Chapter 104: A Decision Made

Chapter 104: A Decision Made

The Emperor felt disheveled by the wind.

He had never thought that his trusted favored minister didn’t take concubines because of lack of money.

As the Minor Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Qiu Yuyang held an upper fourth-rank position. The Emperor remembered that the Right Assistant Director Shang Quan once reported to him that the annual salary of a fourth-rank official, including silver, grain, and other benefits, was about four hundred guan.

In recent years, due to favorable weather and consecutive good harvests, the price of grain in the capital had dropped from seven wen per dou during the previous emperor's reign to five wen per dou now, with one dou being about twelve jin. This meant one guan could buy about two thousand four hundred jin of grain.

Calculating that one person consumes about eight hundred jin of rice per year, four hundred guan could sustain twelve hundred people.

"How many people are in your household?" the Emperor directly asked Qiu Yuyang, knowing that Qiu's parents had passed away and his family was small.

"Four family members, plus five servants."

"Then how could you not afford to take concubines?" the Emperor wondered.

Qiu Yuyang looked slightly embarrassed and, after a pause, revealed another aspect, "During my time suppressing bandits in Zhenzhou, I rescued and took in many orphans left behind in the chaos, totaling over three to four hundred. I promised to raise them until adulthood and then provide them with a fund to start their lives. Thus, my household has no surplus, relying entirely on my wife’s management."

The Emperor was shocked to hear this, as Qiu Yuyang, known for being a stern official, had always been perceived as harsh and ungenerous.

From now on, if anyone dared to criticize Qiu as harsh and ungenerous in his presence, the Emperor vowed to throw them out immediately.

"Your benevolence is commendable," the Emperor praised.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuyang immediately knelt down, hands crossed in front of his forehead, modestly refusing the praise, "Your Majesty, I dare not accept nor bear the title of benevolence. My wife and I have been married for sixteen years, with eight children born to us, yet only a son and a daughter survived. I was once warned that my heavy involvement in killings was the reason for my misfortune with children. Initially, I didn’t believe it."

"But later, seeing my surviving son often sick from a young age, I had to believe it. Yet, in my position, I had to employ extraordinary measures for extraordinary circumstances. I had no choice but to do what I did, so I adopted these orphans left by the bandit chaos, hoping this good deed would protect my son."

"Stand up, don't kneel," the Emperor said.

The Emperor personally helped Qiu Yuyang up, admiring his forthrightness and integrity. "Regardless of your initial intentions, the fact remains that you have raised three to four hundred orphans."

He then asked, “How old is your young son now?”

“Your Majesty, my boy is seven years old this year.”

“Two years older than my Ah Ji,” mused the emperor, thinking of the skilled pediatricians in the Imperial Medical Bureau, “You should have told me earlier, so I could have arranged for a physician to attend to your son.”

“I thank Your Majesty for your gracious concern.” A flicker of emotion crossed Qiu Yu’s usually cold and stern face. About to bow in gratitude, he was stopped by the emperor.

“No need for such formality between us,” said the emperor, admiring Qiu Yu for his looks, capability, and efficiency, his only flaw being too reserved and overly polite in private, unlike the more relaxed Linghu You.

“Regarding those orphans you care for, how many boys are there? Once they reach fifteen, send them to the Northern Office to join the Longwu Army. I’ll speak to Zhang Su about it,” the emperor offered, helping Qiu Yu with some of the personnel arrangements.

Zhang Su is the newly appointed Grand General of the Right Longwu Army, with its soldiers recruited and then trained for the army.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuyang bowed and thanked, “There are two hundred and eighty-two boys. I express their gratitude to Your Majesty on their behalf.”

“If you truly wish to thank me, serve me with dedication,”

The emperor, becoming serious, continued, “You’ve been in the capital for nearly a year. This month, Minister Fan has submitted two petitions due to age and illness, requesting retirement. I plan to approve them soon. Prepare yourself to succeed him. I wanted to discuss this with you first.”

Minister Fan refers to Fan Ning, the current head of the Court of Judicial Review, and Qiu Yuyang's direct superior.

A year's time was the emperor's limit of patience.

The emperor could no longer wait. He had long intended to replace the ineffective and compromising officials in the Court of Judicial Review. Appointing Qiu Yuyang to the capital, he had reserved the position of head of the Court for him, should Qiu prove capable.

