Chapter 599.1: The Empress Governs the Country VIII

The Empress Governs the Country VIII (1)

Speaking of which, his Majesty although was a bit tyrannical, his decisions for the most part weren’t wrong. Compared to those licentious and muddled tyrants in history that were able to make the most devoted patriot vomit blood in anger, tossing skulls and spraying warm blood, not hesitating to use countless lives to admonish, their emperor truly was a brilliant ruler among brilliant rulers. In addition to the empress making up for the areas that were lacking, for the court officials of Yuan Qi Emperor’s reign, it should be a great fortune.

“Have someone compile information on the areas near the rivers that have problems every time there’s a flood, and dispatch someone from the Ministry of Works that’s skilled in water conservancy to survey on-site. Must find the cause and quickly resolve. Additionally, select a few more suitable personnels to send to the various regions to carry out inspection, not allow to have any mistakes.”

The Head Minister of Works stood out, “This subject will obey the decree.”

“The Ministry of Revenue will also send personnels to accompany along to properly handle the finances. How it is in the past, this empress temporarily won’t look into, but this time, if someone dares to embezzle a single copper coin, they will certainly be severely punished. Regardless whether it’s the people going down, or the local officials, have them all have their skin pulled tight for this empress.”

The Head Minister of Revenue stood out, “This subject will obey the decree.”

“The ruler and subjects make up a whole. The one sitting on top the mountains and rivers is his Majesty, but the world is nevertheless shared by all. When the world is at peace, everyone can be at peace together. When the common people live in peace and work happily, you all can also be relaxed and carefree. But, if there is a disaster, then that is also suffering together. And when the people become destitute and homeless, you all also don’t need to think about sleeping peacefully. This empress’s meaning, presumably, everyone all understand clearly.”

“We subjects understand.” The civil and military officials uniformly responded.

“Very good, if there’s anything else, have it presented up altogether.” Jing Wan slightly lowered her head, tidying her cuff. When lifting her head to look towards the court officials again, her gaze was clear and tranquil.

The court officials successively stood out, and Jing Wan for the most part handled the matters on the spot. It all wasn’t anything difficult.

In this way, there also wasn’t a need to discuss matters in the imperial study afterwards.

After court ended, Jing Wan directly went to Kunyi Palace. From far away, she already heard her son bawling.

“What’s wrong this time?” Jing Wan walked in, saying with a smile.

The palace servants hurriedly greeted. Jing Wan waved her hand, signaling them to rise.

“Imperial mother, imperial mother……..” He raised his chubby little hands, asking to be held.

When the little crown prince Li Tian Lin was nine months old, he could already have the words ‘imperial mother’ said clearly. Other phrases, the people serving by his side also taught quite a few, but whether he opened his mouth or not completely depended on his mood. When happy, he’ll follow along over and over, regardless whether he said it clearly or not, but when unhappy, he simply won’t pay you any attention. This tiny little child appeared to very much have his own mind. However, when facing Jing Wan, he would always give face. Once Jing Wan had him picked up, he just pecked her on her cheek.

His eyes clearly were still red, his tear stains having yet dried. Jing Wan smilingly tapped his little nose, “Little trickster, tell imperial mother, what are you crying for?” Taking the handkerchief from the palace maid’s hand, she wiped away his tears.

“Miss, miss, imperial mother, miss……..”

TN: All

Jing Wan smiled with her eyes slightly narrowed, don’t know who taught him this. In any case, she didn’t believe that this tiny son of hers can understand her meaning. However, this kind of thing, there was no need to bother over. Kissing his little face, “Imperial mother also misses Tian Lin.”

The little crown prince directly giggled, his little body vigorously moving about.

However, Jing Wan wasn’t weak without strength. As such, no matter how this little guy moved about, Jing Wan still held him firmly.

Once Jing Wan sat down, Gong mama voluntarily went up to massage Jing Wan’s shoulders. Today’s morning court was longer than usual. As the empress overseeing the imperial court, one certainly can’t relax in the slightest. As such, it was naturally quite tiring. Jing Wan, as usual, asked about her son’s situation today. Even though there were still quite a few memorandums, the main matters were already handled, so those weren’t that urgent. As such, Jing Wan prepared to spend a bit more time playing with her son.

Sitting among a pile of toys, he would pick one up from time to time and throw onto Jing Wan, smilingly exceptionally happy.

Jing Wan would also use the little toy to play with him, very much not having an image when playing.

At a certain moment, the little crown prince actually slowly stood up, but he was ultimately just a little over ten months old. With his little legs going limp, he just sat back down again. However, the little guy seemingly didn’t want to admit defeat.

Seeing him falling down again and again, the palace servants were scared witless. Jing Wan however was quite amused. Once her son reaches a year old, he should be able to walk.

“Your Highness, in another month or so, it’ll be the crown prince’s first birthday, so……” One of the little crown prince’s wet nurse carefully asked.

Gong mama expressionlessly glanced at her, but didn’t say anything, and that wet nurse also didn’t notice Gong mama’s expression, the eagerness to show off reflecting in her eyes.

Jing Wan also didn’t lift her head, picking up her son and sitting him on her lap, “This empress naturally is aware. For you all, your job is to properly take care of the crown prince. Everything else, no need to meddle in.” She calmly said.

That wet nurse’s complexion instantly turned somewhat pale, “Your Highness, this servant, this servant………”

Someone to the side suddenly grabbed her arm, “Still not shutting up, such behavior, what if you startle his Highness? Do you not know the offense?” The tone was sinister, yet they carried an amicable smile.

However, it was very obvious, with his mother present, it wasn’t easy for the others to attract the little crown prince’s attention.

