Standing together with Old Master Yan was much more comfortable. Although he didn’t have much hair, he listened to Li Er reciting the memorial with half-closed eyes, occasionally nodding and shaking his head. However, drawing closer, one could still hear the old master’s faint snoring sounds.

“My grandfather is appreciating His Majesty’s magnificent writing. Don’t disturb him.” Young Yan, with a face full of beard, said warily to Yun Ye.

Yun Ye had only come seeking comfort, not to disturb the old master’s sleep. Standing beside the old man felt very comfortable. He had just twisted his body, preparing for the afternoon’s long journey, when the old man opened his eyes and stretched out his hand toward Yun Ye.

“Hand it over. Young people nowadays really don’t know how to respect and honor the elderly. Hiding a fat chicken in your bosom and not knowing to be filial to elders. Old man has drunk two meals of porridge and always feels something’s missing in my mouth.”

Yun Ye foolishly took out the chicken leg and presented it to the old man with both hands, asking quietly, “Old Ancestor, you could even smell that?” Wasn’t it said that when people grew old, the sensitivity of all their organs would decline? Why was his nose still so sharp?

The old man took the chicken leg and sniffed it under his nose, smacking his lips twice, and said regretfully, “Old now, no good anymore. Back in the day, old man could eat eight chicken legs like this in one meal. Now I can only smell it, satisfy a dry craving. What a pity.” After speaking, he tucked the chicken leg into his bosom, patted it twice, feeling that bulging presence there, then closed his eyes again to continue appreciating the Emperor’s writing.

The Wind Earl could barely stand anymore, being pulled everywhere by that wind-gathering flag. The dark mass of clouds had nearly pressed down to their heads. No one panicked—even the children pricked up their ears to listen to the Emperor’s decree.

The wind carried away the Personnel Ministry officials’ voices but couldn’t carry away the words written on the large wooden boards. First was the imperial family, followed by princes and high ministers. Cheng Yaojin was promoted to Duke of Lu Prefecture. Niu Jinda was promoted to County Duke. Yun Ye remained eternally unchanged as Marquis of Lantian County. He Shao, not knowing whose connections he had used, surprisingly hadn’t had his earl title stripped away. Qin Qiong’s title of County Duke of Yi remained unchanged. Yuchi Gong’s title of Duke of E remained unchanged but was given the additional title of General Who Pacifies the Army.

Those whose names appeared on the list congratulated each other, because this was a reward during the Grand Ceremony period. Therefore, unless they committed major offenses in the future, it could not be stripped away. This was Li Er pacifying the hearts of the new nobility.

When the Personnel Ministry official finished writing the last character and turned to leave, there were cries below the wooden board… “Your Majesty, this cannot be! This old subject has served Great Tang for many years. You cannot treat me this way.”

“Grand Emperor, please say something! This old subject’s title was bestowed by you. Now with one word it’s gone. I have committed no wrong, no wrong at all! Grand Emperor, please say something! When you raised your army, my entire family scrimped and saved to raise military funds. Now you won’t even let this old subject enjoy a meal of wealth?”

“Your Majesty, Liu Wenxing was a criminal subject—why does he receive a reward? What wrong has my entire family committed to be suppressed by a dead man?…”

Amid cheers and wailing, the Grand Ceremony of the seventh year of Zhenguan finally opened a new era. Great Tang Emperor Li Shimin used thunderous methods to strip away all worldly disputes. Using the Grand Ceremony to sever all external connections of the powerful, with lightning speed he established his new dynasty. The remnant old people from Li Yuan’s period, as well as some nobles produced by necessary temporary compromises, all completely and thoroughly exited the historical stage in this great purge. Under the encumbrance of the old, weak, women and children, those formerly high and mighty meritorious nobles had no choice but to bow their heads and swallow this bitter pill.

Li Chengqian’s Crown Prince position was once again established in the fierce wind, with the decree announced to the world carried up to the nine heavens by the gale. He was specially permitted to wear the Five-Dragon Robe.

Li Tai’s position as Prince Wei was not weakened but rather strengthened. Moreover, as a Prince of First Rank, he took up residence in Wude Hall. The Emperor personally granted him exemption from official duties and additionally bestowed upon him the titles of Grand Governor of Fuzhou and the five governorships of Xia, Sheng, North Fu, North Ning, and North Kai. All other offices remained as before.

After Li Tai and Li Chengqian embraced to congratulate each other, he immediately declined the governor positions before his emperor father, and furthermore declared that all matters of his fiefs should be managed by the Emperor on his behalf.

Zhangsun, overjoyed, breached protocol by walking out from behind the curtain and embraced her two sons. For a time, the reputation of brotherly friendship and respect spread throughout the world. The poisonous oath Li Yuan had made in grief and indignation seemed to have shattered. “My sons killed each other—yours will also flow with rivers of blood.” This malicious vow, along with the mouthful of fresh blood Li Yuan spat out, was all carried away by the fierce wind and thick earth, never to be heard from again.

Li Ke and the other princes also received generous rewards. Li Ke also received the promise of exemption from official duties. While Li Ke didn’t care about other rewards, he was wildly delighted about this exemption from official duties. Only after having Yun Ye pinch him several times did he confirm he hadn’t heard wrong.

Rewarding princes—this kind of joyous occasion—what did it have to do with Yun Ye? Yet the Ministry of Rites official once again recited the phrase that Marquis of Lantian County would “share the nation’s fortune.” This meant the Yun Family was finished. Descendants and future generations would only have this title. Yun Ye’s hope of becoming a duke died in the womb. With a dark expression, he asked Li Ke, “Even when I’m eighty years old, I can only be a marquis?”

