In the three-entry courtyard of the Eagle House Office, more than a dozen old locust trees were filled with pigeons, pecking at corn kernels on the ground.
Xuan Snake, clad in a long black cloak, hurried through the shadows of the trees, startling the pigeons to take flight beside him.
He arrived at the main hall of the backyard and saw Wu Xiu sitting behind the desk, reviewing docunts with a vermillion pen. A tall stack was already piled up on his left side.
Changxiu stood to the side, hands gathered in his sleeves, eyelids drooping as if dozing off.
Upon hearing footsteps, he lazily opened his eyes, saluted Xuan Snake with a slight hand gesture, not even extracting his hands from his sleeves, rely extending his arms forward as a greeting, then squinted his eyes shut again.
Xuan Snake stepped into the main hall, saluting Wu Xiu: "Lord, I have sothing to report."
Wu Xiu did not reply, rely gazing at the docunts in front of him.
He gripped the vermillion pen, its tip hovering three inches above the docunts, hesitating to make contact.
The docunt outlined the Ministry of Revenue's allocation to the Guyuan Border Army, with the Guyuan Border Army requesting three hundred and ten thousand taels, and the Ministry of Revenue approving one hundred and eighty thousand taels, a difference of a full one hundred and thirty thousand taels.
It was the usual practice that the border army would report more, the Ministry of Revenue would allocate less, and ultimately, a middle ground would be reached to satisfy both sides.
But this year, Guyuan had just finished a war, with real shortages in military equipnt, winter clothing, and dicinal supplies.
Wu Xiu flipped open the morial and reviewed the list presented by the border army once more, every item listed clearly and reasonably. Six thousand two hundred cotton-padded jackets at one tael two coins each. Six thousand two hundred pairs of cotton pants at eight coins each. dicinal materials costing three thousand taels, repairs of military equipnt costing five thousand taels, and twelve thousand taels as pensions for the fallen soldiers... every expense was justified.
The court was short of money.
Only by sitting in this position would one know that this vast land was like a pair of wind-leaking pants, needing nding everywhere. But after nding one side, another side would tear, always short of a piece of cloth.
Wu Xiu did not rush to write, rely set the morial aside.
He picked up another docunt, submitted by the Ministry of Personnel, regarding the vacancy appointnt for the Imperial Censor of the Henan Road.
The Cabinet proposed two candidates: Zhou Quan, an Inspector at the Hanlin Academy, and Li Duan, a Chief at the Ministry of War. Zhou Quan was a protégé of Mr. Qi, and Li Duan was recomnded by Zhang Zhuo.
Li Duan being recomnded by Zhang Zhuo and included in the Cabinet's proposal was a nod to Zhang Zhuo's gained foothold in the Cabinet.
However, placing Zhou Quan in the front was a clear ssage—although the Qi family had lost a Left Imperial Censor, Mr. Qi still remained, his protégés remained, and the roots of the Pure Stream remained.
Wu Xiu's pen hovered montarily over Zhou Quan's na, without making a mark.
He suddenly said, "Finally understand why the inside man previously said, as we age, the knife grows lighter, but the pen grows heavier..."
He placed this docunt aside as well, looking up at the patiently waiting Xuan Snake: "What is it?"
Xuan Snake bowed and said: "Lord, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang are currently ransacking the ho of Ye Yan, a doctor from the Rituals and Ceremonies Bureau of the Ministry of Rites. Ministry of Rites officials are clamoring to enter the palace to appeal to the emperor, accusing the Ritual Supervision of disregarding laws and using private punishnt. The censors surely know about this already, the commotion will not be small."
Wu Xiu raised an eyebrow, looking at Changxiu: "Why ransack again? Didn't they just ransack soone yesterday?"
