Governance through extravagance would be carried through to the bitter end.
Who cared whether it brought benefits or not? At least living extravagantly made his own life comfortable.
Even though he was merely seeing the army off rather than personally leading the campaign, Zi Shou made the ceremonial spectacle enormous. He brought everything along, too: carriages, ceremonial fans, and even jade pieces to toy with in his hands.
Naturally, a farewell banquet was indispensable. The Star-Plucking Tower had found another use.
After gorging himself and drinking his fill at a sumptuous feast, Zi Shou was preparing to sleep before setting out early the next morning. Unexpectedly, Yin Hong came looking for him.
Yin Hong had already knelt outside Shouxian Palace for a long time. Only late into the night did he realize he had knelt in the wrong place: his imperial father was sleeping in the Western Palace tonight.
The Western Palace was the residence of his mother, Empress Jiang.
At that thought, Yin Hong grew even more terrified.
He knew his imperial father spent half of every month with Daji. Only during the remaining half did he stay overnight in the other consorts' residences.
Actually, that was no problem. Who said Daji was the only woman spending the night in Shouxian Palace?
To spread his branches and leaves and surpass Ji Chang, he naturally had to learn to distribute the rain and dew evenly.
But Yin Hong did not know that. He merely believed his mother was being cold-shouldered despite being the principal wife. He even thought his imperial father intended to replace the empress, and had repeatedly grumbled about it in private.
Yin Jiao had warned Yin Hong many times not to overthink things, but Yin Hong had refused to listen and continued doing as he pleased. Now