Jiuxi

Chapter 1040 Extra 04 [Don’t think about it]

Winter passed and spring came, and in the blink of an eye it was the second year of Datong in the Qin Dynasty.

At the beginning of the new year, Lu Chen made some minor adjustments to the central structure.

Xu Zuo was still the chief minister of the cabinet, and the remaining six cabinet ministers were Minister of Personnel Chen Xun, Minister of Revenue Gao Huan, Minister of Rites Wang An, Minister of Works Ding Hui, Hanlin Academician Song Wan and Minister of New Politics Gao Ruli.

In a sense, these six cabinet ministers who are in charge of multiple departments are dividing the power of the original prime minister. Unlike the previous situation where the prime minister led the ministers and made arbitrary decisions on state affairs, now these six cabinet ministers have a certain say in major court affairs.

Indeed, with Xu Zuo's ability, qualifications and prestige, coupled with Lu Chen's respect and trust in him, he is still qualified to have the final say in the court.

However, this will not become a rule. It will be difficult for future prime ministers to have the same unique conditions as Xu Zuo. Moreover, if the successor monarch wants to check and balance the position of the prime minister, he can give other cabinet ministers more power through the system, so as to avoid as much as possible the situation of one person dominating the court.

The military reform was being prepared in an orderly manner. On the surface, the world was now unified and it seemed that it was time to put away the weapons and horses and let them go to the mountains. Some officials in the court also submitted memorials, begging the emperor to appropriately disband the army, but this was clearly rejected by Lu Chen.

Thanks to the massive wealth and land gained from conquering the Jing and Dai states, Lu Chen now has a lot of money in his pocket, and at least he doesn't need to weaken the military's strength immediately.

At present, the total number of standing troops of the Qin Dynasty is about 530,000, of which the main force equipped with firearms is the 12th Army with nearly 240,000 troops. Most of them are stationed in the capital and the surrounding areas, and the rest are mainly distributed in various places in the north to deter the remnants of alien forces.

Lu Chen will certainly implement a small-scale streamlining of the military and politics, but within ten years, he will not make large-scale cuts in military strength. The standing army must be maintained at at least 400,000 people, because this is related to his next ten-year plan. Moreover, with his prestige and appeal in the military, coupled with the military supervision system that is being built simultaneously, the Qin army will definitely not quickly corrupt within ten years.

As for the next ten years, of course, the focus should be on developing national strength.

Young and powerful court officials headed by Cui Hao, Wang Han, Jiang Hui, Li Gongxu, Wei Xiyun and others were summoned and reused by Lu Chen one after another, and then took up their respective posts in this vibrant spring.

By the time Lu Chen had finished these important tasks, it was already early March.

On a sunny spring day, he was invited to the harem by Lin Xi and Wang Chulong.

"What's going on here?"

Lu Chen looked at his two wives, each with their own charm, with a smile.

At Lin Xi's suggestion, Wang Chulong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, are you free today?"

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "I do have half a day free, as long as Xu Zuo doesn't come to see me."

Wang Chulong said happily: "I have finally waited for you. Since Your Majesty is free, please go to Chuxiu Palace."

"Chuxiu Palace?"

Lu Chen understood immediately.

Lin Xi and Wang Chulong are both action-oriented. They started preparing for the talent show in August last year, and when he nodded in agreement in early November, they immediately began to host the event. It seems that there are already some signs of progress in just half a year.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen hesitated and said, "You decide. I won't go."

"How about that?"

Lin Xi shook his head and said, "It's the final selection period now, you have to take a look in person."

"Alright."

After all, Lu Chen didn't want to let them down, so the emperor, empress and three others got on the sedan chair and headed for Chuxiu Palace.

Chuxiu Palace is located in the southeast of the imperial palace and is one of the six eastern palaces. It currently has no owner, so it is used by Lin Xi as a place for selecting concubines.

After more than two months of selection, seventy-four beauties from all over the country entered the final round. However, they did not know that the emperor had decided from the beginning that there would only be eleven places, which meant that most of them would have to return home in the end.

