Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 685: Background (Part 1)

Sun Zelan is twenty-one years old this year. By contemporary standards, she is a typical old maiden.

She does not care for fancy clothes or jewelry. When she worked as a military doctor in the camp before, she dressed simply and casually. Now, having entered the court as a female imperial physician, she wears the imperial physician uniform. After being tailored, the voluminous uniform fits her perfectly,

as if she was born to exude such confident tranquility. Her bright eyes sparkle with self-assurance.

In terms of appearance, Sun Zelan is not a top beauty, but she is considered a graceful beauty. Yet, in Qin Hu’s eyes, she possesses a unique radiance, more dazzling than all the treasures in the world.

In the past, he would only see her three or five times a year.

Now that Sun Zelan works in the palace, he can see her almost every day.

Qin Hu was already content. He suppressed the warmth and excitement in his heart, maintaining a respectable distance: "Miss Sun, you are too kind."

Qin Hu’s persistent pursuit is an old story now. He has learned discretion over the years, and Sun Zelan is much gentler with him than before; she gave him a smile before turning to leave.

Qin Hu watched Sun Zelan’s departing figure, quietly retracting his gaze, only to meet the teasing eyes of his good brother, Meng Sanbao.

When serving before the imperial court, solemnity and silence are required, frivolous laughter and jokes are not permitted.

Qin Hu merely rolled his eyes in response.

Meng Sanbao rolled an even bigger eye.

After so many years, he’s still thinking about Miss Sun. Why put on an act? Keep pursuing her persistently! Eventually, you will touch her heart. What is this waiting game? How long are you going to wait?

Unfortunately, such words cannot be spoken. Whenever mentioned privately, Qin Hu would ignore him in annoyance.

After nightfall, this group of Imperial Guards changed shifts, Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao finished their duties together and went to the dining hall to eat. They then returned to their quarters.

Inside the palace, as Imperial Guards, two people share a room. Naturally, they chose the same one again. Despite the fights and arguments, they remain ironclad brothers.

"Do you understand the principle of being close enough to catch the moon first?" Meng Sanbao extended his long leg over the beds, which were more than three feet apart, and nudged Qin Hu: "Now that Miss Sun is working as an imperial physician in the palace, you two can see each other every day. Be more attentive."

Qin Hu replied, "You don’t understand."

Meng Sanbao rolled his eyes: "I don’t understand what you’re thinking. If you can let go, then truly let go, and find another good girl to marry. Clearly, you can’t let go, why pretend otherwise?"

Qin Hu repeated, "You don’t understand."

A furious Meng Sanbao kicked him again: "Kick you away, you great lover!"

Qin Hu didn’t bicker with him; he turned away, smiling in the dark.

To love someone means to respect her ideals and aspirations. She wants to be the first female physician of the Da Liang Dynasty, and by quietly accompanying her, he has already done enough.

...

Days later, Liu Hengchang and others each escorted provisions and military funds out of the Capital City.

The armies near the Capital City each sent people to the Ministry of War to collect provisions and military funds. Even when the National Treasury of the Da Liang Dynasty was most depleted, neither the Ministry of Revenue nor the Ministry of War dared to cut the military funds of the Imperial Army, Divine Martial Camp, Brave Camp, or Heroic Guard Camp.

However, this time not only were the military funds fully allocated, but provisions were issued in abundance as well. The standard of meals in the military camp was immediately elevated.

General Bao, Left General, and other main generals were well aware of this. When distributing military funds, they all made sure to announce that the Empress is concerned about the soldiers’ pay and provisions, ensuring that all soldiers are adequately fed, clothed, and receive their full wages—all specially instructed by the Empress.

Wearing brand new military uniforms and shoes, with fatty meat on rough rice and sipping hot meat soup, who wouldn’t commend the new emperor?

Even those soldiers who lost their lives during the palace upheaval received generous pension silver. The unsettling mood within the military camp quickly stabilized.

The Left General privately visited the Wang Family to pay respects to Prime Minister Wang.

Prime Minister Wang leaned on a soft pillow, sighing self-deprecatingly, "This Prime Minister now holds only an empty title, unable to attend court or handle state affairs. Only a few of you still come to visit this Prime Minister occasionally."

By "you," Prime Minister Wang referred to the Left General and Ministers Dai and Zhou. Minister Zhang, who had distanced himself from the original Prime Minister Faction, now rarely comes and has formed his own faction.

The Left General whispered, "Time tests a horse’s strength, day reveals a man’s heart. Some people, fundamentally, are not on the same path. Now that we’ve recognized their true colors, it’s better to clear things early."

Prime Minister Wang glanced at the Left General, "Even you should come less often in the future. Avoid displeasing the Emperor."

But the Left General said, "Years ago, this humble one was guided by the Prime Minister to rise step by step to where I am today. The Prime Minister’s kindness toward me is as significant as a mountain, no matter when, I shall heed the Prime Minister’s orders."

Such declarations of loyalty were frequent from the Left General in the past. When Prime Minister Wang’s authority dominated the court, he was accustomed to hearing such words and did not give them much thought. Now, holding only an empty title with significantly reduced influence over the court, how could he not feel sentimental upon hearing these words again?

"Don’t say such foolish things in the future," Prime Minister Wang sternly instructed, "You are a military general of the Da Liang Dynasty, you must be loyal to the Emperor and follow the Emperor’s orders."

The Left General nodded: "I will listen to the Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Wang chuckled, his expression eased considerably, "I heard the military pay has been distributed. Has it truly all been issued completely?"

Civil servants accept bribes for summer coal, military generals drink soldiers’ blood and pocket empty paychecks; these are tacitly accepted conventions. As long as a certain level of combat readiness is maintained, taking 20 to 30% empty paychecks is indescribable.

In previous years, while the Left General managed the border army, he pocketed 30% empty paychecks—10% as tribute to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, another 10% distributed among the subordinate military generals, and the remaining 10% went to the Zuo Family.

Prime Minister Wang inquired not out of a desire for tribute, as the affluent Wang Family did not lack such trivial amounts. He mainly sought to understand the specifics within the military.

The Left General sighed, "The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War each calculated, precisely accounting the military pay for the thirty thousand soldiers of the Heroic Guard Camp and allocating it to the army. When dispersing military pay, the Emperor sent a troop of Imperial Guards, led by Qin Hu."

"Thus, trying not to fully distribute the military pay became impossible. We had to take out the soldiers’ list and distribute military funds individually, name by name. It took three days to complete."

"Actually, the figures on the soldiers’ list and those at the Ministry of War have some discrepancies, approximately 20% empty slots."

"I don’t know how much Qin Hu noticed. After distributing the military pay, he said nothing and returned to the imperial court to report."

Thus, the Left General, feeling uneasy, sought guidance from Prime Minister Wang.

Prime Minister Wang pondered briefly and said, "You should hold the troops in check for now. If the Emperor inquiries about the empty slots in the soldier’s list, just say you haven’t been in command long enough to understand the reasons."

"The Emperor, having newly ascended the throne, wants to gauge the army’s true details, not necessarily targeting the Heroic Guard Camp. Don’t panic yet."