CHAPTER 553: CHAPTER 535: COAXING PEOPLE

The dynasty had just been established, and there were numerous affairs to handle. Xie Xun had worked through the night and only managed to rest his head on the desk for an hour’s nap. Compared to his days as Prince Qin, he found this far more exhausting. Being an emperor was no job for a human—it was sheer torment! Though Yuwen Jing’s imperial harem might not be overly numerous, Emperor Jianming’s was certainly not sparse. Many dowagers still lived out their days in the West Palace, but Xie Xun had no interest in providing for them. He sent them all out of the palace to make a living, whether to return to their families or take up religious life—it was entirely up to them. Those with children were to live with their offspring.

All the estates and assets of the Yuwen imperial family were reclaimed to the national treasury. It turned out to be a substantial fortune indeed. After all, centuries of imperial rule had fostered a clan supported by the country’s wealth. Minister Gong from the Ministry of Revenue delivered a thick stack of records detailing the Yuwen clan’s fiefdoms and properties. Xie Xun felt as though he’d stumbled upon a windfall. And even the assets of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, previously confiscated by Yuwen Jing, now returned to him. The once impoverished prince had become exceedingly wealthy overnight.

Xie Xun had learned his lesson and vowed to exercise caution in the future when granting titles and lands. Fortunately, his own family consisted only of Second Brother and Ruyi—no matter how they were bestowed, it would not be excessive.

Minister Gong and Xie Xun were old acquaintances, having worked together during the years of rushing to supply the troops. He was a seasoned veteran, adept at navigating palace intrigues. During the recent palace coup, he had completely remained in the shadows. The change in master within the palace had no impact on him. In fact, he mused, having Xie Xun as the ruler might make things easier for him, especially since Xie Xun was far better at amassing funds than the Yuwen clan.

Xie Xun, having worked all night, was exhausted and overwhelmed. A mountain of state affairs waited for him to handle. He thought of Fengyu and wondered how she was faring in Feng Mansion. Unable to suppress his longing, he promptly instructed Nuanyang to bring her to him. Though it was outside proper decorum for the Minister of Rites to condone such an act, Xie Xun was evidently not the kind of emperor bound by rituals. The Ministry of Rites could only turn a blind eye.

By the time Fengyu arrived, it was already midday. Xie Xun had just finalized plans with Lin Helin and Zhang Boju, setting down the policies for the new reforms. Whether the aristocratic clans were willing or not, they would have to accept these changes. All lands owned by the clans were to be nationalized, marking the beginning of centralization. Minister Gong, though he owned land himself, had already sensed how the reforms would enrich the treasury and his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

The implementation of the reforms would inevitably provoke resistance from the clans. Lin Helin, Zhang Boju, Gu Jiaming, and other cabinet members were tasked with enforcing the measures. Should it prove necessary, Xie Xun would resort to military suppression directly.

The timing was ideal for advancing the reforms. With the recent regime change, the fear and intimidation from the blood-soaked battles between the Jinyi Guard, Forbidden Army, and Kyoto Capital Guard still lingered heavily. The clans remained wary of the new emperor, and their resistance would be weaker than it might be later. If too much time passed, they could recover and band together to resist—a complication Xie Xun preferred to avoid. If that happened, he would have to wait for Xie Jue’s army to return to the capital.

Although Lin Helin and Zhang Boju found the reforms overly ruthless, they could not deny the flourishing outcomes the new policies had brought to Ningzhou and the twelve provinces where they had already been implemented. While the reforms drastically diminished the wealth and power of the aristocratic clans, they were indeed a beneficial change for the common people.

The Yuwen royal family had lost several emperors due to the political upheavals caused by similar reforms. These policies had triggered multiple rebellions, each marked by rivers of bloodshed. The downfall of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, while partly due to Yuwen Jing’s personal vendettas, was also closely tied to the implementation of such reforms.

Days and nights consumed by work left Xie Xun with dark circles under his eyes. Fengyu found him asleep at his desk and quietly ordered Nuanyang to withdraw. She sat nearby without disturbing him, allowing him to rest properly.

