PM - 34

What did they think? Of course, it was highly inappropriate!

The emperor’s words were very subtle, but everyone knew that adding a rank meant ennoblement. Shangguan Zhao’s formal position was currently Wing Guard General; the Wing Guard General wore a silver seal and green ribbon. As for honorary positions like Attendant-in-Ordinary, which had no official rank, there were no seals or ribbons. Only if he were ennobled as a marquis would he be entitled to wear a purple ribbon and golden seal, thus truly having two ribbons. In a nation, noble titles were not like gold and silver that could be bestowed casually. Such honors were something many people couldn’t earn even after a lifetime of military service. How could a novice without any accomplishments deserve such a great reward?

All the ministers showed expressions of disapproval. “Does Your Majesty remember that Emperor Gaozu once issued an edict stating that only those of the Yuan clan can become kings, and only those with merit can become marquises? If this agreement is broken, the whole world can collectively punish them… Although Your Majesty values the attendant, the principle that too much is as bad as too little, I believe Your Majesty understands.”

The Grand Marshal spoke forcefully: “I am in charge of military affairs. Over the years, small countries on the borders have often caused disturbances, and battles have been frequent. There are no shortage of meritorious individuals who have quelled these conflicts. If Your Majesty personally inspects the troops, you will see soldiers who have fought bloody battles year-round, their bodies covered with scars, not a single piece of unblemished flesh left when they take off their clothes. Those people still only make ends meet with meager salaries. I really can’t figure out what great achievements Attendant Shangguan has made to deserve such imperial favor from Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty’s love for talent, we also acknowledge, but bestowing a noble title is not a trivial matter. We hope Your Majesty will think thrice before acting.”

“Your Majesty is the ruler of Dayin and should prioritize the stability of the realm. Do not confer rewards based on personal preferences. For the attendant, receiving unearned rewards causes guilt day and night. For civil and military officials, unrestrained rewards and punishments lead to unrest among the people. Can our wise and enlightened ruler possibly do such a thing?”

A wave of opposition voices rose at once. Fu Wei had anticipated some resistance, but she didn’t expect the ministers’ reactions to be so intense, rendering her prepared arguments useless.

She pressed her hand against her forehead and let out a long sigh. “Gentlemen, you know that there are twenty ranks of marquises in our dynasty, not just the rank of marquis and noble. The treatment of non-Yuan marquises and Yuan clan nobles differs greatly. Take the Marquis Within-the-Pass, for example—it’s just an honorary title without a fiefdom, essentially a nominal position. Why are gentlemen being so nitpicky about this?”

As soon as the word “nitpicky” came out, the Imperial Censor raised his hands high. “Your Majesty, since ancient times, rewards have been given according to merit. If there is no merit, how can there be a reward? Although the Marquis Within-the-Pass is a nominal title, it enjoys the right to collect taxes from several households, not just a verbal title. Attendant Shangguan is not the eldest son and cannot inherit the title of Marquis Pingchang. If Your Majesty creates another title for him, making both brothers marquises simultaneously, it would be unprecedented in our Dayin dynasty. Please listen to my report, Your Majesty. From Emperor Wen to Emperor Hui, six people were conferred the title of marquis. Among these six, one was Marquis Gai Chong, two was Marquis Jing An, three was Marquis Pingchang Mingyue, and the remaining three were county marquises, township marquises, or pavilion marquises. Does Your Majesty see the pattern here? If we now confer another title on the attendant, it would show excessive favoritism towards the Shangguan family. With all three father and sons becoming marquises, wouldn’t it cause an uproar throughout the land?”

Previously, the Chancellor’s political views had always been followed, and Fu Wei had never faced any rebuttals from the courtiers. Only now did she realize that talk of distinctions between ruler and minister was nonsense in the eyes of these senior ministers. When the emperor was weak, they could argue relentlessly without reservation as long as they had objections. Alone, how could she compete with those old foxes spouting moral righteousness?

She felt frustrated and helpless, not knowing what to do. They each spoke one sentence after another, leaving her no chance to get a word in. “Your Majesty, please reconsider,” “Your Majesty must remain impartial,” “Your Majesty should not be swayed by those with ulterior motives”... It was as if she were a tyrant. At first, she wanted to argue back, but eventually, she simply closed her mouth. The ministers confirmed each other’s views, echoing from afar, completely forgetting her presence as the emperor. The current situation was as if she were a child making an unreasonable request, and a group of righteous elders were sternly yet lovingly persuading her. She watched coldly, finding it quite amusing.

What about the Chancellor? She turned her gaze to him. He hadn’t said a word until now, but she saw the cold line on his lips, a mix of sarcasm and intimidation.

