Chapter 1336 - 1275: Fury
Zhao Hanzhang entrusted the refurbishment of the Prince An Mansion to Zhao Shen, and coincidentally, Qiu Zhi had just been released from the Ministry of Justice, so Zhao Hanzhang sent him to assist Zhao Shen, to redeem himself.
In fact, all the specific matters regarding the Prince An Mansion were handed over to him.
The dust had settled, and no matter how ambitious Qiu Zhi was, it was useless. The most crucial aspect was that Zhao Hanzhang had severed his retreat, forcing him to remain loyal to Prince An.
However, the era had changed, and following Prince An meant having no future prospects. Despite his previous statements, Zhao Hanzhang only punished him according to the law, neither killing nor dismissing him. Who wouldn’t praise her as fair and benevolent?
Only a few knew how poisonous her strategy was, leaving Qiu Zhi with grievances he couldn’t express.
Guo Pu, while calculating the hour, said to Fu Tinghan, "We must be cautious going forward. If we’re ever careless and offend her, it will be a deep-seated pain that we cannot voice."
Fu Tinghan: "If the former dynasty’s emperor, just because an official offended him, sought ways to kill them, wouldn’t he be less hypocritical? Do you prefer such a master?"
Guo Pu paused and quickly shook his head, "Forget it, let her remain hypocritical. If she can pretend for a lifetime, she becomes a true gentleman."
Fu Tinghan saw him rehearsing three times and asked, "Until what time are you calculating?"
"Why rush? Ascension is like a wedding; you must choose the best day and then two secondary days for the higher-ups to choose. If I calculate a date and they always have issues to reject it, every divination I perform is bothersome."
After lengthy calculations, Guo Pu finally said, "For the most auspicious date, it is August 5th, with July 19th and September 1st as secondary choices. Report these three dates for them to choose."
Guo Pu then looked Fu Tinghan up and down, "With Zhao Hanzhang’s ascension, you’ll be the Empress, no? Imperial Consort? Should I calculate an auspicious hour for conferring great treasures?"
Fu Tinghan: ...
Guo Pu burst into laughter.
The dust has settled, but this is only in the Capital City; feedback from various sides will be slower to arrive.
Coincidentally, two intercepted letters from Liu Kun arrived.
Zhao Hanzhang first opened the letter Liu Kun wrote to Zu Ti.
The letter mainly inquired about Luoyang’s situation with Zu Ti, whether the emperor suffered grievances, and sought Zu Ti’s attitude.
Then she opened the letter he wrote to Zhao Ming.
To this day, Liu Kun still regarded Zhao Ming as a loyal minister, yet on Zhao Hanzhang’s path to seizing power, they diverged.
So in the letter, Liu Kun first asked what Zhao Ming truly thought, then tearfully pleaded for him to treat the emperor kindly.
Zhao Hanzhang tossed the letter into the brazier, burning it, and said to Yuan Li, "Indeed a loyal minister."
Yuan Li said, "The secret sentinels reported that today during breakfast, he couldn’t help crying, and hearing this, many scholars in Xuzhou joined him in weeping."
Zhao Hanzhang: ...
"Keep an eye on him, but don’t do anything special. Also send letters to Shu and Xiliang; they should know too."
Yuan Li agreed and asked, "Should we summon the State Governors and Vassal Kings for the ascension ceremony?"
Currently, there are nominally only three Vassal Kings: King Cheng of Shu, King of Xiliang, and King of Dai Tuoba Yilu.
Zhao Hanzhang contemplated momentarily, then nodded, "We should summon them, but specific invitations need further discussion."
Not everyone can attend.
For instance, Beigong Chun certainly cannot move.
The Second Son guarding the border cannot leave either.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang deep in thought, with no further instructions, he bowed and retreated.
In the evening, Fu Tinghan came over to escort Zhao Hanzhang home from the palace.
Fu Tinghan directly informed her of the dates Guo Pu had calculated, "Guo Pu says August 5th is the most auspicious."
Zhao Hanzhang: "Didn’t he say he needed purification before calculating?"
Fu Tinghan: "He hasn’t eaten since yesterday."
Zhao Hanzhang looked surprised.
Fu Tinghan said, "The past two days, he calculated for himself, saying it wasn’t suitable for dining, so forget meat; he hasn’t even eaten rice or vegetables. Yesterday and today, he’s only had water and some fruit juice."
Zhao Hanzhang admired him; indeed, those who achieve are ruthless.
Some are ruthless to themselves, and others to others.
When the court’s invitation letter reached Dai Country, Tuoba Yilu was just sending someone to urge Tuoba Liuxiu to come to him and was asking him to bring the best things from Xinping City.
Xinping City is a newly built city, with only dozens of mud houses when Tuoba Liuxiu arrived, not even city walls, inferior to the market outside Ping City.
Tuoba Yilu only allowed him to bring his accompanying escorts, a mere hundred people.