In recent days, the atmosphere within Jianping has grown somewhat tense, and the court officials all understood the source of that tension.
Heavyweights in the court, such as Song Wenshu and Yuan Yanshi, certainly knew that the Marquis of Quanling had already perished within the Northern Park. However, human minds have always been easily swayed by external influences. How could ordinary commoners discern so much? Hearing many claim that Wen Jinming was still alive, some naturally came to believe that he had indeed survived. Even among the court ministers and nobles, after being bombarded with news from the east – “The Marquis of Quanling has been rescued,” “The Marquis of Quanling has truly been rescued,” and “The Marquis of Quanling was replaced and rescued by a close confidant with an almost identical appearance” – they couldn’t help but waver somewhat, wondering whether Wen Jinming had truly escaped the great calamity and fled to the east to prepare for a comeback. Especially since the east had even supplemented the story with numerous details, such as how, for safety’s sake, Wen Jinming had not disclosed the matter of the body double to anyone, so the Cui and Chu families remained completely unaware that the one who died in the Northern Park that day was not their true lord. They were now calling upon those old subordinates who had pledged allegiance to Wen Yanran to return.
When the City Bureau reported this news to the Emperor, Wen Yanran thought to herself, when those people in the east were fabricating lies, they truly did not consider the feelings of people like Cui Yi and Cui Xinbai at all…
Dian Wue, now stationed in Cheng Province, had studied under Xuanyangzi and was adept at manipulating minds. He released the information in his possession layer by layer, first claiming that Cheng Province had surrendered entirely and pledged allegiance to the Marquis of Quanling, then stating that the governor of Gaogong Commandery in Xi Province, neighboring Cheng Province, had opened the city gates to welcome the royal forces, with commoners offering food and drinks along the way to supply the army. Later, he announced that the right camp’s troops had been defeated in a single strike, and that most of the eastern forces had since fallen under Dian Wue’s control.
Wen Yanran had long suspected the situation and later confirmed the details through the [War Sandbox]. She naturally knew that Cheng Province, Xi Province, and even the right camp had already been under the enemy’s control. However, those unaware of the truth, upon hearing these reports, would mostly believe that the “Marquis of Quanling” possessed formidable power and was unstoppable. For a time, many cities indeed surrendered without resistance, raising the banner of Wen Jinming.
At this moment, Wen Yanran also gained a rather clear understanding of what is called the momentum of the world. Regardless of whether people subjectively wished to involve themselves in the conflict, as long as they were positioned here, they could hardly avoid being affected by it.
Wen Yanran set down the teacup in her hand, her gaze clear, sharp, and resolute, reminiscent of a sword’s edge under the moonlight – though she had yet to consolidate all authority under her command, she was determined not to be overwhelmed by the tide of the times.
As the news of the Marquis of Quanling’s rebellion spread, the prestige data in the game panel also updated accordingly. The long-missing data for the eastern region finally appeared:
[Prestige (Eastern Region): 20 (-50) (Professional Bonus)]
Wen Yanran: “…”
This was truly the lowest professional bonus she had seen since transmigrating.
Wen Yanran made a personal interpretation of the two numbers flanking the plus sign on the panel – the people in the eastern region still held a certain degree of reverence for the central authority. However, due to the overly successful propaganda efforts of Dian Wue and his cohorts, the notion that she was a false emperor had deeply taken root. As a result, after her identity as the emperor became associated with herself, not only did the eastern region fail to respect the central authority because of it, but a very strong negative sentiment had also emerged.
[System:
[Battle] [Yangfu Battle] Failed. Cavalry units reduced by 0, infantry units reduced by 0, militia units reduced by (-23), total grain supply reduced by (-720) kilogram, morale decreased by 3 points.
Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Player, please continue your efforts.]
[System:
[Battle] [×× Battle] Failed…]
Perhaps because it had been idle for too long, the game system, which the player had deemed negligent, finally adopted a serious work attitude for once. Numerous new notifications flooded the screen in a flash. Wen Yanran, who had been drinking water, nearly choked after just a quick glance. Even though she knew that the eastern cities would surrender, seeing negative numbers following the losses made her unable to resist the urge to roast – this was no longer a matter of simply opening the gates and letting the enemy in without any resistance. Those on her side who had surrendered had clearly received effective reinforcements from the enemy…
Wen Yanran was well aware that she hadn’t sent anyone to stage a show this time, so the governance in the east was likely even more fragile than previously understood. Although the local officials had been dispatched by the central authority, they had actually become intertwined with the local powerful families, merging into a single entity.
The rebellion of the Marquis of Quanling and the news of the loss of numerous cities in the east deeply shook the court. In the Heqing Hall, the Emperor sat upon the imperial throne, with ministers and high officials arrayed on both sides, creating an exceptionally solemn atmosphere.
From the early to the middle period of the Great Zhou dynasty, officials attended court sessions seated. However, by the later period, especially toward the end of Emperor Li’s reign, aside from high-ranking ministers who retained their seats, many officials had to remain standing throughout the proceedings.
