Chapter 57: The Wedding Date Set for the Mid-Autumn Festival

The next day, in the Imperial Academy.

Zhao Han was bent over his desk along with his colleagues, organizing documents and manuscripts.

Hai Ning walked into the grand hall with his hands clasped behind his back, looking spirited and taking measured steps. His calm gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing on Zhao Han.

"Compiler Zhao, congratulations indeed!"

He stroked his grayish-white beard, a flash of approval in his eyes.

"The other day when you lectured on the classics in the Wenhua Hall, His Majesty was exceedingly pleased. He just summoned me and specially promoted you to a Rank Six Hanlin Expositor, with the concurrent title of Court Gentleman for Dignified Service."

Zhao Han looked at Hai Ning with slight surprise. Could it be that the Emperor had actually adopted his secret proposal regarding the establishment of an heir?

Just as Zhao Han was feeling puzzled, a colleague beside him hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Why aren't you thanking His Majesty? This is a position close to the Son of Heaven, allowing you frequent audiences with the Emperor."

"With your talent, Compiler Zhao, perhaps in a year or a year and a half you could be promoted to Reader-in-Waiting."

"When you rise to greatness and prosperity then, please do not forget this humble official."

Coming back to his senses, Zhao Han glanced at him, then hastily cupped his hands and said, "This subject Zhao Han kowtows in gratitude for the holy grace!"

Hai Ning wore a gratified smile at the corner of his lips. "To win the Emperor's appreciation upon your very first audience with the Son of Heaven—"

"You must cherish this opportunity well and not let down His Majesty's high expectations."

Zhao Han bowed deeply once more. "This subordinate will bear Lord Hai's teachings in mind and shall certainly do his utmost to share the Emperor's burdens."

A colleague nearby looked at Hai Ning with a smile, stepped forward, and cupped his hands. "If Lord Wang's aging mother falls gravely ill again next time, we hope Lord Hai might..."

Hai Ning immediately wiped the smile from his lips and said faintly, "I could indeed put in a few good words for you. However, given your talent, if you were to make inappropriate remarks during an audience before the Emperor and provoke the heavenly wrath—"

"When that time comes, do not come looking to me to clean up the mess for you."

Though spoken lightly, these words caused the colleague's expression to change instantly.

Official positions such as Hanlin Reader and Expositor, though close to the Son of Heaven and seemingly bathed in infinite glory, were also extremely prone to bringing about a crime through a careless word.

After all, just last year, an Expositor had provoked the dragon's wrath during a classic lecture and was demoted to Qiongzhou, with no news of him to this day.

It would be far better to advance steadily in one's current position, accumulate a few years of seniority, and then take up an office in the Six Ministries.

"This... Lord Hai, this subordinate was merely joking for a moment. Please do not take it seriously, my lord." With that, he shifted his gaze back to Zhao Han.

"Since Lord Zhao has won the Emperor's appreciation and received an exceptional promotion to Rank Six, we truly must celebrate grandly tonight!"

Zhao Han smiled slightly. "Very well. Tonight we shall hold a banquet at the Fan Tower, and I hope all my colleagues will honor us with your presence!"

Meanwhile, in the Wenhua Hall.

Zhao Zhen sat upright on the dragon throne, holding a vermilion brush and making annotations on the memorial.

Without raising his head, he asked, "When Han's family went to the Sheng residence yesterday to present betrothal gifts, did everything go smoothly? What date has been set for the wedding?"

Zhang Maoze pondered for a moment and replied respectfully, "Replying to Your Majesty, everything went smoothly. With gongs beating and flutes playing all along the way, it was magnificent beyond words."

"The wedding has been set for the fifteenth day of the eighth month, precisely the Mid-Autumn Festival—a wonderful hour when the sweet osmanthus fragrances fill the air and the full moon shines upon the mortal realm."

Zhao Zhen's vermilion brush paused slightly. "The fifteenth of the eighth month... Indeed a fine day."

As the words fell, an imperial guard bowed and entered the hall.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Minister of Rites Lord Han and Minister of Personnel Lord Xue request an audience."

Seeing that Zhao Zhen made no response, the guard braced himself and added, "The two lords also said... said that if Your Majesty still refuses to see them today, they will kneel outside the hall indefinitely and refuse to rise."

