Chapter 901: Chapter 11: Li Yuzhu & Mu Yuanxiu Extra (11) – The New Emperor of Beiyang! (2)

The steward, who usually doesn’t speak much, now saw the Little Emperor taking the initiative to speak.

He wanted to pass the throne to Mu Yuanxiu.

"I am weak myself, often bedridden with illness, delaying many state affairs. This throne originally belonged to my royal brother; I was merely acting for him. Now that my elder brother has returned, I wish to pass the throne to him."

As he spoke, many ministers praised him for his benevolence and generosity.

The young Emperor glanced at the ministers, feeling a long sigh of relief in his heart.

.

Three days later, the Little Emperor officially abdicated and moved out of the Imperial Palace.

Mu Yuanxiu ascended the throne.

Regarding this little cousin, who lost his father and was brought into the palace from a young age, enduring neglect and abuse from Empress Dowager Hui, growing up in anxiety and fear, Mu Yuanxiu did not treat him poorly, ordering people to take good care of him with no errors permitted.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, the eunuchs found that the former Little Emperor, now known as Duke Heng’an, had more smiles on his face.

Every day, if he wasn’t playing chess with the little eunuchs of his age, he would be in his wheelchair under the corridors to watch the flying snow.

He also loves watching the eunuchs having snowball fights.

He became the happiest and most leisurely person in the Beiyang Imperial City.

And the busiest person was Mu Yuanxiu.

In the past decade, since Empress Dowager Hui took power, she began massive military expansions, continuously attacking neighboring countries.

Now the Bei Yan Country’s army numbers in the hundreds of thousands.

Besides the fifty thousand troops sent out, there are fifty thousand garrisoning the left and east sides respectively.

Bei Yan Country is vast with few people, only one-fourth the population of Zhao Country, yet its army is as large as Zhao Country’s.

To feed such a large army, Empress Dowager Hui not only ordered her subordinates to seize grain from other countries but also plundered within the nation, imposing heavy taxes on wealthy households.

If it weren’t for a few Great Generals loyal to her, holding the troops, the ministers would have rebelled against her long ago.

Mu Yuanxiu examined the treasury’s silver and grain reserves, feeling a heavy heart.

He immediately ordered a reformation of the tax system.

And opened grain stores to deliver grain to impoverished families.

The citizens of the Imperial City applauded and cheered.

The mess left behind by Empress Hui was too great; Mu Yuanxiu was so busy that when the armies returned to the Imperial City, he realized he had been back in Bei Yan for two months.

He was just unsure about the situation in Zhao Country.

Empress Dowager Hui’s people were taken to Baili Mansion, and hearing that Empress Dowager Hui was dead, the late Emperor’s only son had taken the throne, to continue fighting Zhao Country would only mean sending men to their deaths.

Several generals secretly loyal to Grand Tutor Fei rearranged troops, returned the besieged four cities of Zhao Country, and went back to Bei Yan.

.

Looking at the time, it had been almost two months since leaving Zhao Country’s Capital.

Mu Yuanxiu, amidst his busy schedule, found time to write a letter to Li Yuzhu.

He also ordered the drafting of a national letter to restore relations with Zhao Country and selected an envoy for peace talks.

When he expressed his intention to restore relations with Zhao Country, many ministers in the court anxiously advised, "Emperor, not long ago Consort Hui waged war with Zhao Country, besieging the border for months. If we seek reconciliation, will Zhao Country agree?"

"Indeed, Emperor, I fear Zhao Country might demand compensation, but Bei Yan is in a difficult period now, how can we afford it?"

"Emperor, perhaps it’s best to wait until after summer, giving Zhao Country time to psychologically adjust."

Mu Yuanxiu calculated the timing and disagreed, "Zhao Country’s court possesses grace, they won’t demand compensation, they might even compensate us instead."

The ministers smiled wryly, "Emperor, Zhao Country might have compensated previously, but now, it’s said the new Emperor is resolute and unlikely to compensate."

Mu Yuanxiu replied, "Restoring relations between two countries depends on peace talks. I have this proposal, specifically, let the Ministry of Rites officials handle the negotiation."

The Chief of Staff from the Ministry of Rites, "..." Could he be spared?

He couldn’t do it!

.

The ministers only worried about Zhao Country not offering compensation but did not oppose the restoration of relations between the two nations.

Mu Yuanxiu then summoned the officials from the Ministry of Rites alone to discuss how to request compensation from Zhao Country. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Finally, he also mentioned he wished to marry Zhao Country’s Third Princess as Empress and asked the Ministry of Rites to arrange the grand marriage ceremony.

The Ministry of Rites officials, "..."

What was their new Emperor thinking?

Did he think he could marry the Princess of Zhao Country just because he wanted to?

Alright, they admitted their new Emperor was outstanding, a leader among men, but Zhao Country is not a small nation, alright?

How could they easily marry a princess to a nation they’ve fought for years?

Mu Yuanxiu insisted on the alliance through marriage; the Ministry of Rites officials had no choice but to agree to his request.

After all, whether the princess can be wed or not, they can’t control.

The Ministry of Rites chose a sunny day, carrying Mu Yuanxiu’s handwritten national letter and ten carts of bridal gifts, grandly headed towards Zhao Country.

Accompanied by Grand Tutor Fei, twelve Ministry of Rites officials, and five hundred accompanying guards.