The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 406 The Beginning of the Ming Dynasty: The Distribution of Imperial Concubines Before the Emperor's Coronation

After a tender and passionate encounter, Xiao Yanyan leaned against Li Xiao's chest, her cheeks flushed and her breath still slightly ragged.

She gently traced her fingertips across Li Xiao's chest, then suddenly recalled the news she had heard during the day and asked softly, "I heard today that His Majesty kept Uncle Dongkun in his care. Is it to establish an Imperial Household Department?"

Li Xiao looked down at the woman in his arms, his fingertips stroking her loose hair, his tone languid: "The Prince's mansion is small, so it's easy to handle."

"But once we enter the palace of Daming Prefecture, there will be many complicated affairs, and there will always be an organization to coordinate them."

“Eunuchs, in particular, cannot be ignored, but they cannot be left unattended either.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanyan understood that the establishment of the Imperial Household Department could not be changed.

So he didn't say anything more and directly changed the subject to eunuchs: "What's so difficult about that?"

“I have always had eunuchs serving me, as you have seen. My brother brought several with him when he gave me my dowry.”

"After my brother passed away, half of the eunuchs in his household stayed at the palace to serve my sister-in-law, while the other half came to Jinzhou with me. These people are familiar with the rules and can help train the newcomers to the palace."

The eunuchs around Xiao Yanyan were mostly left behind by Xiao Simo, and were more like servants of the Xiao family. They were all the best among the eunuchs.

The background and resources of these royal and imperial families are truly terrifying; any one of them is a top expert in their field.

However, Li Xiao could not allow the eunuchs around Xiao Yanyan to completely control the future palace; he still needed to develop the situation from the opposite direction.

Just like the eunuchs captured from the palace after the fall of Western Xia, the eunuchs from the palace of Gaochang Uyghur, and the group of eunuchs that Princess Zhao Yue of the Southern Song Dynasty brought with her as part of her dowry.

But the most important thing is the three hundred teenagers trained by Li Dongkun, who will be the mainstay for maintaining the future operation of the Ming Dynasty palace.

"We certainly can't use all Khitan eunuchs," Li Xiao chuckled, his tone slightly mocking. "Speaking of eunuchs, our Prince's Mansion has produced a 'Zhongxing Yue,' have you heard of him?"

Xiao Yanyan looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise: "Zhongxing Yue? That's the eunuch who defected to the Xiongnu in the early Han Dynasty and was determined to destroy the Han Dynasty. How could we have such a person in our household?"

"It's not really Zhongxing Yue, but they do share some similar thoughts."

Li Xiao explained, "It's Yang Chun, the little eunuch who serves Princess Zhao Yue of the Song Kingdom, also known as Xiao Chunzi."

"He was originally Zhao Yue's dowry eunuch, but because the Song Kingdom abandoned Zhao Yue in the Qin Kingdom, he was filled with resentment. A few days ago, he secretly contacted the Embroidered Uniform Guard and said that he was willing to serve the Ming Dynasty and deal with the Song Kingdom."

He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice, "This young Chunzi isn't as resourceful or ruthless as Zhong Xingyue, but I value him for one thing~"

"He grew up by the sea and is familiar with water and ships."

“When we conquer the Song Dynasty, the invincible fleet of the Ming Dynasty will eventually sail to the sea, and he may be of use.”

Perhaps, this little eunuch could become his own trusted eunuch.

Even if it's not possible, at least we have gained someone with a deep understanding of the State of Song.

However, these are all trivial matters at the moment; the most important thing is to establish a country and become emperor.

Their conversation quickly moved on to the topic of becoming emperor. Xiao Yanyan's eyes lit up with anticipation, and she hurriedly asked, "Has the date of the coronation been decided by Your Majesty and your ministers?"

"It's settled. The ministers have chosen the best auspicious day of the year, which will be two months from now, during the Frost's Descent solar term."

Li Xiao said with a hint of solemnity, "At that time, we will have to offer sacrifices to Heaven and our ancestors, receive the homage of all the officials, and announce it to the world. The process is complicated, and Gu Zizhong and the others are busy formulating the etiquette."