After Wen Yanran ascended the throne, she gradually restored the old customs, allowing ministers to sit during court sessions once more. Yet her authority as sovereign did not diminish because of this. The courtiers were well aware that, although the new emperor rarely wore the ceremonial crown adorned with tassels and seldom placed a screen before the throne, they felt with increasing gravity each day the inscrutable aura unique to a ruler emanating from her.
If Wen Yanran were aware of her ministers’ current mindset, she would likely understand the reason. After all, as her personal prestige grew, she had indeed become increasingly lax in concealing certain traits of a transmigrator in her daily conduct, naturally appearing somewhat different from the natives of this world.
Song Wenshu, as the clan leader of the Song family and the Censor-in-Chief, sat exceptionally close to the Emperor. By merely lifting his gaze, he could clearly see the sovereign’s face, yet he remained entirely unable to fathom the thoughts within the Emperor’s mind.
News of the Marquis of Quanling’s rebellion had reached Jianping half a month prior, naturally stirring the court and the public. Yet there was none of the panic and unease felt when they were at war with Tai Province. After all, before the incident erupted, Tao Jia had already led his troops eastward, clearly prepared well in advance.
Song Wenshu knew that before a war, the court typically had to mobilize all levels, devise ways to gather provisions, recruit soldiers, and allocate weapons. Simply assembling and deploying soldiers alone consumed a considerable amount of time. Often, while the first wave of troops was dispatched, the second and third waves were not yet fully assembled. However, this eastern rebellion saw Jianping’s forces mobilized with remarkable ease and speed. It hadn’t been long since the Western war ended, and the Central Camp still maintained substantial military reserves. Moreover, after the victory over the Western Tribes, the confiscated assets of many powerful families in Dan and Tai provinces allowed the soldiers to receive generous rewards, making them all the more willing to serve the Emperor.
Vice Minister Wang said, “Wen Jinming has already perished in the Northern Park, a fact known to all. As for the eastern region, they can only deceive those unaware of the truth.” He bowed forward. “Nevertheless, I beseech Your Majesty to relocate Wen Jinming’s descendants to Tai Province to prevent collusion between the two sides.”
Wen Yanran replied, “There is no rush for that matter.” She glanced at Lu Yuanguang, who understood the cue and stepped forward to report on the provisions situation.
The sick leave granted earlier by the Emperor had been most timely. Though Lu Yuanguang appeared somewhat thinner upon returning to court, her spirits remained robust. Moreover, she was indeed less burdened than before – since the Emperor was not personally at the front line, she was surely overseeing logistics from Jianping. As the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Lu Yuanguang naturally deferred to the Emperor’s directives. After subsequent interactions in their work, not only the long-convinced Minister of Revenue but also most officials in the ministry grew increasingly impressed by the Emperor’s proficiency in mathematics.
If Wen Yanran were to comment, this was not due to any exceptional skill on her part but rather because the court’s selection of talent overly emphasized mastery of Confucian classics and family background, leading to the mediocrity of some individuals in mathematics and significantly lowering the average mathematical competence of the central government.
In fact, with Lu Yuanguang managing the Ministry of Revenue, its efficiency remained quite commendable. Wen Yanran had once made a spontaneous visit to inspect the Ministry of Works and casually asked an on-duty official about his current tasks and daily responsibilities. The official, neither obsequious nor arrogant, replied with remarkable candor that he himself was unaware of his duties.
Wen Yanran fell silent for a moment, deeply convinced that this person’s daily routine of merely showing up for work wasted both his time and the court’s resources. She promptly dismissed the official and sent him home on indefinite leave.
Once the provisions issue was confirmed, another court minister stepped forward. He bowed respectfully before solemnly stating, “Your Majesty, I have heard that many among the rebels gathering in the east are former subordinates of the Marquis of Quanling.”
This matter was hardly surprising – after all, Xuanyangzi had originally come to Jianping under Wen Jinming’s orders, so it was only natural that his disciples were acquainted with the Marquis of Quanling’s subordinates. Had they not been genuinely familiar with Wen Jinming and her inner circle to a certain extent, they would not have dared to openly raise their current banner.
Moreover, although the Cui, Chu, and Chen clans had pledged allegiance to the Emperor, this did not mean that all the forces behind the Marquis of Quanling had been smoothly taken over by Wen Yanran. The former Fourth Princess had deep roots, many old connections, and years of influence in the southern regions. Now, there were plenty who sought to rally troops in her name or avenge her.
This matter had already spread widely within Jianping, and the ministers could not – and dared not – conceal it. A palace censor stepped forward voluntarily and presented a memorial, saying, “The rebel in the east is now appointing numerous officials and generals. The list is here, and I respectfully request Your Majesty to review it.”
A palace attendant received the memorial from the palace censor on a wooden tray, walked to the steps, and passed it to Chi Yi, who carried it before the Emperor. Wen Yanran glanced at it. To create momentum and assert the legitimacy of the eastern faction as the orthodox court, the rebels had issued extensive appointments in the name of the Marquis of Quanling. First was True Master Pingtai, who was honored as the State Preceptor and concurrently appointed the Heavenly Might General, followed by titles such as Pacification General and Stabilizing Authority General. Among them was also one named Chu Sui, appointed as the Strategist General.
