“Oh?” Zhao Hanzhang asked with a smile, “Does Junior Tutor Xun have a candidate in mind?”
Xun Zu said: “The Governor of Jingzhou, Fourth Lady Wang, is beautiful and intelligent, and is a daughter of the Wang family. She should be the Empress.”
He continued: “I’ve heard that General Beigong has a daughter who also has a reputation for virtue. If the Grand General cannot decide immediately, you could summon virtuous women from across the realm to Luoyang for selection.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, turned her head and asked the young Emperor: “Does Your Majesty wish to marry an Empress?”
The young Emperor shook his head repeatedly, his small face turning deathly pale.
Though he couldn’t understand his studies, he understood some things clearly. Establishing an Empress meant he would become an adult, would assume personal rule, and would also… die.
Look at Emperor Xian of Han, look at Cao Mao. Though Emperor Xian of Han died a natural death, when he had struggled in between, those who followed him died in droves, and he himself lived in constant fear. He didn’t want to live that kind of life.
The young Emperor looked at Xun Fan and Xun Zu, tears welling up. He only had these two maternal uncles left. If he became like Emperor Xian of Han, the first to die would definitely be these two uncles of his.
And then there was Cao Mao. Thinking of Cao Mao’s fate, the young Emperor gave a fierce shudder.
No, he didn’t want to establish an Empress. He didn’t want to become Cao Mao. If he had to be someone, he would be Cao Huan!
The young Emperor shook his head at Xun Fan and Xun Zu who were watching him.
Xun Fan then indicated he understood and came forward saying: “Your Majesty is still young. The matter of establishing an Empress is not urgent. He should currently focus on his studies.”
Xun Zu immediately objected: “Grand Tutor Xun, after the New Year His Majesty will be eleven—not small anymore. After betrothal and completion of the state ceremony, another one or two years will have passed…”
“Enough. Tonight is New Year’s Eve. You two shouldn’t quarrel over such matters. A joyous occasion turned into an unpleasant one,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I understand Junior Tutor Xun’s meaning, but marriage is a major matter. Not only must we consider parental orders and matchmaker’s words, I also need to hear the opinions of both parties involved. The candidates you propose are all excellent, so this matter concerns not only His Majesty, but we must also ask those virtuous ladies whether they are willing to enter the palace.”
Xun Zu: “How would they dare disobey an imperial decree?”
Zhao Hanzhang: “That makes it uninteresting, doesn’t it? An imperial decree naturally cannot be disobeyed, but the decree hasn’t been issued yet, has it? I dislike forcing people into difficult positions, and His Majesty is of the same mind. Why then does Junior Tutor Xun insist on compelling them?”
“The Empress is the mother of the nation. Naturally, we must select the most virtuous person. Their potential selection is a tremendous honor. How could it be compulsion?”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Junior Tutor Xun has read too few books, which is why you have this tendency to judge others by yourself. I think not only does His Majesty need to study more, Junior Tutor Xun does as well.”
She said: “After the New Year, Junior Tutor Xun should spend more time studying behind closed doors and make fewer suggestions.”
Xun Zu’s face immediately flushed red, almost dripping blood under the gaze of all the officials.
Xun Fan sighed. For the remainder of the palace banquet, almost no one dared to openly drink with Xun Zu. He seemed to have been isolated.
Lady Wang sat in the seat above Zhao Erlang, silently raising her wine cup to drink and calm her heart. Seeing that the Princess of Hongnong diagonally opposite was watching her, she immediately gave her a smile.
Zhao Hanzhang moved past this matter and generously let everyone continue presenting their talents and continue eating, drinking, and chatting.
Ji Yuan and Ming Yu hadn’t been idle these past few days. They had found many officials to talk with, persuading them to agree to the legal reforms Zhao Hanzhang wanted to implement. Of course, her unique wedding ceremony ultimately wasn’t recorded in the Book of Rites. As for what changes might occur in folk rites in the future, that would depend on the court’s regulations and whether management methods were strict.
If they were lax and lenient, there truly might be people who would emulate her.
The palace banquet continued until midnight before everyone departed with some intoxication.
The young Emperor had been on pins and needles since Xun Zu raised the marriage matter. As soon as the banquet ended, he left first. Never mind whether Zhao Hanzhang suspected anything—he immediately had someone summon Xun Fan and Xun Zu.
