Upon hearing these words, Qin Huaiyuan fell silent for a long while: “Failure to teach is the father’s fault. In the end, it was father’s oversight, failing to properly educate her.”
“Father is simply too kindhearted. She was naturally born that way—it has nothing to do with father’s guidance.”
Qin Yining stood up and said: “Father, my daughter’s head is starting to feel dizzy now. I’ll go back to take medicine and rest. Tomorrow we have the funeral procession, and there will be much to keep busy with.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded repeatedly, helping Qin Yining rise and accompanying her to the corridor. He called for Ji Yun to support Qin Yining back to Shuo Ren Study, then turned to speak courteously to Mu Jinghu: “Young Master Mu, we’ve truly troubled you.”
“Uncle, please don’t be so polite. We’re all family.” Mu Jinghu cupped his hands in salute, then followed behind Qin Yining and Ji Yun toward the inner gate.
Now that the Qin family’s circumstances were different from before, they didn’t concern themselves with the usual restrictions against men entering beyond the second gate. Mu Jinghu was a highly skilled martial artist arranged by Pang Xiao as a bodyguard—everyone in the household knew this. With his presence, everyone felt more at ease, so they paid no mind to his coming and going in the inner quarters.
The next day, the capital, which had been without rain for so long, received a gentle drizzle.
The deceased master and servants of the Qin family were ceremoniously laid to rest in a grand funeral procession, buried on Cuiyun Mountain.
On the same day, the Emperor declared that due to his advanced age and frail health, unable to bear the pressures of governing, he was abdicating the throne to Crown Prince Yuchi Yan. The era name was changed to Yuankang, with the coronation ceremony to be held in ten days’ time, ordering the Ministry of Rites to make urgent preparations.
The extravagant and debauched imperial career of the retired Emperor had finally come to a bloody conclusion.
When the imperial edict was issued, the entire nation rejoiced!
Throughout the streets and alleys, one could see common people everywhere with faces full of smiles, filled with hope for life.
When Prince Ning led those ten thousand troops who had come to “clear the court of treacherous officials” out of the inner city, the people even lined the roads to cheer—even being drenched in rain felt sweet to them.
Some said that with the downfall of the corrupt ruler, even Heaven had opened its eyes, bringing sweet rain after the long drought.
The next day, at the new ruler’s first great court assembly since ascending the throne, all officials of fifth rank and above in the capital gathered at Fengtian Gate. Although Qin Huaiyuan no longer held official position, he was personally escorted there early in the morning by Eunuch Lu, Emperor Yuchi Yan’s most trusted attendant, who arranged his position at the head of the civil officials.
Thus, before the Emperor arrived, when the officials saw Qin Huaiyuan’s positioning, they knew the Cao family had fallen. Moreover, Qin Huaiyuan had always been part of the Crown Prince’s faction—who would have thought the Emperor would abdicate so readily? With the Crown Prince’s ascension, the Qin family would naturally be restored. The colleagues’ attitude toward Qin Huaiyuan became even more enthusiastic than before.
“His Majesty approaches!”
The eunuch’s shrill voice echoed across the spacious plaza, followed by the gradual approach of a bright yellow figure, who took his seat upon the imperial throne.
It was a young, handsome face that immediately refreshed the eyes. Those officials standing close enough to see the new Emperor’s arrival could not help but secretly rejoice in their hearts.
“His Majesty has arrived! All ministers perform the grand kowtow!”
As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, all the ministers uniformly performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony, followed by three shouts of “Ten thousand years!”—their heartfelt voices truly shaking the imperial city itself.
Yuchi Yan sat straight-backed upon the throne, raising his hand: “Ministers, rise.”
“We thank Your Majesty!”
After the subjects had taken their positions, Yuchi Yan stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he stood upon the imperial steps, declaring in a clear voice: “Today marks Our first audience, and We have several matters to announce. First, Cao Bingzhong’s crimes were heinous, having long since caused public resentment to boil over. Now that the Cao family has been overrun by refugees, We, considering that the Cao family still served the court as officials for several years, shall not pursue the crime of exterminating their nine familial connections.”
“Your Majesty is sage and enlightened!” The ministers all bowed in unison.
Yuchi Yan gazed at the ministers bowing across the vast plaza, listening to their voices. For the first time, he felt that particular masculine emotion swelling within him, and for the first time in his life, he was filled with confidence.
Now, he had become the most noble person in the Great Yan Dynasty.
Those bitter days of being suppressed by his birth father and schemed against by his stepmother were all in the past!
From now on, with power in his grasp, he could live his life as he pleased and obtain whatever he desired at will.
