Chapter 1438 - 1345: Return

The grand hall fell silent, and everyone’s eyes gleamed as they looked over. Jiaozhou Governor Wei Fang and Ningzhou Governor Wei Ran’s gaze flickered as they quickly scanned the hall, noting that while everyone was surprised, it wasn’t obvious. There was more curiosity than anything else.

It seemed they were curious if the Eldest Prince would take the Jade Seal.

Mingming wasn’t unfamiliar with the square Jade Seal; she often sat beside her mother, watching her use the Jade Seal to stamp papers with a clang.

Because several animals were engraved on it, vividly lifelike, she wanted to play with it, but her mother never let her. Every time she reached for it, her mother would move the Jade Seal away.

Mingming couldn’t understand what her mother said when taking the Jade Seal away, but she knew it meant she wasn’t allowed to play with it. And the more she wasn’t allowed, the more she wanted it.

Now, the Jade Seal was right in front of her. Seeing her mother straighten up and leave, she immediately hugged it.

Mingming grabbed the Jade Seal tightly, seemingly afraid that her mother would snatch it back, and quickly moved her bottom, scooting quite a distance away. Then she hugged the Jade Seal and glanced at her mother, smiling brightly, like a little fox who’d stolen a morsel.

Zhao Hanzhang stood by, smiling, without stepping forward to take the Jade Seal as she did before.

The crowd gaped, not expecting the matter to be settled so swiftly.

But... how were they supposed to praise this?

The officials were in agony, looking at the young Zhao Hanzhang, wondering if they should step forward and congratulate her, saying the Eldest Prince would surely be a fine successor in the future.

The Eldest Prince was still young, and Zhao Hanzhang was too young herself. Saying such words now seemed like requesting the establishment of a Crown Princess.

Standing beside Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Tinghan suggested to Mingming, who was about to put the Jade Seal in her mouth, "Mingming, is there anything else here you like?"

Mingming raised her head and glanced around, familiar with this part as well. The adults at home often gave her fun things like this.

She looked around and then shifted her body slightly, pulling out a long carpenter’s rule from under her bottom. It was wooden, red, and marked with two scales.

She was familiar with this too; her father had been engraving with it recently and never let her play with it. Once, when her father wasn’t watching, she reached to grab it but instead touched something sharp nearby, getting a painful prick on her finger.

Thinking of this, Mingming put it into her arms as well, then started collecting other items, gathering those she liked that looked shiny, golden, and brightly colored. The Jade Seal was placed right in the middle, and then she leaned her little legs sideways to look at her mother, smiling with flattery, and babbled "da da da" in baby talk only she understood to show off to her mother.

Zhao Hanzhang saw the contents, including the Jade Seal, gold rice ears, gold wheat ears, and even a golden basin. Possibly because the basin was convenient for storing things, she put everything she gathered into it, placing the Jade Seal at the most conspicuous spot, with Fu Tinghan’s carpenter’s rule behind the Jade Seal, pressing down on all the items. Clearly, she loved the objects her parents hadn’t allowed her to play with.

Zhao Hanzhang curled her lips and stepped forward to pick her up, praising her, "Well done, truly my daughter. Since you like these things, you must strive to learn and master them in the future. This is your choice."

The crowd couldn’t help but look at the items in the golden basin, suddenly realizing and sympathetically watched Mingming.

Did the Eldest Prince know what she was missing?

Thinking of the hardships they had endured from a young age to accomplish something, their envy quickly diminished.

If the Eldest Prince could master all the items in the golden basin, then she truly would have earned her place in the world.

Zhao Hanzhang formally gave Mingming her official name, "A gentleman with benevolence can lead others, harmony in beauty joins with courtesy, benefiting things leads to harmony in righteousness, steadfastness achieves great deeds. Hence, I name you Ren Jia, Zhao Renjia."

