Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 50

The moment Father Zhen finished speaking, everyone in the room changed expression. Madam Pei, reclining on the couch, stiffened. Zhen Yiyun, standing to one side, also paled. Only Zhen Tingyun remained perfectly composed.

She turned and bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Father.”

Father Zhen looked at her warmly, his eyes filled with approval.

At the side, the wound in Zhen Yiyun’s tightly clenched right hand split open again. Blood seeped through the torn flesh. At the same time, her heart hurt so fiercely that it felt as though it, too, were bleeding.

That estate… Mother had promised it to me herself!

Father Zhen came from a poor family.

When Madam Pei married into the Zhen family, the Pei household was also struggling financially and could not provide an especially generous dowry. Everything the Zhen family now owned had been accumulated little by little over the years.

Aside from the portion that would eventually belong to Zhen Hengzhe, every estate or shop given to one child meant one fewer asset for the others.

Originally, because she was older and deeply favored by Madam Pei, family property had always been reserved for her first. She had never worried about such matters.

But if this estate truly went to Zhen Tingyun…

Then what would become of her?

Zhen Yiyun hated it so much she nearly bit her lip until it bled.

Fortunately, she still retained enough reason to understand Father’s temperament.

He disliked nothing more than children throwing unreasonable tantrums or crying to get their way. If she openly objected now, she would only earn his displeasure. So instead, she turned pleading eyes toward Madam Pei.

Madam Pei naturally understood.

However, she had never contradicted her husband in public.

This time she only spoke tactfully. “Isn’t this rather rushed? Tingyun is still young. Even if the estate is eventually to be given to her, there’s no need to do so immediately. If nothing else, let her begin managing the estate first. As for the title deed, I can keep it safe for her until she’s older.”

Father Zhen answered with complete seriousness, “If we’ve said we’re giving it to her, then naturally the title deed goes with it.”

After a pause, he turned toward his wife. His voice was gentle. His tone, however, allowed no room for disagreement. “Yuanjun. As parents, we should set an example. When we give our word, we must keep it. Since you promised her the estate in the first place, you shouldn’t begrudge her now.”

Madam Pei’s expression stiffened. Ordinarily, Father Zhen never addressed her by her personal name. If he did, it meant one of only two things.

Either they were alone together in a moment of intimacy…

Or he was displeased.

She remained silent for a long while.

At last she gave a cold snort. “Very well. We’ll do as you say.”

Father Zhen sighed inwardly. Just as he was about to comfort his wife, his younger daughter timidly asked another question. “Then what about the shop Eldest Aunt promised me?”

Madam Pei had only managed to hand over the estate because she was preserving her husband’s dignity, all the while feeling as though someone were carving flesh from her own body.

Now, hearing Zhen Tingyun press for even more, she finally snapped.

Turning to Father Zhen with a cold laugh, she said, “Just look at the wonderful daughter you’ve raised. First she wants the estate. Now she wants the shop. She won’t be satisfied until she’s emptied our entire family fortune and stripped her own parents to the bone!”

Zhen Tingyun was exquisitely beautiful.

Her features were delicate and refined, and because she was still young, there remained a trace of youthful fragility about her.

When she pretended to look aggrieved, she appeared especially pitiful.

Yet faced with Madam Pei’s fury, she showed neither fear nor panic.

She simply lifted her head and met her mother’s eyes. Her fair face remained completely calm. “Mother misunderstands. You yourself said earlier that you exchanged my examination permit because Eldest Aunt offered a shop in return. You said you were saving it as part of my dowry. In terms of fairness, that shop was obtained by trading away my examination permit. So naturally it should belong to me. And in terms of affection… If it’s already intended as part of my dowry, what difference does it make if it’s given to me a little earlier? I truly mean nothing else by these words.”

Madam Pei was nearly driven mad by Zhen Tingyun’s silver tongue. Yet when she turned toward Father Zhen, she saw him nodding in agreement.

Noticing his wife’s gaze, Father Zhen spoke gently. “Didn’t you tell me yourself that you intended to give that shop to Tingyun as part of her dowry? If so, giving it to her now isn’t a bad thing. It’s only a small shop. And now that she’s been admitted to the women’s academy, it’s time she started learning how to manage such affairs.”

Madam Pei slowly inhaled. Then exhaled. She repeated this several times before finally calming the fire in her chest.

She did not argue with her husband. Instead, she said, “The shop was only something my sister-in-law mentioned in passing, she never actually transferred it to me. Now that Mingzhu has failed the examination, my sister-in-law must already be heartbroken. As her sister-in-law, I truly have no face to go asking her for a shop at a time like this.”