In the side hall of Chuxiu Palace, seventy-four beautiful girls with an average age of around eighteen were anxiously waiting for the decision of their fate.

Among them, there are both ladies from wealthy families and beautiful girls from ordinary families. They are all top choices in terms of appearance, figure and temperament.

Dai Hong, the chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, walked quickly into the side hall and smiled at the women, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress, and the Imperial Noble Consort will soon arrive at the Chuxiu Palace. They will meet the Emperor one by one in the scheduled order. I would like to remind you that the current Emperor is the greatest saint in history, and he has a keen eye and can see through people's hearts. Please answer truthfully and do not act smartly."

All the girls bowed and said, "Thank you for your advice."

On the other side, Lu Chen, Lin Xi and Wang Chulong walked into the main hall. After they sat down, they asked Dai Hongxuan, the beautiful girl, to come to see them.

The first-place beauty has a dignified appearance and a slim figure. When she moves, she is like a willow swaying in the wind, with a naturally gentle demeanor.

She came closer nervously, bowed her head and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"No need to pay tribute."

Because Lin Xi and Wang Chulong were right beside him, Lu Chen felt a little awkward. He coughed and asked, "What's your name?"

The girl replied, "Your Majesty, my name is Ye Zhen, and I am from Guanghua Prefecture in Jingxi Province."

The Jingxi Province was the Jiangbei Road of the past, and later part of Yongzhou and Shangzhou, located in the southwest of the capital.

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, and Wang Chulong kindly handed him a booklet with the information of the seventy-four finalists. The first page was Ye Zhen standing in front of him.

This girl was only seventeen years old and came from an honest farming and reading family. Her father, Ye Yuan, was one of the doctors of the Five Classics in the Imperial Academy, a seventh-rank official, and an unknown and low-ranking official.

The fact that Ye Zhen was able to make it into the final shortlist and was the first to meet the emperor shows that she has good qualities in all aspects, at least she has been recognized by Lin Xi and Wang Chulong.

Lu Chen knew this very well. After reading her information, he said calmly, "Look up."

Ye Zhen slowly raised her head, and what came into her sight was the majestic face of the current emperor. She couldn't help but become more nervous. Fortunately, she had received Lin Xi's instructions in advance and did not show any inappropriate expression.

From Lu Chen's perspective, this girl didn't have a stunning appearance, but her eyes were clear without many impurities.

Perhaps this is why Lin Xi and Wang Chulong chose her.

After a brief thought, Lu Chen looked into the girl's eyes and said, "In fact, I didn't plan to recruit many beautiful girls at first, because the country was just established and there was a lot of work to be done. I had to focus on military and national affairs, but what the Queen and the Imperial Consort said made sense. The royal family has no private affairs, and the same is true for the emperor. I didn't pay attention to the details of the selection before, but since you can stand in front of me first, it shows that the Queen and the Imperial Consort think highly of you. In this case, I naturally have to respect their opinions."

Hearing this, Lin Xi and Wang Chulong couldn't help but smile at each other.

Ye Zhen obviously hadn't reacted yet. When Dai Hong came over with the tray and she saw the fine phoenix hairpin on it, joy instantly overwhelmed the girl's heart.

She tried her best to control her emotions and mustered up the courage to look at the Emperor of Qin again.

Lu Chen continued, "After entering the palace, your position will be decided by the Queen and the Imperial Concubine, and I will not interfere. Ye Zhen, you come from a scholarly family, and you are well-educated and well-mannered. I think you are a person who knows how to act and when to advance and retreat, but I still have a few words to say to you."

Ye Zhen quickly bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, please give me your instructions."

Lu Chen glanced at the two people on his left and right, and said slowly: "I don't object to people's desire to compete for honor and boast, but there must be a pattern and bottom line. Since you have entered the palace, you are my wife. As long as you behave yourself and observe etiquette in the palace, I will treat you equally and will not let you waste your years. But if you have hidden intentions, especially if you play tricks on the Queen, the Imperial Concubine, the two Concubines, the Concubine Shu, and the Concubine Duan, even if it is only once, I will never forgive you easily."

