Chapter 113 |
Another half a year passed, and it was the turn of late spring to early summer.
Qu Dubian was fourteen years old.
He had never properly celebrated his birthday because the day of his birth was also the memorial day of his biological mother. So, he usually just received some gifts, and then Concubine Xuan would cook him a bowl of longevity noodles, and that would be it.
Thanks to his machinations, Emperor Chongzhao hadn't seen Concubine Lan even once in the past six months.
As Concubine Lan became more and more tormented, she was even more looking forward to the day when the Sixth Prince would leave the palace to build his own mansion. She urged the Fifth Prince to mention it more often in the court, so that the Sixth Prince could enter the court to handle political affairs as soon as possible.
Therefore, by the middle of June, Emperor Chongzhao issued an imperial edict, allowing the Sixth Prince to leave the palace in advance to build his mansion and stand in the court with his elder brothers.
After attending the banquet for the Sixth Prince's mansion - building, it was already sunset when he returned.
In the Prince's Residence, only Qu Dubian was left.
The empty palaces and courtyards didn't know how many years they would have to wait before someone would sweep away the cobwebs and fallen leaves that would accumulate again after some time.
-
After Zhiyi turned sixteen, Noble Lady Guo had been looking around for eligible young men from noble families for her.
Although Emperor Chongzhao said there was no hurry, he still ordered the painters to present portraits of the young men of the right age to Zhiyi. He let her take her time to choose.
Zhiyi was annoyed and worried. She didn't want to stay in Shunning Palace anymore. Ju'an Hall was remote and had been deserted for more than ten years, so she didn't want to go there either.
So she submitted a request to Emperor Chongzhao, asking to live in Princess A'Xiang's former princess mansion for some time.
Qu Dubian whole - heartedly supported her. His elder sister was also experiencing the annoyance of being urged to marry, just like people in later generations.
Zhiyi said, "Father has approved it, but all the people for cleaning and management have to be allocated from the palace. This matter is not under his control. He told me to negotiate with the Empress myself."
Qu Dubian said, "Huh? I remember that the allocation of the staff and the management of the personnel records in the harem have always been under the control of Concubine Yi, right?"
The Empress was in overall charge of the harem, but she didn't need to inquire about every small matter. She was in control of the financial power, assisted by Concubine Ruan. But other affairs were basically divided up. Only at the end of the month and the end of the season did the others need to report to her.
For example, Concubine Wen was in charge of the official documents in the harem, which was an idle job. Concubine De and the former Noble Consort Lan were in charge of punishments, and the allocation of the staff was all under the control of Concubine Yi.
Although the Empress could give direct orders, she and the concubines in the harem were not only in a superior - subordinate relationship but also like colleagues. She always had to give them some face.
Zhiyi blinked and said, "Yes, so I dragged you here. You have a good relationship with the Fourth Prince. You can help me ask for more people from Concubine Yi."
Qu Dubian said, "Leave it to me."
After the palace attendant reported, the two entered Fuan Palace.
"Your Highnesses, the Lady is in the Buddhist hall. The personnel records are also there. She told you to go there."
"Okay."
Qu Dubian was quite familiar with this place. After all, he was often brought here by the Fourth Prince to sleep when he was a child.
However, he had never entered Concubine Yi's small Buddhist hall.
After all, he only had a superficial knowledge of Buddhism, Taoism and other things. It would be inappropriate to go in and couldn't control his curiosity to look around and break the taboos.
There was still a faint mist of incense in the small Buddhist hall.
Since it was directly converted from the side hall, the area was not small.
Apart from the area occupied by the futons and the Buddhist shrines, there was still a large remaining space, which Concubine Yi had arranged into a small study, with all kinds of paper notes drying there.
The paper notes made by Concubine Yi were exquisite, and she was also good at making incense. At least Qu Dubian, with his picky nose used to all kinds of scents, didn't find the incense in Concubine Yi's small Buddhist hall pungent.
Concubine Yi excused them from the courtesy and said, "Sit down."
After they explained their purpose, she started to grind the ink and asked, "How many people do you need?"
Qu Dubian coughed lightly and said, "Well... How many people can be allocated at most?"