Her hand under the table slowly clenched into a fist. The sense of impending failure was overwhelming, making her feel suffocated. The entire court was filled with his rhetoric; he didn’t even need to step forward himself. Was he letting her taste the feeling of being besieged? She used to not know what kind of mountain she was leaning on, thinking she could stand firm in the court solely on her own. Now that she had tasted the bitterness, she naturally became aware, understanding that restraint was the key to survival. She would obediently submit to his control from now on, wasn’t that right?

The humiliation mingled with anger spread across her. She struggled to calm herself, slightly raising her voice: “The attendant has served me tirelessly, front and back. I don’t think I need your consent to bestow the title of Marquis Within-the-Pass. I said earlier, today is not for discussing state affairs, just casual conversation. My decision is merely to inform all of you, with absolutely no intention of discussion. Gentlemen, there is no need to deliberate further.”

The faces of the lords grew increasingly solemn. “We dare not agree, Your Majesty placing personal feelings above the nation deeply saddens us.”

“Has Your Majesty reached the point of favoring the Shangguan clan without considering reasons? Why does Your Majesty protect the Shangguan clan so fiercely?”

“Your Majesty must not forget the term ‘overpraise,’ causing the feudal lords of the land to unite against us. Is that what Your Majesty wishes to see?”

The sleeping quarters became chaotic, with ministers arguing noisily, turning this place into a salon for idle chatter. The Left and Right Chamberlains grew anxious, and even Hulü Puzhao placed his hand on his sword. Fu Wei couldn’t help but feel sorrowful. Perhaps she hadn’t considered thoroughly enough, and this step was too hasty. But throughout history, which emperor had ever lost face like she did today? These were the pillars of the nation. One or two could be dealt with, but replacing all the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers would collapse the court. She began to strongly realize that even after her wedding and coming-of-age ceremony, these senior ministers wouldn’t submit to her. She couldn’t defeat them, and could only watch them act arrogantly.

Of course, there were those who supported her. The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites, although they thought the emperor lacked consideration, still reminded the ministers to maintain decorum. She leaned on the desk, watching them painstakingly mediate, and her heart gradually grew desolate. Today was about ennobling Ahzhao; in the future, there would be more things that were not beneficial to them. She wondered how much tempering she needed to withstand to compete with these people—she couldn’t even imagine.

If there was no way, perhaps... this matter could be discussed later. She lowered her eyelids, pressing the jade pendant she was fiddling with firmly into her palm, starting to consider ways to find a graceful exit. At this moment, she saw the Chancellor rise. With just a light “gentlemen,” the lords immediately fell silent. Compared to the previous chaos in the hall, it was like two different worlds.

When the Chancellor spoke, it was always at that unhurried pace. “The imperial intent to ennoble the attendant as a marquis, I haven’t expressed my stance because I wanted to see the opinions of the gentlemen. What the gentlemen have said, every word makes sense. After listening for half a day, I deeply agree…”

Fu Wei closed her eyes wearily. This person loved nothing more than twisting the knife, sprinkling salt on her wounds. Did it really bring him so much joy? This plan was obviously about to fall through, and pulling it down at this moment didn’t make him look any smarter.

The young emperor’s dismissive expression was fully captured by the Chancellor. Irritated, the Chancellor found he’d rather look at the ceiling than at her, so he shifted his gaze to the lacquered beams painted with cinnabar on the roof.

But once he started speaking, he had to continue. Folding his hands, he said: “Those without merit shouldn’t be ennobled as marquises—this was a rule set by Emperor Gaozu. However, not rewarding those with merit is also not a custom of our Dayin dynasty. Attendant Shangguan has guarded Your Majesty day and night, bringing peace to the central court—a fact witnessed by all. Your Majesty inherits the throne and rewards close ministers. I believe there is nothing wrong with this. Moreover, gentlemen may not know that a few days ago, the empress was attacked at her residence. Thanks to the attendant’s valiant efforts, the assassin was driven away. During the fight, the attendant was poisoned and nearly lost his life. He still bears a wound about a foot long on his arm. For such great merit, not to mention a Marquis Within-the-Pass, even promoting him to a full marquis is entirely reasonable.”

His speech sparked murmurs among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers. Even Fu Wei was surprised. Was he extending a helping hand at this moment? Had washing his hair damaged his brain?

The Chancellor felt her earnest gaze and knew she must be grateful to him now. But who cared about her gratitude! He lifted his chin high and continued, folding his sleeves: “The empress holds the same dignity as the monarch. Attendant Shangguan’s rescue merits not only reward but substantial reward! Strange phenomena occurred during the Great Heat, with Mars guarding Antares causing widespread panic. Villains took advantage to assassinate Your Majesty, their evil deeds still vivid yesterday. Now, with the grand ceremony of establishing the empress approaching, there are again plots targeting the empress. Without the attendant risking his life, who knows what the situation would be now. Therefore, Your Majesty’s wish to promote the attendant is beyond reproach. Your Majesty’s clear rewards and punishments are a blessing for all ministers. I humbly obey Your Majesty’s command.”

