Changsheng Hall.
The Linhui Emperor walked barefoot, stepping across the massive map of the thirty-four provinces of Great Qian.
Three thousand strands of black hair fell loose instead of being tied into a crown; a small braid was tied with a red cord soaked in cinnabar.
Black for authority, gold for power.
The emperor’s wide sleeves were bound by wrist guards, his black belt fastened with a jade clasp. His slender waist was fully revealed.
The emperor of Great Qian was always a horseback ruler; his archery and martial skills were unmatched even among court generals.
The bow in his hands weighed ten stones—ordinary generals could hardly draw it.
Li Dequan, looking at such a heroic emperor, felt pride and excitement.
The emperor, even in his old servant’s eyes, was dazzling; all men and women, young and old, would naturally bow to him.
“Minister Cui requests an audience.”
The emperor drew his bow, the strings vibrating sharply.
As his footsteps passed the screen, the blade of his bow grazed Cui Hao’s official hat.
The hat fell to the floor.
Cui Hao’s face remained calm, showing the pride of a scholar. Even with an executioner’s sword at his neck, he would not blink.
“I, Minister Cui Hao, inquire about Your Majesty’s well-being.”
Boring.
The Linhui Emperor tossed the bow to Li Dequan, and the old man nearly collapsed under its weight.
A palace maid hurriedly handed a cloth.
The emperor casually threw it onto a plate and sat boldly on the couch.
“I… am well.”
Li Dequan quickly offered prepared tea and crouched to help the emperor put on shoes.
The emperor frowned and kicked him away.
“What brings Minister Cui to see me today?”
Cui Hao looked at the barefoot, unrestrained emperor, frowning slightly, but did not admonish him.
“Your Majesty, today someone struck the Dengwen Drum in Wanqian County. The county magistrate summoned an inquiry. The visitor was Hong Yao, a courtesan from Wan Hong Courtyard of An County. She seeks to accuse the son of the Minister of the Treasury of wanton murder.
This involves two counties and concerns the Minister of the Treasury, so it was transferred to Qizhou Prefecture.
The Chief Historian of Qizhou investigated and found that the Minister’s son bullied men and women, enjoyed torturing courtesans, causing several deaths. Wan Hong Courtyard ignored this. The person behind it is also a court official, Minister of the Honglu Temple, Xu Tao.”
“According to Great Qian law, the offender, Minister of the Treasury’s son Song Yu, should be beheaded. Xu Tao should be exiled for ten years.
The case has been transferred to the Ministry of Justice, and their review concurs.”
The emperor raised an eyebrow, unconcerned with the verdict. “Minister Cui would not come to me over such a minor matter, surely.”
“I wish to speak—”
“Minister Guo requests an audience.”
The emperor’s eyes brightened, and he stood. “Minister-in-law, what wind brings you here? Please, have a seat.”
Li Dequan personally moved a chair for Minister Guo.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The emperor smiled and sat casually.
“I, with some boldness, come to plead for the Minister of the Treasury.”
The emperor casually picked up a kumquat, wiped it with his robe, and put it in his mouth. “Minister-in-law, speak freely.”
Cui Hao frowned. Matters outside his duty were not his concern; he could overlook them. But matters of justice were his responsibility—no one else could interfere.
“Your Majesty, no. Great Qian law holds the emperor equal to the common people. One cannot be forgiven simply for being a court official. To act otherwise undermines the law, chilling the hearts of the people. Who then would respect the law? The fairness of law is the founding principle of Great Qian, Your Majesty.”
Minister Guo frowned and said displeased, “Minister Cui knows law well and has expertise. I may not be as skilled, but your warning seems exaggerated. I, unlike Minister Cui, have spent my life fighting on the frontiers of Great Qian. I bear twenty-seven scars, each an honor.
Law is nothing but human sentiment. The Minister of the Treasury has served Your Majesty with utmost devotion. In the second year of Zhenhui, disasters plagued Huaixi; the treasury was empty. The Minister served honestly for years and still managed to gather three hundred taels of silver.
In the fourth year, merchants rioted, and his youngest son was killed on site. Your Majesty, the Minister has dedicated his life to Great Qian. If his son Song Yu is further executed after castration, it will destroy the Minister’s life.”
The emperor’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Minister Guo’s words are valid, but Minister Cui’s are not without reason. Then the death penalty may be spared, but he cannot escape punishment. Reduce it to ten years’ exile. Minister Guo, do you agree?”
“Your Majesty is wise.”
The emperor’s thin lips curved slightly. “Ah, by the way, the Minister of the Honglu Temple position is vacant. Do either of you have a recommendation?”
Cui Hao remained silent, feeling the emperor was favoring Minister Guo too much and being careless.
“I—” Minister Guo was about to speak.
“Ah, I recently received a gift. Why not examine it together?”
The emperor gave them no chance to refuse and had the screen brought forward.
“What do you think of the painting on the screen?”
“This person’s brushwork is exquisite, a rare master. It’s a pity the painting is unfinished.”
The emperor looked at Cui Hao, eyes slightly shifting. “Minister Cui, what do you think?”
