Zhao Hanzhang smiled and patted his shoulder. “Your Majesty has grown a bit taller—indeed, you’ve grown up quite a bit. Already people are beginning to worry about Your Majesty’s marriage. Since you’re to establish a family, you should prepare to establish your career. Your Majesty’s coursework should increase somewhat, and your studies should accelerate.”

The little emperor looked dazed. Under Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, he involuntarily shivered. No, he couldn’t increase his coursework anymore. He would go mad—truly go mad.

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze remained calm as she looked at him, having already made her decision.

She couldn’t describe what she felt. With the little emperor’s personality and cunning, even if she managed this realm well and handed it to him, he still couldn’t be a good emperor.

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved mockingly. And like this, they still wanted to maintain so-called legitimacy?

Xun Zu came to receive the little emperor. Entering and seeing Zhao Hanzhang there while the little emperor’s expression looked off, he immediately became alert. He stepped forward, half-shielding the little emperor, “This official greets the Grand General. Not knowing the Grand General was here, this official has been remiss.”

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes to look at Xun Zu bowing. After quite a while, she said, “You may rise.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned and sat on a mat to the side, nodding to them, indicating they should continue.

Xun Zu quickly told the emperor, “Your Majesty, the time is approaching.”

The palace attendants immediately accelerated putting the crown on the little emperor. After arranging his clothing, two quarters of an hour had passed.

The little emperor stood to the side with hands hanging, “Grand General, I am ready.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved upward. She stood and extended her hand toward him. “Your Majesty, please.”

The little emperor, seeing her smile, felt less frightened. He reached out to touch her fingertips. After just a moment’s contact, they separated and walked forward side by side.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Has Your Majesty memorized all the congratulatory statements?”

“Yes, all memorized.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, slightly satisfied.

All court officials and meritorious subjects were already in the great hall, gathering in small groups of three or two to talk. Hearing the Imperial Guards announce that Zhao Hanzhang and the emperor had arrived, they immediately stood properly with hands hanging.

This palace banquet was different from usual—there were no separate areas for men and women, because this dynasty was unlike previous times when women were merely family members. Here, there were quite a few female officials.

So within the great hall, there was no separation by gender, only by official rank and merit.

Those who came as spouses, with their wives or husbands, or with elders, were all seated to the lower side or side-rear. Each person could bring two family members.

Zhao Zheng had used Zhao Hu’s family member quota to enter the palace. After all, the position of Deputy Magistrate of Luoyang County wasn’t yet sufficient to enter the palace banquet.

So at this moment, the hall was a riot of purple and crimson colors—various colored garments, plus various jewelry refracting under the lamplight, creating quite a beautiful scene.

Zhao Hanzhang and the little emperor emerged together. She stood on the副台, facing the little emperor, raised her hand and bowed. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”

The hall fell to their knees in waves, kowtowing. “We subjects kowtow to Your Majesty!”

The little emperor, seeing this, quickly raised his hand toward Zhao Hanzhang. “All ministers, please rise.”

The hundred officials rose, then faced Zhao Hanzhang and bowed. “We greet the Grand General.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand slightly. “Please be seated, everyone.”

Everyone turned and returned to their seats.

The little emperor felt somewhat nervous. This scene was even grander than on his enthronement day. He couldn’t help looking toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang sat on the secondary platform one level below the little emperor. Looking down, she could see all the people in the entire hall. With a slight turn of her head, she could see the emperor; turning to the other side, she could take in everyone in the hall.

She said, “With the new year comes a new era name and new expectations. This past year, the realm was shattered, natural disasters were frequent, Emperor Xiaohuai perished, and the common people were displaced. Now, through our nation’s united efforts, we have only just pacified the warfare. Our nation faces difficulties and every step is arduous. Therefore, we need all colleagues to be of one heart and one virtue, to together cross this difficult pass.”

“His Majesty has determined the era name as Jianxing. Starting tomorrow, it will be the first year of Jianxing!” Zhao Hanzhang raised her wine cup and declared loudly, “This cup celebrates Great Jin’s long establishment and long prosperity!”

The ministers raised their cups together, echoing loudly, “Long establishment and long prosperity!”

Zhao Hanzhang set down her wine cup and stood up abruptly, declaring loudly, “So what do you all need to do most?”

“Diligent governance!” Zhao Hanzhang proclaimed loudly, “In your position, plan your administration. Only thus can we ensure Great Jin’s long establishment and prosperity, restore people’s livelihoods, and let the common people live in peace and contentment.”

“Therefore, your diligent governance is not only for yourselves, but also for His Majesty, for Great Jin, and even more for the common people of this realm!”

Zhao Hanzhang’s supporters, especially the younger generation, stood up excitedly and declared loudly, “For His Majesty, for Great Jin, for the common people of the realm!”

This forced even old-timers like Xun Fan to stand and shout along a few times. He looked up with some worry at Zhao Hanzhang, who had completely captured the officials’ attention, and at the little emperor sitting silently behind her.

Zhao Zheng, his face flushed with excitement, shouted, then sat back down with Zhao Erlang and turned to tell him, “Cousin Yongtang, we don’t need to wait until the eighth day. I think we can open the office on the fourth day.”

Zhao Erlang also had a flushed face and nodded repeatedly. “Good, we’ll open on the fourth day.”

But looking at Zhao Erlang’s flushed face, Zhao Zheng suddenly calmed down. The red on his face gradually faded, his excited heartbeat slowly steadied. He felt something wasn’t quite right. Third Elder Sister was manipulating people’s hearts! Before entering the palace, he hadn’t wanted to work overtime.

He hesitated. “Being too diligent in governance isn’t good either, is it? My father said that to give the people rest, the best method is to follow the laws, and then the court should interfere less in民间 affairs.”

Because of his military achievements, Zhao Erlang was not only Magistrate of Luoyang County but also a general, so his position was already toward the front. Then, to care for Wang Shi, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices moved his position forward again, so their immediate superior was Fu Tinghan, and above that was Zhao Hanzhang.

They spoke quietly, but Zhao Hanzhang’s ears were sharp! After drinking a cup of wine, she smiled. “Zhao Zheng is correct. In governing people’s livelihoods, the best method is to follow the laws, and then the court should interfere less in民間 affairs.”

Hearing this, people gradually quieted and looked toward Zhao Erlang and Zhao Zheng’s table.

Wang Shi, sitting nearby, felt somewhat nervous. Zhao Hu, separated from them by several tables, was very proud and told Zhao Cheng beside him, “Did you hear? Zheng’er was praised.”

“Therefore, as court officials, what we must do is formulate appropriate, good laws so the common people have laws to follow; ensure that when they want to farm, they have land to cultivate, seeds to plant, and farm tools to use; ensure that when they want to engage in commerce, roads are free of bandits and government offices can issue travel permits…”

“Simply put, for the common people, the court only assists—it doesn’t take the lead. Only thus will the people be stable. When the people are stable, the nation is stable. Everyone yearns for wealth and freedom, yearns to live well. Therefore, as long as the court does its auxiliary work well, the common people will naturally strive for prosperity. When the people are prosperous, the nation is prosperous!”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her cup and smiled. “Everyone, in your position, plan your administration. First, you must clearly understand what your responsibilities are!”

The hundred officials listened earnestly and responded earnestly, “Yes, we officials will certainly think carefully, dare not be negligent, dare not overstep.”