Jinting Han people

It must be said that the Queen was indeed a very beautiful and striking woman.

She was not yet twenty years old, but because she had been pampered all year round and was petite and delicate, she looked even younger—she had a head of long, thick, and smooth hair like silk, an exceptionally fair and delicate face like a mountain rosy blush, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that were full of affection, with pure and moving light flowing under her arched eyebrows like distant mountains.

What is most remarkable about her is her temperament. Her smooth, even forehead gives the empress an elegant appearance; her slightly parted nostrils and tightly closed, small lips convey a sense of reserved decisiveness, pride, and self-confidence. She is naturally resistant to the cold, and even in the chilly spring weather, she wears only a thin, dark purple gauze embroidered double skirt, which makes her appear even more light and charming.

Therefore, Yang Xianrong could indeed have such confidence: no one would be unmoved by her beauty, and even the most jealous woman would feel affection for her.

But she was still too young. She didn't understand one thing: for men, especially men like Liu Xian, as they get older and gain more experience, a person's appearance is no longer so important. What's more important is a person's heart.

Physical pleasure is fleeting, but the connection of souls lasts. People always have to face life, and life means monotony and boredom. Only souls that can nourish each other can persevere. A beautiful hollow doll will only be played with for a while before being placed on a high platform and gradually covered in dust.

The empress's soul is certainly not empty, but it is filled with the ignorance and wishful thinking unique to young girls, which can bring enormous destructive power. Especially in the current political situation, her position is crucial, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences.

“She’s just a child.” Liu Xian looked at the confident empress and couldn’t help but close his eyes, thinking with a mix of weariness and helplessness, “I thought politics was a game you could start over if you lost.”

Faced with the Empress's overtures, Liu Xian had to deal with the matter seriously. He could not allow this inclination of the Empress to continue, otherwise the entire court would suffer.

But how to do it? How to dispel the Empress's illusions without causing her further trouble later? That's easier said than done.

"She doesn't cherish herself and doesn't realize that some things, once lost, will never come back."

Thinking of this, Liu Xian couldn't help but feel resentful. To outsiders, his journey to where he was today seemed incredibly glamorous, but only he knew the blood, sweat, and tears that had lain behind it. Yet, the girl before him treated it all as something perfectly natural, like a side dish served at a tavern. She could order another dish whenever she wanted, oblivious to the fact that there's no going back.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Liu Xian quickly made a decision: he was not going to talk politics with the girl in front of him. She wouldn't understand now, so he could only use the coldest words to wake her up.

There was no one else in the room, only the scent of wood lingering in the air. Xianrong held Liu Xian's calloused hand, still waiting for his answer. She possessed a sense of pride in being born of destiny, which made her believe, at this moment, that no one could refuse to have her.

But when she looked into Liu Xian's eyes, she was startled, for he was scrutinizing her with an unprecedentedly stern gaze. This was not the gaze of a subject; she had never seen it before. Even on the battlefield, when she witnessed soldiers fighting each other, she had never seen such a terrifying look.

Was it because of his murderous aura? Yet it didn't seem like murderous aura at all; it seemed more like he saw right through her with a kind of insight. It was like parents scrutinizing a child who acted without thinking.

Liu Xian withdrew his hand and tried to speak in a calm tone, but the reproachful tone was still unavoidable. He asked, "How old is Your Highness this year?"

This question clearly overstepped the bounds of a subject's status, but Liu Xian's imposing presence compelled Yang Xianrong to subconsciously answer, "Nineteen."

"Nineteen." Liu Xian sighed and slowly said, "Does Your Highness know what I was doing when I was nineteen?"

Yang Xianrong shook her head, while Liu Xian replied, "When I was eighteen, I was imprisoned by Jia Mi because I was involved in the coup of the Chu King's faction, and I almost died in prison. Fortunately, many friends risked their lives to save me, and I was able to escape with my life."

"Then at the age of nineteen, I was demoted to Xiayang as the magistrate. My first task was to suppress bandits in the area. One group of bandits occupied a mountain that was surrounded by water on three sides and could only be accessed by a narrow path. They were difficult to eliminate. They shot arrows from their high position, while I led the county soldiers in a charge. As a result, one arrow, without missing a beat, hit me right in the forehead."

Liu Xian lifted his hair to show the Empress the faint scar on his forehead and continued, "If that arrow had gone in an inch deeper back then, I might have died there."

"What does the Lord want to say?" But Yang Xianrong couldn't quite understand Liu Xian's words.