Changxiu opened his eyes on the side: "Lord, it's just a recent matter, I ca in to report it too, but seeing you busy with reviewing, I didn't want to disturb. Yesterday, the Li Family tampered with the dicinal supplies ant for the Imperial usage, providing subpar goods underweight. Today, it's Ye Yan, a doctor at the Rituals and Ceremonies Bureau of the Ministry of Rites, who during an assessnt at the Imperial Hospital, extorted and intentionally made things difficult for the Imperial Physicians, leading to the dismissal of twelve Imperial Physicians, including the renowned Zhang Wenqing from the Small Pulse Diagnosis Departnt. The Hospital Director brought in a note from Chen Ji, and upon seeing the note, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang acted."
Wu Xiu chuckled: "Little tricks. Trying to stall until I finish reviewing these docunts, by then, the Ye Family would already be ransacked."
Changxiu sheepishly responded: "The lord saw through it."
Xuan Snake solemnly said: "Lord, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang are acting recklessly, doing such things without consulting with you, yet following Chen Ji's orders, what a breach of protocol! Additionally, the Chief of the Imperial Supervision is under your command, how can Chen Ji act freely? I believe, these two should be demoted to Hai Dongqing, and Chen Ji should be exiled to Lingnan."
After hearing this, Wu Xiu suddenly laughed: "Lord Xuan Snake, whose subordinate are you?"
Xuan Snake respectfully replied: "Naturally, I am your subordinate."
Wu Xiu closed the docunt, stood up, and walked outside, finally pausing at the threshold. Sunlight stread in from outside, illuminating his black Python Robe.
He stood with his back to Xuan Snake, looking at the pigeons in the yard that settled back on the ground, and slowly began to speak: "You are not my subordinate. Rember, whether it's the Spy Departnt or the Jiefan Guard, whether it's the Imperial Supervision or the Direct Chief Eunuch, ultimately, they belong to His Majesty. Therefore, when you and I do things, there can only be one stance, and that is His Majesty's stance."
He paused, his voice slowing: "Over the years, from a little eunuch chopping firewood at the Firewood Store to the Director of the Rituals, it's not because I'm particularly smart, it's because I just did this one thing right."
Xuan Snake stood stunned.
Wu Xiu said with a smile: "The godson of the Chief of the Imperial Supervision tampered with the dicinal supplies ant for His Majesty, he deserves death. Ye Yan tampered with the Imperial Physicians who treat His Majesty, he too deserves death. In this, Chen Ji is smarter than you, he knows that even if he wipes out all these people, those who hate him might try to settle scores later, but right now, they dare not touch him. And I only regret that those whose hos were ransacked don't have enough money to cover the court's deficit."
Changxiu quietly praised from the side: "Doing the right thing is just a small smartness; choosing the right side is greater wisdom. No wonder Lord Wu Xiu wears the Python Robe and serves as the Chief."
Wu Xiu turned to glance at him, smiling without truly smiling: "With such flattery skills, no wonder the Pri Minister favors you."
Changxiu smiled shyly: "The lord praises too much."
Wu Xiu returned to the desk, patting Xuan Snake's shoulder as he passed: "Wars need money, renovating Cining Palace needs money, national affairs and people's livelihood all need money. If I were you, my greatest concern right now should be how our Ritual Supervision can strip the Eight Great rchants of all they have, for this is what our 'Eunuch Party' ought to be doing."
Xuan Snake crouched even lower: "Yes, I will go back and find a way... Oh, by the way, my lord, I received a secret report from my subordinates saying that a carriage left Anding Gate, did not go towards Changping, but turned south instead. The road guide says it's headed to Luocheng City. The driver is a burly man."
A carriage belonging to the Pri Minister.
Wu Xiu stared at Xuan Snake, and after a mont said: "Well done, continue to send people to keep an eye on it, but don't get too close."
Xuan Snake ca in a hurry, and hurried away.
Only two people remained in the room. Wu Xiu tapped his fingers on the table: "Going to Luocheng City at this ti..."
Changxiu asked softly: "Does the lord also want to go?"
Wu Xiu said impassively: "I do want to leave the Imperial Capital and take a walk, but the ti isn't right yet... What do you think Chen Ji is up to by investigating these two families? Is he genuinely trying to stand up for the Imperial Hospital, or does he have other intentions?"
