Chapter 830

Wen Chenghuan knelt with a thud: "Long live the emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years; Dakang's present situation can only be steadied by Your Majesty coming forth to preside!"

Although Zhou Ruiyuan had no hope for Laohuangdi's rule, the situation was stronger than man; under these circumstances, if he did not choose to humble himself and go with the flow, not only his life but likely his whole family's lives could not be saved. Zhou Ruiyuan echoed: "The Grand Tutor is right, and only Your Majesty presiding over the overall situation can make the officials convinced and content, and only then can the people of Dakang be at ease."

Long Xuan'en looked at the two, gave a hehe laugh, then burst into violent coughing.

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan felt uneasy in their hearts, yet simultaneously thought that Laohuangdi's body probably couldn't hold up, being a wind‑candle remnant after years of ups and downs; even if he had the ambition to wield power and regain the throne, his energy likely wouldn't suffice.

Qiqi gently patted Long Xuan'en's back to help him catch his breath.

Long Xuan'en said: "I am willing but lack strength; fortunately I have you officials."

Hearing this, both felt relieved; it seemed Laohuangdi indeed had no intention of exterminating them.

Long Xuan'en certainly knew what these two had done after he stepped down, but he is no fool; after this ordeal he suddenly gained enlightenment, seeing clearly Dakang's present state—if he were to be restored and then take massive revenge on past events, the officials would all live in fear, and Dakang might well be finished; Long Xuan'en is not foolish; as a descendant of the Long clan, he does not wish to see his ancestors' foundation destroyed in his hands. Now Dakang is already fragmented and broken; its remaining territory is like a fragile vase, held in hand with trepidation, a slight mishap would shatter it to pieces. Moreover, his own trembling hands can no longer steady it; he does not know when he will completely let go.

Having seen Dakang's grave crisis, Long Xuan'en just now decided to set aside his hatred; as a ruler, one must prioritize the greater good.

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan knelt together: "We subjects are willing to devote ourselves unto death!"

Long Xuan'en said: "I trust your loyalty and know your abilities; Ji Feihua has brought calamity to the state and harm to the people, Dakang has suffered this ordeal as if a grave illness. Seeing Dakang's current state, my heart aches inexplicably; Dakang is not only my Dakang, but also your homeland; the rise and fall of a nation is the duty of every commoner, and I feel the weight of responsibility heavily. Yet relying solely on my strength, I fear I cannot turn the tide; you are all my old ministers from before, you know in your hearts what has happened to Dakang these years. I ought to be enjoying my twilight years, but circumstances force me to come out of retirement again; I do not know whether you officials are still willing to exert yourselves for Dakang, or willing to serve me loyally."

Wen Chenghuan bowed to the ground: "Let my liver and brains be spilled on the earth; death is not regrettable!"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "In life I am Dakang's person; in death I am Dakang's ghost!"

Long Xuan'en nodded satisfied, then softly said: "Please sit!"

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan felt both honored and startled; they realized they had at last escaped disaster, having served Long Xuan'en, Your Highness, as ministers for many years. They were well aware of Laohuangdi's nature—his temper fickle, his orders changing from morning to evening—as the saying goes, "It is easy to change the land but hard to change one's nature." Who knows if tomorrow he might suddenly take a notion to settle old scores with them? Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; Long Yelin is merely a tiger‑skinned sick cat, while Long Xuan'en is a true tiger; although this tiger is old and feeble, still an aged tiger retains its might.

Long Xuan'en's next words shocked them even more; he said softly: "This time we were able to crush the plot of Ji Feihua and Jian Yuening and her son entirely thanks to Qiqi's cleverness and quick wit, and also thanks to the loyal officials Hong Beimo and Mu Rongzhan. To reward her achievement, I intend to appoint her as Prince of Yongyang! What do you two, my beloved ministers, think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan stared dumbfounded; they were certain they had not misheard, for in Dakang's history since its founding there had never been a precedent of a woman being made prince. Could Long Xuan'en truly have become senile? To actually make Qiqi a prince! But on second thought, the Dakang royal family indeed currently lacks a suitable candidate; after several palace coups, dozens of princes and princesses have either died or fled, and although there are still Long descendants, they are absolutely not the direct line of Laohuangdi; at present, the only one qualified to be heir apparent is the Prince of Zhou, Long Yinqing, who is under house arrest in Xizhou. Laohuangdi's making Qiqi a prince must have been decided after deep consideration. They of course understood that Long Xuan'en was not seeking their opinion but merely announcing a decision; whether others agreed or not would not change his will, and in fact they dared not voice opposition.

Wen Chenghuan said: "Your Majesty is wise; the Yongyang Princess is intelligent and perceptive, understands the big picture, dares to step forward in Dakang's peril, and does not hesitate to risk her life to subdue Ji Feihua; she truly is a heroine among women, no less than any man!"

