Chapter 43

Among the officials who narrowly escaped death was Pei Siyuan, who had once had a promising future. He had completely lost the emperor’s favor. The emperor believed that if Pei Siyuan hadn’t advised him to plow the fields personally, there wouldn’t have been rumors of the heavens being displeased with the emperor, and Lin Que wouldn’t have released his brothers and nephews.

Later, when Pei Siyuan was implicated and imprisoned, the emperor lost trust in him. He thought Pei Siyuan had ulterior motives from the beginning and was sent by his brothers and nephews.

Lin Que released Pei Siyuan on the grounds of innocence. With the emperor’s power limited, he couldn’t kill Pei Siyuan and could only find an excuse to exile him.

“Will you bring him back when your mother ascends the throne?” Li Mu tried to guess Lin Que’s intentions.

Lin Que replied, “When my mother becomes the emperor, the appointment and dismissal of officials will naturally be her decision.”

Lin Que didn’t like Pei Siyuan. Although Li Mu suggested having Grand Princess Zhaoming ascend the throne to solve the problem of Pei Siyuan’s unwillingness to serve them, Lin Que was more concerned about whether Grand Princess Zhaoming could successfully ascend the throne. Whether Pei Siyuan could be used was less important.

After the New Year, the spring brought the wedding of Li Zhi and Gu Chi.

Li Mu thought long and hard and finally decided to attend the wedding banquet next door only to make an appearance.

With men and women seated separately, Lin Que couldn’t look after her. Knowing she would be nervous, he asked Lin Qiwu to stay close to Li Mu and also requested Grand Princess Zhaoming and Princess Huai Shu to keep an eye on her. Princess Huai Shu laughed, saying he would love to keep Li Mu in his arms for protection.

Lin Que didn’t deny it: “I would if I could.”

Fortunately, both princesses were reliable family members, especially Princess Huai Shu, whose reputation kept most people from approaching her, making her perfect company for the socially anxious Li Mu.

At first, Li Mu was extremely nervous. Without Lin Que watching over her, she drank half a pot of wine with her Aunt Huai Shu, which eased her tension to a moderate level. She then dared to observe her surroundings, matching the guests with information from the pigeon loft and finding some enjoyment in it.

Social anxiety quickly drained her energy in crowds. Before the banquet was halfway through, Li Mu’s attention began to wane, and she looked visibly tired. Grand Princess Zhaoming suggested she go rest.

Li Mu happily returned to the King’s mansion. Later, when Lin Que came back, he sat by the bed and pulled the curled-up Li Mu out: “You came back before me, yet you seem more exhausted.”

Following his movements, Li Mu sat in his arms, her voice barely audible: “I don’t know, I’m so tired, I don’t want to move for the rest of my life.”

Lin Que covered her mouth, frowning for once: “Don’t say such things.”

Not moving for the rest of her life would mean death.

Being scolded, Li Mu laughed instead. She removed his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder, slightly drunk, saying, “I’m just talking. You are the one who…”

“Lin Que, you must take good care of yourself and stay with me for many years. If we can grow old together, I will like you the most, most, most, most, most.”

Lin Que’s frown relaxed, and he gently asked, “What if I can’t?”

Li Mu, struggling to keep her eyes open, mumbled, “Then I’ll just like you the most.”

Missing four “mosts” sounded very serious.

Lin Que laughed: “Then I must work hard to grow old with you and become your most, most, most, most, most favorite person.”

Receiving the promise, Li Mu lifted her head quickly, trying hard to keep her eyes open, and nodded seriously: “Mm!”

After saying “Mm,” she closed her eyes and fell asleep, her whole body falling backward. Lin Que pulled her back just in time to prevent her head from hitting the ground.

The next morning, Li Mu woke up, sleepily staring at the ceiling, her memory slowly returning. She resisted the urge to hide under the covers and seriously said to Lin Que, “I don’t remember anything.”

Manually erasing memories.

Lin Que, propping his head with one hand, held back his laughter: “It’s okay, I don’t remember very clearly either.”

However, Li Mu wasn’t satisfied with his cooperation. After thinking it over, she decided to tell the truth: “I lied,. Iactually remember everything.”