With that, the tide immediately turned. The empress was the Chancellor’s adopted daughter, and the Chancellor naturally had to protect her. Now who dared question the emperor was opposing the Chancellor. There isn’t so much black and white in the world. If carefully weighed, whether sacrificing one’s career for someone else’s title was worth it needed consideration. After deliberation, the result was no. Thus, the lords present stood up, saying why hadn’t His Majesty detailed Attendant Shangguan’s merits, causing misunderstandings. The heated words spoken earlier were also for the sake of the nation, please don’t bear a grudge, Your Majesty.

So, should Attendant Shangguan be promoted? The answer was yes. One person initiated agreement, and a long string of others followed suit. Fu Wei sat cross-legged at the head, secretly relieved, smiling despite her heavy robes almost soaked with sweat. Though it ended safely, this incident made her experience the treachery of the court. To be the master of these people, how difficult it was! There was still a long way to go, reinforcing her determination to strengthen herself.

The “casual talk” was over, time to disperse. The ministers paid their respects and retreated. Fu Wei rose and looked at the Chancellor, gathering her courage for a long while, finally calling out: “Please, Father Chancellor, stay a moment.”

The Chancellor shuffled his feet a couple of steps, unwilling but still stayed. As the lords descended the stairs and gradually moved away, the Chancellor’s neck seemed stiff, tilting with a proud curve. Fu Wei patiently sighed, “Thank you, Father Chancellor, for your help just now.”

The Chancellor’s voice was icy, “No need to thank me; I truly agree with Your Majesty.”

If he could agree to ennobling Shangguan Zhao, that would be truly surprising. She cautiously asked, “Father Chancellor, have you heard the news that Princess Dingyang brought her daughter into the palace?”

He replied affirmatively, “I heard about it a couple of days ago.”

“What are your plans, Father Chancellor?”

She wanted to speak to him sincerely, but he refused to turn his head. Unable to see his expression, she couldn’t discern his true thoughts. Feeling troubled, Fu Wei had no choice but to move half a circle and humbly approach him. However, he was determined not to look at her. When she moved to his left, he turned his face to the right, thoroughly giving her the cold shoulder.

His refusal to look at her didn’t mean he wasn’t scheming. “Princess Dingyang wants to send the young lady into the palace. At this time, Your Majesty is eager to ennoble Shangguan Zhao so that he can marry the young lady. Am I correct? For me, a marquis title is not significant. On the other hand, Princess Dingyang’s appearance is quite troublesome. If she and the young lady stay long in the palace, there will inevitably be more trouble. Your Majesty’s idea is very good. Since Shangguan Zhao is someone you trust, he can certainly build a bridge between Marquis Gai and the court. Moreover, for the young lady’s lifelong happiness, marrying Shangguan Zhao is better than marrying Your Majesty. Your Majesty’s foresight is commendable, and this is also a meritorious deed.”

What ultimately prompted him to assist willingly was still the fact that Shangguan Zhao was about to marry the young lady. The young lady was only twelve years old, indicating that Shangguan Zhao’s post-marriage life wouldn’t be particularly comfortable. This alone was enough to satisfy the Chancellor completely.

In his elation, the Chancellor revealed his emotions outside the court, where he generally acted more freely. Fu Wei observed him from the side and noticed the gradually uplifting lines on his cheeks, indicating his happiness. What was there to be happy about? Was it because he had secured his position as the emperor’s father-in-law? But listening to his earlier comments about the empress being attacked, she was amazed by the versatility of politicians—making up nonsense on the spot was indeed a skill. It seemed she still had much to learn from him.

She was quite convinced, “Father Chancellor has spoken exactly what I had in mind, not missing a bit. Regardless, I must thank you. I didn’t have time to inform you beforehand, but fortunately, you understood me and timely resolved my urgent problem.” She turned another half circle, “These past two days, I’ve reflected repeatedly. That day, I was disrespectful to you—it was my mistake...”

Sure enough, he turned his face to the other side, “Your Majesty need not blame yourself; I haven’t taken it to heart.”

“Although that may be true, I still feel uneasy...” She kept circling around following the direction of his face until she became dizzy and had to stop, somewhat angrily protesting, “Why won’t Father Chancellor look at me? Don’t you know you need to show respect during an audience with the king? Such disdainful behavior—are you asking me to take action?”

She was about to take action again—had it become a habit? The Chancellor, upon hearing this, felt irritated and sneered, “So Your Majesty knows about propriety after all. I am your Imperial Tutor and also your Royal Uncle. Do you think you can hit or scold me whenever you want?”

Fu Wei’s fiery temperament waned instantly under his words, but facing such accusations, she felt it necessary to offer a rebuttal.