Xiao Yanyan listened quietly, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Li Xiao suddenly cupped her face in his hands, his eyes gentle yet firm: "My Empress, in two months, you will truly become the mother of the nation."

These words instantly brought tears to Xiao Yanyan's eyes, and her memories suddenly returned to many years ago.

At that time, Li Xiao was only the deputy governor of Jinzhou. When the two were intimate on the grassy hilltop, Li Xiao jokingly called himself the empress.

At the time, she thought it was just a joke between lovers, but she never expected that this man would actually do it step by step.

"How could I have imagined that one day I would actually become Empress..." Her voice choked with emotion, yet filled with happiness.

Li Xiao gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice filled with emotion: "If it weren't for you, I might not have made it this far."

“Back then, I was nobody, but you disregarded the Xiao family’s status and resolutely chose me.”

"While I was fighting on the front lines, you stayed behind to oversee the country, manage state affairs, and appease the people, safeguarding the foundation for me. I owe you so much."

Xiao Yanyan leaned against him, feeling warm inside, but she also thought of the affairs of the harem and asked softly, "Does Your Majesty have any plans regarding the enfeoffment of the harem members?"

"Besides me, the Empress, the other sisters..."

"You can only be the Empress, one of a kind." Li Xiao interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument.

According to Chinese custom, an Imperial Noble Consort could be appointed below the Empress, equivalent to a vice-Empress.

However, Li Xiao did not intend to appoint an Imperial Noble Consort, but only two Noble Consorts.

Further down the line, the original four consorts were all changed to imperial concubines, with four consorts named Xian, Liang, Shu, and De, followed by nine concubines.

As for the twenty-seven ladies-in-waiting and eighty-one imperial wives during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, they were too bloated. They were changed to the ranks of Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Guiren, Cairen, Xuanshi, and Shunu, which streamlined the organization and made it easier to manage.

Li Xiao held Xiao Yanyan's hand, his voice filled with affection: "Aman, I've said it before, you are my only empress, and I will never let anyone take away your honor."

Touched, Xiao Yanyan nodded gently and asked, "Has His Majesty decided on the two imperial concubines?"

“Er Ya counts as one.” Li Xiao’s tone carried a hint of consideration.

Wei Fuyao was born into the Han Chinese community of Jiubao and Shibazhai, with a bloodline that was extremely red.

Making her a Noble Consort would not only appease the old people of the Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages, but also show the Han people of the world that the Ming Dynasty would not mistreat its Han people.

As for Huang Xiuer, she was also a Han Chinese from Jiubao and Shibazhai, and she also gave birth to a son for Li Xiao. However, she was a married woman before and was not a virgin.

Of course, the most important point is that the Huang family is not as ambitious as the Wei family.

Li Xiao had high expectations for Wei Xuan. He was already the deputy commander of the Sixth Garrison. After this Eastern Expedition, he would most likely be promoted to commander. With him supporting the Wei family, Wei Fuyao's position would be secure.

Upon hearing that it was Wei Fuyao, Xiao Yanyan nodded gently, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The most important factor here is political consideration. After all, the Han population is too large. Since the empress is not Han, the noble ladies who are second only to the empress must be Han.

Of course, Wei Fuyao herself is also quite likable and capable.

During Li Xiao's campaigns, Xiao Yanyan served as regent, and Wei Fuyao was in charge of all the miscellaneous affairs of the inner palace, which never went wrong.

"And the second one?" Xiao Yanyan pressed.

“Sorukhatheni,” Li Xiao murmured softly, recalling how the Kereit tribe had been forced into a marriage alliance when he conquered them.

Sorghaghtani was a young girl back then, but now she is a wife and mother.

She was from a tribe in the northern desert region. Over the years, the tribe followed the Ming army in its campaigns in the north and south, suffering heavy casualties but also making outstanding contributions.

The nomadic people of the northern deserts were already brave and skilled in battle. Even without the tribal alliance during Temujin's time, their fighting strength increased by leaps and bounds after being integrated by the Ming Dynasty.

The reason for establishing Suoluheti as a concubine was to appease the surrendered people of the northern desert tribes and let them know that the Ming Dynasty would treat all its subjects well.