Wen Yanran smiled slightly and ordered the attendant beside her to read the list aloud to the assembly.
The moment Chu Sui’s name was uttered, Chu Xi, who had been recommended to the court as a talented member of the Chu clan, paled instantly and knelt on the spot.
Chu Sui hailed from the direct line of the Chu clan, while her mother was from a collateral branch of the Cui family, connecting her to both clans. Had Cui Xinjing not been serving as an official in the Western Tribes, Chu Xi would likely have been joined by her in pleading for punishment side by side.
A bead of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Seeing a relative’s name on the list had already thrown Chu Xi into disarray, but what truly unsettled him was his genuine inability to discern his clan sister’s stance.
Chu Sui had been dispatched to the eastern region by the Marquis of Quanling before the Northern Park incident and had not returned since. Now, her sudden appearance on the list of those appointed by the east left Chu Xi with no choice but to harbor doubts.
Moreover, influential families often hedged their bets by supporting multiple sides. Although the Marquis of Quanling had perished, her descendants remained. If they used the east as their base, it was not entirely impossible for them to stage a comeback.
Upon the imperial throne, the Emperor’s expression remained utterly unchanged, her demeanor so composed it evoked memories of the solemn scene on her accession day when she had executed the former Seventh Prince, Wen Jiangong, before the ancestral altar.
Of course, Wen Yanran remained expressionless. In truth, she was quite diligent. Beyond attending to state affairs and studying classic texts and historical records, she also devoted time to researching genealogies. Yet the interconnections among the great clans of the Great Zhou were endlessly complex. To this day, she only had a general grasp of the relationships between the major aristocratic families and their ties to the court. As for who Chu Sui herself was… aside from deducing from the surname that she was connected to the Chu clan, all other information remained an unfilled blank.
Her gaze swept lightly over Chi Yi and Zhang Luo – good. Judging by the subtle shifts in their expressions, both of them knew exactly who Chu Sui was.
No sound came from the imperial throne. The ministers did not dare to scrutinize the Emperor’s expression closely, making it difficult to discern the thoughts of the sovereign of all under heaven. For a moment, they trembled with apprehension, not daring to speak out of turn.
Wen Yanran smiled. “What, exactly, has this Chu Sui done?”
Summoning a strong sense of professional duty, the Palace Censor managed to maintain his composure and remain standing without his legs giving way. Bowing his head, he replied, “This person… has written a proclamation.”
Wen Yanran said, “Since you are aware of the proclamation’s content, I must trouble you to recite it aloud.”
The Palace Censor’s face also paled. After a fierce internal struggle, he reluctantly chose to obey the Emperor’s command, caught between the options of “dying for defying the Emperor” and “dying for uttering disrespectful words in public.”
According to the eastern faction, the author of this proclamation was Chu Sui, once a trusted confidant of the Marquis of Quanling. The article began by stating the time, place, and the author of the proclamation before delving into the main subject. As the so-called false emperor in the eyes of the east, Wen Yanran became the primary target of the proclamation’s attacks.
“Wen Yanran, the Ninth Daughter of the Late Emperor, defiles heaven and earth, forges an imperial decree, usurps the throne for self-glorification, hoards the imperial seals for personal control, harbors plots of usurpation and murder, and truly lacks the ability to govern the nation…”
Reading to this point, the Palace Censor nearly stumbled over his words. When he reached the line “Eunuchs rule the court, and rotten wood fills the halls,” Chi Yi and Zhang Luo immediately knelt, while Yuanyan Shi and Song Wenshu rose one after another, preparing to plead for punishment.
Wen Yanran shook her head slightly. “These are merely words meant to mislead the public. Grand Tutor, Minister Song, please remain seated.” She glanced at Chi Yi and Zhang Luo and smiled, “You two, rise as well.” Then, she motioned specifically to Zhang Luo, “Go and assist Minister Chu.”
After condemning Wen Yanran, the proclamation began to justify Wen Jinming’s legitimacy from various angles. “Wen Jinming, Marquis of Quanling, the Emperor’s beloved daughter, granted the authority to establish a princely establishment, overseeing affairs in the southern regions. She received the mandate in times of peril, accepted the imperial seals to ascend the throne, showed benevolence and virtue to those beneath, never seeking a reputation for wisdom yet gaining renown far and wide. Thus, talented individuals gathered in her administration, and formidable troops assembled under her command. Commandery administrators and county magistrates alike opened their gates to welcome the royal forces…”
After the Palace Censor finished reading the concluding line, “Let this document be disseminated across the commanderies, so the world may hear of it,” the Emperor on the throne turned to Chu Xi and said:
“In your opinion, was this proclamation truly written by Chu Sui?”
Chu Xi’s forehead dripped with cold sweat. “I do not know.”
Wen Yanran nodded – meaning it might be, or it might not be. Based solely on the style and wording, it was impossible to determine directly.
Though Zhang Luo had helped him back to his seat, Chu Xi remained uneasy. He removed his official headwear, once again prostrating himself on the ground, and said, “I… I stand in a position of suspicion. According to the laws of Great Zhou, I must request to return home. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant permission.”