Thinking of this, a gleam of triumphant satisfaction flashed in Yuchi Yan’s eyes. “Second, Marquis Anping Qin Huaiyuan has been loyal and devoted for many years, working tirelessly without complaint, and has rendered service to the stability of the state. We have thoroughly investigated all previous matters—they were all false accusations by Cao Bingzhong out of jealousy toward Qin Huaiyuan’s talents. Qin Huaiyuan is restored to his original position, appointed as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and concurrently holding the position of Prime Minister.”
As his words concluded, Yuchi Yan smiled as he looked toward Qin Huaiyuan, who stood closest to him, saying with a smile: “Grand Tutor Qin.”
Qin Huaiyuan stepped forward from the ranks with composed bearing, bowing gracefully: “This subject kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty’s gracious favor.”
“Your Majesty is brilliant! Long live our Emperor! Long live! Long live forever!” The ministers kowtowed once again.
At this moment, someone in the crowd memorialized: “Your Majesty has just ascended to the great throne—the foundation of the state cannot but be established early, and the rear palace cannot but be stabilized. With the foundation established, the people have no worries for the future; with the rear palace stable, all under Heaven is stable.”
“This subject seconds the motion! Now that military affairs are urgent, expedience demands that this subject petitions Your Majesty to fill the rear palace, to ensure the continuation of the imperial bloodline!”
The subjects worried that if the Emperor suddenly met with misfortune and there was no one to inherit the imperial succession, it would bring about upheaval like the collapse of heaven and earth. Therefore, they advised Yuchi Yan to immediately fill his rear palace.
When Yuchi Yan was still in his princely residence, he only had one secondary consort and several attendant concubines, none of whom had borne children.
Regarding the matter of imperial succession, Yuchi Yan had long had his thoughts and had made early arrangements.
Thus, hearing the ministers raise this point, Yuchi Yan said: “Beloved ministers think as We do. We currently have no sons, and have decided to adopt an outstanding one from the imperial clan to teach and nurture. We observe that Prince Ning’s heir’s legitimate eldest son, Yuchi Jie, is quite intelligent, and We are very fond of him. We intend to adopt him as Our eldest son. What do beloved ministers think of this?”
The emperors of the Yuchi family had never been blessed with abundant offspring. The retired Emperor, having no sons in his early years, had adopted Prince Ning’s legitimate eldest son. Later, when he had a biological son, he returned the adopted Prince Ning’s heir back to Prince Ning.
Yuchi Yan had always maintained good relations with Prince Ning, so adopting Prince Ning’s legitimate eldest grandson as an imperial prince was not surprising.
All the ministers bowed in unison, loudly proclaiming His Majesty’s sage wisdom.
With an imperial prince established, it was time to consider imperial consorts.
Yuchi Yan’s palms began to sweat, and even his forehead broke out in perspiration. He couldn’t help but look toward Qin Huaiyuan, who stood in the foremost position, while in his mind appeared Qin Yining’s devastatingly beautiful face.
“As for the choice of Empress…” The Emperor’s voice trembled slightly with excitement. “We have heard that the legitimate daughter of beloved minister Qin received a divination from Tianji Zi, revealing an extremely noble and auspicious destiny. With her presence, she could protect the nation?”
Qin Huaiyuan’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression showed none of his inner emotions. He only bowed with apparent trepidation: “In response to Your Majesty, Tianji Zi did indeed make such a divination.”
Yuchi Yan was delighted and was about to immediately proclaim Qin Yining as Empress.
But his subsequent words were cleverly intercepted by Qin Huaiyuan.
“Your Majesty, this subject believes that as Your Majesty has just ascended to the great throne, you should indeed fill the rear palace. Why not, before the coronation ceremony, hold a selection, choosing from the capital’s prominent families those young ladies of appropriate age who possess excellent character and beauty? Taking ten days for comparison would ensure no talented ladies among the noble families are overlooked, while also allowing Your Majesty’s rear palace to be properly filled. What does Your Majesty think?”
Though Qin Huaiyuan’s words were diplomatically phrased, he was actually telling Yuchi Yan: Don’t think that just because you’re Emperor now, you can reach out for any woman you want—wouldn’t that make you just like the retired Emperor? Your conduct mustn’t be so unseemly!
But Yuchi Yan, in his joy, failed to grasp the deeper meaning of these words, merely thinking that perhaps Qin Huaiyuan cherished his daughter and wanted the ceremony to be more grand.
“Very well, We shall follow beloved minister Qin’s suggestion. The selection shall conclude within ten days, with the ceremonies for appointing the Empress and consorts held on the day of the coronation ceremony.”