CHAPTER 555: CHAPTER 537: BECOMING EMPRESS

The eunuch standing at the back of the Rituals Bureau group hesitantly raised his hand, "This servant can manage it!"

Everyone turned to look. It was a very young eunuch with a low rank, appearing to be under twenty years of age. He had white teeth, rosy lips, and a delicate appearance. Although he timidly volunteered to oversee the restoration of Changshou Palace, Wang Zhen and the other senior eunuchs completely disregarded him.

Fengyu asked, "What’s your name?"

The young eunuch stepped forward, "This servant is called Yang Mingzhong."

"Fine. Starting today, you’re the Chief Steward of the Rituals Bureau. I need someone who can get things done and speaks little." Fengyu’s expression was cold as she promoted the young eunuch. He was instantly elevated from the lowest eunuch rank to the position of Chief Steward, jumping several ranks at once.

The tremendous joy overwhelmed Yang Mingzhong, and he knelt down to kowtow. "Yes! This servant will not fail in the mission. I will ensure that Changshou Palace and Changning Palace are restored to your satisfaction."

"Miss Feng San, you’re not yet the Empress; you have no authority to appoint or dismiss personnel from the Rituals Bureau. This is against protocol," Wang Zhen said angrily and with some urgency. He had not expected Miss Feng San to outright dismiss a group of officials.

"The state from before is already gone. What protocol? A new dynasty requires new rules. Xie Xun and I are the masters of the Imperial Palace. Who are you to teach me what to do? If you’re dissatisfied, go find Xie Xun to back you up!" Fengyu waved her sleeve dismissively and continued inspecting Yongshou Palace. She was always picky about her residence, demanding refinement and elegance everywhere. Yang Mingzhong was perceptive and quickly positioned himself beside Fengyu, earnestly listening to her recommendations. Unless the request was excessively impractical, Yang Mingzhong never refuted Fengyu’s suggestions. The young eunuch was clever and lively, often pointing out the best options for Fengyu, such as which antiques in the storage were most valuable and their ideal placements. He was deeply appreciated by Fengyu, at least in terms of shared aesthetic sense.

Watching the events unfold, Yang Wangzhen stormed off angrily to report to Xie Xun. Miss Feng San was acting recklessly! The new emperor, formerly the Princely Heir of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, still understood the importance of rules and proper conduct; surely he wouldn’t let Fengyu act so wantonly. However, Xie Xun was too busy with his affairs and had no time to meet them. Moreover, he disliked relying on eunuchs. A palace guard emerged to inform Wang Zhen and the others that all matters in the rear palace were to be handled according to Fengyu’s instructions.

Wang Zhen was stunned and knelt outside the hall, crying for justice, but the guards dismissed him, saying, "If you have so much time, why don’t you go plead with Miss Feng San? Guards, drag them away!"

After this incident, Fengyu’s words within the palace carried the weight of an imperial edict. She could appoint and dismiss anyone from the Rituals Bureau, so naturally, others followed suit, hastily trying to curry favor with her. Fengyu, however, disliked sycophantic eunuchs and palace maids. What she needed was a team of obedient and capable palace attendants who could efficiently handle everything according to her demands.

The restoration of Changshou Palace was not a job that could be completed quickly. As Fengyu walked past Changshou Palace, she reached Yingchun Palace, which was her elder sister’s former residence. Fengyu hesitated, overcome with a near-hometown anxiety of fear.

Her sister...

"Miss... would you like to go in and take a look?"

Fengyu shook her head. "No, Elder Sister didn’t like Yingchun Palace at all."

Even if it were to remember her, Yingchun Palace would not be the place.

After wandering around, Fengyu returned to the side hall near Jinluan Palace. Xie Xun was discreetly discussing the preparation of the Jiangnan Army’s provisions with the Ministry of Revenue. Xie Xun had been pushing for new reforms. Lin Helin and Zhang Boju were among the first to respond to the new changes, voluntarily donating all the Lin Family and Zhang Family’s farmland to the Ministry for unified management and redistribution. Xie Xun accepted their gesture of goodwill and was deliberating on how to repay this kindness in a different form—not in money, but in resources. Ultimately, he sought to demonstrate to all clans that the imperial family did not seize their land without reason.

