Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
After the court session, Liang Feng went straight back to his sleeping palace. However, the person he hoped to see, overcome with joy, did not arrive. Instead, the Crown Prince hurried over from the Chongwen Hall.
The Chongwen Hall had now been transformed into the National Library, appointing scholars, recruiting talents, and educating students. It was equivalent to the Imperial Academy of the previous dynasty, accessible only to high-ranking officials and meritorious subjects. Within its three institutes, the Chongwen Hall was under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Palace, serving as the place for the Crown Prince’s education. As the Crown Prince was still young and had not yet attended court sessions, he spent his days studying and attending lectures at the Chongwen Hall. Occasionally, the emperor would summon him for examination.
However, today, Liang Rong hurriedly came not to pay respects.
“Imperial Father, even if you are unwilling to establish a designated heir, you can still choose palace consorts. Why go to such lengths…” Liang Rong’s face was filled with anxiety, and his tone had changed.
The words spoken in the court spread quickly, reaching his ears not long after. Liang Rong knew about the private affair between his father and General Yiyan, but how could he sacrifice the emperor’s reputation for the sake of a favored minister!
If you don’t want to establish a designated heir, why not accept some consorts? Would that General Yiyan dare to object?!
It was easy to deal with external ministers, but when it came to his own son, Liang Feng had to explain seriously. Liang Feng sighed lightly, “Whether or not to establish a designated heir, giving birth to imperial heirs will bring troubles. In the early days of the dynasty, we cannot afford internal conflicts among the princes.”
“But the founding monarch doesn’t necessarily have to be the sole heir, right?” Liang Rong couldn’t help but argue, “Moreover, with Imperial Father’s prosperity and longevity, even if you have a younger brother, you can still confer him with territories to strengthen the foundation of the country!”
“Establishing feudal territories?” Liang Feng sneered, “Without the broad fiefs granted by Emperor Wu of Jin, how could the realm fall into chaos? Even with family wealth, it could attract disputes over heirs. What about the throne, where the stakes are even higher? Not to mention the previous dynasty, even during the Han Dynasty, the feudal lords often caused trouble. The realm is not yet settled, and how can we jeopardize our foundation over such a trivial matter?”
The bloody struggle for imperial power had been incessant since the appearance of a unified dynasty. There were many founding monarchs, but those truly recognized by posterity as ruling a “court” were few. Princes, powerful ministers, and royal relatives could prevent the designated heir from ascending, leading to the downfall of the state. Even if they managed to survive, the consequences of suppressing the crown prince might linger for several generations. For example, the Xuanwu Gate Incident in the Tang Dynasty, despite Li Er founding a prosperous era, internal conflicts within the royal family never ceased. If it happened in the grand Tang Dynasty, one could imagine the situation in other dynasties.
The words spoken in the court were meant for Yiyan, but also for the long-term stability of the country. Liang Feng knew better than anyone else that if he engaged with the women of the harem, sons would inevitably follow. Whether they were his biological children or not was hard to determine. Since he had a devoted partner, what did a little issue of face matter?
Similar conversations had occurred before, but his father had never expressed it so explicitly. Liang Rong’s face turned red, and he choked out, “It’s all because your son is unfilial…”
Because of himself, his father was unwilling to have any more children, wasn’t that a great sin?
Liang Feng shook his head, “I am sorry for not living up to your expectations. I can choose someone I fancy, while you must marry and bear imperial grandchildren.”
“Imperial Father!” Liang Rong took a step forward, kneeling at Liang Feng’s feet, “Your son is willing to follow Imperial Father’s arrangements and take a consort as soon as possible!”
Political marriages were not as simple as he thought. However, Liang Feng did not express these words. After all, Liang Rong was born into the royal family, and instilling him with thoughts from a thousand years later had done him more harm than good.
With a softer tone, Liang Feng said, “No need to rush too much. Wait until you turn sixteen, and then you can have a grand wedding.”
