Chapter 628: This World and Kingdom Shall Be Named Han

Chapter 628: This Land Shall Be Called Han

No matter how complex the composition of the capital’s officials—how many from noble families, how many drifting with the tide, how many secretly colluding with the Wang, Yang, or Li clans outside, or even demonic spies—the fact remained that none of the courtiers held military power. Instead, the Four Symbols Sect, under Huangfu Qing’s covert manipulation, had operated for years, amassing considerable hidden strength.

The last capable imperial army had been sent to reinforce the Puyang battlefield, and after the trials of war, it had likely grown even more elite. Now that Puyang was over, this force was probably rushing back from the front, the distance not too great... but it was only when this army arrived that Vermilion Bird would be truly delighted.

Because the commanding general was her own younger brother, and his urgent return could only be to help his sister.

It wasn’t that Xia Longyuan had suddenly had a change of heart and willingly granted Huangfu Shaozong military command for the campaign; rather, when the enemy was the Wang clan, you couldn’t find many generals in the capital who were certain to have no ties with them. Even if you were sure, the Cui family wouldn’t trust them, sowing unnecessary suspicion among the frontline troops. The only reinforcements that could quickly earn Cui Yuanyong’s trust and cooperation were Huangfu Shaozong—the options were truly limited.

Now that both internal and external military power lay in the hands of the Four Symbols Sect, this was the best moment to seize control. Anyone else trying to take the reins of the central government would be several steps behind.

Under absolute military suppression, even if Vermilion Bird herself wanted to take the throne, it wouldn’t matter—propping up a pig as emperor would probably work. But what had to be considered was the aftermath: how to gain broader support, how to build a foundation, and how to extend influence across the realm. That couldn’t be done recklessly.

At the very least, appearances had to be maintained, and the Azure Dragon’s legal principle provided an excellent stepping stone.

Everyone knew that the Son of Heaven was merely the one with the strongest army and horses, but it couldn’t be too blatant; otherwise, it rarely lasted. Simply put, others also needed a justification for joining in, and only then would their sense of identity and participation be much higher.

Whether to acknowledge this so-called Azure Dragon principle and accept this stepping stone—the only force that could stand up to the Four Symbols Sect was the Demon-Slaying Division led by Tang Wanzhuang. Even if they couldn’t win, a single rallying cry would force the Four Symbols Sect into a bloodbath, making things terribly ugly. Before success was achieved, half the battle would be lost.

But Tang Wanzhuang gave her full support, because Xia Chichi was truly the late emperor’s daughter.

When the Four Symbols Sect’s military might merged with the legal principle and popular sentiment that Tang Wanzhuang represented, what erupted was an overwhelming, unquestionable ascension to the throne.

Some knowledgeable onlookers recalled old tales—allegedly, just allegedly—that the Four Symbols Sect harbored many remnants of the previous dynasty. For instance, some suspected Huangfu Qing was Vermilion Bird, and the Huangfu family were surrendered generals from the former dynasty; others suspected Xuanwu was the daughter of Hai Pinglan from the Southern Dynasty, with the last Chaos Chronicle mentioning his sitting death before his daughter as evidence; there was also talk that the original White Tiger Saintess was a princess of the former dynasty. Thus, the Four Symbols Sect had become a den of rebels.

If Xia Chichi was the White Tiger Saintess’s daughter, she carried an additional aura of the former dynasty. Some loyalists of the old regime might stir, after all, the founding was only thirty-odd years ago, and not all of them had died off.

With all these buffs stacked, she could offer stepping stones to anyone wherever she went, and for some, it wasn’t just a stepping stone—they would genuinely identify with her.

Take the Azure Dragon principle, for example. Not to mention others, the Four Symbols Sect members present were already ecstatic. Someone couldn’t hold back and led the way in bowing: “We beg the Saintess to ascend the throne soon, to stabilize the nation’s foundation!”

With someone taking the lead, the entire Four Symbols Sect roared in unison: “We beg the Saintess to ascend the throne!”

By then, Tang Wanzhuang had risen. She turned to look at the surging waves of voices around her and said calmly, “I beg you to ascend.”

This time, anyone who didn’t follow would be a true fool. Even Lu Jianzhang and the others, without a moment’s hesitation, bowed in unison: “We beg Your Majesty to ascend the throne!”

Xia Chichi quietly watched the clamor around her, her eyes somewhat dazed, feeling as if it were all far away, unreal.

Lu Jianzhang confirmed once more: “Your Majesty said you would change the dynasty. May I ask what name it will bear?”

In his heart, he thought: If you still call it Great Xia, then we’ll really have to consider the issue of settling accounts... But if you truly change it, then this matter can actually work. We’ll help you look through the classics to find a suitable one—rest assured, we’re the most professional at this ritual.

He also wanted to see if this young girl had the temperament of an emperor, or if she would ask her master or her man about everything—that would be truly ridiculous.

But Xia Chichi replied calmly, “Our Four Symbols Sect takes the stars as our meaning, so naturally we should name ourselves after the starry river. Having examined the classics, the one that fits is a single character.”

