Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1193 Posthumously Conferring the Title of Princess Consort and Discussing the Establishment

The following morning, the atmosphere in the council hall of the Western Liang King's Palace was solemn. Fine sandalwood burned in a gilded bronze incense burner, its smoke rising in wisps, yet unable to dispel the underlying heaviness in the hall.

Ma Chao, dressed in a black court robe, sat upright beside the main seat, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone in the hall. At the head of the table, Ma Teng, whose beard and hair had turned white, sat regally. Although he had not been involved in military and political affairs for a long time, he still exuded an air of authority. Today, he had specially changed into a brocade court robe, clearly for this important meeting.

On either side of the hall, trusted advisors sat in order. Li Ru's face was calm; Xu Shu's gaze was peaceful; Lu Su's expression was gentle; Jia Xu's eyes were half-closed. Even Fa Zheng, who was far away in Hanzhong, had rushed back, his face showing some fatigue from the journey, but his eyes were still sharp.

Even more surprising were several figures who hadn't been seen in a long time: Gongsun Zan was still in full silver armor, clearly having just arrived from Bingzhou, his sword jingling at his waist; Zhen Mi's father, Zhen Yi, wore a plain brocade robe and had a humble expression, but occasionally exchanged glances with Zhang Lu, who was wearing a Taoist robe beside him; Dong Huang, as Dong Bai's uncle, had a solemn expression, clearly taking today's topic very seriously.

After everyone was seated, they exchanged a few pleasantries, then fell silent as their gazes, some openly and some subtly, turned toward Ma Teng and Ma Chao, who sat at the head of the table. After all, the fact that so many key figures had gathered together, especially with the situation in Xiliang gradually stabilizing, made the answer obvious—it was most likely about the wedding of King Ma Chao of Liang.

Ma Teng coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the hall, and slowly swept his gaze over everyone: "I have troubled you all to come here today because there is an important matter concerning the stability of Xiliang and the future of my Ma family that I would like to discuss with you."

He paused, looked at Ma Chao beside him, and said with a hint of expectation in his eyes, "I'm sure you all have your own plans. That's right, it's all about my son Ma Chao's marriage."

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed slightly, but they all remained calm, clearly having expected this.

The air in the council chamber was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Ma Chao broke the silence first, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone somewhat somber: "Gentlemen, when I was in Jiangdong, I already had a wife named Sally, and she gave birth to my eldest son, Ma Yue. I'm sure you've all heard about this."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the jade pendant on the table, his voice lowering slightly: "Sariel sacrificed herself for my sake back then, and I, Ma Chao, will never forget that kindness. Now that I wish to make her my queen, I feel I have wronged her. Therefore, I plan to posthumously confer the title of queen upon Sariel to fulfill our marital bond. Does anyone have any objections?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Gongsun Zan had just arrived from Bingzhou. Hearing this, he was slightly taken aback, but then he understood. His daughter, Gongsun Rou, would never become the principal wife. It was only natural to posthumously honor his deceased wife. So he stroked his beard and remained silent.

Zhang Lu squinted, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces, but he remained silent. Everyone knew that within Xiliang, Dong Bai was the only one capable of holding the position of principal wife. Therefore, many eyes secretly turned to Jia Xu and Dong Huang, wanting to see the Dong family's reaction.

Dong Huang sat there, his fingers nervously twisting the corners of his sleeves. The Dong family had long been weakened since Dong Zhuo's defeat and death, and only maintained their dignity by relying on Ma Chao. How could they dare to have the slightest objection now? He secretly glanced at Li Ru, and seeing that the other's expression was normal, he simply lowered his head and made a gesture of acquiescence.

Seeing this, Li Ru stood up first, cupped his hands, and said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, despite your high position, has not forgotten the love and hardship you shared with your first wife. This is the virtue of a benevolent ruler. I believe that posthumously honoring the Queen Consort is appropriate in both sentiment and reason. In this way, the title of the young master Ma Yue will also be more righteous, which is also a good thing for the stability of Xiliang."

