Chapter 93: Receiving the Imperial Order

In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month had arrived. According to past traditions, General Xiao and his sons went to the palace again to accompany the emperor for the festival.

The palace banquet was as grand and lively as usual. When the feast had reached its halfway point, a close attendant whispered something in the emperor’s ear. The ministers soon noticed that the emperor’s previously serene expression changed instantly. After the attendant left, the emperor ordered the music and dancing to stop and sent everyone else away.

“The bandits in the northwest have become too rampant. I received a memorial on the first day of the New Year, and today another one has arrived. The people are living in misery. I cannot bear it! These bandits must be captured and punished, so the people can return to a peaceful and safe life,” the emperor declared.

“Your Majesty is wise,” all the ministers stood up and said in unison.

“But who should we send?”

“I am willing to lead the troops, Your Majesty,” General Xiao was the first to step forward to ask for the order.

The emperor nodded secretly. Xiao Hu was brave and resourceful and had a good sense of timing. He knew the emperor wouldn’t send him to deal with the bandits but had taken the initiative to step forward, showing the emperor’s intention. He also displayed the right attitude of a loyal subject, setting an example for others who might hesitate. Truly, a wily old fox.

“I am also willing to go,” General Yuan also stepped forward.

“I am pleased by your attitude, both of you,” the emperor said. “However, I had promised to let both of you remain in the capital and enjoy your later years, so do not bring it up again.

Now the four corners of the empire are at peace, and the country is prosperous. It is infuriating that these bandits dare to disturb the people like this. I truly want to capture them with my own hands and rid myself of this anger.”

“Your Majesty, you must not!” “Please think carefully, Your Majesty!”

The ministers all objected to the idea of the emperor leading the campaign personally. The emperor’s personal presence for a group of bandits was too much to bear, and they would lose face.

After a round of impassioned pleas, Prince Jing stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed. “Your Majesty, I am willing to replace the emperor and go to fight the bandits. I will not return to the capital until the bandits are eradicated.”

“Prince Jing, you must not!” The Duke of Han opposed immediately.

“Your Majesty, Prince Jing is a distinguished prince and your younger brother. How can he risk his life like this?” Duke Qing also stepped forward to object.

The emperor and Prince Jing exchanged a subtle glance. Both of their uncles opposed him—how could anyone believe they were not acting out of self-interest, perhaps out of love for their nephew? Others might believe it, but the Yun brothers certainly did not.

“This…”

“My decision is made. Please, Your Majesty, grant my request.”

“Then, I will trouble you, my brother. Go and prepare. You will depart on the 26th of the second month.” The emperor was thoughtful, as Prince Jing’s daughter, Yun Ruonan, was born on the 23rd of the second month. The emperor, being a good brother and uncle, had this in mind.

Prince Jing smiled and nodded in understanding.

He thought everything was progressing smoothly and normally, but after the banquet, the emperor and Prince Jing were summoned to Fengxiang Palace by the Empress Dowager.

“How could you make such a decision behind my back?” the Empress Dowager scolded. “The northwest has bandits, and you could have sent your cousin from your second uncle’s family to deal with them. Why should Xuan’er go personally? The journey is long, with high mountains and rivers. How can I rest easy?”

She was concerned not just as the Empress Dowager, but as a mother. Her son was about to embark on a dangerous journey, and as a mother, it was hard for her to accept.

“You want him to go to suppress the bandits? Wouldn’t that be like the thief crying ‘catch the thief’?” The Yun brothers both thought the same thing.

“My son will be back in three to five months. Do not worry, Mother.” Prince Jing spoke, seeing the Empress Dowager’s expression of reluctance and distress. His heart was moved. After all, she was his mother, and no matter how angry she was, the years of affection could not be easily severed.

“Why must you go? What use are all these ministers if they cannot handle such a matter? Just let Xiao Hu deal with it. Keeping him in the capital will only harm my grandson.”

“Mother, have you forgotten that the harem is not to interfere in government matters?”

“I… I can leave the rest alone, but my son and grandsons are royal matters. Am I not allowed to speak a few words?”

