Chapter 140 The First-Rank Right Chancellor Enters the Secretariat
While Xiao Linyuan was indulging in pleasure as a treacherous minister in the Yin Kingdom, in early winter of October, Zou Dong, a veteran official of three reigns and Minister of Justice, passed away in the capital at the age of seventy-three.
Zou Dong had outstanding political achievements in local areas. After entering the capital, he was in charge of the Ministry of Justice. He was an upright and selfless official, and the people praised him as a good official. Emperor Gaozu and the previous emperor also relied on him very much.
Emperor Yuanxing had only been on the throne for less than a year and his relationship with Zou Dong was not deep. However, as the heir apparent of the royal family and the crown prince, Emperor Yuanxing had grown up listening to stories of the old ministers, senior officials, and some corrupt officials in the capital. Now that a veteran of three reigns had passed away, Emperor Yuanxing was deeply saddened and personally led several civil and military officials to Zou's residence to offer condolences. He also posthumously granted Zou the title of Duke of Su.
Luo Fu also took her two children to the Zou residence to pay their respects. Her father-in-law and two brothers-in-law had no personal relationship with Zou Dong, but Xiao Yu had assisted the three judicial departments, including Zou Dong, in investigating the case of the deposed crown prince's dereliction of duty in disaster relief when Emperor Gaozu thoroughly investigated the case. Later, Xiao Yu served as the director of the Censorate and the Grand Censor, and often had contact with Zou Dong, the Minister of Justice.
In official matters, Xiao Yu and Zou Dong were familiar colleagues. In private, Xiao Yu respected Zou Dong greatly, and whenever Zou Dong was unwell, Xiao Yu would visit him.
Given their friendship, Luo Fu naturally had to make the trip, and she even held Xiao Yu, who was sighing deeply, and comforted him that night.
Xiao Yu held his wife's hand and sighed again, "The two prime ministers and six ministers who served when I first entered the court have all passed away within a decade or so. With Elder Zou gone, now only Prime Minister Liu and Prime Minister Xu remain." There were also two emperors; Emperor Gaozu died of old age, and the late emperor…
Xiao Yu promptly interrupted his reminiscence of the late emperor to avoid losing his composure again.
The winter night was cold. Luo Fu leaned against Xiao Yu's warm and broad embrace. Perhaps because she had little experience dealing with those important officials, she didn't share Xiao Yu's deep sorrow. After listening silently for a while, she stroked his chest and said, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are things no one can stop. Now you're seeing others off, but in thirty or forty years, it will be the younger generation seeing us off. By the way, several old officials have been posthumously granted the title of Duke. When it's your turn, will you also be able to get a Duke title?"
Although such posthumous dukedoms are not passed down to one's descendants, they are still a great honor. Luo Fu smiled and guessed Xiao Yu's dukedom title: "It depends on whether the emperor still likes you or not at that time. If he does, given your temperament, he might bestow upon you the title of Duke Zhao or Duke Zhuang. If he doesn't like you, he might bestow upon you the title of Duke Jue or Duke Lu..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yu covered his mouth.
Luo Fu kept laughing to herself, her soft lips brushing against Xiao Yu's palm. Considering that Old Zou had just left, Xiao Yu didn't do anything.
Despite his sadness, they were not close relatives, and the next day Xiao Yu went to the palace to perform his duties as usual.
However, not long after Zou Dong's burial, the 71-year-old Left Chancellor Liu Baoxiu also took sick leave due to a cold.
A cold is not a serious illness for a young person, but it's hard to say for an elderly person of this age. After the court session ended in the evening, Xiao Yu, at the behest of Emperor Yuanxing, came to the Liu residence to visit the old prime minister. Just as he was led to the main courtyard by Liu Baoxiu's eldest son, a violent coughing fit came from the main room, making everyone feel sorry for the old prime minister.
When Liu Baoxiu saw Xiao Yu and learned that the Emperor had summoned him, he shed a few tears of gratitude for the Emperor's favor. After calming down, he asked his son and the servants around him to leave and leaned against the headboard to speak with Xiao Yu alone.
“Yuanzhi, we have served in the same court for more than ten years and we know each other’s personalities very well. I will speak frankly.”
