TGPSAC – Chapter 115

Yu Chengzhao, granddaughter of Emperor Shengyuan, born in a prosperous age, in the land where the dynasty rose, has received the profound blessings and grace of Heaven and Earth… and is hereby established as the Imperial Grandson.

The imperial edict contained much, but the key point was that the Grand Princess’s daughter, Yu Chengzhao, had been established as the Imperial Grandson, the future emperor.

The appointment of the Imperial Grandson was made without any prior fanfare. In the imperial court, half the officials remained silent, a quarter opposed, and a quarter supported it.

This was the silent majority, and it was perfect for not arousing Emperor Shengyuan’s suspicion.

If she had truly wanted support, Yu Jiuzhou could have rallied more than half the court to her side, but it was unnecessary. Silence was sufficient.

Silence was for the better attainment of their goal.

After Guiyi was established as the Imperial Grandson, Prince Bao’an was furious. He could only think, on what grounds? A child not even a month old.

He endlessly cursed Guiyi, spewing all manner of vicious words.

Guiyi’s age was a critical weakness, especially in ancient times when raising a child to adulthood was no easy feat.

Beyond Prince Bao’an’s curses, many more people questioned Guiyi’s age.

An Imperial Grandson not yet a month old—wasn’t this a joke?

But with the Grand Princess present, these voices were much quieter.

Everyone had witnessed the Grand Princess’s long regency, and she had done a better job than Emperor Shengyuan.

This was a consensus among many. With the Grand Princess as regent, the Great Zhou would surely become better.

As long as the Grand Princess was there, it didn’t matter if the Imperial Grandson was a bit young. Barring any accidents, the Imperial Grandson would grow up eventually.

However, Emperor Shengyuan had to remain well for this to work. After all, a child not yet a month old couldn’t possibly take the throne, could they?

Many felt that as long as Emperor Shengyuan clung to life, the Grand Princess acted as regent, and the Imperial Grandson remained safe, the future of Great Zhou was promising.

But none of these three could afford any mishaps, or the hard-won balance would likely be shattered once more.

Just as everyone in Great Zhou thought a period of peace could be maintained, Emperor Shengyuan decided to go to Jiangning.

What angered Prince Bao’an was that Emperor Shengyuan claimed he was going to recuperate, not to move the capital.

If it wasn’t a relocation of the capital, the significance of what he was doing would be greatly diminished.

But with the emperor willing to go to Jiangning, the matter was already half-successful.

As Prince Bao’an was fuming, a gloomy voice emerged beside him. “Emperor Shengyuan is deeply suspicious. After so many years as emperor, have you ever seen him trust anyone completely? Even the Grand Princess is watched by people he has arranged.”

“Spare me your schadenfreude. Why don’t you tell me what we should do now.”

“Hmph, I told you long ago that you were too hasty. Now, the relocation of the capital has failed, turning into a recuperation trip. Jiangning has lost its legitimate status, and now you come asking me.”

“What do you know? Look at His Majesty. How many days does he have left to live?”

“You’re saying Emperor Shengyuan is dying?” The gloomy voice grew urgent.

He continued, “If Emperor Shengyuan dies, you have no chance remaining in the capital. Going to Jiangning with him is your only opportunity.”

Prince Bao’an snorted coldly. “Haven’t you already arranged everything?”

He didn’t trust this person beside him, but he believed in his abilities. Aside from lacking foresight, every step he planned was meticulous.

It was just that their opponent was too formidable, which was why their plans had not been fully realized.

Prince Bao’an was incensed. “The Princess’s Residence is like an iron fortress. They said that for the little brat’s one-month celebration, only His Majesty would be invited. If His Majesty doesn’t go, they’ll just have a simple celebration at home. They even used the war on the front lines as an excuse to avoid extravagance. Who are they guarding against?”

You, of course. Who else?

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If establishing the Imperial Grandson was a bombshell, then Emperor Shengyuan’s decision to recuperate in Jiangning was an equal shock to the entire court.

And the preparations were made with extreme haste, making it look less like a recuperation trip and more like an escape.

The decision was made in the middle of the first month, and three days later, Emperor Shengyuan’s entourage set off, taking with them thirty thousand Imperial Guards, twenty thousand Jinwu Guards, and two thousand Embroidered-Robe Guards.

Adding the palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial concubines, the total number was around one hundred thousand people.

The cost of their food, clothing, and daily needs was far greater than that of ordinary soldiers. The expenses for their journey could probably sustain an army of three hundred thousand for a month.