Jing Wan finally lifted her head for a glance, waving her hand, not continuing to bother over it. It wasn’t because of benevolence, but rather, she remembered and also approved of her husband’s words. The people by her son’s side indeed didn’t need to be too clean. These people at most just had a bit of petty thoughts, not daring to go overboard. Between them, there was competition, all wanting to become the most valued one, and at the same time, they also mutually kept an eye on one another.

Once the little guy got tired from playing, becoming somewhat sleepy, Jing Wan finally let them have him carried down.

“Your Highness, for your royal birthday on the second of the second month, the imperial decree had already been issued before the end of the year to not hold. His Highness’s one year old birthday on the ninth of the third month, if to also not hold, won’t it be inappropriate?” Gong mama softly said.

Right now, in the palace, there was just a total of two masters, so the opportunity to openly send gifts was just very limited. Continuing like this, it will also make the court officials somewhat uneasy. Besides, the empress not holding her birthday, it won’t really be announced to the world. The local officials will also be sending gifts in due time.

“Then just hold it, and have it held grandly. In the war with Southern Qi, his Majesty has occupied the upper hand, repeatedly winning. This is something worth being happy over. Also inform the various families, have the boys in the family over one and under five all brought along. Of course, the others, if they want to enter the palace along with their elders, it’s also fine.”

“Your Highness, this is planning on……….”

“Just picking some playmates for Tian Lin. In this enormous imperial palace, there’s just him, this one child. For children, it’s still best for them to interact with children of the same age more. We can also use the opportunity to observe. In a few years, when Tian Lin starts his schooling, what kind of nature they have, we will for the most part understand. As such, it’ll also be convenient when selecting the study companions.”

“Your Highness is right.”

Jing Wan’s imperial decree naturally very quickly just passed down. Even though it wasn’t stated that clearly, the implications within, everyone for the most part was all able to guess.

Previously, back during the little crown prince’s bathing ceremony, certain people had already started having thoughts. Originally, they were similarly waiting until he started his schooling before making a move, just never thought that the opportunity would come this early. Thus, there was nothing left to say, each and every one all rubbing their palms, having their children pulled before them, desperately teaching them the rules. And for those that were a bit bigger, they even taught them how to ‘curry favor’ with the crown prince and the empress. Of course, for the people that would do this, what they were thinking about was naturally just the benefits, and not their own child.

Of course, the ones that would go this far were just the minority after all. For a pint-sized child, they can’t even walk properly yet, let alone learn rules.

For the majority of the people, their thoughts still varied, for example:

“Since her Highness wants to let us have them brought into the palace, then when time comes, just bring them along, no need to say or do anything else.”

“What exactly her Highness wishes to do, it’s still unknown. Besides, with the age this small, what can they do? It’s nothing more than just playing along and following along, just like a servant. What does her Highness want them for? Does the crown prince not have enough people serving him?”

“Don’t even bother wasting time, just that little bastard of yours, entirely just a demon lord, aggressive to no end, even daring to hit his older brothers and sisters. In a month, can you even have him sorted out properly? Even if becoming obedient temporarily, when really reaching the crown prince’s side, what if he starts snatching the crown prince’s things, or even hit the crown prince? Is it bringing in benefit for the family, or courting disaster?”

Also, there were those shu sons of suitable age. Once their own mother hear the news, they certainly won’t be willing to pass over this kind of opportunity. However, they don’t have the qualifications to enter the palace, and the main wife naturally don’t want the shu sons to stand out, so it will certainly be another big battle.

Cases like this were too numerous to mention.

Speaking of which, the empress wanting to pick people, the most suitable choice was still the people of the Luo family. Thus, there really were people that went to look for the Luo family, wanting to indirectly dig out even more information. Even the other clansmen of the Luo clan were all somewhat restless. After all, in Luo Pei Shan’s branch, the children that were of a suitable age, not a single one was in the capital. As the saying goes, don’t let one’s own fertile water flow into others’ fields, so naturally should have the other children of the Luo clan sent in. And if they really become favored by her Highness, then that was just scaling the heavens in one step.

Although their abacus was clicking loudly, but unfortunately, the Luo family actually all adhered to Luo Pei Shan’s branch, and Luo Pei Shan just has Luo Pei Song, this one brother. Among the others, one for the most part was just unable to find many that were presentable. In a sense, it was just the good ones becoming increasingly better, while the ones that were declining, just increasingly declining. Speaking of which, it’s not that Luo Pei Shan has never tried to support them before. Back in Qi’an Fu, their ancestral home, he’d long established a manor school, inviting a pretty good teacher, but the problem was that they just didn’t improve, so what can he do?

It was just like the entire clan’s good fortune all got sucked up by Luo Pei Shan’s branch.

And Luo Pei Shan has always held his own principles. The Luo family right now was already extremely glorious, so no need to add flowers on top of brocade. On this matter, unless Jing Wan voluntarily mention, otherwise, he absolutely won’t involve himself. That’s why, don’t bother with sentiments and whatnot, on his side, it all won’t work.

Not only so, whatever Jing Wan wants to do, he also won’t go question.

Right now, as the only imperial in-law family, they must act and speak carefully. Luo Pei Shan was very familiar with history, very clear as to what kind of endings those ostentatious imperial in-laws had in the end. What he wants isn’t just two to three generations of glory for the Luo family, but for the Luo family to continue on for a very very long time. The Luo family’s glory right now was already enough.

If he doesn’t loosen his mouth, then even if looking for the others of the Luo family, it’ll also be useless. Even if having resentment inside, they still can only vent it out in secret.