“What do you mean, hitting and scolding whenever I want... Father Chancellor has misunderstood me. That day’s incident was out of urgency, not something I desired. Besides, I think the fabric of Father Chancellor’s robe isn’t very good. How could it be so fragile that when I pulled it...” She mimicked a tearing motion, her gaze then shifting towards his chest.

Instinctively, the Chancellor placed both hands over his jade belt, avoiding her direct gaze, slightly turning his body, “It’s not that my robe’s fabric is bad, it’s that Your Majesty possesses extraordinary strength. Now that the matter is over, there’s no need to bring it up again. I ask Your Majesty, when do you plan to arrange the marriage between the attendant and the young lady?”

She said she would wait a little longer, “The matter of the attendant’s ennoblement has just been decided, and we haven’t issued the edict yet. Once everything is arranged properly, presumably the Empress Dowager and Princess Dingyang will have discussed things sufficiently. At that time, arranging the marriage will avoid any resentment.”

Seeing her confident demeanor, the Chancellor couldn’t help but feel a sense of melancholy akin to the sorrow of a fox mourning the death of a rabbit.

Hadn’t she and Shangguan Zhao been the best of friends? Yet, at a crucial moment, her friend’s marriage could become a tool for her to manipulate the political landscape. She was certainly not a soft-hearted person, never considering whether Shangguan Zhao would be happy in the future. A twelve-year-old child who knew nothing—how could she become a wife? She forced her close friend to turn marriage into politics, her ruthlessness unseen bloodshed. Fortunately, fate was somewhat fair. She was just a woman. Otherwise, in the future, no one would be able to control her, and she would become the most authoritarian ruler in Dayin’s history.

“Has Your Majesty considered whether both parties in this marriage are willing?”

She turned around, the tassels on either side of her Yanbian slicing diagonally across her cheeks. The crimson cords made her eyes appear somewhat cool and distant, “Does Father Chancellor think I have any other choices? As long as a marriage doesn’t harm anyone, that is the greatest fortune. Moreover, I don’t believe the attendant will be dissatisfied. The young lady is a very cute girl. Although she is still young now, in a couple of years, she will make a qualified wife.”

The Chancellor said no more, merely closing his eyes and quietly gazing at her. Thus, marriage and love could serve politics—this applied to Shangguan Zhao, and similarly to herself.

She probably sensed his unusual gaze, appearing somewhat guilty, “Why does Father Chancellor look at me like this? Did I say something wrong?”

The Chancellor slowly shook his head, “Your Majesty made no mistake. As a ruler, weighing pros and cons is essential. One must not let misplaced compassion mislead the country.”

Though he spoke thus, his expression didn’t seem entirely approving. Fu Wei thought for a moment and smiled modestly, “Does Father Chancellor think I am heartless? Actually, I am not heartless; I am merely protecting myself. After all, I once bared my heart to someone who didn’t appreciate it. Since I cannot find security in emotions, I have to make myself strong. I also wish for someone to provide me solace and stability, but I haven’t met such a person... at least not yet.” After pausing briefly, she continued, “How about you, Father Chancellor? Have you found that special someone? If not, don’t waste time. After all, loneliness is hard to bear, and everyone needs a companion. Lately, I’ve developed an interest in matchmaking. Perhaps I should find a beautiful bride for you. If both events happen simultaneously, how wonderful it would be! Tell me whom you like, and I’ll immediately issue an edict. I heard that the daughter of Taichang Zhong Kun is very beautiful. Let the Empress Dowager invite her to the palace, and Father Chancellor can take a discreet look. Would that be acceptable?”

When she spoke these words fluently, her smile was full of hidden traps. The Chancellor knew he was alone, and she couldn’t do anything to him. But if a family member appeared at this time, it would give her a place to act, leaving him utterly devastated.

The Chancellor shook his head, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness, but I currently have no plans to start a family.”

Fu Wei responded with an “Oh,” feigning disappointment. Seeing someone approaching from outside the hall, she walked over cheerfully and warmly called out, “Azhao, I’ve already arranged your ennoblement. In a couple of days, Commander Hulü will inherit the title, and you can also wear two ribbons. Thus, neither of you will be superior, and you can both serve me with peace of mind.”

Shangguan Zhao hesitantly replied, “Your Majesty need not treat me this way.”

Seeing his lack of joy, she felt guilty and instinctively reached for his hand as usual, lamenting, “I know you think the young lady is too young. Consider her a sister for now. I previously discussed this decision with the Chancellor. Perhaps it’s not beneficial for you, and if you resent me, I won’t blame you.”

Shangguan Zhao finally managed a smile, gently squeezing the emperor’s hand and kindly saying, “For Your Majesty, I would not hesitate even if it meant shattering my body. This small matter is nowhere near as serious as Your Majesty describes.”