readytorunbook Chapter 302 Aftermath
Chapter 302 Aftermath
After the dust settled on Consort Liu's rebellion, the Forbidden City was greeted by a long-awaited auspicious snow. Snowflakes fluttered down, draping the palaces and pavilions in a pristine white coat, seemingly washing away the gloom left by the turmoil. However, Jiang Youan and Su Liyue both knew that this was merely a brief respite after the storm; to completely prevent such tragedies, a thorough overhaul of the court and the inner palace was necessary.
Inside the warm pavilion of the Jiaofang Palace, Su Liyue sat at her desk, holding a thick book of palace rules in her hands, her brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought. Jiang Youan, having finished his court affairs, rushed over. Looking at Su Liyue's focused expression, he felt a pang of pity.
"Liyue, you must be exhausted from all these affairs all day long?" Jiang Youan asked softly, walking to Su Liyue's side and draping a fox fur coat over her.
Su Liyue raised her head and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, I am not tired. After this incident, I have come to understand the importance of palace rules. We must take this opportunity to improve the rules, strengthen management, and prevent similar incidents from happening again."
Jiang Youan nodded in agreement: "You're right. As for the court, I also plan to carry out a major overhaul, purge the remaining members of the Liu family, reappoint and dismiss officials, and ensure a clean and honest court."
In the days that followed, Su Liyue devoted herself entirely to the reorganization of the harem. She and the head maids of each palace discussed the matter late into the night, revising the palace rules and clarifying the duties and reward/punishment system for palace maids and eunuchs. She also established stricter standards for the selection and training of imperial concubines.
Meanwhile, Jiang Youan acted decisively in the imperial court. He summoned all officials and announced the punishment decision for the remnants of the Liu family, dismissing and investigating all officials who had colluded with the Liu family and committed wrongdoings. Subsequently, he began to recruit talented individuals, selecting officials with genuine ability, integrity, and incorruptibility to fill various departments.
However, the path to reform was not smooth. In the inner palace, some senior palace maids were dissatisfied with the new palace rules, considering them too harsh, and secretly resisted them. In the imperial court, some officials also harbored resentment towards the new personnel appointments and attempted to obstruct them.
One day, while inspecting the inner palace, Su Liyue discovered several elderly maids gossiping privately, expressing their complaints about the new palace rules. Instead of reacting immediately, Su Liyue summoned them to the Jiaofang Palace.
"If you have any opinions on the new palace rules, feel free to speak them directly," Su Liyue said, looking at everyone with a calm gaze.
An older nanny mustered her courage and said, “Your Majesty, the new palace rules are too strict, and many palace maids and eunuchs are finding it difficult to adapt. Moreover, with the increased standards for selecting imperial concubines, there will be fewer people to choose from in our harem, and it may be difficult to manage them in the future.”
Su Liyue patiently explained, "I did not establish these new palace rules to make things difficult for everyone. The recent turmoil caused by Consort Liu has served as a wake-up call for us. If the harem does not have strict rules and those with ulterior motives are allowed to act recklessly, it will not only endanger my safety but also affect the peace of the entire harem. As for the selection of imperial concubines, raising the standards is to select women who are truly virtuous and talented, and to inject new vitality into the harem."
The palace maids listened to Su Liyue's words and seemed to understand. In the end, they all expressed their willingness to abide by the new palace rules.
In the imperial court, Jiang You'an faced the same challenge. Several senior officials jointly submitted a memorial opposing the new personnel appointments and dismissals, their words vehement. Jiang You'an did not get angry, but instead summoned them to the imperial study and had a heart-to-heart talk with them.
"I know that you, my esteemed ministers, have served in the court for many years and made great contributions to the country. But the situation is different now. The chaos caused by the Liu family has made me aware of the problems in the court. If reforms are not carried out, the Western Jing Kingdom may not be able to maintain its stability for long. The newly selected officials have all been carefully examined by me and the ministers. They are capable and responsible, and will certainly serve the country," Jiang Youan said sincerely.
After listening to Jiang Youan's words, the veteran officials' doubts gradually dissipated. In the end, they chose to support Jiang Youan's reforms.
After months of effort, the reorganization of the imperial harem and the imperial court has begun to show results. In the harem, palace maids and eunuchs perform their duties in an orderly manner. A new batch of women entering the palace bring new vitality and energy. In the imperial court, officials are diligent and honest, actively contributing ideas for the development of the country.
On a bright and sunny spring day, Jiang Youan and Su Liyue strolled hand in hand through the Imperial Garden. The garden was bursting with vibrant flowers, butterflies fluttering and bees buzzing, a scene brimming with life.
"Liyue, thanks to you by my side, fighting alongside me, the harem is now peaceful and the court is stable. Xijing Kingdom has ushered in a new era of vitality," Jiang Youan said with emotion.
Su Liyue smiled and said, "Your Majesty, all of this is the result of our joint efforts. I am willing to join hands with Your Majesty to create a prosperous era for the Western Jing Kingdom and let the people live a happy and peaceful life."
A Glorious Chapter in a Prosperous Era: A New Chapter of Glory for the Nation and the People
Under the careful governance of Jiang Youan and Su Liyue, Xijing Kingdom entered an unprecedented period of prosperity. The people lived in peace and contentment, commerce and trade flourished, and laughter filled the streets and alleys. However, beneath this seemingly peaceful surface, new challenges were quietly approaching.
