As the coronation ceremony of the new emperor Chen Huai'an drew ever closer, the city of Jinling became increasingly bustling and noisy, with officials and military generals from all over the country, as well as envoys from foreign vassal states, gathering in Jinling.
Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun and Prince Chen Longxiang, who inherited the title of Prince of Jin, also arrived in Jinling City on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month to attend the enthronement ceremony and sacrificial ceremony of the new emperor Chen Huai'an, which will be held on the fourth day of the first lunar month at Zijin Mountain in Jinling.
During this period, everything in the new dynasty was proceeding in an orderly manner.
Overall, although Emperor Chen Huai'an only implemented a few new policies before ascending the throne, each one was far-reaching and had a great impact.
Whether it was the implementation of the imperial examination reform or the decision to launch a naval expedition against Goguryeo and Japan, it was a "shocking" move for the entire court.
Therefore, this move naturally drew opposition in the imperial court, with many arguing that it was a waste of resources and manpower.
Privately, some corrupt officials from the previous dynasty viewed the new emperor Chen Huai'an as a tyrannical ruler who was just like the second emperor of the previous dynasty, Zhao Gan, and was fond of grandiose achievements.
The remarks of these former officials were all compiled into a book by the Dragon City Guards and sent to the desk of the new emperor, Chen Huai'an.
In response, Chen Huai'an continued to employ the tactic of "delaying".
Just as he was waiting for the right opportunity to deal with the arrogant and unruly officials in the court, he was also waiting for enough talented people to emerge after the first imperial examination of the new dynasty to replace these corrupt civil officials before taking action to purge them.
By the way, there was something else that bothered Chen Huai'an during this time.
That is about the contents of his correspondence with the Empress Dowager being deliberately spread by a hidden mastermind.
To this day, Luo Yucheng, the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard, still hasn't been able to uncover any clues.
This shows how deeply hidden and powerful the mastermind behind it all is.
This matter was like a sword hanging over Chen Huai'an's head, forcing him to be constantly on edge and demanding that Luo Yucheng solve the case at all costs within a specified timeframe.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Huai'an's family was finally reunited in Nanjing.
Since the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year's Eve, the new emperor Chen Huai'an will host a banquet in the Taihe Hall for the envoys from various vassal states who have come to participate in the enthronement ceremony.
Therefore, he only had time to reunite with his family on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, which can be considered as celebrating the New Year in advance!
This was also the first New Year's Eve reunion Chen Huai'an had with his family since he raised an army in Longcheng.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, the eunuchs of the Imperial Kitchen had already prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner for the Emperor and his family.
The hour of You (5-7 PM).
After finishing his official duties for the day, Chen Huai'an changed into casual clothes and rushed to the Qianqing Palace to reunite with his family.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, the third-generation Prince Jin Chen Longxiang, and the two princesses Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo had already changed into their finest attire and were waiting for a long time in the Qianqing Palace.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
As the long, sharp announcement was made by Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, everyone in the Qianqing Palace rose to greet him, all looking towards the door.
A moment later, the new emperor Chen Huai'an, dressed in an ivory-white robe, strode in.
Before anyone could bow to him, he laughed heartily and said, "Today is a family banquet, there's no need for those formalities—"
"Now, there is no emperor here, only my son, my brother, and my husband!"
Of course, although Chen Huai'an said that, apart from Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun and the carefree third-generation Prince Jin Chen Longxiang, Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo still blushed and greeted Chen Huai'an in unison.
"May Your Majesty be blessed!"
Chen Huai'an smiled and nodded, gesturing for everyone to sit down: "Don't just stand there like idiots, sit down!"
Then, he turned to greet his mother, Empress Xu Ruoyun, and said, "Mother, you must be tired from the long journey."
"Brother, it's not hard work—"
Before Xu Ruoyun could speak, Chen Longxiang, who was sitting next to her, said impatiently, "Brother, you don't know, on our journey from Longcheng to Jinling, the people from all over the place were very grateful to you. Mother was so happy along the way!"
"My mother also said that she would be even happier if she could hold two big, healthy grandsons at the beginning of the year!"
After saying that, Chen Longxiang's shrewd little eyes darted around, while he secretly glanced at the bellies of his two sisters-in-law.
This made Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo lower their heads in embarrassment, their pretty faces blushing as if they could drip water.
Snap!
The next moment, a loud slap echoed in the Qianqing Palace.
