At the very end of the process, the elderly commoner went out of his way to present a piece of cotton cloth woven in his own home.
With a gentle smile, Wen Yanran instructed her attendant to receive the gift. She then rewarded him with some goods and wealth before allowing him to take his leave.
The elderly commoner was not entirely putting on an act. Most of the praise he had offered to the Emperor moments earlier came from a place of genuine sincerity.
The apical plucking method had increased cotton production, thereby boosting his family’s income. Given the recent years of hardship, the elderly man and his family had struggled to make ends meet for so long. Now, as they could finally see a life of abundance within reach, he felt a natural sense of joy. The old man, in particular, was of an age where his memory of the tyrannical Emperor Li was still sharp. With such a cruel and incompetent ruler as a point of comparison, Wen Yanran appeared all the more wise and benevolent in his eyes.
The imperial carriage slowly proceeded to the gates of the palace. Under the lead of senior officials such as Yuan Yanshi, the hundred officials bowed in solemn ceremony and then escorted the Emperor all the way into Taiqi Palace.
Seeing Wen Yanran return, key ministers entrusted with state affairs, such as Attendant Song, felt a wave of relief – after being apart for several months, they had finally laid down the heavy burden they had shouldered.
Among the three, only Wen Jingmei felt somewhat uneasy. Although he had performed his duties quite well this time and the Emperor had also won the war, what if she took this opportunity to specifically promote the Tianfu Palace again?
The imperial carriage came to a halt before Qianyuan Hall. The imperial guards stood solemnly at attention, while the hundred officials bowed low. Amidst the sounds of drums and music, Wen Yanran, assisted by her attendants, slowly descended from the carriage.
In the eyes of many close ministers, the Emperor now appeared noticeably taller. Her posture was upright, towering like a mountain, and her every gesture carried the composed and unhurried demeanor of a monarch.
Of course, Wen Yanran had no idea what her ministers were imagining. Otherwise, she would likely have complained inwardly – her composed manner was not some innate trait she possessed as a transmigrator. In truth, anyone wearing such a heavy imperial crown with dangling beads would have no choice but to walk slowly. Every time she donned the full regalia, she would offer a sincere salute in her mind to the hairlines of her former colleagues.
…It was said that Emperor Li had been quite fond of using the beaded crown to display imperial majesty. One couldn’t help but wonder whether he had started losing his hair by the end of the Changxing era.
On her first day back at the palace, Wen Yanran excused everyone from paying their respects, opting instead to rest and freshen up. She postponed the banquet to three days later and canceled the morning court sessions in the coming days, comfortably reclining on the bed in Western Yong Palace, savoring the joy of not having to work.
Wen Yanran thought to herself that once she had fully grasped the reins of power in Great Zhou, she could spend her days just like today – lying peacefully in the palace like a serene, unmoving salted fish.
However, the time of idleness did not last long. After helping the Emperor change into her sleeping attire, the attendants dutifully made their way to the Secretariat, returning with a pile of accumulated memorials from the past period.
Influenced by their ruler’s diligence, the attendants believed that the Emperor, in her conscientiousness, must surely be concerned about the affairs of state by now.
Wen Yanran: “…”
She silently sat up from her bed once more – though she hadn’t initially planned to work at the moment, since the Secretariat had specifically instructed the attendants to deliver these documents, they likely contained rather important messages. It was best to review them immediately.
Wen Yanran summoned Cai Qu to read the memorials aloud for her. During her absence, the capital of Jianping had remained relatively peaceful overall. The only notable incident was that the Director of the Imperial Household had originally intended to report the progress on cotton to the authorities in Wu’an ahead of schedule, hoping to seek merit from the Emperor. However, he ended up colliding with the State Preceptor’s campaign to rectify superstitious activities and was forced to remain silent for the time being.
Wen Yanran: “…”
So, she originally had a chance to prevent the spread of the apical plucking method, didn’t she?
