She glanced at Lu Xingjian sitting beside her and instantly understood the loneliness and pressure he felt sitting on the dragon throne.
The national treasury is empty, the nine border regions demand money every year, and the border reserves are in disarray and neglected.
As a young emperor, he had to contend with cunning and experienced politicians who had spent most of their lives navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, and every step he took was like walking a tightrope in the air.
One wrong step and you'll fall into an abyss.
Lu Xingjian swept his cold gaze over the crowd, his tone indifferent.
"The Empress is old and ill, and the affairs of the inner palace depend on her decisions. You must assist her diligently."
This means that the power to manage the harem has been handed over to Su Wanwan.
Su Wanwan's heart pounded wildly. She clenched her fists, adopting the demeanor of an empress, and told everyone to rise.
For some reason, she felt a sharp gaze fall upon her.
Su Wanwan looked in that direction.
Upon seeing a middle-aged official with a fair complexion, no beard, and a refined and reserved demeanor, dressed in a python robe and wearing a jade belt, he was respectful in his posture.
Su Wanwan's pupils contracted sharply.
That was an old acquaintance, Zhang Yong, the eunuch who had served Lu Xingjian since he was five or six years old.
When she was only ten years old, she accidentally witnessed Zhang Yong beating He Ding, the chief eunuch of the emperor, so badly that he rolled on the ground.
Afterwards, He Ding didn't dare to make a fuss, claiming that he had injured himself in the fall.
She was trembling with fear, but she still mustered up the courage to stop Zhang Yong and halt his violence.
After all, He Ding, the late emperor's favorite minister, was quite kind to her, a young girl residing in Qingning Palace.
On several occasions when Empress Zhang deliberately made things difficult for her, it was He Ding who found a way to help her out of the predicament.
Zhang Yong did stop, but the murderous look in his eyes lingered in her nightmares for many years.
The overwhelming hatred in those bloodshot eyes was something she had never seen before in her life.
She even thought she was seeing things.
Later, Zhang Yong returned to his usual reserved and refined demeanor as an eunuch, but she always kept her distance from him.
Lu Xingjian went to the morning court session to support Su Wanwan before leaving.
Su Wanwan said a few words and dismissed everyone, telling them to go about their respective duties.
He left only the chief eunuchs of the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Household Department to draft a plan for inviting the daughter of Wen Gong, the General Commander of Datong, to the palace.
The head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department was Zhang Yong.
However, Chang Qi, the supervisor of the Imperial Household Department, couldn't help but break out in a sweat when he looked at Zhang Yong, who had stayed behind.
No one knew better than him how highly regarded Zhang Yong was by the Emperor.
Two years ago, Zhang Yong was busy managing the Shenji Battalion and the Three Thousand Battalion. Later, he was appointed as the commander of the Twelve Battalions in the capital. He spent a lot of time inspecting the military camps in the suburbs of Beijing.
The trivial matters of the Imperial Household Department were mainly handled by him, the assistant director.
When Empress Xia got married, Zhang Yong was away in Shandong and had not been to the capital, so he did not even get to see Empress Xia.
He did not make up for this courtesy after returning to Beijing.
Because he held a high enough position of power, no one dared to say anything to him.
Even Empress Xia herself didn't dare to easily cause trouble for the Imperial Workshop, because she simply couldn't afford to offend Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong actually stayed on his own initiative today, which is quite a show of respect for the new empress.
Su Wanwan did not intend to make a big splash as a new official, but instead chose to "hide her talents".
They simply suggested inviting Miss Wen to the flower viewing party and asked them to come up with a feasible plan.
All the eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting looked at Zhang Yong, not daring to act rashly.
A year and a half ago, when the cabinet jointly pressured the emperor to execute the "Eight Tigers," it was Zhang Yong, who was supposed to be stationed in Shandong, who quietly returned to Beijing.
He led three thousand elite troops to guard the palace and surround the residences of the Grand Secretaries, turning the tide and finally succeeding in dismantling the coup attempt and turning defeat into victory.
