149: Chapter 57 A Letter from the Harem

On the 18th day of the fifth month of the first year of Yongan, Li Ling was in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials when Empress Su Wanqing walked in carrying a bowl of snow fungus and lotus seed soup.

"Brother Ling, take a break." She placed the bowl on the table. "You have been reviewing memorials for two hours."

Li Ling looked up and rubbed his sore eyes. "Empress Su Wanqing, you have come at a good time. I was just looking for you."

"What is the matter?"

"I want to discuss something with you." Li Ling put down his pen and looked at her earnestly. "It is about matters in the backyard."

Empress Su Wanqing sat down opposite him and smiled slightly. "Brother Ling, you want to talk about the Princess, Emily, and Imperial Concubine Hui, right?"

"How did you know?"

"I am your wife, of course I know what you are thinking." Empress Su Wanqing picked up the bowl and handed it to him. "Drink it, and tell me while you drink."

Li Ling took the bowl and took a sip; the temperature and sweetness were just right. He put down the bowl and sighed. "Empress Su Wanqing, I know that marrying a man like me has wronged you. There are so many people around me, and you have to deal with them every day."

Empress Su Wanqing shook her head. "Brother Ling, I am not wronged. I told you long ago that I do not expect to be your only woman. I only hope that there will always be a place in your heart that belongs to me. That is enough."

Li Ling held her hand. "Empress Su Wanqing, you are truly my virtuous helpmate."

"Enough, stop saying such cheesy things." Empress Su Wanqing gently withdrew her hand. "What did you say you wanted to discuss with me just now?"

"I want you to help me handle the relationships in the backyard." Li Ling said. "As for the Princess, she comes from the royal family, and her status is sensitive, so she needs to be treated specially. As for Emily, she is the only daughter of a conglomerate in Meijian Country, which is very important to my foreign trade. As for Imperial Concubine Hui, she is the daughter of a large southern conglomerate, and her support for my military funding is significant. Help me think about how to balance the relationships between them?"

Empress Su Wanqing pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother Ling, I have a suggestion."

"Go ahead."

"First, you must give everyone a clear position." Empress Su Wanqing raised a finger. "The Princess is a Princess Consort, with a noble status, so you must give her enough dignity and respect. Emily is your confidante, so you must give her enough freedom and trust. Imperial Concubine Hui is your ally and partner, so you must give her enough benefits and returns. As for the German Princess..." She paused. "That is a political marriage; you must give her enough face and etiquette."

"And then?"

"Then, you must be fair to everyone." Empress Su Wanqing continued. "You cannot favor anyone, nor can you neglect anyone. On every important day, you must make time to accompany them. For every important decision, you must let them participate. Only in this way will they feel that you have them in your heart and will not harbor resentment."

Li Ling nodded. "That makes sense. Then how should I set the rules?"

"I will set the rules." Empress Su Wanqing smiled slightly. "In my capacity as Empress, I will convene a small meeting with them to set the rules. Brother Ling, you do not need to worry; just focus on preparing for your Northern Expedition."

Li Ling looked at her confident appearance and couldn't help but smile. "Empress Su Wanqing, you are truly my lucky star."

"Stop flattering me." Empress Su Wanqing tapped him lightly. "Finish the soup first; it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Li Ling obediently picked up the bowl and drank the snow fungus and lotus seed soup in one go.

That afternoon, Empress Su Wanqing, in her capacity as Empress, invited the Princess, Emily, and Imperial Concubine Hui to her palace for a small meeting.

The Princess sat on the chair on the left, dignified and elegant, holding a cup of tea in her hand and drinking it slowly. Emily sat on the chair on the right, crossing her legs, holding a folding fan in her hand, and fanning herself idly. Imperial Concubine Hui sat on the chair at the lowest end, sitting upright with a smile on her face, but her eyes held a sense of scrutiny.

Empress Su Wanqing sat in the main seat, wearing a light cyan casual robe, with only a white jade hairpin in her hair, looking elegant in her simplicity. Although she was not old, sitting there at this moment, she naturally possessed the aura of a mother of the world.

"Three sisters." Empress Su Wanqing spoke, her voice gentle but not lacking in majesty. "I invited you here today to discuss something with you."

The Princess put down her teacup. "Please speak, Empress."

"It is about matters in the harem." Empress Su Wanqing said straightforwardly. "Since we have all married His Majesty, we are one family. Within a family, we should not speak as if we are outsiders. I hope to set some rules to make it easier for everyone to get along."

Emily closed her folding fan. "Sister Su Wanqing, go ahead, what rules?"

