69novels Chapter 984 Being a monarch isn't easy, it's troublesome!
Chapter 984 Being a monarch isn't easy, it's troublesome!
He remained silent for a moment, a brief silence that made the atmosphere in the hall somewhat heavy once more. Everyone awaited the king's decision.
Finally, Gao Yao spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "What you all say... is indeed true."
He didn't directly say "grant permission," but the phrase "it makes perfect sense" already indicated his stance. A hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and the others.
Gao Yao continued, “However, the selection of imperial concubines concerns the lives of many women and the stability of the court, so it must be handled with utmost care. The specific rules, selection criteria, scale, and other details will be drafted by the Queen after she assumes the position of Empress, with Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and the others working together to prepare a detailed proposal, which will then be submitted to me for a final decision.”
He delegated the specific tasks to Empress Lü, who was about to take office, and Xiao He and others who proposed the idea, thus expressing his agreement while retaining ultimate control, and implying that the matter should not be rushed and required careful planning.
"Your Majesty, we obey!" Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and the others responded in unison, a great weight lifted from their hearts. As long as the king agreed to the principles, the subsequent details could be discussed gradually.
Gao Yao nodded slightly, no longer looking at them, his gaze fixed on the vast world outside the palace. Inwardly, however, he sighed: this boundless land brought not only power, but also an inescapable power game bound by marriage and blood ties.
Ultimately, he had to gradually and deeply integrate into the rules of this era. What would become of the women who were sent to the palace as political pawns? At this moment, Gao Yao felt not the joy of possessing the world, but a heavy sense of being caught in the torrent of history, powerless to control his own destiny.
As dusk deepened, the last rays of the setting sun cast long, lonely shadows through the carved wooden windows onto the smooth, golden bricks of the Hall of Light. The footsteps of Xiao He, Cao Can, and the others bowing as they withdrew finally faded at the end of the long corridor outside the hall, leaving only a faint echo in the empty space. Gao Yao, the de facto ruler of the Qin Empire, did not rise immediately. He remained seated on the gilded bronze throne symbolizing supreme power, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cold dragon head relief on the armrests again and again.
A long, heavy sigh finally broke the silence in the hall. That sigh carried with it too much weariness and helplessness that could not be spoken to outsiders. His gaze fell upon the renovated palace gardens outside the hall, once belonging to the magnificent Xianyang Palace. He had ordered the palace to be scaled down, and the space freed up was used to establish schools. The sounds of children playing could be faintly heard—the hope for the future, but also the potential source of future conflict. His thoughts drifted back to his turbulent and powerless past.
Once upon a time, the throne of "emperor" never existed in Gao Yao's ambition. His initial dream was simple and practical: to become a capable and powerful minister with knowledge and insight beyond his time, enough to secure his livelihood, protect those he wished to protect, and put his learning to use.
He knew all too well that the throne, seemingly a place of absolute power and glory, was in reality a golden cage. Within it, every action was subject to countless interests and scrutiny, and the so-called "words of authority" often couldn't withstand the intricate web of power struggles and deeply ingrained traditional constraints.
If the ministers are of one mind and form an ironclad alliance, the monarch needs to worry about being sidelined and whether his decrees will not leave the palace. If the ministers have their own agendas and scheme against each other, the monarch needs to work hard to maintain balance and harmony, for fear that a sudden imbalance will lead to political turmoil.
The delicate balance involved is incredibly demanding and exhausting, far less comfortable than being a powerful minister with real authority. A monarch is truly isolated, with far too many and too broad factors to consider.
From top to bottom, from the central government to local counties, from princes and nobles to ordinary people; encompassing areas from agriculture and water conservancy to military defense, from law and criminal justice to culture and education, and even border troubles, natural disasters, and man-made calamities... everything required weighing the pros and cons and making careful decisions. This sense of being "out of one's control" was something Gaoyao tried to avoid from the very beginning.
His initial plan was to assist the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng. He had many strategies in mind to strengthen the empire and bring prosperity to the people. Unfortunately, as a commoner with no illustrious family background and no connections, it was nothing short of a pipe dream to try to cross the strict class barriers and reach the emperor's ears.
He traveled tirelessly, exhausting himself, and finally managed to obtain an audience with the First Emperor. However, at that time, Xianyang was the domain of the Meng family. The brothers Meng Tian and Meng Yi enjoyed the First Emperor's deep trust, wielded great power, and had disciples and former officials throughout the court and the country.
A man of mysterious origins, whose words often revealed startling pronouncements, was as insignificant as an ant before the towering Meng family. He still remembered walking the streets of Xianyang after that audience, feeling the piercing gazes behind him, and the deep-seated fear within him of whether he could leave the capital alive. The Meng family's influence was like an invisible net, making it impossible for him to move an inch; his dream of assisting the First Emperor was nipped in the bud before it even began.
After the First Emperor, he turned his attention to Prince Fusu, who was known for his virtue. If he could assist Fusu and help him become a capable minister who could govern the country well, he might be able to indirectly realize his own ambitions and help the Qin Dynasty avoid the fate of perishing after only two generations.
However, this path was also blocked. Although the First Emperor was dissatisfied with Fusu's weakness and benevolence, he strategically bound Fusu firmly to the Northern Army. The Northern Army's soul lay with Meng Tian. Over 70% of the generals and elite troops followed the Meng family's lead. This was almost an unsolvable dilemma: to gain Fusu's trust and favor, one had to overcome the Meng family; and the Meng family's very existence was the biggest obstacle in his path. What could he offer to "follow" them? How could he win this competition destined to be unbalanced?
Even after establishing himself in Nanjun and gaining a certain foothold, Gao Yao did not remain without other ambitions. When Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) ascended the throne, the court was in chaos, and Zhao Gao seized power. Gao Yao once considered that perhaps he could try to assist Hu Hai, restore order, and bring this crumbling ship back on track to continue the Qin dynasty's reign.
This idea seemed absurd, but Gao Yao knew that there was always room for maneuver in the face of absolute power. Unfortunately, reality dealt him another heavy blow. On the one hand, Yi Xiaochuan was right beside him, and his belief that "history cannot be changed" clashed sharply with Gao Yao's struggles, adding many obstacles and uncertainties. On the other hand, and more fundamentally, Hu Hai himself was utterly incompetent.