Drifting Jade Joins the Orchestra
State Preceptor Jiang gave me an affable smile, but I caught the brief mocking smirk.
You have an issue with me, huh?
Boss whispered, “He is State Preceptor Jiang, one of the leaders of the civil servants’ faction. They have always disliked the three offices overseeing the martial world. He is the toughest to deal with, so he’s not someone you can thoughtlessly deal with.”
“Rest easy, Boss.” Exchanging eye contact with State Preceptor Jiang, I quietly said, “Thoughtlessly dealing with people is my specialty.”
“I’m telling you not to!”
I didn’t recognise who the old man was, but I genuinely wanted to speak because I had nearly forgotten everything He Shi told me. I had yet to show my face since becoming an official. How could I waste a prime opportunity to show what I was made of? Besides, I happened to be prepared for the subject.
You picked the fight, so don’t cry now.
I cleared my throat twice prior to responding, “You flatter this one. He would not dare to speak thoughtlessly in His Majesty and your presence when he is crude and shallow in knowledge. He dares not accept your praise for him as someone with knowledge as vast as the ocean, haha. You praise this one so highly that is sounds as though you accepted bribes from him.”
Before he could make sense of the words I put in his mouth, I nearly made him gasp blood with my last line.
“When did this old one say you possesses kn-, accepted br-, cough, cough.”
“Please, take your time, State Preceptor Jiang. No money, no money, no gold, and no silver. This one said, ‘as though’.”
State Preceptor Jiang’s colleague had to help him control his coughing so that he could barely yell back, “There’s no ‘as though’!”
“So, no ‘as though’, but ‘did’?”
“No!”
I ignored the red-faced elder and turned my attention to His Majesty. “Your Majesty, all these problems boil down to both factions marginalising each other. Is there anyone here who disagrees with this perspective?”
They probably already realised it, but nobody would’ve dared to acknowledge they were trying to kick someone else down in His Majesty’s presence. Their facial reactions told me I hit the nail on the head. He Shi was right when he said that the imperial court was just arguing about the same things over and over again.
“In your subject’s opinion, both factions do not appreciate the fact that the other cannot do what they can do and therefore have formed factions to go about their own things. Accordingly, there is no end to the disagreements.”
His Majesty wagged his hand. “I have heard your opinion on the matter. Let us move on to another topic.”
What do you mean you’ve heard my opinion? I never shared it.
Having quelled his cough, State Preceptor Jiang said, “Duke Ming must have a solution if he has such insight. This old one is all ears.”
I saluted the elder who went along with me with both hands. “This one appreciates your praise. The money was well spent.” Before he gasped blood for real, I continued, “In your subject’s opinion, military officials can study literature, while civil servants can learn martial arts. Combining both skillsets is the solution to the problem.”
The palace went so silent that I almost assumed they had their accupoints sealed, but the only people who I believed could’ve performed the feat were Shaolin’s Abott and Grandmaster.
“Insolence!”
“That is treason!”
“Are you starting a rebellion?!”
“Guards, apprehend this traitor!”
“Is there anyone who will work with this old one to arrest this scum?”
Uh… were my choice of words wrong?
Even Boss looked at me in disbelief for a moment before bowing her head and pleading, “Your Majesty, Ming Feizhen is new to court. He spoke out of ignorance. He did not mean to challenge your authority.”
For as long as I had known Fangzh-, I mean His Majesty, I had never seen him look so serious.
The other officials accused me, too, all of which was basically the same thing in different words. All the talk about skinning me, boiling me raw, skewering me, grilling me and what have you made me a little hungry. As serious as His Majesty looked, he paid nobody any heed. Instead, he slammed his desk and declared, “Dismissed!”
Eunuch Wang announced court was dismissed, prompting the attendees to promptly kneel down and bid His Majesty goodbye in spite of their existing rage.
His Majesty whipped his sleeve, took a few steps, then looked over his shoulder and told me, “Get over here!”
