Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 204 Favoring Concubines, Internal and External Troubles

"I'm afraid that when His Majesty is at the border, she is the only one on his mind."

After Rong Feiyan finished speaking, a sly smile appeared on her face. She deliberately turned her head to look at Minglan and even raised her eyebrows slightly.

Minglan lowered her eyes slightly, her cheeks flushed, feeling both happy and a little shy.

Zhao Han looked at the two of them, laughed loudly, and gently pinched Rong Feiyan's fair face.

"I have always been kind to all of you, and I always keep you in my heart. During my absence these days, I was afraid that you would not eat or sleep well."

"But looking at it today, it seems I was overthinking it."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and couldn't help but laugh.

Yanran smiled and said, "Your Majesty is not overthinking it. We will be unable to eat or drink for several days and will be in a daze."

"He even went so far as to copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Emperor and the northern army, but his handwriting is still messy, and some of his characters are illegible even to me."

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhao Han raised an eyebrow and turned her gaze back to Minglan.

It's easy to see that Minglan dressed up carefully today. Her lotus-colored brocade dress with cloud patterns made her skin look as white as snow, and she looked elegant and refined.

A section of her fair and delicate neck was exposed, and the hairpin at her temple swayed gently with her movements, adding to her charming and clever appearance.

"Sister Yanran, you..."

Minglan hesitated, her voice barely audible, and even her earlobes flushed red.

Zhao Han took the initiative to approach Minglan, put his arm around her slender waist, lowered his head and kissed her a few times, and whispered in her ear: "It's been many days since we last met, and I've been thinking of you day and night."

"The same goes for tomorrow," Minglan replied softly, her head bowed.

She was still shy and embarrassed to be intimate with Zhao Han in front of Hua Lan, Zhang Guifen, and others.

As soon as he finished speaking, he distanced himself and hid behind Zhang Guifen.

Zhang Guifen smiled broadly and said in a cheerful voice, "This great victory in the northern expedition must have had many thrilling moments. Your Majesty, please tell us about them."

“When we were at home, every time Father returned from a campaign, he would talk to me and Mother about many things that happened on the battlefield.”

Seeing their expectant eyes, Zhao Han put down his teacup and said gently, "The Liao Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. It's just a matter of making advance preparations and proceeding step by step."

"However, if you are willing to listen, I will tell you about it."

"Very well, I am all ears!" Zhang Guifen narrowed her eyes and smiled brightly.

For a time, the Renming Hall was filled with laughter and joy.

Zhang Guifen rested her chin on her hands and her elbows on the table, listening with great interest.

When she was still unmarried, she thought about it more than once.

If I weren't a girl, I would definitely follow in the footsteps of my father and brothers, fight on the battlefield, achieve great deeds, and bring honor to our family.

Yanran sometimes frowned slightly, sometimes smiled knowingly, and her gaze towards Zhao Han showed even more admiration.

As dusk approached, several palace maids carefully set up tables and chairs in a side hall and served dishes and tea.

The atmosphere remained warm and harmonious as they chatted and laughed throughout the meal. After finishing their dinner together, the concubines, accompanied by their maids, reluctantly returned to their respective palaces.

Tonight, Zhao Han should be by Hua Lan's side, both emotionally and logically.

Inside the Renming Hall, candlelight flickered.

Hua Lan stood behind Zhao Han, gently massaging his shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.

Zhao Han squinted comfortably, his voice unhurried, "While I was away, did Zhang Ge'er and the other boys slack off or cheat in Zishan Hall?"

Hua Lan smiled gently, without stopping what she was doing. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I keep an eye on things every day, and the Crown Prince also frequently supervises his younger brothers."

"In my opinion, among all the princes, none can compare to the Prince of Yan when it comes to riding and archery. At such a young age, he is both steady and accurate in drawing a bow and shooting arrows."

"But when it comes to reading classics and history, Prince Ning is undoubtedly the best."

"The other princes also have their own strengths. According to the teacher at Zishantang, the Prince of Chu is quite obsessed with mathematics."

Zhao Han nodded slightly. He did not intend to follow the example of previous emperors and keep all the princes confined in the capital, prohibiting them from participating in court affairs.

Today, Zishantang is no longer the place that only taught Confucian classics and history.

He specially sent people to set up a training ground behind the hall, where veteran generals such as Gu Tingye and Xu Pingyuan personally taught them horsemanship and archery.

When they grow up and become adults, those who are talented will be allowed to participate in politics and lead troops to guard a region.

For those who are truly indifferent to worldly affairs and have no interest in court politics, being granted a fiefdom away from the capital and living a peaceful and leisurely life as a prince is not a bad option.

However, the news that Ruige was obsessed with mathematics surprised him quite a bit.

After a long silence, Zhao Han turned to look at Hua Lan and said gently, "You've already met Gu Tingye's daughter. What do you think of her? Is she a suitable match for the Crown Prince in the future?"

When this matter was mentioned, Hua Lan's eyes lit up.

“She was outstanding in appearance, dignified and heroic, and spoke with propriety. She was not as reserved and timid as ordinary young ladies.”