Ye Zhen's face turned pale.

Although the selection process during this period was very cruel, she had a very smooth journey. In addition, the Queen was very caring towards her. Although she did not lose herself in the process, she could not help but feel a little proud.

The emperor's words today were like thunder, making her feel real fear towards Lin Xi, Wang Chulong and others.

"Your Majesty's teachings, I will never forget them for a day."

Ye Zhen bowed with a sincere look on her face.

Lu Chen nodded slightly and said, "Go down."

Ye Zhen bowed again and left.

The palace became very quiet. The palace servants headed by Dai Hong were observing everything. Through what they had just seen and heard, they increasingly realized the status of the one empress and five concubines in the White House in the emperor's heart.

As the saying goes, whoever touches the dragon's reverse scale will die. The emperor's reverse scale is not only this vast world, but also includes those old friends who have been with him through thick and thin. His words were both a warning to Ye Zhen and a clear warning to these palace people.

How could Lin Xi and Wang Chulong not know the whole story?
It is human nature to get tired of the old and love the new, and it is even more common in the imperial palace. Not to mention founding emperors like their husbands, even for those incompetent rulers who only know how to enjoy themselves, who can stop them from doing whatever they want in the harem?

Lin Xi said softly: "Husband, we are so lucky..."

"I should say this."

Lu Chen interrupted her with a gentle look in his eyes.

Lin Xi smiled faintly. It could be seen that she was a little excited, so she changed the subject and said, "I'm afraid it will scare the newcomers."

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "Don't think like that. No woman who has the courage to enter this palace and stand out is pure-hearted. You may not be able to see it now, but you will be surprised in the future. Ye Zhen... is certainly not a treacherous person, but as soon as I saw her, I knew that you, Senior Sister, have been too gentle and caring to her during this period, so she is not afraid of you at all."

"Isn't this bad?"

"It would be great if everyone is happy, but this is unlikely. In the past, there was only our family in the palace, and I certainly hoped to see harmony. However, with so many new people entering the palace, if you don't make them fear and respect you, sooner or later someone will be unwilling to be lonely. In fact, the harem is the same as the outer court. When there are too many people, there will be all kinds of struggles. I can't prevent this situation, but at least I can draw a bottom line for everyone and let them know that those who cross the line will die."

Lu Chen glanced at Dai Hong and others beside him calmly, and then said to Wang Chulong: "Royal Concubine, you should help your sister Lin in the future. Don't be too shy."

Hearing his teasing title, Wang Chulong smiled and said, "Since your majesty has given the order, I will definitely do my best in the future."

Lu Chen nodded with satisfaction, and then signaled Dai Hong to continue calling in the concubines.

The second lady was named Wen Lingrong, from Donghai Prefecture in Huaixi Province. The Wen family was also a famous scholarly family in the local area.

Facing this talented and beautiful girl, Lu Chen tested her briefly, and finally gave her a serious lesson.

As the sun set, this alternative "interview" finally came to an end. Lu Chen consulted Lin Xi and Wang Chulong's opinions and finally selected eleven beauties to enter the palace.

Not to mention the joy and sorrow of some families in the side hall, Lu Chen rubbed his brows with a slightly tired look, and said to Lin Xi and Wang Chulong: "This matter is over, and it can be regarded as an explanation to the people of the world. There is no need for it in the future. In fact, according to my heart, it is enough to have you accompany me in this life, but since I sit in this position, it is indeed not easy to do whatever I want, but there is no need to disturb the people again and again."

Lin Xi was also a little tired, and couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Got it, Your Majesty!"

Lu Chen led them out, and seeing the palace servants following behind obediently, he whispered, "How about having a couple of drinks together tonight?"

Wang Chulong was startled, then her cheeks flushed, and she glared at him without any killing intent. Lin Xi turned around and left, leaving only two crisp words.

