"Let me be Shang Yang this once.
As King of Wei, and for the Crown Prince, and for the common people of the realm,
May I have one last time to manage the household, to be in charge, alright? Alright?"
Liu Xie's words lingered in Cao Cao's ears, moving him slightly.
"Does Your Majesty truly wish this?"
Liu Xie gave a bitter smile. "This is probably the most emperor-like thing I've done in my life!"
Cao Cao fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "What Your Majesty says today surprises me. How I wish I could agree and free you... but..."
"What is King of Wei hesitating for?" The stone that had been lifted from Liu Xie's heart suddenly crashed back down. "... Heaven sent the 'Crown Prince' to assist King of Wei in achieving his current hegemony. This is heaven's will, the destiny of heaven... King of Wei should be the emperor! What is King of Wei afraid of?"
"Hahaha..."
Cao Cao laughed, shaking his head as he looked at Liu Xie. "If Your Majesty truly has this intention, then pass this great position to my son. I have fought wars and killed extensively over the years. The Crown Prince is more suitable to be this emperor than I!"
Still that one sentence—
"If destiny is with me, I shall be King Wen of Zhou!"
This...
Liu Xie had not expected this.
Cao Cao, a man of such ambition in this era, could "plan" to this extent for his son?
The Crown Prince? Cao Yu?
Unbeknownst to him, upon hearing Cao Cao's words, and learning that he was to pass the throne to Cao Yu, Liu Xie let out a long sigh of relief. He stood up straight...
His mind raced with thoughts!
It was Cao Yu who taught him how to be an emperor useful to the people!
It was also Cao Yu who told him who his enemies, and the enemies of the Han, truly were!
If...
If he truly passed the throne to Cao Yu, Liu Xie was willing...
Even, he yearned for it! More than passing it to King of Wei Cao Cao!
However...
"For so many years I was a puppet of King of Wei, thinking I had seen through King of Wei, yet I never expected... King of Wei to still be a loving father!"
"Heh heh!" Cao Cao laughed. "This is what I owe Yu'er, and what I owe his mother..."
Upon saying this, Cao Cao turned and strode away.
His resolute footsteps echoed through the hall, particularly resonant.
"Then..." Emperor Liu Xie called out urgently, "When? When does King of Wei want me to abdicate to the Crown Prince of Wei?"
This...
Cao Cao paused his steps, then pondered, "Perhaps, very soon!"
Hmm...
Liu Xie was taken aback...
He knew that one of the prerequisites for passing the throne to Cao Yu... was for Cao Yu to become King of Wei!
But the current Cao Cao... was King of Wei!
As if sensing Liu Xie's thoughts, Cao Cao smiled. "I presume Your Majesty knows that my headaches have been occurring more frequently recently. And my dispatching of Hua Tuo to practice that 'axe to the skull' diagnosis has made no progress after several months. This is sufficient proof that if my skull were to be opened with an axe, I would surely die..."
"Gulp..."
Liu Xie swallowed, unable to imagine that the strong, resolute, and mighty Cao Cao outside was still tormented by his "headaches," suffering unbearably.
Cao Cao was truly resilient!
Cao Cao continued, "The world only knows that Hua Tuo mentioned 'axe to the skull' to remove the 'wind and phlegm' from my head... but the world does not know that Hua Tuo also proposed a second treatment plan." "What plan?" Liu Xie asked quickly.
"Hua Tuo said that if I refused surgery, the only method would be to 'shed desire, shed anger,' and hide among forests and streams, without being troubled by impatience or agitation. With the 'Taiqing Qi' to calm the mind and nourish the brain, after ten years... perhaps I might heal myself!"
Hmm...
Cao Cao's words made Liu Xie's eyes widen. He suddenly understood why King of Wei wanted him to abdicate to the Crown Prince.
"Does King of Wei intend to retire?"
"I could not let go of the Great Wei, nor the realm, before. But now, I am at peace..." Cao Cao sighed. "When it comes to unifying the realm, fighting on the battlefield, strategizing in the midst of chaos, and charging bravely, the Crown Prince cannot compare to me. But when it comes to governing the country, appointing wise men, and balancing power, I cannot compare to the Crown Prince. Ha ha! The future of Great Wei, the Crown Prince will do better than I!"
