Chapter 69 Court Session

Chapter 69: Morning Court

Perhaps the spiritual energy Hu Si had given Lu Jiming was taking effect. The heavy, cumbersome belly around his waist and abdomen was no longer the main reason his rest was disturbed. He managed to sleep soundly and woke only when night had already fallen.

Wei Yan had long since returned to the palace. Seeing Lu Jiming awake, he stepped forward to hand him an outer robe. Since they wouldn't be going out again at night, Lu Jiming didn't bother with a belt. He had a palace attendant summon Ning Zhifei to join them for dinner.

Ning Zhifei was always accompanied by Yan Huai. Yan Huai appeared to be a cold, aloof person, yet he possessed an extraordinarily thick skin, not finding it the least bit inappropriate to join them at the table.

At first, Wei Yan would tease Yan Huai about it, but as time went on, he grew tired of mentioning it and simply let him be.

Lu Jiming, having been busy, hadn't seen Ning Zhifei for several days. He asked about his recent doings as usual, inquiring what lessons his tutor was currently teaching. Ning Zhifei answered each question one by one.

After dinner, Lu Jiming wasn't sleepy. It was only then that he turned to Wei Yan and asked, "During my nap, I vaguely heard someone calling you?"

Wei Yan didn't hide it from him. He explained the matter of Silla and gave a detailed account of the discussion that had taken place in the imperial study that afternoon and its lack of outcome.

Of course, there had been no conclusion. Some believed they should not dispatch troops, advocating for watching from the sidelines as the superior strategy, lest the Liao people take advantage of Qi's troop movements towards Silla to launch an attack on Qi.

Wei Yan naturally paid no heed to this, as Qi needed Silla's submission. If they stood by and did nothing, once the new king ascended the throne, Qi's act of watching from the sidelines would undoubtedly create a rift between the two nations.

But deciding whom to aid with troops was also a problem. The various factions argued noisily and at cross purposes. Wei Yan thought that if these people weren't mindful of his presence in the imperial study, they probably would have come to blows.

"What do you think, Xuping?" Wei Yan asked.

"I need to think about it," Lu Jiming replied. He also knew the Silla Crown Prince was not a suitable ally, yet the Third Prince didn't seem like someone who could be easily won over either.

Silla was distant, beyond the vast sea. Lu Jiming couldn't judge the situation there from such a distance.

However, when it came to dealings with Silla, Lu Jiming indeed had some experience.

In his previous life, in order to find the Nanping treasure to save A-Luan, Lu Jiming had used his network of contacts to establish communication with the Silla royal family. At that time, to identify a viable partner for cooperation, Lu Jiming had thoroughly investigated those Silla royals.

Thinking of this, Lu Jiming already had a plan roughly formed in his mind.

"Forget it, we'll discuss it at tomorrow's morning court," Wei Yan said. "We argued over this bothersome matter all afternoon. No need to talk state affairs with you in the evening as well. It's not like state affairs are the only thing we have to talk about between us."

Lu Jiming smiled, thinking that was true. There was no rush; they could discuss it at tomorrow's morning court.

Having slept for so long, Lu Jiming was now very alert and needed to do something to expend his energy. However, some very suitable activities had already been taken care of earlier in the afternoon. Wei Yan, afraid of overdoing it, didn't dare to get handsy again.

Besides, when the two of them were together, aside from state affairs and matters of intimacy, there should always be other things to do.

So, Wei Yan had a palace attendant fetch the atlas Lu Jiming had given him for his seventeenth birthday from the imperial study. He sat with Lu Jiming to read it together.

This set of atlases didn't just contain maps of the famous mountains and great rivers within Qi's borders; they were also accompanied by textual explanations and the author's personal reflections from his visits, making them far from dull.

Looking at this set of books, Lu Jiming couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.

On the day he impulsively decided to swap the jade pendant he was going to give Wei Yan for this atlas, he hadn't imagined that many years later, he would be sitting shoulder to shoulder with Wei Yan, reading this very book.

