Jinyi Spring

Chapter 202 Rewards

Emperor Jianzhang looked at the brother and sister who were crying together, his old face slightly red.

His Adam's apple bobbed a few times before he finally said, "Alas... It's also my fault. I never expected that Xue would be so audacious as to frame the Empress and my bloodline."

Although all the evidence pointed to Consort Xue, the case was not yet finalized. Emperor Jianzhang, however, had already convicted her.

He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice, "I will give the Xiao family and you all an explanation for this matter."

The crying gradually subsided.

Emperor Jianzhang leaned back on his dragon throne, exhaled a long breath, and slowly shifted his gaze from his kneeling son to his daughter's face in front of him.

The flickering candlelight inside the hall cast intermittent light on his face.

After a moment of silence, he spoke, "The name Chuchen is excellent. Issue my decree—from this moment forth, Feng Chuchen is my eldest daughter, bestowed the surname Shui, her given name remaining Chuchen. Chuchen is the eldest princess, and the other princesses will be ranked accordingly. As for the titles…"

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "The title shall be Princess Yong'an. She shall be granted ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of silk, twenty pairs of jewelry and ornaments, and all dowry items, which shall be prepared by the Imperial Household Department in accordance with the established practice."

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall felt a chill run down their spines.

The emperor's other five princesses have not yet been granted titles, but this eldest daughter, who has been living among the common people for sixteen years, is the first to be granted one.

Shui Chuchen was her maiden name.

Emperor Jianzhang paused briefly, his gaze darkening slightly, and continued, "The birth mother of Prince Qin and Princess Yong'an, Lady Xiao, is posthumously honored as Empress Xiaoxian and buried with the rites due to an empress. Although a family memorial service has been held at Prince Qin's residence, Empress Xiaoxian was my first wife and the mother of the nation, and her funeral rites cannot be limited to family matters. A memorial hall will be set up at Kunning Palace to treat her with the rites due to a state memorial service."

He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice, "Xiao Shi... died a violent death, her body incomplete, my heart is deeply grieved. I hereby order the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day, set up an altar at the main gate of the palace, and invite a high-ranking monk to perform the ritual of summoning the soul, so as to bring back the spirit of Empress Xiaoxian."

"The five princes and six princesses are all dressed in mourning for Empress Xiaoxian. Their coffins will be kept in state for seven days, with monks and Taoist priests chanting sutras for their salvation each day. All officials will come to pay their respects, and women of the fourth rank and above will enter the palace to mourn. The Ministry of Works is to expedite the repair of the mausoleum without any delays."

Shui Chuchen took two steps back and knelt down with Prince Qin, kowtowing, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Qin Wang's voice choked with emotion, as if he were deeply moved.

Minister Min of the Ministry of Works clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Emperor Jianzhang then turned his attention to Qin Wang, his eldest son whom he had been carefully grooming. Now was the best time to appoint him as crown prince.

The Taiji Hall was quiet for a moment.

After a short while, Emperor Jianzhang finally spoke, “Prince Qin is born to the Empress, and is benevolent, filial, kind, and far-sighted. I have received the Mandate of Heaven to establish the eldest son of the legitimate wife, as this is the foundation of the nation. I hereby appoint Prince Qin as Crown Prince, placing him in the Eastern Palace, to solidify the foundation of the nation and bring peace to the world.”

Prince Qin suddenly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, then prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead striking the gold bricks heavily, his voice choked with emotion, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness! Your subject will certainly be diligent and frugal, and live up to Your Majesty's high expectations!"

He knelt there, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if all the grievances and forbearance of the past ten years had been dissolved in this single word of gratitude.

Chief Minister Zhang was the first to kneel down, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent; the world is fortunate indeed!"

The assembled officials knelt down in unison, shouting, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Jianzhang waved his hand, signaling them to rise. He continued to proclaim the imperial edict: "Xiao Zheng's title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households is restored, and he is posthumously granted the title of General of the Cavalry. Although Minister Xiao is no longer with us, his title will be inherited by his son, Xiao Henian. He is also granted a thousand taels of gold, a thousand acres of fertile land, the first of five courtyards in the capital, and one hundred bolts of silk."

