Chapter 86: Against Convention

Chapter 86: Against Convention

That day, the dog Emperor was not in the palace.

The attendants at the Qianyuan Hall said he would only return to the palace in the evening.

Upon receiving the news, Zhu Yan chatted with her mother for the entire afternoon. Not wanting to keep her in the palace overnight, she sent her out before the palace gates closed.

Before leaving, Zhu Yan earnestly advised Mo Shi, "Mother, please avoid further conflicts with father. By tomorrow afternoon, an imperial eunuch will visit our residence."

——

The Emperor returned to the palace late at night.

He had left early in the morning with Linghu You and a few personal guards to visit Xu Xian, a hermit in Zhongnan Mountain. Xu Xian, formerly the head of Jiangnan Shigu Academy, had recently resigned to live in seclusion.

Zhongnan Mountain is located south of the capital.

In the Emperor’s view, most of those who retreat to Zhongnan Mountain are waiting for a better opportunity.

With his son Ah Ji turning five this year, the Emperor planned to begin his formal education in spring. He sought Linghu You’s advice to find a suitable teacher.

Linghu You, following the standards of a Crown Prince's tutor, recommended Xu Xian, the former academy head and current hermit.

After Linghu You sent a visiting card, the Emperor formally visited Xu Xian. After a day’s discussion, he persuaded the old man to accept the role of the prince’s tutor.

Importantly, Xu Xian specialized in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals of Gongyang', which the Emperor also favored for its emphasis on unification and change, unlike the other annals that focus on rites or moral principles.

Returning to Qianyuan Hall, the Emperor, intending to rest in Renshou Hall, heard from Zhang Zhongguo that Zhu Yan had requested to see him that afternoon.

Zhang Zhongguo also mentioned that Gui De County’s Lady, Mo Shi, visited the palace today.

Remembering the recent buzz about the Zhu family in the capital, the Emperor asked Zhang Zhongguo, "Did I make a mistake bringing Zhu Qingyun and his family to the capital?"

Zhang Zhongguo, frightened, quickly replied, "How could Your Majesty be wrong? If there's any fault, it lies with them for not understanding Your Majesty's intentions."

"What do you think?" the emperor turned to ask Xing En.

Xing En, quick-witted, replied, "This humble servant only knows that ever since the Zhu family came to the capital, Consort Yuan has actively sought an audience with Your Majesty twice in just one month, a rarity in the past."

The emperor, upon hearing this, slightly raised his eyebrows but smiled in amusement, "You sly one."

He then called Yang Xin in, "Organize all the information you've gathered about the Zhu family these past few days and bring it to Fu Hua Palace tomorrow morning for me." After giving his instructions and yawning, he looked at Xing En and ordered, "Let's go to Fu Hua Palace."

——

The next morning, Zhu Yan woke up to find out from Qu Gu that the emperor had come the previous night. She quickly got out of bed, "Where is he now?"

She was certain the emperor hadn't slept in her chamber last night.

Qu Gu, seemingly understanding Zhu Yan's thoughts, replied, "His Majesty and the Fourth Prince are in the Eastern Warm Pavilion. His Majesty came last night and, seeing that you were asleep, didn't want to disturb you, so he went to Ruyi Pavilion to sleep with the Fourth Prince."

Zhu Yan didn't believe this, knowing the emperor was never concerned about disturbing others.

He was not that kind of good person.

As Qu Gu, Qiu Ye, and others helped Zhu Yan dress and freshen up, Qu Gu added, "Your Highness needn't hurry; there's no court assembly today, and His Majesty isn’t rushing to the front court."

"Still, let's be quick."

Zhu Yan's nature was always not to keep people waiting, regardless of gender or favoritism.

After completing her morning routine, Zhu Yan quickly arrived at the Eastern Warm Pavilion. Her son, Prince A Ji, was sitting properly next to the emperor, who seemed to be massaging his hands.

However, as soon as Zhu Yan entered, Prince A Ji immediately jumped off the couch and ran to her, instantly looking pitifully aggrieved, "Mother, look, Father squashed my hand in his sleep. It hurts so much."

Zhu Yan looked down to see her son's hand reddened and tenderly touched it, lifting him into her arms, "Poor A Ji, let me see."

The emperor was amused yet annoyed by his son's antics, pointing at Prince A Ji, "You little ingrate, didn't we just agree that I would massage it and you wouldn't tell your mother..."

Hearing this, Zhu Yan glanced sideways at the emperor.

The emperor, knowing he was at fault, awkwardly explained, "Yuan Yan, it's because he sleeps restlessly. It's such a big bed, and he rolls all over. When I was asleep, his hand somehow got under me. How was I to know I would press on it?"

Zhu Yan, not expecting the Emperor to bring her son, sat with Ah Ji on the couch, checking his hands for any injuries from being pressed down in bed. Thankfully, there seemed no major harm.

Zhu Yan had matters to attend to and couldn't bother with the Emperor's issues today.

After soothing Ah Ji, Zhu Yan joined the Emperor for breakfast and then asked Zhong Fu Mu and Ping Le to take Ah Ji out so she could discuss important matters with the Emperor.

Seeing Ah Ji leave, the Emperor turned to Zhu Yan, "Are we discussing the Zhu family?"

Zhu Yan nodded and shared everything she heard from her stepmother Mo Shi with the Emperor, leaving no details hidden.

After Zhu Yan finished speaking, the Emperor suddenly remarked, "When Qiu Yuyang seized the Chu family's assets, he missed five thousand acres of prime land. It seems his skills in confiscating property are not yet perfected."