Speaking of which.
Cao Cao seemed to recall something else.
"By the way, Your Majesty abdicating to the Crown Prince of Wei, I want to thank Your Majesty. During this period before the Crown Prince's succession, I will let Your Majesty be a true emperor!"
As his words fell...
Cao Cao strode away.
Liu Xie was left stunned in place. At this moment, he realized... the vast gap between himself and King of Wei Cao Cao was in ability, vision, and even grander perspective!
As for Cao Cao...
He walked down the steps, Xu Chu and the Hugen Army already waiting there.
Cao Cao gave his orders.
"From this day forward, His Majesty's edicts need not be cleared with me; they can be sent directly to the Shangshu Tai!"
"For the decrees implemented by His Majesty, all officials of Great Wei, all Hugen soldiers, and all personnel of the Xiaoshi Fu shall cooperate fully... including the abolition of the Juchazhi system and the implementation of Tanding Rumian!"
"From now on, when I meet His Majesty, I shall also perform the kneeling禮. Your Majesty! Ten thousand years!"
Uh...
Cao Cao's words made Xu Chu pause. He instinctively reached up to scratch his head.
Why would King of Wei issue such an order after the conversation between King of Wei and the Emperor, before the Crown Prince's wedding?
The "Zanbai Buming," "Jianlü Shangdian," and "Ruchao Buxu" that were earned with lives were all being withdrawn. And...
Xu Chu wondered if King of Wei had come not to resolve... Cai Zhaoji's status?
So, was it resolved?
How could Xu Chu know...
Cao Cao had indeed come to resolve Cai Zhaoji's status!
Once the Han Emperor abdicated to the Crown Prince of Wei, with everything settled, Cai Zhaoji's status would be among them.
Indeed, the Crown Prince could have countless consorts, but an emperor could only have one Empress!
Cai Zhaoji—
"A talented woman of this age, from a scholarly family, virtuous and dignified, should wear the phoenix crown, and is worthy of the empress's position!"
...
A Ying River flowed not far from the King of Wei's palace, passing by the "Crown Prince's Mansion"...
Unlike the Eastern Palace, which was within the King of Wei's palace, the Crown Prince's Mansion, formerly the Nan Shou Hou Mansion, was located three streets away from the King of Wei's palace.
However...
Due to the grand wedding tomorrow, most of the maids and servants had rushed to the Eastern Palace to help, making this place appear exceptionally desolate.
"Plop... plop..."
The ripples on the surface of the Ying River splashed up as pebbles were thrown.
A woman in white robes and a white skirt squatted on the riverbank. Her three thousand black silk tresses cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching her slender waist. Her peerless beauty bloomed like a green lotus! Yet, the unwillingness and sorrow on her face were palpable.
"One, two..." "Three, four, five..."
The woman pouted her lips from time to time, her teeth gently biting her red lips. With each pebble dropped, a noticeable fluctuation would appear on her face.
The first two were calm, but by the third, fourth, and fifth, her expression turned into one of a bitter gourd, filled with unwillingness.
In the Ying River, some perch, mistaking the splashes for food, surfaced near the bank...
But upon touching the pebbles with their mouths, they retreated in disappointment.
The woman angrily said, "Little perch... you little perch, having two wives is not enough, and now you're marrying a third, fourth, and fifth... Others' Crown Princes have one Crown Princess, and the rest are concubines. You, on the other hand, have them all as Crown Princesses, and only my sister and I are concubines. It's no wonder my sister and I are bullied by you!"
Who else could this woman be but Xiao Qiao?
Originally, a household with two wives and two concubines...
Xiao Qiao could still accept it, after all, Lu Yu's two wives had different statuses, and... they were quite amiable and never put on airs!
But now, it was different...
Ma Yunlu, Sun Shangxiang, Lu Lingqi... In Xiao Qiao's eyes, these were all savages!
They would definitely boss her and her sister around.
Most importantly, how could there be five wives and only two concubines? Wasn't this... wasn't this bullying her and her sister?
"Little perch... I... I... I'll stew you!" Xiao Qiao gritted her teeth.