As she said this, Madam Pei paused, then turned to look at Zhen Tingyun. There seemed to be something hidden in her eyes, but the words that came out were cold and indifferent: “If you truly want it, then go ask your aunt yourself. I won’t concern myself with such matters.”

Originally, given Eldest Madam Pei’s status, even if Pei Mingzhu had failed the examination, she would never have gone back on her word over a mere shop. But Madam Pei was angry and resentful now, and in a fit of frustration, she simply no longer wanted the shop either.

Zhen Tingyun thoughtfully nodded and did not continue pressing the matter. Looking at Madam Pei’s almost ashen expression, if she kept going, wouldn’t she risk making her faint from anger?

And if Madam Pei really did faint from being angered, and Zhen Yiyun, the one with the blackest heart among them, spread the story outside, what kind of reputation would she end up with? She was not yet fifteen, had not married, and still had a long life ahead of her to enjoy. She truly did not want to acquire the infamous reputation of being the daughter who angered her own mother into illness.

Therefore, Zhen Tingyun wisely stopped while she was ahead. She comforted herself a few times in her heart, then stood up and calmly bid farewell to Madam Pei: “Since that is the case, daughter should not disturb Mother’s rest any longer. I will take my leave first.”

After all, she already had the estate. As for the matter of the shop, she could wait and see.

Madam Pei closed her eyes and nodded. She practically did not want to look at this troublesome daughter even one more time.

Zhen Yiyun, however, endured her anger and stepped forward with a smile. “I’ll see my younger sister out.”

Father Zhen was delighted to see his daughters appearing harmonious and nodded along. “Go.”

With a smile still on her face, Zhen Yiyun personally escorted Zhen Tingyun outside. This time, the sisters had truly torn away the last pretense of civility. Once they reached a place where no one else was nearby, Zhen Yiyun lowered her voice and sneered: “I have never seen anyone as shameless as you. But do you really think begging and clinging like this to obtain an estate will do you any good? Mother will only hate you even more. Today you merely took an estate from her, who knows what you’ll have to repay for it in the future?!”

Zhen Tingyun looked deeply at Zhen Yiyun. Watching those red lips open and close as they poured out vicious words, she suddenly laughed. Her brows curved, and dimples appeared on her cheeks.

Zhen Yiyun only felt that smile was full of mockery, and her anger grew even stronger. “What are you laughing at?!”

“I’m laughing because after suffering so many losses, Eldest Sister still hasn’t learned her lesson.” As she spoke, Zhen Tingyun suddenly changed her expression and shouted: “Father! Mother! Someone come quickly! Eldest Sister’s hand is injured!”

Zhen Yiyun was slow to react. Her face instantly paled, and she instinctively tried to move her bloodied right palm behind her back.

It was precisely at that moment that Father Zhen came out from the room. Madam Pei was still lying inside recovering, so when Zhen Tingyun called for “Father and Mother,” she was actually calling for Father Zhen.

Standing on the corridor above them, Father Zhen immediately saw the wound on his eldest daughter’s right palm and was shocked. “Yiyun, what happened to your hand?”

Zhen Yiyun wanted to hide the injury, but how could she?

She had always been pampered, and her hands were delicate and fair. The wound she had dug into her own palm with her fingernails was therefore even more shocking to see. After repeatedly aggravating it, the flesh was torn and bloody, and the bleeding would not stop.

Father Zhen had always doted on and valued this eldest daughter. Seeing her in such a state, he immediately became anxious and ordered people to help her back inside to apply medicine and bandage the wound.

Zhen Tingyun also urged from the side: “Eldest Sister, your hand is already injured. You really don’t need to worry so much about my matters. As for what you mentioned earlier, sending me the estate’s account books from previous years, you don’t need to trouble yourself too much. Just have the servants deliver them later. Eldest Sister, you should first go treat your wound.”

Zhen Yiyun froze for a moment, then almost lost her temper. “What account books? I never…”

“That’s right, I nearly forgot. Since the estate is being transferred to you, the previous years’ account books and income records should naturally be given to you as well.” Father Zhen quickly realized the oversight. Looking at Zhen Yiyun with a gentle expression, he said, “It was thoughtful of you to remember this for your younger sister. Go have your wound bandaged first. I’ll have someone retrieve the account books from your room and deliver them to your second sister.”

