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A few months later, the damage caused by the war in Xiling had been dealt with. Following Tang Feng's wishes, Li Yunyu chose a day from the dates submitted by the Ministry of Rites to ascend the throne. After ascending the throne, he honored Li Linglan as the Retired Emperor, appointed Tang Feng as the Prime Minister, and conferred the title of Empress upon Ning Wan. He restored the Lin family's status as generals, exonerated Li Yunrui's family from their grievances, and brought Li Lin'an into the palace to be raised by Ning Wan.
After court, Li Yunyu ordered someone to deliver the memorials to Ning Wan. "Eunuch Feng... I'm going to see Ning Wan today. Would you like them to send the memorials over?" Eunuch Feng, holding a whisk, followed Li Yunyu and whispered, "Your Majesty, you should use '朕' (Zhen, the imperial "I") instead of '我' (Wo, the self). If the Prime Minister finds out... he'll probably... scold you again..." Upon hearing this, Li Yunyu quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes... Oh, by the way, why haven't I seen you lately, sir? Could you be feigning illness again...?" Since Li Yunyu ascended the throne, Tang Feng no longer concerned himself with court affairs. Unless Li Yunyu summoned him, he would use illness as an excuse to skip the morning court. "I heard that a few days ago... the Prime Minister and the Marquis picked up a little girl on the street and took a liking to her. Right now, he's probably spending time with her!"
"A child?" Li Yunyu smiled. "It seems you've got some things to do at home, sir. That's perfect. In a few days, I'll have you bring the child to the palace and Lin'an to play. I... no, I mean, I'll give her some toys..." Eunuch Feng scratched his head and smiled helplessly. "But I've heard that the Prime Minister's youngest daughter... has a fiery temper... and is spoiled rotten by the Prime Minister, so Your Majesty... perhaps you should..."
"How could she be so fiery? How could someone taught by the master be ignorant of etiquette? Eunuch Feng, aren't you exaggerating? Never mind, let's leave this matter aside for now. I'll speak to the master again when he goes to court." Li Yunyu waved his hand, indicating that Eunuch Feng didn't need to follow him any further, and then went alone to Ning Wan's Fenghe Palace. "Wanwan... Fenghe Palace has been uninhabited since the late Empress's death. Are you comfortable living there?"
Lin Wan stood up and bowed to Li Yunyu, smiling slightly, "Of course... It's just that there's been a lot of commotion in Lin'an these past few nights. Perhaps it's because he's just entered the palace and is in a new environment. This child has never been very brave since he was little. He doesn't greet strangers, so I had my mother send him to learn etiquette."
Li Yunyu nodded. "Alright, it's good to learn early... This throne originally belonged to my elder brother... I'm just sitting here for a few years. After a few years, when peace returns, I'll still have to return it to Lin'an. You won't blame me, will you...?" Ning Wan shook her head. "I know you're not interested in this, it's alright... By the way... Sir, you didn't go to court today, did you?" Li Yunyu was taken aback, somewhat surprised. "How did you know?"
Lin Wan couldn't help but laugh. "The master came to find my mother and me to slack off. He said that his sister is coming back from Shanghan in a few days to get married, and he is thinking of extorting a lot of money from His Majesty."
"Ah? Then why didn't you just tell me directly, sir...? This..."
"I suppose you are worried that since you have only recently ascended the throne, making such a request is a private matter, and if the ministers overhear it... there will be trouble again." Li Yunyu nodded after hearing this. "You are very thoughtful, sir. In a few days, I will send someone to deliver the gift."
Meanwhile, at the Tang residence, Tang Feng was going through the guest list for the banquet, while Zhou Ziliang sat beside him checking the betrothal gifts and dowry. "Sister is marrying Liu Yiwan... is she marrying into the family or leaving?" Tang Feng, holding her child and playing with her daughter, looked at the list. "Of course she's marrying out. I've never acknowledged Liu Yiwan as a member of my Tang family. Right, Peach?"
The little girl sat in Tang Feng's lap, playing with his hair and giggling. Tang Feng rubbed the little girl's cheek and said, "Oh, my daughter is so good. She calls me 'Daddy'."
The little girl hugged Tang Feng and called him "Daddy" in her childish voice, which melted Tang Feng's heart. He hugged her and kissed her. Zhou Ziliang sighed, "What's so good about her... She's only three years old, and she's more mischievous than other boys... What will she be like when she grows up and gets married... I'll go to the palace in a few days and talk to His Majesty about inviting a few etiquette matrons..."
"Get out! What do you need a etiquette nanny for! What if my daughter ends up like you, always with a stern face!" Hearing Tang Feng's complaints, Zhou Ziliang could only shake his head helplessly, then raised his hand and tapped the little girl's forehead. "You better behave yourself. Don't think that just because your father is protecting you, I won't dare hit you..." He then handed the list to Tang Feng. "This counts as... It's almost the end of the year. I wonder when my sister will be back?"
"I've already calculated it all." Tang Feng took out the calendar and pointed at it. "Look, the fifth day of the first lunar month is auspicious for weddings. It's the fifth day of the new year, a day to welcome the God of Wealth. It's a lucky day. My sister can come back on New Year's Eve just in time. I'll go to the palace then, swindle His Majesty out of a fortune, and have a grand celebration." Zhou Ziliang couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. He took the little girl from Tang Feng's arms and teased, "Then you'd better be careful on your trip, Prime Minister. Otherwise, the national treasury will be empty, and His Majesty will have to drag you back to court. Wouldn't that mean losing both your money and your wife?"