Long Xuan'en gazed meaningfully at Zhou Ruiyuan: "What do you think, Minister Zhou?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "In extraordinary times extraordinary measures are needed; Your Majesty has far‑sighted vision, dares to break with convention, employs talent without restriction, and lets this humble subject see hope for Dakang's revival."

Long Xuan'en nodded and said: "I know you certainly have doubts in your hearts; since Dakang's founding, there has never been a precedent of a woman being made prince, and I am the first emperor to do so—not because I am braver or more decisive than my predecessors, nor am I senile, nor is this a spur‑of‑the‑moment decision; I know my own descendants best, and although Qiqi is young, she possesses extraordinary talent. I am old, and what I can do may only be to cling to old rules rather than break them; appointing Qiqi as Prince of Yongyang is meant to hope she can use her intelligence and wisdom to help Dakang emerge from its predicament." He paused, then added: "Are you all willing to devote yourselves wholeheartedly to Dakang?"

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan said in unison: "We are willing to devote ourselves unto death for Dakang." Long Xuan'en clenched his right fist, held it to his mouth and coughed violently a few times, then exhaled deeply and said: "I need to rest; the following matters will be explained to you by Qiqi."

Long Xuan'en rose to his feet; Qiqi personally escorted him behind the curtains, and after he departed under the service of the eunuch, Qiqi then returned to the Diligent Governance Hall. Seeing the two still kneeling there, she softly said: "Please rise, sit down and talk."

This time they quickly obeyed her instruction.

Qiqi sat back down in that very dragon throne, her eyes quietly fixed on them; the two Dakang senior ministers, Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan, had weathered countless political storms, yet never encountered such a bizarre situation—being stared at by a fourteen‑year‑old girl, they actually felt their hearts thump nervously.

Qiqi said: "I know what you are thinking, I also know what you worry about and fear!"

Wen Chenghuan said: "As an old official, dying for Dakang is no regret!"

Qiqi said: "You ought to have died!" That remark left Wen Chenghuan's old face flushed red, choking him into speechless stiffness.

Qiqi said: "Whatever you have done or thought in the past does not matter; even if you have a history of aiding a tyrant, I will tentatively understand that you were compelled then, forced with no alternative; making a mistake is not frightening, but not repenting is. In fact, according to Your Majesty's meaning, he intends to execute you all and exterminate your clans."

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan's backs, just drenched in sweat, broke out in cold sweat once more; Qiqi was surely not lying.

Qiqi said: "I asked Your Majesty why he wanted to kill you; he said it was because you were disloyal to him. I then asked Your Majesty, perhaps you two have done things that displease him, but have you done anything that displeases Dakang? After a while he shook his head, so I told him: in my view, loyalty to Dakang is what makes a true loyal subject; a state first has its land, then its people, and only then its ruler; likewise, a subject should first love his country, then its people, while loyalty to a particular ruler can come last—days and months alternate, tides rise and fall, no one can live forever, nor can any ruler hold power eternally."

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan lowered their heads deeply, not daring to look straight at Qiqi.

Qiqi said: "Many officials' promotions and demotions, their gains and losses, are mostly tied to internal royal affairs—for example, the choice of crown prince! Originally that was not your concern, yet you insist on sticking your hand in, thinking you are selecting a wise ruler for Dakang, which you call loyalty; but is the wise ruler you envision truly suited to Dakang? You two were once teachers of my father the emperor; now my father has passed, and only we three remain here—you might as well speak frankly: was my father fit for this throne?"

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan glanced at each other, their eyes both showing panic; judging the emperor's merits and faults is not something they could do.

Qiqi said: "You dare not speak, afraid of misspeaking, or perhaps you are confused by authority; but as an observer I believe you two have failed utterly as teachers—so utterly that you not only failed to cultivate my father the emperor into a wise ruler capable of reviving Dakang, but instead made him suspicious and narrow‑minded, prone to partial belief, to the point that he was ultimately manipulated by the eunuch Ji Feihua, becoming an emperor in name only, a puppet in Ji Feihua's hands."

Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan's faces simultaneously showed shame; Qiqi was not mistaken—lax teaching is the teacher's fault; they had not disciplined Long Yelin well. Yet some people are destined never to become wise rulers; Long Yelin may simply not be cut out for that role by nature.

Qiqi said: "I am telling you this not to blame you, but to help you see your own mistakes and shortcomings; you two are Dakang senior ministers, accustomed to the tumult of court, and whether in wisdom or vision you far surpass me. My acceptance of the title Prince of Yongyang is not because this little girl harbors any ambition—under heaven, the rise and fall of the state is the duty of every commoner. As a descendant of the Long line, I cannot avoid my responsibility merely because I am a woman; if Dakang falls, the misfortune will not be limited to the Long clan but will extend to all Dakang's people. Dakang's decline to this state is not solely the royal family's fault; you officials, should you not ask yourselves whether you have truly striven for Dakang and regarded it as your own homeland?" (to be continued~^~)