Wen Jingmei replied, “He is currently in his room copying scriptures.”
Having said this, Wen Jingmei stood up, straightened his robes, and stepped forward to offer a solemn bow.
Before he could speak, Wen Yanran smiled and said, “Enough. That is only human nature.”
From Wen Jingmei’s expression, she could easily guess that the young Daoist official had failed to resist temptation and had begun communicating with the northern region.
Although the Tianfu Palace held an exceptional status, it held little actual power beyond that of the State Preceptor, and its members generally came from less prestigious backgrounds. However, after Wen Yanran ascended the throne, it suddenly became a place frequently visited by the current emperor. The northern faction’s choice to target it was, in fact, a high-probability move. Unfortunately for them, its overseer was Wen Jingmei, a person who had always strictly guarded against any actions that might increase his influence in the court. He had detected the scheme almost immediately and promptly sent the individual away to copy scriptures and calm his mind.
Wen Jingmei presented the letters he had previously copied and collected for the Emperor’s inspection.
Wen Yanran casually flipped through them, her gaze lingering for a moment on the personal seal at the end, which theoretically belonged to Wen Hong. She smiled and asked, “Do you believe this matter was done by our uncle?”
Wen Jingmei lowered his head and replied, “The matter is of great importance; I dare not speak recklessly.”
Wen Yanran first nodded with a serious expression before saying, “I have often heard of Uncle’s loyalty and integrity. Even without delving deeper into this matter, I know those letters must have been forged by others in his name.” She then picked up the letters again, examined them carefully for a while, and added, “Would you believe that if someone were to verify them, the handwriting and personal seal on these letters would undoubtedly be imitations by someone else?”
Upon hearing this, Wen Jingmei also smiled faintly. “Your Majesty’s judgment is as clear as daylight.”
Both individuals in the study had a certain understanding of Wen Hong and were well aware of his intentions – the letters indeed originated from Wuzheng Commandery. However, when Wen Hong wrote them, he deliberately left some loopholes, preparing to use them as a means to turn the situation around and further gain the Emperor’s trust should his actions be discovered by Jianping.
Wen Yanran shook her head slightly and placed the letters back.
“I have heard of Uncle’s actions. After being assigned to Wuzheng back then, he dedicated himself to managing the region, and his efforts to consolidate power were not entirely without reason – without such measures, governance would be difficult. Moreover, in these times, almost everyone does the same, so Uncle’s actions are hardly excessive…” Wen Yanran’s gaze swept over the State Preceptor standing before her, and she chuckled softly, correcting herself, “Apart from you, nearly everyone does so. Uncle’s actions are not excessive.”
Wen Jingmei remained expressionless. “…Your Majesty praises me undeservedly.” Though still young, he had grown up navigating the imperial palace and had witnessed numerous life-and-death struggles among close relatives. Thus, even now, as he held the position of State Preceptor and enjoyed the Emperor’s trust, he had no desire whatsoever to engage in political rivalries within the court.
Wen Yanran looked down at the chessboard on the table and murmured softly to herself, “Since we are already part of the game, how can we avoid strategizing at all?”
Such is the way of the world. Even with the intention to seek stability, the broader trends of the era do not allow for it. Wen Yanran had listened to Yuan Yanshi’s explanation of the previous generation’s history. Though his phrasing was reserved, she gradually developed a clear understanding of what kind of emperor Emperor Li truly was. Consequently, she was not at all surprised by the widespread presence of rebels across the land – even those without ambition, upon witnessing a ruler like Emperor Li, would inevitably develop aspirations of their own.
In theory, even loyal ministers who, out of gratitude for generations of favor from the Great Zhou, might have been willing to uphold the legitimate authority, would find their loyalties shifting from allegiance to the dynasty to a stance of complete neutrality after enduring the oppressive reign of the late emperor.
“Are kings, lords, generals, and ministers destined by birth to be so?” Wen Yanran sometimes pondered: if she were in the positions of the Marquis of Quanling, Wang You, or Wen Hong, would she not also strive to seize power? Although her own legitimacy is now established, the final outcome remains uncertain.
The Emperor remained silent, and Wen Jingmei made no move to break the stillness. Eventually, a eunuch approached to remind the Emperor that the hour was growing late.
Wen Yanran nodded and said to the State Preceptor, “The Imperial Academy will soon hold examinations. When the time comes, have that young Daoist official attend. If he passes, let him take up an official position in the court.”
That young Daoist official possessed ambition and was still young. By the time he had gradually established himself in the court, it would likely be the moment she began rushing headlong down the path of a tyrannical ruler. Wen Yanran contemplated that those without long-term plans would inevitably face immediate troubles. Not only must she strive to consolidate her power now, but she must also lay a solid foundation for her long-term goals.