It was Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, who was standing right next to Chen Longxiang, who slapped her youngest son on the head without any politeness, glaring at him angrily and saying, "Longxiang, what kind of behavior is this?"
"They have absolutely no manners!"
As she spoke, Xu Ruoyun put on a kind expression and looked at Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo sitting opposite her, smiling as she said, "Shujun, Qiluo, don't take it to heart!"
"Longxiang is still a child; he doesn't watch his mouth and speaks without any respect for elders..."
Cough cough!
Chen Huai'an coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.
It's quite embarrassing for a time traveler, really. Being an emperor is even more tiring than working 996 hours in a factory before he transmigrated. But even in this palace, facing two stunningly beautiful princesses, he can't enjoy the bliss of having two wives!
To this day, Chen Huai'an has not yet chosen either of the two princesses, and remains alone, having endured countless sleepless nights.
Given this reality, it's no wonder that Empress Xu Ruoyun could never have two big, fat grandsons!
On the other side, Chen Longxiang, who had just been slapped, muttered, "That's right, I'm fifteen this year, I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Chen Longxiang, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!"
Xu Ruoyun glared at him, and Chen Longxiang indeed dared not lie anymore. He buried his head in his rice, sulking, and soon his mouth was full of oil.
Being a freeloader at this time seems pretty good.
After Chen Longxiang's antics, the atmosphere at the New Year's Eve dinner table seemed to become somewhat subtle, turning into a question-and-answer format.
Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun asked the question alone, while Chen Huai'an and the two princesses Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo answered.
It gave Chen Huai'an the illusion that this New Year's Eve dinner was like interrogating a criminal.
After finally getting through the dinner party, Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun pulled Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo aside to have a private chat. Chen Huai'an then breathed a sigh of relief and called his younger brother Chen Longxiang to his side.
"Longxiang, tell me, do you want to stay by Mother's side in the new year, or do you want to go back to Longhu Mountain to find your Taoist master?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Longxiang spread his hands, pouted, and said with a wronged expression, "Brother, can I not choose either of them?"
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Brother, you're the emperor now, and I'm at least the third-generation Prince of Jin. Can't you let me go to the army?"
"Like Father, like you, will you achieve great deeds on horseback?"
"Brother, I'll be sixteen after the new year. I don't want people to say I'm a spoiled brat who lives off Father and you!"
As he spoke, a glint of hope flashed in Chen Longxiang's small eyes, and he said with a hint of expectation, "Brother, how about you give me an army, and let me fight my way west along the Silk Road?"
"I guarantee that wherever the iron hooves of the western expeditionary army tread, it will become Han territory!"
Ha ha!
Chen Huai'an finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Looking at his younger brother, who had grown almost as tall as him and had a more mature look in his eyes, he felt it was time to let him go out and gain some experience.
The male members of the Chen family of the Prince of Jin should establish merit on horseback and fight bravely on the battlefield.
However, Chen Huai'an did not forget that the old monk in black robes, Dongfang Xiao, in Qixia Temple on Fengming Mountain in Longcheng, had once told his younger brother Chen Longxiang's fortune, saying that he was a golden-winged roc descending to earth to undergo tribulation and that he should not commit indiscriminate killing.
However, Chen Huai'an thought again that if Long Xiang were to deal with those Japanese pirates who weren't even human, it shouldn't fall into the category of committing murder.
Immediately, Chen Huai'an looked intently at Chen Longxiang and asked, word by word, "Longxiang, do you really want to achieve merit on horseback like Father and your brother?"
Um!
Chen Longxiang nodded heavily, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Chen Huai'an said, "In that case, after my enthronement ceremony and the Fengshan ceremony to worship Heaven are over, you will take up a post in the new dynasty's naval fleet, serving as a vanguard general under Naval Commander Qi Jiguang."
"To lead an expedition against Goguryeo on my behalf, and to wipe out the four islands of Japan!"
"Brother, really?"
Chen Longxiang could hardly believe his ears, staring wide-eyed at Chen Huai'an.
Chen Huai'an nodded and said, "A ruler's word is his bond!"
Hahaha!
After receiving an affirmative answer, Chen Longxiang finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Laughing, he jumped up and down, shouting, "I want to be a great general! I want to serve on the battlefield and fight the enemy!"
"Longxiang, what are you saying? What great general?"
