CH 84

Emperor Qianming died, and Xie Chaoling ascended the throne smoothly. In the following year, he changed his reign title in spring and completed the one-year mourning period in autumn.

The state affairs were on the right track, but the proposal to establish an Empress and grant imperial concubine titles was repeatedly shelved by the new emperor. At the end of this year, he issued an edict to adopt a collateral relative as his heir and crown prince, causing an uproar in the court.

The young emperor, who had just come of age, refused to establish an empress or take any concubines, nor did he have any close attendants by his side. However, unexpectedly, he adopted a crown prince, which the civil and military officials in the court could not understand.

But Xie Chaoling had made up his mind, and no matter how much opposition he faced, he turned a deaf ear to the advice.

Later, rumors began to circulate that His Majesty was in poor health and had committed a grave crime when he was under house arrest, which had left him with an illness. Most people only dared to discuss this matter privately, but it was widely believed, and everyone was sighing. They were also worried that the newly ascended emperor would die young, causing turmoil in the country. Perhaps His Majesty himself was also worried, which was why he chose a boy who was already twelve years old?

After understanding this, most people fell silent. The opposition to the adoption of the crown prince in the court gradually subsided, and since Xie Chaoling was determined to do so, there was no use in objecting. Eventually, after offering sacrifices to heaven, earth, and the ancestral spirits, Xie Huizhen officially entered the Eastern Palace.

The news had reached Xirong by early winter of that year.

Xie Chaoyuan wiped the blood off his sword, put it back in its sheath; he had conquered a large territory within two days. By then, almost all the territories bordering the Daliang Dynasty were under his control, making him one of the most powerful forces in Xirong.

After hearing the report, Xie Chaoyuan smiled and said, “Since the Daliang Dynasty has now appointed a crown prince, I will send someone to deliver a congratulatory gift.”

His tent was filled with his loyal followers, and he continued, “I plan to lead my troops to surrender, accept the Daliang Dynasty’s appointment, and pledge allegiance to them.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the tent, followed by heated discussions.

Xie Chaoyuan’s proposal was not unexpected by these people. After all, he was a prince who came from the Daliang Dynasty, and his attitude towards the Daliang Dynasty in recent years was well-known. Especially after the new emperor ascended the throne last year, he had already hinted at this plan, and today he was just formally proposing it.

These people were mostly lowly peasants without much status in Xirong in the past. It was thanks to the appreciation of Xie Chaoyuan that they became a local overlord in just four years. Although he did not allow them to have crooked ideas against Dalian, only allowing them to rely on their skills to earn money through trade, their lives were much better than before. It seemed that it was not difficult to accept to join the Daliang court.

Seeing their concerns, Xie Chaoyuan said in a deep voice, “I can guarantee in the name of the Emperor of Daliang that as long as you no longer have rebellious thoughts, the Daliang court can give you greater benefits in terms of tariffs and other restrictions. This promise is permanent.”

The people were all talking excitedly, but no one noticed that Xie Chaoyuan said “you” instead of “us”.

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t say much, he just waited for them to make up their own minds.

If these people could obey, they would be the best choice to build the last line of defense for his imperial brother’s Daliang empire in the future. If they refused, he didn’t mind using more forceful means.

Half a month later, the Daliang court’s appointment letter arrived in Xie Chaoyuan’s hand. The imperial edict personally drafted by the Emperor of Daliang gave Xie Chaoyuan a very special title. Xie Chaoyuan was conferred the title of Tekeli Khan. The news spread, not only among his own tribe, but throughout Xirong.

Tekeli means “precious pearl in the palm” in Xirong language. The Emperor of Daliang personally came up with such a title for their little prince, which made people unable to help but think more.

The appointment letter was in Xie Chaoyuan’s hands. Xie Chaoling’s handwriting was familiar yet unfamiliar. Even he himself didn’t expect that Xie Chaoling would give him such a title.

He reached out and touched those three words for a moment, as if sensing the mood when Xie Chaoling wrote the edict. Xie Chaoyuan suddenly smiled.

In the following half month, two more small neighboring tribes came to surrender, and Xie Chaoyuan accepted them all.