One morning at court, a border general rushed in with an urgent report: the northern barbarians had amassed a large army, intending to invade the border of Xijing Kingdom. Jiang Youan received the report, his expression instantly turning grave. The court erupted in discussion, with ministers offering their opinions. Some advocated immediate military action, while others suggested sending envoys to sue for peace.
“Your Majesty, the barbarians are ambitious and treacherous. This invasion must have been well-prepared. We must not be careless and should immediately mobilize troops to defend the border,” said Right Chancellor Li Mingde, stepping forward and bowing.
Left Chancellor Zhao Zhong frowned and retorted, "What the Chancellor says makes sense, but it is currently the busy farming season. Rashly conscripting soldiers may affect people's livelihoods. Furthermore, war is exhausting and costly. Wouldn't it be better to resolve the issue through negotiation?"
Jiang Youan pondered for a moment and said, "What you two ministers say makes sense. But I believe we cannot simply seek peace, nor can we blindly start a war. We need to understand the true intentions of the barbarians before making a decision."
After the court session, Jiang Youan returned to the Jiaofang Palace and told Su Liyue about the matter. Su Liyue frowned slightly after listening: "Your Majesty, the barbarians have always been greedy. I'm afraid they won't give up easily this time. I think we should send envoys to the barbarian camp to find out their strength and buy them time, while secretly gathering troops and preparing for battle."
Jiang Youan nodded in agreement: "Li Yue, your thoughts coincide with mine. However, we must be careful in choosing the envoy."
Su Liyue thought for a moment and said, "I have heard that Zhou Zheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, is intelligent, brave, and eloquent. He may be a suitable candidate."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Youan's eyes lit up: "Li Yue, your suggestion is excellent. I will issue an order immediately to send Zhou Zheng to the barbarian camp."
A few days later, Zhou Zheng, accompanied by a troop of guards, embarked on his journey to the barbarian camp. Meanwhile, Jiang You'an ordered the border generals to strengthen their defenses and secretly mobilized 100,000 troops, ready to be deployed at any time.
After enduring countless hardships, Zhou Zheng and his group finally arrived at the barbarian camp. When the barbarian chieftain, Aguda, saw Zhou Zheng, a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes: "Hmph, did the Western Jing Kingdom send you here to sue for peace?"
Zhou Zheng replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "General, you misunderstand. My Xijing Kingdom has always cherished peace. The reason I was sent here is to discuss with you how to avoid war and achieve peaceful coexistence between our two countries."
Aguda sneered: "Peaceful coexistence? Hmph, unless the Western Jing Kingdom cedes the three northern prefectures, there's no point in talking about it!"
Zhou Zheng was startled, but his face remained calm: "General, the matter of ceding territory is of great importance, and I dare not make a decision on my own. I hope you will give me some time to return to the court and report to His Majesty."
Aguda hesitated for a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll give you seven days. If Xijing Kingdom still doesn't agree after seven days, don't blame me for being impolite!"
After returning to Xijing Kingdom, Zhou Zheng truthfully reported Aguda's demands to Jiang You'an. Upon hearing this, Jiang You'an was furious: "Aguda is going too far! He wants to cede territory from my Xijing Kingdom? Absolutely not!"
Su Liyue comforted him, "Your Majesty, don't be anxious. Since Aguda has given us seven days, we can use this time to prepare for battle."
Jiang Youan took a deep breath and said, "Li Yue, you are right. I will issue the order immediately to have the army set off for the border."
Seven days later, seeing that Zhou Zheng had not yet returned, Aguda assumed that Xijing Kingdom dared not fight and ordered his army to attack the border of Xijing Kingdom. However, he never expected that Xijing Kingdom had already made thorough preparations.
When the barbarian army arrived at the border, they were met by the elite troops and formidable defenses of the Xijing Kingdom. A fierce battle ensued, the shouts of battle deafening. Thanks to the valiant resistance of the Xijing soldiers, the barbarian army suffered heavy losses and retreated in disarray.
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Aguda had no choice but to send envoys to sue for peace. Upon learning the news, Jiang Youan consulted with Su Liyue. Su Liyue said, “Your Majesty, although we have won, war is ultimately a drain on resources and manpower. Since Aguda is willing to sue for peace, we might as well give them a chance. However, in the peace agreement, we must make them make concessions and guarantee that they will not invade the borders of our Xijing Kingdom again.”
Jiang Youan nodded and said, "Li Yue is absolutely right. I will immediately send an envoy to the barbarian camp to discuss peace talks."
Ultimately, a peace agreement was reached. The barbarians promised to cease their incursions into the borders of Xijing Kingdom and to pay tribute to Xijing Kingdom annually. Xijing Kingdom also agreed to engage in trade with the barbarians to promote economic development for both sides.
Following this battle, Xijing Kingdom's prestige among neighboring countries greatly increased. Jiang Youan and Su Liyue seized this opportunity to further strengthen the nation's construction and development. Through their efforts, Xijing Kingdom made significant progress in culture, technology, and economy, becoming one of the most powerful nations of its time.
At a grand celebration, Jiang Youan and Su Liyue stood hand in hand atop the city wall, overlooking the bustling capital. The people cheered and expressed their respect and blessings to them. Jiang Youan looked at Su Liyue, his eyes filled with love and gratitude: "Liyue, all of this is inseparable from your companionship and support. Having you by my side is my greatest fortune."
Su Liyue smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am also very fortunate to have walked this path hand in hand with you. May we always protect the Western Jing Kingdom and let this prosperous era last for thousands of generations."