Ma Chao rose to return the greeting, his eyes filled with warmth: "Mr. Wenyou is indeed a reasonable person." He deliberately avoided mentioning the tense atmosphere of his secret conversation with Li Ru the other day, only appearing frank and open.

Li Ru nodded and smiled, "Your Majesty's actions both preserve old friendships and reassure the people; this is exactly what should be done."

Jia Xu slowly opened his eyes, stroked his beard, and said, "Wen You is absolutely right. Posthumously honoring your deceased wife demonstrates Your Majesty's deep affection and righteousness. I second that proposal."

With Li Ru and Jia Xu taking the lead, the others echoed, "We second that!" "Your Majesty's move is truly commendable!"

Ma Teng, sitting at the head of the table, stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "I am very pleased that my son has such a heart. Sally deserves this honor for what she did back then."

Ma Chao turned his gaze to Xu Shu and Lu Su, and asked in a calm tone, "Yuanzhi, Zijing, have you made any progress on the titles I asked you two to draft a couple of days ago?"

Xu Shu cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, after careful consideration with Zijing, we have drafted a few options for your selection. The first is 'Zhuangjing,' which means dignified and quiet, intended to highlight his steady character. The second is 'Liangshu,' where 'Liang' implies a prudent demeanor and 'Shu' reveals a gentle and graceful nature, fitting the image of a gentle yet disciplined person. The third is 'Duanjing,' where 'Duan' represents upright manners and 'Jing' reveals a respectful heart, embodying both integrity and sincerity in dealing with others, which I believe best suits his conduct."

Lu Su added from the side: "'Upright and respectful' may seem plain, but they are actually profound. 'Upright' can establish one's character, and 'respectful' can foster harmony with one's neighbors. It can correct oneself internally and bring peace to others externally. It is indeed the most comprehensive and appropriate choice among all options."

Ma Chao tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then his eyes revealed a resolute look: "'Duanjing' (端敬) not only emphasizes character and contains a sense of propriety, but also shows my respect and remembrance, which suits my wishes perfectly. Let's go with this."

Xu Shu and Lu Su responded in unison, "We will obey your command, my lord."

Those around them listened to the deliberation and selection of the title and nodded in approval. The word "Duanjing" (端敬) was understated yet carried weight, and it was indeed a fitting consideration.

Ma Chao made the final decision, saying loudly, "In that case, the posthumous conferment ceremony will be held in three days, honoring Sharil as Princess Duanjing. In addition, have people repair the princess's tomb, and bury my armor, everyday clothes, and a few personal belongings with her—she always said that she would never see me on the battlefield, so this will fulfill our wishes as husband and wife."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight commotion arose in the hall. Everyone looked troubled, and Lu Su couldn't help but bow, saying, "Your Majesty, according to the rites, burial clothing is usually what the deceased used during their lifetime, or objects used by relatives to commemorate them. You are still alive; burying your personal belongings in this way might be against the proper rites..."

Upon hearing this, several people nodded in agreement. After all, since ancient times, etiquette has emphasized "sacrifices to the living and rites to the dead," and burying the living's clothing with the dead is indeed inappropriate and inevitably draws criticism.

Just then, Zhang Lu, who had been silent all along, slowly stroked his beard and said, "Gentlemen, you are mistaken."

As a celestial master, his words carried an air of calm composure, and the hall fell silent. "The essence of propriety lies in conforming to human feelings and the principles of Heaven. Princess Duanjing died for the King, and this affection far surpasses that of ordinary couples; the King, grateful for her kindness, had her personal belongings buried with him, which is a testament to the old promise of 'never being apart in life or death.' How is this against propriety?"

Zhang Lu paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued, "Furthermore, in ancient times there was the practice of 'cenotaphs,' used to summon the souls of the deceased and bring them peace. Your Majesty's actions are not for burial, but rather to express your feelings—armor is something that accompanies you on the battlefield, while everyday clothes are evidence of daily life together. Expressing feelings through objects is precisely where 'respect' lies, perfectly complementing the title of 'dignified and respectful.' If we were to be bound by the trivial detail that 'the clothes of the living cannot be buried,' we would be missing the fundamental principle of 'valuing affection and righteousness' in the rites."

