Chapter 5360 The Empress's Interrogation

Chapter 5360 The Empress's Interrogation
With the outline of the enfeoffment agreement settled, the remaining specific matters were naturally handled by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, the Ministry of Rites, and the Court of State Ceremonies. After everyone had left, Li Chengqian kept Fang Jun behind.

Only the emperor and his minister were in the imperial study.

Li Chengqian didn't mince words and asked directly, "Sizi's marriage has been delayed again and again. If it continues, she'll become an old maid. Recently, many prominent families in Shandong have sent people to the capital to contact officials and members of the imperial family, intending to discuss Sizi's marriage. What do you think of this matter?"

Fang Jun smiled wryly: "Of course it's a good thing."

The Shandong aristocratic families prided themselves on being "Han Chinese" and "the true successors of Chinese civilization," taking it upon themselves to "preserve their bloodline." They had always looked down on the Li Tang imperial family, who had some non-Han ancestry. It was already incredibly difficult for the imperial family to marry a woman from one of the "Five Surnames," let alone marry a royal daughter to a Shandong aristocratic family.

Besides having an inflated sense of self-importance, they also wanted to demonstrate their superior status.

However, times have changed. The Li Tang dynasty not only secured its rule but also expanded its territory, achieving prosperity and splendor. Its foundation was as solid as a rock, with virtually no possibility of being overthrown.

Therefore, the strategic direction of the Shandong aristocratic families also quietly shifted, from resistance, rejection, and independence to gradually moving towards appeasement, cooperation, and surrender...

After all, he who knows the times is a hero.

Under such circumstances, it became a "politically correct" thing for the Shandong aristocratic families to seek marriage with Princess Jinyang, and it was even possible that Li Chengqian would see it as an opportunity to bring in this behemoth of Shandong aristocratic families as an external ally...

Anyone who opposes this marriage is Li Chengqian's political enemy.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Then you can handle this matter."

"Ok?"

Fang Jun was taken aback: "Shouldn't this matter be handled by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Ministry of Rites? How could I overstep my bounds?"

Li Chengqian retorted with displeasure: "Are you pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth?"

Fang Jun was puzzled: "Your Majesty, I am foolish and would appreciate it if you could explain."

Li Chengqian said irritably, "All matters are naturally handled by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Ministry of Rites, but which of these two departments do you think can persuade the prince to agree to the marriage? If the prince doesn't agree to the marriage, how can we choose a consort, and how can all these matters proceed?"

"This……"

Fang Jun was in a dilemma: "How can I, your humble servant, step forward? It's against the rules!"

He had no improper thoughts or desires for Princess Jinyang, but the little princess was deeply in love with him and would not marry anyone else. How could he personally step forward to beg her to marry someone else?

That's too cruel.

Li Chengqian's expression was unfriendly: "If it weren't for you, would we be in this predicament today? Since this matter started with you, it will naturally end with you."

Fang Jun was displeased, but his expression remained indifferent: "I would gladly go through fire and water for Your Majesty, but please forgive me for being unable to comply with this matter."

He had never overstepped his bounds in his treatment of Princess Jinyang, yet Princess Jinyang harbored secret feelings for him and secretly loved him. What did that have to do with him? Was it wrong for him to occasionally show his brother-in-law's doting affection for his sister-in-law?
Is it wrong to show more care and love to a little girl who lost her mother at a young age and suffers from a serious illness?

Li Chengqian said, "You dare to disobey the imperial edict?"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "A verbal order is not the same as an imperial edict. If Your Majesty writes this request on a silk scroll and affixes the imperial seal, then I will have no choice but to comply."

Li Chengqian glared angrily.

How could this matter be written on a silk scroll and made public, and recorded, archived, and included in the royal daily records?
Seeing Li Chengqian's anger, Fang Jun smiled wryly and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty is always kind and generous, please don't make things difficult for me. It's not that I can't do it, but that I really don't want to!"

Li Chengqian also sighed, his face full of worry: "It's not that I want to make things difficult for you, but who else besides you can solve the problem of the ox? We can't really let her spend her days with only scriptures and a lamp, pursuing the Dao of Heaven, can we? She's so young, so beautiful, who can bear to do that?"

Fang Jun was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Then I will try to persuade him, but I cannot guarantee how effective it will be."

Li Chengqian readily agreed, "That's exactly right! You should leave the palace later and go to Xuanqing Temple to persuade her."

Feeling smug, Fang Jun, though difficult to deal with due to his stubborn temper, wasn't too hard to handle if he was approached with the right approach...

Fang Jun shook his head: "I'm afraid it won't work later. Your Majesty the Crown Prince must go to the Eastern Palace to pay homage to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian's smile faded: "The Empress has been staying in the Eastern Palace for several months. You can take this opportunity to persuade her to return to the palace. It is really too much for the Empress to abandon a lot of harem affairs and only have the Crown Prince in her eyes and heart."

Fang Jun was utterly speechless: "It's one thing for me to persuade Prince Jinyang, since I was partly responsible for it, but what does it have to do with me that the Empress doesn't return to the palace?"

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and said in a muffled voice, "Just go when I tell you to. Why are you being so long-winded?"

Fang Jun: "..."

Could it be that His Majesty has once again believed those messy rumors outside and is testing him?

*****
East Palace.

Inside the side hall.

The light rain that had been falling outside for a night started to drizzle again, the temperature dropped sharply, and the palace was chilly.