Xiao Yanyan nodded, then read out the title: "And what about the Virtuous Consort?"

"The Virtuous Consort gives this to Han Ying'er."

Li Xiao said, "Although her father Han Jiuyuan and grandfather Han Jiuguang once served the Western Liao, they have made many contributions in the years since they surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. They are also well-versed in etiquette and law. Conferring the title of Virtuous Consort on Han Ying'er can also appease the former officials of the previous dynasty."

However, Han Ying'er was unable to give birth to a son for Li Xiao, only a daughter, which was also an important reason why she was not selected as a concubine.

"Consort Liang?"

"Liangfei is Tajiguli."

She was the daughter of the prime minister of Gaochang Uyghur, and could be considered a representative of the Uyghurs among Li Xiao's consorts.

Over the years, the Uyghurs have rarely caused trouble, and have integrated into the Ming Dynasty, becoming completely one of its citizens.

Making her a concubine would stabilize the hearts and minds of the Uyghurs in the Western Regions.

"Consort Shu?"

"Consort Shu gives this to Zhao Yue."

Li Xiao's tone carried a political consideration: "She is a princess of the Song Kingdom. Conferring her the title of Consort Shu will convey goodwill to the Song Kingdom and solidify the alliance between the two countries."

"After all, the Eastern Expedition is imminent, and the Song Dynasty can still share some of the Jin Dynasty's military strength with our Great Ming."

While one cannot rely too much on the Song state, it is not a bad ally either, and there won't be a situation where thirty divisions are protecting the noodle army.

"And what about Consort De?"

"The Consort De is giving this to Huang Xiuer," Li Xiao said gently.

She also came from Jiubao and Shibazhai. Perhaps because she had been married before, she always felt inferior and never competed or fought in the backyard, only doing her own thing.

He used to be a Buddhist, but after learning that Li Xiao disliked bald monks, he began to vigorously support Taoism.

She then replaced the Guanyin statue in the room with a statue of the Three Pure Ones.

In short, it's not a true belief in Buddhism or Taoism; it's just a way to find something to hold onto.

In addition, she also gave birth to a son for Li Xiao, his second son, Chang Gong.

Therefore, she should also have a title.

However, the Huang family was not as successful as the Wei family, so her rank could only reach the level of Consort De. Otherwise, she might have been able to advance further. Xiao Yanyan listened and nodded gently. She already understood that these enfeoffments, which seemed to be matters of the inner palace, were actually full of political considerations. They were meant to appease the old guard, win over the tribes, and consolidate alliances. Every step was for the stability of the Ming Dynasty.

She then remembered some other women and asked softly, "What about the women from the grasslands, the Uyghurs, the Liao Dynasty, and the Western Xia? Some of them have borne Your Majesty children. How should we arrange for them?"

They were either spoils of war or gifts given to Li Xiao by others during his years of battles.

Some of them also gave birth to children for Li Xiao.

However, their status was certainly not as important as those before them, so they were given titles such as Consort, Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, and Guiren.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao looked down at Xiao Yanyan in his arms, his eyes full of trust: "I'll leave these arrangements to you."

"You are the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, and the affairs of the harem should be managed by you. I trust you."

These words startled Xiao Yanyan slightly, but then a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She had thought that Li Xiao would make the decision directly, just like he had done with the Imperial Concubine and the Four Concubines, but she hadn't expected him to entrust this power to her completely.

This is not only trust, but also absolute recognition and respect for her status as "Empress".

"Isn't Your Majesty afraid that my arrangements might be inappropriate and cause dissatisfaction among others?"

Xiao Yanyan asked deliberately, her tone somewhat teasing.

Li Xiao gently pinched her cheek and smiled, "After following me for so many years, do you think I don't know your ability to manage the rear and soothe people's hearts?"

"Although these women come from different backgrounds, most of them are law-abiding and obedient. You only need to determine their rank according to their character and whether they have children, and also take into account the face of the forces behind them. There will definitely be no problem."

"Besides, with you, the Empress, in charge, even if someone harbors resentment, they should know their limits."

