Emperor Shengyuan’s departure for the autumn hunt was not without its benefits. At the very least, Yu Jiuzhou could make any decision she wished in the capital without having to consider his presence.
This was especially true for the situation in Yanbei. Yu Jiuzhou had people gathering evidence of collusion on her list of targets. Once caught, the crime would be tantamount to rebellion, serving as a stern warning to others.
It would let those with restless ambitions know that treason was punishable by death—by the extermination of nine relations.
In Great Zhou, the extermination of nine relations encompassed four of the father’s clans, three of the mother’s, and two of the wife’s.
It was not the so-called method of counting four generations up and four generations down from oneself.
Some calculations only went up to the grandfather and down to the individual, which amounted to only three clans. Those who committed such grave offenses would never be let off so lightly.
If the number of people in the nine relations was insufficient, the entire surname could be implicated.
For instance, Gao Zheng’s greatest fear was being retaliated against once his influence waned. If there weren’t enough people in his nine relations to execute, the purge would proceed based on the Gao surname.
It wouldn’t just be his branch of the Gao family; the four clans could become five, or even six.
His branch of the Gao surname was in Muye, but their roots traced back to Caozhou.
His great-grandfather’s generation had split from the main family and migrated. If the matter were truly pursued, the Gao clan of Caozhou would likely suffer as well. It all depended on whether someone decided to press the issue.
In this era, families kept genealogical records. Although the Muye Gao family had branched off, they had copied the records of the Caozhou Gao clan.
Gao Zheng was quite worried that once he was no longer Grand Secretary, he would be met with a tempest of retribution.
This demonstrated just how terrifying the extermination of nine relations was in ancient times.
Upon learning of Yu Jiuzhou’s intentions, Gao Zheng nearly burst into tears. He regretted hoarding land in Yanbei; he owned a great deal of it, and many of his followers were on the list.
He had thought his nine relations had escaped disaster, but was he still to be implicated?
Gao Zheng hurriedly said, “This servant knows some of the people on the list and holds evidence of their crimes. If Your Highness needs it… no, this servant will return home to fetch it at once.”
After the members of the Grand Secretariat had finished their discussions at the Princess’s Residence, Yu Jiuzhou had specifically asked Gao Zheng to stay behind.
She was, of course, aware of the Gao family’s connections to some of the people on the list, which was precisely why she had kept him.
As soon as she showed him the list, he immediately knew what to do.
In truth, the next step was to deliver a thunderous blow to the gentry and powerful clans of Yanbei, and Gao Zheng was the most suitable person for the job.
As the dignified Grand Secretary, he already had connections in Yanbei. Infiltrating their inner circles to obtain unique information would be a simple task.
Yu Jiuzhou wanted the gentry and powerful clans of Yanbei to behave, but she wasn’t going to frame them with baseless accusations. Some of them simply couldn’t withstand scrutiny; it was just a matter of obtaining evidence of their crimes.
It was difficult for an outsider to investigate, but not for an insider.
This was especially true for Gao Zheng. Occupying a high position, he already wielded influence in Yanbei. Aside from a few local kingpins, Gao Zheng’s people were considered leaders there.
From behind the screen, Yu Jiuzhou glanced at Chi Wan, who immediately understood her meaning.
“Grand Secretary Gao, Her Highness is with child, and I cannot leave her side. I hear that you have a niece currently serving as a Director in the Ministry of Justice?”
How clever was Gao Zheng? He understood Chi Wan’s meaning in an instant. It seemed they wanted him to be the one to charge ahead.
The one who sticks their neck out rarely meets a good end, but if the Gao family didn’t do it now, they would lose their value.
Gao Zheng gritted his teeth and said, “In response to the Fuma, yes.”
Chi Wan smiled. “Then let us entrust this matter to your niece. Grand Secretary, your contributions to the reforms in Yanbei are a merit for the present age and for millennia to come. However, you are already the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, the head of all civil officials. After much thought, Her Highness wishes to request a noble title for the Gao family.”
A title?
