After the new sovereign’s enthronement, the first court session convened.
The small emperor sat at the highest position with a young eunuch, Little Anzi, standing at his side.
Below the steps, at the head of all officials, stood the Regent Prince, Chu Rui.
With court sessions suspended for nearly two months, there were far too many matters requiring discussion. They deliberated until nearly noon before finally settling various major issues concerning national welfare and people’s livelihood.
Chu Hongyu was, after all, a child not yet eight years old and had long since found it difficult to sit still.
But he knew what he had to do.
When no one else came forward to memorialize, only then did he speak: “Regarding the matter of dispatching troops for the eastern campaign, how do you honored ministers view this?”
The Marquis of Pingjin immediately stepped forward and said, “Before the late emperor passed, he spoke of dispatching one hundred thousand reinforcement troops. It should be arranged. Fight! We must utterly defeat the Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom!”
Minister Qi from the Military Strategy Office calmly refuted, “The Marquis of Pingjin doesn’t understand military affairs, so naturally he dares speak such bold words. Do you know why our Great Jin’s one hundred thirty thousand troops are currently unable to advance or retreat at Linhai? The Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom, though a tiny place, constantly relies on naval warfare to plunder resources. Calling them maritime overlords would not be excessive. Their ships, though smaller than ours, are exceptionally nimble and always catch us off guard. Thus the battlefield has become deadlocked—unable to advance, unable to retreat. Even if we arrange more reinforcements, once they enter the sea, they’re simply sending heads to be taken. Does Your Majesty understand what this minister is saying?”
Chu Hongyu’s little nose wrinkled up.
He didn’t quite understand, but he memorized every word. Later he would ask Teacher Wang and search through the archives to see what was really going on.
The Minister of War sighed and said, “We can only have those one hundred thirty thousand elite troops defend Linhai, forming a long defensive line to prevent the Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom’s people from landing and causing trouble!”
“Then follow what the Minister of War suggests and have the one hundred thirty thousand troops garrison the cities of Linhai!” Chu Rui made the final decision, then changed the subject. “Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, it’s no longer appropriate to attend the Imperial Academy. Henceforth Grand Preceptor Xu will teach individually. This minister believes we should also select several study companions to accompany Your Majesty in studies.”
Chief Minister Li nodded. “This is proper, though Grand Preceptor Xu is somewhat busy…”
“Nothing is more important than matters concerning Your Majesty,” Grand Preceptor Xu spoke up. “This old minister requests to resign from his other official posts to focus wholeheartedly on teaching Your Majesty.”
Generally, first-rank ministers like grand preceptors and grand tutors held ceremonial positions but also held other substantive posts. Combined, these made them truly powerful first-rank ministers wielding real authority.
Grand Preceptor Xu’s action left Chief Minister Li unable to voice any opposition. He could only say, “This minister’s young grandson is the same age as Your Majesty. Perhaps he could serve as Your Majesty’s study companion.”
In great families like theirs, only one child per generation could enter the Imperial Academy. His eldest grandson attended the Imperial Academy, so his younger grandson had entered the clan school and was among the most outstanding children of similar age in the clan. He hoped the boy could accompany Your Majesty in growing into a benevolent sovereign.
Chu Rui took up the conversation and continued, “Add to that the third legitimate son of the Minister of Works’ household, the youngest son of Grand Commandant Zhao, and the legitimate grandson of Prince Taihe. What does Your Majesty think?”
Whether ministers or grand commandants, all were first-rank officials, and Prince Taihe was the late emperor’s brother, also a prince of considerable standing. Arranging legitimate sons from these families as the emperor’s study companions was indeed within proper regulations.
But—
Yun Ze’s gaze darkened.
These particular children from these families were all famously unruly in the capital. Having a group of troublemakers accompany the emperor in his studies—their wolfish ambitions were glaringly obvious.
He stepped forward and spoke, “Your Majesty is young. Arranging only four study companions is still too few. This minister’s legitimate eldest son, Yun Zhenjiang, has quick wit and is suitable as a study companion…”
“No, no, no, I don’t want Brother Jiang,” Chu Hongyu suddenly acted willfully. “He’s too rigid. I don’t like him.”