Changxiu pondered for a mont and replied sincerely: "My lord, it's not that I intend to speak well of him, but Mr. Chen still has a heart of pure innocence, that's all."
Wu Xiu sighed deeply and rubbed his brow: "Right now, the most urgent matter is the morning report. The printing from the Director of the Imperial Eunuch Office has been done, but it cannot be sold. No one reads those two pages about statecraft, and the remaining pages are filled with praise and auspicious ons, which the common people don't care to see. Today, Your Majesty read the morning report and flew into a rage. If it's not done well, even I will face repercussions... It's up to you now how to handle this, it's your task going forward."
Changxiu did not refuse this hot potato, but instead asked: "Do you want to continue with those two pages on state governance?"
Wu Xiu shook his head: "Not just that. Chen Ji understands this morning report the best. I want to know if there's a better use for it."
Changxiu laughed: "Fine. But my way of doing things is different from others, I probably need to ask the lord for two people to use, otherwise it won't show your sincerity."
Wu Xiu turned to gaze at Changxiu: "Use them. You go tell Chen Ji, I am not petty and narrow-minded, we all serve Your Majesty. As long as he's useful, all will be easy to discuss. What he should worry about is not , but the Qi family."
...
...
In the evening, the Imperial Hospital was busier than usual.
The Hospital Director led the Imperial Physicians through the gate, and the clerks who were preparing dicine in the courtyard looked up, their hand fans paused.
So had silver tucked in their arms, others had paintings under their arms, all of these were items they had previously given to Ye Yan, returned on the spot by Jiao Tu when searching the Ye family.
At the front was Zhou Fangping, a bulging cloth bag in his arms, walking with vigor.
Behind him was Ren Taiyi, with a scroll wrapped in silk cloth under his arm, holding it tight, fearing it might get bumped or scratched.
Further behind was Liu Zhubu, empty-handed, but his mouth was not idle, gesturing and talking animatedly with the person next to him.
The people in the courtyard surrounded them quickly.
"Confiscated?"
"Confiscated!"
"Where's that bastard Ye Yan?"
"Taken away, Jiao Tu personally escorted him, said to send him to the inner prison. Not only confiscated, but Jiao Tu also returned the things we had given to Ye Yan over the years on the spot!"
At this point, soone looked at the Hospital Director, noticing his grim expression.
The Dean staying at the Imperial Hospital was puzzled: "My lord, why are you frowning, surely you didn't lose the painting you gave to Ye Yan?"
The Hospital Director shook his head and sighed deeply: "I am thinking, with the Hospital Director offending so many people for our Imperial Hospital, might soone have ill intentions toward him? First, the Eunuch Party, and now the Ministry of Rites, those people are not easy to deal with."
Hospital Director?
The Dean took a while to realize that he was talking about Chen Ji: "The lord seems in a good mood, still in the mood for jokes."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the Imperial Hospital, and everyone turned to see a little eunuch smiling like a little fox, standing at the door with hands clasped, followed by a squad of Jiefan Guard.
The Imperial Physicians were as if facing a formidable enemy: "Who are you?"
Changxiu smiled and said: "I am Changxiu, chief of Jiefan Guard households, here to see Mr. Chen, Chen Ji."
The Hospital Director frowned: "What do you want with him, if there's anything, direct it at us..."
Changxiu quickly laughed and said: "No, no, don't misunderstand, I'm here to bring gifts to Mr. Chen."
After he said this, he clapped his hands, and Jiefan Guard escorted two disheveled n into the Imperial Hospital.
The Hospital Director hesitated: "This is..."
Changxiu explained earnestly: "One is the Director of the Imperial Palace, Wang Zhan, and the other is the Chief of the Imperial Palace, Wang Kui. These two have been colluding to steal dicines from the Imperial Pharmacy. I've confiscated them as well, to help Mr. Chen celebrate."
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