We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chapter 1036 Aftermath

As the sun set, it bathed the viewing pavilion atop Zijin Mountain in a warm orange-red hue, yet it could not dispel the chill and loneliness that enveloped Li Che.

He sat there quietly, letting Qian Bin's gradually cooling body lean against his shoulder.

There were no cries, no words, just a tight grip on the teacher's hand.

It was as if he was convinced that as long as he didn't let go, the warmth that belonged to his teacher would never truly be severed.

At this moment, time seems to have lost its meaning.

Li Che only came to his senses when he heard a series of hurried but deliberately light footsteps.

It turned out that Li Lin had led several important officials to this place in a hurry.

When they saw the scene inside the pavilion, everyone involuntarily stopped in their tracks.

The emperor sat motionless on the ground, the hem of his dragon robe stained with dust.

In his arms, Marquis Wenzhen, Qian Bin, sat peacefully, his face serene as if asleep.

An ominous premonition enveloped everyone.

Li Lin's heart sank, and he immediately waved his hand to stop the crowd that wanted to step forward.

He then quietly walked forward.

He first bowed to the emperor, who looked like a clay or wooden sculpture, and then carefully extended his finger to check Qian Bin's breath.

A cool sensation spread through my fingertips.

Li Lin's hand trembled slightly, and he quickly withdrew it.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, they were filled with deep sorrow.

Then, Li Lin took three steps back, straightened his clothes, knelt down in front of Qian Bin's body, and performed a very solemn salute:

"Respectfully seeing off Marquis Wenzhen!"

The sound was like a pebble thrown into a still pond.

Huo Duanxiao, Zhuge Zhe, and the others behind him instantly changed their expressions, their hopes vanishing completely.

They all knelt down, lifting their robes in unison, and followed the Prince of Yan in bowing deeply to the veteran ministers of three dynasties and the emperor's tutor before them, shouting in unison:

"Your humble servants... respectfully bid farewell to Marquis Wenzhen—"

The mountain wind howled, and the pines rustled, as if echoing this solemn farewell.

The cheers of the crowd seemed to finally pull Li Che back to his senses from his grief.

His eyes slowly moved, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling officials before finally settling on the peaceful face of his teacher in his arms.

Gently placing Qian Bin's hand back to his side, she then smoothed a strand of white hair from the old man's forehead.

Then, he slowly raised his head and looked at everyone.

His face showed no intense expression, and could even be described as calm: "Issue my decree."

Taishi Ying had already prepared paper and pen, and upon hearing this, he immediately stood at attention.

"Qian Bin was my mentor and a pillar of the nation. Throughout his life, he was honest and upright, loyal and virtuous, dedicated to academic research, and committed to governing the country and bringing peace to the people. His contributions to the nation were immense."

"His sudden passing has broken my heart. I hereby decree that he be posthumously granted the title of Duke of Shu, the posthumous title of Grand Tutor, and the posthumous name of Wenzheng!"

Taishi Ying wrote down Li Che's words with swift strokes and flowing ink.

The ministers were not surprised, as His Majesty has always valued relationships and would naturally bestow posthumous honors upon his teacher upon his death.

Li Che paused briefly before continuing, "I am deeply grieved by the passing of Master Qian. The court has suspended court for three days of silence, and the whole nation mourns."

"The Qian family will set up a mourning hall for seven days for officials to pay their respects. All funeral arrangements will be handled by the Ministry of Rites in conjunction with the Imperial Household Department, in accordance with the highest standards for a Duke, and there must be no mistakes."

"Furthermore," Li Che's voice suddenly became more serious, "I...will personally wear mourning clothes for Master Qian, perform the disciple's rites, and send my teacher off on his final journey."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the young emperor in disbelief.

Suspending court sessions, posthumously conferring titles, and giving lavish funerals... these are all honors, but they are still within the scope of the emperor's praise for meritorious veteran officials.

Although it appears heavy and cumbersome, it does not exceed the framework of etiquette.

But for an emperor to personally wear mourning clothes for his subjects is simply unheard of, unprecedented in history!

The emperor is the Son of Heaven, the sovereign and father of all people under Heaven. Apart from the deceased retired emperor and empress dowager, who in this world is worthy of mourning for the Son of Heaven?

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Fan, the Minister of Rites, could no longer contain himself and knelt down, saying urgently, "Your Majesty's grief for Wenzheng Gong is as clear as day."

"However, Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, the emperor of ten thousand chariots. This action is against propriety. There has never been a precedent in history for a monarch to wear mourning clothes for his subjects!"

“If this precedent is set, it may cause controversy and damage Your Majesty’s virtue. I earnestly hope that Your Majesty will reconsider.”

Seeing that the emperor remained silent, none of the other officials spoke.

Only Huo Duanxiao hesitated for a moment before advising, "Your Majesty, a grand funeral and posthumous honors are already an unprecedented grace."

"If His Majesty were to personally offer condolences and sacrifices, it would be sufficient to demonstrate the boundless grace of the Emperor. Wearing mourning clothes would indeed be excessive."