Concubine Yi said, "Since the Princess is only cleaning the existing courtyard, generally, fewer than sixty people can be allocated, and the cleaning can be completed in about six or seven days."
Four or five days.
Zhiyi remembered the nagging of her mother... She really didn't want to quarrel with her mother.
But the words her mother muttered made her feel annoyed. If she continued to stay in Shunning Palace, the mother - daughter relationship might be in danger.
Zhiyi said, "Can there be more people? Or it's okay to just clean a part. I want to move in as soon as possible."
Qu Dubian asked, "If a prince leaves the palace to build his mansion, how many people can be allocated?"
Concubine Yi replied, "The number of allocated people is less than one hundred and twenty, depending on the specific needs of the prince. If it exceeds one hundred and eighty, it is the rank of a prince, and it is necessary to report to the Empress or His Majesty."
Qu Dubian leaned closer and said, "Sister is anxious to move out of the palace. Can I advance my share for two years later to her?"
Concubine Yi said, "There is no such precedent, but... it can be done."
She stamped her seal on the official document and said, "Go and allocate the people by yourself."
Zhiyi said happily, "Thank you, Concubine Yi!"
Concubine Yi said, "You're welcome." She looked at Qu Dubian and asked, "How is the Fourth Prince recently?"
Qu Dubian replied, "The Fourth Prince is fine. The weather is nice now, and he often comes to the Prince's Residence to chat with me."
Concubine Yi said, "He is too lazy to take a few more steps to come to the harem. You keep an eye on him for me."
"Don't worry."
Concubine Yi gave a faint smile.
She always had a calm expression and emotion. In Qu Dubian's memory, she seemed never to have smiled before.
After leaving Fuan Palace, Zhiyi said, "I heard that Concubine Yi is not from the capital. She came from a commoner family. She has firmly held the position of Concubine because she met Father in Zhennan Pass in the early years. There is a story of a hero saving a beauty."
Qu Dubian laughed and said, "A hero saving a beauty?"
Zhiyi spread her hands and said, "Just a rumor."
Qu Dubian thought to himself that it was actually a good thing. It was because the Fourth Prince had no background from his mother's family that he had remained safe until now.
-
Two days later.
Zhiyi successfully moved out of the palace and lived in Princess A'Xiang's mansion.
As Emperor Chongzhao's energy continued to decline, he could no longer handle all the political affairs in detail.
So he selected Grand Tutor Fang Hechuan, Minister of Justice Xi Shiqiu, and Minister of Revenue Lin Zongping as the Grand Scholars of Wenyuan Hall. After the court session every day, they would assist him in handling political affairs.
It was a decision he made after careful consideration. Although he was reluctant, he had no other choice.
After the news spread, it immediately caused a great stir in the court.
This kind of job seemed tiring, but it could really get in touch with the first - hand information!
For a moment, Grand Tutor Fang, Xi Shiqiu, and Lin Zongping became the most popular figures in the court. Everyone was eager to see them and flattered them extremely, wanting to find out indirectly whether His Majesty's Wenyuan Hall was still recruiting Grand Scholars.
Well, they were all colleagues. What was wrong with a little flattery? Bah, was it flattery? It was called friendly colleague - ship.
Grand Tutor Fang, being an old man, was so annoyed that he hid in the side hall of the school. He always dared to sneak back only when the palace gate was about to be locked.
Qu Dubian was worried that he would starve, so he would bring him food. Every time he saw the old man worrying so much that his beard was falling out, he couldn't help laughing.
Wasn't this the prototype of the Cabinet?
In the early stage, the Cabinet was just the emperor's secretariat, with little power.
However, this represented a signal that the cheap father (referring to the emperor) was no longer monopolizing all the power, and part of the power in his hands began to be distributed down.
Who wouldn't want it?
Grand Tutor Fang said, "Originally, I was doing quite well in the Imperial Academy. It was a leisurely and prestigious position. But His Majesty appointed me as the first grand councilor. The grand councilor's rank is quite low, and having an additional position doesn't bring much extra silver. It just adds more work and more troubles."
Alas, apart from getting closer to the center of power, it wasn't a good deal at all.
