Chapter 155 – Good News

After the Ten Thousand Longevity Festival, it was the New Year, and court sessions were suspended.

On the first day of the new year, Xie Yi followed the usual practice and paid homage to heaven and earth, visited the Imperial Temple, and even went to see Empress Dowager Fan with a calm heart.

Empress Dowager Fan seemed much older, possibly due to her weight loss, as she had many more wrinkles. Without applying makeup, she looked coldly at him, “I heard that His Majesty actually agreed to the imperial longevity celebration for the first time? Does he think he is a capable ruler now, daring to accept the congratulations of the people? But on his birthday, he didn’t come to pay respects to his birth mother. A filial son who dares to call himself capable?”

Xie Yi smiled slightly, “It’s been so many years since I’ve celebrated my birthday once. Naturally, I didn’t want irrelevant people to spoil my mood. After thirty years, I finally know what it feels like to have someone sincerely wish me a happy birthday.”

Empress Dowager Fan looked at him with her eyes open, noticing that his face was fuller, his eyes and lips seemed to carry a smile, unlike his former solemnity and correctness. Instead, he appeared more charming. She laughed coldly, “Your Majesty previously said he wanted to select a queen, something that would shock the world. After thinking about it, could it be that you want to choose Helan Jingjiang’s younger sister, Helan Baozhi, as your queen?”

“Before, you hid from me and pardoned Helan Jingjiang, removing him from the registry and sending him to the border. Now that Prince Zong’s case has surfaced, the Helan family has been completely exonerated. Helan Baozhi was known for her beauty in the past, and after so many years in the brothel, she must have become even more alluring, bewitching the emperor’s heart.”

“To win over the border generals, you’re willing to defy public opinion and make a courtesan a queen. You really dare to think.”

Xie Yi was stunned, looking thoughtfully at Empress Dowager Fan. “Mother’s memory is truly good.” He hadn’t even paid attention to Helan Jingjiang’s younger sister.

Empress Dowager Fan laughed coldly, “The regent wanted to choose her as your empress at the time.”

Xie Yi: “…” He didn’t know about this, but he maintained a composed expression, his eyes still colder than ice and snow. “But in the end, Empress Fan Aoru was chosen.”

Empress Dowager Fan said, “It was just to win over the Helan family. Empress Aoru is older, gentle, and considerate, knowing how to take care of you, and she grew up with you in the palace. Clearly, she was more suitable than Helan Baozhi. The regent saw you getting along well with Empress Aoru and changed his mind.”

Xie Yi said sternly, “That’s why there was such intentional humiliation.”

Empress Dowager Fan said coldly, “If you want to make her your queen, do you think they won’t hate you anymore? They are doing this to retaliate against me! Otherwise, when they entered the brothel, the first thing they should have done was to commit suicide to preserve their innocence. They survived, enduring humiliation and disgrace, obviously harboring sinister intentions, to bring disaster to the country and harm the people.”

“You want to make a courtesan the mother of the nation. Not only will the ministers be disgraced and the people ridicule it, but how will future historians write about it?”

“Or are you so shallow that you took away my honor and benefits, and now you deliberately want to marry such an empress to humiliate me?”

Xie Yi was silent for a long time before saying softly, “Mother, please take care of yourself.” It’s hard to believe I was born from you.

He got up and left. Empress Dowager Fan still spoke coldly, “If you really make her your queen, you will definitely regret it!” Her voice was venomous and chilling: “You have been rebellious since childhood. I’m waiting for the day when you are abandoned, betrayed, by the people you love, by your own flesh and blood…”

Xie Yi walked out quickly, taking a deep breath in the cold air outside, pulling his fox fur coat tighter, and slowly stepping out through the snow. Su Huan was already waiting for him at the door, used to his sullen expression every time he came out. He silently lifted the curtain and invited him onto the sedan chair.

Xie Yi asked coldly, “Find out who reminded the empress dowager about Helan.”

Su Huan said, “There’s no need to investigate. Before the festival, Fan Mukun returned to the capital to report, submitting a memorial to visit the empress dowager and Madam Fan, which you approved. Most likely, he mentioned it during casual conversation.”

Xie Yi: “…”

He gritted his teeth, “Summon Fan Mukun to the palace and see how I’ll torment him.”

Su Huan said, “Is Your Majesty punishing him or punishing yourself? Blood is thicker than water. After all, Fan, who placed third in the imperial examinations, is surnamed Fan. It wasn’t wrong for him to say some idle words. What can the empress dowager do even if she knows about the Helan siblings? On New Year’s Day, isn’t it better to think about happy things? I think the letter from Prince Xu will arrive today.”

Xie Yi’s expression visibly softened, realizing that indeed, on such a festive occasion, why should he get angry with them. Thus, he gradually relaxed. He thought for a moment and said, “Zixing should be returning soon, so summon Helan Zhizhou to the palace.”

Since I’m not feeling happy, I might as well find trouble for others too.

Helan Zhizhou entered the palace and met with the emperor in the imperial study. At first glance, he noticed that although the emperor was dressed in the bright red formal robes for the first day of the new year, his expression was blank, clearly indicating a bad mood. He felt uneasy. During the New Year, court sessions were suspended. Perhaps the emperor was unhappy because no one was accompanying him for the holiday. Since he sought him out, there was probably another noble who was about to suffer misfortune.

Indeed, the emperor immediately asked, “How is the interrogation of Marquis Wunan Feng Huafu going?”