In the past, when her eldest son had just ascended the throne, he had been more trusting of her and the Han family. Now that he had stabilized his rule, he was imposing more restrictions on her, and his trust in the Han family had waned. Many key positions had been taken over by others, and the Han family had been replaced in some cases, leading both brothers to confront her repeatedly.

They often reminded her that without the support of the Han family, the throne would never have been secured by Yun Aoyuan, the sixth prince, who was neither the eldest nor the legitimate son. Now that he sat firmly on the throne, he seemed to have forgotten about his uncles, which made her feel disheartened.

What could she say? Could she refute them? It was true that they had supported her son, but now that he was firmly in power, he had cut ties with them, and nothing could change that.

Caught between her son and her family, the Empress Dowager felt conflicted, but who had considered her difficult position? Was it true that she had grown old and could no longer command the same power and influence she once had?

“If Mother does not allow Xuan’er to go, does that mean I must lead the army personally?”

“It’s just a few petty bandits. There’s no need for the emperor and the prince to go out in person!”

“Mother should know that the more peaceful the times, the more attention the appearance of bandits will attract. Currently, Tianyu’s eastern and southern regions are prosperous, and most of the western and northern areas are also stable, but it is the northwest where the bandits have appeared, so my attitude is crucial. It affects the people’s trust in the government and our nation’s international reputation.”

“Is it dangerous? Let Duke Qing send a letter to General Han Yaowu, stationed there, and have him send troops to deal with the bandits first. Xuan’er can then go for inspection afterward.”

“You need not worry about these matters. I heard that Duke Qing’s granddaughter has entered the palace. It would be good for her to spend more time with the Noble Consort and her son. Once Yifan turns fifteen, I will issue the order for their marriage.”

The Empress Dowager looked at the emperor in shock. This was not what she had in mind. She didn’t care about the Noble Consort and her son; they were already on her side. What she wanted was to have her granddaughter marry Yun Yifan, as it would solidify her family’s influence. If she succeeded in this marriage, could there still be any conflict between the Empress Dowager’s family and the Mu family?

“The children are still young, and they need to spend more time together to see who is most compatible. Not only the daughter of Duke Qing’s house has entered the palace, but also the daughter of the Duke of Han. If Xuan’er must go to the northwest, then let Ah Chen move into the palace. I cannot feel at ease leaving him alone in the manor.”

Prince Jing smiled sarcastically. “As expected, Mother’s true purpose is to manipulate matters concerning my son. I would rather Ah Chen remain unmarried for his entire life than allow another Han family woman into the manor. How could I betray my wife, who has endured so much, or my daughter, who still suffers from illness?”

“Regarding Xiao Jiu and Ah Chen, I have other plans. Since Mother likes them, let them stay with the Noble Consort.”

“No, they should temporarily stay in the side hall of Fengxiang Palace,” the Empress Dowager insisted. Is my son treating the Han family girls as discarded trash, passing them off to the Noble Consort to handle?

“Very well, as you wish.” As long as they were not forced upon Xiao Jiu and Ah Chen, the emperor couldn’t be bothered to care about their fate.

“Xuan’er will be alone in the wild, and I cannot rest easy. Let Ying’er accompany you to the northwest. A noble prince should not be without someone to look after him.”

Prince Jing’s expression turned cold. The brief moment of warmth he had felt vanished instantly. So this is Mother’s true intention. She brings Han Ying along so that she doesn’t fear me eliminating her halfway.

“Han Concubine should stay in the manor to manage the affairs, how can she leave? Moreover, do you feel comfortable leaving Princess Baozhu and Princess Ruzhu in the care of the Princess Consort?” the emperor spoke. They are the Han family’s treasures, far more precious in your eyes than Ruonan, that legitimate daughter of the prince’s manor.

Considering her son’s reasoning, the Empress Dowager stopped insisting.

Prince Jing shot a furious look at the emperor. Is this how you persuade me? Must you smear my princess consort like this?

The emperor glared back, unrelenting. If I didn’t speak like this, Mother would insist you take Han Concubine along. Truly, no good deed goes unpunished.