Liang Rong was well aware of this, as both his father and the court physicians had mentioned it before. A man marries at twenty, and a woman is married off at fifteen, as these are the best ages for childbirth. Marrying too early would only harm oneself and others. Yielding to desires might lead to a shorter life. His father ultimately loved and cared for him…
Seeing the calm expression on his son’s face, Liang Feng also breathed a sigh of relief. After today’s events, the matter of the Crown Prince taking a consort had to be placed on the agenda. At this point, the disadvantages of the harem being without a head became evident. Without an empress, many “madams’ politics” couldn’t be carried out, making the selection of the Crown Prince’s consort a headache. He couldn’t personally inspect the internal households of the ministers, could he?
A solution needed to be found.
Not to mention the various issues within the inner court. The news of the Emperor’s illness quickly spread among the noble families. Perhaps out of shame, the Grand Master of the Imperial Censorate, Wang Pu, also fell seriously ill and submitted his resignation to the Emperor. However, the Emperor rejected it, and Wang Pu wasn’t even punished. The Emperor’s “broad-mindedness” truly left people in admiration. However, admiration aside, interests were the key. Since the Emperor wasn’t going to marry, the Crown Prince became a coveted “unique commodity.”
Who would the Emperor choose for a marriage alliance? Would it be the powerful families of Bing County, or perhaps the noble houses of Ji County? What about the influential families of Yu County? Not to mention the eminent families in Taiyuan, even well-known lineages like the Lu family of Fanyang and the Cui family of Qinghe were willing to send their daughters into the palace. The downfall of Cui Bi, the governor of Ping County, served as a warning to them.
The current Emperor Zhao relied not on the rise of noble families. By merely reforming and stationing troops, he managed to control the common people as if they were at his beck and call. The extraordinary strength of the six armies and the formidable weapons like Thunderbolt Cannons played a crucial role. The state-run kilns and textile industries were incredibly prosperous. Even the tax revenue from the outer court couldn’t match the profits from the inner court’s business ventures. Furthermore, the emergence of the imperial examination system provided opportunities for those from humble backgrounds.
With military strength, wealth, and talent, the Emperor appeared excessively powerful. Fortunately, he had some conciliatory methods and had not completely abolished the Nine Ranks System for selecting officials, preventing the noble families from rebelling outright. However, this decisive and wise Emperor also intrigued many. If Zhao State could thrive for several centuries like the Great Han and become an imperial family, wouldn’t that be the best choice?
No one was willing to give up this excellent opportunity. When the news spread that officials could bring their families to the winter solstice feast, countless people were moved!
The Emperor’s harem was vacant, and previously, he had never summoned the families of court officials. Now, with this news, it seemed like an attempt to investigate if there were suitable unmarried girls from various families! This was clearly for the preparation of the Crown Prince, even if he couldn’t select the primary consort, having a concubine would still be good!
Therefore, on the day of the winter solstice, just the families of the officials numbered two to three hundred people. The banquet was arranged in the West Garden, specifically separated from the main courtyard for the families. After the official feast, there was also a garden tour. Several young ladies composed poems and paintings, presented them to the Emperor and received rewards.
After finishing the meal, many people found it challenging to make up their minds. However, there was no clear news coming from the palace. The number of memorials received by the Emperor increased once again.
“Tuoba Yilu recently has thoughts of establishing another heir,” Zhang Bin reported alone in the Chigong Hall.
This was the latest news transmitted by Xinling. After pacifying You County, Tuoba Yilu was conferred the title of Duke of Daijun. According to the usual practice, his eldest son, Tuoba Liuxiu, should be designated the heir to inherit his father’s legacy. However, for some unknown reason, Tuoba Yilu didn’t confer this title on his eldest son and showed great favoritism towards his younger son, Tuoba Biyan, indicating a plan to appoint him as the heir.
Although the Xianbei people traditionally didn’t strictly adhere to the principle of seniority, where the elder brother succeeded the father, this was a common occurrence. However, Tuoba Liuxiu was not an ordinary individual. Not only was he cruel and arrogant, but he was also extremely skilled in warfare. Allowing such a situation to continue would undoubtedly lead to trouble for the Tuoba clan.
And this was precisely what Da Zhao needed.
Liang Feng nodded slightly, “Let Xinling observe the situation quietly. If there’s an opportunity, we can subtly influence it.”
