The prince is more stable

Chapter 838 Conferment of Titles and Amnesty
The Imperial Observatory calculated an auspicious day, and the emperor's ascension to the throne should take place five days later.

To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't know whether the dates calculated by the people in the Imperial Observatory were based on real evidence or just a hoax.

Since Zhao Xu's death, the position of Emperor of the Song Dynasty has been vacant for a long time, and the people in various places are not at peace, which is not a good thing for the country.

The Bureau of Astronomy was also under pressure from all sides, so they randomly chose a date and pretended it was an auspicious day.

After all, in this kind of professional field of superstition, whatever the Bureau of Astronomy says is law. If others want to refute it, your professional knowledge must at least crush theirs, such as observing the stars at night, King Wen's divination, Plum Blossom Divination, and so on.

Five days is neither a long nor a short time, and Zhao Xiaoqian is not in a hurry; he has his own pace.

In the Political Hall.

The Empress Dowager sat in the head seat, Zhao Xiaoqian sat beside her, and Zhang Dun and a group of prime ministers and vice prime ministers sat in the last seat.

Today's court assembly is a small one, meaning that only a few people are qualified to participate: the Empress Dowager, the future emperor, and the prime ministers.

The topic is determining the era name.

Every new emperor had to change the reign title upon ascending the throne. This represented a new era and marked the time with the emperor's unique mark, deeply binding the reign title to the emperor himself. This made it easier for illiterate people to remember the era and for historians to record history.

When Zhao Ji almost ascended the throne, his reign title had already been decided: "Jianzhong Jingguo".

The meaning of "Jianzhong Jingguo" is profound.

It represents the ideal of the emperor and his ministers, meaning to recover the lost territories and complete the unification of the Song Dynasty.

This is the meaning of "pacifying the country". After all, the Song Dynasty is currently at its peak, with unprecedented military strength. It is not difficult to destroy Liao and Xia. Achieving the goal of "pacifying the country" is not a pipe dream, but a real possibility that can be achieved within a few years.

When this reign title was chosen, the emperor and his ministers probably forgot that they were reaping the fruits of Zhao Xiaoqian's labor.

Four-character reign titles were rare, and it's unclear what the court officials were thinking at the time. Zhao Xiaoqian didn't like them, but he was in a period of dormancy at the time, secretly plotting something, and he didn't care about the reign title issue, since they would all be abolished in the end anyway.

Now that Emperor Huizong has fallen, he is under house arrest by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, while the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate are busy collecting evidence to substantiate his crimes. Before long, Emperor Huizong will be exiled to Lingnan.

Of course, whether he survived to reach Lingnan depended on his luck.

With Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) gone, the reign title he had chosen could no longer be used, as it was considered too unlucky.

Therefore, today the Empress Dowager and Zhao Xiaoqian summoned several important officials to discuss the reign title again.

The hall of state affairs was a bit noisy, with everyone having differing opinions and citing classical texts to support their arguments.

Zhao Xiaoqian's head was throbbing from the noise, and he couldn't help but rub his temples.

The reign title is such a trivial matter. Couldn't you have discussed it before asking me to come? I'll just be responsible for stamping it.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian's impatient expression, Empress Dowager Xiang, sitting in the main seat, smiled and said, "Prince Cheng, please be patient. The reign title is a major matter and must be chosen with utmost care. There must be a practical and appropriate explanation before it can be promulgated to the world, so as not to be criticized by officials and scholars, and to avoid damaging the dignity of the emperor and the court."

Empress Dowager Xiang still refers to Zhao Xiaoqian as "King Cheng".

This is the rule.

Until the coronation ceremony is completed, Zhao Xiaoqian can only be called King Cheng. At this time, addressing someone as "the Emperor" would be considered "usurpation," which is against etiquette. And then the censors would be spewing nonsense...

The Empress Dowager spoke to Zhao Xiaoqian in a gentle tone, with a hint of affection and doting.

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyelids twitched a few times.

