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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."
Jia Xu smiled slightly. "And it reaffirms Her Graced authority within the palace. This also shields Her Majesty from political rivals using low born women to threaten the hierarchy and peace of the Harem."
Lie Fan at this time returned the scrolls to Jia Xu. "I approve of this Wenhe. We will issue the decree tomorrow at the Court Meeting. When that was done, create as many copies and make sure that this decree was spread to every corner of my domain. Dismissed"
"Yes, Your Majesty," they answered in unison.
The five of them bowed once again and began to depart. Ying Yue watched them go, her mind lingering on the ramifications of the reforms. Ying Yue then exhaled softly. "You've set in motion something that will change the palace and social norms forever."
Lie Fan leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Change is necessary. Even if it ruffles feathers."
Ying Yue arched a brow. *"And what of the feathers it will ruffle? The noble families who relied on eunuchs to build connections and gain power, wealth, or influence?"
"Let them squawk," Lie Fan said, grinning. "I'd like to see them try to overturn an ironclad law."
Ying Yue shook her head, but there was fondness in her eyes. "You enjoy this far too much."
"Perhaps," he admitted. Then, after a pause, "Do you think I've made the right decision?"
She reached over, taking his hand in hers. "You're cutting off a source of corruption that has festered for generations. If that isn't the right decision, I don't know what is."
Lie Fan squeezed her fingers gently. "Good. Because I have a feeling this is only the beginning. Now, you have the final say over who enters service in the palace from now on," he said softly. "And that gives you the protection and the power you need."
Ying Yue squeezed his hand. "Then I will wield it wisely, for the empire, and for us."
Outside, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long golden shadows across the palace walls. Inside, change had been set in motion, silent but seismic.
While Lie Fan set his reforms into motion, far beyond the palace walls, Sun Shangxiang was engaged in a battle of her own, one of will and wit.
After abandoning her carriage in favor of horseback, she had taken to riding alongside Ma Chao at the head of the procession, much to Cheng Pu's exasperation.
"You're supposed to be escorting me, General," she teased, nudging her horse closer to his. "Yet here I am, leading the way."
Ma Chao's lips twitched. *"A tactical error on my part, my lady. I underestimated your… enthusiasm."*
"Enthusiasm?" She laughed. "Is that what you're calling it?"
"Would you prefer recklessness?"
"I'd prefer adventure," she corrected, flashing him a grin before spurring her horse ahead.
Ma Chao watched her go, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he urged his own mount forward.
Behind them, Ma Tie leaned toward Ma Dai. "I've never seen big brother like this."
Ma Dai smirked. "Like what?"
"Distracted."
Ma Xiu snorted. "If by distracted you mean completely disarmed, then yes."
Cheng Pu, riding nearby, sighed heavily. "God help us all."
And so, beneath the open sky, the journey continued, a dance of words, of challenges, of something neither Sun Shangxiang nor Ma Chao was quite ready to name.
But one thing was certain, which was that by the time they reached Lujiang, nothing would be the same.
Meanwhile, the next day, back at Xiapi, the morning sun streamed through the high windows of the palace hall, casting long beams of light across the assembled courtiers. The air was thick with anticipation, today was no ordinary court session.
Lie Fan was currently sitting on his throne, his expression unreadable, the elevated dais lending his figure an air of godlike authority, and his presence radiating quiet authority.
Every noble, officer, and minister stood in silence, heads slightly bowed, waiting as the morning's proceedings continued.
Lie Fan had spent the earlier part of the day receiving reports, petitions, and suggestions from his court. Some he questioned further, probing for clarity or hidden agendas. Others he rejected outright, showing no patience for foolishness or personal gain disguised as public policy. A few, he agreed to, his nod of approval carrying the weight of fate itself.
Then slowly the hum of reports, petitions, and suggestions had died down, and now, all eyes were fixed on him. With a single tap of his royal scepter against the marble floor, the hall fell into complete silence.
"Before we conclude today's court session," Lie Fan began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the vast space, "I have a decree to announce, one that will take immediate effect and stand as an ironclad law for all generations to come."
Murmurs flickered across the hall like wind through dry leaves. Eyes turned to each other in confusion, brows knitted in anxious curiosity. Only five men, Jia Xu, Chen Qun, Zhuge Liang, Mao Jie, and Sun Qian, remained composed, their expressions unreadable, as they already knew what was to come.
Lie Fan continued, his tone leaving no room for interruption. "This law cannot be erased, nor can its core tenets be altered. It cannot be erased. It cannot be undone. It may only be revised, and only if such revisions do not contradict its foundation or seek to exploit its spirit."
The murmurs grew louder. A few officials shifted uncomfortably, their minds racing to guess what could warrant such severity.