I pointed to myself in confusion. His Majesty didn’t wait for me, so Eunuch Wang urged me to hurry along. What could I have done besides follow His Majesty? I was treated to a variety of shifty malicious smiles on my way. One elder even had his nose turned up as he stroked his beard, so I tripped him before I hurried along.
Leading me, Eunuch Wang quietly warned, “Duke Ming, you must take caution.”
“Could you please enlighten this one, Eunuch Wang?”
“The person you just tripped was Duke Gong, one of the leaders of the civil servants’ faction.”
“Another leader? Tsk, tsk, take one down, and they tumble like an avalanche.”
Eunuch Wang smiled. “A true hero truly knows no fear. As expected, this one was not wrong about you.”
No, you are wrong. I am not the sort of person you think I am.
Once we reached the neighbouring palace, His Majesty had everyone step outside, leaving just Eunuch Wang to wait on him. Next, he turned to me and grouched, “Ming Feizhen, you really keep me busy.”
“Your Majesty, you did not employ your subject to keep you un-busy. Is this not all for the sake of solving a problem and reducing the pains of the people?” After shutting down His Majesty, I conveyed, “Thank you for saving your subject’s life. Had you not pretended to lose your temper back there and saved your subject, those elders would have had your subject skinned alive.”
“Skinning you alive would’ve been merciful.” His Majesty finally smiled subtly. “In your defence, your understanding and quick reaction was helpful. Had I not pretended to lose my temper, I wouldn’t have been able to get you out. With that said, your suggestion… While it was written in your paper, it’s not something you can say aloud. Did you know that I had Hanlin Academy keep your response to themselves so that your placing wouldn’t be confiscated? Otherwise, you would be locked up right now.”
Huh?
“Is it a contemptible method?”
To my surprise, His Majesty nodded. “Do you know that someone already tried to reconcile between the two factions?”
“They failed?”
His Majesty shook his head. “It was successful, successful enough to usher in a long period of peace, which allowed the imperial court to build up a large base of competent personnel.”
I was even more puzzled than before.
“Because it’s a strategy implemented in the previous dynasty.”
“The previous dynasty?”
His Majesty gave a few shoulder pats. “I’m sure your mistake was purely a result of ignorance. The previous dynasty wanted everyone to be well-versed in both categories. It’s said that officials weren’t divided into two categories centuries ago as everyone was capable in both fields. As such, there were never situations where military officials would disrespect civil servants or vice versa. I hoped to replicate it when I heard about it as a child. Alas…”
“So, our dynasty has this conflict because we cannot employ the same policy as the previous dynasty?”
“Precisely. Since the establishment of our dynasty, we have made it a point to erase all traces of the previous dynasty, even how we employed people. For generations, we have had people argue that the crossover between the two factions was the source of the last dynasty’s problems. Martial artists were well-read, while people with authority had military influence. Thus, the strong started to harbour bigger and bigger ambitions until they coveted the throne. It’s unfair to say the erstwhile dynasty was weak, but they weren’t weak, either. That’s what makes it hard.”
“Do you agree with their take?”
“If I did, your head would be crooked right now. You’re right. I’ve also considered it in the past. The competition between the two factions has only continued to ramp up. Perhaps having them crossover will fill the rifts. The former dynasty’s mistake was in choosing to trust the wrong people, not the crossover system itself. If the system was the issue, how come they lasted eight hundred years when rulers were ever changing? The problem is that not everyone can see this nuance.”
“If you agree, then those officials were really insensible. Why did nobody praise the great idea? Your subject shall go make them wise up. Results are promised.”
“You? You’re going to beat them in a debate? Really? You make it sound simple, but is this truly something you can rush through? Putting aside the reasoning, there’s still the implementation. If you lock the martial artists in a room and force them to read, they’ll dig up your ancestors’ graves. If you tell scholars to learn martial arts, they would beg you to put them out of their misery. Moreover, what do you expect from a group of old men who are going to only be able to walk for a few more years? What do you expect from their followers who object? You just witnessed a very mild version yourself.”