Xiao Yanyan felt relieved and nodded gently: "Then I will do as Your Majesty says and first take stock of their situation."

"Those who have children or have served His Majesty for a long time will be given higher titles, such as the Ninth Concubine, Zhaoyi, and Zhaorong."

“Those who are gentle in nature but have no children will be granted the titles of Noble Lady or Talented Lady. As for those who have just entered the palace, they will first be granted the titles of Selected Attendant or Virtuous Lady, and their status will be adjusted according to their character.”

Li Xiao listened, his eyes full of approval: "You've thought things through more thoroughly than I have. Let's do it your way."

"Only when the inner palace is at peace can I handle the affairs of the court and plan for the unification of the country."

"Aman, from now on, the harem will depend entirely on you."

Xiao Yanyan leaned against him, her tone firm: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not let you down."

The candlelight gradually dimmed, and the night grew deeper.

The two people inside nestled together, saying nothing more, yet it seemed they had already made all the arrangements for the future.

This brief moment of peace in a chaotic world is not only a tender moment between husband and wife, but also a harbinger of the impending rise of a new dynasty.

Two months later, on the day of Frost's Descent, Longcheng will witness a historic moment—Li Xiao will ascend the throne as emperor, establish the Ming Dynasty, and embark on the great undertaking of ending division and unifying China.

Xiao Yanyan will stand by his side, becoming the Empress, and witness the glorious beginning of the Ming Dynasty with him.

As the day of his coronation drew near, the atmosphere in Dragon City grew increasingly enthusiastic, with anticipation and joy filling the streets and alleys, and the chatter of the people and soldiers never ceasing.

At Longcheng's largest market, a group of people gathered outside a teahouse, chatting animatedly.

"Your Majesty is going to become emperor, and from now on the country will no longer be called Qin, but Ming."

"That's right! Back in Jinzhou, we had such a hard life, we couldn't even get enough to eat."

"Since the king raised his army, not only have we been given land to cultivate, but we poor people have also had the opportunity to become officials. Now even children can go to school."

"We can rest assured that he will be the emperor."

A woman holding a child chimed in, "My husband followed the army to fight in the Western Regions last year, and when he came back, he brought back a lot of reward money."

"Besides the money, didn't your husband bring back any foreign women? Hahaha."

"Hmph, so what if we bring them back? They still have to do whatever we tell them to do, just like slaves."

"Yes, back in Jinzhou, it was really hard to find a wife. Now, let alone a wife, you can ride seventeen or eighteen women at will, it's great."

“We should support such a good monarch. I will definitely take the children to see the coronation ceremony.”

Unlike the bustling city streets, the military camp outside the city was filled with a solemn and stirring atmosphere.

The soldiers, dressed in brand-new armor, were training intensively on the parade ground, the sounds of armor clashing and shouts deafening.

"Ho ho ho ho~"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Brothers, give it your all!"

"His Majesty will ascend the throne in two months. We must show our best spirit and let the world see the might of our Ming army!" A burly commander shouted, brandishing his whip.

The soldiers in the ranks responded in unison: "We are willing to serve His Majesty, and we are willing to die for the Ming Dynasty."

A young soldier who had recently enlisted, his face still showing some immaturity, gritted his teeth and persevered in training. He said to the veteran next to him, "Shihu, do you think His Majesty will attack the Jin Kingdom after he ascends the throne?"

“I’ve wanted to avenge my family for a long time. My father was killed by the Jin soldiers.”

The veteran patted him on the shoulder, his eyes resolute: "His Majesty always keeps his word. Once he has ascended the throne and stabilized his position, he will definitely launch an eastern expedition against the Jin Kingdom."

"At that time, I will definitely be able to avenge your father and get a lot of reward money and spoils of war. With a little more effort, I can make sure I have enough to eat and drink for the rest of my life."

Not far away, several generals were standing on a high platform observing soldiers' training.

The deputy commander of the Wuwei Army, Shouhou Huan, exuded a strong and capable air. He looked down at the soldiers who were galloping on their warhorses and shouting during their training, and his voice was as deep as a piece of polished iron.

