The first thing Song Yu regretted after ascending the throne was feeling he had been too impulsive; after the ritual three refusals and three urgings, he simply shouldn't have accepted in the end.
Because being emperor meant virtually no rest time; it was utterly inhumane.
Song Yu somewhat admired those emperors with three thousand beauties in the harem and countless children.
To be as tired as a dog during the day and still be energetic and vigorous at night was truly not easy.
The old man, having fathered the four of them, also had it quite tough.
The second thing he regretted was appointing Cheng Guang, that gossipmonger, to a position perfectly suited for him.
For an entire morning court session.
Cheng Guang, with his indiscriminately attacking mouth, had berated almost everyone present in the hall, from major issues like an official's risk of corruption to minor ones like another official favoring a concubine over his wife, tarnishing the image of Da Qi's officials.
Song Yu's headache grew worse.
What to do when an official is too competent?
Just as Song Yu was pondering how to make Cheng Guang shut up, he saw Cheng Guang jump out again. "Your Majesty, this subject has one more thing to say, though I'm not sure if I should."
"Speak."
Song Yu spoke through gritted teeth. If he weren't the emperor now, he would definitely stuff a rag into Cheng Guang's mouth. Unfortunately, he was precisely the emperor.
"Your speed in handling court affairs is somewhat slower compared to the Retired Emperor. To stabilize the court, please devote more time daily to state affairs."
Song Yu was so angry he felt his nose might twist.
His only completely relaxed time now was when he slept. Yesterday, he couldn't even squeeze out time to visit Ahuan.
Wasn't Cheng Guang's meaning blatantly telling him to sleep less and work more?
"We will improve."
Song Yu forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Cheng Guang was satisfied. A censor, after all, must dare to impeach.
His fox-like eyes continued to scan the hundred officials, finally settling on Shen Qingping's face, which wore a faint, ambiguous smile.
Cheng Guang shuddered and fell silent.
Goodness, he always felt the Prime Minister wanted to do him in.
With his ears finally clear, Song Yu rushed to Ming'an Palace right after court adjourned, only to be met with an empty palace.
"Where is the Princess?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor sent someone early this morning to fetch the Princess."
Song Yu, filled with grievance, charged into the Tai Chi Palace where Emperor Yuanyou was spending his retirement years.
In the courtyard of Tai Chi Palace, Emperor Yuanyou was playing chess with Song Shihuan. The grandfather and granddaughter were chatting and laughing, the scene looking warm and harmonious.
A world of difference from Song Yu's own predicament.
"Why are you here?"
Emperor Yuanyou lifted his eyelids slightly. "You've just finished morning court at this hour. You should be in the Purple Imperial Hall receiving important ministers."
"No important ministers, just a gossipmonger."
"Father, do you think it's possible... for me to abdicate and return the throne to you?"
The next second, what greeted Song Yu was the familiar sole of a shoe.
"You treasonous scoundrel! Do you want your old man to go down in history? As the first founding emperor whose offered throne was returned?"
"If you dare harbor such thoughts, I'll have to beat this shoe sole to pieces today!"
And so, the already aggrieved Emperor Zhaowu received another beating.
"Unless you find your heir, you'll have to sit on that dragon throne until you die."
Emperor Yuanyou glanced at Song Yu and threw down the now-tattered shoe sole.
"Father, does it hurt?"
Song Shihuan, after all, felt sorry for Song Yu and hurriedly asked.
Seeing this, Emperor Yuanyou snorted coldly. "It's lonely at the top. Being emperor is always like this."
Song Yu grimaced in pain, his mind filled with Emperor Yuanyou's words, "find your heir."
Just then, Song Shihuan's face loomed close before him. Song Yu's eyes rolled thoughtfully.
He left cheerfully.
"Weirdo."
Emperor Yuanyou muttered. "Ahuan, ignore him. Let's continue, just us grandfather and granddaughter."
......
Time flew by.
The specially added imperial examination commenced in February, with Song Yu directly appointing Ye Shijie as the chief examiner.
Shen Residence.
"My son, why didn't His Majesty let me be the chief examiner?"
Shen Mingwen's face was full of anxiety, fearing Ye Shijie might gain more imperial favor than himself.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingping finished the congee before him with an unchanged expression, then meticulously wiped his mouth.
"Could you share your opinion on this?"
Shen Mingwen anxiously urged again.
"Because His Majesty has been through the rain, he wants to tear up the umbrellas of those candidates."
Father, rest assured. His Majesty specifically chose Ye Shijie for his eccentric and peculiar exam questions.
Shen Mingwen gasped, his mouth forming a perfect 'O'.
Was he really a step behind Ye Shijie because his questions weren't perverse enough?
At the same time, in the Purple Imperial Hall.
The hall's new master, Song Yu, looked at the exam questions set by Ye Shijie before him and nodded with satisfaction.
“Only questions like these can screen and select the true pillars of talent for us.”
Otherwise, why were the questions difficult when he took the exam, but became easier for others?
That wouldn't be fair.
On the day the exam began, Song Yu specifically instructed Liuxi, "After the exam ends, send someone to check the expressions of the candidates outside the examination hall."
"Your servant will arrange it immediately."
The Emperor is truly childish.
Having satisfied his mischievous interest in these matters, Song Yu found rare patience in handling court affairs.
Upon hearing that all the candidates looked terrible, Song Yu showed an expression that said, 'Just as expected.'
See, Ye Shijie's questions are perverse.
By the time of the palace examination, Song Yu had already become proficient in handling court affairs.
The imperial aura around him had also grown stronger.
On the day of the palace examination, Song Yu watched with great interest as the candidates in the hall picked up their brushes to answer, and slowly stood up.
He would stand before one candidate for a moment, then scurry to another, pretending to look at their examination paper, keeping himself extremely busy.
Two candidates failed regrettably due to improper conduct before the throne.
After the palace examination concluded, Shen Qingping looked helpless.
"Your Majesty was busier today than the answering candidates."
This was our path to get here. We merely let them experience it too," Song Yu declared with full confidence. "Besides, during our palace examination, the old man also scared one candidate into failing."
Having said that, Song Yu slumped onto the table.
"If Imperial Censor Cheng Guang saw Your Majesty like this, he could talk about it for a quarter of an hour during tomorrow's morning court."
"Him? Let's not mention him."
Song Yu rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. "There are a few promising candidates from this palace examination. Remember to keep an eye on them; they'll be the new labor force."
Shen Qingping nodded.
During this period, Song Yu had been greatly tormented, and Shen Qingping, the newly appointed Prime Minister, was the same. Both had lost a significant amount of weight.
Comrades in misery.
"By the way," Shen Qingping suddenly spoke, "According to ritual regulations, there is a selection of consorts every three years. The Ministry of Rites will likely bring this up soon. Your Majesty should be mentally prepared in advance."
"Help."
Song Yu didn't even have the strength to lift his hand now.
His daily sleep time was already less than three shichen (six hours).
"If the Minister of Rites dares to bring it up, We will ask him if he wants Us to die young."
Song Yu sneered.