Upon hearing this, Wen Jingmei bowed deeply, feeling both admiration and awe. The new emperor’s governance was strict yet tempered with benevolence – a quality that inspired genuine willingness to serve her. Like the Cui and Chen clans, who fought with such disregard for their own safety, while there was certainly an element of seeking advancement for their families, there was also sincere reverence for the Emperor at its core.
Before departing, Wen Yanran suddenly turned back and smiled at the State Preceptor. “Winter comes early in Jianping. Please take care to guard against the cold, Brother.”
Wen Jingmei stood at the entrance, his robe sleeves rustling softly in the breeze. He maintained a posture of respectful farewell until the Emperor’s figure was no longer in sight before turning back. Later, he visited the young Daoist official and relayed the Emperor’s decision to him in full detail.
The man was first seized by fear, then disbelief. Overwhelmed by alternating waves of sorrow and joy, he eventually knelt and choked with emotion. “Her Majesty is so magnanimous! From this day forth, I will never betray such trust!”
As Wen Yanran reached the entrance of the Western Yong Palace, a eunuch approached to report that Assistant Secretary Du had arrived.
Du Daosi saw the Emperor step into the hall, a few snowflakes clinging to the dark surface of her cloak, making the contrast between black and white even more striking. Over this period, she had grown relatively familiar with the Emperor, and in their daily interactions, formalities were seldom observed. As expected, after Wen Yanran returned today, she invited Du Daosi to follow her into the inner chamber, allowing them to discuss state affairs even as she changed out of her cloak.
Wen Yanran knew that many ministers from influential families paid great attention to propriety, so she intentionally acted with unrestrained spontaneity, striving to reinforce the impression that she was a tyrannical ruler. Yet, in comparison to the late emperor, none of her actions had achieved the effect she had hoped for.
“Assistant Secretary Du, draft an edict for me.”
Although she knew the Emperor could not see her, Du Daosi bowed slightly to indicate she had received the command.
Wen Yanran’s voice came from behind the cloak, “Appoint Minister Lu as the Minister of Revenue. As for the Ministry of Personnel… first transfer Minister Zheng from the Ministry of Rites to serve as a Vice Minister of Personnel.”
Lu Yuanguang had previously only acted as the provisional head of a ministry, but now she was finally promoted to the position of a full minister based on her merits. As for Zheng Yinchuan, his circumstances were different. The Zheng family was originally connected to the Seventh Prince through maternal relations and had been suddenly promoted by the Emperor during the mourning hall incident, receiving a substantial reward without having performed any service. The Zheng family understood that they had already received their compensation in advance, and the future development of their clan depended entirely on their subsequent performance. The current emperor was truly different from the previous one – outwardly calm and unreadable, yet inwardly shrewd and deliberate. When she acted, it was not lightly, but with earth-shattering force. In comparison, although the Cui family pledged allegiance later than the Zheng family, Cui Xinjing took great risks by traveling to Tai Province when the situation was still unclear. Now, she remained there to help the Emperor control the Western Tribes. Though she was not in Jianping, her achievements had solidly reestablished her entire family’s foothold in the Central Plains.
While the Zheng family lacked the fearless courage of the Cui family, they understood the importance of diligently following the Emperor’s commands. Upon learning the contents of the transfer order, Zheng Yinchuan realized he was filling the position once held by Li Zengyu and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that his family had now, albeit barely, been included in the circle of those deemed useful by the Emperor.
Not long after the Ministry of Personnel had stabilized, Wen Yanran turned her attention to reviewing the progress of the canal repair project. She was not particularly interested in the construction status of the Liubo Canal, as the system panel already displayed it quite clearly –
[System:
Project [Liubo Canal] Completion: 35%]
Skipping over all reports regarding the canal, Wen Yanran was actually more concerned about the road repair conditions in the surrounding areas.
Perhaps because the scale of the work was relatively small, or perhaps because it was considered an auxiliary component of the [Liubo Canal] project, the system did not provide detailed updates on road repairs. Wen Yanran had no choice but to inquire with officials from the Ministry of Works and send eunuchs from the City Bureau to conduct on-site inspections.
During the reign of Emperor Li, the welfare of the people was neglected, and many roads fell into disrepair over time. It was only after Wen Yanran ascended the throne that the major highways near Jianzhou were repaired, primarily to facilitate the transportation of supplies for the construction of the Liubo Canal. Beyond this, Wen Yanran also adjusted the relay station system of the Great Zhou. Initially, she had only stationed fast horses at relay posts near the capital to expedite communications. However, during her inspection tour of Wu’an, she expanded this system of swift horse relays to Dan Province. Due to its remarkable effectiveness, she began further improvements along the eastern, southern, and northern routes even before her return. The southern route was extended the farthest, reaching not only the regions of Qing and Xu but even establishing swift horse relays at Chong and Changqing Commandery. The horses used there were gifts presented by General of Huairen, Xiao Xichi, leading the Qingyi forces, in honor of the Emperor’s auspicious birthday.
