Chapter 309: The End of the First Year of Qianyou

Yang Ye's residence was in the northeastern corner of Kaifeng, separated from the palace city by only two wards—the surroundings were not as prosperous as the southern part of the city, but it enjoyed peace and quiet. The estate was modest in size, with a very plain appearance.

The daylight gradually dimmed, and snowflakes began to drift through the murky sky. Before the mansion gate, Feng Dao stepped out with steady strides. Yang Ye followed respectfully behind, personally seeing him off, wearing a set of light military attire that made him look exceptionally robust—though his respectful face still bore a trace of puzzlement.

"Chonggui, stay your steps!" Feng Dao swept his gaze over Yang Ye, raised a hand to brush the snowflakes clinging to his old beard, and said with a smile. The satisfaction in his aged eyes was plain to see.

"Chancellor, go slowly!" Yang Ye maintained his courtesy.

He watched until Feng Dao, supported by his servants, boarded the carriage. The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly drove off, leaving two clear wheel ruts on the not-so-level road.

Frowning, the confusion on Yang Ye's face grew even deeper. He was young and but a military man, with no prior connection to Feng Dao whatsoever. That this old chancellor should personally come calling, drawing him into rambling conversation, truly left him baffled. Especially the gentleness in Feng Dao's words and the delight in his eyes—it made Yang Ye feel he hardly deserved such treatment.

"What does this chancellor mean?" Unable to make heads or tails of it, he muttered to himself, then shook his head and returned inside. The mansion gate slowly closed, but before long, it quickly opened again—an imperial envoy had arrived bearing a gracious decree.

And then, a wife dropped from heaven. Yang Ye was stunned at first, then enlightened, and quickly understood—Feng Dao had been looking at him with the eyes of a man sizing up his granddaughter's husband!

There was nothing more to say. He accepted the decree and gave thanks.

The Zhe residence, selected and bestowed by imperial decree through Commissioner of Palace Attendants Li Ye, was quite luxurious, located on the southeastern side of the imperial city—a prime location.

The carriage came from west to east, entered the ward, and followed the narrow yet straight lane all the way to the mansion gate. The moment it stopped, a graceful figure leaped down lightly. The young Lady Zhe, dressed in red, radiated natural beauty.

"Well, how did it go—your audience with the Empress Dowager in the palace? You didn't cause any trouble, did you?" Facing his returning granddaughter, Zhe Congruan asked with a look of affection.

While eating the evening meal, the young Lady Zhe patted her modest chest with a look of lingering fear and said: "The palace is too big, everyone keeps their heads lowered, and it's so quiet it makes one uncomfortable!"

"However, Her Grace the Empress Dowager is gentle and kind..."

Zhe Congruan smiled, but seeing the relaxed expression on his granddaughter's pretty face, he couldn't help but sigh: "Once you enter the palace in the future, you must restrain your temperament. You cannot act willfully as you please."

Hearing this, the young Lady Zhe's jade-like face wrinkled slightly, and she couldn't help but look at her grandfather: "Must I really marry that Emperor?"

"This Emperor of ours is a talent of the age—heroic, strategic, a sovereign destined for great achievements. To serve at his side—how is that not better than marrying some ordinary man!" Zhe Congruan explained.

"Mm..." The young Lady Zhe let out a faint sigh, her mood gloomy. Then, after a slight hesitation: "That may be so, but this Emperor... hmm... is a bit strange."

"Oh?" Zhe Congruan looked at her with confusion.

The young Lady Zhe said: "When I took my leave, I saw the Emperor in the palace."

Seeing her like this, Zhe Congruan hastily asked: "You didn't offend His Majesty, did you!"

"No matter how rash your granddaughter is, I would never be so ignorant of propriety." The young Lady Zhe stuck out her tongue, speaking coquettishly.

"The Emperor had me walk a long stretch with him, and asked me to tell him about the landscapes and customs of my homeland..."

Zhe Congruan simply watched quietly as his granddaughter chattered on before him.

"..."

"Oh, right—before I left, I asked the Emperor: if I entered the palace and married him, could I still go riding and hunting? Grandfather, guess what he replied?"