Chu Rui’s lips curved slightly as he asked, “What about Princess Qinghua’s son, Meng Shen?”
“He won’t do either—he’s like a little old man.” Chu Hongyu stood up and pondered for a moment. “Besides those few the Regent Prince arranged, I think the youngest son of the Gongsun family would be good, and doesn’t Minister Lin have a son? And also…”
He named several more people in succession.
The smile on Chu Rui’s face deepened further.
This young emperor was just a playful child, not worth fearing.
How could someone as clever as Yun Chu raise such a… oh right, he remembered now—the new emperor wasn’t Yun Chu’s biological child.
After the court session ended, Chu Hongyu could finally rest.
However, class was scheduled for half an hour later. He had no time to go to Kangning Palace and could only hastily eat, change clothes, and head to the Imperial Study.
Yun Chu heard some news about the court matters.
She walked around the palace, first going to the Cold Palace, which was now under renovation. From now on, there would be no more Cold Palace in the imperial grounds.
If love was gone, it was gone. Why must women be cast into the Cold Palace? This was the greatest injustice to palace women.
Then she made her way to pay respects at the palaces of Imperial Consort Yun and Imperial Consort Yin. After becoming dowager consorts, both had achieved peace of mind. Together with Noble Consort Shu, they sat in the Imperial Garden drinking tea every day.
Finally, she made her way to the entrance of the Imperial Study.
Currently, the two highest-ranking masters in the palace were the young emperor and the empress dowager. When the empress dowager arrived, the young eunuchs guarding the entrance dared not be negligent and quickly knelt to pay their respects.
Yun Chu waved her hand, signaling them not to make a commotion.
She walked in and heard Grand Preceptor Xu’s voice coming from the Imperial Study. After listening for a while, her brow immediately darkened.
After a new sovereign’s enthronement, the imperial tutor should be teaching imperial statecraft, the art of employing people, strategies of diplomacy and power—not lecturing about unorthodox matters.
She could understand Grand Preceptor Xu’s loyalty to Chu Rui, because the lives of his entire clan were in Chu Rui’s grasp.
But understanding didn’t mean acceptance.
Even Qinghua, with her dull-witted nature, could hold fast to her principles when facing major issues of right and wrong.
Yet Grand Preceptor Xu exploited his position as imperial tutor to delay the Son of Heaven’s study of governance…
Yun Chu walked to the side room adjoining the Imperial Study to drink tea. By around evening, class finally dismissed.
As soon as Chu Hongyu emerged, the eunuch Little Anzi stepped forward and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has come and is drinking tea in the west chamber.”
Chu Hongyu’s face immediately lit up with a smile. He skipped toward the west chamber, but after two steps, realizing this wasn’t appropriate, he immediately slowed his pace. With his hands clasped behind his back, affecting the manner of a little adult, he stood at the entrance to the west chamber and said, “Mother Empress, your son has finished his studies.”
Yun Chu indicated he should enter.
Chu Hongyu walked in slowly and deliberately, ordering Little Anzi to close the door. Once outside views were blocked off, only then did he plop down on a chair. “Finally I can sit comfortably.”
Yun Chu looked at him with amusement. “Weren’t you sitting the whole time during your studies?”
“Just now, under so many people’s watchful eyes, I had to maintain proper posture, sitting upright like a bell. That sitting position is too exhausting.” Chu Hongyu slouched in his chair. “Being emperor is truly exhausting.”
Yun Chu asked, “Just now when Grand Preceptor Xu was teaching, did you pay attention?”
“I know Grand Preceptor Xu is the Regent Prince’s man. The Regent Prince arranged this person as my teacher—he definitely has ill intentions.” The little one snorted. “Knowing he has ill intentions, why would I listen to his lectures? What if he corrupts my education? Right, Mother? During class, I was reading other books on my own. Anyway, I’m the emperor, so Grand Preceptor Xu doesn’t dare criticize me.”
“You little clever imp.” Yun Chu continued asking, “Then why did you refuse to have Jiang’er and Shen’er as study companions?”