"No time!"

Looking at her graceful back, Lu Chen smiled, but there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

It is now March and we can’t delay any longer.

……

Chengpingfang, Linquan Palace.

A lazy figure stands by the window, lost in thought alone.

Outside the window, spring is fading and the red flowers are gradually falling.

When the familiar footsteps reached her ears, she couldn't help but turn her head to look, her bright eyes full of surprise.

After that heartfelt confession, today was Lu Chen's third time to come to Linquan Palace. The frequency was naturally not high, so it did not cause any controversy in the court or the public.

Ning Shuwan stood up to greet him, and Lu Chen took her hand and they sat down beside the couch.

Lu Chen said first: "A few days ago, the governor of Hedong reported that the Prince of Xiang's Mansion and the Li Clan Ancestral Temple in Queshan County have been completed. Yesterday, Xu Zuo, Chen Xun and others suggested that Linquan Palace should choose a day to set off for the fiefdom. I have agreed."

He looked at Ning Shuwan steadily.

Originally, he thought that after hearing the news, she would be either panic-stricken or at least sad. However, what Lu Chen saw was a face with a little makeup and a graceful and calm smile, without any trace of melancholy.

As if she knew what Lu Chen was thinking, Ning Shuwan said, "If I cry, I'm afraid you'll have a headache again."

Lu Chen said frankly: "I really didn't expect you to be so indifferent."

"When people live in this world, all their troubles are caused by greed. Only when you are content can you be happy."

Ning Shuwan held his hand in hers and said slowly, "For me, the first half of my life was mostly helpless, but I can't say I complain about it, because this is my fate. I just have to try my best to do my best. I can't force it if it's beyond my ability. I don't deny that I wanted to keep the Li family's throne at first, but if I have to choose, I just hope that the living can continue to live in peace. Fortunately, I didn't make a mistake."

She had lived a very comfortable life in the past six months. Li Daoming studied hard, and the two old queens gradually accepted the reality and stopped making trouble. As for the surviving Li Zongjian - Lu Chen certainly would not allow him to get in her way.

Although they rarely get together, she knows that Lu Chen has her in his heart, and that is enough.

Lu Chen understood her thoughts, so he no longer asked her to stay, but only said gently: "Yuqing Prefecture is not far from the capital."

Ning Shuwan smiled and said, "What a tyrant."

"Hunjun?"

"Is not it?"

Ning Shuwan was naturally not afraid of him, and asked with interest: "Tell me the truth, did you hesitate in Zhuoyuan that year?"

This question brought Lu Chen back to the winter four years ago.

When she was drunk, he held her wrist very carefully, without any other presumptuous movements. When she was about to take a step forward, he made his position clear decisively.

A little bit of beauty just disappears.

Now that Ning Shuwan brought up the past again, Lu Chen thought about it carefully and said slowly: "If I say that I have never been moved, it must be a lie, but I know a simple truth, there must be something wrong when things are abnormal. The Queen Mother, who has always been smart, calm and wise, just because she drank two more glasses of cotton wine, she threw herself into my arms, which is contrary to her usual behavior. I am afraid that I will die under the peony flowers."

"Who threw himself at you?"

Ning Shuwan lightly hit him on the chest.

Lu Chen then imitated the look in her eyes at that time, and that expression of tender eyes was so lifelike.

Ning Shuwan felt embarrassed and angry, and finally she leaned on his shoulder and laughed.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor, only knows how to do evil and bully others."

Ning Shuwan finally stopped laughing and gave Lu Chen a blank look with a blushing face.

Lu Chen accepted it calmly and asked seriously, "What about you?"

"Ok?"

"Besides wanting to use this bond to trap me, did you ever have any other thoughts at that time?"

"Don't tell you."

Ning Shuwan sat up straight, smoothed her slightly messy hair, and said softly, "Actually, I know that even if something really happened, this bond wouldn't hold you back, but I have to try and work hard, just in case there's a chance of a turnaround? Of course, you're more rational than I thought. At the time, I knew it was impossible, so I made a decision."