Empress Su Wanqing glanced at Li Ling—he had also come and was sitting in the side hall, secretly listening to their conversation. This Emperor was quite stifled; he could only listen in on harem meetings.

"First, on the first and fifteenth of every month, His Majesty must have dinner with me." Empress Su Wanqing raised a finger. "This is the rule and cannot be broken."

The Princess nodded. "That is as it should be. The Empress is the primary wife, and it is only right and proper for His Majesty to accompany the Empress on the first and fifteenth."

"Second, on the seventh and twenty-second of every month, His Majesty must have dinner with the Princess." Empress Su Wanqing continued. "The Princess is a Princess Consort and has a noble status; she must not be neglected."

The Princess smiled slightly. "Thank you, Empress."

"Third, on the tenth and twenty-fifth of every month, His Majesty must have dinner with Sister Emily." Empress Su Wanqing looked at Emily. "Sister Emily has married from afar and left her home, so she needs His Majesty's care even more."

Emily's eyes lit up. "Sister Su Wanqing, you are so kind!"

"Fourth, on the third and eighteenth of every month, His Majesty must have dinner with Sister Imperial Concubine Hui." Empress Su Wanqing looked at Imperial Concubine Hui again. "Sister Imperial Concubine Hui is the youngest and is also new here, so she needs more care."

Imperial Concubine Hui nodded slightly. "Thank you, Empress, for your consideration."

"Fifth, every year on New Year's Eve, the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, His Majesty must spend them with all of us. This is a family banquet, and no one can be absent."

After stating the four rules, Empress Su Wanqing looked around at everyone. "Three sisters, what do you think?"

The Princess stated her position first. "I have no objections. The Empress has arranged things very thoughtfully."

Emily also nodded. "I agree. This way, it is fair for everyone."

Imperial Concubine Hui smiled slightly. "I also agree. Thank you, Empress, for your trouble."

Empress Su Wanqing nodded with satisfaction. "Very well, it is settled. From now on, we will follow these rules. As for the German Princess..." She paused. "When she arrives next spring, we will adjust accordingly."

Emily raised her hand to ask. "Sister Su Wanqing, what if His Majesty has temporary military affairs to attend to and cannot keep the appointment?"

"Military affairs take priority." Empress Su Wanqing said without hesitation. "This is His Majesty's principle, and it is also our principle. His Majesty is fighting battles outside, and we are supporting him at home. If he cannot keep an appointment due to military affairs, none of us can have any complaints."

The three of them replied in unison. "Yes."

In the side hall, Li Ling pricked up his ears to listen to their conversation, and he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

"System." He silently thought.

"Yes?"

"Empress Su Wanqing is truly amazing. In just a few words, she arranged the matters of the backyard clearly."

"Host, your wife is much more reliable than you."

"Nonsense, of course I know." Li Ling said proudly. "That is why I handed the management of the backyard to her."

That evening, Li Ling, following the rules, went to Empress Su Wanqing's palace for dinner.

Four dishes and a soup were placed on the table, all of which were his favorites. Empress Su Wanqing sat opposite him and put a piece of braised pork into his bowl. "Brother Ling, try this; I cooked it myself."

Li Ling took a bite; it was fatty but not greasy, and it melted in his mouth. "Delicious! Empress Su Wanqing, your culinary skills are getting better and better."

"Of course." Empress Su Wanqing said proudly. "I learned from the master chef in the Imperial Kitchen for a long time."

The two chatted while eating, and the atmosphere was warm and sweet.

"Brother Ling." Empress Su Wanqing suddenly put down her chopsticks. "There is something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"When we had the meeting this afternoon, the Princess spoke to me privately. She said... she is willing to fully support your Northern Expedition."

Li Ling was stunned. "She said that?"

"Yes. She said she is a daughter of the royal family, but she is also your wife. The royal family is already failing, and she sees it clearly. She does not want to go back to that corrupt court; she wants to follow you and build a new country."

Li Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "She is a smart person. She knows how to choose the path that is most beneficial to herself."

"It is not just beneficial to herself." Empress Su Wanqing said earnestly. "She also genuinely wants to help you. I can tell; she really treats you as her husband, not just an object of a political marriage."

Li Ling felt a warmth in his heart. "I know."

"And there is Emily." Empress Su Wanqing continued. "She also told me privately that her father has agreed to fully support your arms trade and oil development. She has also contacted several large arms dealers in Meijian Country for you, preparing for long-term cooperation with you."

"What about Imperial Concubine Hui?"

"Imperial Concubine Hui said that her family's trading firm has already opened its first bank in Jinling and is preparing to gradually expand to the whole country. She hopes to provide financial support for your army during the Northern Expedition."