Just as the two were chatting happily, Liu Yiwan knocked on the door. "Young Master, Eunuch Feng is here." Tang Feng immediately went out. "Is there something wrong with His Majesty?" Liu Yiwan shook his head and led the way for Tang Feng. "The eunuch didn't say anything, only that something came up, so I... came to find you first."
Tang Feng walked into the main hall and saw Eunuch Feng sitting and drinking tea. He quickly smiled and asked, "Does Eunuch Feng have something to discuss today?"
"His Majesty heard that the Prime Minister's sister is getting married, so he sent this old servant to ask you for an invitation. He also wants to prepare some dowry for Miss Qin." Hearing Eunuch Feng's words, Tang Feng was overjoyed and cupped his hands in thanks. "That's wonderful! Then I thank Your Majesty." Tang Feng handed the invitation to Eunuch Feng. "I will personally thank His Majesty another day. I'll trouble you today, Eunuch Feng." Eunuch Feng put the invitation in his robes, smiling as he said, "Of course, of course. You are His Majesty's tutor; who can say a word against you in court? By the way, His Majesty also instructed that you bring your eldest daughter to the palace for a small gathering..."
"Okay, I understand. Well... take care, Father-in-law. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't see you off any further."
The next morning, Tang Feng took the little girl into the palace. Sitting in the carriage, Tang Feng straightened the clothes of the child nestled in his arms and instructed her, "Don't run around after entering the palace. Stay with Daddy, okay?" The little girl snuggled against Tang Feng and nodded obediently.
Upon entering the palace, Eunuch Feng was already waiting. Seeing Tang Feng arrive, he hurriedly went to greet him, "Prime Minister, His Majesty has been waiting for the Empress this morning. Please go quickly!" Tang Feng nodded and followed Eunuch Feng all the way to the inner palace. "How is the Emperor Emeritus?"
"Still the same old story, he's been having hysterical episodes... Most of the things sent in are thrown out... making the servants afraid to get close to him. His health is deteriorating day by day, probably in the last few years..."
Tang Feng didn't speak, but led the little girl inside. "Daddy... why aren't you answering... didn't you say that's impolite?" Hearing this, Tang Feng picked up the child and smiled. "Alright, alright, Daddy just didn't know what to say. When you grow up... and understand, you'll know." Tang Feng looked at Eunuch Feng again and asked, "Has Pu Yuan's matter been resolved?"
Eunuch Feng shook his head. "You'll have to ask His Majesty about that."
Tang Feng entered Fenghe Palace, and as soon as he entered, he saw Li Lin'an rush into his arms. The nanny following behind quickly apologized, "It's alright, come to Lin'an, let your uncle see if you've gained weight!" At this moment, Ning Wan and Li Yunyu also heard the noise and came out from the inner room, "Master has arrived."
Tang Feng nodded and nudged Li Lin'an, "Go play with your sister." He then stood up and smiled, "Thank you for your kind gift, Your Majesty. Sister Jiu must be very happy to know that her wedding has been made so lively." Seeing Tang Feng's happiness, Li Yunyu's mood improved as well. He invited Tang Feng to go to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the snow and brew tea. Watching the two children playing happily, Tang Feng asked, "How was Pu Yuan's situation finally resolved?" Li Yunyu immediately became serious. "It's hard to say... Although Fourth Brother and Consort Rong were executed, it doesn't mean Pu Yuan didn't have the intention to rebel. But now that I've just ascended the throne... I dare not act rashly against him... So... Actually, I've been wanting to discuss this matter with you, sir. But I'm struggling to know how to proceed, and I don't have a corresponding method." Li Yunyu looked at Li Lin'an, who was playing happily with Taozi, "Of course, I don't want to leave these matters to Lin'an. I hope he can bring Yan Yun over when the country is peaceful and prosperous..."
"Have you made up your mind? You want to pass the throne to Lin'an?"
"This throne should have been his all along... I merely borrowed it from my brother for a few years."
Tang Feng didn't continue the topic after hearing this. He simply looked at the newly repaired Zhaixing Pavilion and smiled, "Come for a walk with me!" Li Yunyu followed Tang Feng up to the Zhaixing Pavilion. Looking down at the unobstructed view of Xiling City, Li Yunyu sighed, "I remember you once said that the ruler should be the subject, and the subject should not doubt the ruler. Although it sounds simple, which emperor or general throughout history has actually achieved it... But I am willing to try... Would you be willing to help me one more time, sir?" After saying this, Li Yunyu bowed to Tang Feng, just like back then, in the Tang residence, on that snowy day when Li Yunyu knelt in the snow begging him to overturn the verdict on his brother's case. Tang Feng paused, reflecting on his thirteen years of aimless wandering and ups and downs, from being merely the son of a historian to now sitting as Prime Minister. He smiled wryly, "So Your Majesty was setting a trap for me here... Oh well... it's just another three years. I'd like to see if I misjudged you back then." With that, he returned Li Yunyu's salute. "May the lands of Yan and Yun be peaceful and prosperous for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years."
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