Even a learned man like Lu Jianzhang was stunned for a moment. Most verifiable dynasty names were derived from the place of origin—Qin, Han, Sui, Tang were all like that. As for stars, Xia barely counted, at least being a celestial season. But Xia Chichi clearly didn’t mean Xia, so there was probably only one...

Then they heard Xia Chichi say flatly, “The starry river is the Silver Han. This land, in this age, shall be called Han.”

No need to look up the books—it seemed this girl had copied plenty. Many didn’t even know that Han meant the starry river...

The officials had no objections. If you were willing to change the dynasty, everyone felt much more at ease. It also fit the Four Symbols Sect’s intent, and besides, Han had been an excellent name since the last era, with nothing to criticize. But this young girl, the emperor, had a certain decisiveness—she really did seem to have some imperial aura... Just don’t follow your father’s example...

On the other hand, Vermilion Bird, Tang Wanzhuang, and Zhao Changhe all stared at Xia Chichi’s profile, surprised. Because Xia Chichi hadn’t discussed this with anyone... A girl who spent every day grinning obsequiously at the Venerable One and copying texts, seemingly obeying him in everything, had made this decision entirely on her own, without even asking him.

What made her insist on “Han”?

The long river falls from the nine heavens, gathering into the lakes and rivers; the starry river hangs in the sky—how could it be without me? The intent of an inverted Milky Way that often accompanied his blade strikes was a unique aspect that set him apart from others of the Blood God Sect, recognized by the Four Symbols Sect as one of their own.

At least in the eyes of the Chaos Chronicle, Zhao Changhe had always been described with the Milky Way.

What Xia Chichi was expressing was: This is your dynasty.

And I am yours too.

But it was like casting pearls before swine—Zhao Changhe didn’t understand at all. His feelings for Han were on a completely different level from the people of this world, and he was quite pleased, thinking the name was excellent!

Seeing his foolish grin, Xia Chichi smiled faintly. The Azure Dragon’s image rose from her, its dragon qi so solid it seemed like a real dragon appearing, soaring into the sky.

Though it was morning, the sky suddenly filled with countless stars. The four constellations responded above, and a Milky Way stretched across, a magnificent sight.

Below, the crowd shouted long live the emperor, and Xia Chichi was draped in the yellow robe.

...

Xia Chichi was holding the ceremony, with Tang Wanzhuang assisting her. Zhao Changhe and Vermilion Bird sat to the side watching.

For Xia Chichi, who was doing this for the first time and didn’t even recognize the faces of the officials, it was a complicated affair. If Zhao Changhe had to do it, just figuring out the coronation rituals and distinguishing which official positions corresponded to what would have been enough to make his head spin. But Xia Chichi had deliberately studied it—she was thoroughly familiar with the entire system, rituals, and bureaucracy.

This was where she was far more suitable than Zhao Changhe. She was never meant for the jianghu, while Zhao Changhe was the opposite.

And then there was the matter of how to promote and reward her own officials, how to distribute new interests, how to establish a new system that merged politics and religion;

How to first stabilize people like Lu Jianzhang, observe whether they could be used later, whether they should be dismissed, how to deal with them, how to replace them—these were even more tedious matters, not to mention all the other miscellaneous issues. It was enough to drive even a peerless martial artist to tire of governance after a few months.

It wasn’t something you could handle just by wielding force and killing, especially in a time when the realm was fragmented and enemies were numerous.

But for now, she only needed to remember one rule: don’t take too big a step. First, complete the coronation and rewards. When Tang Wanzhuang suggested something, nod; when Tang Wanzhuang signaled with her eyes to wait, veto it. Just listen to her.

Though it was frustrating—being emperor and still having to listen to a rival in love, that old woman, that vixen—it was the lowest-cost approach for now. Sure enough, as long as she followed Tang Wanzhuang’s advice, everything went smoothly. Whenever someone objected, Tang Wanzhuang would argue them into confusion, leaving the emperor no need to speak... The emperor shouldn’t easily step into the fray either.

No matter how much she resented her rival, she had to admit that having a woman like this to help was truly a relief...

She had thought that with Tang Wanzhuang’s fierce support, the first day’s ceremony would be easy to handle. But what Xia Chichi hadn’t expected was that the first person to disrupt the ceremony would be Tang Wanzhuang herself.

Because it involved Tang Wanzhuang’s own rewards.

In theory, she should have been magnanimous, accepting any reward or even declining it. But instead, Tang Wanzhuang took the initiative to complain that the reward was wrong: “Your Majesty, your subject does not want promotion or ennoblement. Please take back the rewards of gold, silk, and land.”

Xia Chichi thought it was modesty and went along: “Then what does my beloved minister desire?”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled a little sheepishly: “Your subject is no longer young and should marry. I would like Your Majesty to grant a marriage—that would be my honor.”

Xia Chichi’s eyes widened: “?”

Vermilion Bird: “?”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Tang Wanzhuang said, “Your subject once swore not to marry a crown prince or become a consort... Now that there is someone who is no longer a crown prince, I naturally won’t become a consort either, so there is no longer any obstacle. I beg Your Majesty...”

Xia Chichi: “Wait, hold on!”