Li Ke nodded his head and happily congratulated Yun Ye, saying this was more impressive than being an ordinary prince—sharing the nation’s fortune!

“How does this child not understand any propriety? Why hasn’t he gone in to thank His Majesty for his great grace?” Cheng Yaojin, with the benevolent appearance of an elder, together with Niu Jinda urged him to quickly go express thanks.

“Being a marquis for the rest of my life—is this worth celebrating?”

“Being a marquis isn’t much, but the four characters ‘sharing the nation’s fortune’ are valuable. Even if your descendants are incompetent, they’ll still steadily be the Marquis of Lantian in the future. From now on, this title belongs to your family. Old man and the others were granted duke titles—each generation is reduced by one rank. Your family’s title doesn’t have this worry. As long as you don’t rebel, there’s no problem. Even if you do rebel, there’s still one chance for pardon. If this isn’t a great reward, what is? A rare occurrence through the ages.”

Reluctantly entering the room, Li Er and Zhangsun sat above like two clay bodhisattvas receiving wave after wave of thanks, along with impassioned pledges of loyalty. Yun Ye hid in a corner, waiting until everyone else had finished worshipping the bodhisattvas. Then he prepared to come forward, perform the courtesy, and retreat—escaping by mixing into the crowd.

“Yun Ye stays. I have something to say.” With these words, Yun Ye had no choice but to remain in the room, waiting for Li Er to speak.

“Marquis Yun, this palace congratulates the Yun Family on generational prosperity, descendants extending on, flourishing for ten thousand generations.” Li Er hadn’t spoken yet—Zhangsun spoke first. As soon as she spoke, she startled him. These words sounded strange, not like the usual congratulatory phrases.

“Your Majesty’s words are too weighty. The Yun Family cannot bear them.”

“Before, you certainly couldn’t bear them. Now you can. Do you think the four characters ‘sharing the nation’s fortune’ were a slip of His Majesty’s brush?”

“I had originally planned to wait a few years until I was older, accumulate some merit, and become a duke.”

Toward Zhangsun, Yun Ye always spoke directly—whatever he thought in his heart, that’s what he said. This saved trouble for both people, avoiding guessing back and forth and creating misunderstandings.

“You don’t know what ‘sharing the nation’s fortune’ means?” Li Er asked strangely.

“Precisely because I know, I’m somewhat unwilling. It will be difficult for the Yun Family to produce one or two outstanding descendants in the future.” Regarding what he truly wanted, he had an extremely clear understanding.

“These words are quite sincere. ‘Born in anxiety, dying in comfort’—this is an old saying. I didn’t expect your Yun Family would follow it without worry. But boy, do you think your Yun Family can monopolize all the world’s advantages? You alone have occupied five hundred years of your Yun Family’s fortunes. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth is limited. If you have more, the Yun Family’s descendants will have less. Not exhausting three generations’ fortunes in one generation—this is the Confucian doctrine of moderation. Boy, don’t believe it? Count those astoundingly talented people in the history books, then look at their descendants and you’ll understand these words are not false. I, to thank you for what you’ve done for the imperial family, specially bestowed upon your Yun Family generational wealth and honor. This was for your consideration. Still not satisfied?”

“In my view, you’re already qualified to be a duke now. These several matters in Lingnan, Hebei, and Chang’an are enough to send you to the position of Duke. Then what would I use to reward your future merits? Grant you princehood? I don’t plan to grant princely titles to those with different surnames. If I did, that person would need to be at least Yan Zhitui’s age to have no future troubles. Are you certain you want that?”

“How good it is for you, boy, to be a marquis! Now no matter how much merit you establish, there are no future troubles. Consider it all accumulating blessings for your descendants. Even if your legitimate eldest grandson in future generations is a fool, he can still be wealthy and noble for life, enjoying your protection. If you understand, then get out. Today I actually said such words. Boy, remember this—aside from the Empress, I’ve never said such things to anyone else. Do you understand?”

Covered in spittle, Yun Ye prepared to leave when Zhangsun spoke again. “Yun Ye, Li Yuanzhang’s poison has taken effect—both eyes are blind. The medical officials say even if he’s cured, he’ll become a monster. His appearance will never recover for life. He can only barely survive. His Majesty has stripped him of his Prince of Han title and permitted him to recuperate in the capital. Now, can you tell this palace who did it?”

“His Majesty’s disposition is very good. It was Han Gui, Han Yannian who did it. It couldn’t be anyone else.” Li Tai hadn’t spoken up himself yet—even if beaten to death, Yun Ye wouldn’t tell the imperial couple now.

Li Er asked with a sinister smile, “Are you certain my disposition had no errors? How much do you know about this matter?”

“This humble subject knows very clearly. Your Majesty’s disposition is absolutely the best—there couldn’t be anything better. Very perfect.” Yun Ye lowered his head and ground his foot on the floor. It would be strange if Li Er punished his own son, so he answered very definitively.

Zhangsun’s eyes blinked several times. Suddenly understanding something, she said to Li Er, “Your Majesty, your concubine also believes your disposition had no impropriety. This way is very good.” After the Li Er couple exchanged glances, they nodded simultaneously and stopped questioning Yun Ye, having the protocol official escort Yun Ye out.

Just as he left Li Er’s room, Yun Ye saw Wang Cai nuzzling wildly at Xinyue. Steward Qian, leading a large group of servants with carriages, waited outside the tent. Wasn’t it said that during the Grand Ceremony period, lowly people were not permitted to come? How come servants from every family had brought carriages?

Looking at that wooden board swaying in the wind, Yun Ye completely understood. Li Er wasn’t commemorating Tuoba Hong, nor was he commemorating the Yellow Emperor. The only thing he needed was to grasp absolute superiority.