Liu Xian raised his eyebrows and said to the Empress, "Your Highness, a person's life is very fragile. If one is not careful, one can be like a fallen leaf that is blown away by the wind."

“When I was Your Highness’s age, I also thought about doing many earth-shattering things, wanting to kill all the people, wanting to achieve something great, and I still do now.”

"But the more people I killed and the more I walked between life and death, the more I understood one thing."

Success is not a given, nor is it predetermined. It requires people to find ways and rack their brains to try their best to snatch that little bit of fate from destiny.

At this point, Liu Xian made no attempt to hide his contempt, saying, "Your Highness is far too frivolous. If you are so frivolous with yourself, how can I believe you can treat others with care? I have met your father a few times; don't you think about the burden on your family?"

Upon hearing these words, the Queen's lips trembled violently, but she had to control her emotions.

In her eyes, her willingness to submit to Liu Xian was already an immense favor, but she never expected that in his eyes, there would be such a huge difference—Liu Xian was undoubtedly indicating that the girl's wishes were insignificant.

When her family was mentioned, she became even angrier. If her parents truly cared for her, why would they have agreed to marry her into the palace? And why would they have let her end up imprisoned in Jinyong City? From that moment on, she no longer believed in her parents' love; she only wanted to believe in herself.

This feeling of grievance welled up in Yang Xianrong's heart, causing stubborn tears to well up in her eyes. However, she held back her tears and said, "Does Your Excellency think that I am joking?"

"Is Your Highness joking? Weren't those words you just said just some kind of dream talk?"

These words enraged Yang Xianrong, making her tremble with anger. She stared at Liu Xian and said, "Now that you've come here, do you think you can leave unscathed?" She grabbed her skirt sash, her momentary admiration turning into hatred. She couldn't help but threaten Liu Xian, "If you don't agree, I'll tell the whole world that you've forced the Empress and have ulterior motives. Aren't you afraid?"

Faced with the Empress's threat, Liu Xian almost laughed out loud. He remained seated without moving and said, "Your Highness, I have said it many times. You seem to have misunderstood something. This is a chaotic world, not a peaceful one."

"..." Yang Xianrong's eyes showed confusion.

"Now the General of the Cavalry is in charge of the government, and I command the palace guards. You accuse me of having treacherous intentions. To whom do you intend to report me? The General of the Cavalry? His Majesty? Or your father? The country is in crisis right now. Who would be willing to punish me based on a few words from Your Highness?"

This is an undeniable outcome. Given the current situation, military action could be launched again at any time. Since military action is necessary, Luoyang cannot do without Liu Xian.

"Not to mention His Highness's arrangements today, which were full of flaws." Liu Xian pointed out, "You didn't accompany His Highness in the Taiji Hall tonight, but came to the Xiyou Garden to see me. You only had palace maids with you, no guards, and it was the middle of the night. What does this mean in the eyes of others?"

"Don't say I didn't do anything to Your Highness. Even if I did, do you think I would be in any trouble?"

Liu Xian didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: if this matter were exposed, all the evidence would be against the Empress, and no one would believe her. Yang Xianrong finally realized what was happening, her face turning pale and then green.

"Alright then," Liu Xian said calmly, "If Your Highness insists on doing these things, I won't stop you. But for Your Highness's sake, and for mine as well, please stay at Furong Palace for the time being. I will discuss with the General of the Cavalry how to select another obedient palace maid to serve His Majesty..."

Upon hearing this, the young queen finally couldn't hold back her tears and collapsed onto the table, sobbing like a child as if she had collapsed. All the pretense of nobility and elegance she had displayed vanished.

She thought she was invincible and that no hardship could defeat her, and that a brighter future awaited her. But she never expected that her hard-won attempt would end like this.

This left her only to weep, weeping bitterly, her face streaked with tears, her grief overwhelming. In the empty pavilion, she seemed even more utterly alone. It was unclear whether she was weeping for herself or for the cruelty of the world.

Amidst the weeping, Liu Xian patted his knees, turned his head, and looked at the waning moon outside the observation platform. He saw the winter wind rustling the treetops, causing them to sway slightly in the hazy moonlight, and then a wave of sorrow washed over him: In the end, she understood nothing...

That's what growing up is all about, whether you're a boy or a girl.

Before this, the children always thought they were omnipotent, that life was as easy as picking up seashells on the beach, with beautiful shells everywhere, and that they could reap countless joys with just a slight bend. This fantasy made them reserved, arrogant, and unapproachable. They were then filled with unrealistic ideas, always looking at this mountain and thinking about that mountain, believing that they could definitely find the best thing and surpass everyone else.

