Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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When the Ninth Prince ascended the throne, the people of Yan spread the news with great joy.
Even when the Ninth Prince was just a prince from the common people, there were already many legends about him… the legend of Yong’an Temple where he cured the sick and saved people, the legend of mysterious high technology leading the development of farms across the country, the legend of disaster relief in three prefectures and lending 30,000 shi of grain, the legend of the enemy army rescuing people in the canyon and returning in triumph, and the legend of leading the northern army to the capital to besiege the rebellious Second Prince.
All these achievements combined demonstrate his courage, wisdom, benevolence, and love for the people. He was the Yan emperor to date whose ascension to the throne brought the greatest joy to the people.
The new emperor already enjoyed popular support, and when he granted a general amnesty, he also announced plans to reduce taxes and corvée labor, giving the long-suffering people new hope. Thus, since Emperor Yanqing ascended the throne, the entire Yan Kingdom had been in an atmosphere of peace and hope.
Some of the civil and military officials had chosen the wrong side and were terrified, fearing that the new emperor would target them first after his ascension to the throne, confiscating their entire families and property on charges of treason. They were filled with anxiety. Others, who had originally stood behind Lu Huan alongside the Minister of War and others, finally straightened their backs and eagerly awaited promotions and titles.
However, unexpectedly, the new emperor’s policies and measures differed from those of previous emperors. Those who chose the wrong side, unless their actions were serious, received little punishment. Those who sided with him and began currying favor with the Ninth Prince’s household early on, sending gifts, were not to be given important positions. The new emperor established a completely new system for selecting officials, emphasizing merit and talent above all else.
In just half a month, there were significant changes among officials.
The former prime minister and his relatives had been imprisoned for allegedly conspiring with the imperial guards to aid in a rebellion. The Minister of War was promoted by the current emperor, while some of the soldiers who returned from the northern border with Lu Huan had been transferred to the Ministry of War.
With the Second Prince imprisoned, the Fifth Prince felt he had no chance of turning things around with Lu Huan, so he wisely applied to become a leisurely prince. However, the Minister of War and Lu Huan agreed that although the Fifth Prince was somewhat reckless, he was very capable in government affairs, so they kept him in the capital and bestowed upon him the title of Prince Xianqin, giving him quite a few responsibilities.
With everything settled, General Zhenyuan decided to retire and return to his hometown. His hometown was Zhangzhou, and he voluntarily applied for the position of Prefect of Zhangzhou. On the day of his departure, Lu Huan personally saw him off. Although General Zhenyuan initially made things difficult for Lu Huan, he later offered him considerable assistance in the northern border region. Without the generous help of General Zhenyuan and the Minister of War, Lu Huan’s ascension to the throne would not have been so easy.
Before the battle in the northern border, General Zhenyuan already had some gray hair at his temples, and now his head was completely white. He looked at Lu Huan with great emotion, thought for a moment, and said, “It has been three years since I met His Majesty.”
Lu Huan said, “It has been three years.”
Their first meeting was at a banquet in the palace. Lu Huan was an inconspicuous illegitimate son of the Ning Wang who had returned triumphantly from Qiuyan Mountain. General Zhenyuan held a great prejudice against him and deliberately refused to accept his wine cup. However, Lu Huan, who was only fifteen years old at the time, just laughed it off.
Recalling these events, General Zhenyuan couldn’t help but sigh at the fleeting nature of time, and said to Lu Huan, “I hope Your Majesty will remain true to your original aspirations.”
The original intention he referred to was when, in the northern border, one night while on duty, Lu Huan saw people on the verge of freezing to death by the roadside. Upon returning to his tent, he instructed his soldiers to distribute all the warm clothing available to the people. Lu Huan also took his own clothing with him.
At that time, General Zhenyuan had not yet learned from the Minister of War that Lu Huan was actually the Ninth Prince Yanqing, but the idea of supporting him to ascend the throne suddenly arose in his mind. He originally thought it would be a long process, but thanks to the Ninth Prince’s noble status, his succession became a matter of course. Now that everything was done, and he trusted the new emperor, it seemed pointless to keep this old man as regent.
Lu Huan looked at General Zhenyuan and said solemnly, “I will certainly live up to your expectations. I hope you will take care of yourself.”
General Zhenyuan then left the capital. Because he had no children, he did not take many men or much wealth with him.
Lu Huan had received much help from General Zhenyuan in the past. After seeing General Zhenyuan off, he naturally felt a little lost, but he still had a lot of government affairs to deal with and no time to think about so much.
