TGPSAC – Chapter 64

The Spring Banquet was held on the third day of the second month. All the princes, nobles, high officials from prominent families, and their relatives in the capital were in attendance.

The banquet began with the Emperor, his consorts, court officials, titled ladies, and their children entering the hall. An official from the Ministry of Rites delivered the opening address, after which the orchestra began to play and fine food and wine were served.

Next came performances by the court musicians and the entertainers of the Music Academy, as well as theatrical plays and the like.

Finally, it was time for the most anticipated events: poetry and talent showcases, archery, cuju, and touhu. Cuju could be played on the training grounds of the Imperial Guard within the palace, as it required a large field.

Chi Wan could, at most, participate in touhu. There was little else she could do. Was she supposed to plagiarize poetry? She had looked through the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, something not described in the novel but which the world had filled in on its own.

The general history of this world was similar to her own, but the names were different, as were the poems and songs.

Forget it. As for poetry, she only remembered what she had learned in her textbooks. If she recited all of them, she would probably be accused of having exhausted her talent.

It was better to be a martial person. Archery, cuju, and touhu—these were all skills that could be honed through practice. Besides, it wasn’t just martial artists; those from prominent families practiced these as well.

Not all scholars were weak. The Six Arts of a gentleman required the study of horsemanship and archery. When scholars from outside the capital traveled to Shengjing for the imperial examinations, they wouldn’t even make it without a strong constitution. They might even have to draw their swords to kill wild boars or drive off wolves along the way.

People like Lu Zhen and Lu Xin could kill with a sword without a second thought.

Oh, but there was no killing at the Spring Banquet. Chi Wan looked at her left arm, still wrapped in a bandage. She could only play touhu, but some of the more difficult maneuvers for that game required two hands.

It seemed she would just have to sit obediently at her table and eat and drink.

The Spring Banquet was held in one of the palace halls. The hall was immense, capable of holding ten thousand people without any issue. It wasn’t the kind of seating where everyone was in neat rows; there was still ample space to walk around freely.

Yu Jiuzhou was the organizer of the Spring Banquet, so she went very early, and Chi Wan naturally went with her.

As usual, the first thing they did upon entering the palace was to pay their respects to the Shengyuan Emperor. It was clear that the Emperor’s condition had worsened.

It was a matter of his vital essence, energy, and spirit—not something obvious on the surface. But Chi Wan was a physician; how could she not see it? Of course, the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy could surely see it too, but they dared not speak of it. No one wanted to see their entire clan exterminated.

After Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou finished their salutations, the Emperor waved his hand.

Wang Hai quickly had someone bring in a chair. Chi Wan didn’t need one; she had come in a wheelchair.

The Emperor looked at her in the wheelchair. “How is the Fuma’s health?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject is much better. I must also thank Your Majesty for permitting me to enter the palace by carriage.”

That morning, the Emperor had sent a decree to the Princess’s Residence, permitting Chi Wan to enter the palace by carriage. This also meant that she had to attend the Spring Banquet, regardless of whether her injuries had healed.

The Emperor wanted to send a signal to all the civil and military officials: Great Zhou was fine, and he, the Emperor, was fine. He still had the Princess and the Fuma by his side; he was not without capable people. With a Regent Grand Princess and a powerful Fuma as a court official, even if a crown prince were established, could that crown prince truly wield any power?

The Shengyuan Emperor raised a hand. “It is a small matter.”

He then looked at Yu Jiuzhou. “Zhou’er, you must ensure that there are no problems with any of the arrangements for the Spring Banquet.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have already dispatched personnel from the Imperial City Division to keep watch.”

Hearing Yu Jiuzhou mention the Imperial City Division, the Shengyuan Emperor recalled the great contributions its guards had made in quelling the rebellion.

“The Fuma sent tens of thousands of Imperial City Division guards to train outside the city, and in a short time, the results are already apparent. The guards training outside the city contributed greatly against the rebel forces that besieged the capital.”

