Chapter 1335 - 1274: The Nation’s Name—Hua
Tomorrow is July the first, the day of the grand court meeting, officials attending court will line up outside the hall, it truly is an auspicious day.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I understand."
The next morning, Zhao Hanzhang, despite her usual calm demeanor, couldn’t help but wake up early, carefully tidying her court attire and changing into it.
Fu Tinghan noticed she was wearing new court robes, thought for a moment, and also took off his half-old court attire, changing into the set made for this season.
The couple couldn’t help but exchange a smile, and then went to court together.
Unusually, the Emperor had also changed into new clothes for the season, and this time, he came out holding his Jade Seal.
The edict of abdication was still handwritten by himself, given to Guo Pu to read aloud, through Guo Pu’s voice he informed the world, Zhao Hanzhang’s ascension was sanctioned by heaven.
This time, Zhao Hanzhang knelt in the grand hall, declined for a while, but only after the Little Emperor’s insistence did she reach out to accept the decree, saying to the Little Emperor, "I am overwhelmed with fear, but entrusted with this, Your Majesty, even at the cost of my life, I will accomplish it."
Zhao Shen, suppressing the excitement in his heart, was the first to kneel with a thud, loudly declaring, "I, welcome the new Emperor."
The hundred officials knelt down with a clamor, saying in a chorus, "We, welcome the new Emperor."
The Little Emperor, all flustered, also wanted to kneel down, but Zhao Hanzhang reached out to stop him from kneeling.
Holding the decree in one hand and the Little Emperor in the other, she turned and looked at the hall full of kneeling ministers, feeling the vastness of the sky and sea, as if ready to soar with her wings.
She said, "Rise!"
The officials responded, rising slowly.
Zhao Hanzhang led the Little Emperor up the steps, seeing the Jade Seal on the table, the Little Emperor remembered only then, hurriedly picked it up and handed it to her, "Great General, I now entrust the country to you."
Zhao Hanzhang solemnly accepted it, "Rest assured, Your Majesty."
The Little Emperor was filled with tears of relief, knowing that from now on he would no longer have to wake up before dawn to study, review documents, and then attend court.
Ji Yuan stepped forward and said, "The nation cannot be without a ruler for a single day, the new Emperor should ascend the throne on an auspicious day, so the people can be at peace."
The Little Emperor nodded repeatedly, "Guo Pu is right here, let him divine an auspicious day on the spot."
Everyone turned their eyes to Guo Pu in unison.
Guo Pu: ...
"There are indeed many auspicious days, but everyone, the auspicious day for accession must also consider the country’s name, what is the new dynasty’s name?"
Everyone again looked at Zhao Hanzhang in unison.
After a pause, Zhao Hanzhang said, "All under Heaven believe the Son of Heaven is chosen from above, yet I think that the celestial beings may not always watch over the mortal world. The Son of Heaven is the parent of the people and must not forget the heart to love the people, only then will the people, like children, show filial piety. When a ruler is virtuous and the people are in harmony, the world can be tranquil, this is the will of the people."
Zhao Hanzhang pronounced word by word, "The will of the people surpasses the will of Heaven! And throughout the country, whether Han people, Xiongnu, Jie Clan, Qiang Hu, Xianbei, or Baiyue, all are descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors, therefore in the name of our ancestors, I set the national name—Hua!"
Ji Yuan’s gaze was bright and clear, "It’s recorded in the Chronicle of Spring and Autumn that Hua Xi gave birth to a son named Fu Xi and a daughter named Nuwa, they are the ancestors of man. The Zuo’s Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals also records that the progenitor Shaodian married a woman of the Youjiao Clan, giving birth to the Yellow Emperor and Emperor Yan, and grandmother Hua Xi."
Hearing this, most of the ministers thought the name "Hua" for the country was good, but some had different opinions, "Great General is Prince Yu, why not use the name ’Yu’ as the national designation?"
How can ’Yu’ compare to ’Hua’?
Zhao Hanzhang had her eyes on the character ’Hua’ for a long time; if not for the ancestors’ dynasty of Xia being ahead, making it improper to repeat with ancestors, she thought the character ’Xia’ also would have been nice.
Some even suggested using the Great General’s surname, how about Zhao Country?
Most Zhao Family members present thought this was good, raising their hands in approval.
Zhao Hanzhang then asked Guo Pu, "What does Mr. Guo think?"
Guo Pu said, "The national name Hua is the best."
He paused for a moment and added, "Hua belongs to water."
He glanced at the Little Emperor but said no more, yet the officials were not fools and quickly thought of the five elements.
Hua belongs to water, while Jin belongs to fire; water overcomes fire, a brilliant choice indeed.
Yu belongs to earth, and earth coexists with fire, but the new dynasty ends the old, no coexistence needed, right?
Zhao Ze belongs to fire, a battle of two fires likely ends in mutual destruction, unsuitable indeed, thus, truly ’Hua’ is most fitting.
With Guo Pu’s support, the national name "Hua" was thus decided.
Next was selecting an auspicious day.
Guo Pu stated he needed three days of abstinence to divine it.
Zhao Hanzhang, whether she believed it or not, agreed anyway.
The officials dispersed, leaving Ji Yuan and other close confidants behind, Zhao Hanzhang also deliberately asked Xun Fan and Wei An to stay.
The Little Emperor, standing before the dragon throne, very much wanted to step down, but Zhao Hanzhang did not let him go, instead, she kindly asked him, "What title would you like, Your Majesty, do you wish to reside in a local area or remain in the Capital City?"
The Little Emperor’s heart was all aflutter, cautiously saying, "I, I will listen to the Great Genera... Your Majesty."
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang frown, seemingly troubled, he immediately said, "I, I only wish for a peaceful life."
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Your Majesty need not specifically change your self-reference, you may share our self-reference ’I’."
She tried to probe further, "How does Your Majesty feel about the title Prince An?"
The Little Emperor immediately nodded, "Very good."
Zhao Hanzhang asked again, "Does Your Majesty wish to reside in the Capital City, or is there another place you wish to dwell long-term?"
The Little Emperor naturally wanted to stay away from Zhao Hanzhang, away from the political center, but he was too young, and in his limited memory, life in Luoyang was the best.
While in Yan State, he could hardly leave the house, life was very tough, let alone the experience of fleeing from Yan State, although having been to many places, it was all a hard life.
So upon reflection, the place he was most familiar with and wished to live most was still Luoyang.
The Little Emperor’s eyes grew moist, remembering the scenes of playing in his family’s garden as a child, he asked, "I wonder if the King Wu Mansion is still there?"
The Little Emperor’s father was King Wu, he lived in King Wu Mansion in Luoyang until the age of seven.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately understood and said, "I will immediately have it repaired, converting King Wu Mansion into Prince An Mansion, once the repairs are complete, Your Majesty can move in."