Zhao Shen didn’t need to report these matters—one could tell just by observing the increasingly frequent exchanges between Lingnan and the Central Plains. Moreover, with Yuan Li’s people everywhere, though the trade markets in Lingnan were small, they were scattered throughout the region like stars. Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but know.
Yuan Li had even made a special trip to Lingnan to confirm that Zhao Shen was merely doing his duty without other intentions before returning to Luoyang with peace of mind, writing a complete report for Zhao Hanzhang.
When Yuan Li came to report, Zhao Hanzhang was in her study discussing matters with Ji Yuan and other ministers of the Council. This was a very small meeting, so the Crown Princess, who had just turned one year old, was also present.
Mingming was quite relaxed here. To cultivate the mother-daughter relationship, the Empress Dowager would periodically send people to inquire whether Zhao Hanzhang was busy and in a good mood.
As long as they learned she wasn’t very busy and was in good spirits, they would immediately bring Mingming over and let her play in the hall for half an hour to an hour. When the child and Zhao Hanzhang started to grow impatient, the wet nurse would immediately come and take the child back to the rear palace.
Thus, in Mingming’s little mind: being with Mother was relaxing, free, and fun.
In Zhao Hanzhang’s mind: little children were so cute, so interesting—bringing up a child seemed quite enjoyable too.
The mother and daughter’s relationship rapidly warmed.
At this moment, Mingming was crawling around the hall. She was almost able to walk. When she crawled, she was like a little crab on the beach, scuttling along swiftly.
She crawled two circles around a pillar, seeming interested in it. Supporting herself on the pillar, she stood up and touched the patterns on it.
Following the patterns, before she knew it, she had taken two steps while holding onto the pillar. Her body swayed, and she immediately stopped to steady herself. She seemed to discover the fun in this, and after stabilizing, she slowly walked while holding the pillar. Rounding the pillar, she saw her mother sitting above. She let go of the pillar and walked toward her mother with both little hands raised. After two steps, her body swayed and she fell forward with a soft thud onto the floor…
The ministers’ hearts tightened. They first looked at the Crown Princess, then immediately turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang paused briefly, then continued speaking, though the corner of her eye kept watching that little bundle on the floor.
After falling, Mingming immediately looked up toward her mother. Seeing she wasn’t looking this way, she quickly propped herself up with her arms and sat up, glancing around guiltily. Seeing that everyone had stopped looking at her, she crawled rapidly toward her mother, patting along…
She crawled to her mother’s feet and pulled herself up using her mother’s leg, squeezing herself beside her mother’s leg with effort. Looking up to meet her mother’s gaze, she broke into a smile and nestled against her mother’s leg without moving.
Zhao Hanzhang lovingly stroked her soft little head and pulled her into her embrace.
The ministers quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The Crown Princess was truly resilient and adorable—she hadn’t cried at all.
Mingming looked at the newly arrived Yuan Li, her round eyes staring at him.
After paying his respects to Zhao Hanzhang, Yuan Li also respectfully bowed to Mingming before sitting in his seat and reporting on his investigation in Lingnan.
This time he hadn’t only been active in Guangzhou but had also quietly entered Jiaozhou and Ningzhou once, spending three days at the junction of the three provinces. He told Zhao Hanzhang, “The trade market at the junction of the three provinces can be expanded. Through this, we can penetrate Jiaozhou and Ningzhou, making both regions dependent on Guangzhou and the Central Plains, so they won’t dare cause trouble again.”
Ji Yuan said, “Governor Zhao’s education policy is the superior strategy. Though it shows no immediate results, after five or ten years, when the first batch of educated children mature, they won’t act on brute force and instinct alone but will know to use wisdom and reason to strive for what they want, understanding loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness. Then the danger in Lingnan can be resolved.”
Ming Yu also approved of Zhao Shen’s actions in Lingnan over the past two-plus years and praised generously, “Like father, like son. Congratulations, Minister Zhao.”