Empress Su's hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with jewels and jade. Her crimson palace dress accentuated her snow-white skin and delicate features. Kneeling behind the table, her back was straight, her head held high and her neck graceful. She was dignified and beautiful, her every glance captivating. The charm of a young woman radiated from her, filling the room with brilliance.

Crown Prince Li Xiang sat to the side, leaning slightly forward, his eyes filled with excitement as he looked at Fang Jun: "I heard from my teachers that the Grand Commandant has won another victory while stationed in Huating, bringing the entire Indochina Peninsula under the Tang Dynasty's control?"

Children naturally admire heroes, and those who can expand territory and win every battle are the heroes among heroes.

And when this hero happens to be his staunch supporter, the excitement is doubled.

Fang Jun sat opposite the mother and son. When Li Xiang asked, he thought for a moment and said, "In reality, it was not incorporated into the Tang Dynasty's territory. The entire Indochina Peninsula will be divided into three regions and granted to princes as fiefdoms. Within these fiefdoms, they will largely be autonomous, and the central government will not interfere much."

"Like a tributary state?"

"It's better than a tributary state, but it's still different from the real territory."

Li Xiang's eyes sparkled as he asked, "During the Qin and Han dynasties, the country was unified and powerful, and all the surrounding barbarians submitted to it. So why were they never able to conquer Annam? Let alone the Indochina Peninsula!"

Fang Jun patiently explained: "A country incurs management costs for any territory. The Indochina Peninsula is geographically isolated from the Central Plains, and its mountains and rivers are natural obstacles. Overcoming these obstacles would greatly increase management costs. What benefit is there in taking a piece of land with few Han people and extremely limited output? Even if it is temporarily incorporated into the territory, the management costs are too high. When the country is prosperous, it can still manage to do so, but once the country declines, these lands will naturally be lost again."

"Then why take it now?"

"Because the Imperial Navy is currently invincible on the sea frontier, the central government has greatly increased its control over these lands. Although the princes have a great deal of autonomy in establishing their own states there, they are still brother states and can serve as a bulwark for the southeast of the Tang Dynasty, which is of great strategic significance."

Why was the Qin and Han dynasties so powerful, yet their navy was almost nonexistent, while now they can dominate the seas and be invincible?

"..."

A child this age is a curious little thing, with a head full of "ten thousand questions", and all sorts of questions keep coming up, leaving Fang Jun exhausted.

"I will answer this question on behalf of the Grand Commandant."

Empress Su smiled and spoke softly, stroking the Crown Prince's hair and saying in a clear voice, "That's because the Grand Commandant vigorously developed shipbuilding and navigation technology during his tenure as Minister of Works. He was a man of great learning and gathered a large group of skilled craftsmen, pushing these two technologies to an unparalleled level in the world, which laid the foundation for the Royal Navy's invincible fighting power."

She raised her head, her beautiful eyes bright and clear.

Li Xiang exclaimed, "The Grand Commandant is truly remarkable!"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. The advancements in firearms, metallurgy, casting, shipbuilding, navigation... this series of scientific advancements have created such an invincible army. It is by no means something that can be accomplished by one person alone. It is the result of the perseverance and dedication of countless craftsmen."

Empress Su smiled and said to Li Xiang, "Go to the study and finish the lessons left by the Duke of Yan. Your Majesty has important matters to discuss with the Grand Commandant."

"Here!"

Li Xiang obediently responded, rose and bowed to the Empress and Fang Jun, and went to the study to do his homework.

Empress Su waved her hand, and the two personal maids behind her lowered their heads and went to stand on either side of the side hall entrance. Although they did not go out, they could not hear the Empress and Fang Jun clearly if they spoke in a low voice...

Empress Su poured tea with her delicate hands and gently pushed a cup of tea in front of Fang Jun. Her eyes were bright and her face was radiant with a smile that seemed to be both a smile and a hint of a smile.

Fang Jun thanked her in a low voice, picked up his teacup and took a sip. Seeing the Empress's expression, he asked with some surprise, "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"

Empress Su parted her cherry lips slightly, her gaze deep and unfathomable: "I am but a powerless woman confined to the inner palace, despised by His Majesty. How dare I give orders to the Grand Commandant?"

Fang Jun was baffled: "Your Majesty, please speak frankly. This strange and sarcastic tone is truly incomprehensible to me."

"You're confused?"

Empress Su's phoenix eyes widened, her anger blazing: "You went to Huating Town to command the battle for your own great achievements, and enjoyed a life of blissful pleasure with Princess Baling, but where do you leave me... where do you leave us, mother and child?"

Fang Jun said helplessly, "Your Majesty, I have already told you not to worry. Just remain calm and composed in any situation. What does it have to do with me if Your Majesty is overthinking things?"

The Empress must have been terrified by His Majesty's actions of imprisoning Li Siwen and the other two, and by placing people in charge of the Eastern Palace.

Empress Su said angrily, "You make it sound so easy. His Majesty has already done it. Who knows if he will issue an imperial edict to depose the crown prince directly?"

Fang Jun could understand her confusion and helplessness at the time, so he patiently said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Even though His Majesty is the supreme ruler, he can't just write an imperial edict as he pleases. Even if the Secretariat dares to draft an edict to depose the heir apparent, it will definitely be rejected when it comes to the Chancellery's review."

Empress Su ignored this, staring at Fang Jun with her beautiful eyes for a moment, a blush rising on her jade-like face. She gently bit her lip and asked softly, "I wonder if the agreement from that day still stands?"