Fengyu was adept at such resource exchanges. Under her recommendation, Xie Xun granted the management rights to South City’s night markets to the Lin Family and Zhang Family. The Eastern and Western Streets were divided accordingly, turning annual rents into a substantial income.

Lin Helin and Zhang Boju understood that Xie Xun intended to set them as examples, and they accepted this arrangement gladly. Although the exchange of large swathes of farmland for business rights still resulted in some losses to the clans, it helped offset deficits overall.

Other clans could also see that the Beining Dynasty was no longer akin to Yanyang. Xie Xun was resolute in addressing the issue of land consolidation. In the future, land could only be leased, not purchased, and it would be managed by the Ministry of Revenue, with a supervisory institution established to prevent corruption within the ministry. Such measures would eventually enrich the national treasury, channeling resources from the people and back to the people. With farmland accessible to the peasants, stability and prosperity would surely follow.

After the Lin Family and Zhang Family submitted their properties, Xie Xun finalized discussions on the preparation of provisions for the Jiangnan Army with the Ministry of Revenue. With the new emperor in power, the provision collection progressed quickly, and supplies were soon sent to Jiangnan.

Minister Gong, who had organized military provisions many times, felt this instance was the most effortless.

Everyone cooperated smoothly; no one dared exploit the situation.

As Xie Xun and Minister Gong wrapped up their deliberations, Fengyu returned to the side hall. Knowing she had been upset earlier, Xie Xun held her gently and comforted her. "Feeling better?"

"Hmm, somewhat. Just a group of petty people. I’ve replaced most of the staff in the Rituals Bureau and Food Bureau," Fengyu murmured wearily, leaning into his embrace, the familiar scent around him putting her at ease.

"Replace them. If you find them unsatisfactory, just replace them," Xie Xun said while kissing her on the cheek. "How’s the repair plan for Changshou Palace coming along?"

"It probably won’t be completed in time for your coronation ceremony."

"That’s fine. If it’s not ready, we’ll stay here for now. Once Changshou Palace is restored to your satisfaction, we’ll move in." Xie Xun indulged her in every way, desiring only her happiness. "Ayu, on the day of the coronation, I want to formally crown you. However, the bridal gown can’t be completed in time. Even if the entire Embroidery Bureau works on it, it’ll take two months to finish. The Ministry of Rites has already decided on the date of the coronation due to the ongoing war in Jiangnan. Everything needs to be kept simple. My cousin also hopes the matter can be resolved swiftly to avoid complications. General Gao’s fifty thousand troops are still stationed outside the city. So, it comes down to this—either you wear an old bridal gown and marry me on the coronation day, or we delay the formal crowning ceremony."

The old bridal gown could only mean someone else’s gown. Xie Xun was unwilling to resort to that. After Fengyu came of age, they were engaged, but the wedding was still far off, and the Feng Family hadn’t yet prepared her gown.

He didn’t want her to feel slighted.

"Let’s wait a while," Fengyu softly replied. "You also hope that after the war in Jiangnan subsides, Second Brother can return to witness your wedding. We’re in no rush."

Xie Xun hesitated. He wanted to hold her hand during the coronation ceremony and pray to the ancestral temple and heaven and earth.

But he also hoped Xie Jue could witness his wedding.

"I’m making Ayu suffer," Xie Xun said with some heartache, holding her tightly.

Fengyu didn’t mind at all. Since her elder sister had just passed away, a wedding would lack any joy. It was better to postpone. Xie Xun’s coronation, however, couldn’t be delayed. Prolonging it would indeed invite complications.

Yuwen Jing was still alive, and General Gao’s troops remained stationed outside the city, refusing to acknowledge the new emperor.

"Why wasn’t Yuwen Jing killed?" Fengyu asked softly. "Did he... Did he have something on us?"