The Imperial City Division’s training ground was at a Daoist temple on a mountain outside the city. Seeing the sky over the capital aglow with fire, they knew something was wrong. Huang Yuecheng then received Yu Jiuzhou’s order and led the men of the Imperial City Division to help.

It was precisely because of these guards that the rebel forces outside the city were dealt with more easily.

What was most surprising was that the Imperial City Division had not been training for very long, yet their combat effectiveness was no weaker than that of the soldiers from the capital garrisons.

Although the garrison soldiers had not seen battle in years, they trained daily without cease. The men of the Imperial City Division had not trained much—far less than the garrisons—but when it came to fighting, one guard from the Division could take on two soldiers without a problem.

The elite of the Imperial City Division had not been part of the training; they were helping to implement the new policies in Yanbei. The ones sent to train were just ordinary guards—simple, common men who trained occasionally and were a bit stronger than the average person, but who paled in comparison to soldiers in terms of presence and physique.

The Imperial City Division had long been neglected, and the training of its guards had grown lax. At its worst, it would not have been an exaggeration to call them a bunch of useless wine sacks and rice bags. Yet it was this group of people who became the main force in annihilating the rebel army.

The Shengyuan Emperor was pleasantly surprised by Chi Wan’s talent for military command. “The Imperial City Division has undergone such a transformation. Jinzhao’s contribution is undeniable.”

“Your Majesty overpraises me.”

“Jinzhao, I wish to know, since the guards of the Imperial City Division are already so formidable, why must they continue to train?”

Chi Wan cupped her hands. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has set a three-month training regimen for them. They are not to return to the capital until it is complete.”

“Furthermore, a portion of them will be eliminated, and I will need to recruit a new batch to supplement their numbers. Even after the three-month training is over, I will regularly organize training sessions for the guards of the Imperial City Division.”

She had thought this through long ago. The Imperial City Division was the greatest power she possessed. No other power could compare to military authority. Should any chaos erupt, military power would be paramount. The training would never stop.

The Shengyuan Emperor had wanted to ask more, but he didn’t understand military affairs. “Since the Imperial City Division has been entrusted to you, you shall have the final say. Also, I have already issued a decree restoring the rank of the Commander of the Imperial City Division. You are now a Commander of the Senior Second Rank.”

“You will temporarily hold the post of Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Revision as well. You have rendered great service by escorting the military funds this time, and the Imperial City Division under your command has also performed meritoriously. It would be unjust if I did not reward you. Speak, what do you desire?”

Chi Wan quickly replied, “These are all this subject’s duties. I dare not ask for any reward.”

The Shengyuan Emperor waved his hand. “Since you will not say, I shall bestow upon you a noble title. Your fief is in Shangyu, so I shall enfeoff you as the Earl of Shangyu.”

A noble title was different from being a Fuma. A title could be inherited, but the title of Fuma belonged only to Chi Wan. Even if it was equivalent in status to a commandery prince, it was limited to her alone.

In the future, if Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan had a child, and if that child was on good terms with the emperor, they might be granted a title. If not, they could only rely on inheriting one.

Shangyu was Chi Wan’s fief. When she died, Shangyu would revert to the state. But with a noble title, her child could still inherit it after her death.

Moreover, there was so much a titled noble could do. It meant she had officially entered the ranks of the aristocracy. The political significance of a Fuma was not great, but with a noble title, she could align with other nobles in the future and command troops legitimately.

It was perfectly natural and right for a noble to command troops. They could take charge of an army immediately, unlike ordinary generals who had to fight their way up step by step. They could directly participate in court policy-making—note, making policy, not just advising on it.

A noble title carried immense political power, not just in policy-making, but also in recommending officials, enjoying hereditary privileges, land ownership, exclusive taxation rights, and the ability to operate industries forbidden to ordinary officials, command armies, control military resources, and more.