Xiao Yu listened respectfully.
Looking at Xiao Yu, who was about to turn forty, by the bedside, Liu Baoxiu smiled bitterly. Xiao Yu, whose eyes were clear, handsome and refined, seemed to still be in his youth. He said, "I really envy you. None of us prime ministers, whether we've passed away or are still alive, have become ministers in our thirties. You're amazing. You've been appointed minister twice before you were even forty, and you're about to become prime minister."
Xiao Yu: "Please don't say that, sir. The imperial physician has already prescribed a medicine. Please rest and recuperate. You will be able to return to court to handle state affairs in a couple of days."
Liu Baoxiu shook his head: "I'm just sick, not senile yet, and I know whether I can get better or not. It's alright, I've lived a worthwhile life, and there's nothing to regret. But you, you still have such a long way to go, so today I'll take advantage of my age and give you a few words of advice."
Xiao Yu listened attentively.
Liu Baoxiu told Xiao Yu about Emperor Gaozu from his perspective. At the beginning of the dynasty, Emperor Gaozu was like the current Emperor Yuanxing: diligent in governance, loving the people, good at recognizing and appointing capable officials, and cleansing up officialdom—a wise ruler recognized by all his ministers. However, as Emperor Gaozu's reign lengthened and his two northern expeditions failed, he gradually became autocratic, as evidenced by the three ministers who were punished and killed for advising against the expeditions.
Liu Baoxiu: "His Majesty has just ascended the throne and needs the assistance of veteran ministers in the court, especially you, a famous loyal and virtuous minister in the previous two reigns. His Majesty is probably willing to be on equal footing with you. But His Majesty will eventually become too powerful, just like when his own children grow up. Even if the parents' advice is right, the children will not like to listen. At that time, you have to carefully weigh the degree of your advice. Try to give way to the Emperor as much as possible in small matters, and only offer advice at crucial moments."
Xiao Yu was a new pillar of the court whom these old ministers had watched rise step by step through perilous paths. Xiao Yu's official career was different from theirs, which made them both envious of his rapid rise and terrified.
Of course, there were times of injustice, but he was nearing his end, and all he had left for Xiao Yu was hope. He hoped that Xiao Yu could assist the new emperor in creating a peaceful and prosperous era, pacifying the various Han Chinese and quelling the barbarian tribes, and that the loyal and virtuous Xiao Yu would have a peaceful end. By this time, Xiao Yu had already gained high rank and power, and the younger generation dared not offer him advice; only he could offer his reminders.
Xiao Yu could choose to listen or not, but Liu Baoxiu had to fulfill his duty. Emperor Yuanxing probably wouldn't want to listen to his nagging, but as long as his reminders could keep Xiao Yu by Emperor Yuanxing's side, then with Xiao Yu around, it could be guaranteed that no major mistakes would occur during Emperor Yuanxing's reign.
Xiao Yu understood the old prime minister's good intentions and wrote down every single word.
Five days later, on the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month, the Left Chancellor Liu Baoxiu passed away.
Emperor Yuanxing also personally visited the Liu residence to pay his respects. He even shed tears in front of Liu Baoxiu's coffin because of the successive deaths of veterans from three reigns. Before returning to the palace, he even went to the residence of his old brother-in-law, Gao Kun, for a while. Gao Kun then took a big bite of a whole fruit to prove that he was only a little inconvenient in his legs and that his teeth were still fine. Only then did Emperor Yuanxing leave with relief.
The two chancellors of the Secretariat bore heavy responsibilities and were busier than the emperor. It was not advisable for them to be absent for too long. At the court meeting on the nineteenth day of the eleventh month, Emperor Yuanxing transferred Xu Lian, the right chancellor, to the left chancellor and promoted Xiao Yu, the minister of work, to the right chancellor.
No one objected, and Xiao Yu knelt down to receive the imperial decree and express his gratitude.
After the court session ended, Xiao Yu went directly to the Secretariat with the Left Chancellor, Xu Lian.
Xiao Yu and Xu Lian were old acquaintances. The north-south canal connecting the prosperous Jiangnan region with Zhuojun in Jizhou was dug by Xiao Yu, Xu Lian (then Minister of Works), and Chen Wenqi (Director of Water Conservancy). Now that they were both officials in the Secretariat, the two of them were spared the process of getting to know each other again.