Helan Zhizhou hurriedly replied, “All the confessions have been obtained, and several witnesses have been secretly apprehended. However, to avoid alarming the enemy, we haven’t questioned Feng Huafu and his son yet, fearing there might be someone behind them directing them. We were planning to seek your command to make the arrest after the New Year.”

Xie Yi said coldly, “No need to wait. Later, you will take my verbal order and lead troops to ransack the residence of Marquis Wunan. Don’t spare anyone, especially their wealth. The government needs money for war, and all their family assets will be used for military expenses.”

Helan Zhizhou hurriedly said, “This subject will handle it immediately.”

Xie Yi’s anger subsided somewhat. He reached out and slowly fiddled with the globe on the imperial desk, saying, “War costs a lot of money. One cannon shot is hundreds of taels of silver. How can we allow these corrupt officials to still greedily hoard wealth behind us. You go to the Ministry of Revenue and find a few skilled clerks to carefully calculate everything. Don’t let them keep a single coin for themselves.”

Helan Zhizhou hurriedly agreed, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the exquisite blue glass globe on the imperial desk. The winter light shone through the glass window onto it, making it sparkle and attract attention.

The emperor’s crimson sleeves slid down as his slender fingers brushed against the luminous sphere, causing it to spin rapidly. The reflected light spots danced merrily, as if the lively and spirited gift giver was accompanying him.

Xie Yi noticed his gaze and smiled, “Does Minister Helan have an interest in this globe?”

He thought that even if Helan Zhizhou liked it, there was nothing to reward him with. In the entire world, within the four seas, there was only one of these.

Helan Zhizhou saw that the emperor’s expression was visibly relieved and his mood had improved. So he smiled and said, “This subject was thinking, no wonder during this period, many ministers’ studies in the court have placed this globe. Starting from the desks of the cabinet members, it has gradually become a trend. It turns out they were all imitating the emperor, having a vision encompassing the universe and the four seas.”

Xie Yi: “…”

He ignored Helan Zhizhou’s flattery and simply asked, “Oh? Is it also sold in the capital? Maps should be confidential, how can they be sold openly?”

Helan Zhizhou hurriedly said, “Only a small wooden globe painted with colored paint is sold. Vaguely, you can see mountains, rivers, continents, and islands on it, conveying the idea of having the world in one’s heart. It can only be used for leisurely viewing on the desk. Nothing more.” Sweat started to bead on his forehead. He inwardly blamed Xu Chun. How could he sell this item in his Idle Cloud Workshop without clearing it with the emperor first?

Now there was no solution. Helan Zhizhou had to use his wit to cover up. “That’s just a small plaything, very crude. There aren’t these latitudes and longitudes on it. This imperial globe is large and clear, with precise latitudes and longitudes. The nine provinces are clearly visible, and the overseas islands and barbarians are clearly marked. It seems to be made with embroidery to achieve such precision, and there is a glass and crystal cover outside. Not only can it assist the emperor in planning strategies, it’s a masterpiece that rivals the ingenuity of heaven and earth, a treasure passed down through generations.”

Xie Yi said indifferently, “It should indeed be made known to the officials and civilians. The vastness of the world and the breadth of the four seas cannot be underestimated. We must not be complacent, believing that guarding our mountains and rivers and relying on natural barriers will ensure peace. Our enemies may come from the sea. We cannot be caught off guard, sharpening our weapons and preparing for battle, building strong ships and powerful cannons, repelling the enemy at sea, to ensure tranquility and happiness.”

Helan Zhizhou saw that this danger had passed safely. The emperor had even taken the initiative to smooth things over. Once Xu Chun returned to the capital, he certainly would make him treat him to a feast. Although he thought this way in his heart, his mouth didn’t stop, “His Majesty is mindful of peace and danger, working diligently to improve governance. Indeed, you are a wise sovereign. No wonder His Majesty wanted to dispatch troops to aid Silla. The original intention was this.”

Xie Yi said, “Soldiers need to be trained. We lack talent, weapons, and ships for naval battles. The treasury has no money and lacks food; there’s too much we lack. Otherwise, how else could I use Nong Sixi? Using this opportunity to train our troops, and we absolutely cannot allow Silla to fall into the hands of the Japanese. Officials opposing the war only see the hardships of a distant campaign, the burden on the people and the waste of resources, but they fail to see the endless troubles that will arise if this place falls into foreign hands.”

Helan Zhizhou said, “His Majesty has far-reaching vision. With several elite armies in place, there will surely be good news soon.”

Xie Yi frowned slightly, “Winter inevitably brings storms. The pirates chose a good time, but we can’t rely on favorable conditions for our dynasty either.”

He reached out and gently spun the globe again. His slender finger lightly touched the foreign sea opposite the mouth of the Jinhai River, his finger lightly tracing over the vast Liaodong region. Slowly, he said, “May heaven bless our dynasty, may the wind and snow not invade, may the waves not disturb us, may we win every battle, and may the soldiers return safely.”

==

After the first month of the lunar calendar, good news indeed came frequently.

Grand Marshal Fang Zijing and Fujian Inspector Nong Sixi attacked the pirates from two directions, engaging in battles at Fengweiau, Lulinau, and Dongsha Island. They won victory after victory, destroying their boats and slaughtering tens of thousands of pirate leaders. They killed the pirate leader Wumei Muya.

In the report of meritorious deeds, there was a casual mention that Xu Chun, the commissioner of the Jinhaiwei Customs Office, transported grain while avoiding the storm on Beisu Island, encountering Japanese pirates on the way. He captured over a thousand pirates, seized two large ships, four cannons, and ten smaller boats.