The main reason Wen Jingmei had intensified the crackdown on superstitious worship back then was precisely because of the wooden idol sent back from Wu’an. Thinking it over carefully, Wen Yanran suddenly felt that her current predicament was, in some ways, a bit deserved…
Wen Yanran sighed inwardly, feeling that she couldn’t really blame the Director of the Imperial Household for meddling. After all, for palace officials, currying favor with the ruler was essentially part of their job. So, his general direction was correct – it was just that some issues arose in the details. No wonder loyal ministers like Attendant Song had repeatedly urged her to return early, hinting in their words that if the monarch was not in Jianping, many matters could easily spiral out of control. Looking back now, those suggestions indeed carried foresight.
What she didn’t know was that the ministers who had finally awaited the Emperor’s return also deeply admired her. In the past, emperors of Great Zhou rarely traveled far, and if they did, it was only when there was an empress dowager, empress, or crown prince to oversee state affairs in their stead. In the case of the current emperor, however, she left just as she pleased, acting decisively and without hesitation. She entrusted her ministers with great responsibility, placing the utmost trust in those left in charge. Throughout the entire process, not a single mishap occurred – a testament to Wen Yanran’s formidable control over the heartlands of the empire.
A few memorials from Shi Zhuhe had also been held in the Secretariat and were now brought over by the attendant along with the others. As she listened to Cai Qu reading them aloud, Wen Yanran felt that the success in suppressing the twenty thousand bandits was due to a combination of various factors.
Wen Yanran reflected to herself – since the comment section said Shi Zhuhe couldn’t wage war, it indicated that his comprehension was rather average. Thus, his decision to imitate the strategies mentioned in the Emperor’s private letters became a reasonable explanation. She had initially chosen him to serve as Song Nanlou’s deputy precisely because she valued his lack of military expertise. Although this backfired in the current situation, it wasn’t something she could really hold against him.
Cai Qu read the memorials clearly and articulately. The Emperor lay on her couch, eyes closed, listening intently. Silence lingered in the hall for a long while, just as many assumed the Emperor had likely drifted off to sleep, when a voice suddenly came from the bed. “Where has Minister Ren been accommodated now?”
Another attendant stepped forward and replied, “Minister Ren is currently housed in the official residence in the west of the city.”
According to Great Zhou’s customs, the court provided housing for officials who had no residence of their own. Ren Feihong, holding a low-ranking position and being a surrendered official, received rather modest treatment.
Wen Yanran nodded. “Instruct the Director of the Imperial Household to send Minister Ren some household goods. Summon her to the palace tomorrow.”
The ministers outside could never have imagined that, after the great victory over the Western Tribes, before any edicts of rewards were announced, the first official to have the opportunity to see the Emperor would be Ren Feihong. Of course, the Emperor was not formally summoning her for an audience but was rather engaging in casual conversation and games with her.
The ministers contemplated that since the Emperor had personally led the campaign and returned, it was natural for her to be fatigued. With the recent suspension of court sessions, it was only reasonable for her to take this opportunity for some leisure and amusement.
Some went to Ren Feihong to inquire about the details and received the response, “Just playing games with the Emperor in the palace.” Only those serving in Western Yong Palace truly understood what these “games” entailed. Wen Yanran had gathered many palace attendants and eunuchs to act as the various forces in the central and eastern regions, then began conducting sand table simulations to strategize battles between the two sides.
The normal Monarch’s Conquest game actually had a [Simulation and Deduction] function. Wen Yanran’s Guide to Becoming a Tyrant, however, had removed this module. So, she came up with a compromise: since she was playing the role of emperor, she could also arrange for her subordinates to role-play and simulate the related functions.
Joining Ren Feihong in these activities were palace attendants such as Chi Yi and Zhang Luo. After three days of simulation exercises, Ren Feihong clearly realized that not only was the Emperor a master strategist, but those around her were also highly capable. While the two attendants might not excel in military tactics, they were exceptionally skilled at reading people, making them formidable figures in their own right. After several rounds of exchanges, Ren Feihong deeply felt that her defeat back in Chongsui was hardly unjust.
