Chapter 742: with translation of chapter title

Hu Xiaotian said: "Going to Dakang is a long journey, and with the weather gradually getting hot, to ensure the princess's remains do not decay, I still need to borrow something from Your Majesty."

Weichi Chong said: "Shi Kuang, immediately prepare a fine cold jade coffin, then fetch the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl and send it at once to the Qixing Palace." Placing the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl in the corpse's mouth ensures it will not decay for a hundred days, and the cold jade coffin, carved from a millennium cold jade special product of Da Yong's Ice Snow City, can preserve a corpse for a hundred years, keeping the features lifelike. Both items are priceless treasures; Weichi Chong gave them to Hu Xiaotian without hesitation, not only out of gratitude for curing his ailment but also because he felt remorse over the assassination of Princess Anping.

Yes!

Hu Xiaotian saw Weichi Chong so forthcoming, not only agreeing to give them the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl but also adding a cold jade coffin; he felt more favor toward this Da Yong emperor and said: "Xiaotian still has a request; I implore Your Majesty to quickly investigate the true culprit and bring him to justice, so that our princess may rest in peace in the Nine Springs..." Saying this, his eyes reddened again; Hu Xiaotian was now fully immersed in the role, his gestures and timing perfect, and even with Weichi Chong's ability he could detect no flaw.

Weichi Chong said: "You need not worry; Princess Anping is not only a princess of Dakang but also my future daughter-in-law. Whoever dares to assassinate in Yongdu is opposing me; I will dig three feet into Yongdu if necessary to find the assassin."

Thank you, Your Majesty!

When do you plan to escort the princess's remains back?

"Of course, the sooner the better!" Hu Xiaotian also worried that delays would bring complications; according to his plan, leaving Yongdu now would be best, but reality dictates that everything must be settled before departure, the earliest being tomorrow morning.

Weichi Chong said: "I will arrange everything along the way and send personnel specially to escort you back to Dakang."

Since Weichi Chong had agreed to all his requests, Hu Xiaotian could not feign ignorance; after all, they had summoned him not only to console him but for a follow-up examination. Hu Xiaotian checked the emperor's wound; his recovery speed was nothing short of miraculous, the wound fully healed in just two days.

Hu Xiaotian helped Weichi Chong remove the sutures. After finishing, he did not linger in the palace but immediately took his leave of Weichi Chong and went with Shi Kuang to fetch the cold jade coffin and the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl.

Xue Lingjun, however, did not choose to leave with Hu Xiaotian; she still had some things to say privately to her imperial brother.

Weichi Chong said: "I haven't left the palace for two days, imperial sister; why not accompany me for a walk outside?"

Xue Lingjun nodded. Accompanying him, they left the Diligent Governance Hall and came to the rear small garden; the garden was not large, the palace walls high and wide, standing within gave a sense of confinement. Weichi Chong clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the overcast heavens. His mood was similarly oppressive; he drew a deep breath, expanding his lungs as much as possible, then exhaled a long turbid breath. The feeling of stuffiness eased slightly, and he said in a low voice: "What do you think?"

Xue Lingjun said: "When I went to the Qixing Palace, I happened to see Daoming capturing Huo Shengnan and her subordinates; Daoming appeared very grieved and wished to personally investigate the assassination of Long Xi Yue."

Weichi Chong said nothing, clasping his hands tightly behind his back.

Xue Lingjun said: "Huo Shengnan is, after all, Weichi Chong's adopted daughter; she is also deeply favored by the empress dowager."

Weichi Chong said: "Weichi Chong must have received the news by now; do you think he will come forward to plead with me?"

Xue Lingjun said: "He probably will not; on the contrary, the empress dowager might intervene."

Weichi Chong said: "If it were you in my place, what would you do?"

Xue Lingjun smiled: "I am not the imperial brother, so I do not know what he would do."

Weichi Chong said: "Just now Shi Kuang told me he must quickly get to the bottom of the Qixing Palace affair; guess how I responded to him?"

Xue Lingjun said: "Actually, uncovering the true facts may not be what the imperial brother wishes to see."

Weichi Chong nodded and said: "I think so too." He walked to the edge of the pond, gazed at the clearly visible fish swimming within, and said in a low voice: "Do you know why I agreed to this marriage alliance?"

Xue Lingjun shook her head.

Weichi Chong said: "The marriage alliance with Dakang was proposed by the empress; I know exactly what she has in mind. All along, Consort Shu has wanted Daoming to marry the daughter of Xiang Liren; I refused because the Dong and Xiang families wield tremendous influence in Da Yong, and if they allied through marriage, their power would surely rise a notch, which I do not wish to see. Although Princess Anping is a Dakang princess, Dakang is now on its last breath, and this imperial sister of hers has long lost her former glory. Consort Shu believes Daoming would gain nothing from this alliance, as the matter has caused a fuss before me many times."

