Chapter 101

Chapter 101: To Be Husband and Wife for Life

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Huo Yuan was discussing the building of the Imperial Mausoleum with his trusted ministers. The State Treasury had run dry these last years, and there was no silver to spare. The ministers all wore worried faces.

Huo Zheng waited outside the Imperial Study while a eunuch attendant went in to announce: “Reporting to His Majesty the Emperor, Prince Chang’an seeks an audience.”

“So he knows to come back!” The Emperor was already vexed by the lack of funds. Hearing that his son, who had vanished for a whole month and even missed the Palace Banquet on New Year’s Eve, had returned, he said in a hard voice: “Let him wait outside.”

The eunuch came out and told Prince Chang’an that His Majesty was discussing important matters with the ministers and asked the prince to wait. Huo Zheng knew Emperor Father was displeased that he had not returned to the capital for the New Year. He also knew he could not brush the matter aside. Sitting on a cold bench was normal, and apologies would be required.

Because the Emperor was angry with Prince Chang’an, the little eunuch did not dare invite Huo Zheng to a side hall for tea. Huo Zheng simply stood outside and waited. From time to time, the voices of several ministers drifted from within. It was not only the ministers who worried about money; even the Emperor had to worry. Huo Zheng stood at the door, eyes lowered and mind calm, without a trace of impatience.

After about half an hour, the business of state finally ended. The ministers came out of the Imperial Study and met Huo Zheng. They bowed together and said: “Your Highness, Prince Chang’an.” Huo Zheng returned a half-bow. Before he could speak, the eunuch from inside came to call him: “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you.”

Huo Zheng nodded to the ministers and stepped into the Imperial Study. He bowed and said: “Your son, Huo Zheng, greets Emperor Father.”

The Emperor did not at once tell him to rise. Instead, still displeased, he said: “So you still know to come back!”

Huo Zheng looked up at the Emperor and answered with a steady face: “Your son knows his fault.”

Emperor Huo Yuan was nearly fifty, yet he looked somewhat younger, like a man in his forties. One could still see how strikingly handsome he had been in youth. Of all the princes, Huo Zheng most resembled the Emperor. At times, looking at him made the Emperor think of his younger self.

Since Huo Zheng admitted fault at once, the Emperor asked: “Then tell me where you were wrong.”

Huo Zheng said: “You ordered me to remain in my manor to reflect, yet I left the capital without permission. That is my first fault.” The Emperor said nothing, waiting for him to go on. Huo Zheng continued: “I lingered in Dongzhou for a long time and caused Emperor Father worry. That is my second fault.” The Emperor gave a cold snort and still did not respond. Huo Zheng went on: “Without your approval, I married outside and fathered a child. That is my third fault.”

When searching for Chun Zhi in Nanzhou, he had even called on the Nanzhou Navy to block the river. The impact was great and could not be hidden. The Emperor’s eyes and ears had likely reported everything already. Knowing he could not conceal it, Huo Zheng chose to speak plainly.

The Emperor asked in a deep voice: “Since you know you were wrong, why do you not change?”

Huo Zheng stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt as he answered: “Feelings cannot be changed, even if they seem wrong. Your son boldly begs Emperor Father to grant this.”

It was still the second month, and the floor was cold. He knelt with his back straight, his bearing unbent. Looking down at this son, the Emperor felt both anger and a flicker of amusement. Raised at Empress Wang’s knee, Huo Zheng had been taught strict propriety. So young, yet he carried himself like an old scholar. From youth onward, he had not strayed a single step. He never touched what he should not touch. Among the Emperor’s many sons, some were lecherous, some greedy, and more than a few hungry for power. Only Huo Zheng did exactly what he ought to do and not a bit more.

At fifteen or sixteen, the other princes had palace attendants to instruct them in bedroom matters; Huo Zheng would not let even a single palace attendant near him. He lived to twenty-four and had barely spoken to any woman. Wang Yi Yue often visited her aunt in the palace and called him “cousin,” but he never said more than a greeting to her. Who would have thought that one trip to Nanzhou would make him open up at last? He not only broke his vow of abstinence, he married and fathered a son.

Even the Emperor was curious what kind of woman could make this iron tree blossom. He kept his face stern and would not forgive so quickly. He coughed twice and said solemnly: “Your empress mother already planned your marriage. How do you expect me to grant you this?”

Huo Zheng answered: “If Emperor Father issues an edict to grant the marriage, Empress Mother will have no objection.”

The Emperor thought to himself: [So the Empress does not want to be the villain and means for me to be the one.]

Huo Zheng added: “I have never asked Emperor Father for anything. Please grant your son this one true wish.”

When Huo Zheng returned from inspecting Nanzhou, he clearly had merit, yet he was punished with a hundred lashes for killing Prince Ning and his son. At that time, he accepted all one hundred without asking the Emperor to show mercy. Now, for the sake of a woman, he set aside his pride.

The Emperor had long since received secret reports: the Prince of Chang’an had married a village girl in a small Nanzhou town and lived with her in a shabby hut like a market couple. Later, for some reason, they quarreled. The girl jumped into the river before his eyes, and Huo Zheng jumped after her. They were separated for a long time and met again in Dongzhou. Now he had brought her back to the Capital, set on marrying her.

The Emperor asked: “And if I do not allow it?”

Huo Zheng replied: “If I cannot marry Chun Zhi, then I will never marry in this life.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he said: “Are you threatening me?”

Huo Zheng kept his head low and answered: “Your son would not dare.”

The Emperor said: “According to your empress mother, making that commoner a secondary consort is enough. You insist on making her principal consort. Will that not shame the Imperial House?”

Huo Zheng said: “Chun Zhi saved my life. If I force my lifesaver to become a concubine, would I not be repaying kindness with cruelty?”

The Emperor considered. “If it is only to repay a debt, grants and rewards will do.”

Huo Zheng answered steadily: “Chun Zhi and I are already husband and wife, and we have a son. I want to marry her not only to repay kindness, but because I like her and wish to be husband and wife for life.”

The Emperor said: “But she is only a commoner. Your elder imperial brothers all took principal consorts from great houses. If you marry her, people will laugh at you.”

“I do not fear their laughter,” Huo Zheng said. “Chun Zhi is the sister of Song An Lan, the richest man in Dongzhou. I marry her for myself and also for Emperor Father.”

The Emperor’s interest stirred and he asked: “Explain.”

Huo Zheng spoke clearly: “Everyone says the four classes are scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, with merchants ranked last. But now the State Treasury is empty. We need merchants to show their talents. If Emperor Father grants your son a marriage with the richest man’s sister in Dongzhou, soon the people will see that you value commerce. Our dynasty will thrive in every trade, and the State Treasury will fill again before long.”