Xu Lian is sixty-six years old this year and is quite healthy, but he knows very well that he is not as favored by Emperor Yuanxing as Xiao Yu, and his appointment as Left Chancellor is entirely based on seniority.
"I'm getting old, and I'll have to rely on Yuanzhi to take care of the affairs of the Secretariat in the future."
Driven by lust for power, Xu Lian, despite knowing Xiao Yu's character well, still tried to curry favor with him first, lest Xiao Yu be after all.
Xiao Yu glanced at Xu Lian's still relatively black hair and said, "I remember when Prime Minister Xu led the laborers to dig the North-South Canal, he personally handled every matter, big or small, for fear of causing resentment among the people of the three prefectures due to the burden on the people and the waste of resources. Now that Prime Minister Xu holds the position of Prime Minister, the well-being of the people of the nine prefectures depends on him. Is Prime Minister Xu going to shirk his responsibilities instead?"
Xu Lian: "..."
Xiao Yu: "What I am supposed to do, I will do without hesitation. If Prime Minister Xu is lazy or negligent in doing what he is supposed to do, don't blame me for speaking up to the Censor-in-Chief."
Upon hearing Xiao Yu mention the Imperial Censor, Xu Lian choked on his saliva and coughed until his face turned red. He then pointed at Xiao Yu and said, "You, you really haven't changed at all. I was just being polite with you, and you're taking it so seriously. Fine, fine, don't worry, I will never push everything onto you."
Xiao Yu then smiled and asked Xu Lian to introduce him to high-ranking and low-ranking officials within the Secretariat.
As soon as Xiao Yu returned at dusk that day, Luo Fu noticed that his official robe had changed. It was still purple, but the embroidered pattern on it had changed from the pair of geese of the Minister to the phoenix pool of the Prime Minister!
The prime minister's annual salary alone is 720 taels, which is higher than his father-in-law's 600 taels salary as a marquis!
Even though she had a vague idea that Xiao Yu might be promoted after Liu Xiang's death, when Xiao Yu actually appeared before her in his prime minister's robes, Luo Fu still felt the long-lost joy of her husband's promotion and wealth, and happily rushed towards Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu hadn't seen his wife display such a lighthearted and joyful demeanor, so common in her youth, in a long time. As she ran towards him with a radiant smile, Xiao Yu's lips curled into a smile. As she jumped into his arms, he immediately caught her and lifted her up, her arms expertly wrapping around his neck. Looking at her thirty-nine-year-old husband, the Prime Minister, Luo Fu gave him a beautiful kiss on the cheek.
Xiao Yu longed to kiss his wife, but his daughter's voice could be heard outside, so he had to quickly put his wife down. The couple laughed as they hurriedly straightened their clothes.
Cheng Jie'er came with her brother Xiao Hong. Upon learning that her father had become the Right Chancellor, Cheng Jie'er raised her head and looked at her father with bright eyes: "Father is so amazing!"
Xiao Yu humbly replied, "I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's high regard, but I dare not take credit for it."
Seven-year-old Cheng'er was easy to coax, but twelve-year-old Xiao Hong remembered every effort his father had made for the court, and even more so, the close call when his father was almost executed by the late emperor.
Knowing that his father's achievements were worthy of the position of prime minister, Xiao Hong was not surprised by his father's promotion today. Knowing that his father could be demoted or even punished for speaking out against his superiors again, Xiao Hong was not happy. His calm demeanor surprised Luo Fu, who called her son aside and asked him if he had something on his mind.
After Xiao Hong explained why he was so calm, Luo Fu felt a little sorry for this overly sensible child.
"Man'er, when you grow up, will you be like your father?"
Xiao Hong couldn't say for sure. He was certain he would be a good official who was loyal to the emperor and loved the people, but he wasn't sure if he would have the courage to speak frankly and directly, just like his father.
Luo Fu glanced at Xiao Yu, who was accompanying her daughter, and said softly to her son, "It's okay if you don't study. Everyone has their own path to walk. If everyone walks the same path, the world will be much less interesting."
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Author's Note: I'm here! See you tonight for the second update!
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