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Meanwhile, deep in the imperial palace, Lie Fan sat at the head of a long table, his fingers steepled as he regarded the men before him. Chen Qun, Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang, Mao Jie, and Sun Qian, each one a pillar of his court, each one watching him with varying degrees of curiosity.
"Your Majesty," Chen Qun began, "you summoned us to discuss a change in palace regulations?"
Lie Fan cleared his throat, gaze steady as the men settled. "I wish to discuss a reform. Concerning the eunuchs."
They all looked at him, surprised. The eunuchs had long held power within palace walls, yet today, Lie Fan questioned their role.
"I decree," he began, "that the eunuchs be dismissed from all positions of influence. Instead, properly trained imperial maids will serve in their stead, under stricter rules."
Jia Xu raised a brow. "Your Majesty, this touches centuries of tradition."
Lie Fan nodded. "Precisely why it needs change. The 'Ten Attendants' scandal showed us the risk of invisible power."
Jia Xu stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I agree, Your Majesty. Still, it's a bold move. The eunuchs have held significant influence in the past courts and have been an essential part of the Imperial Household. Removing them and replacing them with maids will not be without resistance."
Mao Jie leaned forward, nodding in agreement with Jia Xu. "I agree with Your Excellency Chancellor. But the question becomes, who will supervise these Imperial maids, Your Majesty?"
Lie Fan turned to look at Mao Jie. "With strict and unbending laws in place to prevent something like in the history but this time it changed from the eunuchs to the Imperial maids from happening."
Zhuge Liang's fan stilled. "What laws do you propose, Your Majesty?"
Lie Fan leaned forward. "There are three laws. First, any child born of a union between an emperor and a maid will not be recognized as part of the imperial family. No titles, no inheritance, no claim to the throne."
Mao Jie's eyes widened slightly. "That is... unprecedented, Your Majesty."
"It's necessary," Lie Fan countered. "We've seen what happens in the history when bastards are given power."
Sun Qian nodded slowly. "And the second law, Your Majesty?"
"Once a woman enters palace service as a maid, she can never be elevated to concubine or empress, even if she leaves service either through resignation, or firing, or exile. This law is to be unchangeable and ironclad."
Silence settled over the room as the weight of the decree sank in.
Chen Qun was the first to speak. "It is a drastic measure, Your Majesty, but... I cannot deny its logic."
Jia Xu chuckled."Your Majesty is making sure that no future emperor can be swayed by beauty or manipulation as the future emperors would be served by many maids. Even if they were swayed, those beauties could never receive important titles meaning that they would not have formal power and influence. A cold but effective strategy."
Lie Fan smirked. "Precisely. You understand me well as always, Wenhe."
Zhuge Liang at this time tapped his fan against his palm. "But as Chancellor Jia Xu had spoken before Your Majesty, there will be a backlash. The old families who once relied on eunuch positions and connections will not take this lying down."
"Let them complain," Lie Fan said dismissively. "The empire's stability is more important than their schemes."
Sun Qian meanwhile raised his hand. "Your Majesty, if I may say. All of this endeavor will require strong administrative oversight, recruitment, training, and background checks."
Lie Fan smiled, pleased. "Use the Department of Service and the Household Department. Backgrounds, family histories, loyalty reports, everything. I want transparency, no shadows. Don't worry, the Oriole Agents and the Censorate will help in this endeavor as well."
Chen Qun tapped his fingers. "A legal foundation can be drafted and ratified through Imperial Proclamation, Your Majesty. That also binds future courts."
Jia Xu stood. "I will prepare the document and issue it once you approve, Your Majesty."
Lie Fan nodded. "Do it and you can add or revise it. I want it to be done by today, so I can read it over."
Lie Fan then took his leave, allowing the meeting to continue without him. Jia Xu and the others discussed the details of the new laws to iron them out.
As Lie Fan walked through the Palace halls, his mind drifted to something other than the laws. He wondered how Ma Chao and Sun Shangxiang were faring on their journey. He had, after all, orchestrated this little thing to happen for a reason.
As he was thinking so, he returned to his quarters at the palace and he was welcomed by the sight of his Empress, Ying Yue, waiting for him alongside her handmaidens who stood behind her as she sat in the living room of his quarters.
At the sound of the door opening, Ying Yue rose smoothly, her attendants mirroring her movements in perfect unison.
"My dear husband," she greeted, her voice soft yet carrying the affection that only ever surfaced in their private moments.
"Your Majesty," the handmaidens chorused, bowing deeply.
Lie Fan waved a hand dismissively. "Rise all of you." His gaze lingered on Ying Yue before shifting to the attendants. "All of you can leave us."
Upon hearing that, the handmaidens immediately did as instructed and then the door was closed behind them when all of them had left the room.
The moment they were alone, Lie Fan crossed the distance between them in two strides and pulled Ying Yue into a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Foregoing all the formality he had to put on as Emperor and just became the loving and doting husband.