Gao Zheng stood up straight. If his family could be ennobled, then even if he died, his son could inherit the title. He would no longer have to worry about his son’s life after his own death.
But then Chi Wan added, “I have observed all of the Grand Secretary’s grandchildren. Among them, I find Gao Yuexing to be quite promising. The Divine Machine Camp of the Capital Camps is in need of a staff officer. We can find an opportunity to grant her a title.”
Skip his son and ennoble a grandchild?
The “Little Grand Secretary” was indeed capable, but he was also greedy and blindly self-confident. If he were to receive a title, he would likely become a de facto emperor back in Muye.
Moreover, the Little Grand Secretary was implicated in a major case. Once Gao Zheng died, the Gao family’s political enemies would surely not let him off.
Rather than that, it was better to directly ennoble Gao Yuexing.
Neither Yu Jiuzhou nor Chi Wan would choose someone of poor character for ennoblement. After investigating the Gao family’s younger generation, they found that only one niece and one granddaughter of Gao Zheng’s possessed both good character and ability. Combining these two qualities made them usable.
The reforms in Yanbei had been so successful largely thanks to Gao Zheng.
The fact that those powerful clans and gentry were resorting to colluding with foreign enemies to resist was proof that they had no other options; all their paths had been blocked.
Gao Zheng was the type of person who either did nothing or did it to the best of his ability.
When it came to people, he either didn’t take a side, or he followed it to the death. He either didn’t make an enemy, or he targeted them relentlessly.
In terms of the Yanbei reforms, Gao Zheng had done an excellent job.
They had no intention of helping Gao Zheng or his son, because his son had committed evil first, embezzling so much silver. The only reason he hadn’t been executed was that Gao Zheng was still useful.
But he had fathered a good daughter. Though she was from a concubine, her character was immeasurably better.
Last winter, although only Wucheng had reported a snow disaster, the snowfall had been heavy in many places. The heavy snow was nationwide, especially in the north. While Wucheng suffered a disaster, people in other areas also starved or froze to death, just not to the extent that it was officially reported.
Perhaps it had reached that point, but if the death toll wasn’t in the thousands or tens of thousands, the local authorities would cover it up.
The snow in Muye had also been heavy. Gao Yuexing, being born of a concubine, did not live a wealthy life, yet she sold her own belongings to set up a congee kitchen.
To have a bowl of hot congee in a winter of scarcity was a blessing. A thousand people a day eating congee meant ten thousand people in ten days. This was a meritorious deed.
The Gao family was unaware of this; it was the Imperial City Division that had discovered it. Gao Yuexing had been worried her family would find out. Ever since her father had been sent back from his post, he spent his days in a stupor, doing nothing but drinking. The Gao household was managed by the main wife, who, while not mistreating the children of concubines, disliked it when they stood out.
Clearly, Gao Zheng had little impression of this granddaughter, but the fact that Her Highness the Princess and the Fuma had taken a liking to her was a good thing.
Whether she was from the main wife or a concubine, she was still his grandchild.
Gao Zheng quickly knelt to express his gratitude. “This servant kowtows and thanks Your Highness on behalf of my granddaughter.”
“There is no need for such ceremony, Grand Secretary,” Yu Jiuzhou said in a clear voice.
That was a noble title. For a civil official, the pinnacle of power was the Grand Secretary, while the pinnacle of honor was to be one of the Three Masters and have one’s tablet enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
But no matter how high a civil official rose, if their descendants were not capable, the family would slowly decline after their death.
Having a noble title was different. A noble house could last for a hundred years.
Even if it was just an earldom, it could be passed down for three generations, and it would start from his granddaughter’s generation.
Gao Zheng immediately pledged his loyalty. “This servant will devote all my efforts to the matter of Yanbei, without regret even in the face of ten thousand deaths.”
Yu Jiuzhou chuckled lightly. “What is the Grand Secretary saying? The reforms in Yanbei are not yet fully successful. We will still need to trouble you, Grand Secretary Gao.”
