Free Web NovelChapter 1256: Chapter 1225: Resignation from Office
Wang Xuan and Zhao Shen remained silent, and Zu Ti turned back to glance at them, smiling, "Such talented young men cannot disappoint the ladies. They should settle down soon."
Zhao Hanzhang also turned back, nodding, "They must indeed marry. Given the current low population, they are at the right age, and they are not lacking in wealth, how can they not set an example?"
Wang Xuan and Zhao Shen looked stiff; they had not considered settling down.
The two glanced at each other simultaneously, hoping to shirk responsibility, their eyes meeting intensely. After weighing their options, they decided that arguing might backfire, and so they held back their words.
Both turned away at the same time, and when no one was noticing, they harshly removed the flowers and petals from their hair and threw them down.
Upon noticing, Zhao Shi and the other young people sighed in regret, the sound echoed loudly in the Imperial Palace. They might have realized something amiss, so they began playfully blaming each other, creating a lively atmosphere.
An eunuch waiting nearby softly reminded them that the palace should be solemn, but his voice was drowned out by the laughter, hardly anyone heard him.
The eunuch cautiously looked at Zhao Hanzhang, who was walking in front. Seeing no anger on her face, he understood that she allowed it, thus he silently followed with a bowed head, without further persuasion.
It wasn’t until they reached the steps of the grand hall that Zhao Hanzhang turned back to glance at them, smiling softly and scolding, "Solemn in the palace."
Only then did the young generals stop, adjust their robes, and solemnly followed her up the steps.
An eunuch waiting outside saw them ascend the steps, quickly turned and ran to find the Little Emperor sitting on the threshold, "Oh Your Majesty, why are you sitting again? The Great General and officials have already come up, please come to receive them."
The Little Emperor sighed, supported himself with his hand on his knee, raised his hand to rearrange the heavy crown and intricate attire, took someone’s hand, and walked forward a dozen steps, standing at the edge of the stairs.
With a slight nod down, he could see Zhao Hanzhang and Zu Ti leading the civil and military officials walking up from the side.
Yesterday, when the decree self-declaring Zhao Hanzhang as Prince Yu was issued, someone came to cry before him, their demeanor suggesting they believed he wouldn’t live long.
At this moment, few still believed Zhao Hanzhang would return power due to her efforts to teach him governance and study the great Confucian techniques, yet they wouldn’t let him slacken.
The books he needed to read still had to be read, the documents he needed to see still had to be seen, and opinions were still sought from him at great court meetings.
When his learning and responses fell short, they showed expressions of disappointment.
Resentment grew within the Little Emperor’s heart, he couldn’t help but sneer, if capable, they might not eat or sleep with fear, they might be more desirous of killing him than Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang led the civil and military officials up, and only after an eunuch reminded him, did the Little Emperor greet them with a smile, offering words of welcome and encouragement to Zu Ti and others.
Zhao Hanzhang led the officials to perform the ceremonial salute, noticed the fatigue and resentment in the Little Emperor’s eyes, and scanned the eunuchs beside him, respectfully bowing, "Please, Your Majesty, proceed to Deyang Palace, the palace feast is prepared."
The Little Emperor was already weary of seeing these generals, particularly Zu Ti, sensing Zu Ti’s dislike towards him, or rather, Zu Ti didn’t like any with the surname Sima.
He equally coldly regarded all the imperial family with the Sima surname.
The Little Emperor led the group to Deyang Palace.
Because of the North-South unity, King Langya also attended the palace feast.
The palace feast was not merely eating and drinking, at least not under Zhao Hanzhang’s leadership. With the year-end approaching, the court needed to seal for the New Year, Zhao Hanzhang invited Zu Ti to stay through the New Year.
Zu Ti agreed and said, "Since Jiangnan and Jiangbei have united, may I request the Great General to exempt some of Jizhou from labor, and release some soldiers to return to farming?"
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes."
She scanned the room, addressing the officials, "Though I wish to construct countless houses overnight to shelter the populace, build numerous roads for their benefit, and dig numerous canals for farming, my concern for the people’s strength is paramount. The people have suffered greatly these years, it is time they have a proper rest. Except for urgent matters like river levee breaches, from the first day of the first month to before the Chongyang festival next year, all regions shall enjoy respite, avoiding conscripted labor whenever possible."
"In future, when conscripting labor from each region, it should occur during non-farming times, each household contributing one adult annually, for a period within half a month. When prefecture draws county labor, it shall not exceed thirty percent of the county labor quota. When a county draws township labor, it shall not exceed sixty percent of its labor quota."