The desk was piled high with memorials, some spread out in front of him. There were documents concerning the restructuring of the Jinyi Guard and Forbidden Army, as well as a map of the imperial palace with one particular palace marked off by Xie Xun. Fengyu had no interest in these governmental matters; her gaze lingered solely on Xie Xun. As he slept, all traces of hostility left his features. His youthful face—barely in his twenties—was full of vitality, and even in repose, his brows and eyes retained their striking charm.

Her fingertips gently brushed his brow, but Xie Xun suddenly woke with sharp alertness, grabbing her wrist. Startled, Fengyu met his gaze, their eyes locking against one another. There wasn’t a hint of sleepiness in Xie Xun’s vigilant eyes. Upon recognizing Fengyu, he softened into a smile, pulling her into his arms and kissing her lips.

It had only been a day and night since they last saw each other, yet it felt like years had passed.

Fengyu clung gently to his shoulders, letting him take what he wanted. She had felt restless at home, constantly thinking of Xie Xun, but now, beside him, she felt truly at peace.

"Ayu..." Xie Xun rested his forehead against hers, planting lingering kisses on her lips before drawing her more tightly into his embrace. "It’s all over now."

All the hardship, wandering, and fear—they had all passed!

"Have you eaten?" Xie Xun asked softly, as if cradling a fragile treasure. Since Feng Shu’s passing, Fengyu hadn’t truly smiled, and even his attempts to cheer her were cautious and tender.

"I shared a meal with Grandmother at home. How about you?"

"I’ve eaten too," Xie Xun grumbled. "The palace meals are dreadful."

"Are you picky now?" she teased. The palace was known for its exquisite cuisine, and with him as the new emperor, the Imperial Kitchen must be bending over backward to impress him. How could it possibly taste bad?

"Forty-eight dishes, all beautifully presented, but none compare to Ningzhou’s flatbread and lamb soup," Xie Xun replied. He had recently adjusted the palace meals to avoid waste, deciding that three or four dishes per meal would suffice for him.

Fengyu chuckled, playing with his long, elegant fingers. Xie Xun looked at her calm profile and couldn’t resist leaning in for a kiss. "Come, take a look at the palace I’ve marked out."

He picked up the map of the palace and pointed to the marked location—Changshou Palace. It was situated to the left of Weiyang Palace, the two palaces sitting very close to one another. "This will be our residence in the future. Do you like it?"

"Changshou Palace... Is this my residence?"

"It’s our residence. We’ll live there together."

The palace had longstanding traditions: the emperor and empress were supposed to reside in separate palaces. But Xie Xun had no intention of being apart from Fengyu; they were husband and wife and should live together.

"You’re the emperor. Aren’t you supposed to reside in Yangxin Palace?" Fengyu asked curiously, studying the map where Yangxin Palace appeared in the northwest direction of Changshou Palace, closer to Jinluan Palace. Historically, it had always been the dwelling of Yuwen emperors.

"I won’t live there—it’s unlucky!" he quipped. Since it couldn’t be demolished nor lavishly remodeled to avoid wastefulness, he would simply let it stand unused. On the map, Xie Xun proceeded to circle another palace nearby. "The west side of Changshou Palace will include Changning Palace in the future, merging the two. Their location is excellent, with a lake out front—perfect for enjoying the scenery or cooling off in summer. We could even take boat rides there. On the right is the imperial garden; I’ll have it filled with the pomegranate flowers you love."

As he explained the palace’s layout, he held her close, his other hand gently massaging her lower back. Since her injury, Fengyu often experienced soreness and couldn’t comfortably sit or lie down for prolonged periods. Though she had never spoken of it, Xie Xun knew her ailments intimately and had been mindful of them ever since. Holding her in his lap now, he continued to ease her discomfort.

Despite the sensual intimacy of his gestures, Xie Xun’s gaze remained earnest and pure, devoid of desire.

"Do you like it?" he murmured hoarsely, his lips brushing against her ear, his voice both gentle and coaxing.

"Mm, I like it," Fengyu replied, understanding the sentiment behind his plans. "I like it very much."