Could this woman really want to be my stepmother?
You were raped by my father, you're the victim! You should go to Kaifeng Prefecture to sue him! Why do you seem to have resigned yourself to your fate?
While inwardly complaining, Zhao Xiaoqian still forced a smile and said, "The Empress Dowager is right. I was being impetuous. Gentlemen, please continue. I'm listening attentively."

Zhang Dun stroked his beard and smiled. This time, he had successfully helped Zhao Xiaoqian seize the throne. Zhao Xiaoqian had gotten his wish, and Zhang Dun and the New Party were also beneficiaries. Everyone sitting here today was a victor.

"Does Your Highness have any good ideas? If you have a suitable reign title, Your Highness may suggest it so we can discuss it together."

Zhao Xiaoqian's literary talent was recognized and praised by the entire court. After all, the name "Zhao Banque" still resounds throughout the Song Dynasty, and his poems are widely sung by the literati of the Song Dynasty.

Zhang Dun's suggestion that Zhao Xiaoqian propose a reign title was actually a way of elevating him, allowing the future emperor to establish his reputation in the court so that he could better control his officials in the future.

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked: "Mr. Zihou, do you really want me to say it?"

With the change in status, the way he was addressed also changed. Previously, Zhao Xiaoqian addressed Zhang Dun as "Prime Minister Zhang," but now he was addressed as "Master Zihou." The emperor treated the prime minister with the respect due to a teacher, which was also a show for the civil and military officials in the court, demonstrating a good political atmosphere of a wise ruler and virtuous ministers.

Zhang Dun stroked his beard and smiled, "Your Highness is the best in the world in both literature and martial arts. It would be most appropriate for Your Highness to propose an era name."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said in a deep voice, "In my opinion, the reign title should be 'Jingkang'. What do you think, Empress Dowager and gentlemen?"

Everyone was taken aback, and then began to rack their brains to figure out the origin and meaning of the two words.

Zhao Xiaoqian took the initiative to say: "'Jing' comes from the Book of Songs, which says 'the sun brings peace to the four directions,' and 'Kang' comes from the Book of Documents, which says 'the people will enjoy peace and prosperity forever.' When the two are combined, 'Jingkang' means that the four directions are peaceful and the people are rich and healthy, which is auspicious."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

After whispering amongst themselves for a few moments, the crowd nodded in agreement. Zhang Dun stroked his beard and smiled, "As expected of the renowned 'Zhao Banque,' his words are truly eloquent, full of classical allusions and profound meanings. It's auspicious indeed! Your Majesty, gentlemen, what do you all think of the 'Jingkang' reign title proposed by His Highness Prince Cheng?"

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.

The others nodded in agreement and immediately offered flattering praise.

Zhao Xiaoqian maintained his smile, but there was a hint of bitterness in it.

As a descendant from a thousand years later, he was all too familiar with the name "Jingkang".

Why did we have to choose this reign title?
That's because Zhao Xiaoqian hoped to change the course of events that were supposed to happen. Under his rule, the historical humiliation of the Jingkang Incident would never occur, and the tragic fate of the Song Dynasty would be rewritten.

This true history was completely erased with his unexpected arrival.

In his lifetime, he would use the name "Jingkang" to wipe away the shame recorded in the history books of his previous life.

If the phrase "the humiliation of Jingkang" still appears in historical records, it must refer to the Song army's conquest of cities and territories, and the destruction of Liao and Xia. For both Liao and Xia, this was the "humiliation of Jingkang."

This reign title can be seen as Zhao Xiaoqian's grand ambition before ascending the throne: to wash away the tragic and painful shame in Chinese history and inflict it on the enemy.

The atmosphere inside the Hall of State Affairs was very harmonious. Zhao Xiaoqian was the new emperor who was about to ascend the throne, and the Empress Dowager and the ministers all gave him face. Moreover, the reign title "Jingkang" was full of classical allusions and indeed had profound meaning.

Therefore, Zhao Xiaoqian's proposals were all approved.