His niece would be promoted to Minister of Justice, and his granddaughter would be ennobled as soon as she performed a meritorious deed—the size of which didn’t matter. The merit was primarily Gao Zheng’s, and since he couldn’t be rewarded further, the benefits naturally fell to his descendants.
It could be said that Yu Jiuzhou had completely resolved Gao Zheng’s worries for the future, allowing him to act with much greater freedom.
Both sides had long been bound to the same warship. If it sank, they would sink together; if it triumphed, they would triumph together.
Just as Gao Zheng was about to speak, Chi Wan suddenly said, “In the future, Grand Secretary Gao will also have to preside over the reforms of all of Great Zhou. I’m afraid you will be sitting in the position of Grand Secretary for a very long time.”
Gao Zheng’s head shot up, but he forced his gaze to remain fixed on Chi Wan’s feet.
Such words, such words! He would remain the Grand Secretary of Great Zhou. Before then, he could support his niece and granddaughter into high official positions. As long as they made no mistakes, the Gao family’s prosperity could be secured for decades.
Her Highness the Princess was making her stance clear: as long as he could make the reforms successful, the Gao family would not meet a ruinous end.
Many in the Gao family were arrogant and domineering. For the sake of his own house, Gao Zheng had already pruned the side branches, driving those people out of the family, either by splitting the household or by expulsion.
Only his own branch of the Muye Gao family remained—his own siblings, and his sons and grandchildren.
Among them were some unsavory characters. He had used thunderous methods to clean up the side branches; now it was time to clean up his immediate family.
Those with poor character could be barred from officialdom. Even if they were capable, the members of his family could at best reach the fifth rank on their own. Anything higher required his help.
Then there was no need to keep them. He didn’t expect them to be brilliant, but he absolutely could not allow them to bring disaster upon the Gao family.
Her Highness the Princess’s statement today meant that the Gao family had escaped a calamity.
Having narrowly escaped disaster, Gao Zheng did not want any more accidents.
For now, no matter who ascended the throne, Her Highness the Princess would hold power. If she truly supported the Prince of Shunchéng, she would hold power for at least ten years. If the imperial grandchild Her Highness was carrying ascended the throne, it would be twenty years.
Gao Zheng made up his mind. No matter what, he had to support Her Highness’s child to the throne. Only then could the Gao family’s prosperity be maintained.
Yu Jiuzhou could more or less guess what was going through Gao Zheng’s mind.
With the matter of Yanbei settled, she could relax a little.
When Chi Wan returned after seeing Gao Zheng out, she saw Yu Jiuzhou sitting in a rocking chair, swaying gently. The slight movement was the very picture of elegance and nobility.
“Your Highness.”
Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes fluttered open. “Do you really think Gao Yuexing can be the staff officer for the Three Thousand Camp?”
“Yes.”
Chi Wan was certain. The name Gao Yuexing had appeared in the novel. She had a knack for firearm formations and, at the end of the novel, had inflicted considerable damage on the Marquis of Pingliang’s troops.
By that time, Yu Jiuzhou was already gone and knew nothing of Gao Yuexing.
Yu Jiuzhou had read Gao Yuexing’s file. She indeed had some cleverness, though perhaps she hadn’t had the opportunity to display great intelligence. She was young, after all. Hopefully, she would seize this chance.
Chi Wan moved closer to Yu Jiuzhou curiously. “Your Highness seems to have an excessive amount of trust in my judgment.”
When she recommended someone, Yu Jiuzhou would at most ask a few questions but would still use them, as if she completely trusted her judgment of people.
Yu Jiuzhou leaned back in the rocking chair, feeling Chi Wan’s hands massaging her temples. The comfortable sensation made her a little drowsy.
“Facts have proven that you have never chosen wrong.”
True enough, Chi Wan smiled.
She was the woman with the script. She had compiled a list of talented individuals who would have great futures and had pushed them toward Yu Jiuzhou.
Many people were just waiting for an opportunity. As long as they had a chance, they could achieve great things.
But she had recommended most of them. From now on, they would have to rely on their own judgment when selecting people.