The situation in the northern regions was not as favorable as in the south. Nevertheless, relay posts had been renovated as per Wen Yanran’s wishes up to the area near Wuzheng Commandery, where Wen Hong was stationed. In the eastern regions, however, the swift horse system could only be extended to the vicinity of the Front Camp. Beyond that, in the more remote areas, relay posts often suffered from a shortage of regular officials, making it difficult even to maintain the old order, let alone raise additional horses.
Understanding the circumstances in the east, Wen Yanran did not issue an imperial decree to hold anyone accountable. Instead, local authorities submitted a memorial requesting that the Emperor suspend further post station renovations to avoid adding to the region’s financial burden and to exempt them from taxes for the year.
Drawing on the previous experience with the snow disaster in the two southern commanderies, Lu Yuanguang did not make a hasty decision this time. Instead, she conducted a thorough investigation before presenting her findings.
At the same time, Wen Yanran reviewed the memorials submitted from the eastern regions and the intelligence gathered by the City Bureau.
The intelligence personnel at the time were not as professional as those of later eras. Often, it was not a matter of insufficient loyalty among the spies, but rather their own limited capabilities, making it difficult for them to provide accurate information.
The memorials reported that due to poor harvests and insufficient rainfall in the east this year, many areas had seen the emergence of displaced people. Local authorities had organized militias to suppress them with force while also using food as an incentive to persuade them to surrender.
Judging from the commanderies and counties submitting these memorials, the scope of this disaster was broader than during the southern snow disaster.
The ministers understood that the east was densely populated with powerful local families and fortified estates, making life difficult for the common people. The fact that these authorities were now managing the situation through a combination of coercion and benevolence could already be considered a demonstration of loyalty and diligence.
A minister stepped forward and said, “If that is the case, Your Majesty could issue an edict to the local officials, urging them to provide relief to the people and prevent public unrest.”
Wen Yanran nodded slightly, appearing to have no objections. After the court session concluded, she said to those around her, “Ah-Yi, summon Minister Ren and the others for me.”
Chi Yi complied and departed. Perhaps because the emperor herself was still young, she preferred to hold private discussions with younger ministers in her daily affairs.
Those summoned to the Western Yong Palace included younger ministers such as Ren Feihong, Gao Changjian, and Du Daosi. Due to their limited seniority, not all of them had the qualifications to attend court sessions. After gathering them, Wen Yanran first instructed Zhang Luo to recount the events of the morning.
Among them was one named Chu Xi, a talented member of the Chu clan. Since Chu Fu had contributed to stabilizing the southern regions, Wen Yanran had taken him in and assigned him to the Ministry of Revenue to review accounts. He had only recently been promoted to serve at her side. Knowing that many present were cautious individuals unwilling to speak without seventy to eighty percent certainty, he spoke first to set the stage for further discussion. “Does Your Majesty suspect that the eastern commanderies are deliberately mixing truth and falsehood in their reports to conceal their true intentions?”
Though Chu Xi’s words were speculative, there was some logic to them.
Wen Yanran rubbed her temples, which were aching from prolonged reading, and motioned for him to continue. The content of those memorials, though seemingly complex, shared a common thread: privately assembled forces had already gathered in the eastern regions.
Chu Xi said, “I believe that while bandits do exist in the east, the soldiers mobilized could also be used for other purposes.”
Naturally, everyone present understood that by “other purposes,” he meant rebellion. Although the possibility of disloyalty in the east was an extremely serious matter, the foundation laid by the Western campaign ensured that no one in the hall panicked or lost composure over it.
Another person suggested, “In that case, Jianping could first dispatch troops to the Right Camp to consolidate the soldiers, then use it as a base to systematically pacify the various commanderies.”
Shortly after Wen Yanran ascended the throne, among the five major military camps in the empire, aside from the vacant Left Camp in the Dan and Tai region, the other four camps still retained a certain number of troops available for deployment. In addition to these four primary camps, many regions also maintained smaller-scale military garrisons.
In the general perception, the most formidable fighting force at present was undoubtedly the Imperial Guard stationed in the central region. In comparison, the Right Camp in the east appeared relatively weak. Whether judged by the quality of individual soldiers or the competence of their commanders, it seemed to require support from Jianping; otherwise, it might struggle to suppress the so-called “militias” and “displaced people” in the region.
Moreover, this approach offered an additional advantage – the east had not yet openly declared rebellion, and the possibility of misunderstanding could not be entirely ruled out. If those militias took no action, the troops dispatched by Jianping would genuinely assist in pacifying the region, allowing both sides to maintain at least a semblance of harmony.