Ren Feihong, by nature unconventional and unrestrained in speech and action, casually asked during a break in the games, “Your Majesty has only just pacified the Western Tribes. Is Your Majesty already planning strategies for the east now?”
In her leisure time, Wen Yanran enjoyed playing with a set of glass chess pieces. The piece cradled in the Emperor’s palm reflected the sunlight, looking almost like a drop of still-flowing blood. Upon hearing the question, she smiled and replied, “We are actually not in a hurry. It is the east that We fear may lack patience.”
Ren Feihong chuckled. “General Shi has just suppressed nearly twenty thousand bandits. Shouldn’t it be the northern territories that are impatient?”
Wen Yanran tossed the chess piece back into the box, producing a clear, crisp clink. She then spoke unhurriedly, “With Commandery Administrator Wen stationed in the north, loyal and considerate of my intentions, how could he allow disorder to arise there? It is only regrettable that the east lacks someone as talented, virtuous, and devoted to the Zhou court as my uncle, which requires me to plan more diligently.”
Upon hearing this, Ren Feihong couldn’t help but laugh softly. She then performed a rather informal, somewhat lazy half-bow to apologize while praising, “Your Majesty is wise and discerning.”
She pondered the implied meaning behind the Emperor’s words – while Wen Hong might have his own ambitions, he was unwilling to provide any clear evidence of disloyalty. Therefore, he would cling tightly to the banner of a loyal minister and refuse to let go. Given the opportunity, he might indeed go with the flow, but he would not dare bear the charge of actively plotting rebellion.
Moreover, Wen Yanran had further evidence to support this. Previously, she had drafted an appointment decree intending to appoint Wen Hong’s child as the Iron Official of the commandery. However, Wen Hong had written back to decline the offer.
She speculated that if the northern territories remained stable, Wen Hong’s actions would naturally be more restrained. But if the situation had deteriorated to an extreme, even at the risk of offending the neighboring Han clan, he would strive to keep the iron mines firmly under his control.
Wen Hong’s patience likely meant he had not yet found the opportune moment to act.
Wen Yanran smiled. “Minister Ren, you are newly arrived in Jianping. Is there anything you might teach me?”
Ren Feihong restrained herself – after all, the two were not yet familiar enough for her to seriously question why, being newly arrived, she would have anything to teach. Instead, she replied, “Your Majesty already has a plan in mind. Why ask?” She added, “Isn’t the son of the Ying clan also serving as an Attendant-in-Waiting in the Imperial Household now?”
The Ying clan was a prominent family in the east. By placing him in the inner court, Wen Yanran indeed intended to make use of him. Seeing Ren Feihong’s intention, she smiled and asked, “What would be the price for inviting you to take action this time?”
Ren Feihong bowed respectfully. “Allow me to discuss the accounts in detail with Your Majesty upon my return.”
After Wen Yanran resumed court sessions, the first matter to address was the settlement of the soldiers involved in the campaign against the Western Tribes.
Some of the surrendered troops were sent to farm the land, while those who were brave and skilled in combat were integrated into the Left Camp of Dan Province. The majority of the soldiers, after receiving their rewards, were sent back to their homes. According to custom, a large portion of the spoils obtained from the prominent families in the western regions would be distributed as rewards to the soldiers. Those who had distinguished themselves in the war were promoted accordingly, with Tao Jia being appointed as General of Charlots and Cavalry, Court Architect for Imperial Entertainment, and Marquis of Fuzhe.
Next came Zhong Zhiwei. After escorting the Emperor to Jianzhou, she immediately returned to the western regions – Wen Yanran had assigned her a new task: to oversee the military affairs of the Left Camp and swiftly integrate the troops that had been sent there.
While there was no shortage of high-ranking military officers in Great Zhou, few gave Wen Yanran a sense of particular reassurance. Considering Zhong Zhiwei’s humble nature and cautious approach to tasks, she entrusted this duty to her and also conferred upon her the title of Marquis of Qu’an. Although this imperial guard commander was not currently in Jianping, no one within or outside the court would believe that Zhong Zhiwei had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor.
