Extra 1
But a few days later, at the grand court assembly, the group of courtiers actually made more demands.
After they discussed official business, they actually wrote a request for Jiang Suizhou to fill the harem into a memorial and presented it to him in person.
“Your Majesty, although you are in your prime now, you must consider your heirs!” The person who was kneeling and talking was an original civilian official of the Great Liang. When Emperor Zhao Yuan was in charge, he was in charge of the ceremonies in the court.
Jiang Suizhou sat on the throne and looked down at him, watching as the courtier kowtowed and pleaded.
“If male offsprings are not abundant, the dynasty won’t last. Your majesty, for the sake of future generations, please appoint some imperial concubines in the palace!”
Jiang Suizhou’s gaze stopped on him for a second, swept past the silent ministers in the hall, and landed on Huo Wujiu, who was standing in the first column of military generals.
Tsk…that look was already too unpleasant to look at. When glancing sideways at the minister on the ground, his eyes were extraordinarily unkind.
Jiang Suizhou’s eyes fluttered, and he hastily withdrew his gaze.
“Zhang Ai-qing, at the court assembly, the major events in the court are still the priority. You don’t have to worry about my domestic affairs,” he reminded the minister.
“Your Majesty, although the harem is your domestic affairs, the matter of your heirs is the foundation of the country!”
That minister must have been emboldened because he was kneeling on the ground and was unable to see Huo Wujiu’s expression. Hence, he refuted Jiang Suizhou.
Next to him, Qi Min, who came to Ye City from Lin’an after Jiang Suizhou ascended the throne, glanced at him calmly, but did not say anything.
Jiang Suizhou massaged his temples with some headache.
He was about to speak, but at this moment, several more officials followed suit one after another and knelt down.
“Your Majesty, what Zhang-daren said is right. Please think twice, Your Majesty!”
For a time, a sparse number of civil and military ministers at the court fell to their knees and kowtowed around eight times. They gave off a threatening intention of kneeling for a long time and blackmailing Jiang Suizhou
Jiang Suizhou was aware of their thoughts.
These ministers always have some patriarchal ideas on this matter. Even if he refused, they would still urge him incessantly. No matter what method was used, as long as they found the slightest bit of loophole in him, they would bite down for a breakthrough.
Jiang Suizhou knew that it was because he had been too patient in responding to these ministers these days, which gave them the illusion that there was a loophole they could exploit. They believed that everything would be done by begging and forcing him.
Jiang Suizhou frowned and knew it was no longer possible for him to maintain a mild attitude.
He quickly deliberated and was about to speak when he heard another person’s voice ringing out in the quiet hall.
“Zhang-daren is quite anxious.”
Huo Wujiu spoke up.
Even the ministers raised their heads and looked at General Huo, who suddenly started to meddle, with some surprise.
What they saw was General Hou’s dim countenance as he slowly approached Zhang-daren.
“It’s okay to let His Majesty take a wife.” Huo Wujiu stopped in front of him as if no one was there, lowered his head, and said. “Zhang-daren, your family’s young lady has also reached marriageable age, right? How about you take the lead and send her into the palace to serve His Majesty first?”
Who in the court did not know that Zhang-daren has only one daughter and cherished her dearly?
When Zhang-daren heard his suggestion, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He quickly refused, “My young daughter is still young and doesn’t know the rules, so it’s inconvenient to send her into the palace. She’d only cause trouble to His Majesty…”
“You don’t want to?” Huo Wujiu interrupted him.
Zhang-daren did not dare to respond.
“When persuading His Majesty, you were quite energetic, so why do you seem unhappy when I asked you to send your own daughter into the palace?” Huo Wujiu’s voice echoed coldly, not giving him any face.
“His Majesty is a cut sleeve, you all know this.” Huo Wujiu raised his head and swept his gaze over the few ministers kneeling in the hall. “You’re quite zealous when you’re forcing him to take a woman. How come when you are asked to send your daughters to serve, you refuse to do so?”
There was a moment of silence, and only after a few moments did a minister tremblingly respond, “But, we have to consider the matter of the Emperor’s heir.”
Hearing this, Jiang Suizhou promptly spoke and replied pleasantly, “It doesn’t have to be this way. The late emperor was able to hand over the throne to me, which shows that a court without an heir is possible. There are royal relatives in the court, as well as countless promising descendants, so it is not too late for me to consider these matters when I am older.”
Now, the ministers could not say anything to refute. After all, if they oppose again at this time, it would be disrespectful to the late emperor. Even if they had a mind to do so, they couldn’t take a tough stand on this matter.
Jiang Suizhou smiled lightly.
On the contrary, Huo Wujiu became unreasonable and unforgiving. He sneered unrelentingly: “Who can have one or two children among you? You are incapable of doing so, yet you keep thinking of this stuff all day.”
After saying that, he put his hand down and turned to return to his position.
But at this moment, another courtier spoke.
“However, His Majesty can’t always stay alone like this. Someone should be there to accompany him.”
Huo Wujiu stopped and turned around with a cold expression.
“Who said that?” he asked.
His momentum was awe inspiring and ferocious. He looked as if he was the one who had the final say in court.
Naturally, Jiang Suizhou didn’t stop him.
After a moment of silence, a courtier stood out timidly with his head bowed and spoke in a mosquito-like voice.
“It was this minister who said it,” he admitted.
Huo Wujiu gave a glacial laugh and walked up to him again.
“What did you just say? His Majesty should always have someone to accompany him, right?”
The courtier was frightened by his awe-inspiring aura, yet he could only bite the bullet and acknowledge it, “Yes.”
Huo Wujiu laughed.
“You care a lot, but that’s quite reasonable.”
After seconding, he lowered his eyes and stared at the official. He lowered his voice, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears.
“Then take a look. How about me?” he asked. “I am here to accompany His Majesty. Do you have any objections?”
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