Ying Yue chuckled softly as she patted her husband's back, her voice light and musical yet teasing and affectionate. "You chose to become Emperor, my husband. So now you must live with the consequences, formalities, and all. You must endure everything that comes with it."
Lie Fan groaned but didn't let go of his hug. "I don't regret becoming Emperor, Yue'er. But having to be serious and formal in almost all public spaces... it drains me. Maybe I should decree that Emperors shouldn't have to be so serious all the time."
Ying Yue laughed and pulled back just enough to deliver a light, admonishing punch to his shoulder. "And that would ruin your prestige and the prestige of future emperors for generations to come? I think not."
He chuckled, finally releasing her, though his hands lingered, tracing the curve of her cheek affectionately. "You're right, as always."
For a while, they simply existed in each other's presence, no politics, no decrees, just the quiet comfort of marriage. The time passed like gentle ripples in a pond.
Lie Fan had been spending much of his time with Zhen Ji lately, their relationship growing more heated by the day, but moments like this with Ying Yue were different. She was his anchor, the one who had stood beside him before the crown ever touched his head.
His fingers idly traced the embroidery on her sleeve before drifting lower, his touch teasing. Ying Yue swatted at his wandering hand, her cheeks flushing. "Behave," she hissed, though her lips twitched with suppressed amusement.
Lie Fan grinned, entirely unrepentant until a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.
"Your Majesty," an imperial guard's voice called from the other side. "The Chancellor, Grand Secretary, Minister of Personnel, Director of the Imperial Household, and Director of the Department of Service have arrived and request an audience."
Ying Yue shot him a glare, her face still pink, while Lie Fan merely smirked full of mischief, before straightening his robes. "Let them in."
Moments later, the door opened and Jia Xu, Chen Qun, Zhuge Liang, Mao Jie, and Sun Qian entered, and the five men filed in, bowing in perfect unison.
"Your Majesty. Your Grace," Jia Xu spoke for the group, his voice measured as always.
"Be at ease," Lie Fan said, settling onto a nearby chair while Ying Yue took her place beside him, her posture every bit the dignified Empress.
Jia Xu stepped forward, several scrolls in hand. "We have finalized the documents for your decree, Your Majesty. We've also taken the liberty of adding further provisions to ensure administrative safeguards and clarity."
Lie Fan took the scrolls, unfurling the first one as Jia Xu continued.
"For instance, all Imperial Maids will be assigned strictly and exclusively through the Imperial Household Department and the Department of Service, with Her Majesty the Empress approving the final list of candidates. The Emperor may offer suggestions or supervise, but he cannot override the Empress' decisions, as the ultimate authority lies with Her Grace."
Ying Yue's brows lifted slightly at that, her curiosity piqued.
"Additionally," Chen Qun added, "the maids will be prohibited from receiving any titles that might elevate their social status or grant them influence within or outside the palace. Their sole purpose is to serve the Imperial Household, nothing more."
Lie Fan nodded as he scanned the text, satisfied. "Good. This aligns with my intentions."
Meanwhile, Ying Yue furrowed her brows, clearly puzzled by the contents. "What decree is this? What rules are being established?"
All five officials looked toward Lie Fan, silently requesting his permission. Without looking up from the scrolls, Lie Fan gave a casual wave of his hand, signaling them to answer.
Chen Qun spoke first. "Your Grace, His Majesty has decreed a comprehensive reform regarding palace service. Specifically, the dismissal and abolition of the eunuch system stripped them of all positions of influence. Their duties will be reassigned to properly trained female staff."
Mao Jie continued, "These women, called the Imperial Maids, will be chosen through a strict vetting process, trained, and placed under the oversight of the two departments mentioned earlier, under far stricter regulations to prevent corruption."
Sun Qian added, "Furthermore, Your Majesty has made it so that any maid who enters palace service isn't allowed to be elevated to concubine or empress, even after leaving service and regardless of any circumstances. This ensures that service in the palace remains purely professional."
Zhuge Liang spoke next. "In addition, if a maid bears a child with any future emperor, the child will not be recognized as part of the imperial family, will not receive any titles, any inheritance, and will have no claim to the throne."
Ying Yue's eyes widened at that last rule. "That is... a bold reform."
Lie Fan finally looked up. "It is necessary. We've seen what happens when bastards with court support rise through the ranks. They create factions, destabilize the court, and plunge the dynasty into chaos."
Ying Yue looked at him quietly, then slowly nodded. "I see the wisdom in your decision, Your Majesty. It will certainly prevent dangerous ambition from taking root in the inner palace, especially the Harem. Ensuring history doesn't repeat itself."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty
Age: 34 (201 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 2325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 966 (+20)
VIT: 623 (+20)
AGI: 623 (+10)
INT: 667
CHR: 98
WIS: 549
WILL: 432
ATR Points: 0