A mere Fuma had none of these powers. A Fuma had no fief and could only live with the Grand Princess. Chi Wan had been granted a fief because she had earned the Emperor’s great favor, a fact that had drawn impeachment from many officials.

Now that she had the title of County Earl, she possessed her fief rightfully.

A fief could be inherited, which meant the people within it would pledge their loyalty to her.

Although Chi Wan disliked such things, rules were rules. These were the customs of Great Zhou. In any case, the Emperor enfeoffing her was a good thing.

“This subject thanks Your Majesty for your sacred grace.”

Just as Chi Wan was about to bow, the Shengyuan Emperor raised a hand. “There is no need for ceremony when you are injured. If you truly wish to thank me, then give me an imperial grandson.”

In the past two years, the Shengyuan Emperor had felt his health failing, and his desire for an heir—an heir of his own bloodline—had grown ever stronger.

The one with the closest blood ties to him was Yu Jiuzhou, but unfortunately, Zhou’er was a Kun Ze and could not inherit the throne. Thus, he looked forward to the arrival of an imperial grandson.

But looking at the two of them, although the previous tension was gone, their relationship still seemed cold and distant.

Just now, when Chi Wan entered in her wheelchair, she had pushed it herself. Yu Jiuzhou had walked straight ahead without any intention of helping, and it was a eunuch who had pushed the wheelchair instead.

The Shengyuan Emperor had suspected that they were putting on an act for him, but his spies in the Princess’s Residence reported that the Grand Princess and Her Highness did not get along. They lived in the same courtyard because of him, but not in the same room.

The Shengyuan Emperor felt that Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan living in the same courtyard was just an attempt to fool him, to trick him into thinking they had consummated their marriage. But how could they know that his people in the Princess’s Residence had told him everything?

However, sometimes, it was not certain who was fooling whom.

Some of the information was deliberately leaked by Yu Jiuzhou. For instance, these past two days, they had often sat and worked together. While not exactly intimate, there was a certain warmth between them.

News like this would not get out. The outside world would never know the true nature of Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan’s interactions.

Faced with the Shengyuan Emperor’s repeated demands for an imperial grandson, Chi Wan merely cupped her hands in a salute. “This subject will certainly do my utmost.”

The Shengyuan Emperor was speechless. “…” Listen to that. What kind of talk was this? It was as if asking for an imperial grandson was asking for her life.

Yu Jiuzhou maintained her cold expression, pretending she had heard nothing.

Seeing the two of them, it was clear their relationship was not improving, which worried the Shengyuan Emperor to no end.

He could also see that between them, Chi Wan was the easier one to persuade.

“Zhou’er, go find your Mother Empress first. Today, you must persuade her to attend the Spring Banquet with me. If your Mother Empress cannot fulfill her duties as Empress…”

The Shengyuan Emperor’s face darkened, and his voice grew heavy. “Then do not blame me for showing her, the Empress, no courtesy.”

“Whether I appoint an Imperial Noble Consort or have a Noble Consort completely take over her authority as Empress, that would not be my wish either.”

An Imperial Noble Consort was second only to the Empress. Though not the Empress, she could exercise the full authority of the Empress when the Empress neglected her duties.

Yu Jiuzhou clenched her hands inside her sleeves. “Your Majesty, this subject dares not speak these words to my Mother Empress.”

The Shengyuan Emperor ultimately did not dare to depose the Empress, but such words were too hurtful. Knowing her mother, who had been pampered since childhood but was by no means weak, if the Emperor truly exhausted the affection between them, her mother would surely become even more unyielding.

When that happened, and the two were at an impasse, if the Emperor was determined to depose her, her mother would surely feel that right and wrong would be judged in due time and would offer no explanation. The situation would then escalate to an irreversible point.

Remaining as Empress was better than being a deposed empress in any case. Besides, the Shengyuan Emperor was dying. They just had to wait a little longer.