Lin Que: “Oh?”

Li Mu: “So, put in more effort.” Stay with me for a few more years, and let’s grow old together.

Lin Que leaned down and kissed her forehead: “Okay.”

…

Shortly after Gu Chi’s wedding, Lin Que began executing batches of imprisoned officials and royal relatives.

The spring rain was colder than usual. Li Mu, staying indoors and not entertaining guests, was unaffected. However, the newlywed Li Zhi next door felt much more pressure. Fortunately, Li Zhi could handle it, and as Grand Princess Zhaoming became busier, she entrusted Li Zhi with managing the household affairs, helping her grow quickly.

On the third day of the third month, after Li Yunxi’s birthday, Lin Qiwu brought Wudu’s two children to visit Li Mu again. As usual, they carried a bunch of flowers and plants. Despite their lack of progress in making flower crowns, they continued to clumsily destroy the flowers while complaining to Li Mu.

First, she complained that Gu Yuwen’s secret gift outdid the birthday gift she sent to Li Yunxi. Then, she grumbled about the number of people trying to curry favor with her these days, more than ever before, which was incredibly annoying. There was even someone who played a great game of “Catch the Bandit,” almost tricking her. Finally, she got to the main point—

“I’m already thirteen, thirteen years old!”

“Big brother joined the army at thirteen. Why can’t I?” Lin Qiwu didn’t know the details of Lin Que joining the army at thirteen, but she thought if Lin Que could do it, so could she.

Wudu’s two children, who were two or three years older than Lin Qiwu, also knew martial arts and often attended a few classes with her. Early last year, their mother, Xue Niangzi, visited old acquaintances at Shaling Village and found them thriving in the military, which inspired her. Not long after, she joined Grand Princess Zhaoming’s forces, leaving the two children under Wudu’s care at the King’s mansion.

Now, the two children, like Lin Qiwu, wanted to join the army. Lin Qiwu complained, and they chimed in, saying if thirteen-year-old Lin Qiwu could do it, so could they.

While they were complaining, Lin Yan’an arrived uninvited. He naturally picked up the flowers and plants on the table, making a flower crown while explaining to Li Mu and the others that they were still young. If they really couldn’t stay idle, he would find a way to let them join a disaster relief team for some training.

Lin Qiwu: “Really?”

Lin Yan’an placed the finished flower crown on Lin Qiwu’s head: “When have I ever lied to you?”

Lin Qiwu, not holding back, said, “Too many times to count.”

“That must be a misunderstanding,” Lin Yan’an said confidently, looking at Li Mu, hoping she would back him up, even if just to smooth things over with a comment like, “No matter what happened before, as long as you keep your promise this time.”

However, Li Mu believed in evidence. She asked Lin Qiwu, “For example?”

Lin Qiwu started counting on her fingers, remembering everything clearly.

Lin Yan’an, being called out: “…”

---

After Lin Yan’an and the others left, Li Mu suddenly thought of something: How did Lin Yan’an know there would be a disaster?

Li Mu remembered that the book mentioned several natural disasters occurring in the years following King Yan’s death. Grand Princess Zhaoming, in the book, was greatly affected by the death of her eldest son and the subsequent disasters. Unlike now, where she was familiar with state affairs and did not allow Pei Siyuan and King Qi to exploit the situation.

Since the book only briefly mentions it, Li Mu doesn’t know the exact times, locations, or types of disasters.

The pigeon loft hadn’t sent any recent disaster news, so how did Lin Yan’an know? Could it be that the pigeon loft was too busy and missed her?

It must be that. Lin Yan’an couldn’t possibly foresee the future, right?

Lin Yan’an couldn’t foresee the future, but his dream was incredibly close to reality. Human-made disasters could be changed, but natural disasters are unavoidable.

Last year’s drought matched his dream, so he guessed that this year would also have a locust plague, just like in his dream.

Sure enough, by April, a locust plague had appeared in Shaanxi, devouring crops. Although measures to control locusts had been in place since last year’s drought, including policies to catch insects, dig ditches, raise ducks, and encourage people to catch locusts in exchange for rice and flour, the damage was still significant. Officials who underreported or falsified reports were severely punished. Sweet potatoes were stockpiled, and all necessary preparations were made.