And then, one day, at some point, the young men and women experienced something that suddenly made them realize how insignificant and fragile they were. Many things they thought they could accomplish easily were actually beyond their reach, even with their best efforts. They thought they would encounter better opportunities in the future, but in reality, they had already given up on them long ago. It's quite possible that the kind of success and happiness they fantasized about simply doesn't exist.

This self-awareness is both disillusionment and growth. And after experiencing this, the boy becomes an adult.

Some people, as they grow up, become mercenary, vulgar, and cowardly; this is largely true of those who accomplish nothing in the world. Only a very few people either remain forever immersed in their own dreams, unable to wake up, or they embark on a new path. They learn to cherish themselves, care for others, believe in hope, and continue to become useful people after recognizing themselves.

Liu Xian knew that he had probably played the bad guy to help the young empress face reality. She would probably hate him, but that was fine. It was better for her to hate only him than for her to go against the entire Changsha King's faction. It would just mean asking someone else to help deliver the memorial.

He sat there silently, waiting for the Empress to finish crying, until Yang Xianrong sat up, staring at him with her swollen red eyes.

Liu Xian maintained an detached expression and asked, "Has Your Highness thought it through?"

The girl gritted her teeth and cursed, "You're so smug now! One day, I'll definitely kill you!"

This was essentially an admission of defeat. Liu Xian breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Then I shall take my leave. I hope Your Highness will take good care of yourself."

Under Yang Xianrong's watchful gaze, Liu Xian left Tingfeng Temple and returned to the Secretariat to sleep. Early the next morning, he went to the Secretariat to draft the edict that he had previously discussed with Sima Yi, with the current Director of the Secretariat, Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai, and then sent it to Ye City by fast horse.

Six days later, Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu, returned the imperial edict to Luoyang. He was very satisfied with Sima Yi's idea of ​​recommending talented people to Ye City, so he publicly issued a decree in Luoyang to recruit talents. Sima Ying would appoint any officials who were willing to go to the Northern Expeditionary Army, and Sima Yi also indicated that he would not obstruct them.

As a result, many prominent figures from Luoyang flocked north, especially those who had previously served as advisors to the King of Qi, such as Sun Hui, Cao Shu, Jiang Tong, Cai Ke, and Zao Song, all of whom joined the Grand General's staff. Among them, the most noteworthy was naturally Wang Yan, the former Governor of Henan. He was recommended by Sima Yi as General Who Guards the North, and after arriving in Ye City, he was reassigned by Sima Ying as the Central Army Advisor. Although he had little real power, he nominally participated in all military affairs of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

Seeing this, Sima Yong, the Prince of Hejian, also sent people to Luoyang to recruit talent. However, he was from a remote region, and Guanzhong was not as wealthy as Hebei. Therefore, compared to the great gathering of scholars in Hebei, those heading west were few and far between. Recalling his previous advocacy against Qi, which ended in nothing, he couldn't help but be ridiculed by the scholars, who secretly sarcastically remarked, "The world is in turmoil because of people like him."

Meanwhile, following Liu Xian's advice, Sima Yi promoted a small number of Qi King's former subordinates to his own court. For example, Zu Ti was appointed as the Chief of the General of Chariots and Cavalry; Gou Xi was appointed as the Attendant Gentleman; Ji Shao was appointed as the Attendant Gentleman and concurrently the Grand Censor; Sima Yi greatly appreciated Bian Cui, the Grand Secretary who had accompanied Sima Jiong to the end, and kept him in the position of Grand Secretary.

However, compared to these appointments, Sima Yi's promotion of members of the imperial clan was truly noteworthy. The list of those promoted is as follows:

Sima Chi, Prince of Yuzhang, was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Qingzhou; Sima Yan, Prince of Wu, was appointed General of the Upper Army, granted the authority to establish his own government, and concurrently appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary; Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, was appointed Minister of Works and concurrently Director of the Secretariat; Sima Teng, Prince of Dongying, was appointed General Who Pacifies the North, Governor of Bingzhou, and Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Bingzhou; Sima Rui, Prince of Langya, was appointed General of the Left; Sima Mo, Prince of Pingchang, was appointed General of the Left Guard; Sima Yang, Prince of Xiyang, was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary…

Sima Yi hoped that by promoting members of the imperial clan on such a large scale and allowing them to be sent to govern various regions, he could strengthen the court's control over local areas and demonstrate the court's authority. This would also help prevent unrest from breaking out in Luoyang and among the former subordinates of the King of Qi in southern China.

However, only time will tell how effective it will be. (End of Chapter)