Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 466 Rehabilitate
The wind and snow outside Chengtian Gate have not yet stopped.

Li Zhao, accompanied by important officials such as Lu Jing and Lu Kefu, stepped onto the city wall.

The dense crowd immediately stirred, and the shouts became even more intense.

Li Zhao stood in the center of the city tower, looking down calmly.

The wind blew his dark robes, revealing his upright and dignified figure, exuding an aura of authority.

"Fellow villagers, please be quiet..." Li Zhao's gaze swept calmly across the crowd below, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Please hear me out."

The shouts gradually subsided.

The people looked up at the people on the city wall, their eyes filled with suspicion.

"I know you have all been wronged." Li Zhao raised his voice and said slowly, "Today, in front of all the people of the city, I hereby swear: within one month, I will clear the names of the 200,000 soldiers of the Old Mausoleum and restore their reputation for loyalty and bravery."

"The Imperial Court will soon establish the Bureau of Judicial Review, headed by Prime Minister Lu. All case files will be open for public review, and all of you are welcome to attend. In addition, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate pensions to the families of the soldiers on a per capita basis, and their land will be exempt from taxes for three years."

The area below the city gate fell completely silent.

Suddenly, a man dressed in coarse cloth shorts squeezed out of the crowd.

"Your Highness, are you telling the truth?"

“Every word is true.” Li Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, his tone resolute. “The Zhaoxue Division will open tomorrow to handle the case. Everyone can submit their petitions and plead their innocence. If you have any questions, you can go to the Zhaoxue Division and ask the official in charge.”

Another old man spoke up: "Then... can the memorial tablets of our unjustly deceased relatives be placed in the Martyrs' Shrine?"

“Yes.” Li Zhao’s voice was more resolute. “The memorial tablets of all fallen soldiers can be moved to the Martyrs’ Shrine, where they can be worshipped in all four seasons and made offerings by the imperial court… so that they will no longer be left as wandering ghosts.”

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.

Some people knelt down and wept on the spot, while others shouted "Long live the Crown Prince!"

For more than thirty years, those names have been deliberately forgotten. Even their families dare not mention them publicly, for fear of angering the court and bringing disaster upon themselves.

Who could have imagined that after thirty years of injustice, the day would finally come when justice was served?

Li Zhao stood quietly, letting the people vent their emotions...

Xue Sui had somehow appeared beside him, and her eyes reddened slightly as she watched this scene.

"They have waited too long for this day."

Li Zhao turned to look at her, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes. He quietly took her hand and whispered, "I know. That's why I don't want them to wait any longer."

The crowd gradually quieted down, the noise subsided, and only low sobs remained.

The people's emotions calmed down, and officials and their constables came forward to guide the evacuation...

Li Zhao watched the orderly evacuation of the crowd, instructed Yuan Cang to escort Xue Sui back to Yiyuan, and then turned back to the palace.
-
Inside the main hall, the officials who were to attend the morning court session had already gathered, standing solemnly and waiting. Their eyes no longer held the hesitation and disdain of the past, but rather a sense of awe.

Li Zhao's gaze swept across the crowd, landing on several officials who appeared uneasy.

"Your Majesty is unwell and needs to rest for a while. From today onwards, I will take charge of the affairs of state. Anyone who was involved in Xiao Song's old case or concealed the truth, confess now and I will certainly treat them leniently. If the Zhaoxue Division finds out, don't blame me for being merciless."

His voice was flat, yet it carried an imposing authority.

As soon as he finished speaking, three people knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Your Highness, spare my life! It was Xiao Song who forced me... I had no choice!"

Li Zhao waved his hand expressionlessly.

"Take him away and hand him over to the Judicial Bureau for trial."

The guards stepped forward and took the three men away.

The atmosphere inside the hall became even more solemn, and the officials held their breath and were even more cautious.

Luke stepped forward, holding his tablet, and cautiously spoke:
"Your Highness, what should be done about His Majesty's future?"

Li Zhao's eyes darkened slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Since Father is seriously ill, he should rest well and not trouble himself with state affairs. All living necessities in the Zichen Palace should be prepared according to the old practice, and should not be neglected."

That's a tactful way of putting it.

But everyone present understood that Emperor Chongzhao no longer had the power to control the government.

The center of power in the Great Liang Dynasty has already shifted.

The Minister of Rites hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward as well.

"Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to suggest, Your Highness's decision to hold the wedding in ten days is too tight a schedule. There may not be enough time to prepare many of the ceremonies. Perhaps... it could be postponed slightly..."

“No need,” Li Zhao said firmly. “The imperial edict will be issued tomorrow. The wedding ceremony should be simple and not extravagant. The people’s hearts are not yet settled, so it is not advisable to make a big fuss, lest it give others something to criticize.”

The ministers exchanged glances, and no one objected.

Now that the Crown Prince holds absolute power, no one wants to offend him.

Whatever the Crown Prince says, goes.
-
In the stillness of the night, Yiyuan Garden was brightly lit.

Xue Sui sat at his desk, writing something with a focused expression and calm demeanor.

Suddenly, the curtain was gently lifted, and familiar footsteps sounded in my ears.
She didn't turn around until a pair of warm, large hands gently pressed against her temples, massaging them with just the right amount of pressure.