“When His Majesty raised his army at Hexi Fort, we only had a few hundred men, and we couldn’t even gather a decent suit of armor.”

"Over the years, we have followed His Majesty in fighting against the Western Xia, pacifying the Western Regions, and defeating the remnants of the Liao Dynasty. We have won so many battles along the way. Now that His Majesty is about to ascend the throne, we can say that we have also followed His Majesty and created a great achievement."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuwei, the second commander of the household, nodded repeatedly, his tone full of emotion: "Commander Hou is right."

"Back in Hexi Fort, who could have imagined we would be where we are today? His Majesty is not only a brilliant military strategist, but also considerate of his subordinates. By following him, we can not only achieve great things, but also ensure the proper resettlement of our families."

"A monarch like this is the one we should risk our lives for."

The other generals nodded in agreement, their voices filled with admiration and determination.

A general from the northern deserts, who had already adopted a Han name, said, "The northern tribes were able to submit to the Ming Dynasty entirely because of His Majesty's benevolence and power."

"Now that His Majesty is about to ascend the throne, we must show our abilities and let the world see that the Ming army not only has the bravery of the Han soldiers, but also the strength of the northern cavalry."

Soon after, shouts rang out from the Wuwei Army camp outside Longcheng.

"As long as the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers remain, the Ming Dynasty will endure forever."

……

Two months later, the day before the Frost's Descent.

Early that morning, before dawn, the streets of Longcheng were already bustling with activity.

Countless people spontaneously stood on both sides of the street, looking towards the Prince's Palace in the faint light of dawn, their eyes filled with anticipation and solemnity.

As a clear bell rang through the sky, a procession slowly set off from the Dragon City Palace, its numbers growing larger and larger, heading towards the Golden Mountain in the east.

A high platform for offering sacrifices to Heaven has already been erected there. Tomorrow will be the grand ceremony for Li Xiao to ascend the throne and worship Heaven and Earth. Today, we must first complete the preparations for the sacrifices and the audience ceremony.

At the very front of the procession were honor guards carrying golden sun and moon battle banners. They were dressed in golden armor, their steps perfectly synchronized, and their armor gleamed coldly in the lantern light.

Following closely behind was the Imperial Guard led by Shouhou, the deputy commander of the Wuwei Army. The soldiers, armed with long spears and scimitars at their waists, had serious expressions and sharp eyes like eagles, guarding the safety of the troops.

In the center of the procession was a jade carriage pulled by nine pure white horses. The curtains were made of bright yellow silk, embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, dragons, and phoenixes.

Dressed in a golden sacrificial robe, Li Xiao sat upright in the carriage, looking out at the people and solemn soldiers through the gap in the curtain, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

From the uprising at Hexi Fort to his imminent ascension to the throne, all the hardships and difficulties along the way seem to have found their purpose at this moment.

On either side of the jade carriage were ministers such as Gu Zizhong, Zhang Xinghua, and Han Jiuguang, and military generals such as Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan, who were dressed in cloth armor or the new style of Ming Dynasty court attire, walking slowly forward.

Gu Zizhong would occasionally look up at the golden mountains in the east, his eyes filled with solemnity, and he would whisper to Zhang Xinghua beside him.

"Tomorrow is the day His Majesty ascends the throne and performs the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven and Earth. The altar for the ceremony at Jinshan has been built according to the rites, and the offerings have been prepared. There will be no mistakes."

Zhang Xinghua nodded, his tone filled with emotion: "We have waited too long for this day. The future of the Ming Dynasty begins tomorrow."

Behind the procession were Xiao Yanyan and her harem members, dressed in gorgeous gowns, riding in carriages, closely following the Jade Carriage.

Xiao Yanyan lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Li Xiao's jade carriage in front of her, her heart filled with happiness and determination.

Tomorrow, she will stand beside Li Xiao, receiving the blessings of heaven and earth with him, and witnessing the birth of the Ming Dynasty together.

The procession moved slowly forward, passing through the streets of Longcheng and heading towards Jinshan.

The people lining both sides of the street clutched their chests and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

The sounds rose and fell, echoing throughout the sky above Longcheng.

(End of this chapter)