The Shengyuan Emperor knew that his words put Yu Jiuzhou in a difficult position. His Empress seemed gentle and easy to talk to, but that was only when her principles were not challenged. Once they were, she was incredibly stubborn, with a nature that would rather break than bend.

But he was the Son of Heaven. How could he be the one to bow his head?

When neither the Emperor nor the Empress would yield, it created opportunities for others to exploit.

The Shengyuan Emperor did not want the rear palace to catch fire at a time like this. He could only say, “Go and tell your Mother Empress that I will do as she wishes.”

To get the Empress to attend the Spring Banquet, he, the Son of Heaven, had offered an olive branch.

Yu Jiuzhou left Daming Palace and headed for the Empress’s quarters.

Only the Emperor and Chi Wan remained in the imperial study. Oh, and a few eunuchs.

The Shengyuan Emperor waved his hand, dismissing everyone except Wang Hai. Only then did he say to Chi Wan, “Jinzhao, how are things between you and Zhou’er?”

He considered himself to have treated Chi Wan well. If the ruler wants a subject to die, the subject must die. Chi Wan had indeed been gravely injured while carrying out his orders this time—he heard she had been near death—but he had granted her a title and an official post. That should be enough.

He had only one wish: to have an imperial grandson, whom he would raise to inherit the throne. He believed that an imperial grandson raised by him would surely be loyal to him, his imperial grandfather.

Chi Wan feigned a look of difficulty. “Your Majesty, this subject has truly tried my best.”

“Jinzhao, you must not only try your best, you must let me hold an imperial grandson.”

The Shengyuan Emperor’s tone was firm. If not, it wasn’t impossible to replace the Fuma. It was just that with Zhou’er’s temperament, if she didn’t like someone, she didn’t like them. She would absolutely not agree just because the person was changed.

This was what troubled him. There were many things for which he needed Yu Jiuzhou, so forcing her was not an option.

However, Chi Wan’s abilities were far greater than he had imagined. But compared to an imperial grandson, Chi Wan was not as important.

An emperor needed capable and loyal subjects, but if that subject stood in the way of certain things, then they were not so important after all.

Chi Wan was important to the Shengyuan Emperor, but being important didn’t mean she couldn’t be killed. It just meant the price would be higher.

The Shengyuan Emperor revealed a faint trace of killing intent. It wasn’t very strong, just a hint, but Chi Wan felt it.

No wonder Yu Jiuzhou had told her to play “Phoenix Seeking a Mate.” There had to be some progress in their relationship, something that would give the Emperor hope and allow them to continue this tug-of-war.

If the Emperor saw no hope, then even if she, the Fuma, was highly valued, the Emperor could always find a reason to kill her.

Demotion, accusation of a crime, or assassination—once targeted by the Emperor, even the Grand Secretary of the nation would be finished.

It wasn’t that Chi Wan was useless. It was just that right now, in the Emperor’s heart, no person and no matter was more important than an imperial grandson.

Unless it concerned the Emperor himself, there was no need for compromise.

Chi Wan understood this in her heart. Having been in this world for so long and having interacted with the Emperor many times, combined with what she had learned from Yu Jiuzhou and other rumors, she knew the Emperor was a selfish and self-serving person.

Yu Jiuzhou had probably guessed this long ago, which was why she had told her to play “Phoenix Seeking a Mate.” At the very least, they had to show the Emperor on the surface that she was trying and that Yu Jiuzhou’s attitude was softening.

She immediately had a response. “Your Majesty, my efforts have not been entirely in vain. Today, I came to the palace together with Her Highness.”

In the past, the two of them had always entered and left the palace separately, even though they were going to and from the same place.

The Shengyuan Emperor relaxed and leaned back in his chair. “What’s next? What do you plan to do?”

Chi Wan spoke the words she had prepared. “Your Majesty, in this subject’s opinion, it is not that Her Highness dislikes me, but rather that Her Highness is accustomed to her high station and dislikes being coerced into marriage. When I publicly announced my pursuit of the Grand Princess, it was exploited by ill-intentioned people, causing trouble for Her Highness. It is only natural that she is unhappy.”