Cui Hao’s face was grave. The flowing brushwork bore personal style.
It was written by Bi Bi.
Why was her painting in the emperor’s palace?
“Do you know who painted this, Minister Cui?”
Cui Hao could not speak; he could not discern the emperor’s intent.
“This painting… I do not know.”
“Minister Cui, that seems deliberate. There’s a saying: the Jing and Cui families cannot be separated. Didn’t you recognize this as the work of a Jing family member?”
“Minister Guo is slightly mistaken. This painting is actually finished. It was painted by Jing Xuan’s youngest daughter. She has never met me and does not know my appearance. Yet she still thought of me and had the portrait sent.”
The emperor lied.
Cui Hao understood but did not expose it.
A flash passed in Minister Guo’s eyes. “So it’s a Jing family painting. No wonder.”
“Ah, I remember Jing Xuan. How did he become a ninth-rank county magistrate? I recall he was…”
“Deputy Minister of the Honglu Temple.”
The emperor smiled knowingly and tossed a kumquat at Cui Hao. “Minister Cui has the better memory. Truly, the Jing and Cui families cannot be separated.”
The emperor stood and stretched. “Since Jing Xuan was formerly Deputy Minister of the Honglu Temple, letting him take the Minister position should be fine.”
“Your Majesty,” Minister Guo spoke, but seeing the emperor so relaxed, he held his tongue. “Your Majesty is wise.”
The emperor waved his hand. “I am still young and need your guidance, Minister-in-law. If there is nothing else, you may all withdraw.”
Outside Changsheng Hall:
“Minister Cui is young yet deeply trusted by the emperor. Wasn’t he from the scholar gentry faction?”
Cui Hao frowned. “I am Your Majesty’s subject. If there is a faction, it is only the emperor’s faction.”
He swung his sleeves and hurried to the carriage.
“Father, what did the emperor say?”
Minister Guo’s eyes were sharp. “Our emperor never acts to lose. He knew I could not give up the Minister of the Treasury. He already decided who would get the Honglu Temple position, and used Cui Hao to play this act.”
“Ah?”
“Check who mentioned the Jing family in the emperor’s ear.”
“Father, you mean the Honglu Temple position was given to the Jing family?”
…
The Jing family was rarely ministers, yet a third of the court had been cultivated by them. Rumor said even a foolish scholar studying in the Jing library could pass the civil exam.
The Jing family’s soft power in court was formidable.
Father had spent great effort pushing them out. Now, after three years, they reappear. Could it be…
“What is the emperor’s intention?”
Minister Guo’s narrow eyes stared, fingers twisting his ring. “The emperor does not like our Guo family.”
“Write a letter to your daughter. Tell her not to be too arrogant in the harem, and to strive to give the emperor an heir soon.”
Yulan Residence.
“Sister Zhao, Senior Brother Yan.” Jing Miaoyi hurried forward to welcome them.
“Miaoyi, it’s you. I remember just days ago this place was barren, now full of life. I wanted to move these stones—they were in the way. Never thought placing them in the lake would look so good.”
“These are Shishui stones, my old teacher had some in his residence.” Yan Qingzhi said quietly, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.
“Today I brought two others, I hope it’s not inappropriate.”
Jing Miaoyi looked back. The visitors wore silver-blue scholarly robes, holding two flasks of wine, accompanied by a woman in apricot clothing, tears in her eyes as she looked at Miaoyi.
“Senior Brother Lin, Sister Wenxin.” Jing Miaoyi froze.
Wenxin hesitated, then upon seeing Miaoyi reach out, ran forward and embraced her tightly.
“Miaoyi, why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the capital?”
Jing Miaoyi darkened her gaze. “I am the daughter of a disgraced minister. Coming openly might affect Senior Brother Lin’s career.”
“Don’t cry. Today is a good day. I’ve long heard of your skill. Today I must taste it properly.”
The moon hung above the trees. Inside, Zhao Jia lay drunk on the bed, Wenxin caring for her.
Jing Miaoyi held a wine cup in the courtyard. “Today is my father’s death anniversary. As his daughter, I cannot pay respects.”
Lin Sheng took a deep breath. “I am useless. Three years have passed, and we still cannot obtain useful information.”
Jing Miaoyi shook her head. “It is my father who brought trouble to my senior brothers.”
Her father had five disciples, whose careers should have prospered. Only Senior Brothers Yan and Lin remain in Qizhou.
“Miaoyi, no—it is my incompetence,” Lin Sheng said passionately. “This matter involves Minister Guo. He deliberately sent the disciples away to allow his followers to establish themselves. He is cunning; anything we learn is inconsequential. Now the emperor trusts him even more. If it cannot be settled decisively, force must not be used.”
Lin Sheng’s advice was both to himself and to Miaoyi.
“Father…” Jing Miaoyi poured her wine to the ground. “Not only the Guo family, but also the Princess’s hand was involved. The real doer was Shen Jueming.”
“Miaoyi,” Yan Qingzhi said, concerned.
“Sharing a bed with my father’s murderer for three years… it is absurd.”
“Senior Brother Yan, I have a request for your help.”