"Why haven't you rested yet?"

Xue Sui knew who it was without even turning around.

She chuckled softly, "His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't rested yet either."

Li Zhao chuckled softly, his hands still moving, "I just finished dealing with the backlog of memorials and documents, and wanted to come see you."

Xue Sui put down his pen, turned around, took his hand, led him to sit down at the table, and poured him some hot tea.

"How are things in the palace going?" Li Zhao leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "The events were sudden, so some turmoil was inevitable, but thankfully nothing major happened. Xuanji Zi has been imprisoned; we'll see who his backer is. Father has also sent suitable people to take care of him, but he's still angry and refuses to eat..."

He paused here, looking wistful.

"He's forcing me into this situation."

Xue Sui understood, and after a moment of silence, he said softly:
"I apologize, but I didn't consult His Highness about what happened at Chengtian Gate today. This put His Highness in a difficult position and earned me the reputation of forcing the emperor to abdicate..."

Li Zhao shook his head, "I don't feel passive at all. On the contrary, I should thank Ping An. If it weren't for your timely arrangements, Father wouldn't have agreed so quickly."

Xue Sui smiled, got up and went to the small stove to ladle out a bowl of ginseng soup that had been kept warm.

“I originally wanted to resolve this in a gentler way, but time waits for no one. Xuanjizi and the forces behind him have already extended their reach into the Zichen Palace, attempting to harm the Eastern Palace. My master has also arrived in the capital, and I cannot wait any longer.”

A warm feeling welled up in Li Zhao's heart.

It turns out that part of the reason she was in such a hurry to take action was for him.

"I don't blame you, I'm just terrified." He took the ginseng soup, placed it on the table, and held her hand tightly. "If anything had happened to you in the Zichen Palace today, what would I have done?"

"Li Zhao, thank you."

"no need thank me?"

Xue Sui looked up at him and said, "Thank you for your understanding and for not being angry with me."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Li Zhao chuckled. "How could I be angry with you? You are my peace, the person I want to spend my life with. Just don't face crises alone anymore. No matter how strong the storm, I will stand by your side."

Xue Sui smiled and pushed the soup bowl to him again.

"Drink it quickly, it'll upset your stomach if it gets cold."

Li Zhao drank a couple of sips, and his body gradually warmed up.

He looked at Xue Sui and suddenly said, "The wedding will be held in ten days. There may not be enough time to arrange the ceremony, so it will inevitably be rushed and simple. Will you feel wronged?"

Xue Sui smiled and shook his head. "I just don't understand why Your Highness is in such a hurry. So many things have just happened in the palace, and to hold a wedding now is bound to cause gossip."

Li Zhao took her hand and gently pulled her into his arms.

Caught off guard, Xue Sui fell onto his lap, her face flushed.

Li Zhao lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, his eyes full of seriousness.

“My father’s health won’t hold up much longer. If he passes away, I will have to observe three years of mourning, and who knows when our marriage will be postponed… I don’t want to wait any longer. I just want to marry you as soon as possible so that you can rightfully stay by my side. Besides, we have already been intimate…”

He paused, his tone resolute and unwavering.

"How could I allow you to be nameless and without status?"

Xue Sui's heart pounded even faster as she recalled the scene in the Zichen Palace.

She guessed many reasons, but she never expected it to be this.

Seeing the affection in Li Zhao's eyes, her heart softened completely.

"I don't like those complicated formalities; I'm more comfortable with things being simple."

Li Zhao looked at her reddened earlobes and couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "But I still want to give you the best. Once the situation stabilizes, I will definitely give you a grand wedding."

Xue Sui leaned on his shoulder and nodded gently.

Seeing her unusually docile demeanor, Li Zhao chuckled softly and teased her on purpose.

"What? Are you shy now? Where did Xue Ping'an, the ruthless killer, go?"

Xue Sui glared at him. "Who's shy? I just think... this is all happening too fast."

"Not so fast." Li Zhao leaned closer to her, forehead to forehead, his breath hot. "I've waited for this day for a long time. Even before I went to the Western Frontier, I wanted to marry you..."

Xue Sui lowered his eyes.

She could clearly feel Li Zhao's breath, mixed with a faint, refreshing fragrance that was somewhat unsettling.

Everything is ready, except for the final push...

The master did not agree to their marriage...

"Li Zhao," she called softly, "Will we always be alright?"

Li Zhao tightened his arms, holding her even closer: "Yes."

She was silent for a moment, then looked up and kissed his chin.

"It's getting late, Your Highness, you should go back soon."

"Hold me a little longer." Li Zhao hugged her, his voice gentle. "I only feel at ease when I'm holding you."

"Glib-tongued." Xue Sui's voice was muffled.

The warm room was quiet; the only sounds were each other's heartbeats and the faint crackling of the charcoal fire.

The snow was still falling outside the window, but it was no longer cold.

Xue Sui looked up and saw the smile in Li Zhao's eyes. He silently hoped that he would not regret his decision.

　Li Zhao: I want to get married, I want to get married, I want to get married, the sooner the better, the sooner the better...

　　Minister of Rites: Ten days is not fast enough? Then Your Highness might as well change it to three days.

　　Li Zhao: Approved.

　　Minister of Rites: Died.

　　(End of this chapter)