Hearing this, Zhe Congruan raised his old brows and played along: "How did the Son of Heaven answer you?"

Seeing her grandfather so composed, the young Lady Zhe couldn't help but grow curious: "Grandfather, aren't you afraid I offended the Emperor? That the Emperor might be angered?"

Her clever manner made Zhe Congruan stroke his beard and say: "If the Son of Heaven truly grew angry over a little girl like you, then his measure would hardly support the great deeds before him. And you wouldn't be putting on such a show before me either."

Smiling sheepishly, the young Lady Zhe said with some excitement: "The Son of Heaven said the fine steeds of the Flying Dragon Envoy in the palace are mine to ride as I please, and the imperial parks outside Kaifeng are mine to gallop across..."

While the Zhe grandfather and granddaughter conversed, in the Hall of Benevolent Radiance, Liu Chengyou was also chatting idly with Empress Dowager Li, the atmosphere pleasant.

"I've met that young lady of the Zhe family—a very fine girl indeed. Honest and unpretentious, and her spirited bearing likely surpasses even Noble Consort Gao's." Lady Li said.

Warming himself by the fire alongside the Empress Dowager, Liu Chengyou stuffed pastries into his mouth and replied: "So Mother is satisfied with that young lady?"

"Mm!" Lady Li looked at this son of hers: "The harem truly lacks people. Devoting yourself to state affairs—national matters are certainly important, but bearing children and continuing the imperial line is equally important. It's time to add some new faces."

"Come next year, when a suitable occasion arises, Mother can issue the decree and bring her into the palace!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou said.

"Next year?" Lady Li was somewhat puzzled.

"Father has been lying in the palace for nearly a year now. I am an unfilial son!" Liu Chengyou sighed, then said slowly: "After spring comes, I must continue the unfinished mourning rites!"

At this mention, Lady Li could not help but show a sorrowful expression.

Sensing the atmosphere turning cold, Liu Chengyou realized he had misspoken and quickly changed the subject: "Sanlang has improved considerably lately. Since establishing his household, he has become much more steady. According to reports from his household staff, he has not slacked much in his studies and martial training compared to before."

"Oh?" Lady Li was indeed intrigued: "These past days, when Sanlang comes to the palace, he has indeed changed quite a bit..."

On the jiachen day (the thirtieth) of the twelfth month of winter—the last day of the first year of Qianyou—Liu Chengyou reviewed the troops north of the imperial city, inspecting the results of army reorganization. Although Liu Chengyou had frequently visited the military camps before to inspect and console the troops, this was the formal debut of the imperial army after its reorganization and retraining.

Thirty thousand armored soldiers of the two commands' cavalry and infantry participated in the review. The military bearing was strict and orderly, the momentum immense. Liu Chengyou spoke loudly before the three armies, drawing thunderous cheers from the crowd.

Several Military Governors present in the capital accompanied His Majesty in the review. Earlier, Liu Chengyou had issued a decree permitting the governors to return to their garrisons, but the remaining three—Zhe, Li, and Wang—all chose to remain silently in the capital, intending to leave only after the New Year.

Seizing this opportunity to display a show of force, even Zhe Congruan was awed by it. In this era, when all was said and done, one had to rely on troops and horses. No matter how much was said, nothing beat a hard, direct fist.

After reviewing the army, seizing a moment of rest, Liu Chengyou summoned Yang Ye before the imperial presence and praised him.

"Are you satisfied with the wife I chose for you?" Liu Chengyou put on an affable demeanor.

The entire process had moved quickly—Yang Ye and the daughter of the Feng family were already married.

At the question, under Liu Chengyou's gaze, the valiant and battle-proven Yang Wudi actually showed rare signs of embarrassment. He merely bowed again with some restraint: "I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness."

Liu Chengyou said amiably: "I promised you before that I would choose a fine match for you, and I keep my word. Though I did keep you waiting for some time..."

Liu Chengyou did not sleep until deep into the night, alone on the imperial couch, his mind filled with the hardships and toils of the past year—the bitterness within, its meaning hard to discern. Only after crossing midnight did he finally fall into a deep sleep...