Ming Yu had been one of the officials who disapproved of Zhao Shen taking office in Lingnan, believing that as someone from a prestigious family background, he probably wouldn’t adapt to the southern barbarians’ style of conflict. Moreover, his mystical tendencies made Ming Yu fear he would ultimately be assimilated by those southern barbarians.
Zhao Ming’s expression remained bland, showing no particular pride.
Ming Yu withdrew his gaze, thinking to himself: these two generations of the Zhao family were both rather peculiar—fathers always suppressing sons, sons always defying fathers.
On the surface it seemed unloving and unfilial, but in reality, everyone knew they were exemplars of parental love and filial piety.
Like Zhao Ming, Zhao Hanzhang was very satisfied with Zhao Shen’s political achievements in Guangzhou. She planned to have him stay several more years to govern Guangzhou well.
To subdue the enemy without fighting was the superior strategy.
“This year for the Crown Princess’s first birthday banquet, invite the governors of Jiaozhou and Ningzhou to the capital,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Send a telegram having Zhao Shen deliver the documents to the governors of Jiaozhou and Ningzhou.”
Strike while the iron is hot—Zhao Hanzhang also wanted to meet the two province governors.
Ji Yuan agreed, and Yuan Li went to arrange people along the route for support.
Though Jiaozhou and Ningzhou weren’t internally peaceful, since they dared invite the two governors to come, naturally they wouldn’t harm them. However, internal forces in the two provinces might not feel the same way.
If the governors of Jiaozhou and Ningzhou were killed by forces within their provinces while traveling to the capital, the court’s face would be too severely slapped, and the resulting political struggles or even wars would be what they least wanted to see.
The court needed to maintain control of the initiative.
Zhao Hanzhang set the objective, then left with Mingming in her arms. The remaining matters were left to Ji Yuan and the others.
Jiaozhou and Ningzhou quickly responded through Guangzhou’s telegraph station, stating they would definitely attend the Crown Princess’s first birthday banquet in Luoyang, and obliquely inquired about the tribute gifts the imperial family desired.
With the two province governors suddenly becoming friendly, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t make things difficult for them. Through Guangzhou’s telegraph station, she conveyed to them that she didn’t need precious tribute gifts—bringing the blessings of the people of both provinces would suffice. If possible, they could tell her about the customs of the two provinces and bring some locally common crops and seeds.
Along with them, only Beigong Chun had been invited to the capital to offer congratulations.
Since Zhao Hanzhang’s ascension, he had continuously guarded the frontier. This return to the capital was mainly to have an audience with the Emperor, report on his duties, and for sovereign and minister to maintain their relationship.
Mingming’s first birthday banquet was held very ceremoniously. Her full-month and hundred-day celebrations hadn’t been held—this first birthday banquet was her formal introduction to the civil and military officials. Even the elders of the Xiping Zhao clan applied through Zhao Song and Zhao Hanzhang to attend.
Zhao Hanzhang agreed.
At this birthday banquet, she would formally determine Mingming’s formal name.
That’s right—as the Crown Princess of Hua, she’d been born for a year without a formal name, only the baby name Mingming.
The red cloth for the zhuazhou ceremony was spread in the Grand Ultimate Hall—a huge piece. On it were zhuazhou gifts sent by the Wang family, Princess Hongnong, Zhao Song, Zhao Hu, and other clan members, encompassing nearly every category of things Zhao Hanzhang had encountered in her life. Items that could be made beautiful had been made beautiful.
Some auspicious items were deliberately made especially eye-catching.
Zhao Hu, as always understanding people’s hearts, knew Zhao Hanzhang valued agriculture. He sent a string of rice ears and wheat ears. The rice ears were crafted from gold, each grain plump and golden-yellow.
The wheat ears were carved from jade—emerald green jade, with wheat ears slightly drooping, also extraordinarily beautiful.
Actually, he’d also wanted to send a golden abacus but was strictly forbidden by Zhao Song, forcing him to give up. Then Zhao Dong sent one anyway.
How annoying! Why was he not allowed to send one, but Zhao Dong could?
Zhao Hanzhang brought the imperial seal and also placed it on the red cloth, right in front of Mingming.