Chapter 336: Lady Zhe Enters the Palace

In the third month of the second year of Qianyou, nothing major happened at home or abroad.

For Liu Chengyou, Son of Heaven of the Great Han, good news came one after another—first, Noble Consort Gao was found to be with child, and within days, the Empress was pregnant as well. When it rained, it poured: two pregnancies, two hits.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Inside the Kunming Hall, the moment Liu Chengyou crossed the threshold, Empress Fu, the elder Lady Fu, gracefully knelt in salute, her movements gentle and tinged with caution.

Liu Chengyou naturally reached out to support her, taking her tender hand as if caressing soft jade: "Rise!"

The elder Lady Fu's elegant countenance radiated joy—a smile from the depths of her heart, so infectious that it lifted Liu Chengyou's spirits even further.

"Erlang!" As the couple sat together, the elder Lady Fu habitually switched to the intimate form of address.

"Has the worry in your heart been dispelled?" Liu Chengyou always enjoyed playing with the elder Lady Fu's hand, gently holding it as he asked in a teasing tone.

Facing Liu Chengyou's rare jest, the elder Lady Fu's bright eyes shimmered with warmth, looking utterly endearing as she admitted openly: "To be honest with Erlang, more than half of it is gone!"

"Oh? Then what remains of the small half?" Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow and asked.

The elder Lady Fu lowered her voice slightly and replied calmly: "If I could bear Erlang a prince, then the worry would be entirely gone!"

Liu Chengyou was momentarily at a loss for words, gazing at his Empress. The elder Lady Fu met his gaze frankly. After a moment of silent exchange, Liu Chengyou smiled: "Then give me a son!"

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu promptly made a clever gesture of petition: "Is this Your Majesty's decree to me?"

Liu Chengyou's mood grew even brighter, and he replied: "Consider it so!"

Having been married to Liu Chengyou for over a year, from Crown Princess to Empress, she had enjoyed continuous favor, but the matter of bearing an heir had truly become a worry in the elder Lady Fu's heart. As the rightful consort of the Son of Heaven, mother to the realm, yet without a son at her knee, she always felt a sense of hollowness.

Although Noble Consort Gao's situation was even more "severe"—after all, she was a woman who had remarried and had never conceived—rumors had long circulated in the palace that the Noble Consort had some ailment and could not bear children, which infuriated Lady Gao so much that she disciplined several palace attendants who had spread the gossip.

Though the elder Lady Fu and Lady Gao vied for favor, she had never used this matter against her rival, for she herself was deeply troubled by the same issue. She had consulted the imperial physicians, but they could find nothing wrong, and she dared not shift the blame onto Liu Chengyou, since he had already fathered the eldest prince...

Though conjugal relations were not frequent, she made sure to time them once or twice each month, and her body was normal. For a long time, the elder Lady Fu had been deeply anxious—even more so than the Noble Consort. When Lady Gao became pregnant, she forced a smile on her face, but inwardly she was nearly driven to despair.

Fortunately, it seemed Liu Chengyou had "delivered" on his end, and she too received the imperial dew, conceiving a precious pearl in her womb.

The Empress and the Noble Consort becoming pregnant in succession was a joyous event for both the Emperor and the court. When the news spread, the entire court offered congratulations. For the Great Han, this was an auspicious omen. Regardless of the outer court, within the inner palace, everyone from top to bottom joyfully offered their congratulations to Liu Chengyou—though, apart from a smile, Liu Chengyou gave no other indication...

"What brings Duke Zhe here?" Liu Chengyou asked, looking at Zhe Congruan standing respectfully before the throne.

After several months of comfortable living in the Eastern Capital, Zhe Congruan's complexion seemed much improved. Meeting Liu Chengyou's inquiring gaze, he bowed slightly and reported: "To answer Your Majesty, since I came to court at the winter solstice last year, and now summer approaches, my grandson and I have lingered in the Eastern Capital for nearly half a year. Having been away from my garrison for so long, I have come specifically to request leave to return."

Of the various military governors who had come to the capital for audience, Liu Zhu and Guo Jin had been unable to wait out the winter before rushing back to their garrisons, and Li Yin and Wang Jing had also taken their leave one after another after Liu Zhiyuan's burial. Murong Yanchao was still under house arrest, leaving only Zhe Congruan remaining.