These words, both well-founded and reasonable, dispelled any doubts about the "improper etiquette" and instead elevated Ma Chao's actions to the level of "loyalty and righteousness."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lu Su, who had just raised an objection, also looked ashamed and cupped his hands, saying, "Master Zhang is absolutely right; I was being too rigid."

Ma Chao looked at Zhang Lu, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master's words have cleared up my doubts and put everyone's minds at ease. Thank you."

Zhang Lu bowed slightly: "Your Majesty values ​​relationships, which is in accordance with the natural order. I am merely speaking the truth."

The doubts in the hall dissipated, and the arrangements for the posthumous conferment ceremony three days later were naturally settled. The sandalwood incense continued to waft, and the atmosphere of the discussion became increasingly smooth, as if even the air itself had gained a touch of human warmth.

Ma Teng gently tapped the table at the head of the table, and his aged yet powerful voice echoed in the hall: "Now that it has been decided to posthumously confer the title of Princess Duanjing upon Sally, Yue'er's position as heir should also be settled."

Upon hearing this, the gazes in the hall instantly shifted, all falling on Li Ru. Everyone remembered that just a few days ago, this cunning old fox had been secretly instigating some discord between Ma Yue and Ma Chao's adopted sons. Anyone with eyes could see that he probably had other plans in mind.

But Li Ru's face remained completely expressionless, as if those past events had never happened. He calmly rose, bowed, and spoke earnestly: "What the old lord said is absolutely right. Young Master Ma Yue has been tempered in Jiangdong over the years, and his temperament is calm and steady, and he also possesses the virtues of filial piety, brotherly love, benevolence, and courage. Yesterday, the Youlin Army was newly established, and his command was skillful, already showing the style of his father. The sooner the position of heir is settled, the sooner the people of Xiliang will be at peace. This is a matter of great importance both internally and externally."

These words were perfectly worded, praising Ma Yue, echoing Ma Teng, and subtly hinting at the urgency of "settling things down as soon as possible," which made everyone nod in agreement.

Xu Shu clapped his hands and said, "Young Master Wenyou is right! I saw the young master's demeanor in the martial arts arena yesterday, and he certainly has the bearing of his father. He is worthy of the position of heir!"

Fa Zheng echoed, "Xiliang is in dire need of talent right now. Establishing a heir to solidify its foundation is a wise move. Now that the young master has shown his talent, he should be officially recognized as soon as possible so that everyone inside and outside the city knows that Xiliang has a successor, and the people's hearts will be at ease."

Seeing that everyone had agreed, Ma Teng's face showed a look of satisfaction. He turned to Ma Chao and asked, "What do you think, my son?"

Ma Chao stood up and replied, “Father and everyone else are absolutely right. Although Yue’er is young, he already understands responsibility. He handled the matter of the Young Lin Army yesterday quite well. In that case, please ask Father to preside over the matter. After posthumously conferring the title of Princess Consort in three days, announce to Xiliang that Ma Yue will be made the heir apparent.”

Seeing this, Li Ru stepped forward and said, "Now that a crown prince has been established, according to the rites, the crown prince should be granted an official seal and ribbon. We also request that the old lord and the king personally impart the essentials of military strategy to show the intention of passing on the torch."

Ma Teng nodded and said, "That's exactly right. This matter will be handled by Wen You and Yuan Zhi together, and they must ensure that everything is done thoroughly."

A smile flashed across Ma Chao's face. Now that he was the ruler of Xiliang, everyone should keep their thoughts to themselves and settle this matter as soon as possible to avoid future disputes. Seeing the smile on Ma Chao's face, everyone knew that their king was satisfied with their reaction, and they all smiled as well.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly harmonious, and the slight suspicion that had been present earlier vanished with the confirmation of the heir's position. The smoke of sandalwood swirled between the beams, seemingly adding a touch of stability to this settled matter.