Volume 6 Chapter 18 - As King (2/2)
When Ding Ning was looking at the snow, someone in the Chu imperial palace was looking at the thin snow between the eaves. The capital city of the Chu Dynasty, especially the buildings of the palace were refined and thought of as the best in the world. Dotted by snow, every part looked like a beautiful scene. But compared to the beauty watching the snow, this beauty seemed to think it was not enough.
The world knew, Consort Zhao Xiang of the Chu imperial palace had a strong beauty, she blossomed like the most beautiful flowers in the world. She had a natural fragrance and warmth.
The fire basin in the imperial study had charcoal burn without smoke, so red they were blinding. Yet the air still rippled with coldness.
Li Lingjun looked at her stunning side profile. For some reason, he could not help but think of winter plums. His hands, in his sleeves, unconsciously tightened.
“You set up new army tokens.” When his fingernails were biting into his palms, Consort Zhao Xiang’s voice finally sounded. “Even I need the army tokens to move the armies.”
Li Lingjun’s tightly pressed lips opened slightly. But before he spoke, Consort Zhao Xiang laughed. She said, “There is no need for any false words between us. Do not say that you made new army tokens so that others cannot command the army with the excuse of preventing rebellion.”
“Only this way will I know.” Li Lingjun’s breathing grew heavy. He looked directly at Consort Zhao Xiang, his voice growing louder. “Even with the army tokens, if you want to move the army, you can get the army tokens. If you want the army tokens, who dares to refuse you. But at least, I will immediately know what you want to do.”
Hearing the anger in his voice, Consort Zhao Xiang did not even turn around as she said slowly, “The world knows that the Chu Emperor liked thin waists. But do you know why?”
Li Lingjun sneered. “How will I know how a preference formed.”
“This is not a preference.” Consort Zhao Xiang turned around and looked directly at him. Coldness started to rise on her face. “The Chu emperor likes thin waists, the Chu women dislike food. That started at the rise of the Ba Mountain Sword Field. The ruler likes thin waists, then all others copy him. Over time, in the Chu, the women are beautiful if they are thin. The Chu women are on diet. And even the scholars think so, that thin is beautiful. But when the Chu chooses soldiers, they measure height and waist. One inch bigger is one bit more of salary. This is rationing the dynasty to strengthen the army!”
“The Chu emperor likes thin waist, and even the craftsmen will follow and pursue thin and refined. The finer the craft, the more it demands better craftsmans.h.i.+p. The Chu Dynasty is the best in the world at making weapons. There are even many craftsmen among the common people. If they pursue thinness, then how much material would be saved?”
“Have you ever thought, the Qin succeeded in the reformation and were strong while our dynasty was weak at the time, when we fought the Qin when we did not have enough food, we won, and took over Yangshan Commandery. Each household did not get much grain, but not many women or children died from starvation. The materials for making weapons are valuable. If a military weapon is made finer, how much material would be saved?”
“Each action of the ruler has meaning.” Consort Zhao Xiang looked at Li Lingjun and sneered. “You set up army tokens, and when the army needs to be moved in an emergency, there will be another extra way of doing things. What is the meaning?”
Li Lingjun paled and said coldly, “You are saying that I am not enough to rule?”
“From the start, you lack the feeling of safety. You have never stood in the position of the ruler.” Consort Zhao Xiang’s smile faded. She looked sympathetically at him, and said gently, “What are you afraid of and worried about? You are worried about me? Do you still not understand what the relations.h.i.+p between you and I mean?”
“That is what protects you.” Consort Zhao Xiang shook her head and laughed at herself. “You always worry that one day, I will depose you. Yet there is this relations.h.i.+p between you and I. If I depose you, as long as our relations.h.i.+p is known by the world, who will allow me, the demoness, to rule as emperor?”
“You and I have the same fate. There is no meaning in you worrying about me.” Consort Zhao Xiang looked at Li Lingjun whose head was slowly lowering. She slowly said, “Ever since you were crowned at Deer Mountain, there were more than seventeen rebellions of various sizes in Chu. Eleven of those were because these people felt you and I were not of one mind.”
“These rebellions originally could have been avoided. No matter the thoughts of those people, they were people of Chu. Even if they die, they should die of the battlefield. I do not care what agreement is between you and Zheng Xiu. But since you have come here, and you are the new emperor of the Chu, you are the true ruler of Chu. I have never seen someone who does not be a ruler and wants to be a servant.”
After Consort Zhao Xiang said this, she stopped speaking and looked quietly at him.
Li Lingjun trembled violently. He could not think what he should say.
“If there are no surprises, the spring will be good for marching. Qin will attack Chu,” Consort Zhao Xiang said.
“What?” Li Lingjun exclaimed. He even stopped breathing.
“If you want to know, then I will tell you why I am in a hurry to bring the army back.” Consort Zhao Xiang looked at him and said, “You just have to think carefully about what you need to do as a ruler that has meaning.”
Translator Ramblings: Li Lijun is probably not the best new emperor for the Chu … he needs to shape up.
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