Chapter 174 It’s Cold at the Top
The climate entered the depths of winter. With the first heavy snowfall of the twelfth lunar month, the entire palace was immersed in a vast expanse of white.
Yan Donghuang was busy with complicated government affairs every day. He had just dismissed the Minister of Personnel and promoted the former Right Vice Minister of Personnel to be the Minister. At the same time, he let Qi Fangfei enter the Ministry of Personnel for training.
A new official has three fires when he takes office.
The new Minister's family background is not prominent, and he does not have a stronger backer in the court, but he is good at dealing with people and knows how to read people's expressions. He knows that Qi Fangfei is a person that His Majesty values, and he also knows that His Majesty is his biggest backer.
Qi Fangfei was not troubled at all when working under him, and they cooperated with each other very happily.
Occasionally, when he had free time, Yan Donghuang would sit by the window and look at the snow scene, but he was thinking that there was a lot of rain in summer, and there were often floods, while there was heavy snow in winter, and there were often snow disasters.
If it didn't rain for too long, there would be drought.
Every natural disaster can make the people's half-year harvest vanish, and even take many lives.
Therefore, the country's granary reserves must be sufficient. In addition to dealing with wars, the livelihood of the people cannot be ignored.
This is the responsibility of the emperor.
The higher the position, the more responsibilities on the shoulders, and the more things you need to think about every day.
Now that the end of the year is approaching, officials from all over the country are sending greetings like snowflakes, all of which report good news but not bad news. Yan Donghuang sincerely hopes that all places can be as described in these officials' memorials, with peace and prosperity everywhere.
"Your Majesty, will this year's New Year's Eve family dinner be held in a big way?"
Yan Donghuang came back to his senses and shook his head slowly: "No, just the same as last year."
Meng Zhou agreed: "Yes."
One year after ascending the throne, one prince died, the other two princes were demoted to commoners and imprisoned for life, and the ministers in the court were either confiscated and executed, or exiled. There is really nothing to celebrate.
Yan Donghuang sometimes feels that his ruthlessness is all pretended.
Because when it was late at night, she would always think of those days when she was young. Even though she didn't live well at that time, the royal brothers and sisters were lively and carefree, and there were not so many fratricide incidents.
Sometimes she felt hypocritical.
Her brothers and sisters were as lively as they were when they were young, wasn't it because her father fought his way out of many brothers and won the throne?
Since ancient times, power has been fought for in the sea of blood, and the losers have either been reincarnated or are on the way to reincarnation.
Compassion is not desirable.
Moreover, after experiencing the tragic ending of the previous life, she should have been as hard as iron, instead of having an unnecessary kindness.
Yan Donghuang closed her eyes and was surrounded by boundless coldness and loneliness.
The New Year's Day also passed quietly.
Yan Donghuang didn't want to make a fuss, so she asked the ministers to go back early. She accompanied her father to eat and watch the fireworks together.
The father and daughter sat in the palace, looking at the fireworks in the sky, drinking and talking.
"It's lonely up there." Emperor Wu Lie sighed softly and looked at Yan Donghuang, "Do you feel particularly lonely in such a lively day?"
If you take this path, you are destined to be a loner.
How majestic you are when you hold the power of killing, how lonely you are when you are alone.
This is the process that every emperor must go through.
"Loneliness is only temporary." Yan Donghuang drank a sip of warm wine and told the truth, "After all, a king of a country has a lot to do every day. The world is so big, and there are still many hungry and cold people struggling for their livelihoods. Merchants travel thousands of miles when doing business, and soldiers cannot go home for several years when defending the border, and cannot reunite with their families. Some people have been separated for many years, and all they send back is a death notice and a little pension."
"My son enjoys the offerings of the people of the world, holds the supreme power, wears silk and satin, eats delicacies from mountains and seas, and if I still moan and sigh about how lonely I am, it would be too greedy and too hypocritical."
Emperor Wu Lie looked at her in surprise: "It's rare that you are so rational and calm."
You are born to be an emperor.
Seemingly ruthless, but in fact, he cares about the people and does not regard them as ants.
This is something that many ministers cannot do.
Yan Donghuang was silent for a moment, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "I can do my best to do anything, but there is only one thing that I can't make up my mind about."
"What is it?"
"Feng Yaoguang wants to be the emperor's husband, and I promised him." Yan Donghuang took another sip of wine, as if he was struggling and hesitant, "In fact, I don't quite understand what is so wonderful about the love between men and women that can make people so persistent and have to get a result."
Yan Donghuang quickly said: "I don't have to have three palaces and six courtyards, but I'm not sure if I will change my mind in the future, and I'm not sure how long people's promises can last, so I dare not make a promise easily."
Emperor Wu Lie pondered: "If Feng Yaoguang wants to be the emperor's husband, he Will you give up your military power? "
Yan Donghuang nodded: "Yes."
Emperor Wu Lie sighed: "Donghuang, I always feel that the relationship between comrades lasts longer and is stronger than that between husband and wife, but if there is indeed a relationship between you and you are willing to make a promise to him, then I think it is not impossible, but there are too many factors to consider between you, you'd better think twice."
Yan Donghuang nodded slowly: "Please give me your advice, father."
"First, he is the prince of Nanling. Although he is still under your command in name, he has indeed become the emperor of Nanling. His status is the same as yours. It is a good match, but in the past thousands of years, have you heard of a precedent of two emperors of different countries marrying each other?"
"Second, Nanling is now a vassal state of the Yong Dynasty, but it is possible that it will become stronger in the next few years. When their strength becomes stronger, even if Feng Yaoguang says nothing, will their ministers agree to continue to be a vassal state of the Yong Dynasty?"
"Third, the ruler of a country needs to have many children. You are a woman. Whether you are a couple for life or have three palaces and six courtyards, you have to give birth to your own children. I only ask you one question, are you willing for the child you gave birth to at the risk of your life to go far away and become the ruler of Nanling?"
"Once you two get married, it means that you have to give birth to at least two children, and you must ensure that both children can be safe. Of course, they have to survive to adulthood, be gifted, have both civil and military skills, and be able to shoulder the burden of a country. Otherwise, without the help of brothers and sisters, if they are a little weaker, it will be difficult for them to sit on the throne on their own. "
"If one of these two children is not competitive or in poor health, it means you have to have at least one more child."
"When the empress is in power, there will not be many children. If you give one or two more, have you thought about these?"
"You are the king of a country. The most important task is the country, not having children. It is even more impossible to focus all your energy on children. These are all issues you need to think carefully about."