"The Crown Prince is calm, steady and reserved, and needs a girl with such temperament and understanding to accompany him."

"The Gu family is full of loyal and brave men, and they are highly respected in the army. Your Majesty has excellent judgment!"

Zhao Han smiled calmly, "In that case, we will arrange the marriage after the Gu family girl comes of age."

"Good!" Hua Lan nodded repeatedly. If he could marry a girl from the Gu family, Zhao Jing's position as crown prince would be more secure, and his ascension to the throne would be smooth and successful.

As night deepened and the moon rose high in the sky, with Cai Zan's help, Hua Lan removed her outer garment, leaving her in only a pure white nightgown.
Her beautiful face, untouched by makeup, was full of charm, and her figure was becoming increasingly voluptuous and radiant. At this moment, she was leaning coquettishly in Zhao Han's arms.

After Cai Zan and several other palace maids took their leave, she smiled and said softly, "Your Majesty has had a hard journey on the northern expedition. Your Majesty, I will serve you with all my heart."

After saying that, Hua Lan sat up straight.

……

The next day, dawn broke.

After washing up and changing clothes, feeling refreshed, Zhao Han kissed Hua Lan on the lips and went straight to the Wenhua Hall to summon several trusted ministers.

With the Yan-Yun region newly pacified, everything needed to be rebuilt, including military preparations and appeasing surrendered generals; the tasks were truly numerous and complex.

After reading the military report delivered by the garrison commander of Yanyun by a messenger on horseback.

Zhao Han looked at Shen Shiqi and the others and said quietly, "Although our dynasty has retreated, giving the Liao Kingdom a chance to catch its breath, the Jurchen offensive is becoming increasingly fierce."

"Wanyan Helibo has officially proclaimed himself emperor at Huangdi Village on the banks of the Anchuhu River, establishing the state as Jin, the era name as Shouguo, and the capital as Huining Prefecture, formerly the Shangjing of the Liao Dynasty."

Shen Shiqi's brows furrowed instantly, his beard trembled slightly, and he was quite surprised by this.

He smiled helplessly and cupped his hands, saying, "At first, I thought the Jurchens were just a tribe on the border of the Liao Kingdom."

“Even if they are fierce, they can’t cause any real trouble. At most, they’re just a minor nuisance on the border. Once our dynasty withdraws its troops, the Liao state will be able to free up its resources to suppress them.” “Now it seems that I was short-sighted and underestimated Wanyan Helibo’s ambition and the Jurchen’s fighting strength, which actually allowed them to become a force to be reckoned with.”

Gu Qianfan, who currently holds the position of Commander of the Palace Guard, was dressed in a scarlet court robe and stood tall and straight like a pine tree. He said, "The Jurchens have suffered greatly from the oppression of the Liao Kingdom, and their resentment has run deep."

"Wanyan Helibo raised his arms and shouted, and all the tribes were united in their hatred of the enemy, so their fighting strength naturally increased many times over."

"The Liao army's morale is low, and its repeated defeats are inevitable. However, once the Jurchens gain a foothold, I believe their wolfish ambitions may extend beyond simply overthrowing the Liao."

Shen Shiqi turned to look at him and nodded in deep agreement.

“Commander Gu is right. The Jurchens are fierce and warlike. Once the Liao Dynasty is overthrown by them, they may even become enemies of our dynasty.”

Zhao Han picked up the teacup and calmly took a sip.

"That is why we need to govern the Yan-Yun region as soon as possible, strengthen the city defenses, select capable generals to guard it, rectify military discipline, and allow the people to recuperate."

"Let us sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight for now, and then seize the opportunity to make our move. We may very well be able to establish a lasting legacy."

"We understand!" Shen Shiqi and the others bowed in unison.

It wasn't until nearly noon that the ministers took their leave, while Zhao Han went straight to Ninghui Hall.

He could hear Minglan and Xiaotao laughing and talking from afar. He raised his hand to stop the eunuch from relaying the message and quietly stepped inside.

Sure enough, Minglan had a bright smile on her face.

Upon seeing Zhao Han, she quickly stood up, curtsied, blinked, and said softly, "Why has Your Majesty come now?"

Zhao Han put his arm around her slender waist and sat down together on the soft couch.

"I've been discussing matters with ministers all morning, it's really boring. What were you talking about just now? You were laughing so happily."

Minglan nestled obediently in his arms and said with a smile, "It was Fifth Sister who wrote to me, saying that she couldn't eat or sleep well in Shenglong."

"The mosquitoes were big and aggressive, and they bit her so badly that her arms and legs were covered in red rashes, and she couldn't sleep all night because of the itching."

"She also said that she tried to make pickled bamboo shoots like the local women, but she was clumsy and ruined several jars, making the whole yard smell sour and smelly. Her brother-in-law laughed at her for days."

"Fifth Sister plans to return to Beijing after the New Year, so she won't suffer with Brother-in-law Wen there anymore."