Damn, and I kept adulating He Shi’s method. I bet he knew all these details and deliberately used me to test the waters for him. Just you wait, He Shi.
“For you to have that insight without knowing about the former dynasty is praiseworthy. It’s not impossible to implement the strategy. Howbeit, not this way. They were able to maintain their rule for eight centuries as they were blessed with a mighty military, vast knowledge, and many liberties. Few dynasties have ever replicated their success. A hundred years ago, the reigns to the world changed hands because Tianfeng Clan’s time was up. That said, though there were a number of tyrannical rulers in their era, the rest were quite wise, and they were supported by loyal vassals. They did fall from grace, but they, too, offered value insight.”
“Tianfeng Clan?”
His Majesty immediately realised he had a slip of the tongue, but he still explained, “The public claims that the last dynasty’s Empress’ family carried the Tianfeng surname, but that’s not true. Tianfeng is the surname of the previous imperial family.”
There was nobody who could’ve obfuscated information of the last dynasty than the man before me. Of course, the censorship was likely completed from the first generation of Li Dynasty. It was in my best interests to not let him know that I wanted to know more about his family history.
“Your subject shall remember everything you have said. He shall write it out eight times as a way of keeping himself accountable.”
“Head on back. I still have other business to attend to. Oh, by the way, Zizi has been with you for the last two months, correct?”
I offered up a cupped-fist salute. “Uh, yes. He is doing… very well at Liu Shan Men. He turns in early and rises early, washes his hands, eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner on time, and stays away from crowded places to avoid catching any illnesses.”
“Enough, enough, go. Send Zizi my greetings. I can’t visit him for a year. Tell him his parents miss him, and tell him to take care of himself.”
“Your subject swears the message will be delivered.”
Eunuch Wang silently escorted me out of the palace. I searched my database for a conversation starter, but he asked out of the blue, “How is Eunuch Bai doing at Liu Shan Men?”
I guess there are still some friendships in the imperial palace.
“Fine, I guess? General Manager Bai does not put on airs despite his status and leads a simple life, so the location probably does not matter.”
“That is true. Eunuch Bai truly has a tough fate. After only serving in the capacity of General Manager Bai, Eunuch Bai has been exiled from the imperial palace.”
“General Manager Bai was demoted?”
Eunuch Wang gave me the same look of shock that I gave him. “You are not aware, Duke Ming?” He checked for potential eavesdroppers, then softly told me, “This one thought you were merely used to referring to Eunuch Bai as General Manager Bai. Eunuch Bai has been demoted this time and instated as Lord Zi’s personal eunuch. Eunuch Bai no longer has any role in the imperial palace.”
No wonder why she was acting all weird this time.
“Do you know why? Did he offend His Majesty?”
“Whatever do you mean? His Majesty would not mete out such harsh punishment for a minor transgression.”
That was true. Considering all I had done to him, from giving him a nickname he didn’t ask for and shooting him with a shuttle, he was very forgiving. After all, I was never penalised.
“What was the reason, then?”
“It is said… Eunuch Bai crossed Brilliant Consort.”
I couldn’t make sense of it even once we reached the exit. I bade Eunuch Wang farewell, then headed back to Liu Shan Men.
Something isn’t adding up. Doesn’t Brilliant Consort support Bai Lian? If there truly is some grudge between them, then it makes no sense to entrust her son to Bai Lian.
“You are Ming Feizhen?” I heard some maiden call from behind.
Where do I remember this happening before?
I turned my head. “Perhaps not.”
Upon seeing the maiden probably and her gold sword accompanying her sky-blue warrior robe, I blurted, “What a pretty chick.”
“Chick? I’m your aunt!”
Hmm? Did Young Shiyi adopt a nephew?
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