The Ministry of Revenue had no money, and Emperor Shengyuan was unwilling to pay himself. In the end, the cost was to be borne by the localities they passed through.

This was Prince Bao’an’s idea. He figured the local officials must be wealthy, so spending a little to please the emperor shouldn’t be a problem.

But local officials were misers. How could they be willing to spit out the money that had entered their pockets? They would only levy more taxes, and it would be the local commoners who suffered.

Unexpectedly, Chi Wan spoke up directly. “What if the local authorities don’t provide the funds, but instead seek them from the common people?”

Prince Bao’an frowned. She just had to oppose him, didn’t she?

“I will take responsibility for this matter. I will ensure that the local commoners are not troubled.”

Chi Wan sneered. “Then I truly hope Prince Bao’an will do as he says.”

As long as the common people weren’t troubled, that was fine. Her Embroidered-Robe Guard would be watching.

It wasn’t that Chi Wan wanted to oppose Prince Bao’an, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch him sacrifice the lives of hundreds of thousands of commoners to curry favor with the emperor.

For those in power, levying a tax was just a number. For the common people, it meant selling their children, or even starving to death.

They made decisions on a whim, with no regard for the populace.

It was good that these people were leaving. It would save them from causing trouble in the capital.

On the eighteenth day of the first month, the emperor departed for Jiangning to recuperate. The journey was expected to take fifteen to twenty days.

A single rider could make the trip in seven or eight days, but a carriage would need about ten. For an entourage of one hundred thousand, half a month was already fast.

With Emperor Shengyuan gone, the inner palace was empty, though many officials still worked in the outer palace halls.

But everyone knew that the center of power had shifted to the Princess’s Residence.

Previously, when the emperor hid in the palace and refused to come out, the Grand Princess had become the backbone of the central government. But the emperor was still there then, and everything had to be done with him in mind.

Now that the emperor was gone, the Grand Princess was not just the backbone; she was the sky of the central government.

Only a third of the court officials had left with the emperor. Among them were Prince Bao’an’s men, those who feared death, and also people arranged by Yu Jiuzhou.

As for the people Yu Jiuzhou had arranged, most were covert agents, though there were overt ones as well.

This left Yu Jiuzhou with a bitter taste in her mouth. She nestled in Chi Wan’s arms. “They knew that going there would mean being targeted by Prince Bao’an, that they might not even return, yet they still went.”

Certain positions needed to be filled, because only people in those positions had credibility when they spoke.

Spies were useful, but when it came to public statements, would outsiders believe a virtuous and well-known official, or a spy hiding in the shadows?

But if an accident were to happen, it would lead to a result no one wished to see.

Chi Wan gently stroked her hair. “They have prepared for sacrifice. What we must do is take good care of their families.”

To achieve great things, sacrifice was inevitable.

They all knew the consequences, yet they still chose to go. This was what set people apart.

Many scholars, before passing the imperial examinations, had things they held dear. Some, after spending a long time in officialdom, chose to blend in with the world. Others held fast to their principles.

They had their original aspirations: to establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the living people.

There were always some who sought neither fame nor fortune, but acted only for the people and the world.

For the past century of the Great Zhou, the common people had suffered too much. They were willing to do their utmost, just to have a clear conscience.

Chi Wan admired such people, and she would naturally treat their families well.

Over the past year, she had invested more than half of the money she earned into education. It could be said that from primary school to university, there was no need to worry about education.

At the same time, a subsidy was provided to their families, ensuring at least a life without worry, where they could afford to eat meat every three to five days.

These things were all done with their own money.

The Jiu Jiu Wellness Center, the cake shop, and the various profitable businesses Chi Wan had come up with—they were not short of money.

However, they spent as much as they earned. Fortunately, Chi Wan had written down many money-making ideas. After evaluation by the merchant associations, several viable ones were selected.

Chi Wan’s thinking was unrestricted, while the people in the merchant associations considered practicalities. By combining the two, profitable methods emerged.

The Princess’s Residence had several merchant associations under its control. They understood the principle of not putting all their eggs in one basket.

Lin Qianduo’s side was developing the best, a case of the latecomer surpassing the old-timers. Among the heads of these associations, her status was relatively high.

But each association was separate. They only contacted each other when cooperation was needed, and none knew that the others also worked for the Grand Princess.

This also ensured the safety of these associations to the greatest extent. If a problem arose, it wouldn’t lead to a total wipeout.

