Chapter 86

The Great Hao Dynasty has been established for sixty years, spanning three generations of emperors. The first emperor, the founding ancestor, reigned under the era name Longwu for twenty-seven years. The second emperor, with the temple name Jizu, reigned under the era name Xingbang for fourteen years. The third generation is the current emperor, Emperor Xuandi, who ascended the throne at the age of twenty-two and set the era name as "Qianfeng." As of now, he has been on the throne for nineteen years.

However, five years ago, Emperor Xuandi issued an imperial edict, declaring to the world that due to health reasons, he would retire to the inner palace to focus on recuperation. All state affairs were to be entrusted to the Empress. Thus, the Empress began to rule from behind the curtain and changed the era name to "Yongchang" in the first year.

On the fifth day of the tenth month of the fifth year of Yongchang, it was the Empress's fortieth birthday. To celebrate this grand occasion, the entire Great Hao Dynasty had been preparing for a whole year. When the day finally arrived, the entire city of Luoyang was in a state of excitement.

On this day, the Empress issued an edict for a general amnesty. All criminals, except those who committed the ten heinous crimes (including treason, high treason, rebellion, filial impiety, gross disrespect, filial disobedience, discord, unrighteousness, and internal strife), were pardoned and allowed to return home.

The Empress also decreed that the ninety-nine provinces and 12,960 counties under the Great Hao Dynasty would have one-third of their annual taxes and levies waived. In particular, the Wencheng County and Wude County, which are part of the capital Luoyang, would have all their annual taxes and levies waived.

At the Imperial Academy, all the students received a bottle of imperial wine, five pounds of meat, ten gold beads, and a volume of the Empress's personally composed poetry collection, "Chuigong Ji," to encourage their academic progress and to become pillars of the state.

The army in Luoyang was divided into the Southern Office, which guarded the palace, and the Northern Office, which guarded the capital. The combined strength was about 300,000 troops. On this day, the 300,000 soldiers of the Southern and Northern Offices also received rice and silk from the Empress, along with an additional three months' salary as a reward.

In Wencheng County and Wude County, which are part of Luoyang, a banquet was held in the Empress's name, inviting all the elderly over sixty years old in the city. They were also given walking sticks as a symbol of honor.

All these measures required a vast amount of silver to support, almost enough to scare one to death. However, thanks to Emperor Xuandi's diligent governance since his ascension, the country has enjoyed peace and prosperity, with a thriving economy and a steadily growing national strength. The country is now in a state of flourishing, not just a small improvement. Therefore, even though the Empress's birthday celebration involved spending money like water, the imperial treasury of the Great Hao Dynasty could still bear the burden with ease.

With the strong financial support of the Great Hao Dynasty, the Empress's birthday truly became a time of joy shared by all, with the entire country celebrating. From early morning, the city was decorated with lanterns and banners, and the air was filled with the sounds of music. People in the streets and alleys wore bright new clothes, their faces beaming with joy. When they met, they would first congratulate the Empress on her birthday before discussing their own matters.

The festive atmosphere in the city was already lively, but the palace was even more bustling.

On this day, before dawn, a large number of civil and military officials all dressed in formal attire and entered the Chengtian Gate, passing through the double towers to the Golden Hall, where they waited in line to pay homage to the Empress.

Among the many officials, the chief civil official was the Grand Marshal Mu Shouxin. Below him were the Six Ministries' Secretaries, the Chief Censor, the President of the Supreme Court, the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and other officials of various departments.

The chief military official was the Grand General of the Grand Marshal's Office, He Chimen. Below him were the Southern Army Commander Li Yanhan, the Northern Army Commander Zhi Jinwu, and other generals and commanders of the various garrisons and departments in the capital.

These were just the so-called capital officials. There were even more local officials. The Great Hao Dynasty governed ninety-nine provinces, each with a provincial governor. Below the provinces were the counties, each with a county magistrate. Although local officials could not leave their posts, they each sent deputies to offer birthday greetings and gifts to the Empress.

There were at least tens of thousands of these representatives. If each were to pay homage individually, it would take months to complete. Therefore, the lower-ranking officials from outside the capital had to gather in groups of one hundred and then collectively pay homage to the Empress outside the Golden Hall.

Even with this compromise, it took half a day for all the officials to complete their greetings.

After the civil and military officials had paid their respects, it was the turn of the envoys from neighboring countries. The Great Hao Dynasty, after sixty years of establishment, had unprecedented power. It unified the country, and the world was at peace. The army was invincible, and all enemies were defeated. Therefore, the barbarians submitted, and envoys came from all directions.

The vassal states of the Great Hao Dynasty included Malacca, Java, Champa, Sumatra, Cochin, Kollam, Nanboli, Pahang, Kelantan, Gayir, Hormuz, Bila, Liu Shan, Sunla, Malindi, Bengala, Ceylon, Mubadushu, Barawa, Malindi, Ras, Cochin, Nanwuli, Saribani, Aden, Zufar, and Manbasa, among others, numbering dozens of countries. On the Empress's fortieth birthday, these vassal states naturally sent envoys to offer tribute.

