On the twenty-fifth day of the first month, the Hongyou Emperor abdicated to become the Grand Emperor, and the Fifth Princess ascended the throne, changing the reign title to Jingping (NT: peaceful prosperity).

With the new emperor’s enthronement, a general amnesty was declared, and an additional imperial examination was held before the spring examinations.

The special examination was presided over by the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Yuan Honglang, while the military examination was overseen by Fang Linyuan, the Vice Minister of War, Bureau of Military Appointments.

By early March, spring had returned to the land, and the results of the special examination were announced.

On the same day, the newly established School of Generals in the Imperial Academy was officially inaugurated.

The recently promoted and much-favored Vice Minister of War submitted a memorial to the throne, pointing out that the military examinations in previous years had been excessively laborious and costly, yet most successful candidates had failed to serve effectively in the court.

Her Majesty agreed deeply but noted that the military examinations focused solely on martial skills such as armed and unarmed combat. Even those who passed were not necessarily qualified to be commanders.

Thus, the Vice Minister of War proposed adding military strategy to the examination curriculum and establishing a School of Generals within the Imperial Academy to train newly selected military scholars before further appointments.

Her Majesty readily approved.

Who, then, was this Vice Minister of War? Even children in the streets could recount his deeds with enthusiasm.

It was he who repelled the Turks in the north last year and reclaimed Longxi. It was he who captured the leader of the rampaging Sacred Lotus Sect earlier this year. When famine and corruption plagued Chong and Yan provinces, it was he who punished the corrupt officials and quelled the bandits. And after the new emperor’s ascension, he also became the imperial consort—the husband of the empress.

Could there be any figure more legendary than he?

As for the matters concerning the abdicated emperor…

Though no one dared speak of them openly, as long as the Grand Emperor remained alive, everyone privately cursed him as a tyrant.

What kind of ruler, seated high upon the dragon throne, would raise his sword against the common people? Worse still, that loyal and heroic General Fang had nearly died in the palace due to the emperor’s paranoia.

Among the common folk, justice and righteousness were the prevailing topics. But the court officials were far more attuned to the shifting winds within the palace.

The imperial consort was an even more formidable figure than the iron-willed, cold-hearted empress.

Thus, the Vice Minister of War was showered with adulation. Not only did the School of Generals invite seven or eight retired veteran generals as instructors, but on the day of its inauguration, the streets were packed with crowds, and the celebrations were grand.

Even the ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the Ministers of War and Personnel.

Both were rising stars in the court. Setting aside the influential Minister of Personnel, Yuan Honglang—the emperor’s favorite—the Minister of War, Li Fu, had been among the earliest to support the new emperor. Even his previously good-for-nothing son, Li Cheng’an, once the most notorious playboy in the capital, had now become a general of the Sixteen Guards.

Not to mention the other high-ranking officials, the Eastern Depot’s Director Shi, and the several garrison commanders in the capital who had close ties with General Fang.

Fang Linyuan was utterly overwhelmed that day.

Fortunately, Zhao Chu had already streamlined the procedures for him. Despite the unexpectedly large number of guests, everything proceeded smoothly within the Imperial Academy without a hitch.

Once the ribbon-cutting ceremony concluded, the attendees rushed forward to offer their congratulations.

Having served in the capital for so long, Fang Linyuan had worked with many colleagues. From the officials of the Court of State Ceremonials to Heng Feizhang, who had accompanied him to Yan Province, there were many familiar faces among the civil officials—let alone the military officers in and around the capital.

Zhu Song had prepared generous gifts, delivering an array of weapons with a group of city guards, lining them up in the academy’s courtyard. Fan Yushu and Zhou Jia, commanders of the capital’s garrison troops who had once marched north with Fang Linyuan, immediately inquired about the School of Generals upon seeing him.

"General, I heard that the School of Generals will also admit military officers?" Fan Yushu asked eagerly. "How many slots will each army get, and how will the selection work?"

His excitement suggested he would be the first to enroll once the details were announced.

Fang Linyuan laughed and spent a long time explaining the evaluation system devised by the Bureau of Military Appointments. Once implemented across all garrisons, those ranked in the highest tier would be eligible for rotation to the capital for advanced training.

The surrounding officers nodded repeatedly.

"However, the capital garrison is different from the others," Fang Linyuan mentioned to Fan Yushu.

"Please elaborate, General!" Fan Yushu urged.

"While the School of Generals primarily teaches military strategy, after discussions with the instructors, we agreed that without practical application, strategy alone is meaningless," Fang Linyuan explained.

Fan Yushu nodded vigorously.

"Therefore, I must trouble you, General Fan, to retrain the capital garrison and reorganize the training grounds for simulated battlefield drills," Fang Linyuan said.

Fan Yushu’s eyes lit up.

The capital garrison had long been underutilized, with many soldiers idly drawing rations without real purpose beyond routine drills.

If Fang Linyuan’s plan came to fruition, not only would his troops have meaningful duties, but the officers would also gain more visibility, eliminating concerns about unrecognized talent.

Fan Yushu agreed enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Zhu Song, having finished arranging the gifts, sidled up with a grin. "General, since I’ve got free time, can I audit the classes?" he asked.