"Having said that, I do have a question in my mind over the past few years."

Lu Chen looked at her steadily and asked sincerely: "Shuwan, why didn't you think of killing me from beginning to end?"

Ning Shuwan replied calmly, "If killing you can solve the problem, I will definitely try every possible way, but will it work? Even if you are really careless and I can successfully kill you, how can I clean up the mess? If you die, Xiao Wangzhi will definitely not stand on the side of the Li family. Hundreds of thousands of troops will fall apart and fight each other, and people from all over the country will suffer. Not to mention that the Jing Kingdom is still there at that time, and in the end, the Jinglian people may come back and take advantage of it."

Lu Chen nodded.

"No matter what, I can't give Jinglian people this opportunity again. This is the bottom line."

Ning Shuwan continued, "Of course I didn't want to give up power at the beginning, and I used many calculations and methods, but you calmly resolved them all. In the end, there was no other way but to fight. But even Li Tianrun chose you before his death, and even Li Daoyan placed his hopes for a prosperous era on you. What can a woman in the harem like me do? It's not that I don't want to, but I really can't."

Today, she can finally face the past calmly.

She didn't know how this story would be recorded in history books thousands of years later, nor did she know how future generations would comment on her, the last empress dowager who voluntarily gave up the throne and handed over power. She only knew that she had done her best, and in the end she just didn't want to let those loyal people die in vain for the throne of the Li family.

Even if she was cursed for eternity because of this, she would not regret it.

Seeing that Lu Chen was hesitant to speak, Ning Shuwan explained briefly: "In fact, I also want to leave the capital and go outside to see the outside world. There should be great changes in various places in the past few years. I really want to see with my own eyes whether the lives of the people have become better."

Lu Chen said: "I shouldn't let you down."

"I believe you."

Ning Shuwan's eyes showed a trace of yearning, and she said, "I hope you can keep your original intention."

"How could I forget?"

Lu Chen said frankly: "When the tenth year of Datong comes and the court's first ten-year plan is completed, you will find that this world is really different."

"ten years……"

Ning Shuwan looked at the high-spirited demeanor of the man in front of her, slowly leaned on his shoulder, and murmured: "I will be old by then."

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "You look only twenty years old now, and you will be thirty in ten years."

Ning Shuwan couldn't help laughing and said, "Slippery tongue, don't forget that I'm one year older than you."

"So I'll call you sister from now on?"

"Bah, shameless."

"Shuwan, how about——"

Ning Shuwan squeezed his hand a little harder and interrupted him, saying, "No, I am already an unclean person, why would I create trouble? It's good like this now. I can see you once in a while and live a peaceful life with Daoming. This is the best ending for me."

Lu was silent.

Ning Shuwan looked up at him and smiled, "Be content with what you have."

Lu Chen gently kissed her slightly cold lips.

Ning Shuwan raised her hands and wrapped them around his neck.

A night of tenderness.

……

March 17, the second year of Datong.

The royal family of the previous dynasty, escorted by a part of the Dingbei Army, headed north to Queshan County, Yuqing Prefecture, Hedong Province.

The then Prime Minister Xu Zuo led some officials to escort him out of the city.

In the majestic and solemn imperial palace, Qin Emperor Lu Chen climbed to a high place and looked quietly towards the north.

In his hand was a piece of letter with a faint fragrance and half a poem on it:
"The wind and smoke from my sleeves penetrate my bones. We are separated by mountains and rivers. Don't wait for the human world. Even if we meet in spring, the willow windows will be filled with the tangerine blossoms."

Lu Chen's eyes fell on the letter. Looking at the elegant and beautiful handwriting on it, he seemed to see her charming smile.

There is another sentence at the end, just a few words.

"State affairs are more important than the day and night. If we can meet again, I hope to see the second half of the poem."

Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh. He put the letter into his sleeve, turned around and walked down the platform, his steps as steady as usual.

There are white clouds in the sky and peace on earth.

(End of this chapter)