Chapter 107 The Father of the First Empress
Recently, things have been unusually calm in the North.
The power struggle between Li Yuanzhao and Cui Shiliang has temporarily subsided, and the border is unusually peaceful and stable. Even the emperor's headaches, which have plagued him for many years, have been relieved.
On this afternoon, the autumn sun shone brightly, and the Taiye Pond in the Imperial Garden shimmered with light.
His Majesty was in high spirits and specially ordered fishing rods to be prepared, inviting the Duke of Liang to go fishing together.
The willows on the bank droop their slender branches, and a gentle breeze brings a refreshing coolness.
The Emperor sat on a cushioned nanmu chair, holding an exquisite jade-handled fishing rod in his hand. The line was lowered into the pond, creating delicate ripples.
Although the Duke of Liang beside him was nearly seventy years old and had white hair and beard, he was still nimble and energetic, bending down to adjust the bait on the fishing hook.
This Duke of Liang was no ordinary minister; he was a key minister who assisted the emperor in ascending the throne.
Back when His Majesty was still a prince, he was merely an adjutant under the late Empress. With his martial arts skills and exceptional wisdom, he earned the late Empress's deep trust.
After the late empress passed away, he took on the important task of assisting the emperor and made great contributions to stabilizing the court.
Now that he is old, he took the initiative to resign and gradually withdrew from the central government.
He only occasionally came to the palace to chat and play chess with the emperor, making him a rare "stabilizing force" in the court.
After Liang Guogong finished baiting the fish, he looked up and saw that the Emperor's hand holding the fishing rod was steady and not trembling, and his eyes were much clearer than usual. He couldn't help but smile and speak.
"His Majesty seems to be in much better health recently. He looks even more energetic than when we met last month."
The Emperor smiled upon hearing this, his gaze falling on the fishing float bobbing in the pond, his tone somewhat relaxed.
"Thanks to the filial piety of the sparrow servant, he found a famous doctor for me some time ago, and the daily treatment has been quite effective."
Duke Liang said, "The eldest princess is extremely filial. Not only is she always concerned about His Majesty's health, but she also shares His Majesty's burdens in matters of state. With such a daughter, His Majesty can have less to worry about."
The Emperor paused slightly in his grip on the fishing rod, his eyes narrowing. "Indeed, to have such a daughter is a great blessing for me."
Duke Liang was extremely perceptive and naturally understood the subtle meaning in the words, but he did not point it out and simply laughed it off.
"I have only two sons in my life. Although they are filial, they are not very attentive. I have often heard people say that daughters are their parents' little cotton-padded jackets. Now that I see Your Majesty has such a talented, filial and sensible daughter as the Princess, I regret it a little. If I had been able to have a daughter back then, I might have enjoyed more of that warmth and care now."
The Emperor laughed at his words, "Even if you were to have a daughter, I'm afraid she wouldn't be as accomplished in both literature and martial arts, and as filial as my Que Nu."
Duke Liang immediately replied, "Of course. The eldest princess is the flesh and blood of His Majesty and the Empress, a woman of exceptional beauty, far beyond the reach of ordinary people."
At this moment, the Emperor seemed to remember something and said, "Sometimes when I look at Que Nu, I feel a little dazed... Tell me, does Que Nu resemble me more, or A Lang more?"
Duke Liang feigned seriousness and said, "Forgive me for speaking frankly, but compared to Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess is more like the Empress. Although they do not look very alike, her decisive and efficient methods and her courage in making decisions are exactly the same as the Empress's."
He paused, his gaze slowly drifting into the distance. "I still remember that when Your Majesty was in the army, although you were a woman, you were more courageous than any man. I remember once when we were surrounded by the enemy in a valley, with less than half the strength of theirs, all the soldiers panicked, but Your Majesty remained calm and composed. She personally climbed the mountain to survey the terrain and even devised a 'feint attack' strategy on the spot. The way she commanded with her sword at that time was almost identical to the heroic figure of the Princess on the polo field that day."
"Yes..." His Majesty responded softly, his voice slightly hoarse, "Que Nu is just like her mother in every way, even that indomitable spirit is exactly the same."
His eyes were somewhat dazed. "In the blink of an eye, eighteen years have passed, and I have almost forgotten what A-Lang looks like."
His gaze became distant, as if he were immersed in past memories, and his voice was as soft as a breeze, carrying a complex mix of emotions that no one could perceive.
"Back in the day, who in the army didn't know Shen Lang's formidable reputation? Who still remembers that I, the Prince of Yan, was the true commander-in-chief?"
Duke Liang's heart sank.
His Majesty has never said these words in front of anyone.
He lowered his eyes, not daring to reply, and just listened quietly.
“When marching and fighting, all the generals must first consult A-Lang’s opinion and get her approval before reporting back to me.” The Emperor’s tone was unreadable. “Even you back then, didn’t you often say that ‘the Empress’s plans are the most reliable’?”
"Your Majesty..." Duke Liang wanted to defend himself, but was interrupted by the Emperor raising his hand.
"I don't blame you." The Emperor sighed softly, his gaze returning to the pond, where the fishing float remained still on the surface. "I know A-Lang's abilities better than anyone. If it weren't for her, I might not have won the struggle for the throne back then, let alone been able to secure this empire."
Seeing that the Emperor's tone had softened, the Duke of Liang quickly followed up with words of comfort, "Your Highness has devoted yourself to governing the Great Qi over the years, ensuring favorable weather and national peace, and has also raised such an outstanding daughter as the Eldest Princess. I believe that if the Empress were alive today, she would be pleased to see this."
This time, the emperor did not reply, but stared silently at the motionless fishing float in the pond, his emotions becoming increasingly complex.
In fact, before Li Yuanzhao turned fifteen, he had been grooming her to be the future crown prince.
After all, she was his and Alang's only daughter, and she had been exceptionally talented since childhood.
He knew in his heart that if he could truly hand over the country to Que Nu, with her abilities and temperament, the Great Qi would surely usher in an unprecedented golden age.
However, since Que Nu entered the court to manage state affairs, her performance has put him in a dilemma.
She was too dazzling and too powerful.
This ability pleased him, but it also made him more wary.
Especially as I get older, headaches become more frequent and my health deteriorates day by day, this fear intensifies.
Just like the relationship between emperors and their crown princes throughout history, they feared that the crown prince would be unworthy and unable to support the country; they also feared that the crown prince would be too outstanding and covet the power in their hands early on.
What troubled him even more was the hidden worry in his heart.
If he really makes Que Nu the first female emperor in history, then what about Li Ye?
In historical records, he is only mentioned briefly—"the father of an empress."
Future generations will only remember that the Great Qi produced an empress who would last for ages. Who will remember how her father worked hard to govern the country and pacify the world?
Just like he was back then, standing beside Shen Lang.
It seems that half a lifetime of hard work has been used to benefit others.
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