Hearing his words and observing his expression, Liu Chengyou himself felt embarrassed to utter any words of retention. This old General Zhe had already shown this Emperor considerable face.

Not responding immediately, Liu Chengyou pondered inscrutably, while Zhe Congruan showed no impatience, waiting calmly and respectfully.

After a few breaths' delay, Liu Chengyou asked: "Does Duke Zhe wish to return north to Fuzhou?"

The Emperor's question was somewhat redundant. Zhe Congruan observed his expression, his aged eyes flickering: "Yes!"

Liu Chengyou fell into thought again, as if considering whether something was amiss, then raised his head: "Duke Zhe possesses the ability to govern and pacify the people. At present, the Taining Army has no one to lead it—scattered like loose sand, with military affairs neglected and governance in decay. I have recently been pondering whom to send, but found no worthy talent. Hmm... I wish to appoint Duke Zhe as Military Governor of the Taining Army, to proceed to Yunzhou and guard the borders and pacify the people! What does Duke think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhe Congruan could not help but draw a deep breath, genuinely taken aback. Without hesitation, he bowed: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for the trust and favor. But what of Fuzhou?"

This old general was indeed a practical man. Since Liu Chengyou had issued the order, he had naturally considered everything, and said directly: "I shall appoint your son Zhe Deyi as Defense Commissioner of Fuzhou, responsible for the military and civil affairs of the prefecture!"

This favor from Liu Chengyou was exceedingly generous—one family holding two garrison commands. At least on the surface, there was scarcely anyone in the Great Han who could compare.

Zhe Congruan had always been humble and deferential. Faced with such heavy favor, he showed no hint of delight; instead, his expression grew even more solemn and respectful as he bowed with care. Before taking his leave, he cast another meaningful glance at Liu Chengyou.

The Taining Army had originally been under Murong Yanchao's command. The situation in Yunzhou was somewhat better than in Xuzhou, but not by much. Murong Yanchao was fond of wealth, but unlike Liu Xin, he was not cruel or given to indiscriminate punishment. He was mindful of appearances, and his methods of amassing wealth were far more sophisticated than Liu Xin's, so the people's resentment in Yunzhou was not as severe as in Xuzhou.

But that was only relatively speaking. While in Xuzhou, Murong Yanchao had been stripped of his office by Liu Chengyou for disrespectful conduct before the throne and confined to his home. To this day, Liu Chengyou had no intention of sending him out to govern another region.

Speaking of Murong Yanchao, he was indeed far more intelligent than Liu Xin, and far more attuned to the times. Had it been Liu Xin subjected to such treatment, given his arrogance, he would surely have cursed loudly and harbored deep resentment. And indeed, according to reports from the guards at Rui Mausoleum, Liu Xin, now reduced to commoner status, frequently uttered bitter complaints while guarding the tomb.

As for Murong Yanchao, after returning to the capital, he had simply stayed quietly at home, closing his gates and receiving no visitors.

As for sending Zhe Congruan to Yunzhou, that had naturally been a decision made on the spur of the moment.

He thought seriously for a moment, as if considering whether such an arrangement might be improper, but soon Liu Chengyou regained his composed expression and instructed Zhang Dejun: "Have the Secretariat draft the appointment of Zhe Congruan as Military Governor of the Taining Army!"

"Have the Hanlin Academy draft the edict, conferring the title of Worthy Consort upon Duke Zhe's granddaughter, Lady Zhe! You shall personally deliver the edict to the Zhe residence!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun acknowledged, his tone carrying a note of joy, as if he were happy on the Emperor's behalf.

Indeed, good news truly kept coming for Liu Chengyou.

After all, the young Lady Zhe of the Zhe family had been waiting in the Eastern Capital for quite some time—it was time to give her an answer and a resolution. After all, the two glances Zhe Congruan had cast during his audience just now, with their hint of reminder, had made Liu Chengyou himself somewhat embarrassed. Indeed, Liu Chengyou suspected that Zhe Congruan's request to leave the capital was merely secondary—reminding Liu Chengyou about his granddaughter's matter was the primary purpose.

After summer began, an auspicious day was selected, and Liu Chengyou formally received Lady Zhe into the palace, with the ceremonies kept simple.