Huangming

Chapter 261 The Emperor and Empress's Heart-to-Heart Talk, Achieving Power Throughout the Land

The Qianqing Palace stands majestically before the Kunning Palace.

At this moment, before the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the candlelight flickered in the duty room, illuminating the wrinkled face of Wang Tiqian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

He paced back and forth in the cramped duty room, his hands behind his back, the sound of his boots hitting the blue bricks particularly clear in the quiet night.

His brows were furrowed, and his gaze kept glancing at the report of victory in Liaodong on the desk.

This report was delivered by express courier at an urgent rate of 800 li, and the ink was still fresh.

“A great victory…” he murmured softly, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the report.

Liaodong has won, and it is the great victory that His Majesty has been looking forward to day and night!

Since the Battle of Sarhu, the imperial court had suffered repeated defeats, but now it had finally regained its pride.

If such good news can be presented to the emperor first, it will surely please him.

"A rare opportunity..."

A glint of light flashed in Wang Tiqian's eyes.

He had already ordered his men to keep the news secret, ensuring that neither Wei Zhongxian nor Wei Chao knew about it.

These two men, one wielding immense power and the other deeply favored by the emperor, if they were to seize the credit first, it would no longer be his.

The problem is, the emperor got married yesterday.

According to custom, the emperor stayed in the East Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace last night. Has he risen yet?

If they are still sound asleep, disturbing them abruptly might be inappropriate.

But if the delay is too long and the news leaks out, Wei Zhongxian will surely take action...

"Can't wait any longer!"

He gripped the news report tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Somebody come!"

Outside the duty room, a young eunuch entered upon hearing the commotion and bowed, awaiting orders.

"Wait outside Kunning Palace. If His Majesty gets up, report immediately!"

The young eunuch took the order and left.

However, not long after the eunuch left, footsteps suddenly appeared outside the duty room.

"What you fear is what happens."

Wang Tiqian's heart tightened, and he turned around abruptly.

Outside the duty room, two figures were slowly approaching.

The man on the left was as fat as a pig, and his python robe could barely contain his round body. He was none other than Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Imperial Workshop.

The man on the right is thin and has a sinister look in his eyes; he is Wei Zhongxian, the director of the Eastern Depot and the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The two stood one in front of the other, their faces bearing expressions that were neither quite a smile nor a frown.

"Hey~"

Wang Tiqian forced a smile, but his voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth:
"What wind has blown you two distinguished guests to our humble place today?"

Wei Zhongxian sneered, his gaze like a knife piercing the report in Wang Tiqian's hand:
"Does someone who wants to eat alone think everyone else is blind and deaf?"

Wei Chao was even more direct, a ruthless glint flashing in his narrowed eyes as he stretched out his thick hand:
"Where's the news of victory in Liaodong? Hand it over!"

Wang Tiqian's heart sank.

It’s over.

The two skinners still found out what was going on.

"Hey……"

He sighed deeply and reluctantly handed over the good news.

Wei Chao snatched the victory report, his stubby fingers eagerly spreading out, his narrow eyes quickly scanning the report.

His lips twitched slightly, clearly showing how much he cared about this unexpected achievement.

Wei Zhongxian stood aside, not in a hurry to compete for it.

Now that we've come this far, he deserves a share of the credit for reporting the victory!
"Humph!"

After reading it, Wei Chao snorted coldly, slammed the report shut, and glared at Wang Tiqian with eyes like knives:

"Don't think that just because you're in charge of the Western Depot, you can act all high and mighty! You need to know who the real power is in this Forbidden City!"

Wang Tiqian smiled broadly, bowed quickly, and spoke humbly:
"Of course you are the ancestor! I just received this good news myself, and I was just thinking of going to discuss it with you two!"

Wei Zhongxian and Wei Chao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with disdain.

What a liar!
If it weren't for their trusted eunuchs promptly informing them, the credit for this victory would probably have been monopolized by that old fox, Wang Tiqian!

"wait."

Wei Chao spoke coldly, his large body slumping into the chair, causing the wooden chair to creak.

"Once His Majesty gets up, we'll go together to report the victory."

Wang Tiqian sighed inwardly.

One person's credit should be shared among three.

But the situation was beyond his control, so he had no choice but to back down.

"Yes, yes, it's all arranged by our ancestors."

He stood with his head bowed, saying nothing more, simply waiting quietly for the emperor to rise.

Time slowly passed with the sound of the water clock.

As the hour of Yin approached, the Forbidden City was still shrouded in a hazy night.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace, Zhu Youxiao, lying on the dragon and phoenix wedding bed, trembled slightly and slowly opened his eyes.

His biological clock was even more precise than the drumbeats in the palace.

