Chapter 99 So Sweet

Chapter 99: Very Sweet

The enthronement ceremony was not as elaborate as the coronation and had fewer steps.

Having changed into the dragon robe, Su Zheng stood on the high platform with his hands behind his back. All civil and military officials knelt in unison, bowing to their new emperor and shouting, "Long live the emperor!"

Su Zheng entrusted Emperor Yuanjing's funeral arrangements to the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Household Department quickly renovated and refurbished the Hall of Mental Cultivation so that Su Zheng could move out of the Eastern Palace at any time.

As for the wives and children of Emperor Yuanjing in the harem, Su Zheng allowed those who could leave the palace to do so, and those who could not were relocated to live in the imperial retreats.

At court meetings, a reshuffling of civil and military officials was inevitable. Su Zheng presented all the evidence collected by Luo Yunchen, and all officials involved with the rebel ministers were imprisoned for trial and punished according to their crimes.

For the vacant positions, Su Zheng methodically assigned personnel one by one.

Finally, it was time to reward Luo Yunchen. Luo Yunchen had rendered meritorious service in rescuing the emperor and was a general of good fortune for the nation. He was appointed as a First-Rank Commander-in-Chief and Governor-General, bestowed with the Governor's Mansion in the capital, and granted free access to the palace at any hour.

Su Zheng was sharp and decisive, and Luo Yunchen's methods were ruthless. With the support of the majority of court officials, Su Zheng quickly stabilized the court.

However, the peace in the capital did not last long. An urgent report was delivered to the court by swift horseback courier: the eastern, southern, and northwestern borders were invaded by foreign enemies! They requested support from the court!

Su Zheng and Luo Yunchen exchanged glances. They had long known this day would come and had already prepared—they had even developed alcohol and explosives for this purpose.

Compared to the anxious and flustered officials upon hearing the news, the two of them appeared much more composed.

Su Zheng watched silently as the officials below clamored and argued. Gradually, the officials sensed their emperor's calmness and impatience. The noise subsided until the officials were completely quiet, bowing with clasped hands, waiting for Su Zheng to speak.

Su Zheng directly asked: "Which of my ministers is willing to volunteer to lead the troops into battle?"

The officials looked at each other, but no one stepped forward to be the first.

Luo Yunchen exchanged a look with Su Zheng, then stepped forward and performed a bow: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops into battle!"

They had never discussed Luo Yunchen leading the troops before, but in both their minds, it was already a settled matter. Su Zheng did not reply immediately, only saying, "Minister Luo, rise."

Luo Yunchen looked at Su Zheng, pursed his lips, and returned to his position.

Su Zheng ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to quickly prepare the necessary provisions and weapons for the troops, then announced the dismissal of the court.

Luo Yunchen went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to find Su Zheng. He asked a eunuch and learned that Su Zheng had gone to the study. Luo Yunchen then went to the study and saw Su Zheng holding a brush and writing.

Luo Yunchen walked behind Su Zheng, embraced him from behind, rested his head on Su Zheng's shoulder, kissed his cheek, and said softly: "Is brother angry?"

Su Zheng shook his head: "Why would I be angry?"

"For volunteering to lead the troops without discussing it with brother first."

"This is an unavoidable choice. Only with you as the commander-in-chief can Dayin's chances of victory be greatest. So you've prepared everything?"

"There's still one thing I haven't prepared."

"What thing?"

"Having to be apart from brother—I really can't bear it!"

"..."

"If only I could tie brother to my side and take you with me!"

"...You understand that I can't leave the capital for that long at a stretch."

"I understand! And I can't bear to let brother go to the battlefield with me—it's dangerous, and the march itself would cause you much hardship. It would break my heart!"

"...Good, as long as you understand that. I will issue a decree granting you full military authority. Everyone in the army will obey you as they obey me."

"Don't talk about that." Luo Yunchen pulled the brush from Su Zheng's hand and tossed it aside. He turned Su Zheng around, pressing the small of his back against the edge of the table, placing his hands on either side of Su Zheng, caging him with his body. "Brother, look at me, look at me more. Will you miss me after I'm gone? I miss you so much—I'm already missing you now!"

Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen and smiled: "It won't be that long, right? A little over two months, and you'll be back."

"Two months—no, one and a half months. In one and a half months, I will definitely return!"

Su Zheng paused, dropped his smile, and turned serious: "Don't be hasty or reckless. Protect yourself and come back alive—in one piece and safe. If I see you half-dead, you'll never get in my bed again for the rest of your life!"

Luo Yunchen paused, then dropped his head onto Su Zheng's shoulder, laughing so hard his shoulders heaved. After a moment, he said: "Then since I'm whole and safe right now, can I get into brother's bed?"

Su Zheng pushed him: "I'm being serious. Did you get that?"

Luo Yunchen lifted his head, smiling brightly as he gazed at Su Zheng: "Then brother, kiss me, okay? Kiss me, and I'll remember!"

Su Zheng also looked at Luo Yunchen, tracing his features with his eyes.

This was the most familiar and closest face in the world to him, because it was already engraved on his heart.

This young man, who had been by his side almost every moment since he came to this world, persistently clinging to and sticking to him.

This young man, who even now, every time he saw him, involuntarily revealed a look of surprise—had unknowingly settled into his heart.

Su Zheng slowly lifted his chin, tilted his head slightly, parted his lips, and caught the corner of Luo Yunchen's mouth...

Luo Yunchen clenched his hands, trembling slightly...

Brother's lips were so sweet! So sweet!

Addictive, intoxicating!

......

Su Zheng created a new official position, appointing Luo Yunchen as Grand General Regent, equal in rank to a Prince Regent.

Su Zheng handed over military authority and the Ministry of War to Luo Yunchen. Luo Yunchen became their direct superior, holding the power of life and death over them.

For this defense against foreign enemies, Luo Yunchen was the commander-in-chief, with full authority to appoint and command the generals and deputy generals of the three armies, following his arrangements.

Thus, Luo Yunchen's power almost surpassed that of Su Zheng, the emperor.

The ministers naturally opposed this. During court recess, memorials poured in; at court, spittle flew as they argued vehemently.

Su Zheng threw away each memorial as it came. At court, he waited until the ministers had shouted themselves hoarse and could no longer speak.

Then Su Zheng slowly said: "Minister Liu."

Minister Liu was startled, then stepped forward and bowed: "Your servant is here."

"At your age, you're still strong as ever, aren't you? Your eleventh concubine is going to add another child to your family, right?"

Minister Liu's old face flushed with embarrassment, then turned to shock. He hastily knelt and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, how, how does Your Majesty know that this old minister's, this old minister's concubine is pregnant?"

His concubine had been found pregnant last night, but the pregnancy was not stable, so few people knew. Even the physician was still residing in the mansion!