Additionally, there were envoys from overseas countries such as Japan, South and North Korea, Eagle Auspicious, Russia, France, and America, which, although not vassal states, had close relations with the Great Hao Dynasty. They also sent envoys with gifts to celebrate the Empress's birthday.

For a moment, the palace was filled with people of various races, including those with golden hair and blue eyes, high noses and deep-set eyes, curly beards, and black and white skin, all entering the Taiji Hall to kneel before the Empress and shout "Long live the Empress."

This scene naturally instilled a strong sense of pride and honor in being a citizen of the Great Hao Dynasty.

When all the ceremonies were finally completed, it was already evening. The Empress, without hesitation, took her seat at the center of the Golden Hall.

Beside the Empress sat a young man with a handsome face, a proud demeanor, and a reserved manner. He was the Empress's biological son, the Second Prince, Crown Prince Xiao Hao.

Next in line, the banquet in the Golden Hall was divided into two rows. The right side was for civil and military officials and envoys from various countries, while the left side was for the royal family.

The first seat on the left was occupied by a young man with a short beard, dignified and graceful. He was the First Prince, the Limping Prince Xiao Yi. The noblewoman beside him was one of the two highest-ranking concubines in the palace, the First Prince's birth mother, Concubine Shu.

The second seat was occupied by a young man with a refined and gentle demeanor, the Third Prince, the Scholar Prince Xiao Xing.

The third seat was occupied by a young man in red, with a handsome face, a steady demeanor, and sharp, sword-like eyes. He was the Fourth Prince, the Sword Prince Xiao Yu. Due to his steady character and impartiality, he also managed the Imperial Clan Office, responsible for handling various affairs of the royal family. Beside the Sword Prince was a young man in purple, with a cold and proud expression, carrying a sword case. He was the Sword Prince's personal sword bearer, Zishan Chuan.

The fourth seat was occupied by the Eighth Prince, the Virtuous Prince Xiao Chang. He had excellent interpersonal skills and, once seated, continuously greeted his brothers and the civil officials on the opposite side. His words and actions made people feel as if they were basking in a warm breeze.

The fifth seat was occupied by the Ninth Prince, the Arrogant Prince Xiao Kun, along with his mother, one of the two highest-ranking concubines in the palace, Concubine Ning, and his uncle, Baili Kunluo. Among the brothers, he was closest to his eighth brother, the Virtuous Prince. Therefore, after seating, the Arrogant Prince frequently spoke to his eighth brother and paid little attention to the others.

The sixth seat was occupied by a young man with a constant smile and a weight that was shockingly heavy. He was the Tenth Prince, the Wealth Prince Xiao Chen. Although he did not have a remarkable appearance, at least a quarter of the businesses in Luoyang were related to him. His various businesses, including security agencies, merchants, banks, and shipping companies, spanned the entire Great Hao Dynasty. It could be said that in the 12,960 counties of the Great Hao Dynasty, each county had his business. He was truly rich enough to rival a nation.

The seventh seat was occupied by a young man around sixteen or seventeen years old, with a sword-like brow and a face full of righteous and heroic spirit. He was the Thirteenth Prince, the Heroic Prince Xiao Jing, known for his upright and brave character and his love for justice.

The last seat, the eighth seat, was occupied by a young man with a clear and handsome face, a smile always on his lips, and a sunny and bright demeanor. He was Xiao Sheng.

Many people found it strange how someone with a natural six-yin absolute meridian, unable to practice martial arts and thus having no prospects for advancement, and being neglected by both his parents, could still display such a bright smile. Or perhaps the Fourteenth Prince, the Wasted Prince Xiao Sheng, was a naturally carefree and foolish person who knew nothing of worry and sorrow?

Beside Xiao Sheng were a man and a woman. The woman had a dazed expression, a sallow complexion, and lusterless hair, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness. She was Ling Zileng.

As for the man, he had a very ordinary appearance and build. No one could tell that he was actually one of the Five Dukes of the Eastern Wasteland, the Tiger Shark Duke Wen Dahai.

At the level of martial arts cultivation that Wen Dahai had reached, he could control his muscles and bones at will. Transforming from a 300-pound fat man to his current ordinary appearance was easy for Wen Dahai.

After Xiao Sheng, the other members of the Great Hao Dynasty's royal family followed. For example, Prince Xiao Ji of the Southern Kingdom was among them and was quite prominent.

As for the Five Dukes of the Eastern Wasteland, including Huangfu Yu, Sima Tianxia, the Son of the Eastern Wasteland, and Qiantou Wushi Zhen, they also came. Their seats were arranged very close to the front, indicating that the Empress still placed great importance on the people of the Eastern Wasteland.