Qu Dubian said lazily, "Others are dying to get such an opportunity, yet you, Grand Tutor, are complaining about it."
Grand Tutor Fang snorted and said, "His Majesty selected those with seniority, who have no obvious political stances and don't participate in the factional strife. And isn't it obvious that I'm the one with the greatest seniority?"
With his graying hair and a vibrant spirit, he was indeed the oldest among the three grand councilors.
"Yes, yes, yes. You're the oldest," Qu Dubian replied.
Grand Tutor Fang said, "You're already fourteen years old now. You've never submitted an answer to the question I gave you at the very beginning. You could at least give it a try."
Outside the window, on the branches, the birds were chirping in the clear sky, and there were dots of colorful flowers.
Qu Dubian folded his arms and leaned casually against the window. He turned his side eyes and looked over, saying, "Grand Tutor, you said you haven't taken sides. Is it really true?"
A glint of shrewdness flashed across Grand Tutor Fang's eyes. He looked up with a smiling face and asked, "Why do you ask such a question?"
Qu Dubian said, "You tricked me with the gold - layered Xuan paper. And over these years, you've never given up the idea of taking me as your student. Grand Tutor, it was you who taught me that 'Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, Parents, and Teachers' are of great importance, and once the teacher - student relationship is established, it's only second to the kinship."
Grand Tutor Fang had already entered the Grand Secretariat.
But with his seniority and his relationship with the emperor, if he really didn't want to, he could have completely declined.
Originally, Grand Tutor Fang worked in the Imperial Academy, and his influence on the political situation was small. Whether Qu Dubian became his disciple or not didn't matter much to the current court situation.
However, Grand Tutor Fang was getting closer to the center of power again, yet he still mentioned the question from the past.
Previously, Qu Dubian could think that it was just Grand Tutor Fang's way of testing his real ability, but now the situation was completely different.
Grand Tutor Fang was kneeling on the cushion, pouring tea for himself and said, "Your Highness, just speak your mind directly."
"You've chosen me," Qu Dubian said seriously. "And from the second time you tricked me until now, it's just an evaluation period."
"You're wrong," Grand Tutor Fang looked up, smiling, and said, "What I've chosen is the common people under heaven."
The wind blew through the leaves, making a rustling sound, and the shadows of the flowers swayed.
After a few seconds, Qu Dubian slowly relaxed his body and smiled, saying, "Grand Tutor, your answer is really evasive."
"What if I don't answer those questions? Will you choose someone else and tell him the words 'What I've chosen is the common people under heaven'?"
This old fox still wanted to choose him. He just talked in a roundabout way.
Grand Tutor Fang said, "It doesn't really matter if you don't answer. Sometimes, actions are more reliable and straightforward than words."
Qu Dubian said, "I'm not the material to be a wise emperor in the history books. I just farm in the small yard every day. How about I give you two bundles of crops?"
Grand Tutor Fang readily accepted, saying, "Sure."
Qu Dubian said, "This is so boring. I'm leaving."
Grand Tutor Fang watched his back and said, "Your Highness, I've watched you grow up and I know your character well. Sometimes, it seems that you're outside the game, but in fact, you're already deeply involved. You can't escape it. It's because of your character and your fate."
Qu Dubian stopped in his tracks, turned back, and said, "Grand Tutor, I don't know what I'll be like in the future, but for now, I don't want to get involved."
After he left, it was a long time before Grand Tutor Fang slowly poured himself another cup of green tea. He loved super - sweet milk tea, but Qu Dubian thought drinking too much of it would pose a risk of diabetes and forced him to quit it.
The old man stroked his beard.
"One day, you'll hand in an answer sheet."
-
In the next few days, Qu Dubian still went to the school as usual, but he didn't go to the side hall anymore.
Grand Tutor Fang didn't say much either.
But in the middle of June, there came bad news from the Cining Palace.
Concubine Zhou was ill, and seriously so.
The Imperial Hospital did their best, but they couldn't get her out of bed to dance square - dancing again.
Qu Dubian placed fresh flower branches on her window sill, just like when he was a child. But unlike before, Concubine Zhou didn't gradually recover.
Leaning on the sickbed with teary eyes, she looked northward through the flower branches.
"A'Xiang..."