With someone who often accompanied her now away on assignment, Wen Yanran felt somewhat unaccustomed. She first appointed Zhong Zhiwei’s deputy to temporarily act in her place within the imperial guards. However, while the duties of the imperial guards were easily handed over, Zhong Zhiwei often served not only as the commander but also as the Emperor’s personal guard – a common practice where the Emperor had the commander of the imperial guards act as a bodyguard. During the reign of Emperor Li, this role was typically filled by a member of the Ji clan.
Wen Yanran picked and chose until she finally found a suitable candidate – a young woman from the Qing Province Chen clan named Chen Fu. Her elder brother had been a military officer under the Marquis of Quanling and died at the hands of Xiao Xichi during the Northern Park incident. The Chen clan had many members trained in martial arts. Chen Fu, having received instruction from a young age, came from a family with deep traditions in this field. The court, considering their exceptional cooperation and outstanding performance in the canal-digging project, had somewhat reduced their previous penalties and specifically selected one individual’s record to submit, effectively recommending them for an official post. Wen Yanran assessed Chen Fu’s abilities and found that, while her personal combat skills were slightly inferior to Zhong Zhiwei’s, she was still a top-tier expert. Thus, she brought Chen Fu over to guard Western Yong Palace.
Upon hearing of this, the court speculated that after pacifying the Western Tribes, the Emperor had already begun devising ways to win over the hearts of the southern regions.
Among the three main armies dispatched earlier, Song Nanlou’s role had not been as crucial as that of Tao Jia or Zhong Zhiwei. Therefore, he was not granted a marquis title this time, receiving only the honorary position of Senior Protector of the Army instead.
As for the ministers who had remained in the capital, Tianfu Palace was granted an additional five hundred households for its fiefdom – to which Wen Jingmei expressed sincere gratitude. He genuinely had no desire to be entangled in court intrigues, though purely economic rewards were still acceptable to him.
Then there was Attendant Song, whose full name was Song Wenshu. After the Emperor’s return, he was appointed as the Censor-in-Chief. As for Yuan Yanshi, he was restored to his original position. This senior minister appointed by the late emperor no longer harbored the previous concern of being distrusted by the monarch. With the Emperor’s rise, his position as the head of the hundred officials carried increasingly less weight, rendering him incapable of posing any threat to the Emperor.
Yan Xiaolou, who commanded the Outer Guard of the Imperial Guards, also received an honorary position this time. Given his diligence, his children would normally have been granted hereditary privileges. Unfortunately, his son and daughter were not yet old enough to enter the Imperial Academy, so the Emperor’s favor first fell upon other younger members of his clan. Noting his frugal lifestyle, Wen Yanran additionally rewarded him with five hundred thousand coins.
Chi Yi and Zhang Luo were promoted to Cavalier Attendants-in-Ordinary – a genuinely crucial position in the court. In the past, some scholars had also filled this role. For court ministers, whether the Cavalier Attendants-in-Ordinary consisted more of scholar-officials or palace attendants served as a measure of whether a ruler was incompetent or not.
Wen Yanran was actually prepared to act unilaterally, determined to promote Chi Yi and Zhang Luo even if the upright officials opposed it. However, by the time the appointment edict was passed by the Secretariat, no dissenting memorials had been submitted.
On one hand, this was because the Emperor’s authority had grown, and ministers were unwilling to provoke the ruler. On the other hand, it was also because Chi Yi and Zhang Luo were not old-line palace attendants from the Imperial Household but rather a new faction within the palace. After the Western Tribes campaign, their capabilities had been fully demonstrated. As for their occasional unlawful actions… given the current state of the world, whose family didn’t have some unspeakable affairs? As long as things weren’t taken too far, ministers naturally turned a blind eye.
During the reign of the previous emperor, there were still quite a few aristocratic families in the court with commendable traditions, yet they were forced into ruin. Some clans, in order to protect themselves, even actively engaged in unlawful activities to avoid drawing the Emperor Li’s reprimands.