“Report!”
Just as the two were enjoying a moment of peace, Dong Ying strode in quickly and knelt on one knee. “Your Highness, His Majesty was attacked by a fierce tiger. Prince Bao’an was gravely injured and fell unconscious while protecting him.”
Chi Wan frowned. “You’re saying Prince Bao’an was injured by a tiger while saving His Majesty?”
“Yes. When the news was sent back, Prince Bao’an was still unconscious. His Majesty has ordered the return journey to the capital to begin tomorrow.”
Something had happened after all.
This time, it wasn’t Prince Zhongshan’s ambush, but Prince Bao’an saving the emperor.
Was it an accident, or was it premeditated?
Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou exchanged a look, both understanding the other’s thoughts.
Neither of them believed it was an accident. Mainly, they didn’t believe Prince Bao’an would risk his life for the emperor, unless he knew he wouldn’t be truly harmed.
In this era, the three greatest military merits for ennoblement were being the first to scale an enemy wall, breaking through enemy formations, and capturing an enemy banner.
But none of these three great merits could compare to protecting the emperor.
Prince Bao’an had unequivocally protected the emperor. The scales in Emperor Shengyuan’s heart, which were already tipping, might now lean completely in his favor.
Just like in the previous life, Prince Bao’an had offered to recognize Emperor Shengyuan as his father and his biological father as his uncle. It was not impossible that Emperor Shengyuan would be moved.
In the previous life, Emperor Shengyuan had been moved. The reason he was reluctant to name an imperial heir was his fear that after his death, the heir would refuse to honor him as a father.
There was also the matter of his posthumous affairs. It was not unheard of for ministers to bestow a derogatory posthumous title upon a deceased emperor, which meant not only eternal infamy but also eternal ridicule.
Emperor Shengyuan placed extreme importance on his legacy. If Prince Bao’an made a promise, coupled with the merit of protecting him…
The main thing was that this act of protecting him would make the emperor think: if Prince Bao’an was willing to die for him, then wouldn’t recognizing him as a father and taking his posthumous affairs seriously be perfectly normal?
An adult imperial heir versus the unborn heir in Yu Jiuzhou’s womb—the emperor was likely to waver.
Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou knew that their absence from the autumn hunt was Prince Bao’an’s best opportunity.
But in comparison, Yu Jiuzhou was undoubtedly more important. Chi Wan had no desire for any problems to befall her princess during the hunt.
No matter what happened, she would always choose her wife.
“What a coincidental tiger.”
Yu Jiuzhou snorted softly. “Chi Wan, Prince Bao’an is about to return to the political stage.”
His last mistake had kept him barred from the court for over half a year. His return would certainly cause a major shift in the court’s dynamics.
“One step behind means being behind every step of the way.”
They had started building their power base before Prince Bao’an and had controlled the court for so long. He might not necessarily pose a threat to them.
In truth, their only threat came from the possibility of Emperor Shengyuan naming Prince Bao’an as crown prince. If he held the righteous and legitimate claim, then no matter how powerful they were, it would be difficult to smoothly control Great Zhou.
Chi Wan stroked Yu Jiuzhou’s head. “We’ll face whatever comes our way.”
Yu Jiuzhou tilted her head and suddenly smiled. “Don’t worry, I will protect you.”
Chi Wan: “?” Who was protecting whom?
“Yes, yes, thank you for your protection, Your Highness the Princess. I have no way to repay you. I can only offer myself in return, to serve Your Highness with my body. Would that be acceptable?”
Yu Jiuzhou: “…You smooth-talker.”
“It’s sweet,” Chi Wan whispered into Yu Jiuzhou’s ear.
Dong Ying was still there!!!
The tips of Yu Jiuzhou’s ears turned crimson. This person’s words were becoming more and more shameless.
Chi Wan was the type who was very aloof before you got to know her. Previously, she had served Yu Jiuzhou to save her own life, but once they became familiar, she was the type who could perform a headstand while washing her hair.
What was wrong with saying a few sweet nothings?
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