang naturally noticed, but when she looked at his face, he showed no sign of tension, maintaining his usual composed and indifferent expression.

"What does Your Majesty intend to do?" Unless the Emperor sought advice, such as on military routes, Zhang Su would not make decisions for her.

Qingyang: "I've approved his request. But once he leaves, we still need to select a new Imperial Guard Commander."

Zhang Su's breathing had already become ragged because of the Emperor's seemingly intentional yet unintentional leg movements. Because the Emperor was discussing official matters, Zhang Su deliberately avoided her all-seeing eyes. It was only when the Emperor mentioned the Imperial Guard Commander—and he was in the Imperial Guard—that he reacted.

He grasped the Emperor's right leg resting on him with one hand, Zhang Su met her teasing dark eyes and said hoarsely, "No matter whom Your Majesty chooses, as long as it is not me."

He and the Emperor had no children yet. Even before he married the Crown Princess, some had speculated that their future children would revert to the Zhang family name after three generations.

Zhang Su had no ambitions. His father and brothers had no ambitions, and Zhang Su would never teach his and the Emperor's children to harbor such treasonable ambitions.

But he would not simply assume that the Emperor would trust him completely regardless of his actions just because he lacked ambition or because of their affectionate relationship. Whether as husband and wife or as ruler and subject, for one party to earn the other's trust, they must first act in a trustworthy manner.

With one sentence and one look from Zhang Su, Qingyang understood his meaning.

She kissed his eyes and whispered, "I did not mean to test you. But since you are in the Imperial Guard, if I did not inform you in advance, it would seem distant."

Zhang Su: "I understand. What I meant to say is that I only wish to stay by Your Majesty's side. If serving as an official might affect Your Majesty's affection for me, I would rather reside peacefully in the inner palace than wear that official robe."

Qingyang laughed at him: "So lacking ambition?"

Zhang Su's hands began to move upward as he lifted his head to kiss the Emperor's slender neck and ear: "On the contrary, I have the ambition to be the sole recipient of Your Majesty's favor."

The Emperor has so many officials. As old officials pass away, new ones will be promoted. But the Emperor's bedmates—

Zhang Su could not predict how many there would be, so he aimed to be the only one.

.

Fan Zhong went to serve as the Qingzhou Commander, and Qingyang promoted his eldest son, Fan Huaizhong, as the new Imperial Guard Commander.

Although Fan Huaizhong was four years younger than Zhang Su, just twenty-one this year, he had a thick beard and head of hair. Standing next to Zhang Su, those who did not know them would surely think Fan Huaizhong was the older one. Of course, Qingyang did not promote Fan Huaizhong out of affection for Fan Zhong alone. Fan Huaizhong had long been following her—whether when she was fifteen and riding horses in the Western Park, sixteen and accompanying her father on southern inspections, or seventeen and fighting against the East Hu in the north, Fan Huaizhong had never left her side. While Zhang Su's protection of her was mixed with feelings from their childhood friendship, Fan Huaizhong's devotion was purely out of loyalty.

This was known to all officials in the capital, so no one questioned Fan Huaizhong's qualifications as the Imperial Guard Commander.

At the end of September, Qin Liang again visited his father at the imperial tomb—a monthly ritual that had long become customary and required no concealment.

Upon learning that Li Yu had died from drinking, Prince Yong felt somewhat upset but also scorned Li Yu.

Upon hearing that Fan Zhong had become the Qingzhou Commander, Prince Yong disdainfully said, "A minor soldier who rose by flattering your eldest uncle—Qingyang actually dares to use him."

Qin Liang: "Regardless of whether Fan Zhong is capable, his loyalty to the Emperor is unquestionable. With him there, Qingzhou will certainly not fall into chaos."

Reminded by his son, Prince Yong began to worry: "When he was in the capital, the Imperial Guard only had 3,000 troops, which couldn't do much. Now that he's in Qingzhou, what if he impulsively leads the Qingzhou troops to attack?"

Qin Liang smiled confidently: "He won't. His utmost loyalty is to Uncle. As long as it is Uncle's descendants succeeding the throne, he will only follow orders."

The Commanders of various regions and all officials under heaven were the same. Thus, they only needed to change things in the capital.