This phrase is from "The Book of Changes," meaning that a gentleman with benevolence as his foundation can be a leader, harmonious beauty aligns with etiquette, benefiting things leads to righteousness, and steadfastness can accomplish great deeds.

With the word "Ren" and "Jia" in her name, and the Jade Seal specifically chosen for the grab ritual, Zhao Hanzhang’s intent was unmistakable.

The officials together congratulated the speechless Eldest Prince on receiving her official name.

Ji Yuan reminded, "Your Majesty, the name’s avoidance..."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "No need to avoid, it can be used by commoners."

The officials sighed in relief; the name of the Eldest Prince was composed of commonly used and prevalent characters, similar to her mother’s name.

Although Zhao Hanzhang said there was no need to avoid using it, when writing these characters people still usually added or omitted a stroke unless quick fingers made a mistake faster than their minds.

The officials knew that Zhao Hanzhang’s name didn’t need avoidance, and neither did the Eldest Prince’s, implying future emperors’ names should likely not need avoidance either.

They felt both pleased and conflicted, delighted at the ease brought about, yet distressed by the breach of tradition. Amidst their complex emotions, rapid footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall, causing Zhao Hanzhang to frown and look towards the hall door. The crowd was puzzled and turned to see Zhao Erlang running inside, dressed briskly.

The officials were shocked; how had Prince Qin returned to the capital?

The officials had received no summons from Zhao Hanzhang.

There stood Zeng Yue following, though his face was solemn, his eyes betrayed a hint of joy, slightly easing their hearts.

Before Zeng Yue could speak, Zhao Erlang rushed forward saying, "Sister, what did Mingming grab? I also prepared a grab ritual for her."

He presented the dagger he had been holding, its sheath dazzling with embedded red and blue gemstones, with just the grip area in matte gold. Before Zhao Hanzhang and Mingming, he brandished and drew the dagger, flashing its sharp, cold blade.

"This is crafted from extraterrestrial meteor iron, able to sever hair upon touch."

The crowd: ...

Not only the officials, but even Zhao Song couldn’t bear to watch, furrowing his brow and saying, "Second Son, it’s a dangerous weapon; how can you let the Eldest Prince play with it? Put it away!"

But Mingming really liked it, already leaning over to reach... for the dagger’s sheath.

Zhao Erlang avoided Mingming’s hand and inserted the dagger back, twisting it slightly so only Zhao Hanzhang heard a gentle click.

He handed the dagger to Mingming, proudly saying, "This dagger, Mingming cannot unsheathe now. Once she learns to pull it out, it won’t be a weapon for self-harm but a tool for self-protection."

Zhao Hanzhang asked him, "You’re a border general, why have you returned?"

Next to him, Zeng Yue finally reported, "Your Majesty, Prince Qin has escorted the envoys back from the Western Regions."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately asked, "Are the envoys safe and where are they currently?"

Zeng Yue said, "Zhao Xin and the others are waiting outside for an audience."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately ordered their admission, but her mind was racing to see them, so she directly carried Mingming and headed outside.

Zhao Xin was leading the people outside the hall; not being Zhao Erlang, he naturally had to await the emperor’s permission before entering. But upon hearing Zhao Hanzhang’s words, he was filled with eagerness and excitement. The order was given, and he promptly walked inside, meeting eyes and involuntarily reddening with emotion.

Zhao Hanzhang saw Zhao Xin looking as though he had aged ten years, feeling heartbroken, "Cousin Xin, you, how...?"

Weathered Zhao Xin’s tears rolled down instantly, he kneeled, but Zhao Hanzhang quickly supported him, trembling lips unable to speak, gazing over him to the people behind him with enormous compassion.

With tears falling, Zhao Xin said, "Your Majesty, I have failed the trust placed in me. A year was promised, yet we were delayed outside for over three years before returning."

Zhao Hanzhang clutched his hand tightly, saying, "No, you being safe back is all I needed, returning safely is good, returning safely is good..."