Even Li Lin, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but raise his head, his eyes filled with worry.

He knew his sixth brother valued relationships, but this matter concerned etiquette and was of utmost importance.

"Your Majesty, if Master Qian were alive, he would not wish to see Your Majesty violate ancestral rules because of him. Perhaps...?"

"Fourth Brother," Li Che interrupted him calmly.

His gaze turned to Li Lin, his eyes showing no anger, but rather an indescribable firmness: "My mind is made up on this matter."

Li Lin sighed, then nodded.

Regardless, Li Lin ultimately stood on Li Che's side.

Once Li Che makes up his mind, what does it matter if he violates etiquette and law? How many teachers does he have to follow etiquette and law?!

Li Che surveyed his ministers and calmly said, "The ancient sages established rites with the original intention of establishing human relations, clarifying hierarchy, and guiding people toward goodness."

"My relationship with Master Qian is nominally that of ruler and subject, but in reality, we are teacher and student, and our bond is like that of father and son."

"A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts; their kindness is akin to giving one another life. Today, our teacher has passed away, and it is only natural for us disciples to observe mourning, which is the essence of filial piety."

"If my imperial throne leads to the annihilation of human ethics and filial piety, what use are these rites and laws?"

Li Che wasn't acting recklessly; there was a historical precedent, namely Emperor Ming of Han.

After his teacher Huan Rong passed away, Emperor Ming of Han wore mourning clothes and personally attended the funeral, which was an exception to the rules of etiquette for teachers.

It's just that the Han Dynasty didn't exist in this world, so the officials never saw it.

Li Che paused, his tone becoming even more somber: "I know what you're worried about; it's nothing more than the unbreakable bond between ruler and subject."

"However, a ruler treats his subjects with courtesy, and a subject serves his ruler with loyalty. Throughout his life, Professor Qian was loyal and diligent in serving the country, devoting himself to the cause without ever overstepping his bounds."

"Today, I send him off with the respect due to a disciple, precisely to acknowledge his merits. If future ministers possess both virtue and talent like Master Qian, I will not hesitate to bestow honors upon them!"

His words were powerful and resounding, leaving everyone speechless.

Seeing the resolute look in the emperor's eyes, the ministers knew that further persuasion would be futile and might even damage the relationship between the emperor and his subjects.

In the end, everyone compromised, bowed deeply, and said in unison:

"The ministers obey the order."

Having resolved this minor dispute, Li Che seemed to have exhausted a lot of energy, and his face showed even more fatigue.

Seeing this, Li Lin stepped forward at the opportune moment and whispered, "Your Majesty, it is getting late and the mountain wind is getting cold. Should we send Master Qian back to his residence first?"

"Master Qian's family must have been waiting at home for quite some time."

When his family was mentioned, a hint of sadness flashed in Li Che's eyes, and he nodded: "Yes, let's go back to the manor."

Only then did everyone step forward to pick up Qian Bin's body.

Li Che waved his hand and personally bent down to gently lift his teacher's body.

Li Lin quickly signaled to two Imperial Guards to bring over a soft sedan chair that had been prepared beforehand, and to lay down a thick quilt.

Li Che settled Qian Bin in a sedan chair, tidied his clothes, and covered him with a thin blanket.

The group set off, with the sedan chair leading the way, and Li Che and Li Lin following side by side behind.

Seeing that the emperor and the Prince of Yan were following behind, the officials naturally dared not walk fast and could only follow slowly.

Li Che suddenly remembered something, his eyes turned icy cold, and he spoke to Li Lin:

"Those two imperial physicians involved concealed the illness, preventing me from knowing about Master Qian's serious condition sooner and from spending more time with him!"

"Such behavior must be severely punished by me! According to the law..."

He paused in his speech.

Suddenly, the words my teacher had said to me during his last moments of lucidity echoed in my mind.

At this moment, consumed by anger, he almost broke his promise to his teacher.

“But I promised Master Qian that I would not pursue this matter further.” Li Che’s voice returned to calm. “The death penalty may be waived, but the price must be paid.”

"Issuing an imperial decree: The two imperial physicians involved, Zhou and Wu, shall be fined one year's salary and immediately dismissed from their posts in the Imperial Medical Academy."

"Let him go to medical school to teach, make up for his mistakes, and dedicate the rest of his life to teaching medicine and cultivating the benevolence of doctors."

Li Lin cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it shortly."

Li Che did not give up. His gaze swept over the imperial physicians who had accompanied him, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"The Imperial Medical Academy..." he slowly uttered three words, then added, "From this day forward, it will be renamed the 'National Medical Academy'."

"All physicians in the academy must remember that they are first and foremost healers who treat the sick and save lives, and only secondly imperial physicians who serve the royal family."

"Doctors should have the heart of parents, and their primary duty should be to save lives and help people. How can they forget their duty just because the patients they serve are different?"