As a result, although the disaster caused significant losses like last year, it wasn’t as devastating as in the past, when the affected areas resembled hell on earth. The court quickly appointed disaster relief officials, and Lin Qiwu and the others changed their identities and followed them as they wished.

This disaster reignited earlier rumors, claiming that the emperor’s lack of virtue angered the heavens, causing the disasters of the past two years.

Some tried to blame King Yan, whose hands were stained with blood, but it was Grand Princess Zhaoming’s army that provided disaster relief and food. The sweet potatoes, which resisted locusts and didn’t compete with rice and wheat for land, were discovered by King Yan’s wife.

There were also rumors that King Yan only killed corrupt officials. After all, it was King Yan who killed many princes in earlier years, making life better for the common people. This time might be the same. The people passed these rumors around, still believing it was the emperor’s fault.

No one in the court dared to speak, but everyone wondered if the emperor would issue a self-criticism or an abdication edict.

Even though King Yan was born of a princess, it didn’t change the fact that he was of a different surname. If the throne were to be abdicated to King Yan, it would mean a change of dynasty. The Great Yong would be considered extinct. Many senior officials, even at the risk of their lives, were unwilling to let such a thing happen, causing the atmosphere in the court to become increasingly tense, like a taut string ready to snap at any moment.

Emperor Gu Youxun was also on the verge of madness. Lin Que had been killing people non-stop for the past six months, and Gu Youxun feared that one day, the executioner’s blade would fall on his own neck. His fear grew to the point where he no longer wanted the throne, but his heart was still filled with resentment, so he kept delaying, living each day in constant anxiety, nearly driven to madness.

In July, upon hearing that Gu Chi’s wife, Li Zhi, was pregnant, a terrible idea came to his mind: what if he abdicated the throne to Gu Chi?

King Yan couldn’t have children, but Gu Chi could. If King Yan ascended the throne, he would likely adopt his brother’s child, which was why Gu Chi was so loyal to King Yan. What if he directly passed the throne to Gu Chi? Wouldn’t that cause a rift between the brothers, allowing him to benefit from their conflict?

Gu Youxun was tempted, but a newly favored eunuch reminded him that even if they turned against each other, both would unlikely die. They might even use his blood for a sacrificial ritual. So what could he do? Besides abdicating to King Yan, what other options did he have?

It was the same newly favored eunuch who made an incredible suggestion: “Why not abdicate to Grand Princess Zhaoming?”

Gu Youxun was stunned. Neither he nor the late emperor had ever guarded against Grand Princess Zhaoming herself. They had guarded against her maternal family, the Lin family, King Yan, and Gu Chi, but never against Grand Princess Zhaoming. If they were to guard against anyone, it would be the men around her, fearing that they might use her abilities to seize power.

Now, suddenly being brought up, Gu Youxun wondered if the eunuch was crazy. How could a woman become emperor?

The eunuch, following orders, gently persuaded him: “Grand Princess Zhaoming is King Yan’s mother. If Her Highness the Princess ascends the throne, King Yan would not dare to trouble Your Majesty, as it would be unfilial and show discontent towards the new emperor. Moreover, King Yan’s surname is Lin, while Commander Gu’s surname is Gu. The struggle for the throne would be the same as Your Majesty’s previous thoughts. Once the brothers fight to the death, even if one remains, Grand Princess Zhaoming might not tolerate someone who has killed his own kin. And since the princess is a woman, how could she hold the throne firmly once their time is up? Wouldn’t the throne eventually return to Your Majesty?”

The more Gu Youxun listened, the more it made sense. But the idea of a woman becoming emperor was so shocking that he hesitated for a long time. Finally, amidst the great floods in the south and rising public resentment, he issued a groundbreaking abdication edict.

The edict named Grand Princess Zhaoming, not King Yan Lin Que, as the successor.

The old ministers who were willing to die for the country were stunned. Their thoughts varied; some agreed with the eunuch’s reasoning, while others believed that even a female emperor was better than the fall of the Great Yong. In the end, no one stepped forward to oppose it.

In August, Grand Princess Zhaoming ascended the throne and established the era name, Huangyou.