Xue Lingjun said: "Daoming has always been her pride, loved to the extreme, so it is unsurprising that she would act irrationally." Her remark pointedly suggested that the assassination at the Qixing Palace was likely connected to Consort Shu.

Weichi Chong smiled: "Which mother in the world does not love her child? The love of a mother for her offspring runs deep! Once love is deep, one is bound to be troubled by it; who can remain clear-headed?"

Xue Lingjun said: "Imperial brother, why not settle the matter of the crown prince earlier?"

Weichi Chong nodded and said: "I originally thought this was premature, but after this illness my views have changed considerably."

Xue Lingjun said: "Imperial brother, whom do you favor more?"

Weichi Chong said: "Who can succeed me and whom I favor more are unrelated; my affection for a child is merely a private sentiment, but this realm is not mine alone—it is the achievement forged by our ancestors' blood and sweat. I have no right to bestow the throne on anyone based on personal preference; one worthy of the throne must possess the ability to command Da Yong's officials, have unyielding resolve, and harbor the ambition to unify the Central Plains." He turned to Xue Lingjun and said: "In your view, which of my sons is more qualified to succeed me?"

Xue Lingjun said: "Imperial brother, you are a dragon among men; forgive my frankness, though my nephews are all outstanding in wit and wisdom, none of them matches your breadth of mind."

Weichi Chong nodded and said: "You always understand my thoughts best. A successful emperor does not need extraordinary intellect, nor unmatched martial prowess; what is truly needed is breadth of mind. Only with a vast vision can one look far ahead; an emperor must know what can be tolerated and what cannot be changed, who can be employed and who must be kept at a distance. The way of a ruler is essentially the way of employing people: one person's wisdom, however great, cannot compare to that of a group; one's martial skill, however strong, among ten thousand troops amounts only to awaiting execution."

Xue Lingjun said: "Since you say so, imperial brother, you must already have your own standard in mind."

Weichi Chong said: "Actually, I originally favored Daoming the most, but his conduct in this marriage alliance has greatly disappointed me. A true sovereign capable of great deeds cannot pin his hopes on others; hoping for a marriage alliance, relying on others' strength to achieve greatness—such an attitude is unacceptable."

Xue Lingjun nodded.

Weichi Chong said: "Since ascending the throne, I have always appointed officials based solely on talent, disregarding other factors. My relationship with my subjects is like a business transaction: they give me loyalty, I give them power and wealth; they must understand that I can bestow upon them, and also take away whatever they possess at any time."

Distant thunder rumbled across the sky, the wind seeming much stronger than before. Weichi Chong said: "Daoming wishes to strengthen his power through this marriage alliance; if he could marry Xiang Liren's daughter, his chances of becoming crown prince would increase somewhat, and given Xiang Liren's influence at court he could surely gather more supporters. Yet he has not considered that if a ruler overly relies on a minister, it will only breed arrogance in that minister, and no one is exempt. A successful sovereign must make ministers feel important, but not indispensable."

Xue Lingjun gazed at her imperial brother with admiration; his approach to employing people is unorthodox and unique, which is precisely why Da Yong has maintained rapid development since his accession.

Weichi Chong said: "Daohong is mature and seasoned in his dealings; though his talent does not match Daoming's, I can see his effort, and he gets along with both civil and military officials at court; many outstanding figures of Da Yong's younger generation have become his close friends."

Xue Lingjun said: "Daohong already possesses a third of your insight in employing people."

Weichi Chong slowly shook his head and said: "A ruler and his subjects can never be friends!"

A bolt of lightning like a golden serpent twisted and tore through the heavy clouds, illuminating Weichi Chong's face bright as snow; from his deep eyes flashed a cold, icy glint.

Xue Lingjun bit her cherry lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately did not speak.

Weichi Chong sighed and said: "Lingjun, you should know how lonely and desolate my heart is..."

At last the rain began, striking the pond and sending out ripples that quickly grew dense, blurring the outlines of palaces and plants; Weichi Chong lifted his head, his gaze piercing through layers of rain and thick clouds, as if he saw a azure dragon coiling and dancing in the sky—heaven will bestow a great mission upon him, his ambitions unfulfilled, in his lifetime he will surely march south and unify the Central Plains!

This chapter contained a common error in the use of aunt/niece terms; many readers pointed it out. Zhangyu thanks everyone, having rushed the manuscript and uploaded it without sufficient proofreading; I apologize here and will try to avoid such mistakes in the future. (To be continued~^~)