If Qiu Yuyang proved inadequate, he would look for someone else.

For instance, Xu Jie, the former marriage envoy and current border pacification envoy, was a reserve candidate. Although he once flattered the emperor erroneously, Xu Jie’s experience in local governance and his successful pacification of a province’s public order, being senior to Qiu Yuyang, made him a fully qualified candidate for the position.

Fortunately, Qiu Yuyang did not disappoint him.

“I shall serve Your Majesty with unwavering diligence and gratitude,” Qiu Yuyang quickly bowed in response.

“Once you’re promoted, with an annual salary of 550 strings of cash, your household should have surplus grain, and you won’t worry about affording a concubine,” the emperor, never having to worry about money, wouldn’t let those serving him diligently lack funds, “Or, I could grant you two palace maids as concubines. The ones I choose are definitely…”

“I dare not accept such a gift, and humbly ask Your Majesty to retract this decree,” even Qiu Yuyang, usually unflappable, was startled by the emperor’s unexpected offer, showing alarm and immediately kneeling.

Seeing this, the Emperor raised his hand, signaling Qiu Yuyang to rise, "Alright, if you don’t wish to, then let it be."

Qiu Yuyang didn’t immediately get up. Considering that many court officials had concubines, and that the Emperor had specifically inquired why he didn’t take any, he felt it necessary to express his sentiments.

He had no intention of taking a concubine.

"Your Majesty, my wife and I were married young and supported each other through hardships. Today, thanks to Your Majesty, I have achieved wealth and high status. But in my heart, only my wife deserves to share this glory with me. I am selfish and unwilling to share even a bit of it with any other woman who comes halfway through my life."

"Therefore, I will not take concubines in the future," Qiu Yuyang declared, then performed a formal bow.

The Emperor felt the conversation could not continue.

Each of them was so devoted to their married partners; he almost suspected that Linghu You and Qiu Yuyang were conspiring to show off their devotion in front of him.

How could they be like this?

The Emperor felt even more frustrated, with no one understanding his plight or solving his problems. After dismissing Qiu Yuyang, he spent the afternoon sulking in the Diligence Hall, refusing to see anyone. He directed that any matters be taken to the chancellors in the Council of State Affairs.

It wasn't until dinner time that Zhang Zhongguo came to report that Marquis Yangwu, Xu Peng, sought an audience.

Marquis Yangwu, Xu Peng, the Emperor's younger uncle, was a year younger than the Emperor and known in the capital for his frivolous and indulgent lifestyle, skilled only in the pleasures of eating, drinking, and merrymaking.

The Emperor asked, "What does he want?"

"Your Majesty, Marquis Yangwu mentioned that he heard you've been having a poor appetite lately and has specially come to offer you two signature dishes," Zhang Zhongguo reported, then asked, "Marquis Yangwu brought the dishes himself in a food container. Should I have a taste tester try them first?"

The Emperor glanced over the eight dishes on the long table, showing no interest in picking up the chopsticks. He nodded to Zhang Zhongguo, "Let him come in."

Zhang Zhongguo replied with a respectful "yes" and left to summon the visitor.

Soon, Marquis Yangwu, Xu Peng, appeared at the entrance of the main hall. Bearing a resemblance to the Emperor, he approached with a food container and bowed, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

The Emperor beckoned him to rise and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

"I rushed to see Your Majesty and haven’t eaten yet," Xu Peng replied with a smile, trying to be clever.

"Sit down and eat with me," the Emperor invited, pointing to the seat on his left, "Let’s see what you’ve brought this time."

"Just wait and see," Xu Peng, not relying on the palace servants, opened the food container himself. It contained two layers: the first had stir-fried lotus slices, and the second, steamed pork.

The Emperor was disappointed, expecting something more novel but found only two very common dishes. He felt his younger uncle's culinary skills were waning.

Seeing the Emperor's expression, Xu Peng quickly explained, "Don’t underestimate these dishes, Your Majesty. Please taste them first; their essence lies in their flavor."

After the food taster had tried them, the Emperor and Xu Peng each received a piece on a white jade porcelain plate. The Emperor tasted the pork, finding it smoother and more delicate than usual, while the lotus slices were crisp and carried a faint lotus fragrance.

"This steamed pork is made from a suckling pig fed with cow's milk for a month after weaning. The meat from the pig's neck is marinated in cow's milk, frozen for a day and a night, and then steamed. It's not only delicate but also has a milky fragrance," Xu Peng explained.