Just then, Da Qiao arrived...
"Who wants to stew little perch?"
"Sister..." As if hearing her sister's voice, Xiao Qiao quickly turned around, her face flushing red.
Da Qiao looked at the ripples on the Ying River, at the perch still searching for food under the moonlight... and smiled faintly. "Who was it that proposed that the Nan Shou Hou Mansion was not allowed to eat perch? How... has your taste changed so quickly?"
"Sister~" The drawn-out tone sounded like Xiao Qiao's embarrassment.
At that moment, Da Qiao took out a piece of white silk from her sleeve. "This is... a decree invited by Sister Zhaoji from King of Wei!"
Hmm...
This statement made Xiao Qiao curious. Da Qiao clenched her fist and smiled, saying, "Come and get it yourself!"
Xiao Qiao stepped forward to grab her sister's hand, but Da Qiao deliberately held it high...
After a round of snatching and playful banter, Xiao Qiao finally got the white silk. Upon opening it...
"My sister and I are Crown Prince's side consorts? What does this mean?"
Xiao Qiao asked curiously.
Da Qiao explained, "Husband proposed to His Majesty and King of Wei to carry out a major reform of the current official system, changing the official positions originally graded by salary to nine ranks. Among them... the three dukes and nine ministers are changed to the Three Departments and Six Ministries. The reform of the Ministry of Rites includes this item of the Crown Prince's consorts and concubines..."
"Then, what does my sister and my side consort mean? What are the ranks of Madame Xiahou and Princess Wannian?" Xiao Qiao still didn't understand.
Da Qiao patiently continued to explain. "Madame Xiahou and Princess Wannian are naturally the Crown Prince's primary consorts, considered the highest rank among the consorts and concubines. My sister and I, as side consorts, are second only to the primary consorts. Below us are noble consorts, Crown Prince's consorts, virtuous ladies, virtuous maidens, and so on... You can understand it as the current imperial harem's noble consorts, consorts, Zhaoyi, and beauties... these ranks also appear in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, representing a more detailed division of ranks." ... "Tsk~" After hearing so much, Xiao Qiao still pouted. "What's the use? My sister and I are still inferior to them..."
These "them" naturally referred to Lu Lingqi, Ma Yunlu, and Sun Shangxiang...
This was what made Xiao Qiao most indignant.
Why, after they had served their husband for so long, did... Lu Lingqi, Ma Yunlu, and Sun Shangxiang, who had just arrived, become... become...
"Alright!" Da Qiao gently patted Xiao Qiao's shoulder and continued to guide her, "Husband is now the Crown Prince, so what will he be in the future?"
"Naturally, the King of Wei! It's not impossible, he might even become the Emperor!" Xiao Qiao replied without hesitation.
Pfft...
Hearing the word "Emperor," Da Qiao smiled. "Good. Let's assume he becomes Emperor. How many Empresses can there be?"
Hmm...
This sudden question made Xiao Qiao's eyes widen. She seemed to understand.
That is to say...
Even if there were ten or eight Crown Princesses now, it would be irregular. There could only be one future Empress, which was unchangeable...
Then, the surplus would be equivalent to her and her sister's "side consort" status, wouldn't it?
Was there any difference?
Xiao Qiao's large eyes darted continuously, finally settling on a particular point...
She understood, she truly understood.
Da Qiao continued, "Xiao Qiao, then tell me, in the future Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, who will be the Empress?"
"Naturally, Sister Zhaoji!" Xiao Qiao replied without hesitation...
This was the consensus.
"So..." Da Qiao pointed to the line in the King of Wei's decree stating "The Crown Prince's side consorts shall be Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao," and continued, "Side consorts are second only to the Crown Prince's primary consorts, and side consorts are also second only to the Empress. Calculating it this way... aren't we sisters on the same status as the other ladies? You must know... they all have backgrounds, but you and I... were earned by Sister Zhaoji for us."
Understood...
This time, Xiao Qiao completely understood.
She gritted her teeth, pondered for a moment, and then opened her mouth. "I now know why... why husband's favorite has always been Sister Zhaoji!"
--
--
Tomorrow was the busy wedding day.