If he didn’t see them tonight, over the next seven days he wouldn’t have any opportunity to see them. Who knew whether Xun Zu might misunderstand his meaning and do something outside in his name?
He also knew that seeing them now definitely couldn’t be hidden from Zhao Hanzhang, but he wasn’t trying to hide it from her anyway. No matter when, nothing in this palace could be hidden from her.
So the young Emperor just made a token gesture of having the eunuchs and palace maids withdraw. As for where they would hide to eavesdrop, he couldn’t control that.
Xun Fan and Xun Zu hurriedly went to see the young Emperor.
As soon as the young Emperor saw them, he burst into tears and asked: “Why do my two uncles force me to death?”
Xun Fan remained silent. Xun Zu, heartbroken, asked: “Why does Your Majesty say such things?”
“Doesn’t Third Uncle know the consequences of my establishing an Empress?” The young Emperor asked through tears: “Currently, the Grand General and I get along fairly well. She manages state affairs, and I just need to be an emperor who studies. Why must you force me to establish an Empress?”
“Your Majesty, those who have no foresight will have immediate worries. Now that Zhao Hanzhang needs Your Majesty to fulfill her reputation, if we don’t take this opportunity to develop power, once she wins over the aristocratic families, Your Majesty will have no chance to turn things around.”
The young Emperor asked in a daze: “Third Uncle, I’ve already expressed my unwillingness to contend with the Grand General. Are you… still going to struggle against her?”
Xun Zu looked righteous, lowering his voice: “I know Your Majesty’s concerns. You are involuntarily constrained in the palace, with spying eyes around you. But it doesn’t matter—you can push everything onto us. Zhao Hanzhang has long known of our schemes, but she still needs us and Your Majesty to stabilize the people’s hearts. She won’t break off relations with us.”
Young Emperor: …
The young Emperor wiped away his tears and simply stopped crying. He scrutinized Xun Zu’s expression carefully, and after confirming he was serious, couldn’t help asking: “Third Uncle, do you think I can be a good emperor?”
Xun Zu said with utmost seriousness: “Your Majesty is intelligent. Given time, you will surely be a wise ruler of your generation.”
Young Emperor: “…I’ve already studied very hard. I haven’t been concealing my abilities, but I’m truly not intelligent. Compared to Zhao Hanzhang, I’m far inferior. Even so, do you still think I can be a good emperor?”
Xun Zu said solemnly: “Your Majesty is the legitimate line…”
“What legitimate or not,” the young Emperor asked Xun Fan: “When did the Duke of Chenliu of the Wei state die?”
Xun Fan said: “He passed away in the second year of Yongning.”
The young Emperor counted on his fingers.
Xun Fan saw this and silently said: “Eight years ago.”
The young Emperor then put down his hand and said: “See, the last emperor of Wei died only eight years ago. Though I’m young and don’t understand my studies well, I’ve heard my father and brothers mention our ancestors’ affairs many times. We obtained this throne improperly, which is why the aristocratic families don’t acknowledge us, and the Jin court has been constrained at every turn in its actions.”
He said sincerely to Xun Zu: “Third Uncle, I’m truly sincere. You may think I lack great ambition, but people should have self-awareness. I’ve looked at those state affairs, but not understanding is not understanding. I don’t want to be the Duke of Gaogui. I only want to be the Duke of Chenliu.”
He shed tears: “If Third Uncle keeps forcing me, at most I’ll just become someone like Emperor Xian of Han. Emperor Xian of Han did manage to die a natural death. I think Grand General Zhao likes her reputation, so she definitely won’t bear to kill me. But it will be different for my uncles.”
Xun Zu: …The Duke of Gaogui was the previous dynasty’s emperor who was killed in the street by the Sima family. The Duke of Chenliu was the last emperor of Wei, who lived quite well and could be said to have died of natural causes.
Emperor Xian of Han was usurped by the Cao clan, but he too died of natural causes. After his death, his funeral was conducted on a grand scale. However, those around him—every single person who tried to help him seize back power—all died.
Including but not limited to several of his wives, his father-in-law…
Xun Zu gave a fierce shudder.
—