After carefully considering the reassignment of civil and military officials based on their merits, Lu Huan also needed to reorganize the prefects in various places, the guards and eunuchs in the palace, and prepare for the enthronement ceremony in two and a half months. He entrusted these matters to the Minister of Revenue.
The army’s smooth entry into the capital this time, although it was partly because the Fifth Prince abandoned the darkness and opened the city gates, it may also well have been due in part to the mediation of the Minister of Revenue. The Minister of Revenue’s daughter was rescued by Lu Huan years ago, and therefore he always held Lu Huan in high esteem.
The Yan state granted amnesty to all its states, and the capital was bustling with activity. Although it was a hot summer day, it was as prosperous as the Lantern Festival.
The only place in the capital that was having a hard time was the Ning Wang’s Mansion. Ning Wangfei and her entourage were both terrified that the new emperor would find fault with them and confiscate their property, and also filled with regret. If they had known that the young man who lived in Chaiyuan would become the emperor of Yan, they would never have treated him so harshly.
Ning Wang, who had been demoted to a remote region, finally couldn’t hold back any longer and sent a letter filled with curses, complaining that not only were his mother and wife useless, but they had also hindered his career, calling them utterly incompetent women. He had originally thought that his demotion would only last a few years, maybe a decade or so at most, but now, he was doomed, never to return to the capital.
Ning Wang couldn’t return, and the old lady, with her frail body, might die on the way due to the long journey. There was no way she could go. Thinking that she might not see her son before she died, the old lady almost fainted.
Of course, that was a story for another time.
The retired emperor was sent to the Yunzhou Palace to commemorate the life of Consort Qing.
Meanwhile, in the capital, historians officially began compiling and recording the achievements of the new emperor, Yan Qing.
….
Two months later, the civil and military officials and the common people discovered that the Yan Kingdom had a good emperor who did not love beautiful women or gold and silver. Anyone who sent a beauty to the palace would not only be questioned by the emperor, but would also inexplicably feel as if a ghost had choked them when they returned home, as if someone was angrily twisting them through a screen.
The beauties they sent were twisted, but the new emperor seemed quite happy, with a pleased expression and a hint of smugness.
Officials: …
What’s wrong with the new emperor?!
However, rumors gradually spread that this emperor loved to sleep.
Every day after leaving the Golden Palace and finishing his official duties, he would dismiss everyone except his personal guards, and sleep in the Daming Palace for an entire afternoon or evening without even having dinner.
This made the rumors in the capital even more fantastical, with many believing that the new emperor might be cultivating immortality.
In any case, within just two months of the new emperor’s ascension to the throne, the Yan Kingdom was transformed and flourished. He was the most outstanding and wise ruler in the history of the Yan Kingdom.
….
Three months later, the new emperor’s coronation ceremony was held simply. Because the Yan Kingdom was in dire need of reconstruction, everything was kept simple, and there was no extravagance. Although Su Xi could not attend, she watched Lu Huan’s coronation process with great interest on the screen. She even projected it onto the wall for Huo Jingchuan and Gu Qin to watch.
Huo Jingchuan and Gu Qin went crazy, pointing at the projector: “That young emperor looks more and more like Lu Huan! And Yan Qing, isn’t that Lu Huan’s name on his ID card? Did Lu Huan go to film a TV show?”
Su Xi was almost laughing hysterically, and said, “His family invested in making a short film for him.”
Huo Jingchuan & Gu Qin: …
He really is a rich kid. Damn, at most they would take some artistic photos in their school uniforms to commemorate their high school graduation, but this guy had a commemorative short film for his coronation ceremony.
Etc–
Huo Jingchuan then asked in confusion, “Why is there a line of text above Lu Huan’s head that reads: ‘Lu Huan, who is eighteen years old and can marry and have children in Yan’?”
Su Xi was overjoyed and about to speak when she suddenly saw Lu Huan, who was walking towards the Heavenly Staircase, raise his eyes. He seemed to realize they were watching him, and quite unexpectedly, the line of text above Lu Huan’s head changed to—
“Lu Huan must marry Su Xi.”
Su Xi: …
Huo Jingchuan & Gu Qin: …
Even watching a short video forces you to witness PDA; being Su Xi’s best friend is really tough.
Su Xi was stunned, and immediately jumped up from the sofa with her face flushed. Now she knew why Lu Huan’s nickname above his head suddenly changed from “Cub” to “Lu Huan who is seventeen years old and can marry and have children in Yan Kingdom”. It turned out that it had nothing to do with the system. Lu Huan changed it himself!
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