At this moment, Chen Longxiang's triumphant shouts attracted the attention of Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, who had just finished talking with her two daughters-in-law in the Qianqing Palace.
She took Liu Shujun's and Yue Qiluo's hands, one on each side, and then came to the side of the Chen brothers, Chen Huai'an and Chen Longxiang.
Upon seeing this, Chen Longxiang, who had been jumping for joy, immediately hid behind Chen Huai'an and looked to his elder brother Chen Huai'an for help.
It's easy to see that during the two years that Chen Huai'an was away from the palace to fight on the battlefield, Chen Longxiang, who stayed by his mother Xu Ruoyun's side to accompany her, was often nagged by his mother.
Cough cough!
Chen Huai'an coughed twice, not answering his mother's question immediately, but said to Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo, "Shujun, Qiluo, you two go back and rest first. I'll accompany Mother for a walk in the Imperial Garden!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo greeted Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, they tactfully withdrew from the Qianqing Palace, leaving the Emperor's family alone.
Chen Huai'an added, "Longxiang, you should go back and rest early too!"
Forehead--
Despite his reluctance, Chen Longxiang chose to obey his elder brother's orders.
After all, whether he could become the vanguard commander of the new dynasty's navy depended entirely on his elder brother.
After everyone left, only Chen Huai'an and his mother remained in the vast Qianqing Palace.
He got straight to the point: "Mother, after my enthronement ceremony and the Fengshan ceremony, I plan to transfer Longxiang to the new dynasty's naval fleet as a vanguard general."
"Longxiang will be 16 years old at the beginning of the year; it's time for him to gain some experience in the army."
"The male members of the Chen family of the Prince of Jin's mansion cannot simply live off the achievements of their fathers forever; they must be exposed to the trials of war and life and death."
"Only in this way can he truly grow into a real man!"
After a pause, Chen Huai'an continued, "Therefore, without consulting the Empress Dowager beforehand, I decided to let Longxiang replace me and follow Admiral Qi Jiguang on a distant expedition to Goguryeo to wipe out the Japanese pirates on the four islands!"
After speaking, Chen Huai'an looked calmly at his mother, Xu Ruoyun, awaiting her anger and criticism.
In Chen Huai'an's memory, his mother doted on her youngest son, Chen Longxiang.
Back when Longxiang was ten years old and was about to be sent by the late emperor to Longhu Mountain to cultivate Taoism, his mother, Empress Xu Ruoyun, who was always gentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest, even had a big argument with the late emperor, Chen Polu.
During the years that Chen Longxiang was sent to Longhu Mountain, his mother, Xu Ruoyun, often wept.
Therefore, he took it upon himself to decide today to send Chen Longxiang to the new dynasty's navy for training, and it was to launch an expedition to Goguryeo and the four island nations of Japan;
This journey will not only involve a long separation, but also the test of war and life and death (in fact, with the combat power of the Dragon City naval fleet and Chen Longxiang's innate superhuman strength, there is no life and death test at all!).
I'm afraid that when the Empress Dowager learns of this news, she will definitely take her anger out on Chen Huai'an.
However, to Chen Huai'an's surprise, his mother, Xu Ruoyun, showed no signs of anger upon hearing the news. Instead, she calmly said, "My son, I support you in this matter!"
"Since ancient times, the eldest brother has been regarded as a father. Now that your father is gone, you, as the eldest brother, must also shoulder the responsibility of nurturing and educating Longxiang."
"Therefore, in this matter, your mother supports your approach. Longxiang is already so grown up, it's time for him to experience and grow. We can't let him live under our protection forever, can we?"
Um!
Chen Huai'an nodded and said, "What Mother says is absolutely right!"
Xu Ruoyun then said, "Son, the matter of Longxiang has been arranged, but what about your matter?"
Um?
Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, and asked, "What is Your Majesty referring to?"
Eh—
Xu Ruoyun sighed and shook her head, saying, "You always pretend to be confused with your mother. What else could your mother be referring to?"
"Of course! When can Mother hold her big, fat grandson?"
Cough cough!
Chen Huai'an coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.
He then said, "Mother, I thought you wanted to ask me who should be made the new empress!"
snort!
Xu Ruoyun snorted coldly and retorted, "Son, aren't these two things one thing?"
Chen Huai'an was taken aback; his mother's question had truly stumped him.
Yes, these seem like two separate issues, but they are actually the same one!
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