It's a story full of bitter tears.

Since ascending the throne, he, the emperor, has even been deprived of the right to stay in bed.

Those who think that being an emperor means they can do whatever they want are incredibly naive.

It's hard to be a wise ruler!
As Zhu Youxiao gazed at the embroidered dragon and phoenix patterns on the tent ceiling, he suddenly recalled a story he had read in his previous life:
The late basketball superstar Kobe Bryant often asked people, "Have you ever seen Los Angeles at 4 a.m.?"

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao gave a bitter smile.

"I see the Forbidden City at four in the morning every day."

However, his thoughts were quickly pulled back by the abnormality in his body.

He moved slightly and immediately felt a heavy weight on his body.

Looking to the side, he saw Zhang Yan, who had just become his empress the night before.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that she had not yet recovered from the exhaustion of the previous night.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze softened as he recalled the events of the previous night.

As a young emperor in the prime of his life, he was naturally full of energy.

It was just tough on Zhang Yan, who was newly married.

Zhu Youxiao gently stroked her slightly furrowed brows, his movements careful, as if afraid of waking the sleeping beauty.

He recalled how she had endured the pain yet still cooperated gently last night, and a wave of pity washed over him.

"His Majesty."

As if sensing the touch, Zhang Yan murmured unconsciously, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, but she ultimately did not wake up.

Her breathing remained even, but she snuggled closer to Zhu Youxiao, like a little animal seeking warmth.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but chuckle.

This is his empress.

When she is dignified, she is like Guanyin in a temple; when she is charming, she is like a girl next door.

He gently pulled the quilt up to cover her bare shoulders.

Outside the window, the night watchman's drum had already sounded at the hour of Yin, but at this moment, Zhu Youxiao felt a rare urge to indulge himself.

Let's stay with her and let her sleep a little longer.

Just then, the voice of a eunuch finally rang out from outside the hall.

"As dawn approaches, may Your Majesty be well!"

The sound of the night watchman's drum at the hour of Yin pierced through the heavy palace curtains, startling Zhang Yan, who was resting her head on Zhu Youxiao's chest.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she opened her sleepy eyes in a daze, meeting the emperor's smiling gaze.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Zhang Yan suddenly regained her senses, and the tender memories of last night under the red candlelight flooded back like a tide.

She then realized that she was still being held in the emperor's arms, and his warm hands were brazenly covering her most intimate and voluptuous parts.

A blush spread from her ears to her neck. She hurriedly lowered her head, only to hear a soft laugh from above her.

"My Empress has awakened?"

Zhang Yan was very shy, but she still didn't forget to advise the emperor.

"It is now the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). Your Majesty, please honor Heaven and your ancestors, and prioritize diligent governance!"

Zhu Youxiao remained motionless, his fingertips lingering on her cascading black hair.

"No rush, they'll call again in a while."

This was a habit that Zhu Youxiao developed after ascending the throne.

In the brief moment of tenderness before the eunuch's second wake-up call, he would close his eyes and ponder the day's political arrangements, allowing his newly awakened mind to gradually clear.

"Your Majesty~"

The beauty beneath him parted her lips slightly, her voice carrying the shyness and determination of a newlywed.

Her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of the brocade quilt as she whispered:

“According to ancestral rules, a concubine should leave promptly after serving the emperor. If I delay, the memorials from the Censorate will likely pile up on my desk tomorrow.” Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao deliberately hugged the person in his arms tighter and whispered in her ear, “I am not afraid of those pedantic scholars’ impeachments. You are indeed the empress, but more importantly, you are my lawfully wedded wife.”

He reached out and brushed away the stray strands of hair from her forehead, and said softly, "Have you ever seen a couple who sleep in separate rooms at night?"

Since ancient times, true feelings cannot be retained, only people's hearts are filled with tricks.

Zhu Youxiao knew exactly how to handle this inexperienced young girl.

Sure enough, Zhang Yan's heart skipped a beat when Zhu Youxiao finished speaking.

She recalled the admonitions of the matrons during the imperial concubine selection—'The position of Empress is based on strict rules,' but at this moment, the warmth of the person beside her was more moving than any palace rules.

"His Majesty."

Her eyes welled up with tears, but she snapped back to reality when she caught a glimpse of the brightening sky outside the window.

Her slender fingertips gently pressed against Zhu Youxiao's chest: "But diligence in governance is never wrong. Besides, today..."

She counted them carefully on her jade-like fingers.

"At dawn, one must go to the Fengxian Hall to offer sacrifices to the ancestors; at dawn, one must go to the Cining Palace to pay respects to Consort Li; and at 9 AM, one must also..."