Many of the things they needed to do required money. A lack of a single coin could stump even an emperor, so doing business was unavoidable.

The money they earned was used to establish schools, educational institutions, and welfare organizations—all of which were essential.

Most importantly, it was to ensure that those who worked for them had no worries for their future.

After giving birth, Yu Jiuzhou’s heart had grown softer, and she had become more prone to contemplation and worry.

This was a process, so Chi Wan stayed by her side whether she was working or eating.

The children were left in the care of Chun Gui and the others. When they were well-behaved, they were brought over to be played with, but most of the time they were not to disturb Yu Jiuzhou, unless she asked to see them.

Chi Wan wanted Yu Jiuzhou to know that no matter the circumstances, she was the most important.

Faced with Yu Jiuzhou’s pensiveness, Chi Wan gently pinched her cheek. “Your Highness, once your confinement is over, I’ll take you out to have some fun.”

“Where?” Yu Jiuzhou looked up curiously.

Chi Wan smiled. “Camping.”

“No one else will be allowed near. Just the two of us. We’ll go on a date.”

By the time Yu Jiuzhou’s confinement ended, it would be nearly the end of the second month. The weather would be warming up, perfect for camping.

Chi Wan had already prepared everything for a date with her wife; she was just waiting for Yu Jiuzhou’s body to recover.

In truth, under the nourishment of Chi Wan’s internal energy, Yu Jiuzhou’s body had already mostly recovered.

But it takes a hundred days for broken bones and torn muscles to heal, let alone childbirth. Although the postpartum confinement was only supposed to last one or two months, she still believed that at least half a year to a year of recuperation was necessary.

Furthermore, she needed to channel her internal energy daily to nurture Yu Jiuzhou’s body, to restore it to its pre-childbirth state.

But once the confinement period was over, as long as they were a little careful, going out to play was still possible.

Anything too strenuous was definitely out of the question. For Yu Jiuzhou’s health, they had to be sufficiently cautious.

The two leaned against each other, closing their eyes and enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

Without Emperor Shengyuan in the capital, their spirits were much more relaxed.

The central government was running smoothly, with no need to worry about someone suddenly jumping out and causing trouble.

Now, Shengjing was under Yu Jiuzhou’s command. Everything was based on the Grand Princess’s orders. Not only did the two of them feel much more at ease, but the ministers below also felt relieved. They no longer had to consider the emperor’s thoughts; they just had to follow the Grand Princess’s instructions.

After Emperor Shengyuan’s departure, Shengjing had an air of political harmony and popular accord.

Many officials were thinking that if Emperor Shengyuan were gone and the Grand Princess were in charge, the Great Zhou might truly be able to restore the glory of a clear and prosperous age.

Yu Jiuzhou’s regency had not been short. Everyone had witnessed her performance and felt a sense of regret in their hearts. Her Highness the Grand Princess was a Kun Ze. If only she were a Qian Yuan, she could be the future emperor of Great Zhou, and the dynasty would surely be revitalized.

Actually, it was possible even now. The Imperial Grandson was still young, so Her Highness the Grand Princess would hold power for at least twenty years. It was the same as being emperor. Although she wasn’t the emperor in name, she wielded imperial authority.

With Emperor Shengyuan’s departure, many officials felt that the Imperial Grandson being young might not be a bad thing after all.

As long as the Imperial Grandson had not come of age, the Grand Princess could hold power, and everyone was well aware of Yu Jiuzhou’s capabilities.

Of course, there was also a portion of people who felt that Yu Jiuzhou was even harder to fool than Emperor Shengyuan.

Emperor Shengyuan was suspicious, but as long as one didn’t touch his imperial power or his money, he was muddle-headed most of the time—or perhaps he just pretended to be.

But no one dared to try and fool Yu Jiuzhou. She was a ruler skilled at using people, with clear rewards and punishments, a political genius who was also proficient in economics. At least during her regency, while the state wasn’t exactly wealthy, it wasn’t so short of money that the Minister of Revenue was tearing his hair out. The Minister of Revenue knew this well; Her Highness the Grand Princess could always find a way to get money, and she also valued education and other things.

If the Grand Princess were to become emperor, she would surely be a ruler of restoration, a wise sovereign of a prosperous age.

Many people thought this way, but after thinking it, they would always add a sentence: what a pity she is a Kun Ze.

