Chapter 19 The Imperial Tutor and the Crown Princess (18)
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On the day of the birthday banquet, nobles and envoys from various countries received imperial edicts to enter the palace for the banquet.
The palace had made thorough preparations, and this was the grandest palace banquet since the founding of the dynasty.
Aside from celebrating her birthday, Emperor Gu's main purpose in organizing this lavish banquet was to fully bring Gu Zhong into the spotlight and make all nations familiar with the new dynasty's crown princess.
It can be said that after today, the position of Crown Princess Gu Zhong will be as secure as Mount Tai. As long as she does not commit any treasonous acts, she will be the rightful next emperor after Emperor Gu passes away.
As the banquet began, Gu Zhong, dressed in a black imperial robe, stood on the jade steps in front of the palace to present a birthday greeting to Emperor Gu. He was composed, dignified, and unparalleled in his majesty.
After the Crown Princess withdrew, the order of birthday greetings should have been given in the form of royal relatives, representatives of various countries, and ministers. However, an unexpected guest appeared in the hall today.
"On behalf of my religion, I offer Your Majesty my sincerest blessings. May the God of War protect us and grant us eternal friendship. I hope Your Majesty will remember our oath."
A woman wearing a bone mask and a gilded lace shaman's robe clasped her hands in front of her chest and gave Emperor Gu a slight bow, but did not kneel. Behind her, four people carried a pure gold statue of a shaman god.
Lingyan noticed that Gu Zhong's hand was slightly curled up, and knew that she was angry, but her face did not show any emotion.
Emperor Gu was not angered by this act, which would be considered disrespectful by ordinary people. Instead, he stood up to greet him.
"I never expected the high priest to come and offer his congratulations in person. I have been negligent."
As Emperor Gu spoke, Lingyan turned her gaze to the woman standing in the center of the hall, the High Priest of the Witchcraft Cult, who seemed to wield considerable power within the cult.
She glanced at him a few times and felt a faint sense of familiarity about him, which made her frown.
After the high priest finished his celebration, he turned back to his seat. As if sensing someone watching him, he looked over with piercing eyes, then casually looked away.
Lingyan was stunned. When the high priest looked over just now, those eyes, so black that only the pupils were visible, so deep that they seemed to encompass the entire universe, were so familiar... Where had she seen them before... but she couldn't remember for a moment.
The birthday banquet ended quietly, without any oversights or unexpected events.
Instead, a month after the birthday banquet, Emperor Gu inexplicably fell ill and fell into a coma without warning. The Imperial Medical Bureau tried its best but failed to find out the cause and could only vaguely conclude that he had been poisoned.
Emperor Gu was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the palace. However, after turning the palace upside down, they only found some eunuchs lining their own pockets. It was only when Emperor Gu suddenly came to his senses one day and had Zhao Zhao relay a message to Gu Zhong that she calmed down.
In the days that followed, Emperor Gu would sometimes be lucid and sometimes unconscious. When he was lucid, he would summon his two daughters to his presence and give them instructions, but no one knew what he said.
The morning court sessions never stopped, and Gu Zhong gradually gained control of the real power of regent and overseeing the country. At first, there were some rumors that the Crown Princess had poisoned Emperor Gu, and these rumors even reached Emperor Gu's ears.
To protect Gu Zhong, Emperor Gu forced himself to appear at the morning court session despite his illness, which finally quelled the rumors.
Emperor Gu's health deteriorated and showed no signs of improvement. The joyous atmosphere of the palace was gone, and everyone's face was gloomy and sorrowful, with everyone speaking in much softer voices.
Ling Yan was horrified to realize that, according to the original story, the timing of Emperor Gu's current collapse was quite similar to the time when he was supposed to be angered to death by his two daughters. However, some changes had occurred in the middle of the story, Gu Zhong's wedding was postponed, and there was no scene of brothers killing each other.
Was Emperor Gu's death an inescapable fate?
...Or is it simply not as simple as it seems on the surface?
A great ruler and the founding emperor, he ultimately could not live to see the spring of the following year. On a snowy night in Xi'an, he passed away peacefully.
The death knell of the king, accompanied by the wailing north wind, traveled far and wide.
As was customary, the young Crown Princess agreed to ascend the throne after being invited three times by the ministers. The enthronement ceremony would be held after the memorial service.
Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor established the reign title Tiancheng. He requested to observe three years of mourning before the late emperor's spirit and postponed his wedding.
Prince Chunxiao of Qinghe, overwhelmed with grief and physically weak, remained in the capital.
Upon hearing Gu Zhong's decree, Ling Yan felt a sense of relief. Three months of mourning for the emperor was sufficient, unlike the customary three years for commoners. This was partly due to Gu Zhong's deep affection for Emperor Gu, and partly...
Lingyan harbored a selfish suspicion that Gu Zhong was unwilling to marry Chen Muxian.
Now that Gu Zhong is the emperor, there is no need for the past compromises and pretense. While the aristocratic families are still recovering from last year's events, now is the time to press our advantage.
A few days later, Gu Chong issued several more imperial edicts, promoting all the trustworthy officials of the Eastern Palace to positions of real power, while discarding all the suspicious people that Ling Yan had mentioned.
Lingyan was appointed Prime Minister, becoming the head of the Three Dukes, and Chen Muxian also received a rare promotion, officially becoming the Minister of Justice.
Despite the distance between them, Gu Zhong still trusted her as always. For a moment, Ling Yan didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
"His Majesty…"
In the Imperial Study, Lingyan looked at Gu Zhong, who was intently reading the memorials at the table, and couldn't help but call out to him with heartache.