After all, the estate had originally been promised by Madam Pei to Zhen Yiyun, and she had been managing it all this time. The account books and related records were naturally kept in her possession, which was why Father Zhen said this.

Zhen Yiyun was dumbfounded. She had only wanted to vent her anger. How had things turned out like this?

But when she met Father Zhen’s gentle yet unquestionable gaze, she swallowed the words she wanted to say. In silence, she acknowledged his order and, with a cold expression, followed the servants away to have her wound treated.

Only after Zhen Yiyun had left did Zhen Tingyun let the smile fade from her face.

Softly, she said to Father Zhen, “Father, I’ve heard that the womens’ academy offers boarding. Given my current situation, I think living at the academy might be better.”

“No.” Father Zhen refused without hesitation. “The girls who choose to board are usually either from distant places or from poor families. Ours is hardly the sort of family that cannot accommodate its own daughter. How could we possibly send you away to live at the academy?”

Looking up at him, Zhen Tingyun blinked. Her long eyelashes lifted slightly, as though sprinkled with tiny flecks of light, each delicate lash clearly defined.

Meeting his eyes earnestly, she spoke in a calm voice. “I know you truly care about me, Father. You hope that I can live peacefully at home with Mother and Elder Sister. But sometimes… when people stay too close together, more conflicts arise.”

As she spoke, she lowered her gaze. Her eyelashes fell, casting a faint shadow across her eyelids. In an almost inaudible voice, she added, “I truly don’t want you and Mother to keep arguing because of me. Nor do I want Mother and Elder Sister to feel distressed on my account.”

“Ting Jie’er, you’re overthinking things. Your mother and your sister… they’re only…” Father Zhen intended to persuade her further, but halfway through, he found himself unable to continue.

Madam Pei’s attitude had already become unmistakably obvious. As her mother, she had even stopped trying to hide it. As for Zhen Yiyun…

The wound on her palm had clearly been dug open by her own fingernails. At first, Father Zhen had been too worried to think carefully. But once he realized the truth, his heart softened toward her, and so he chose not to expose what she had done.

At this moment, faced with his youngest daughter’s still-childish features and her clear, bright eyes, Father Zhen’s expression unconsciously softened. Inwardly, he was already mostly persuaded, but he still said aloud, “I’ll have to discuss this with your mother first.”

Father Zhen was not ignorant of the saying that “distance breeds affection, while constant proximity breeds contempt.” Back then, when he had arranged for Madam Pei and Old Lady Zhen, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who had become nearly sworn enemies, to live separately, he had done so with exactly that thought in mind, and it had indeed produced some results. Of course, judging by the family’s current situation, it was obvious that such a method only treated the symptoms rather than the root cause. It was something to resort to only when there was truly no other choice…

Zhen Tingyun knew that Father Zhen had essentially agreed. She let out a huge sigh of relief inwardly and was just about to bow and take her leave.

Just then, Father Zhen stopped her and asked, “I heard that you took Madam Chu as your teacher, and that it was through her recommendation that you were able to participate in this women’s academy entrance examination?”

Not knowing why Father Zhen had suddenly brought this up, Zhen Tingyun nevertheless nodded.

Seeing her innocent, bewildered expression, Father Zhen found himself unable even to sigh. His daughter had been raised in the countryside for more than ten years. Though she had always been diligent and hardworking in her studies, she was still lacking in many other matters. Thus, he deliberately reminded her, “Did you tell that teacher of yours who lives at the Western Hill villa about this?”

Zhen Tingyun froze for a moment before finally understanding what he meant. Tentatively, she asked, “Should… should I have told my teacher first?”

“Of course,” Father Zhen replied matter-of-factly with a nod. “Although you haven’t formally gone through the official disciple-taking ceremony yet, you’ve still received his instruction and addressed him as Teacher. Now that you’re going to take another teacher, how could you not tell him first?”

Seeing that his daughter still did not seem to understand, Father Zhen had no choice but to speak even more plainly. “They say that the bond between teacher and disciple is like that between father and son. Have you ever seen anyone with two fathers?”

Zhen Tingyun: “…”

She herself had once used the saying “teacher and disciple are like father and son” to choke Yuanhui into silence. Hearing it now made her feel genuinely uncomfortable.

Still, she truly had not known any of this. She had grown up in the countryside, and Old Lady Zhen herself knew nothing about such customs, naturally leaving her unable to teach her granddaughter. As a result, Zhen Tingyun’s understanding of taking a teacher was no different from apprenticing oneself to learn a trade in the village.

