Emperor Zhao Dun personally led his troops to the border. Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan took the opportunity to act as regent. The political situation in Liyang did not fall into chaos as a result. Quite the contrary, under the coordination of Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan and with the strong support of senior officials like Prime Minister Yin Maochun, who were part of the “Spring of Yonghui,” the dynasty even showed a more vibrant vitality than before. Zhao Zhuan revealed the same diligence as the current emperor. He never missed court sessions, reviewed documents deep into the night, and frequently summoned ministers. The Crown Prince’s demeanor of a wise ruler, which lived up to public expectations, subtly dissipated some of the thick gloom that had shrouded the Taian City since the end of Xiangfu Year One.
Under Zhao Zhuan’s leadership, the imperial court underwent a series of complex and far-reaching power shifts. Qi Yanglong, who had long been the people’s choice, finally took charge of the Zhongshu Province, which had remained leaderless for years, becoming one of the rarest prime ministers in Liyang’s history. Alongside Zhang Julu, the head of the Shangshu Province, he was hailed by the people of the capital as the “Chief Minister.” Wang Xionggui, who had steadily risen through the ranks in the capital and become Minister of Revenue, was transferred to serve as the Governor of Guangling Circuit. At the same time, Zhao Youling, another senior official from the Yonghui era, resigned from his post as Minister of Personnel, was promoted half a rank, and entered the Zhongshu Province to assist the elderly Zhongshu Ling Qi Yanglong. Yin Maochun, the head of the Hanlin Academy, who had long been hailed as a potential prime minister but had remained at the rank of Third Rank Official, finally took a significant step forward. He was not only appointed as the second-highest-ranking member of the Six Pavilion Scholars, the Zhonghe Pavilion Scholar, but also succeeded as Minister of Personnel. With the groundwork laid by the capital and regional evaluations, the court found this move entirely unsurprising.
Bai Guo, the Minister of Rites, filled the vacancy left by Wang Xionggui, transitioning from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Revenue. Though both posts shared the same rank, the Ministry of Rites was a quiet bureaucratic office, while the Ministry of Revenue controlled the empire’s land and taxation. Those with keen eyes could see that Bai Guo had also stepped up, not far behind Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun. As for Jin Lanting, the Right Sacrificial Officer of the National Academy, who had openly clashed with the Confucian scholar Yao Baifeng, he became the luckiest official to rise fastest in the past five years of Liyang. After the former Left Secretary of the Ministry of Rites was promoted to Minister as expected, Jin Sanlang, who had long been at the center of political storms in Taian City, surprised everyone once again by being promoted to the rank of deputy minister of the Ministry of Rites. Meanwhile, Yao Baifeng, the Left Sacrificial Officer who should have naturally taken over the Ministry of Rites, became the unexpected one left behind.
Lu Shengxiang, the commander who had struggled to suppress the rebellion due to poor military strategy, was not only not demoted but promoted instead. Although he resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of War, he was granted the title of General of the Swift Valor, a solid rank of Second Rank Official. Meanwhile, Xu Gong, the Dragon General who had been seen as a potential southern campaign leader, not only failed to replace the widely criticized Lu Shengxiang, but the pillar of the Gumu Xu clan was instead “hidden” as Deputy Minister of War. After taking office, it was even rumored that he would be “expelled” from Taian City to patrol the northern border.
It is hard to imagine that such a grand upheaval was entirely unrelated to the man with the purple beard and blue eyes.
Last year’s capital official review saw Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun submit reports to the emperor regarding the promotion and reprimand of over 1,800 officials in the capital. This year was the year for the regional review. After Yin Maochun returned to the capital from the regional review and the emperor set out on his border inspection tour, an imperial edict from western Liaoning instructed that the details of the regional review be sent directly to Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan, who was granted full authority to handle the matter. After the morning court session today, the Crown Prince had the Director of the Office of Ceremonial, Song Tanglu, summon all the Pavilion Scholars, senior officials from the Zhongshu and Menxia Provinces, heads and deputies of the Six Ministries, and several members of the imperial Zhao clan to attend this temporary noon court session, a common occurrence in the Liyang court.
Inside the meeting chamber, three officials—the Director of the Ministry of Personnel’s Department of Merit Review, the Director of the Department of Titles, and the newly appointed Director of the Department of Examinations—reported the specific details. Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan and over twenty of the most powerful officials in the Liyang court reviewed the documents, while several eunuchs from the Office of Ceremonial, including the Recording Eunuch and the Attending Eunuch, listened in. These eunuchs, dressed in bright red dragon robes, were mainly there to stoke the fire and serve tea and snacks.
Prime Minister Zhang Julu was invited but did not attend.
Inside the warm room, there were not many new faces, but many familiar ones wore fresh official robes, bringing a new air even before the New Year. Zhao Youling, the former Minister of Personnel, now a rare first-rank official, sat beside the Zhongshu Ling Qi Yanglong. He glanced at Yin Maochun, who had also come from Zhang’s faction, and as he sipped his tea, a faint smile crept onto his lips. For over a decade, Yin had been called the “potential prime minister,” but today, he was merely the Minister of Personnel, no more than a leftover from Zhao’s own rise. The dust had nearly settled, yet Yin still could not shake off the “potential” in his title. When would he finally become a true “prime minister”? Among the “Spring of Yonghui,” Bai Guo was known for his talent, while Yin was seen as possessing the qualities of a prime minister. But Zhao Youling had taken the lead. Yin’s title of Zhonghe Pavilion Scholar was merely a consolation from the emperor for failing to become a Zhongshu Ling.