As Zhu Youxiao listened to this series of events, he felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

The fatigue from yesterday's wedding has not yet dissipated, and today I have to deal with so many formalities.

He sighed and buried his face in Zhang Yan's hair, which smelled faintly of jasmine.

"Now I finally understand why my grandfather suspended court for three days before agreeing to the wedding."

Zhang Yan smiled, amused by his childish complaints, but still managed to sit up.

Her plain white nightgown slipped off her shoulders, revealing the red marks left from last night.

She hurriedly pulled her clothes tighter, her face flushed, and said, "If we don't get up now, Wei Dadang and the others will be kneeling outside the hall."

Zhu Youxiao gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the window and sighed helplessly.

Being an emperor is difficult; being a newlywed emperor is even more difficult.

"Some of these formalities really don't need to be taken so seriously."

Zhu Youxiao leaned back on the dragon bed, deciding to give this overly rule-abiding empress a good 'lesson'.

“Take the rules for serving the emperor to the emperor, for example.”

He gently lifted Zhang Yan's chin with his long, slender fingers and said softly, "It's merely a tool to restrain those incompetent rulers. I ask you—"

The young emperor suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against the empress's reddened earlobe:

Do you think I need this kind of constraint?

Zhang Yan was speechless for a moment, as those embarrassing scenes from last night flashed through her mind.

From dusk till dawn, this energetic young emperor truly demonstrated his unique understanding of the word 'moderation' through his actions.

Seeing the Empress blush and remain silent, Zhu Youxiao pressed his advantage: "What's even more absurd is that you actually have palace maids recording the time and posture? If everything has to be done according to the 'Inner Rules,' how am I any different from a puppet on a string?"

"These rules are nothing more than shackles they use to bind the emperor."

Zhu Youxiao stared intently at Zhang Yan, his gaze burning.

"And I hate being restrained the most."

At this point, Zhu Youxiao finally decided to confide in the empress, with whom he had shared intimate relations.

"Does the Empress know?"

"What I want is not the empty fame of all nations paying tribute, nor the flattering words of a sage ruler in the history books."

"What I want is for the people to have mulberry and hemp to weave in spring and full granaries of rice in autumn; for the elderly to enjoy their old age in peace and for the young to attend school; for husbands not to have to sell their wives and children and for women not to have to exchange their food for noodles!"

"I will restore the glory of my Great Ming Dynasty during the Hongwu and Yongle eras! I will even surpass them!"

He grasped Zhang Yan's soft hand, his gaze piercing:
"Our Great Ming Dynasty is now deeply mired in problems. If we continue to follow these outdated rules and regulations, it will only make the country more and more difficult to recover. It is time to break some of these rules."

"Yan'er, would you be willing to become an empress and emperor with me, whose names will be remembered in history, and join hands to save the Ming Dynasty from the brink of disaster?"

These words struck Zhang Yan like a thunderbolt.

She felt a tightness in her chest, and her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

Her emperor's thoughts were not on sensual pleasures, but on the fate of the nation!

"His Majesty."

Her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes welled up with tears.

At this moment, all the "Admonitions for Women" and "Internal Instructions" that she had been familiar with since childhood were thrown to the winds.

She suddenly threw herself into Zhu Youxiao's arms, her jade-like arms tightly encircling his strong waist:

"Your Majesty, I will certainly learn to be a good Empress and never become a stumbling block for Your Majesty!"

Two young bodies pressed tightly together; last night's intimacy was a fusion of flesh, but now it was a resonance of souls.

Zhu Youxiao felt the trembling of the person in his arms and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead:
"I'll wait and see."

Zhu Youxiao gently stroked Zhang Yan's cascading black hair and whispered in her ear:

"From this day forward—I want you to accompany me and together we will rewrite the destiny of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Yan was already moved. If it weren't for the inappropriate timing, she would have fought three hundred rounds with the man who had stolen her heart, even if she was slightly unwell.

After the Empress had finished pouring out her heartfelt fervor, the eunuch's announcement rang out a second time from outside the palace:

"As dawn approaches, may Your Majesty be well!"

Everything is almost done.

Zhu Youxiao then cleared his throat and called out loudly to the outside of the hall, "I am well. Enter the hall and serve me!"

Before he finished speaking, the palace maids who had been waiting outside the hall for a long time poured in like a tide.

They were well-trained and divided into two lines: one line held the dragon robe and crown to serve the emperor, and the other line held the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe to serve the empress.

The warm water in the gilded bronze basin steamed with wisps of heat, and a silk handkerchief soaked in rose dew gently wiped the faces of the Emperor and Empress.

After changing and washing up, Zhu Youxiao took Zhang Yan's hand, and the two walked out of the East Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace side by side.