That was precisely why, when she had picked up Yuanhui, who had seemed suspiciously like a horse thief, she had still thought about learning horseback riding and archery from him. After all, wasn’t learning a skill simply a matter of paying some tuition and calling someone “Teacher”? Wasn’t that about it?

Just like Li Er at the entrance to the village: he had first learned carpentry from a carpenter, then masonry from a bricklayer. Although some people had said Li Er was overly ambitious, once his house was built, most people in the village simply praised him for being capable.

Now, after hearing Father Zhen explain it, she finally realized how inappropriate her thinking had been. Imagining that Yuanhui might be unhappy or even angry because of this, Zhen Tingyun immediately became uneasy and asked for help. “Then… should I go apologize to Teacher?”

At last, Father Zhen saw genuine panic and worry appear on his daughter’s face. He felt that this was more like how a girl of her age ought to be. As her father, he naturally felt a measure of tenderness toward her. Looking up at the sky, he stopped her. “Tomorrow will do. It’s already getting late. It’s not appropriate for a young lady to head to Western Hill at this hour. I’ll have someone prepare a gift for you later. Tomorrow, take the gift with you and apologize sincerely. I doubt he’ll be too angry. After all, one cannot blame someone for what they didn’t know.”

Zhen Tingyun thought Father Zhen’s words made sense and nodded in agreement. Even so, she remained unable to stop worrying about Yuanhui.

Fortunately, Father Zhen handled matters with remarkable efficiency. It was not long before he had someone deliver the estate deed and the account books for the manor.

Upon seeing them, Zhen Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief. After flipping through the account books, she felt utterly delighted.

Madam Pei had originally intended for this estate to become Zhen Yiyun’s dowry, so although it was not large, she had devoted considerable care to managing it. Later, she had even entrusted the estate to Zhen Yiyun so she could gain experience managing property. Since Zhen Yiyun had long regarded the estate as her future dowry, she had naturally taken great care in running it…

What a pity.

All of Madam Pei’s painstaking effort, and all of Zhen Yiyun’s diligent management, had now ended up benefiting her instead!

The more Zhen Tingyun thought about it, the happier she became. The frustration that had weighed on her chest vanished completely, and she was so overjoyed she could hardly remain seated.

After some thought, she picked up the account books and the land deed and headed for Old Lady Zhen’s courtyard.

Old Lady Zhen was still pretending to be ill. She spent her days lying in bed and was terribly bored. Seeing her granddaughter arrive, she smiled. “I was just wondering whether I should have them prepare your dinner.”

“Let’s not talk about that first!” Zhen Tingyun went straight to the bedside, then proudly presented the land deed as though offering a treasured gift. “Grandmother, I just got this from Father and Mother. Please keep it safe for me.”

Old Lady Zhen had already noticed the stack of booklets in Zhen Tingyun’s hands, but since her granddaughter had always been diligent about her studies, she had not paid them much attention.

Only after hearing those words did she realize what they were. Tentatively, she accepted the documents from Zhen Tingyun, looked them over, and almost could not believe her eyes. “Th-this… this is the deed to that estate?”

“That’s right.”

Zhen Tingyun blinked as she watched the mixture of astonishment and delight spread across her grandmother’s face.

Old Lady Zhen truly was both shocked and overjoyed.

She had thought that after all this commotion, and with Madam Pei even pretending to be sick, her granddaughter would probably never get the manor.

Yet, in an unexpected twist, her granddaughter had still been admitted to the women’s academy, and the estate had still ended up in her hands.

Old Lady Zhen beamed from ear to ear and could not help asking, “With your mother’s temper… how did you manage to get it?”

Zhen Tingyun replied, “Mother promised this estate to me from the beginning. Since I passed the women’s academy entrance examination this time, I naturally had to go reason things out with Mother and Father. They’re not unreasonable people. Of course they had to give it to me.”

Hearing Zhen Tingyun describe Madam Pei as reasonable, Old Lady Zhen curled her lips dismissively, choosing to ignore that part entirely. Instead, she nodded in agreement. “That’s true. Your father has always been the most reasonable person. Once he says something, he sticks to it. Since he promised it to you, he was bound to give it to you.”

Now that her granddaughter had explained where the deed had come from and had voluntarily handed it over, Old Lady Zhen did not feel the slightest embarrassment. She immediately tucked the deed away and said to her granddaughter, “Good child, don’t you worry. Grandmother will keep it safe for you. I guarantee you won’t suffer any loss!”

Zhen Tingyun nodded. Seeing Old Lady Zhen so animated and radiant put her greatly at ease.