"If the Right Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works, Shang Quan, were assigned, he'd surely pluck every feather from the goose."

Zhu Yan realized this as well.

"Right, the Chu family had already been confiscated. If there really were five thousand acres of prime land, it would have been seized by the government. Logically, they couldn't offer such a substantial bribe to Zhu Qingyun to save the Chu family."

The Emperor looked at Zhu Yan, his expression a mix of seriousness and amusement, "Ah Yan, are you sure you don't want to plead for Chu Huang? Those are five thousand acres of prime land near the capital, not easily purchasable even with money."

Zhu Yan turned to face the Emperor, scrutinizing him for a while, considering his suspicious nature.

"Could he be suspecting that I’m using reverse psychology?"

"To secure these five thousand acres for the Zhu family?"

Zhu Yan felt a wave of irritation at this realization.

Instead of responding, Zhu Yan brought up a past issue, "Your Majesty, when you decided to bring my father to the capital, you never consulted me. Now, any problems that arise should be solved by you. I refuse to be implicated in his corrupt dealings or have him use my name for personal gain."

"If Your Majesty can't handle it, it's best to dismiss him from his post and send him back to Suiyang to be a rural landlord."

"Don't let him stay in the capital causing harm," Zhu Yan said forcefully, her expression darkening, her brows furrowed, and her eyes glaring at the emperor.

The emperor, questioned by Zhu Yan, touched his nose sheepishly. He admitted he had been personally motivated in this matter, "Yuan Yan, we have already settled this, why bring up old grievances now?" He dreaded Zhu Yan bringing up the past.

"Alright, alright, Yuan Yan, don't be angry,"

The emperor hugged Zhu Yan, trying to placate her, "Why get upset so early in the day? Leave everything to me. I'll take care of it and ensure he behaves from now on, alright?"

"First, Your Majesty should retrieve those land deeds of five thousand acres. In the afternoon, send an Imperial Eunuch to reprimand my father, make him more disciplined." Zhu Yan pushed the emperor away and stood up, pulling him to the door, "For the rest, I won’t get involved. Please handle it promptly, Your Majesty."

The emperor, taken aback by being pulled to the door, exclaimed, "Yuan Yan, you’re dismantling the bridge before crossing the river, aren’t you being too hasty?"

"Handle this matter first," Zhu Yan said irritably.

After pushing the emperor out and turning back, she was pulled back by him, "Wait, Yuan Yan, if I send an Imperial Eunuch to chastise your father, others might think I have a problem with you. Why don't you send someone?"

"How should I send someone?" Zhu Yan frowned slightly. The eunuchs in the palace who could leave were of official rank, and traditionally, only those serving the emperor and empress had such positions and managed palace affairs.

"Other consorts in the palace, like in your palace with Ping An, or previously with Chu Li Fei's Ru Jiang, although called chief eunuchs, were actually just honorary titles reflecting their master's status, without any real rank."

"For your palace's Ping An, if you find him capable, I'll appoint him as Zhong Ji Shi, and he can run errands to the Zhu family for you."

"Zhong Ji Shi is a sixth-rank official position for the eunuchs of the Internal Affairs Department."

Zhu Yan considered that only the eunuchs serving the emperor and empress could hold official ranks. This seemed inappropriate, and besides, weren't there already six Zhong Ji Shi in the palace? Was there a vacancy?

Before she could respond, the emperor unilaterally decided, "I think it's settled. Let him start working in the role. If it's not suitable, you can change later, or I can assign someone else for you. I'll talk to the empress and the Internal Affairs Department myself."

Dropping this statement, as if worried Zhu Yan might disagree, he turned and left quickly.

Passing through the courtyard, where palace servants were hanging lanterns for the Lantern Festival, he saw his son happily playing with the beautiful palace lanterns sent by the Office of Works. Approaching, he pinched his son's chubby cheeks, "Fourth son, having fun? Does your hand still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore," Zhang Ji replied eagerly, looking around and not seeing his mother, he reluctantly smiled up at his father, "Father, are you leaving? I'll see you out."

"Hmph, you rascal," the emperor chuckled and shook his head, thinking he would let his son enjoy a bit more leisure for two more months.

He knew his son bore a grudge against him for taking him away from the travel palace and his mother last year, a grudge that had not been swayed by months of pampering, just like his mother.

However, the emperor didn't take it to heart. A little personality in a child was a good thing.

Especially his son, who should not be too soft.

Reaching the gate of Fu Hua Palace, the emperor stepped into his sedan chair and instructed Xin En, "Go tell the head of the Internal Affairs Department to promote Ping An from Fu Hua Palace to Zhong Ji Shi. Have Chen Dao handle all the necessary procedures and registry at the palace gate. He needs to leave the palace this afternoon."

"Also, send someone to inform the empress about this matter."

Xin En was surprised but quickly smiled, "If Your Majesty had mentioned this great news earlier, I could have congratulated Lv Ping An already."

Ping An's surname was Lv.

"You can go back now and congratulate him. It's not too late."

The emperor leaned back, resting against the cushion behind him, and looked coolly at the smiling Xin En, "First get the task done, then come back to me with your smiles. Otherwise, I'll have Yang Xin give you a few more strokes of the cane."

Xin En tensed up upon hearing this, quickly composed himself, and respectfully acknowledged the order.

Back at Qianyuan Hall, the emperor instructed the approaching Zhang Zhongguo, "Go and summon Qiu Yuyang to the Qinzhen Hall. Also, call over Guo Pushi and the Censorate's Zhou Zhongcheng."

Author's Note:

Today's update will have an additional chapter in the evening, kisses~~