At the end of October, just before the arrival of the cold wave, was the grand prayer festival of the Xirong people. With few towns in Xirong, most people still lived in tribes, moving around to find grass and water. On the day of the prayer festival, every household would slaughter cattle and sheep and bring out the best wine they had to participate in the tribal bonfire ritual, praying for more good luck and abundant food in the coming year.

In recent years, Xie Chaoyuan had been on expeditions and battles all over, rarely staying in the city for long. Most of the time he lived in the military camp. He personally organized a sacrifice in the camp, and Xirong people within a radius of hundreds of miles came to participate.

The vigorous bonfire reflected every smiling face. As they were close to the Dalian border, there had been various conflicts between Xirong and Dalian in previous years. Life was not easy for both sides, but now that the little prince had made them submit to Dalian, as long as they could get more food and better resources, life would be better than before. This was all thanks to the little prince, and they were grateful to him.

The Xirong people danced and sang around the bonfire, laughing and chatting endlessly. Xie Chaoyuan sat in the main seat, eating grilled meat and drinking strong wine, but thinking of a person far away.

Until someone approached him and took the opportunity of toasting him to excitedly offer their tribe’s most beautiful daughter to the little prince.

The noise around him grew louder, and everyone cheered. The beautiful Xirong girl, wearing a dazzling red dress, danced the most passionate dance and looked up at Xie Chaoyuan with a brilliant smile in the light of the fire.

Wang Rang coughed lightly and reminded Xie Chaoyuan that this small tribe had just surrendered to them a few days ago, and this beautiful Xirong girl was indeed very famous. Many Xirong kings and nobles were competing to marry her.

Xie Chaoyuan had drunk too much wine, and the firelight blurred his vision. The smile on his face was replaced by another person’s face, and he stared at it for a while without moving.

The beautiful girl came forward, shy and generous, and offered him a cup of wine.

Xie Chaoyuan drank the wine in the cup and smiled, “I cannot marry you. I already have a husband, who is the emperor of Dalian.”

When this sentence was passed on to the Daliang Palace, the first snow was falling.

Xie Chaoling put down the pen he was reviewing the memorial with, closed his eyes for a moment, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, Xie Fengjue, who had conveyed the matter to him, was somewhat speechless. “Your Majesty, everyone outside is talking about this now… the title you gave to that little Xirong prince was already inappropriate.”

“I think it’s quite good,” Xie Chaoling said. He had carefully chosen the title and didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

Seeing Xie Chaoling’s nonchalant and even smiling expression, Xie Fengjue didn’t say what he had in mind.

Forget it, as long as His Majesty is happy.

That Xie Huizhen was indeed not bad, His Majesty might not be able to have a better one… so be it.

After Xie Fengjue left, Xie Chaoling slowly restrained the smile on his face. After hesitating for a long time, he asked Wang Jin, who was beside him, “Do you think there are many people over there who admire him?”

This was inevitable. The Xirong people admire strength and valor, and Xie Chaoyuan, such a young prince with such achievements, would certainly not be short of admirers. Moreover, the Xirong people are open-minded, unlike the strict and dogmatic Daliang. Xie Chaoling didn’t want a harem, and his subordinates couldn’t force anyone on him, but in Xirong, it was common for enthusiastic people to offer themselves as a pillow.

Thinking of this, Xie Chaoling let out a sigh and couldn’t really feel happy.

Wang Jin didn’t know what to say and hesitated, “The little prince is not that kind of person, Your Majesty, you are overthinking it.”

But Xie Chaoling became more unhappy.

It had been four years, and he didn’t even know what the little b*stard looked like now. He had worked hard to bear the pressure of the entire court and refused to marry, but the little b*stard was having a good time over there.

Wang Jin tried to remind him, “Your Majesty, if you miss the little prince… why not invite him to the capital?”

Xie Chaoling fell into thought. Every New Year, the various vassal states of Daliang would send envoys to offer congratulations and tribute. It would be a grand event after the national mourning period ends in just over a month, and since Xie Chaoyuan had already surrendered, he would certainly send someone.