"Chancellor Jia Xu," Lie Fan said, turning his gaze to the man standing near the front, "read the decree."
Jia Xu bowed deeply and gestured to a page boy, who quickly stepped forward, holding a tray with several scrolls tied in crimson silk. Taking the topmost one, Jia Xu untied the ribbon with deliberate calm and unfurled the parchment.
His voice was clear and authoritative.
"By the will of His Majesty, Son of Heaven, Emperor Hongyi, Sovereign of the Hengyuan Dynasty, an eternal decree is hereby proclaimed. The institution of the court eunuch, long a fixture of the inner palace, shall be abolished henceforth."
Gasps swept through the hall. Startled whispers buzzed like bees, and several officials visibly paled.
Jia Xu pressed on.
"No longer shall castrated men be allowed to serve in proximity to the imperial family. Henceforth, in their stead, a new system is born, the Imperial Maid system, where all duties previously held by eunuchs shall be assumed by Imperial Maids, selected and overseen under strict new regulations."
The reaction was immediate. Gasps. Sharp intakes of breath. The hall erupted into chaos as courtiers, as some among them had brothers, nephews, cousins who had willingly become eunuchs, believing it a path to influence.
Some families had gained power through their proximity to the Emperor's chambers. The announcement was a death knell to their ambitions, and they knew it. Especially those who had long relied on eunuch connections, voiced their shock and dissent.
"This is unheard of, Your Majesty!" one minister blurted out.
"The eunuchs have served the imperial household for centuries, Your Majesty!" protested another.
Jia Xu ignored them, continuing firmly. "The rules governing the Imperial Maids are as follows. First, any child born of a union between the Emperor and a maid shall hold no claim to imperial titles or succession and be part of the Imperial household. Second, no maid, whether currently serving or dismissed, may ever be elevated to the rank of concubine or empress. Third, Imperial Maids will be assigned through the Imperial Household Department and the Department of Service, with Her Majesty the Empress approving the final list of candidates, His Majesty may offer suggestions or supervise, but cannot override Her Grace's decisions. Fourth, these laws are immutable and binding upon all future rulers."
The uproar intensified. A faction of older nobles, their faces red with indignation, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty!" one of them cried. "This undermines generations of tradition! The eunuchs provide stability, they are loyal servants of the throne!"
Lie Fan's gaze hardened. "Loyal servants?" he repeated, his voice dangerously calm. "Or conduits for corruption? Need I remind you of the Ten Attendants near the end of the Han Dynasty?"
The name alone was enough to silence some of the dissenters. The corruption and the influence of the eunuchs that orchestrated the downfall of the Han Dynasty.
But not everyone was swayed. A younger official, his family known for placing distant relatives as eunuchs to gain influence, stepped forward boldly.
"Your Majesty, with respect, this decree will destabilize the palace. The eunuchs come from noble houses, they understand politics, protocol. Maids are common born women. How can they possibly understand such matter? Also won't this leave the palace vulnerable? The presence of male guardians, even eunuchs, has historically provided protection."
Lie Fan met the man's eyes squarely. "And yet they have also provided betrayal, treachery, and unchecked influence. My Empress and her court of trained, trusted Imperial Maids shall see to the needs of the lll palace. Security shall be provided by the Imperial Guard, not by those who claim to protect and yet poison the household from within."
Another official, this one dressed in deep blue silks, cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, what of the current eunuchs? Shall they be expelled immediately?"
Lie Fan's eyes were cold. "They shall be removed from service without exception. Those found guilty of corruption shall be prosecuted. Those who served loyally may be reassigned to external roles, away from the inner court. There will be no place for them in the palace."
The hall quieted..
Then a tall, thickly bearded official next stepped forward. "Your Majesty, might I possibly—?"
"Enough." Lie Fan's voice cut through like a blade. "The decision is made. The eunuchs will be pensioned off honorably, but their era is over."
He rose from his throne, his presence towering over the hall. "Let me be clear, this is not a debate. The decree is law. Those who oppose it oppose we and the throne itself."
A deadly silence followed. Even the most vocal critics lowered their heads, realizing the futility of further protest.
As the last words faded, Lie Fan surveyed the room. "This reform is not just about replacing eunuchs with maids. It is about ensuring that no shadow power can ever fester in my palace again. The empire's stability depends on transparency and on accountability."
Then Lie Fan raised his scepter. "This empire must stand as a beacon for generations to come. If we are to build a future free of the rot that plagued the old dynasties, then we must start at the heart, our heart, the palace. And let this decree be the first strike against decay."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Dismissed." The courtiers bowed deeply, though the tension in the air was palpable. As they filed out, whispers spread like wildfire, some fearful, some calculating, others grudgingly impressed by the sheer audacity of the move.
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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