Kenji had expected the Fifth Prince would co looking for him.
The position of Imperial Family Court Director was different from ordinary posts - it carried maximum intimidation power internally but almost no authority externally. As a royal family mber, Fifth Prince Yunis naturally counted as an insider, so of course he’d co visiting. Visiting was just a polite word for probing Kenji’s depths.
But Kenji didn’t mind.
Handle whatever cos your way - if nothing else, Kenji was quite practiced at playing along. However the other party wanted to chat, he’d chat that way; whatever topics they brought up, he’d discuss those.
Just like defending your thesis - when they say "defense," you don’t actually defend anything, just keep apologizing profusely. Pretty much the sa principle here.
"It seems he’s quite interested in you, Young Master," Lina comnted.
"He just hopes to fish for information from , while considering whether to establish so beneficial connections."
Kenji casually pulled a thick notebook from the nearby bookshelf, its pages densely packed with writing.
This was the personal record kept by Duke Anos - the original Duke Anos.
Though the original host had imnse ambition, that didn’t an he let ambition override reason. This notebook contained detailed information on all major court officials, even including so foreign military and political figures.
In the most detailed sections, it even recorded what people liked to eat and who they’d had conflicts with - this beca Kenji’s important foundation for building his political network.
While the information on Fifth Prince Yunis wasn’t completely comprehensive, it still provided many useful details.
For example, during the earlier power struggle, Fifth Prince Yunis had collaborated with several generals to organize an elite cavalry unit in Calot wearing black armor. Though small in number, every soldier was a cultivator of so skill.
This was the prototype of today’s feared "Black Armor Cavalry."
Back then, the Fifth Prince was considered a hot favorite to beco heir, controlling the Black Armor Cavalry and maintaining close relationships with several generals. However, he ultimately lost to the current Princess - Pluvia.
No one knew why he lost. After that, Yunis seed to lose his spirit, started slacking off, accepted so generous rewards and went into seclusion.
And reviewing the Fifth Prince’s recent activities, well...
They were all pretty absurd.
First he claid he wanted to establish education in his jurisdiction, but ended up spending a huge sum while failing to gather enough students and teachers. He finally scraped together sothing called a "Talent Developnt Manor" but had no clear training guidelines - they couldn’t even decide on basic textbooks.
Instead, they just wasted money, with so being embezzled by lower officials - Kenji knew about this because the Fifth Prince had asked Pluvia for the funds, and as Grand Marshal, he’d personally seen the bill during court etings on adjusting national expenditures.
Then he started reclaiming wasteland everywhere - a practical undertaking in theory, but the problem was he only gave general policy direction without putting any supervisory personnel in place, leading to increasingly severe land consolidation issues.
The farmland that peasants painstakingly reclaid mostly ended up in the hands of local landlords and gentry.
Most disgustingly, when registering the wasteland, these parasites still registered it under the peasants’ nas - so after their reclaid land was taken, the peasants still had to pay taxes on it.
This beca so notorious even Pluvia heard about it and sent central officials to investigate thoroughly, completely removing the gentry who’d gone too far and re-registering land distribution. Because of this, many officials representing the gentry class submitted morials advising Pluvia not to be too radical...
If Kenji had to evaluate him - his ideas hit the mark, but his execution was ridiculous.
So while Kenji knew the Fifth Prince was attempting to seize the throne and was even the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, he wasn’t overly concerned.
The Fifth Prince did have so brains, you could say. He was skilled at flip-flopping - when he failed to win the throne initially, rather than rage in humiliation, he promptly declared loyalty to Pluvia and took his rewards before leaving. Attempting to assassinate soone then trying to recruit them after failing - that was absolutely sothing he would do.
"Do you need to accompany you when eting him?" Lina asked.
"Yes, sit beside to help maintain appearances."
Kenji made this decision.
He’d originally planned to have Siyue co, but considering her hermit tendencies plus social anxiety, if she t the Fifth Prince she might accidentally blurt out sothing outrageous...
Better to have Lina sit in - though she wasn’t great at official social interactions, her advantage was she could maintain silence.
Sotis saying nothing was exactly the best approach.
"What’s for dinner tonight?"
"Your favorite braised chicken tonight."
"Mm, just have the kitchen bring it over when it’s ready. Join if you want - I’m sure they’ll bring a portion for you too."
The Duke’s kitchen staff had developed the habit of preparing an extra portion for Lina. Since she was constantly by Kenji’s side, eating together was perfectly normal - well, normal only at Duke Anos’ residence.
"Alright." Lina glanced at the invitation. "The eting place is set at Clear Heart Tower in Luminara. If you plan to keep the appointnt, I’ll go prepare now."
"Good, don’t forget to prepare so gifts."
"I know."
Watching Lina leave, Kenji smiled and went back to examining the files.
.............
In Wind Palace, Pluvia was reading morials about the disaster situation in Hexi County when Sonya Lius entered.
"Your Majesty."
"Mm, speak."
"General Balinos will reach Luminara soon. He’s sent a forward rider requesting entry to the Capital."
"Oh?"
Pluvia’s eyes lit up. She nodded and issued orders: "Open the city gates wide, send envoys to announce to all citizens to welco the general. What about the Grand Marshal’s office? Have they been notified?"
"Not yet." Sonya scratched her head.
"Have soone notify the Grand Marshal to co welco them too," Pluvia said.
This was the perfect opportunity for so major publicity, and also to boost the returning troops’ unity - if the Emperor ca out to welco them, the Grand Marshal as military commander naturally had to co welco them too.
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