Would the little b*stard come on his own?

He must, Xie Chaoling thought to himself. They had waited for four years, and now they finally had the opportunity to meet again. Everything Xie Chaoyuan had done in Xirong over the past four years was for this day. He would definitely come.

But there was always a vague uneasiness in his heart, as if he were homesick. The moment of reunion was right in front of him, yet he felt all sorts of inexplicable anxiety.

Xie Chaoling thought to himself that he was clearly not an indecisive person, yet he had become so hesitant and not carefree because of love.

…But what if that little brat deliberately acts arrogant and refuses to come in person?

Seeing the emperor lying on the imperial case, humming and moaning without any decorum, Wang Jin silently shut his mouth.

After a moment of hesitation, Xie Chaoling sat up straight again and ordered, “Summon the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Hospitality Bureau. I have something to tell them.”

The officials who were summoned, hurried over, and after listening to Xie Chaoling’s words for a while, they finally understood that His Majesty had called them for the upcoming annual tribute from the vassal states, and wanted them to hint to those above the rank of prince to come as envoys.

The lower-ranking officials were a bit puzzled, but then they realized that this was probably the first annual festival after the national mourning period, and the new emperor wanted to establish his prestige with this proposal.

Well, it wasn’t a difficult task anyway, they just had to put in a little more effort.

After the officials left, Xie Chaoling thought for a moment and ordered, “Remember to send the things for this season to King Xing’s Mansion in the northwest on time.”

It was known to everyone that the things were sent to King Xing, who would then pass them on to the little prince in Xirong. Xie Chaoling had worried a lot over the years about what Xie Chaoyuan ate and wore, so he prepared everything for him seasonally, just in case he didn’t live comfortably in that barren land.

“…The little prince will be coming to the capital soon. Do we still need to send things over?” Wang Jin hesitated and asked.

Xie Chaoling replied, “It’s cold now, and he’ll suffer on the way to the capital. Let’s send it over.”

After finishing his orders, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the window.

Outside, it was snowing heavily, and Xie Huizhen was boredly building a snowman with a few eunuchs in the courtyard. When he heard Xie Chaoling calling him, he finally came in to pay his respects.

“Why didn’t you come in when you arrived?” Xie Chaoling asked him.

“Father the emperor was summoning people for a meeting, so I was waiting outside.”

Xie Huizhen said casually, hesitated for a moment, then Xie Chaoling said, “Speak your mind.”

“The little prince of Xirong spread the word that the he is the Emperor of Daliang’s husband. Today, I also heard some servants gossiping. Father lets it be, so will I have a Royal Mother soon?”

Xie Huizhen hesitated about the title, “Calling him Royal Mother is not right, I will have to change it.”

“It depends on whether he is willing or not.” Xie Chaoling sighed, maybe that little brat really didn’t want to come back to the capital and would become the king of Xirong in a few years. Would he be willing to stay here all the time?

“Father, you’re overthinking it. If he’s not willing, why would he have to pay tribute to Daliang?” Xie Huizhen smiled and congratulated his father, “I wish you success and eternal harmony with Tekeli Khan, and the establishment of a hundred-year friendship.”

Xie Chaoling finally laughed and patted Xie Huizhen’s head, “Thanks for your auspicious words.”

The goods arrived in Xirong at the end of November.

Jade, porcelain, silk, tea, wine, all were imperial goods, and then there was a set of thick winter clothes. Xie Chaoyuan looked at it and chuckled. Xie Chaoling seemed to forget that he was in Xirong and sent clothes to him every season, but he couldn’t wear them out.

“The intention of the Daliang court seems to be for each vassal state to send a prince or a king to pay homage to the new emperor.” Wang Rang reported the news he received to Xie Chaoyuan.

Xie Chaoyuan was not surprised, slowly stroking the winter clothes sent by Xie Chaoling, and laughed in a low voice.

“Your Highness, are you going to Daliang in person?” Wang Rang asked.

“Of course, I am going.” Xie Chaoyuan said, his emperor brother had gone to such great lengths just to get him to go, he had made him wait for four years, and it was time to fulfill his promise.