Chi Wan had heard such comments. She only hoped that one day, Yu Jiuzhou would sit on that supreme throne and let everyone know that a Kun Ze could be an amazing emperor, no worse than a Qian Yuan, and in fact, far better than most.

Chi Wan lowered her head, touching her forehead to Yu Jiuzhou’s. Their noses brushed against each other.

Yu Jiuzhou felt a bit lost inside. Long disappointed in Emperor Shengyuan, seeing him truly capable of abandoning her and her mother without hesitation had left her feeling adrift.

She wasn’t longing for Emperor Shengyuan to stay. She was feeling that her actions in her past life, and her mother’s devotion, had been in vain.

Perhaps she wouldn’t normally think this way, but now was a special time. It was common to have such wandering thoughts right after giving birth.

Chi Wan lifted Yu Jiuzhou onto her back. “How about we go out for a look?”

“What?”

It was the end of the first month. If they counted a thirty-day confinement, she would be out in a few days. If it was forty-five days, there was still some time to go.

However, Chi Wan often had the heated chamber ventilated.

The Princess’s Residence had no shortage of rooms. Setting up two heated chambers was not difficult, so they could alternate between them, always ensuring a clean and comfortable environment.

But staying in a room for a long time could make a person feel stifled.

Chi Wan had someone procure many storybooks and read them to Yu Jiuzhou every day.

Evidently, Her Highness the workaholic Grand Princess only liked to listen to memorials, new and interesting things from the modern era, and what these things could bring to the current Great Zhou.

After more than twenty days of this, Chi Wan gave Yu Jiuzhou a full-body check-up and could feel that her body was recovering quite well.

Going out for a stroll, as long as she was wrapped up warmly, shouldn’t be a problem.

Chi Wan had Chun Gui push a wheelchair in. “I’ll push you out for a look. The flowers in the residence are blooming nicely.”

Yu Jiuzhou squinted her eyes and smiled lightly. “Alright.”

The wheelchair was fitted with a canopy. The sun was bright today, and there was no wind, making it perfect for an outing.

The Grand Princess’s flowers and plants were well-tended. Chi Wan could feel that Yu Jiuzhou’s mood had improved a lot.

“Does Your Highness like it?”

Yu Jiuzhou hummed in agreement. After so long, seeing the scenery outside was indeed refreshing for the mind and spirit.

She knew that her mood had changed because of Emperor Shengyuan’s unhesitating departure.

He was her father. At least, before she knew of his schemes, he hadn’t treated her, his daughter, too poorly. She had lived a better life than many princesses in history.

If she were an ordinary princess, not embroiled in power struggles, she would have lived a good life.

Ever since the emperor forced her to marry the previous Chi Wan, everything had changed.

If she hadn’t been reborn, if Chi Wan hadn’t come here, then she would have only met the same end as in her past life. Did she hate him? Of course she did.

If the emperor didn’t like her as a daughter, he could have just not been good to her from the start. That way, it would have been easier for her to accept.

It was precisely because he had been good to her at the beginning that the final discovery of it all being a conspiracy was so hard to accept. It had taken her a long time.

In this life, she had been schemed against all over again, and then abandoned without a second thought.

Yu Jiuzhou turned to look at Chi Wan. Chi Wan understood her meaning, walked over, and knelt in front of her, looking up at her slightly. “Is Your Highness sad because of His Majesty’s departure?”

Yu Jiuzhou shook her head. “Not really.”

“Then is it because you feel he’s dying soon, and no matter what, he is your father, so you’re sad?”

“A little.”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow, her already gentle voice becoming even more so. “Then let me guess. His Majesty has gone to Jiangning. Although he didn’t move the capital, he is in Prince Bao’an’s hands. I think Prince Bao’an will soon control Jiangning. There might be a false edict, or perhaps a real one. At that time, the Great Zhou will likely be split in two.”

Letting Emperor Shengyuan leave, with Prince Bao’an following along—given Prince Bao’an’s ambition, he would surely want to hold the emperor hostage to command the nobles.

With Emperor Shengyuan on the verge of death, he would forge an edict of succession.

But if they hadn’t let Prince Bao’an leave, another coup would have surely erupted in the capital.

After Prince Zhongshan, the capital could not withstand another rebellion.

The people’s trust in the central government was already waning. Prince Zhongshan’s coup had given many people bad ideas. Now, with the war still raging in Yanbei, they had too much to do.

Rather than letting Prince Bao’an stay in the capital, ready to bring disaster at any moment that could spread throughout the Great Zhou, it was better to let him go.