After listening, Li Ling let out a long breath.

"Empress Su Wanqing, tell me, am I not very lucky?"

"Of course you are lucky." Empress Su Wanqing smiled. "You have so many people around you willing to help you, and you have me, a virtuous helpmate, to help you handle the matters of the backyard."

"That is why I must fight this battle well." Li Ling stood up and walked to the window. "I cannot let them down."

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and the lights of Jinling City flickered in the distance.

"Empress Su Wanqing, I am going to the military camp tomorrow." Li Ling turned around. "The preparations for the Northern Expedition are almost done; I need to go and inspect the training of each unit."

"Go ahead." Empress Su Wanqing walked over and adjusted his collar. "I will handle the matters at home, you can rest assured."

Li Ling held her hand and lowered his head to kiss her forehead gently.

"Thank you for your hard work, Empress Su Wanqing."

"It is not hard work." Empress Su Wanqing smiled slightly. "I am your wife; helping you share your worries is my duty."

Early the next morning, Li Ling took his adjutant and guards and rode to the camp outside the city.

In the military camp, bugle calls rose one after another, and squads of soldiers were training. The footsteps were uniform, the shouting was earth-shattering, and the entire camp was operating like a huge war machine.

Li Ling stood on the reviewing stand, looking at the dense crowd below, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his heart.

Fifty thousand men, five army groups, five hundred thousand troops, all waiting for his command. As long as he gave the order, this torrent of steel would surge toward the north like a tide, submerging all enemies blocking the way.

"Sir!" A general ran over and saluted. "All units are ready and can depart at any time!"

Li Ling nodded. "No rush. Train for another month; we will fight when spring comes."

"Yes!"

He walked down from the reviewing stand and toured the military camp, checking the equipment, logistics, and training status of each unit. Everything was proceeding according to plan, without any flaws.

When he returned to the Imperial Study, it was already evening.

Just as Li Ling sat down, his adjutant delivered a letter. The letter was sealed with wax, and the seal bore the emblem of the German royal family.

"A letter from the German Princess?" Li Ling opened the envelope and pulled out the letter paper.

The letter was written in French, with neat and elegant handwriting. The German Princess said in the letter that she had heard the news of Li Ling's wedding and was happy for him. She said she was looking forward to coming to Qingxia Kingdom next spring to meet him. At the end of the letter, she drew a small smiley face.

Li Ling looked at the smiley face and couldn't help but smile.

"System."

"Yes?"

"Tell me, should I write a reply to the German Princess?"

"Host, you should have replied long ago. She writes you three letters a month, and you only reply once every two months; is that appropriate?"

"I have been busy." Li Ling picked up his pen and spread out the letter paper. "I will reply now, right away."

He thought for a moment and wrote:

"Respected Princess Victoria Louise:

Thank you for your letter, and thank you for your blessings on my wedding. I am doing well, but I have been busy with military affairs recently, so my reply is late; please forgive me.

I am also looking forward to meeting you next spring. Spring in Qingxia Kingdom is very beautiful, with mountains full of peach blossoms, fields of rapeseed flowers, and warm sunshine. I believe you will surely like it here.

You said you are learning Chinese, and I am very happy. Chinese is a beautiful language; although it is difficult to learn, as long as you persevere, you will surely have gains. If there is anything you do not understand, you can write to me at any time to ask.

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely, Li Ling."

After writing the letter, he blew the ink dry, folded it, and handed it to the adjutant.

"Send it by swift horse to the German Empire."

"Yes!"

The adjutant took the order and left. Li Ling leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

"System, tell me, am I too promiscuous?"

"Host, this is not promiscuity; it is universal love."

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes. Promiscuity is loving someone every time you see one; universal love is loving everyone who is worth loving. Each of the women around you is worth your sincere treatment. So you are not promiscuous; you are universally loving."

Li Ling smiled. "You are quite good at making excuses for me."

"The system is just stating facts."

The night was deep. Li Ling walked out of the Imperial Study and came to the courtyard. The moonlight was like water, spilling onto the bluestone road, stretching his shadow very, very long.

He looked up at the moon in the sky, and an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

Three years. From crossing over until now, it has been exactly three years. He went from being a clueless young man to a hegemon holding heavy troops and shaking all directions. He had a wife, confidantes, a group of loyal subordinates, and an industrial base that was rising.

His life was moving forward step by step according to his plan.

"Next is the Northern Expedition." He whispered to himself. "Unify the country and establish a new nation."

Then, there would be even greater challenges—resisting the great powers and contending for world hegemony.

The road is still long, but he is not afraid.

Because he is not fighting alone.