"Suitable for children," the Emperor commented, then instructed the taster, "Divide both dishes into half and send them to the Fu Hua Palace for my fourth son."

Seeing the Emperor's enthusiasm for the dish with his son in mind, Xu Peng realized that next time he brought something for the Emperor, he should also prepare something for the fourth prince.

Xu Peng then pointed to the lotus slices, "This lotus root, Your Majesty, is a new variety found near Jiankang in the south. It's unearthed with a natural lotus fragrance, hence called 'Lotus Fragrant Lotus Root.'"

The Emperor instantly discerned Xu Peng's intention, "You came today just for this lotus root, didn’t you?"

"Your Majesty truly has discerning eyes, nothing can escape your notice," Xu Peng flattered first, then with a smile on his face added, "If Your Majesty finds it satisfactory, why not include it in the list of tribute items?"

The Emperor stared at Xu Peng and extended his hand.

Xu Peng, feeling uneasy, asked, "What for?"

"How much did you take?"

"Two, three, four, five, six, eight hundred and eighty-eight guan," Xu Peng reluctantly counted on his fingers, confessing the actual amount under the Emperor’s intense gaze.

"We’ll split it seventy-thirty, seventy for me, thirty for you," the Emperor thought, now having a purpose for the four hundred guan he had just rewarded to Qiu Yuyang.

"No, no, Your Majesty, let’s do a fifty-fifty split," Xu Peng protested.

"If you think that’s not acceptable, then how about eighty-twenty, or ninety..."

"Alright, alright, seventy-thirty it is," Xu Peng hastily interrupted the Emperor, always ending up short-changed in their dealings. He rarely got a fifty-fifty split and often ended up with only ten percent.

Earning money was hard for him.

His lifestyle of indulgence was costly, and his elder brother, Xu Kang, even controlled his allowance, personally handling his salary.

Once, he considered separating from the family to live independently, but the idea was swiftly squashed by a slap from his father and a barrage of tears from his mother.

At night, the palace gates were locked.

The Emperor kept Xu Peng in the Qianyuan Hall's Restful Pavilion.

Xu Peng, watching the palace servants making the bed, said with a smile, “I’ll sleep in the vacant room at Renshou Hall tonight, so I don’t disturb your pleasant evening, Jiulang.” Behind Yangxin Hall, separated by a wall, was Xuancaotang, the place where the emperor favored his concubines.

"You can sleep here tonight; I won't summon any concubines."

"That would be rather embarrassing..."

"You seem quite comfortable with the idea."

The emperor gave him a stern look to stop his jesting, then suddenly recalling that Xu Peng had several concubines, including a favored one he had extravagantly redeemed from a pleasure house, asked curiously, "Women are prone to jealousy. Do you know how to cure it?"

"Jiulang," Xu Peng looked at the emperor's nephew in surprise, "You have such troubles! That’s unexpected. Who would dare, at the risk of their life..."

"Shut up." The emperor immediately regretted asking. If Linghu couldn't manage it, how could he?

To his surprise, Xu Peng immediately said, "Jiulang, it's actually quite simple."

The emperor, unable to resist, looked at him expectantly.

Xu Peng didn’t keep him in suspense and suggested with a smile, "Women are jealous creatures. Neglect her for ten days or a half month, let her endure hardship in the inner quarters, and deeply feel the importance of her husband's affection. She’ll quickly fall in line."

"What a useless method," the emperor shook his head in disappointment. Knowing Ayan's temperament of not speaking to him for years, if he really neglected her, she might feel even more at ease.

Besides, he couldn't bear to do it.

Seeing his idea rejected by the emperor, Xu Peng added, "If you can’t bear to neglect her, then simply indulge her jealousy. After all, you're happy now. Treat it as a bedroom amusement. When you really can’t stand it anymore, you'll naturally be able to let go."

The emperor, hearing this, felt as if an epiphany struck him.

Right, he cared about Ayan now. It was his concern for Ayan’s jealousy that troubled him and made him reluctant to hurt her.

The day he stopped caring about Ayan, like with the other women in the harem, and they showed jealousy, he would simply neglect them, not seeing them or bothering about their jealousy.

The Emperor, upon this realization, swiftly made a decision in his heart.

Author's Note:

Today's update~~ kisses~~