Just two months after ascending the throne, she visibly lost weight and looked much more haggard.
"His Majesty?"
Seeing that Gu Zhong did not respond, she called out again.
"Sir? I...I didn't react for a moment."
Gu Zhong then looked up, and after a moment of confusion, he spoke.
"Perhaps Your Majesty has been overworking lately; you should take care of your health."
"...Father is gone..."
Gu Zhong stared blankly at her, then blurted out a sentence out of the blue.
Lingyan felt a pang in her heart and involuntarily took a few steps, but after realizing what had happened, she restrained herself and stood still.
"Your Majesty, please accept my deepest condolences..."
What else could she say, and what right did she have to say anything? The difference between ruler and subject was like a chasm.
Gu Zhong lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes concealing the disappointment and weariness in them.
"Sir, what are your views on aristocratic families and witchcraft?"
"This world belongs to His Majesty. It is no longer the era when aristocratic families shared the world with the emperor a hundred years ago, nor is it permissible for any religious sect to use the righteousness of the gods to supersede the power of the monarch."
Lingyan knew that this was Gu Zhong's main purpose in summoning her today, and for this reason, she also sent away the palace servants who were serving her.
"In previous years, you advised me to proceed slowly and plan carefully. In the last two years, with the help of some favorable winds, the aristocratic families have concealed their brilliance and are showing signs of decline. I wonder if it is time for them to act?"
Although Gu Zhong's question was phrased as a question, it carried an impatient and firm determination.
"Boil it in warm water; Your Majesty must not rush it."
"Sir, do you have a brilliant plan?"
"First, the equal distribution of land was established, then the laws were revised, and finally the recommendation system was abolished, thus unifying the monarchical power."
“Very well, then so be it, sir. As for witchcraft, I intend to impose a ban on it.”
"Your Majesty, the more you try to stop religious matters, the more intense they become. Beiling serves as a cautionary tale. Only by supporting Buddhism and Taoism and resolving doctrinal conflicts can we achieve results."
"...Do as you say, sir."
"Tomorrow at court, I will present a memorial regarding the equal distribution of land."
"Why didn't I issue the order directly?" Gu Zhong frowned, puzzled.
"This would make Your Majesty appear to be acting arbitrarily. I urge Your Majesty to cherish your reputation."
Besides, heated debates are inevitable in the court; it's better to let me bring it up.”
"...Alright, then I'll leave it to you, sir."
In the first year of the Tiancheng era, Chancellor Lingyan submitted a memorial suggesting that the system of rites be revised, land be measured, and the equal-field system be reopened.
The new emperor approved it and summoned the Hongwen Academy to rewrite the legal articles and revise the legal code.
He ordered that various regions hold grand discussions on doctrines to spread the teachings of different religions, and that the details of these discussions be presented to the emperor.
In an instant, a single stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the whole world was in an uproar.
No one expected that the new emperor, who had barely warmed his throne, would dare to introduce new policies.
In an instant, memorials of opposition poured in like snowflakes, piling up the study, but Gu Zhong didn't even glance at them, and ordered them to be burned.
"Your Majesty! Such an important matter, why didn't you discuss it with me?"
Gu Zhong was discussing the implementation with Ling Yan when Gu Yang barged in.
"Now, Ah Yang, you know too, don't you..."
Gu Zhong sighed.
"If I had known, I would never have allowed my elder sister to issue such a decree so recklessly," Gu Yang said angrily.
"How dare you! Do I need your permission to issue any decree?"
Gu Zhong slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table.
"Does Your Majesty know that this matter is of utmost importance? The powerful families are the foundation of half the world's stability and cannot be easily touched."
"Do you think I can't think of what you're thinking of? You're acting like you're about to die just because you're implementing the equal land distribution system. If you want to abolish the recommendation system and promote the imperial examination system, are you going to fight me to the death?"
"What? My elder sister actually wants to hold the imperial examinations?"
Gu Yang was truly shocked. "With such drastic measures, how can the aristocratic families not descend into chaos?"
“That’s why I haven’t given the order yet.” Gu Zhong glared at her.
"Why must Your Majesty intervene with the aristocratic families at this time? I understand Your Majesty's concerns, but this matter cannot be resolved in one generation. Why not wait a little longer?"
"If we postpone it for three years, then postpone it for another three years, and keep postponing it, will anyone still be willing to do it?"
Look at your father again. He left so suddenly, and no one is there to take over the things that were set out for him. Wouldn't he find it hard to rest in peace in the afterlife?
Needless to say, the new policies are inevitable. If I don't even have the courage to be the first person, how can I talk about being an emperor or a king?
"Get out. I have important matters to discuss with the Prime Minister. Don't bother me."
After saying that, Gu Zhong impatiently waved his hand and shooed Gu Yang away.
After Lingyan and Gu Zhong finalized the details and walked out of the study, they saw a sculpture standing upright in the corridor.
"Is Your Highness waiting for His Majesty?"
"No, I am waiting for the Prime Minister."
This was the first time Gu Yang had spoken to Ling Yan so coldly and firmly.
"I wonder what advice Your Highness has for me?" Lingyan asked, somewhat surprised.
"I cannot accept the position of instructor, but I would like to ask the Prime Minister to enlighten me: why did my elder sister suddenly come up with the idea of implementing new policies?"
"...What does Your Highness think?"
Ling Yan chuckled; Gu Yang was trying to pin the blame on her.