His gift display had been so extravagant that even students from other disciplines in the Imperial Academy were peeking curiously from a distance. Among them, Fang Linyuan spotted a few female students dressed in the same indigo robes, their hair tied under square scarves.

His gaze lingered briefly before he turned back to Zhu Song with a smile. "Of course. Any officer or soldier in the capital may attend during their leave."

Zhu Song clapped Fang Linyuan’s shoulder in delight.

"Ah, General," he added after a moment, his expression turning sheepish. "A few days ago... Zihuo wrote to me."

Fang Linyuan nodded.

"He said he's doing well now and was very happy to hear about your earth-shaking accomplishments in the capital," Zhu Song said. "Back then... he was a bit confused."

Fang Linyuan smiled at him and shook his head.

"It's fine," he said. "When I was at the Eastern Depot, we cleared the air. Knowing he's doing well now, I'm happy for him too."

*

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the students and instructors of the School of Generals entered the Imperial Academy. Amid the lively atmosphere, everyone clamored for General Fang, the newly appointed Chancellor of the School, to give a speech. Just the thought of it gave Fang Linyuan a headache, so he took advantage of the crowd and slipped away unnoticed.

Yet the moment he stepped out of the Imperial Academy, he was caught red-handed.

"General, you're so busy today, basking in your success," a voice chuckled from the side. "You’ve kept me waiting."

The voice was clear and resonant. Fang Linyuan turned and saw Zhao Chu, dressed in white robes with a golden beast mask—the very image of the "Lord Zhu Yan."

Though now seated on the throne, Zhao Chu had not abandoned the Chu merchant empire. Stretching from north to south across half of Daxuan, this commercial and shipping network was both an endless private treasury and the most reliable web of eyes and ears hidden beneath imperial power.

Zhao Chu smiled faintly at him, flicking open a gilt-painted fan with a snap, exuding an effortless, bamboo-like elegance.

"Zhao—uh, Lord Zhu?" Fang Linyuan stepped forward, nearly misspeaking. "What are you doing here?"

Lord Zhu smiled gently. "Today is the General’s grand occasion. I’ve come specially to offer my congratulations."

Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but laugh. He took two steps forward and stopped in front of Zhao Chu.

"Well then, Lord Zhu, how do you plan to congratulate me?" He straightened his back, clasped his hands behind him, and put on a stern face.

"I’ve reserved a banquet at Taifeng Tower," Lord Zhu said with a slight bow. "Would the General honor me with his presence?"

Fang Linyuan cleared his throat, still holding his hands behind his back. "Let’s go."

Behind the mask, Zhao Chu smiled.

The two walked side by side through the bustling streets of the capital.

With the metropolitan exams approaching, the court was busy with preparations, and the city was filled with traveling scholars.

Remembering what he’d seen earlier, Fang Linyuan said to Zhao Chu, "Back at the Imperial Academy, I noticed a few female students."

Zhao Chu nodded. "Some officials sent their daughters," he said. "The Imperial Academy has always admitted scions of noble families. I simply had them apply the same standards—those who passed the evaluations were admitted."

Fang Linyuan hummed in agreement. "Most noblewomen are well-versed in poetry and literature. The exams probably aren’t too difficult for them."

Zhao Chu nodded again. "Step by step," he said. "Gradually, more commoners will have the chance to study too."

As they talked, they arrived at Taifeng Tower.

But just as they reached the entrance, they heard the sound of an argument inside.

"My sincerest apologies, but we only have one room left. And this young lady did arrive first..."

Fang Linyuan looked up and saw two groups standing at the counter. One was led by a middle-aged man in lavish attire, flanked by a retinue of attendants, making quite the spectacle.

The other group consisted of just two: a plainly dressed woman with her sleeves fastened by armguards, followed by a maid carrying a book chest on her back.

"A penniless girl like her can afford a room at Taifeng Tower?" the middle-aged man sneered.

"Taifeng Tower is hosting a poetry gathering today. This young lady is here to participate," the manager explained. "She only needs the room for one night. Perhaps you could return tomorrow, sir?"

"I need it for eight days! Do you even know how to run a business? Hand over the room now!"

Hearing that the woman only needed it for a day, the man raised his voice.

The manager looked torn, while the woman stood her ground, silent but unmoving.

The man’s expression darkened.

His gaze swept over the manager before landing on the woman, his eyes full of malice.

"What, are you afraid of offending her? Afraid this woman will top the exams?" He scoffed. "A mere female—do you really think she’ll become an official? If you ask me, she should go home. Shaming herself in public like this—"

"If we ask you?"

Fang Linyuan’s voice cut in from behind.

The man turned and saw a young man dressed respectably but without extravagance. Handsome, like those pretty boys exaggerated in folktales—but such looks usually didn’t belong to the rich or powerful.

And the man beside him? His plain white robes were the kind worn by commoners. Even if his mask and fan pendant gleamed gold, he was likely just an ordinary man without rank or status.

The pretty boy met his gaze and continued, "Whether she takes the exams—since you seem to decide that, may I ask who you are?"

The middle-aged man snorted, giving him another once-over. "If I don’t decide, do you?" He smirked. "Or are you the Emperor?"

 

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Author's Note:

Fang Linyuan: Well... actually, I’m the Emperor’s husband. OWO

 

Translator : DarNan