And even with A-Luan.

Thinking of this, Lu Jiming gently stroked his belly again.

Good A-Luan, grow up quickly. Your father can't wait to see you healthy and well.

"Xuping, have you been to many places before?" Wei Yan asked. Having been the Crown Prince since childhood, he actually hadn't traveled to many places, which was why he particularly enjoyed reading atlases and travelogues.

"While parents are alive, one does not travel far. Besides, I still had my studies. At most, I went out to sea with Cifeng, but I always returned home the same night," Lu Jiming thought for a moment and said. "However, on my journey to the capital for the imperial examinations, I traveled by land and visited quite a few places along the way."

A thought stirred in Wei Yan's heart: "After the child is born, we can have the Crown Prince oversee state affairs, and we can travel to various places."

Lu Jiming covered his lips with a light laugh, clearly feeling A-Luan inside his belly give a kick.

--

Due to his undercover inspection of imperial examination candidates and subsequent period of recuperation, Lu Jiming hadn't attended court for several months. His sudden appearance in the ranks of court officials today once again attracted considerable attention.

After all, Lu Jiming wasn't just attending court alone now; he was appearing in the Hall of Golden Chimes with the Crown Prince personally acknowledged by the Emperor.

Today was a minor court assembly, attended only by important ministers, so everyone was waiting inside the hall, not having to stand in the courtyard outside.

According to Wei Yan's wishes, Lu Jiming could only participate in minor assemblies now. He couldn't bear to let him stand outside in the wind with his large belly.

Lu Jiming, however, didn't mind. There were other court officials who were pregnant; if others didn't find it a problem, why should he?

These words actually annoyed Wei Yan: "Others are others. Becoming an official, attaining high rank, and bringing glory to one's descendants—is that achieved easily? But for me, sitting on the dragon throne, to let you and the child stand in the draft—what kind of person would that make me? If you don't agree, I'll have a chair added next to the dragon throne, and we'll listen to governance together."

Lu Jiming naturally refused. If he went to the hall to listen to governance, what would be the point of being a court official? They might as well have two sages presiding over the court together. So, he could only agree to Wei Yan's condition: before A-Luan was born, he would only attend minor court assemblies.

Although Lu Jiming felt many glances directed his way, these court officials were all old foxes. Regardless of what they were thinking inwardly, they showed not a trace of emotion on their faces. The civil officials standing near Lu Jiming even smiled and greeted him.

"I heard yesterday in the imperial study, it was quite a spectacular scene—Lord Wang and Lord Li almost came to blows. I wonder what His Majesty ultimately intends. Lord Lu, you know the Emperor's mind best. Give us a hint in advance, so we're not completely in the dark later," a shrewd civil official adept at trimming his sails to the wind asked Lu Jiming.

"Lord Liu, you jest. I've been unwell recently, recuperating behind closed doors. I haven't yet been briefed by His Majesty on what exactly is happening at court," Lu Jiming didn't take the bait. Instead, he asked in return, "You mentioned a quarrel in the imperial study yesterday. What was it actually about?"

The man shook his head, saying he wasn't clear either.

Soon, Wei Yan entered the hall. Seeing there were no other miscellaneous matters, he got straight to the point and began discussing Silla.

As this was the first matter involving external military deployment since Wei Yan's accession, the civil and military officials argued incessantly, neither side yielding an inch.

Lu Jiming listened to the various viewpoints without saying a word.

"The Crown Prince is in the prime of his life and strength, undoubtedly the natural choice," someone said. "If we don't seize this opportunity to dispatch troops in assistance, it would be unfortunate if future discord arises between our dynasties because of it."

"The Crown Prince harbors wolfish ambitions. He is not as easily controlled as the Third Prince. If we elevate such a person, I fear Silla will be thrown into chaos," another held a different view.