Yet, on the eve of it, Lu Yu was still at the Xiaoshi Fu.
Not only him, but Cheng Yu and Yang Xiu, Sima Yi were also there.
Cheng Yu held a scroll and presented it to Lu Yu. "Crown Prince, the detailed regulations for the Three Masters, Three Dukes, Three Departments, and Six Ministries drafted have been completed."
Lu Yu beckoned to Yang Xiu and Sima Yi. "Have you both reviewed them?"
Yang Xiu and Sima Yi nodded.
Lu Yu continued, "His Majesty is currently implementing reforms, in other words, a transformation. Since ancient times, all reforms have involved sacrifice. His Majesty is sacrificing the Han to achieve the Wei. We must not fail him in his painstaking efforts... These reform details need to be drafted by our Xiaoshi Fu and submitted to His Majesty."
Sima Yi cupped his hands. "The titles of Three Dukes and Three Masters set by the mentor are honorary and nominal. Among the Three Departments, the Zhongshu Province is similar to the current Zhongshu Tai, an organ responsible for secret affairs and issuing decrees. The Menxia Province is like the Shangshu, with a rank of two thousand piculs, belonging to Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers... Its duties are to attend to the emperor, assist in various affairs, and advise and respond. The Shangshu Province is the Shangshu Tai governed by Lord Xun Ling... Below it are the Six Ministries, such as the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Punishments, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Works... and below them are the twenty-four Divisions..."
After a general introduction...
Then, Sima Yi raised a question. "In this way, the powers of the Menxia Province and the Shangshu Province have increased significantly! Will this... threaten..."
"Imperial power..." Sima Yi did not dare to utter these two words. Yang Xiu, however, blurted out, "If the three departments have too much power, they will threaten imperial power... Does the mentor truly intend to do this?"
Not just Yang Xiu, but any discerning person could see that with the Han Emperor's series of "bold moves," the transition of Wei to replace Han was already a general trend...
Therefore... the future King of Wei would be the Emperor, and the Crown Prince of Wei would be the next Emperor.
Thus... imperial power, in the final analysis, was the power of the Crown Prince of Wei sooner or later!
"History always needs to be rewritten and progress!" Lu Yu murmured. "The current Han court has a huge problem, which is the division of power among the three departments, resulting in mutual finger-pointing, low efficiency... and it is easier to form separate factions rather than working together! With the Three Departments, these problems are all solved. Although their powers have increased, they supervise and check each other, thus forming the most complete and rigorous system, improving the efficiency of the new policies. As for... imperial power, not only has it not weakened, but it has been strengthened unprecedentedly. If you are worried or afraid, you can also take some measures to strengthen it, such as... the Emperor participating in the discussion of the political affairs hall, and setting up some organs to supervise the Three Departments and Six Ministries!"
Ever since Lu Yu became Cao Yu...
What kind of political system should be implemented?
...This question had been plaguing him. He also knew that a people's representative assembly system was more advanced, but it was difficult to implement in ancient times, let alone moving towards a republic...
Under the feudal system, the implementation of these systems would face immense resistance. The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was a symbol of the feudal system's growth to maturity!
One must take steps one by one. Taking too large a step could lead to a tear!
"Crown Prince..."
At this moment, Cheng Yu opened his mouth. "Although these systems are good, each of them shakes the foundations of those powerful clans... Is it truly good for the Han to bear these for the Wei? Will the Han Emperor... sincerely cooperate?"
Hmm...
This sudden remark contained Cheng Yu's concerns about the new policies.
Lu Yu, however, smiled faintly and was about to explain...
Behind the curtain.
After a burst of "Hahahaha!" laughter, a man in red robes, full of spirit and valor, emerged. "Never mind. After the meeting, this junior will tell Mr. Cheng a story, a story of Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one willing to beat, one willing to be beaten!"
As soon as these words were spoken...
Everyone turned their heads... This man in red robes, who was incredibly handsome, was not unfamiliar to them.
And Lu Yu introduced:
"Everyone, I forgot to introduce you. From now on, Zhou Gongjin is also a member of our Xiaoshi Fu!"
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Niu Nai Tang Tang Tang reminds you: Remember to collect after reading.