Now that You County needed considerable reconstruction, even if the Tuoba clan surrendered, they were not easy to deal with. Although it would take a long time before the birth of the Northern Wei dynasty in later years, Liang Feng wasn’t planning to let them grow unchecked. First, he would divide their tribe, incite internal strife, and then strategically absorb them into the Da Zhao domain, creating a buffer against the rising Murong clan.
After all, stabilizing the domestic situation and military actions against the surrounding regions would take at least one or even two generations. Pacifying the Xiongnu and Eastern Jin, and reclaiming the regions of Sichuan, Shu, Jing, and Xiang were the immediate priorities.
Zhang Bin understood, “I will advise them to proceed with caution.”
After all, the Zhao State was the suzerain of the Tuoba clan. The intelligence work must not be exposed at any cost.
Liang Feng nodded approvingly and inquired about the situation in the northern regions. After everything was explained, instead of dismissing Zhang Bin, he pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, “In your esteemed household, is there a young lady awaiting marriage?”
Even Zhang Bin, despite his composure, was shaken by this question. After collecting himself, he respectfully replied, “In the humble minister’s family, there is a youngest daughter who has not yet been betrothed. However, she has reached the age of fifteen…”
According to the current court regulations, males could marry at sixteen, and females at fifteen. In the past, the court would set the earliest age for marriage, but the Emperor had reversed this practice, causing some criticism. However, noble families traditionally married later, and with the medical advice emphasizing potential complications with childbirth at a young age, attitudes were gradually changing. Therefore, it was not unusual for the daughters of newly risen officials like Zhang Bin to remain unmarried as they grew older.
Liang Feng smiled, “Fifteen is even better. With a slightly older age, it facilitates childbirth. The Crown Prince is now looking for a consort. I wonder if the esteemed minister would consider offering your beloved daughter?”
This was something Zhang Bin had never anticipated! When the heir to the throne sought a wife, it was expected to come from noble families. Though he held the prestigious position of the Minister of the Palace Library, he came from the humble Zhang family of Zhao County, which was a far cry from the illustrious noble families of the previous dynasties.
And yet, the Emperor was requesting such a marriage from him. This was beyond the realm of simple favoritism!
“Your humble minister…” Zhang Bin struggled to articulate his response, “My daughter is naive, and I fear she might not be suitable…”
Liang Feng raised his hand to stop him, “A virtuous and gentle daughter is an excellent choice for a wife. Marrying, one should choose virtue. Besides, your talents, esteemed minister, have always been highly valued by me. If you can produce an intelligent imperial grandson, that would be even more marvelous. However, when a girl enters the palace, it’s like a bird in a cage – difficult for the parents to part with, but inevitable.”
How could Zhang Bin not be reluctant? He had even managed Xinling! In this game of shadows, the Emperor would only trust someone close to him. However, in a new reign, individuals like him were likely to face repercussions. If not for his unwavering dedication to the country, how could he willingly sacrifice his family and life?
However, marrying his daughter to the Crown Prince changed everything. At that moment, the Zhang family would become imperial relatives, dispelling any concerns. As long as they tread carefully and avoid mistakes, several generations of prosperity awaited them! Moreover, the Crown Prince possessed the qualities of a benevolent ruler. With his daughter’s devoted service and the birth of an imperial grandson, could they not expect a peaceful and prosperous life?
This was incomparably better than marrying her off to anyone else!
The Emperor genuinely treated him well, considering even the post-marriage arrangements. Such trust was truly moving!
With a choked voice in his throat, Zhang Bin slowly bowed down, “Serving the Crown Prince is my daughter’s good fortune. How can I not be reluctant? Your Majesty’s favor is deep, even if I have to break my bones, it’s difficult to repay your kindness…”
Liang Feng stood up, walked to Zhang Bin, and extended his hand to support him, “Without Mengsun’s assistance, how could we have the current situation? Breaking bones is unnecessary; Mengsun should take good care of himself and stay by my side.”
This was the way of kings and ministers throughout the ages.
Zhang Bin bowed again in response, a tear falling onto his robe.
Author’s note:
Liang Feng: Baby, how do you like the prospective father-in-law I’ve chosen for you?
Liang Rong: QAQ Isn’t it a wife that I’m marrying…