"Wang Tu was meritorious for saving Princess Yong'an. He disfigured himself and endured half his life in silence, making a great contribution to overturning the verdict. His loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. He was awarded the title of General of the Cavalry, a second-rank official. His wife was granted the title of Lady of the Second Rank. His son was granted admission to the Imperial Academy. He was also granted 5,000 taels of silver, the finest residence in the capital, 500 mu of fertile land, and 50 bolts of silk."

"The female physician Cai was meritorious in saving Princess Yong'an and faced death without fear. She was posthumously awarded the title of Third-Rank Virtuous Lady and bestowed with the imperial plaque 'Righteousness and Loyalty Endure.' One of her sons was granted the honorary title of Chengde Lang, a sixth-rank official, and another son was admitted to the Imperial Academy. She was also granted three thousand taels of silver, five hundred mu of fertile land, and fifty bolts of silk."

"The mother of Qianying, Doctor Feng, was meritorious in saving Princess Yong'an and treated her as her own daughter, raising her with excellent care. She was posthumously granted the title of Third-Rank Lady and bestowed with the imperial plaque 'Compassionate Nurturing of the Imperial Family.' Princess Yong'an's adoptive father was posthumously granted the title of Fengyi Dafu, a fifth-rank official, and her adoptive mother, Feng Yao, was posthumously granted the title of Fifth-Rank Yiren. Feng Buji was granted the privilege of entering the Imperial Academy at the age of fifteen and succeeding his father, Feng Qiu'en, as Fengyi Dafu. In addition, he was granted three thousand taels of silver, five hundred mu of fertile land, and fifty bolts of silk."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his voice regaining its usual coolness, "The other meritorious personnel shall be rewarded generously by the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites, and shall be granted additional gold and silver as a sign of commendation."

Once the decree was issued, the entire hall fell silent.

Xiao Henian knelt down, tears streaming down his face, his voice choked with emotion, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

What excited them most was not the rewards they received, but that the loyalist had finally been named crown prince.

When Zhang, the chief minister, concurrently served as the Minister of Rites, he, along with Minister Tang of the Ministry of Personnel and Vice Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Revenue, loudly proclaimed, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Minister of Revenue Xue Jixiang has been suspended from his post and is under investigation. The Ministry of Revenue is temporarily under the full authority of Vice Minister Jiang.

Emperor Jianzhang's gaze then fell on Princess Yong'an. "Yong'an will temporarily reside in the Princess's residence. Have people renovate Renshou Palace. Renshou Palace is next to Kunning Palace. Before Yong'an gets married, she will move there. It's closer to where her mother used to live."

According to the rules of the Great Yan Dynasty, princesses live with their birth mothers when they are young, and move into the Princess Residence when they turn twelve, where they live independently. Before their marriage, they are granted a title, and then live in a separate residence with their husbands.

The second princess, Shui Raofu, was sixteen years old and lived in the princess's residence.

The third princess, Shui Raohua, was twelve years old and also resided in the princess's quarters.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth princesses were still young and lived with their birth mother.

Only Yong'an—the eldest princess who had been living among the common people for sixteen years and was only returning today—was granted a title and also had her own palace.

The court officials bowed their heads in silence, all understanding that this was the emperor's compensation for his daughter, who was sixteen years late, and a debt owed to her birth mother, Empress Xiaoxian.

Shui Chuchen paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and knelt down, "Your subject... thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Her voice was obedient and soft, but her back was ramrod straight. No one saw the fleeting sarcasm that crossed her eyes when she lowered them.

This is the art of imperial strategy...

He wanted the world to know that he cherished the past and had deep feelings for Empress Xiaoxian. He deeply regretted being deceived when he banished her to the Zixia Nunnery. He not only bestowed upon Empress Xiaoxian the highest honors but also did his utmost to make amends to her two children.

Emperor Jianzhang's voice rang out again, "Rise. Crown Prince and Anfu, go together to arrange the mourning hall for Empress Xiaoxian, to fulfill your filial duties. All my ministers, you may leave. I will have a little more chat with Yong'an."

Anfu was the second most powerful eunuch by the Emperor's side, and also in charge of writing. (End of Chapter)