When people grew old, they were always more prone to feeling insecure. They especially liked to squirrel away private savings; if they had no money or valuables in hand, they would inevitably feel unsettled. This was especially true for someone like Old Lady Zhen, who had come to the capital from the countryside and was living by relying on her son and daughter-in-law. Heaven knew how uncomfortable she must have felt inside.

In Zhen Tingyun’s mind, she was about to enter the women’s academy. Since her foundation was weaker than everyone else’s, she would certainly have to devote most of her attention to her studies. Rather than managing the estate herself, she might as well leave it to Old Lady Zhen. Once her grandmother had the estate to occupy her, she would feel secure and have something to keep herself busy with. Her spirits would surely improve, and she would probably no longer have the time or inclination to quarrel with her daughter-in-law over every little thing.

After all, when a person’s heart was at peace and they had meaningful work to do, they naturally had no time to brood over grievances or take out their frustrations on others.

So Zhen Tingyun did not hesitate. She nodded directly and said, “Then I’ll leave everything to you, Grandmother. You absolutely must take good care of our estate.”

“I know, I know. Just leave it to me without a worry.”

Old Lady Zhen was immensely gratified. Pulling her granddaughter into her arms, she hugged, rubbed, and pinched her affectionately, doting on her as though she were the apple of her eye.

***

While Old Lady Zhen and Zhen Tingyun were chatting together, a council meeting was taking place in the Imperial Study of Qianyuan Palace.

The Emperor sat upon the crimson-gold Dragon Throne in the center. Because he was young and physically frail, even though it was already nearing the seventh lunar month, the throne was still covered with a layer of warm fur. Seated upon it, his complexion was somewhat pale, and his feet still could not quite reach the floor, yet his expression remained remarkably composed.

To either side of the Dragon Throne stood another seat. On the left sat the Regent, Fu Changxi, while on the right sat Empress Dowager Zheng.

Below them were the senior ministers of the Grand Secretariat: Grand Secretary Sun Qichang, Second Grand Secretary Zheng Pang, Third Grand Secretary Pei Ziliang, and the others. At this moment, they were all voicing their opinions, arguing endlessly with one another. Precisely because the debate had continued without resolution, the matter remained unsettled, and everyone had been delayed in the Imperial Study until now.

Fu Changxi had already grown somewhat impatient. Glancing at the sky outside, he finally raised a hand and lightly tapped the table with his fingers.

The senior ministers who had been arguing vigorously immediately fell silent and looked up toward the Regent seated above them.

The Imperial Study was brightly lit. The light fell across Fu Changxi’s face, casting a faint glow that softened his features ever so slightly. Yet when everyone looked at him, what they still saw was a handsome face as sharp and imposing as a drawn blade.

Only then did Fu Changxi speak leisurely. “In summary, there are two matters before us today. First, Wu Jianjiang deceived his superiors, concealed the truth, and formed factions for personal gain. What punishment should he receive? Second, after Wu Jianjiang’s removal, who should succeed him as Commander of the Imperial Guards? In my opinion, this matter is not nearly as complicated as everyone is making it.”

The Imperial Study became so quiet that one could have heard a pin drop. Everyone waited for Fu Changxi to continue.

He did not keep them in suspense. “Wu Jianjiang’s crimes are beyond forgiveness. Strip him of his office immediately, arrest him, and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Dali Temple for joint investigation and sentencing. As for the vacant post of Commander of the Imperial Guards…”

It was this soon-to-be-vacant position that everyone had truly been arguing over. At that very moment, a soft cough broke the silence in the Imperial Study.

It was Empress Dowager Zheng, seated on the right, gently covering her lips with a handkerchief as she coughed.

Second Grand Secretary Zheng Pang was none other than the Empress Dowager’s father. Naturally understanding the implication, he immediately asked, “May I ask whether Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has any thoughts on the matter?”

Fu Changxi also turned his head toward her, one eyebrow slightly raised, his eyes dark as lacquer. With a faint smile that was not quite a smile, he added, “Indeed. If the Empress Dowager has any opinions, please speak freely.”

“I am merely a woman of the inner palace. What opinions could I possibly have?” Empress Dowager Zheng sat upright upon the phoenix seat at the right, gently stroking the armrest with one hand. Her features were exquisite as a painting, her beauty graceful and refined, her bearing serene and elegant. Though dressed in plain mourning garments, they only served to accentuate her breathtaking beauty. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she spoke in a slow, gentle voice. Every word flowed like perfectly rounded pearls and polished jade, clear, melodious, and pleasing to the ear. “I merely believe that the Imperial Guards are responsible for protecting the palace. Whoever commands them should, at the very least, be someone both His Majesty and I can trust.”

