Emperor Xin was overjoyed upon hearing Fei Zhong's report and immediately returned to the palace. The next morning, after the court session, Emperor Xin addressed the assembled civil and military officials, saying, "Immediately issue my decree to the four vassal states, ordering each of them to select one hundred beautiful women from respectable families, regardless of wealth or status, based solely on their dignified appearance, gentle temperament, refined manners, and graceful conduct, to serve in the imperial harem."

As soon as the words were spoken, a man from the left rank stepped forward and prostrated himself, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister Shang Rong reports: When the ruler is virtuous, the people live in peace and prosperity, and obey without being commanded. Moreover, Your Majesty's harem is filled with no fewer than a thousand beauties, including concubines and empresses. Now, to openly select beauties from the masses may alienate the people. I have heard that 'He who rejoices in the people's joy, the people will also rejoice in his joy; he who grieves in the people's sorrow, the people will also grieve in his sorrow.' At this time, with frequent droughts and floods, indulging in women is truly unacceptable to Your Majesty. Therefore, Yao and Shun shared joy with the people, governing the world with benevolence and virtue, avoiding warfare and killing. Auspicious stars shone in the sky, sweet dew descended, phoenixes perched in the courtyard, and fragrant herbs grew in the fields; the people were prosperous and the land abundant, pedestrians gave way, dogs did not bark, nights rained and days were sunny, and rice grew in double ears." "This is a sign of prosperity and good fortune. But if Your Majesty indulges in the pleasures of the present, you will be dazzled by sights and sounds, your ears will be filled with lewd music, you will become addicted to wine and women, and you will roam the gardens and hunt in the mountains. This is a sign of ruin and destruction caused by immorality. As Prime Minister, holding a high position in the court, and having served Your Majesty for three generations, I must offer this advice. I urge Your Majesty to promote the virtuous and dismiss the unworthy, cultivate benevolence and righteousness, and understand morality. Then harmony will prevail throughout the land, naturally leading to wealth and prosperity for the people, peace and tranquility throughout the land, and boundless blessings shared by all. Moreover, the conflict in the North Sea has not yet ended; it is precisely the time to cultivate virtue, love the people, cherish resources, and value authority. Even Yao and Shun could not have done better. Why then must you fuss over selecting officials for pleasure? I am foolish and unaware of any taboos; I hope you will forgive my ignorance."

King Zhou was furious upon hearing this, thinking, "That old scoundrel, relying on his status as a veteran official of three reigns, just the other day I wrote a poem at the Nuwa Temple to praise the unparalleled beauty of the Goddess Nuwa, yet he insisted on leading the other ministers to remonstrate, nagging incessantly and disturbing my peace for a moment. Today I merely wish to select a few beauties to accompany the king, yet he comes out to make a racket again. He is truly despicable and should be severely punished!"

However, another voice in his heart said, "Shang Rong is a senior minister left behind by the late emperor. He has always been loyal to the country. How could he harm me?" The two thoughts kept changing in his mind, and the expression on Di Xin's face also changed.

The ministers were all sweating bullets for the old prime minister, because recently, the mind-controlling technique used by the Prime Minister had been slowly suppressing Emperor Xin's true dragon aura. Emperor Xin was becoming more and more irritable, and in the past few days he had already beaten several palace maids and servants to death.

After a long silence, Emperor Xin's reason finally prevailed over his evil thoughts, and he said, "Your words are very good. I will take back what I just said." After he finished speaking, the court officials left the court and the emperor returned to the palace.

Nineteen Soviet Union Protects Anti-Merchant

It was the eighth year of Emperor Xin's reign. In April of that year, the four great vassal states, each leading eight hundred garrisons, were to pay homage to the Shang emperor in Chaoge. At this time, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was not in the capital. King Zhou favored Fei Zhong and You Hun. Although ministers such as Shang Rong advised him, King Zhou was bewitched by the schemes of Zhunti and did not listen. As time went on, the vassal states all knew that these two controlled the government and abused their power. They had no choice but to bribe them to win their hearts, as the saying goes, "Before going to pay homage to the emperor, they first come to see the Grand Tutor."

Even Jiang Huanchu, the Marquis of Dongbo, with the rank of father-in-law of the emperor, had to condescend to attend. However, among these lords was one named Su Hu, the Marquis of Jizhou, a direct descendant of Emperor Yan Shennong. This man was of fiery temperament, upright and honest, and knew nothing of currying favor or ingratiating himself. He always upheld the law and punished those who committed the slightest injustice or illegality without exception. Therefore, neither of the two men had sent him any gifts. As fate would have it, on that day, the two men checked the list of gifts sent by all the lords in the land, except for Su Hu, who had no gift list. They were furious and harbored resentment.

On the day of the audience, Emperor Xin held court, and after all the civil and military officials had paid their respects, a eunuch stepped forward and said, "This year is the year of the imperial audience, and all the feudal lords of the land are paying their respects outside the Meridian Gate, awaiting Your Majesty's decision." Emperor Xin asked the prime minister, Shang Rong, how to handle the situation.

Shang Rong stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty may summon the leaders of the four garrisons to the court to inquire about the customs and traditions of the people, their moral character, their diligence, and the stability of the nation; the remaining garrisons shall all pay homage outside the Meridian Gate." Emperor Xin, upon hearing this, said, "What you say is quite right, my dear minister." He turned to the eunuch and said, "Summon the leaders of the four garrisons to the palace to pay homage to the Emperor, while the rest of the garrisons shall pay homage outside the Meridian Gate." Upon hearing the decree, the eight hundred garrison lords waiting outside the Meridian Gate shouted their congratulations, while the leaders of the four garrisons—East, South, West, and North—dressed in their court robes, lightly waving their jade scepters, entered the Meridian Gate, crossed the Nine Dragon Bridge, and arrived at the Dan Chi (red steps). After shouting their homage, they prostrated themselves before the palace, awaiting Emperor Xin's decree.

After Emperor Xin dismissed the four men, he inquired about local customs and traditions. The four men answered in turn, and Emperor Xin was overjoyed. He then ordered his prime minister, Shang Rong, and his deputy, Bi Gan, to prepare a banquet for them in the Xianqing Hall. The four ministers kowtowed in gratitude and left the imperial steps for the banquet in the Xianqing Hall.

After Emperor Xin left court, he summoned Fei Zhong and You Hun and asked, "The other day, I wanted to order the four vassal lords to present beautiful women, but Prime Minister Shang Rong stopped me. Now I wish to bring this up again, is that alright?" Fei Zhong and You Hun exchanged a glance and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty already promised the old Prime Minister the other day that you would not hold another beauty contest. If we bring this up again today, it will inevitably make people think that Your Majesty is not trustworthy to your subjects. We strongly believe that this is not advisable." They glanced cautiously at Emperor Xin and said, "We have heard that Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou has a daughter who is exceptionally beautiful and has a gentle and virtuous nature. If she were selected to enter the palace, she could serve at his side and be of good use. Moreover, selecting only one person's daughter would not disturb the people of the land and would not attract attention." It turned out that Fei Zhong and You Hun were angry that Su Hu refused to bribe them and were deliberately trying to punish him. They thought that Su Hu was upright and would certainly not send his daughter to the palace. In that case, the emperor would be furious, and Su Hu would lose his head, which would be a way of avenging Su Hu's disrespect. Emperor Xin was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately summoned Su Hu to the palace to discuss the matter.

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