“Now that I am married to Her Highness, regardless of our relationship, it is necessary to produce an imperial grandson and to act as a loving couple in public. We cannot bring disgrace upon the imperial family. I have thought about this for a long time and wish to use the Spring Banquet as an opportunity to show Her Highness my heart. If Her Highness is still unwilling to forgive me, then I will request a divorce from Your Majesty and Her Highness, so as not to trouble either of you any further.”

A divorce? That was a good idea. If Chi Wan couldn’t produce an imperial grandson with Zhou’er, stepping aside was a good option.

There was one thing the Shengyuan Emperor couldn’t guarantee, however: that someone else would be willing to let their child take the surname Yu.

The Shengyuan Emperor was intrigued. “What do you plan to do at the Spring Banquet?”

“Your Majesty, I would like a moment during the musical performances to play a piece for Her Highness.”

Seeing that Chi Wan was indeed making an effort to mend her relationship with Yu Jiuzhou, the Shengyuan Emperor said no more.

The Shengyuan Emperor agreed with satisfaction. “Since Jinzhao is willing to take the initiative to bow her head, Zhou’er will surely not remain obstinate.”

In the Emperor’s view, it was only right for a subject to bow to their sovereign. There was no reason for a dignified Grand Princess to be the one to yield.

This was how the world worked. Learn the literary and martial arts, and sell them to the house of an emperor. If the ruler wants a subject to die, the subject must die; otherwise, it is an act of disloyalty and unfilial piety.

Why was Liu Bei such a charmer? His respect for the worthy was one reason. Why was Emperor Renzong remembered fondly throughout the entire Song Dynasty? It was because people could point at his nose and curse him—there was even a saying that “his voice was so agitated that his spittle splashed upon the emperor’s face”—yet he still honestly listened to his ministers’ advice.

But such rulers were a minority. Throughout the entire era of imperial rule, emperors like that were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Most were like the Shengyuan Emperor, who believed that the sovereign’s dignity could not be offended. He was the ruler, and his daughter was a ruler too.

Chi Wan was a subject. What did it matter if she bowed her head, or even died for her sovereign?

Chi Wan, of course, did not agree with this in her heart. In her view, if a monarch was incompetent, there was no reason for blind loyalty.

But what could she do when her life was still in his hands? She had to play the part.

Though she bowed so naturally now, inwardly she stood tall and unyielding. On the surface, she was respectful, but in her heart, she was defiant a thousand times over. If her principles were truly challenged, she would dare to fight back, even if it meant death.

A person can die; it is only a matter of whether it is worth it.

Besides, Chi Wan was willing from the bottom of her heart to play “Phoenix Seeking a Mate” for Yu Jiuzhou. Moreover, the current Yu Jiuzhou was much better. She would discuss things with her and ask for her opinion, unlike an autocratic monarch.

So, in Chi Wan’s eyes, the two of them were more like friends than ruler and subject.

Afterward, Chi Wan accompanied the Shengyuan Emperor as he received several ministers, some of whom were from the Grand Secretariat.

Seeing Chi Wan in her wheelchair, receiving ministers alongside the Emperor, and thinking about her recent actions—seemingly upright and inflexible, presenting an image of serving the country and its people—she had gained a great deal of goodwill among the common folk.

To the civil and military officials, who were all cunning old foxes, they believed Chi Wan was building her reputation. Lacking a foundation, she sought the support of the common people.

They sneered inwardly: They’re just a bunch of mud-legs. What’s the use of currying favor with them? Currying favor with the scholars is what’s useful.

But therein lay the problem. Chi Wan had rescued the scholars last time, and although the new policies had not been implemented nationwide, it was a good start, enough to earn the admiration of those scholars.

Many young scholars practically idolized Chi Wan. Those in their twenties were more reserved, but they still regarded Chi Wan as a role model.