Having said this, the guard lowered his head even further.

He did not dare to cast a single glance at Zhao Zhen, terrified of provoking bad luck and needlessly bringing trouble upon himself.

"Your Majesty, shall this subject go and send those two packing?" Zhang Maoze asked tentatively.

Based on his years of understanding, these two stubborn old men were entirely capable of kneeling outside the hall indefinitely.

Zhao Zhen chuckled softly, the tip of his brush lightly scraping against the inkstone.

"Tell them that if they are determined to kneel, the bluestone slabs on the right are in the shade and will be somewhat more comfortable for kneeling."

Acknowledging the command, the guard scrambled out of the hall and relayed the Emperor's exact words to the two men.

Han Zhang clenched his fists tightly, his chest heaving slightly. "Lord Xue, His Majesty is completely resolved not to see us."

Xue Pu frowned deeply and lowered his voice, "This matter concerns the foundation of the state; we can absolute not let it rest here."

"Very well! Since that is the case, even if this old man risks his life today, I will make the Emperor agree to adopt an heir from the imperial clan early on and establish a crown prince!"

With that, he straightened his official robes and without the slightest hesitation walked over to the bluestone slabs on the right, kneeling down heavily.

Xue Pu followed closely behind, kneeling solemnly to the side.

The two veteran ministers kept their spines straight, their gazes resolute, unmoving as statues.

The guards in front of the hall exchanged glances at the sight, but none dared to step forward to dissuade them.

It was not until past noon that Zhao Zhen put down his vermilion brush, closed the final memorial, and massaged his aching brows.

"Have they left yet?"

Zhang Maoze stepped forward softly and shook his head. "They are still kneeling. Lord Han's face has turned pale with strain, yet he stubbornly refuses to get up."

"If they kneel any longer, I fear we shall soon need to summon the imperial physicians."

Zhao Zhen covered his face with both hands and took a deep breath.

After a long while, he lowered his hands and said in a deep voice, "Why must I cross paths with these two obstinate old fogies!"

"Let them in. If they ruin their health by kneeling, how will they assist Han in ascending the throne in the future?"

Hearing this, a trace of a smile flashed in the corners of Zhang Maoze's eyes. "I shall have them brought in for an audience immediately."

Before long, supported by the guards, Han Zhang and Xue Pu shuffled feebly into the hall.

"This old subject pays respects to Your Majesty." As they spoke, the two men made to kneel once more.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen hastily instructed them to dispense with formalities and turned to order his attendants, "Quickly, grant them seats!"

The moment he sat down, terrified that Zhao Zhen might once again employ excuses like admiring flowers, drinking tea, or discussing chess to derail the topic, Han Zhang pushed aside the ache in his knees and got straight to the point.

"Your Majesty, the imperial succession concerns the safety of the realm. The matter of establishing an heir is extremely urgent and can be delayed no longer!"

Xue Pu's grayish-white beard trembled incessantly as he chimed in, "This subject is seventy-three years old this year and has not a single child at home. When I urge Your Majesty to establish an heir, I harbor not a shred of selfish motive!"

To their surprise, Zhao Zhen did not fly into a rage as he had on previous occasions.

He merely sighed softly and said calmly, "Regarding the matter of establishing an heir, I have already made up my mind."

The two ministers were startled, almost suspecting they had misheard.

Han Zhang was the first to speak, "I wonder which imperial clansman Your Majesty intends to adopt? We subjects shall surely assist with all our might!"

"In my view, no one among the imperial clan is capable of shouldering such a great responsibility."

Hearing this, Xue Pu was deeply shocked. He widened his eyes and looked at Zhao Zhen in disbelief.

"Your Majesty is nearing fifty years of age this year. Even if you could still sire an imperial heir, nevertheless... a youthful sovereign ascending the throne is a grave calamity for the state!"

Han Zhang risked his very life and spoke bluntly, "Your Majesty, please do not sport with this old subject anymore. The imperial physicians stated long ago that, given your physical constitution, it is fundamentally impossible for you to father more imperial heirs."

"Your Majesty, the foundations of our country and state truly cannot bear such a joke!"

Unflustered, Zhao Zhen picked up his teacup and chuckled lightly. "I am not sporting with my two beloved ministers."