"From this day forward, all imperial physicians of the National Hospital, in addition to taking turns serving in the palace, princely residences, and various government offices, must regularly travel to various medical institutions in the capital to provide consultations, come into contact with the suffering of the people, and refine their medical skills."

"We will absolutely not allow any more instances of delays in treatment or concealment of illnesses due to personal relationships to occur!"

Through this incident, Li Che once again realized the limitations of rule by man.

When personal relationships outweigh rules and regulations, it may seem appealing, but it is actually extremely harmful.

Admittedly, the two imperial physicians meant well and concealed the illness from Qian Bin out of respect for him.

However, in a different situation, would they also conceal the truth from members of the royal family or even themselves out of respect for others?

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Li Che wanted these imperial physicians to know that they were doctors first and foremost, and only then were they imperial physicians.

Doctors should not serve only the royal family, so it was changed to a national hospital.

Moreover, doctors' skills only improve the more patients they see.

Which famous doctor, like Hua Tuo, Bian Que, or Sun Simiao, wasn't like this?

Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine is an empirical science that requires frequent hands-on practice.

Xu Wei immediately replied, "Your Majesty is wise; we obey your decree."

Li Che nodded and looked at him: "We will work with the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the National Hospital to draft detailed regulations as soon as possible."

"Here."

Having made all these arrangements, Li Che finally managed to suppress the grief in his heart for the time being.

Night had fallen, and the guards lit lanterns. The dim yellow light swayed on the stone steps, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and sorrow.

When they arrived at the Qian residence, the interior was already a pure white, brightly lit.

Qian Bin's three sons and other family members had already received the news and were now waiting anxiously at the door.

Upon seeing the imperial carriage and the palanquin, he immediately understood everything.

A sudden burst of mournful cries erupted, and the women nearly fainted.

Li Che knew all three of Qian Bin's sons; they were all mediocre in talent and appearance, living off their father's legacy.

Qian Bin never asked Li Che for any help with his children and grandchildren during his lifetime. He knew that children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and that excessive protection might harm them.

At that moment, the three of them collapsed before their father's body, weeping uncontrollably, their grief genuine and profound.

Seeing this scene, Li Che felt a pang of sorrow and admired Master Qian's detached and insightful character even more.

As for Qian Shi's three sons, although they were not particularly talented, they were honest and reliable.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a pang of pity, and stepped forward to personally help the three of them up.

"Please accept my condolences." Li Che's voice was low. "Master Qian was not only your father, but also my teacher. I will personally take care of his funeral arrangements."

"If you encounter any difficulties, you may take this token and enter the palace to see me at any time."

As he spoke, he took a token from his waist and handed it to Qian Bin's eldest son.

This token was no ordinary item; its holder could request an audience with the emperor at any time to petition his case.

Within the capital city, its significance was no different from that of an iron certificate granting immunity from death, enough to protect the descendants of the Qian family from being bullied.

After all, even the most ruthless villain wouldn't dare provoke a family that could complain to the emperor at any time.

The eldest son of the Qian family received the gold medal with trembling hands and was about to kneel down to express his gratitude when Li Che stopped him.

"How is the mourning hall arranged?" Li Che turned to the officials from the Imperial Household Department and the steward of the Qian family who were in charge.

"Your Majesty, the main hall has been prepared overnight, following the preliminary ceremonial procedures of the Ministry of Rites," the steward reported, his voice choked with emotion.

Li Che nodded: "Take me to see."

He said no more and walked into the mansion.

. . . . . .

The night slowly faded away amidst the mournful cries and the scent of incense, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

Inside the Qian family's mourning hall, the ever-burning lamps cast flickering lights, illuminating the entire hall of white and the coffin in the center.

At the very front of the mourning hall, a figure dressed in coarse hemp mourning clothes knelt upright on a prayer mat, standing out conspicuously compared to the filial sons, grandsons, students, and former officials who took turns around.

Li Che had his eyes closed, his face expressionless.

According to the established etiquette, the eldest son or great-grandson should kneel and keep vigil before the coffin all night. Li Che, as a disciple, actually knelt there for an entire night without eating or drinking.

Although several eunuchs tried to persuade him to rest, he refused.

The footsteps came from his side, but Li Che did not open his eyes.

The familiar presence of the man kneeling down on the prayer mat beside him eased his tense back.

"Fourth Brother," Li Che said in a low voice, "is the court still peaceful?"

Li Lin turned his head and looked at his younger brother's pale face, sighing inwardly: "Sixth brother, rest assured, everyone in the court knows that His Majesty is grieving, and no one dares to cause trouble at this moment."

"All ministries and departments are operating normally, and the cabinet ministers have already handled the minor matters."

"Hmm," Li Che responded, then fell silent again.

Li Lin quietly reached into his sleeve, pulled something out, covered it with his body, and slipped it into Li Che's hand, which was hanging by his side.

It feels slightly warm to the touch and carries a familiar sweet scent.

Li Che twitched his fingers and subconsciously looked down. In his palm was a piece of osmanthus rice cake wrapped in clean oil paper.

He was momentarily stunned.