A saying often circulated among the scholars: “To count the worthy talents of today, one must look to Jinzhao.”

What audacity. Such talk naturally displeased many. Just wait and see, there would be a good show at the Spring Banquet tonight.

Chi Wan paid no mind to what others thought. She accompanied the Shengyuan Emperor to meet several ministers, remaining quiet and well-behaved at his side, occasionally being called upon to give her opinion.

She had to listen with her full attention to what they were saying, worried she might misspeak.

The most infuriating one was that Xie Xuanfeng. This man hailed from Prince Bao’an’s fief and had targeted her from the very beginning.

It was secretly said that he was Prince Zhongshan’s man, but he had not joined the rebellion, so he remained securely in his position as Minister of Rites.

That wasn’t quite right. Even if he hadn’t joined the rebellion, given his relationship with Prince Zhongshan, the entire court was like a pack of mad dogs now. Anyone with the slightest connection to Prince Zhongshan would be latched onto and not let go.

For Xie Xuanfeng to still be sitting firmly as the Minister of Rites, he must be either Prince Ying’s man or Prince Bao’an’s.

During his audience with the Emperor, Xie Xuanfeng said, “This minister is the Minister of Rites. It is my duty to report anything that violates the laws of the state and the rules of propriety.”

“The Grand Princess is a Kun Ze woman. Since the founding of the Great Zhou, never has a Kun Ze woman entered the cabinet to discuss state affairs, let alone stand prominent in the imperial court. This is incompatible with the laws of the state and contrary to the rules of propriety. This minister implores the Grand Princess to return to her inner chambers, to no longer attend court, and to be absolutely forbidden from discussing state affairs.”

It seemed the two princes had realized that no matter which of them ascended the throne in the future, they would have to face a Regent Grand Princess. As the new emperor, they couldn’t possibly dispose of the Grand Princess right away.

The Regent Grand Princess would be a sword hanging over the new emperor’s head, ready to fall at any moment, to depose him and install another. Whatever the emperor did would be subject to her sanction.

The two princes would fight amongst themselves, but they absolutely could not have a Regent Grand Princess.

The Emperor had indeed given Yu Jiuzhou too much power recently. Anyone could see that he intended to cultivate a Regent Grand Princess, who could then justifiably assume the regency when the new emperor ascended the throne.

The Shengyuan Emperor’s face was black. There had indeed been many memorials of impeachment these past few days, but he had suppressed them all. The outside world must have understood his stance by now, but the Minister of Rites had danced right up to his face. With the words “incompatible with the laws of the state and contrary to the rules of propriety,” he was forced to give an explanation. Otherwise, more people would submit memorials, all for the sake of bringing down Yu Jiuzhou.

Xie Xuanfeng continued, “A mere Kun Ze woman, what face does she have to stand before all the ministers? If she were my daughter, this minister would surely give her three feet of white silk…”

“To hell with you.”

Before Xie Xuanfeng could finish, he felt a sharp pain and was sent flying backward.

The gravely injured Chi Wan had stood up! And she had kicked Xie Xuanfeng. One kick wasn’t enough; she was about to advance on him again when the people around them reacted and quickly restrained her.

Chi Wan waved her hands. “Don’t hold me back! You actually want to kill Her Highness? Are you trying to make this Fuma a widow? If I don’t beat you to death, you old scoundrel, I, Chi Jinzhao, don’t deserve the name Jinzhao.”

Everyone: “?” Wasn’t “widow” a term for a Kun Ze? And shouldn’t she say she didn’t deserve the surname Chi?

What did they know? The name Jinzhao was very important to Chi Wan.

Not long after, news reached Yu Jiuzhou. Chun Gui reported in shock, “Your Highness, it’s bad! The Fuma is fighting with someone!”

Yu Jiuzhou immediately asked, “Is Chi Wan alright?”

Chun Gui: “Uh… it seems the Fuma is crying.”

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