The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, her phoenix-like demeanor dignified as she said, "If none of you have any objections, then starting next month, the Great Song Dynasty will change its era name to 'Jingkang.' The first day of the sixth month this year will be the first year of Jingkang. What do you all think?"

Zhang Dun and his ministers all agreed.

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "In that case, the Council of State Affairs shall proclaim the new era name to the whole country. All official documents and correspondence from all levels of government and government offices in the Song Dynasty shall be signed with 'the first year of Jingkang' starting from the first day of the sixth month. The whole country shall hear of this and comply with it."

After the matter of the reign title was discussed, the next step was to discuss matters such as the investiture of the emperor after his ascension to the throne and the general amnesty.

After a new emperor ascends the throne, it is a necessary procedure to confer titles upon meritorious officials and concubines, which is equivalent to a ritual. The general amnesty is also a formality.

There was little controversy regarding the conferment of titles upon imperial concubines.

Zhao Xiaoqian had a total of six women in his harem. If you include Princess Yelü Nanxian of the Liao Dynasty, that makes seven.

As for Li Qingzhao, with whom he had an ambiguous relationship in Bianjing, Zhao Xiaoqian subconsciously ignored her.

Before anything was even remotely planned, Li Qingzhao was inexplicably given the title of concubine and dragged into the harem. Regardless of Li Qingzhao's feelings, her father, Li Gefei, must have been dumbfounded for half a year.

And Zhao Xiaoqian's woman, the Empress, was undoubtedly Di Ying.

The Di family unexpectedly produced an empress, and their ancestral graves were not just emitting auspicious smoke, they practically exploded.

Secondly, there were the four imperial concubines in the harem. Their titles were also determined according to etiquette, and they were named with the four characters "贵" (noble), "淑" (virtuous), "德" (virtuous), and "贤" (wise).

In Zhao Xiaoqian's heart, the Imperial Concubine could only be Niao Niao. It wasn't that he favored her too much, but who told her to give him his only son? The saying "a mother's status rises with her son" has some truth to it.

The remaining titles such as Consort Shu, Consort De, and Consort Xian can be randomly assigned. If that's not enough, there are also lower-ranking titles like Consort Hui and Consort Li.

While other emperors had three thousand concubines in their harems, Zhao Xiaoqian only had seven. Why does he inexplicably feel that he has been very devoted to one woman his whole life...?

Of course, Empress Dowager Xiang remained firmly in power, her position unchanged. This was a condition agreed upon with the Empress Dowager, not to mention the fact that her father and the Empress Dowager had... well, you know...

Zhao Xiaoqian thought of his mother, Lady Feng. He intended to elevate Empress Dowager Xiang to Grand Empress Dowager and honor his mother, Lady Feng, as Empress Dowager.

The biggest problem now is the incompatibility with the established rites, and since Zhao Hao and Lady Feng had divorced years ago, Lady Feng should not be granted a title of honor.

This matter could only be postponed until after the Liao and Xia dynasties were destroyed. At that time, Zhao Xiaoqian's prestige in the Song Dynasty was at its peak, and no one dared to oppose his words. It would be natural to honor Lady Feng as Empress Dowager.

There was no controversy regarding the affairs of the harem; the decision was made easily. Those present were all officials from outside the court, so it was not appropriate for them to interfere in the emperor's family matters. Do whatever you want.

However, Zhao Xiaoqian had some disagreements with his ministers regarding the matter of bestowing titles upon meritorious officials.

Zhang Dun had already prepared the list of conferments, which consisted entirely of New Party officials, and all of them were Zhang Dun's staunch confidants.

This list contains those who are to be conferred titles and promotions.

As Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the densely packed names and official titles of dozens of people, his brows gradually furrowed.

Conferring titles upon meritorious officials is a necessary part of the enthronement ceremony.

But the focus is not on "conferring titles," but on "meritorious officials."

How many people on the list that Zhang Dun presented had contributed to Zhao Xiaoqian's usurpation of the throne?
To put it bluntly, these people are all "cliques".

(End of this chapter)