Yu Jiuzhou looked at her in surprise. “You knew?”

She was truly astonished that Chi Wan had thought of all this.

“I knew,” Chi Wan affirmed with a nod.

Yu Jiuzhou stared into her eyes, then her gaze inexplicably shifted away. Looking to the side, she asked, “Then don’t you think I’m an unscrupulous person? With the north and south in opposition, it will be the common people who suffer.”

She didn’t want Chi Wan to think she was someone who would do anything to get to the top.

Chi Wan took her hand, letting her feel the strength in her own. “No. The people are already suffering greatly. If they can be reborn from the ashes this time, it might not be a bad thing.”

The north was easy to control, but the south was not. Implementing reforms in the south was much harder than in the north.

Places closer to the central government were always more obedient.

“Reborn from the ashes?”

Chi Wan raised a beautiful smile, saying earnestly, “Yes. It’s better than just getting by. Besides, you know they can’t survive much longer. Without ruthlessly establishing a new order, those living under the old one will only die in increasing numbers, eventually breaking the bottom line of human nature. Throughout history, the common people’s lives are only slightly better when a new dynasty is established. And the Great Zhou has reached its end. According to the dynastic cycle, perhaps in one or two generations, the Great Zhou will be finished.”

“But in truth, whether it’s the Great Zhou or any other dynasty, even in a prosperous age, the lives of the common people are not easy. Who would you trust to hand the Great Zhou over to? Prince Bao’an? The Prince of Shunchéng? Or some other member of the imperial clan? So you can only trust yourself. I don’t want to say this, but I think this is how the world is. For a Kun Ze to sit on that supreme throne, the effort required is a thousand, ten thousand times that of a Qian Yuan. If you want to truly be the master of the Great Zhou, you can’t just snatch the throne from your own child. You must sweep away all the ills of the Great Zhou.”

These ills naturally included Prince Bao’an.

If Emperor Shengyuan died, the one to inherit the throne would be the Imperial Grandson. If Prince Bao’an staged a coup then, the war in Yanbei would likely be impossible to sustain.

At that point, if Beining invaded, would the people of Great Zhou have a good life?

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t have many options. She could only let Prince Bao’an leave with Emperor Shengyuan, so she could focus on dealing with the external enemy.

Otherwise, she would face a powerful enemy from without and someone ready to stab her in the back from within.

Whether from the perspective of the country, the people, or herself, Yu Jiuzhou had done nothing wrong.

Yu Jiuzhou smiled. “You’re right.”

“Smiling like that isn’t pretty.” Chi Wan pinched her cheek. “Your Highness, don’t overthink it. If you hadn’t done this, once Beining invaded, the people would have suffered inhuman treatment.”

Foreign tribes would only be crueler.

Yu Jiuzhou slapped her hand away. “I know. I’m just sad that the people of Great Zhou have suffered too much.”

So Yu Jiuzhou’s low spirits were caused by a combination of all these reasons, and it just so happened that during her postpartum confinement, she was at her most vulnerable.

Chi Wan knelt on one knee before Yu Jiuzhou. “Your Highness, you didn’t even hear me. I said smiling like that isn’t pretty.”

Was that the point?

Yu Jiuzhou rolled her eyes at her speechlessly, but couldn’t help but laugh. This time, the smile was from the heart, and so it was very beautiful.

Seeing such a beautiful Yu Jiuzhou, Chi Wan couldn’t resist kissing her on the lips. “Your Highness, wait for me here. I’ll go find the most beautiful flower for you.”

Yu Jiuzhou nodded, watching her retreating figure, her tone filled with reliance. “It’s a good thing I have you.”

She didn’t dare to imagine what she would have become in this life without Chi Wan. A bloodthirsty demon lord? A lonely power-struggling machine?

Probably both.

Unexpectedly, Chi Wan suddenly turned back and said, “Your Highness, I heard that.”

“What?” Yu Jiuzhou was stunned.

Chi Wan pointed to her own ear. “I’m a master, you know. I heard Your Highness’s confession very clearly.”

“I did not,” Yu Jiuzhou said stubbornly, turning her head away.

“What did Your Highness say?” Chi Wan selectively couldn’t hear.

Yu Jiuzhou: “…I said, Chi Jinzhao is a scoundrel.”

“Now that, I can’t hear.”

Chi Wan walked into the flower bushes with a smile, then pinched her ear towards Yu Jiuzhou again. Her smug look made one want to give her a good beating.

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