"It is precisely because of these drawbacks that Emperor Shizu of Great Wei opened maritime shipping. Later generations repeatedly opened and banned it-surely not without reason. It seems we must still discuss this in detail."
After a moment of silence, Qian Wei turned the discussion to the Southwestern Province.
"Your Majesty, the native chieftains of the Southwestern Province have now submitted, and affairs there are gradually settling down. Should Governor-General Luo Pei be summoned back to the capital to report on his duties?" Qian Wei asked.
At these words, everyone's expression shifted. Luo Pei had thrown his lot in with the Imperial Grandson long ago. What was the intention behind bringing this up?
They saw the emperor consider it before saying, "Luo Pei has been away from the capital for a long time. It is time he returned. Draft an edict appointing him Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince and ordering him to return to the capital with all haste upon receiving it."
"Yes!" the grand secretaries answered, all inwardly startled. Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince was one of the three preceptors. Had it simply been bestowed on Luo Pei like that?
On second thought, however, as the title suggested, a junior guardian protected the crown prince. Luo Pei was close to the Imperial Grandson, so appointing him Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince did seem quite fitting.
The ministers of the Grand Secretariat pondered this, then heard the emperor say, "The investiture of the Imperial Grandson is a major affair of state. The New Year festivities should be more magnificent..."
Since this concerned Su Ziji, he could no longer sit silently and listen. He hurriedly rose and bowed. "Your Majesty, only through your imperial grace was your grandson and subject invested as Imperial Grandson. Since my investiture, I