"The Third Prince already has Liao blood. If he ascends the throne, it remains to be seen whose vassal state Silla would truly be."

The court continued to argue, no different from the scene in the imperial study the previous day. No one could propose a perfect solution that satisfied both sides, and no one dared to step forward and unequivocally shoulder the responsibility if things went wrong.

"Your Majesty, this subject has a word," Lu Jiming said, holding his hu tablet as he stepped out from the ranks.

Lu Jiming's official robe was now a pale rose. Although not as solemn as the vermilion he wore as Chief Minister in his previous life, the elegant red held a touch more softness. Combined with Lu Jiming's current pregnancy, the rounded bulge at his waist and abdomen softened his originally cold, sharp edge, making him seem to emanate a gentle light.

Wei Yan, looking at the rarely official-robed Lu Jiming, found his mind wandering for a moment.

First, he thanked his ancestors for choosing such a vibrant color for the official robes, different from the blues and grays of previous dynasties. Second, he thanked himself for his excellent taste—how could he have picked such a wonderful Empress?

Seeing Wei Yan silent, the assembled ministers didn't dare make a sound either. The court instantly fell into complete silence.

"Your Majesty?" Lu Jiming raised his head, his gaze passing over the hu tablet to cast a questioning look at Wei Yan.

Looking up made him even more pleasing to the eye.

Wei Yan curved the corners of his lips upward, finally remembering the business at hand, and spoke: "Attendants, bring a chair for Lord Lu."

This left Lu Jiming even more bewildered. But as Wei Yan's words fell, two palace attendants appeared from somewhere, carrying a chair which they placed before Lu Jiming.

Lu Jiming: …

"My lords, you've been arguing back and forth for the better part of an hour. I can endure it, but how can Xuping bear it?" Wei Yan leaned back on the dragon throne, patting the armrest. "This chair is intended for the Crown Prince. Do any ministers have objections?"

This...

The court officials exchanged glances, with several Remonstrance Officials clutching their tablets, not daring to step forward. Seriously, now that the Crown Prince had been invoked, if anything were to happen to Lu Jiming after court today, even their families' heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it.

Moreover, they couldn't prevent Lu Jiming from attending court, because... the emperor wasn't above sending dissenters to the harem.

"Your Majesty is wise. This is only appropriate," Chancellor Li spoke up.

The ministers seized the chance to back down, quickly adding their assent.

It seemed no one cared about his own opinion now. Lu Jiming resignedly took his seat.

Fortunately, being no stranger to high-stakes situations, he didn't feel particularly uncomfortable. Once seated, he began, "Since the eldest prince is ambitious and the third prince is difficult to win over, why must we choose between the two?"

In his previous life, while investigating the Silla royal family, he had learned of a prince—the seventh son of the former king—who was weak, pliable, and also quite timid. By now, he would be around seventeen or eighteen years old.

"The seventh prince of Silla is young, weak, timid, and though his maternal family is noble, they have long fallen into decline. He is the easiest to control," Lu Jiming stated bluntly.

"Lord Lu means to support a third candidate?" a minister inquired. "Silla is far away. Establishing contact with the seventh prince might be beyond our reach, wouldn't it?"

Those around him chimed in agreement.

"Why go to such trouble?" Lu Jiming said. "As I mentioned, the seventh prince is cowardly. If Qi sends envoys, he would certainly refuse to cooperate."

"Then..."

"Send troops to Silla while having someone seize the seventh prince. Under the pretext of helping him 'purge the court of corrupt officials,' we can directly occupy the capital. The seventh prince will have the throne thrust upon him. As for what comes after, I'm sure you gentlemen can take it from there."

Silla is separated from the Khitans by a natural mountain barrier, making it difficult for the Khitans to intervene militarily.

Chancellor Li shot a few more glances at Lu Jiming.

This empress seemed all refinement and gentle smiles, yet his actions proved ruthlessly decisive.