The usually expressionless Buyan finally couldn't control the twitch at the corner of his lips as he promptly knelt and replied, "Thank you for Your Majesty's trust. This humble servant will not fail in this mission!"
Listen up!
Everyone better prick up their ears and listen!
From now on, his self-reference would no longer be "this subordinate" or "this lowly servant."
It would be "this official"! This official!!
A fifth-rank official!!!
Eunuch Huang was momentarily stunned and cautiously reminded, "Your Majesty, appointments to such important positions should first be reviewed by the three grand councilors. This... this shouldn’t be decided too hastily."
What he really thought was: The Duke of State Protection would likely send his own people, as General Pang had already been stationed in the palace for many days and was probably due for an official assignment.
The little tyrant snorted. "No, I’ve decided. I’ll finalize it first and then show them. General Zong will definitely help me persuade them."
Eunuch Huang thought it over and smiled. "Your Majesty and General Zong truly share a close bond."
Chu Jincheng mused inwardly: Of course—he’s my father.
But in public, all titles had to be adjusted. He shrugged and picked up another gleaming golden token. "Does this one grant unrestricted access to the palace?"
Eunuch Huang replied, "Yes, the bearer may enter the palace without notifying Your Majesty. If you are in court, the palace attendants may escort the token holder to a side hall to wait. However, this token carries immense authority—exemption from kneeling, immunity from execution, and freedom from restrictions. Each emperor may only forge one such token in their reign. Your Majesty, you must consider this carefully. It would be best to wait until you are older before bestowing it. Granting it now, whether to General Zong or the Duke of State Protection, would inevitably displease one side."
Chu Jincheng flipped the token in his hand, admiring it with delight. He chuckled, "Such a unique token naturally belongs to the best mother in the world!"
"Ah?" Eunuch Huang was dumbfounded.
...Who?
Your Majesty’s birth mother, Concubine Shu, had long since passed away.
Chu Jincheng grinned. "General Zong’s wife—my adoptive mother. It’s thanks to her guidance that I, a once-spoiled brat, grew into the sensible person I am today. 'First-Rank Auxiliary Saintess'... Eunuch Huang, what do you think of this title I’ve been pondering for days?"
"First-Rank Auxiliary Saintess..." Eunuch Huang’s mouth hung open, too shocked to speak. He fretted, "Your Majesty, isn’t this title a bit excessive? It sounds like someone who could assist you in governance... A woman meddling in politics would surely face fierce opposition from the court."
Chu Jincheng waved it off. "I don’t expect her to govern. Do you think everyone craves power? I’m simply granting her a unique title, equivalent to a first-rank noblewoman, enhanced by this token, so no one dares look down on her. I want the world to know that behind her stands not just General Zong’s household—but also me."
He and his mother would be the closest of kin.
Eunuch Huang was moved by his sincerity. The young emperor’s eyes sparkled like stars as he spoke—a rare glimpse of maternal affection seldom seen in the palace, deeply touching.
Chu Jincheng continued sorting through the remaining tokens, muttering, "This one for my brother, this one for He Zheng, this one for Little Bai..."
Eunuch Huang: "..."
He doubted General Zong could actually secure approval for all these.
It was terrifying. So many coveted tokens, and the emperor was handing them out like toys, each already assigned an owner.
Meanwhile, at the grand councilors’ meeting—
Luo Jingfeng slammed the roster Eunuch Huang had delivered onto the table, scowling. "Nonsense! What kind of appointments are these? Denied. Every single one!"
Prime Minister Shen raised an eyebrow upon spotting his grandson’s name. While it was good that the emperor valued Yi Bai, the boy had just ascended the throne, and these appointees were all too young—hardly the result of careful deliberation.
Still, Prime Minister Shen knew how to handle things. He turned to Zong Zhao. "What does General Zong think?"
Zong Zhao picked up the memorial and pointed at Buyan’s name. "With a new emperor on the throne, it’s unwise to replace all palace personnel at once. Buyan is highly skilled in martial arts, has protected His Majesty since childhood, and knows him best. For now, it’s better not to change guards. If the Duke of State Protection is uneasy, he may supplement the imperial guards to assist Buyan in protecting His Majesty."
Luo Jingfeng eyed Zong Zhao and grudgingly conceded, "That’s more reasonable. I’ll send some men to assist Buyan."
Zong Zhao then indicated the names of Zong Wenxiu and others. "The tokens for these individuals are meant to foster trusted aides—childhood companions who understand His Majesty well. But the timing is premature. We should wait a few years. Issuing so many tokens now would harm His Majesty’s reputation."
This time, Luo Jingfeng was satisfied.
He shot Prime Minister Shen a look. "See? Unreasonable. Denied."
Prime Minister Shen: "..."
If it’s unreasonable, why are you telling me?
I never agreed to the emperor’s demands!
Zong Zhao then pointed to the final name and said calmly, "The 'First-Rank Auxiliary Saintess' holds no actual political power—it’s merely an honorary title, though it sounds grand. This title reflects His Majesty’s gratitude toward his adoptive mother. If the people learn of it, they’ll only praise the emperor’s filial piety—a virtue our dynasty holds sacred."
Luo Jingfeng sneered. "And what about the unrestricted palace access and immunity token? Something so crucial, and he gives it to your wife—a woman with no blood ties—instead of his own uncle?"
Zong Zhao countered, "Do you need permission to enter the palace?"
Luo Jingfeng retorted, "That’s because I’m his uncle! By blood!"
Zong Zhao: "If you’re so close, why the jealousy?"
Luo Jingfeng: "!!!"
Jealous?
Who the hell is jealous?!
As the Duke of State Protection and Great General of Pacifying the West, would he stoop to envying a woman?
As the two generals teetered on the brink of a full-blown argument, Prime Minister Shen hastily intervened: "Gentlemen, please calm down. In my opinion, granting the 'First-Rank Auxiliary Saintess' title is harmless. General Zong is already a first-rank military official—his wife being honored as a first-rank noblewoman is only fitting. As for the token, she’s just a woman. It doesn’t undermine the Duke’s status as the emperor’s uncle. Let’s indulge His Majesty this once. If we reject all his proposals, it’ll only dampen his enthusiasm."
At the mention of the young emperor’s feelings, Luo Jingfeng frowned.
True. His nephew was already upset with him. Rejecting every token request outright might push the boy further toward Zong Zhao’s family, straining their uncle-nephew bond.
"Fine. Just these two, then," Luo Jingfeng relented.
Prime Minister Shen exhaled in relief, wiping sweat from his brow. He had a feeling his days as a councilor would only grow more challenging...
When the little tyrant received the news, he pretended to sulk for show. But the moment everyone left, he leaped up, cheering, "Success!!!"
Thank heavens he’d been clever enough to flood the request with random token grants as decoys. Otherwise, Luo Jingfeng would never have agreed so easily. Hmph! The finest, most unique token could only belong to his mother!