Zhao Han gently stroked her waist and chuckled, "Didn't she ask about your fourth sister's recent situation in her letter?"

"Of course she does. Every time she writes to me, she mentions Fourth Sister, wishing the Liang family would be in constant chaos." Minglan's voice was soft and sweet, and she felt both helpless and amused.

She paused for a moment, then continued, "A few days ago, I overheard Madam Yuan mention that Qiu Xiaoniang from my fourth brother-in-law's courtyard had given birth to a son safely."

"On the other hand, the fourth sister has three daughters in a row. Her position as the legal wife and stepmother is secure, but there will inevitably be many ups and downs in the inheritance of the family property and the future of her children."

“My grandmother once told me that disputes within the inner quarters often arise from the division of property between legitimate and illegitimate children.”

Zhao Han said quietly, "The fate of children is determined by heaven, and it was her own choice to marry into the Liang family."

Minglan pursed her lips and nodded obediently.

"Wen Yanjing is indeed a diligent and conscientious official, but I cannot transfer him back to the capital for the time being. In a few years, I can send him to Dengzhou to take up his post."

Minglan frowned slightly, and after weighing the matter in her mind for a moment, she whispered, "Is it because of Second Brother?"

"Indeed, Zecheng is a steady, reliable, and capable minister with ambition. Since I intend to give him an important position, Wen Yanjing should avoid suspicion."

"Otherwise, even if I do not suspect anything, there will be ministers in the court who oppose this matter."

Although Wen Yanjing came from a family that passed the imperial examinations, he was ultimately the son-in-law of the Sheng family, and thus belonged to the maternal relatives.

"Although my fifth brother-in-law is a talented man, his success today is ultimately inseparable from my father's cultivation and support. I think he understands his own position."

Minglan spoke softly. In her opinion, Sheng Hong was willing to take on a sinecure to avoid suspicion and controversy over the father and son serving in the same court and having too much power.

Wen Yanjing was a smart man and probably knew that if he were to scheme and plot for a high position, he would be severing ties with the Sheng family.

Once the line is drawn, it will obviously be disadvantageous for him.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. It's been so long since I've been able to be intimate with Ming'er." As she spoke, Zhao Han reached out and pinched Ming'er's round cheek.

Minglan's eyes sparkled, and she gave a charming smile.

Xiao Tao and Dan Ju, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance and chuckled, "This servant will go to the small kitchen to see if dinner is ready."

"Go ahead," Zhao Han waved his hand.

After the two women left, Minglan deliberately put on a stern face and snorted, "To indulge in debauchery in broad daylight is not the behavior of a wise ruler."

"For Ming'er's sake, what if I become a tyrant again?"

After saying that, Zhao Han picked her up by the waist, and Minglan exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

About an hour later, dusk was falling.

Minglan's face was flushed, her eyes were squinted, her hair was disheveled, and her body was softly wrapped in the brocade quilt.

Only after the palace maids had set out dinner in the outer room did he reluctantly get dressed and get up, with Xiao Tao's help.

Meanwhile, in the Liao Kingdom, in the capital city of Zhongjing and the imperial palace of Dading Prefecture, the city was brightly lit.

Yelü Hongji was plagued by headaches. Since the Southern Dynasty raised its army, he had been unable to eat or sleep properly, and even his Buddhist prayers and chanting were not being done with him.

He looked at Yelü Yixin and Xiao Wuna, and slammed his hand heavily on the table. "What a mess the Jin Dynasty is! Is there really no way to eliminate this scourge of the Jurchens?"

"The troops I've sent out keep coming in waves, are they all just good-for-nothings?"

Xiao Wuna's expression was solemn, his brows furrowed. Looking at Yelü Hongji's furious appearance, he hesitated for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "The Jurchen cavalry are brave and skilled in battle, and their momentum is currently strong. It will not be easy to wipe them out in one fell swoop. If we are not careful, we may suffer a backlash."

Before Xiao Wuna could finish speaking, Yelü Yixin raised his eyes and took over the conversation.

"If we mobilize the entire nation to march north and eliminate the Jurchens, the Southern Dynasty emperor is ambitious and may very well launch another attack. If the two join forces, our Great Liao will be in imminent danger!"

"There is plenty of time in the future, Your Majesty, please calm down for now."

Seeing the Jurchens helpless, Yelü Hongji frowned deeply, his temples throbbing, feeling an unprecedented sense of frustration.

"You may all leave." Yelü Hongji waved his hand, his face showing lingering weariness, and got up to head to Empress Xiao Tansi's palace.

Aside from these, there is another important matter at hand.

It has been more than two years since Xiao Tansi was made empress, and Xiao Wote has been in the palace for several months, but neither of them has conceived.

He was soon to be over fifty, and if he continued to delay like this, the position of crown prince would have to be placed in his grandson Yelü Yanxi.

But whenever he saw Yelü Yanxi, he felt uneasy and couldn't help but think of Yelü Jun. He was also worried that Yelü Yanxi would blame him for his father's death.

Beset by internal and external troubles, Yelü Hongji was utterly helpless.

(End of this chapter)