As soon as I stepped out of the pavilion, I saw three familiar figures kneeling in unison beneath the steps.

These were the three chief eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial: Wei Chao, Wei Zhongxian, and Wang Tiqian.

The three men wore identical fawning smiles, their foreheads pressed firmly to the ground.
"This servant greets Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress!"

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over the three of them, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Get up, all of you."

After the ceremony, Wei Chao rose, his corpulent body suddenly leaping forward with agility. He held the memorial high above his head, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your Majesty! Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty! The Liaodong Military Commissioner Xiong Tingbi has sent an urgent report: Generals He Shixian and You Shigong of Shenyang, Generals Chen Ce and Qi Jin who came to Liaodong's aid, and guerrillas Zhou Dunji and Qin Bangping have utterly defeated the cavalry of the two Blue Banners. The general Liu Xingzuo, who has returned to the Ming Dynasty, has killed the tenth son of the Jurchens, Degelai, the Gushan Ejen of the Plain Blue Banner!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's pupils contracted sharply, and his fingers clenched tightly beneath his dragon robe.

Since ascending the throne, he had long since learned to conceal his emotions, but this news was still too shocking.

A decisive victory against two Blue Banner cavalry units in open battle?
and also
Nurhaci's own son, a core general of the Jianzhou Jurchens, was actually killed in battle!
"Bring it!"

The young emperor snatched the report away.

He reviewed it word by word, and when his gaze swept over the words "slaying the enemy chieftain in battle" and "destroying the enemy camp," his tense face finally relaxed.

The young emperor, who had been on the throne for less than a year, laughed heartily:

"Hahaha--!"

Laughter echoed in front of Kunning Palace. These three long laughs seemed to release all the doubts and pressure that had been borne over the past six months.

As the laughter subsided, a sharp glint flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes, but his voice remained unusually calm:
"Has the information been verified?"

After the Battle of Sarhu, there were far too many farces involving border generals exaggerating their military achievements.

Wei Chao hurriedly kowtowed, beads of sweat on his forehead leaving wet marks on the bluestone slab: "Your Majesty, the seals of the Military Governor's Office, the Governor's Office, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Censorate are all complete. Military Governor Xiong is always cautious, so there is no way he could be lying."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhu Youxiao spoke three times, each word resounding with conviction.

The young emperor, with piercing eyes, uttered a series of edicts:

"Immediately order the Cabinet to draft a reward! Double the compensation for fallen soldiers, and order the Ministry of War and the eunuchs to personally send officials to Liaodong to reward the troops!"

Wei Zhongxian keenly noticed that the emperor deliberately emphasized the word "compensation" when he spoke of it.

He immediately responded in a high-pitched voice, "This servant will do it right away! I will make sure the soldiers on the front lines feel His Majesty's divine grace!"

Besides rewarding and compensating the soldiers on the front lines, there is still much to be done about this great victory.

Zhu Youxiao said, "Issue an imperial decree to the *Huangming Daily* to publish this victory on the front page tomorrow! I want this news to spread throughout the two capitals and thirteen provinces within three days! Print out the details of the killing of Degelai and the image of the captured banner clearly!"

At this moment, in front of the Qianqing Kunning Palace, the morning breeze was causing Zhu Youxiao's robe to flutter.

He sneered inwardly: What did those Grand Secretaries say when he had defied public opinion to appoint Xiong Tingbi six months ago?

"Xiong Manzi is stubborn and self-willed, and is unfit for any important task!"

"Your Majesty is young and easily deceived by military men!"

"The affairs of Liaodong should be considered carefully at a long-term perspective."

What now?
Can I govern this country well?

"In addition, add one more sentence when drafting the decree."

"I have heard that if you doubt someone, you should not use them; if you use someone, you should not doubt them. Now that Xiong Qing has achieved such great merit, he is hereby granted full authority over all military affairs in Liaodong!"

This addition made Wei Zhongxian's pupils shrink.

This is clearly an attempt to use the momentum of the victory to completely silence the court officials!
"correct."

Zhu Youxiao's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Hang the captured plain blue banner at the Meridian Gate for three days as a public display. Let all the civil and military officials have a good look at it."

My imperial will is too strong, and my decision to appoint Xiong Tingbi has drawn so much criticism from my court officials.

What's the result now?

We've won a great victory!

I want to see who dares to oppose my new policies!

ps:
A long chapter of 5,000 words! Today I actually updated 10,000 words! I just couldn't stop writing. The author is so kind. If it were any other author, they would have already stopped writing.

I've updated with 11,000 words today. A subscription and a monthly pass wouldn't be too much to ask, right?
(End of this chapter)