It could be said that Zhang Yong and Chief Minister Su were almost irreconcilable enemies, with each other on the verge of survival.
I'm afraid Empress Su will definitely not give the granddaughter of Chief Minister Su a kind look either.
It's good enough if they don't secretly plot against her.
As expected.
Zhang Yong spoke in a seemingly respectful but actually distant manner:
"That depends on when Your Majesty plans to hold the flower viewing party."
Su Wanwan encountered a lukewarm response, but she wasn't annoyed. She simply said calmly:
"I am new to managing palace affairs and am unfamiliar with many things. I rely on Zhang Daban to take the lead and get this matter settled."
"I have no other requests. If His Majesty is satisfied, I will be satisfied. I believe His Majesty will not treat you all unfairly."
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
He thought to himself, "The Empress really has some tricks up her sleeve. She managed to pin such a small matter on Zhang Yong."
The blame was shifted quite thoroughly.
If it's done well, she deserves credit.
If things are handled poorly, the blame lies with Zhang Yong.
It's unclear whether Zhang Yong will answer or not.
If they didn't accept, it would be a real disrespect to the new empress.
He enjoys the emperor's deep trust and reliance, and probably has no fear of offending the new empress.
Zhang Yong paused for a moment, then simply said, "This servant obeys."
Everyone breathed a small sigh of relief.
Later that day, a female official from the Imperial Household Department brought Su Wanwan a copy of the detailed regulations for her to review.
The arrangements were very detailed and scheduled for tomorrow's banquet after the ladies of the court come to the palace to celebrate.
Su Wanwan glanced at it and couldn't help but nod in approval. She smiled at the female official and said:
"No wonder Zhang Daban is highly trusted by the Emperor; his ability to handle affairs is truly admirable."
The female official smiled and flattered, "Zhang Daban served Emperor Xianzong in the Qianqing Palace when he was ten years old, and became the Right Assistant Director of the Directorate of Palace Attendants at the age of twenty. He was highly valued by Emperor Xianzong."
"After Emperor Xianzong passed away, he served as the incense master at Maoling for ten years, fulfilling his duties faithfully. His loyalty is as clear as day."
Su Wanwan said, "Those who can serve in the Qianqing Palace must be carefully selected and outstanding. They must have good looks, virtue, ability, intelligence, and loyalty."
Emperor Xianzong's abilities and skill were absolutely outstanding among the emperors of the Liang Dynasty.
How could someone valued by Emperor Xianzong be anything less than excellent?
Moreover, the fact that Zhang Yong was able to serve as the incense master at Maoling for ten years indicates that he was a person who was ousted from the palace after failing in a power struggle.
To be able to return after ten years and serve the Crown Prince shows that his skills, abilities, and ambition are extraordinary.
Su Wanwan believed she had never offended Zhang Yong. Back when her grandfather was fighting for power with the "Eight Tigers," she had already married far away in Jinling.
I only hope that I can live peacefully with Zhang Yong and the others in the future, and not become a thorn in their side because of my grandfather and the Su family.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall what her father had once said: "If you want to climb a high mountain, you must endure its dangers."
Father must have foreseen that he would inevitably have to deal with these eunuchs after entering the palace.
...
The Imperial Study.
Chief Steward Li frowned and asked, "Your Majesty, what are the arrangements for the celebration ceremony tomorrow, and what about Prince Rong's side?"
Several months have passed since the treason case was announced, and the result announced to the public now is that an unknown figure, Zhang Mao, raised the flag to commit treason.
Prince Rong was kept under house arrest in his palace.
On the surface, the treason case had nothing to do with Prince Rong.
A hint of coldness appeared on Lu Xingjian's face.
Despite his reluctance, he knew that Su Wanwan's proposed solution was the most reassuring approach at the moment.
An inspection of the border reserves in Xuanfu led to a fire in the stables, which implicated the Duke of Baoguo's mansion.
If all nine key border towns were investigated, the situation could escalate to who knows how badly.
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