Chapter 320 Heirs
Liu Jinzhang's insistence on retiring was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a well-thought-out one.
Firstly, the Great Qi is now at peace, the court is stable, the emperor and his ministers are harmonious, there is no longer any war on the borders, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.
This veteran minister, who had served two dynasties, was no longer of any use in stabilizing the court.
Withdrawing at this point would give the younger generation in the court room to make their moves.
Secondly, it was because of the rumors that were spreading throughout the city.
He knew better than anyone that Li Yuanzhao had absolutely no romantic feelings for him.
Li Yuanzhao had no regard for ethics or moral principles.
If she truly fell for someone, she would act directly, just as she did with Choi Go-ro, and wouldn't resort to any "stand-in" tricks.
However, the secret thoughts he had kept hidden in his heart all these years, never uttered aloud, would be glimpsed by her because of this absurd rumor.
That is true annihilation.
Only after he leaves will those unfounded rumors gradually subside with time.
And his feelings could be buried forever, never to see the light of day.
Only in this way can the relationship between ruler and subject be preserved, leaving her with the last shred of clean and dignified dignity.
As for cultivating the Tao, that was a destination he had already decided upon.
In his life, he had no relatives or descendants, and was all alone. Having left the court, where else could he go if he did not become a monk?
As for why he didn't enter the Buddhist order but chose a Taoist temple instead.
Buddhism emphasizes purifying the six senses and severing worldly ties.
He still harbored deep feelings and was deeply in love; how could he possibly detach himself from worldly desires?
Only Taoism could allow him to cling to this lingering attachment to the mortal world, spending his remaining years amidst the morning bells and evening drums, the dim light of ancient scrolls and the quietude of the night.
From now on, the mountain moon need not know the thoughts of my old friend, nor need my old friend see the mountain moon in its loneliness.
She guarded her kingdom, and he guarded his path; never to meet again was the best ending.
However, Li Yuanzhao's days were no longer leisurely.
With peace prevailing domestically and tranquility prevailing across the land, even the civil and military officials in the imperial court gradually found themselves with leisure time, seemingly having nothing to do.
When people have free time, their minds tend to become more active.
Having grown tired of hearing about the emperor's romantic escapades, their attention turned to the most important matter: the foundation of the nation.
Your Majesty is now twenty-six years old and has been married for seven years.
In an ordinary family, the children would probably already be able to run and jump, and be surrounded by their parents.
However, despite having numerous ministers and beauties in his harem, His Majesty has yet to produce a single heir.
This has truly caused considerable concern among many people.
In previous years, he could use the excuse of the intense war and busy political affairs to temporarily put aside the matter of having children.
But now that the world is at peace, and His Majesty has the leisure to travel, hold banquets, and go hunting, there is no longer any room for refusal regarding the matter of having offspring.
The court officials had long witnessed Li Yuanzhao's ruthless methods, and none of them dared to openly provoke the emperor.
He could only offer indirect advice in his memorials, with every word revolving around the importance of the nation's foundation and the succession of offspring.
At palace banquets, there are always some old ministers who, emboldened by alcohol, stroke their gray beards and sigh, implying that "the country and its people need successors."
However, Li Yuanzhao easily brushed aside all these indirect inquiries.
Today they say "no rush," tomorrow they say "let nature take its course." After being repeatedly met with setbacks, the court officials are as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but they have no solution whatsoever.
Left with no other option, the helpless ministers pinned all the blame for the lack of an heir on the Empress.
The court officials repeatedly submitted memorials, saying that the Empress was "not virtuous enough to match her position and had failed to assist His Majesty in continuing the family line."
Her words not only forced His Majesty to take the matter of having an heir seriously, but also put pressure on Pei Huaijin, the Empress, to "take action."
Pei Huaijin felt wronged and helpless.
His Majesty is clearly in good health, and the harem is not deserted, with the ladies-in-waiting taking turns to receive his favor, yet none of them have conceived.
He was not unaware of the strangeness of the situation.
He vaguely guessed that the problem might lie with Physician Lin, who had long been transferred to Guangnan.
Back then, the "soothing and health-strengthening" medicine prescribed by Physician Lin was required to be taken regularly by every official in the harem.
Looking back now, that medicine was probably not a supplement, but a contraceptive.
But he didn't understand why His Majesty insisted on making everyone take the medicine, and why he was unwilling to stop giving everyone the medicine until now.
During his time serving the emperor, he subtly hinted several times that "everyone in the harem longs for an imperial heir."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yuanzhao coldly interrupted him, saying, "I know what I'm doing, Empress, there's no need for you to say more," leaving him speechless.
From then on, he dared not mention it again, letting the court officials spit on him.
But what could they do? The court officials were in a panic.
Such a vast empire, if there is no successor, won't there be renewed strife after His Majesty passes away?
If the foundation of the nation is shaken, that would be a tremendous disaster!
Amidst their deep concern, some began to suspect that the emperor's health was failing, which was why he had been childless for so long.
In a short time, various places openly and secretly presented a lot of tonics, rare prescriptions and precious tributes, which made Li Yuanzhao's blood rush and his stomach remain silent.
Meanwhile, others have been secretly plotting to persuade His Majesty to adopt the Fourth Princess's son as the heir to the throne, in order to appease the people.
Others pinned their last hope on Prime Minister Su, the only person in the court who could speak to the emperor, hoping she could persuade His Majesty.
However, this move is indeed somewhat absurd.
Su Qingci has served as an official for nearly nine years. He is over twenty-seven years old and still unmarried, making him an "out-of-place" figure in the eyes of the court and the public.
These court officials had long worried about her marriage, trying to arrange it openly and secretly, but she refused them all.
Now, these desperate ministers are actually asking the prime minister, who himself is unmarried and childless, to persuade the emperor to have an heir as soon as possible.
It seems there's truly no other way.
Su Qingci's refusal to marry has its reasons.
Her mother died in childbirth shortly after her birth, leaving her with the reputation of being a mother-killer from a young age.
This instilled in her an instinctive fear of childbirth.
Once a woman in the world gets married, it seems that she is destined to go through the process of childbirth.
Just like Liu Liniang, who has been married for five years and has given birth to two nephews and nieces.
The two children were lovely and adorable, and although she was happy, she still couldn't escape the shadow of this tragedy.
Moreover, the Su family produced two prime ministers in one fell swoop.
My father held the official rank of Grand Commandant during his lifetime and was enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple after his death.
My younger brother married a high-ranking official at the Imperial Academy.
My younger sister has just passed the imperial examination and is already working at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Su Qingci, despite being a woman, held a high position in the imperial court, serving as prime minister and participating in government affairs.
The Su family today is no longer an ordinary family, but a newly emerging aristocratic clan. Their glory and favor have attracted the attention of the court and the public. How glorious they are!
If she were to choose another husband from a good family, it would inevitably arouse the emperor's suspicion.
If you choose someone from a poor family, and they don't agree with you, wouldn't you be asking for trouble?
Moreover, the decline of the five great families is still fresh in her mind. She only wants to be a loyal subject and does not want to cause trouble for His Majesty or arouse his suspicion.
Therefore, after careful consideration, she decided not to get married.
I will never be anyone's wife or mother; I will only be myself.
She can be so willful, but His Majesty cannot.
Your Majesty certainly has a throne to inherit!
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