nucmednet Chapter 285 Chatting in the Imperial Study
Chapter 285 Chatting in the Imperial Study
After dinner, the Emperor Emeritus, bathed in the warm sunshine, strolled leisurely yet with a hint of curiosity, accompanying Gu Mochen to the Imperial Study. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves along the way, as if preluding the in-depth conversation about to unfold between father and son. The Emperor Emeritus's mind was filled with a surging tide of questions. For the past three years, he had enjoyed a carefree life, experiencing the beauty of different places and savoring countless delicacies, while his son, Gu Mochen, was left to deal with a mountain of complex affairs.
Back then, the Emperor Emeritus, in order to compete with the Empress and to protect his beloved Xiaofu and their children, took in many concubines, resulting in a large number of offspring. This made the proper arrangement of these concubines a thorny problem. He himself was deeply troubled and simply passed this hot potato to his son before leaving. Now, back, his three years of travel have brought him joy, but he is increasingly curious about the situation of the concubines in his household. Earlier, with Qingchen present, it was inconvenient to inquire about many matters, but now, in the study where no one else was around, it was the perfect time to speak freely.
Stepping into the Imperial Study, the Emperor Emeritus slowly walked to a carved armchair, gently sat down, and unconsciously stroked the armrests with his hands. His gaze, filled with inquiry, turned to Gu Mochen, and he slowly spoke, "Mochen, how have you settled my concubines and children these past three years? I am truly curious." Gu Mochen stood respectfully to the side, a faint smile on his face, and calmly replied, "Father, I have properly dismissed them all. Tell me, do you find it a pity? If so, I will immediately order their return."
The Emperor Emeritus narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought. He recalled the women who had once been by his side—some gentle and charming, others playful and lively—each carrying a memory. But now that they had been dismissed, recalling them would likely cause further trouble. He gently shook his head and said, "Forget it, I don't want them anymore. Dismissal is dismissal. But tell me in detail, how exactly are they arranged?"
Seeing that his father had no intention of recalling everyone, Gu Mochen explained in detail: "I have granted mansions to the concubines who have children. Firstly, this gives them a stable place to live so they can raise their children with peace of mind; secondly, it allows the children to have their own independent space to grow. I have enfeoffed the older children as princes so they can realize their ambitions and serve the court. As for the concubines who do not have children, I have placed them in several palaces. The older ones can enjoy their later years there, with no worries about food and clothing; the younger ones have been taught embroidery and clothing making, and any money they earn in the future will belong to them."
The Emperor Emeritus listened, nodding slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes: "Hmm, the arrangements are quite appropriate. But are those young concubines willing to learn embroidery and clothing making?" Gu Mochen bowed slightly and said, "Initially, some concubines were indeed dissatisfied, feeling it was a chore. I then ordered someone to patiently persuade them, explaining that it was so they could have a skill in the future and have someone to rely on in the palace. Furthermore, I promised that if their creations were exquisite, they could be sent to the palace to sell, and all the proceeds would belong to them. In this way, most of the concubines gradually accepted it."
The Emperor Emeritus seemed thoughtful, then asked, "Are all the princes who have been granted titles behaving themselves?" Gu Mochen frowned, a hint of worry on his face. "Most of the princes are quite well-behaved, diligently studying the ways of governing the country, preparing to serve the court in the future. However, I've recently heard that the Third Prince is recruiting many retainers in his palace, behaving rather ostentatiously. I'm worried he may have ulterior motives." The Emperor Emeritus's expression instantly turned serious. He knew the Third Prince well; he was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, but somewhat arrogant. He said in a deep voice, "This matter cannot be taken lightly. You must closely monitor his every move. If he harbors any ill intentions, you must stop him immediately, lest he disrupt the stability of the court."
Gu Mochen nodded heavily: "Your Majesty, I understand and will be extra careful. By the way, there is another rather thorny matter in the court recently. There are foreign enemies stirring on the border, seemingly intending to invade." The Emperor Emeritus's eyes sharpened instantly. He stood up and paced back and forth in the study: "The border matter concerns the safety of the nation and must not be taken lightly. Do you have any countermeasures?" Gu Mochen quickly replied: "Your Majesty has already ordered the border defenses to be strengthened and dispatched a group of elite troops to garrison it. At the same time, we are actively preparing provisions for any eventuality. However, the military expenditure is enormous, and the imperial treasury is currently somewhat strained."
The Emperor Emeritus stopped, his gaze falling on a map hanging on the wall—a map of their nation's territory, every inch of which bore witness to the lives and hopes of countless people. He pondered for a moment, then said, "The national treasury is tight, so let's start by cutting expenses in the palace. Immediately issue an order for all officials in the palace to reduce expenditures, saving wherever possible. Furthermore, encourage wealthy merchants to donate, promising them certain rewards and privileges." Gu Mochen secretly admired his father's decisiveness and replied, "Your subject will take care of it immediately. However, those wealthy merchants are always shrewd; I'm afraid they won't be so easily persuaded." The Emperor Emeritus sneered, "Hmph, they do business on this land, enjoying the wealth brought by this peaceful era. Now that the nation is in trouble, it's only right that they contribute. You can send someone to explain the advantages and disadvantages to them. If anyone dares to take advantage of this to inflate prices or disrupt the market, they must be severely punished."
As the two were talking, suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. A guard rushed in, knelt on one knee, and presented a secret letter: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from the front lines." Gu Mochen quickly took it, opened it, and his expression grew increasingly grim. The Emperor Emeritus's heart tightened, and he asked, "Has something happened at the border?" Gu Mochen said in a deep voice, "Father, the enemy forces on the west have amassed a large force and seem to be preparing to launch a large-scale attack in the coming days. Although the soldiers at the front are in high spirits, their numbers are somewhat insufficient."
The Emperor Emeritus clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury: "These foreign enemies dare to be so arrogant! Mo Chen, immediately issue the order to transfer another batch of troops from the vicinity of the capital to the border for support." Gu Mo Chen nodded, about to turn and leave, when the Emperor Emeritus called him back: "Mo Chen, this war concerns the survival of the nation; there can be no slackening. As the ruler of the country, you must lead the people and soldiers through this difficult time." Gu Mo Chen nodded firmly: "Your subject will certainly do everything in his power to protect the country and the people." Then he planned to have Gu Sanqi personally lead the troops into battle; he didn't trust anyone else. Insufficient troops? Perhaps someone would try to embezzle funds.
Watching Gu Mochen's departing figure, the Emperor Emeritus was filled with mixed emotions. His three years of travel had kept him away from the court's intrigues, but now, upon his return, he discovered that although the nation was wealthy and powerful, it still faced numerous challenges. For Gu Mochen and the entire country, the first few years of recovery would be a severe test. He had already abdicated and could no longer interfere in state affairs; let his son handle it himself.