In fact, just half a month ago, Zhao had some hidden concerns. He was not afraid of Yin making a stunning breakthrough in this promotion feast, but he feared Yin being kept in the Hanlin Academy, for that would mean that when the time came for someone to fall, Yin would be the biggest beneficiary. Now that the Ministry of Personnel and the Pavilion Scholar title had been given to Yin, Zhao, who understood the emperor’s mind well, could finally relax.
Slightly clearing his throat, Zhao Youling, in a good mood, twirled the lid of his teacup and casually glanced at the new Minister of Revenue, Bai Guo. He never considered this unworthy fellow a rival. No matter how well Bai was regarded in the court, once one reached their level, only one thing mattered: being favored by the emperor. Indeed, Bai had neither entered the Menxia Province under Tan Tan Weng nor obtained the coveted Minister of the Six Ministries. In the end, the most disappointed man in the room was Yin Maochun, and the second most disappointed was the new Minister of Revenue. But in Zhao Youling’s eyes, Bai Guo, with no real foundation, should be content with having secured the Ministry of Revenue.
Zhao lifted his eyes slightly and caught the young, bearded Jin Sanlang looking his way. Zhao remained expressionless. Jin, the newly promoted Deputy Minister of Rites who had leaped through the ranks multiple times, hurriedly smiled in greeting, but Zhao ignored him completely. Putting down his teacup, Zhao sneered inwardly. A “lucky” official who had barely entered the imperial center through underhanded means—did he really think he could remain prosperous forever? In the imperial court, one need not fear the competition of gentlemen or even factional struggles, but the gravest taboo was making enemies everywhere due to personal grudges. Jin, from a minor, insignificant family in Beiliang, had angered Huan Wen and Yao Baifeng within a few years. Even if he had managed to overthrow someone through sheer luck, could he truly handle the aftermath?
Besides Jin Lanting, who was attending this highest-level noon court for the first time, there was another official even less familiar to Taian City—Xu Gong, from the powerful Gumu clan of Jiangnan. As Deputy Minister of War, this Dragon General, who had gained a reputation as a general despite missing the Spring Wars, sat solemnly beside his superior, Lu Baijie, eyes fixed on his nose, his expression firm and rigid. Compared to the refined elegance of Lu, the “Sword Immortal of Tangxi,” Xu appeared more like a traditional battlefield general—broad-shouldered, rugged in appearance. His promotion was the most enigmatic among those whose positions had changed. Logically, Xu had neither significant border achievements nor was he a protégé of Gu Jiantang. He had no major supporters in the court and should not have been included in the capital’s political sphere. Yet he first appeared suddenly, then was quickly pushed out of the capital, making Xu seem more like a joke.
The court session continued until dusk, with officials like the Minister of Works and the Vice Minister of Justice, both over sixty, clearly showing signs of fatigue.
Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan ordered the Eunuch of Ceremonial to have the imperial kitchen send some food. During this time, all officials could take a break or step outside for fresh air.
Huan Wen, a senior minister with sufficient experience, reputation, and achievements, naturally did not feel as constrained as some of the vice-ministers and was the first to leave the room.
Prince Zhao Zhuan quickly followed, stepping out with a smile and calling out to Tan Tan Weng, and they walked together.
This scene, seen by those with keen eyes, was not without its implications.
Jin Lanting remained seated, not moving an inch, nor did he approach any senior official for small talk, appearing particularly isolated.
Outside in the corridor, Huan Wen smiled and asked, “May I ask what the Your Highness needs?”
With no one around, the Crown Prince winked and secretly made a gesture of raising a cup to drink.
Huan Wen did not hesitate, chuckling, “That would be wonderful.”
The two walked toward a distant side room, followed only by Song Tanglu, the Director of Ceremonial.
After a moment’s hesitation, the Crown Prince said softly, “The position of Right Sacrificial Officer at the National Academy is currently vacant, and Master Yao has not recommended anyone. Do you have any suggestions, Tan Tan Weng?”
Huan Wen was momentarily taken aback.
The Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan smiled without speaking.
Huan Wen also smiled, straightforwardly replying, “I don’t have a candidate for the Right Sacrificial Officer, but my Menxia Province is in need of a capable assistant. Coincidentally, I’d like to ask the Your Highness for someone.”
Zhao Zhuan furrowed his brows slightly, asking quietly, “Could it be…?”
Though the Crown Prince did not say the name, Huan Wen nodded in agreement.
They both understood without further words.
It was Chen Shaobao, Chen Wang.
Born into a humble family, he passed the imperial examination, not among the top three, but just barely qualified to enter the Hanlin Academy as a prestigious Huangmen official.
He later served as the emperor’s close aide in the Bureau of Records, then briefly as a lecturer to the Crown Prince and Director of the Department of Examinations. Though prestigious, these positions were not high-ranking.
The title of “Shaobao” was merely an honorary one bestowed by the emperor.
However, if Chen Wang could join the Menxia Province and become Huan Wen’s right-hand man, then a high-ranking position of Third Rank Official would be inevitable.
Even a rank of Second Rank was not out of the question.
In that case, even the currently popular Jin Lanting would pale in comparison.
Suddenly, Huan Wen slapped his head and said, “As for the candidate for the Right Sacrificial Officer of the National Academy, I do have someone in mind—though he’s quite unsuitable.”
The Crown Prince couldn’t help but smile, somewhat helplessly saying, “Tan Tan Weng, the way you put it…”
Huan Wen burst into laughter and said no more.
But again, they both understood without words. The two positions were settled even before a single drop of wine was tasted.
One was Chen Wang, heading to the Menxia Province.
The other was Sun Yin, going to the National Academy.
Both seemed to have originated from Beiliang.
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