Fu Changxi raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. “Her Majesty speaks wisely. I think the same. As it happens, I have someone in mind. I may as well present him for everyone’s consideration.”

“And whom does Wangye have in mind?” Grand Secretary Sun Qichang was the first to ask.

The smile gradually faded from Fu Changxi’s face as he answered solemnly, “General Zhaoyong Song Yuan, from Pinglin Pass in the southwest.”

The title of General Zhaoyong was only Third Rank, and Song Yuan was stationed at the distant Pinglin Pass in the southwest. When his name was first mentioned, many people did not immediately recognize it.

Fortunately, Song Yuan’s identity was rather special. Those present were all high-ranking ministers of the Grand Secretariat, and many of them understood certain unspoken matters. After only a brief moment’s thought, they remembered exactly who he was.

Ah! Now they remembered! Wasn’t Song Yuan the Emperor’s own maternal uncle?

Although the Song family had suffered terrible misfortune in years past, they truly had remarkable luck in the end. Not only had they produced Lady Song, who bore the late Emperor his only son, but they had also produced Song Yuan, who had risen step by step from the status of an exiled criminal to become a Third-Rank general.

Their ancestral graves must truly have been emitting auspicious smoke. Their good fortune clearly was not about to run out anytime soon.

At the mention of Song Yuan, the young Emperor, who had remained silent until now, also raised his head. Looking toward Fu Changxi, he asked, “If I remember correctly, General Song is still stationed in the southwest?”

Though still very young and raised within the deep palace, he was already quite perceptive.

His question appeared to be directed at Fu Changxi, yet in reality it subtly revealed that he was already familiar with Song Yuan.

Although no one now mentioned posthumously honoring Lady Song as Empress Dowager, nor granting the Song family the hereditary title of Duke or Marquis of Imperial Grace, Song Yuan was still the Emperor’s own maternal uncle, and Lady Song remained his birth mother. They were people whom the Emperor personally remembered.

From this day forward, those serving beneath him would inevitably have to treat Song Yuan with a measure of respect.

“As it so happens, he was transferred back to the capital not long ago,” Fu Changxi replied casually. “I was just considering how best to appoint him. Coincidentally, since that Wu Jianjiang has caused all this trouble, promoting Song Yuan is quite fitting.”

He spoke as though elevating someone from a Third-Rank General Zhaoyong to the First-Rank Commander of the Imperial Guards were the easiest thing in the world.

“In my view, Song Yuan has rendered considerable military service during his years in the southwest and has proven exceptionally capable in commanding troops and training soldiers. More importantly, he was personally promoted by the late Emperor, whose favor toward him was as great as a mountain. He will undoubtedly serve His Majesty with unwavering devotion and fulfill his duties with complete loyalty.”

Fu Changxi spoke each word deliberately. He never once mentioned the relationship between Song Yuan and the young Emperor, yet the young Emperor’s expression steadily brightened. In the end, he nodded directly.

“What Imperial Uncle says is quite right. Song Yuan is indeed an excellent choice.”

The moment those words were spoken, Empress Dowager Zheng, seated on the right, looked thoroughly displeased.

However, before she could speak, Fu Changxi had already brought the lengthy debate to an end. “Her Majesty just said that we should choose someone whom both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty can trust. Since His Majesty trusts Song Yuan, and the man is indeed capable, then Song Yuan it shall be.”

Only after saying this did Fu Changxi seem to remember the ministers below him. Turning his head slightly toward them, he asked with apparent modesty, “What do you gentlemen think?”

Both the Regent and the Emperor had already given their approval. Even though Empress Dowager Zheng’s face had turned livid, she still remained silent. These seasoned, calculating ministers naturally had no intention of opposing them head-on, and so they all nodded in agreement.

At the same time, their thoughts inevitably wandered further.

It had been Fu Changxi who had transferred Song Yuan back to the capital some time ago. At the time, no one had understood what the Regent was planning.

Then, almost immediately afterward, the Wu Jianjiang affair erupted, leaving the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards vacant.

If all of this were merely a coincidence, then one could only say that the Regent truly belonged to the imperial family, everything he did seemed blessed by Heaven itself.

But if it wasn’t a coincidence…

That would be rather unsettling.

Thinking this, everyone looked at the Regent with even greater caution and respect, no longer daring to be the slightest bit careless.