Chapter 49: The Humanitarian Duke of State

Chapter 49: The Humanitarian Duke of State

On the coldest day of winter, the case of the prison warden finally reached a conclusion. Chang Nian had no idea how much struggle and strife had transpired between the Crown Prince and Fifth Brother behind closed doors. But the outcome made public was that the servant was guilty of murder, and the Fifth Prince was punished for his lax discipline with a six-month reduction in his allowance and the task of copying the Heart Sutra three hundred times, to be presented to the Empress Dowager before the beginning of spring.

Holding a tray of pastries, Chang Nian mused, "There's no such thing as the truth here. Only the survival of the fittest."

Hong Ti was sewing up the torn clothes from her previous fall in the snow. She whispered, "As long as His Highness isn't implicated, everything else can be sorted out."

How could he not be implicated? She was the one who had pointed the finger at Third Prince's servant. Since Third Brother couldn't compete against the Crown Prince, he would undoubtedly take some of his anger out on her.

Fortunately, she had returned to her safe haven, and she was no longer someone to be easily manipulated. Even if Third Brother was angry, he wouldn't dare to harm her without considering the consequences.

Just as she was pondering this, Ye Jiangbai approached her from the direction of the moon gate.

Looking up, Chang Nian instinctively barked, "Woof!"

Ye Jiangbai: "...?"

He strode over and slightly bent down, touching her forehead. "Are you out of your mind?"

Ah, when people grow close, their words become candid. Previously, Ye Jiangbai, considering her status, had addressed her with respect as "Your Highness" even when he wanted to scold her. But after spending more time together and realizing she was a pushover, he no longer held back in their verbal spars.

With a slight pout, Chang Nian declared, "My mind is as sharp as ever."

Smiling at her with clear skepticism, Ye Jiangbai handed her a stack of documents.

"This comes from Jiangxi, bearing expressions of loyalty and counsel. It's inevitably filled with flattery. I've had the Ministry of Finance examine them. Your Highness may peruse at your leisure, and once you've affixed your seal, hand it over to the household manager."

Towards the end of the year, officials from various regions began arriving in the capital to present their annual reports. The Eastern Palace and several princes all retreated to their private mansions within the palace walls. Important officials were personally received, while those of lesser significance were acknowledged through trusted proxies who would also collect their gifts.

But that was for ordinary princes. As one confined and raised in the palace, she could only follow Ye Jiangbai's arrangements.

Taking the document, Chang Nian responded obediently, "As you wish."

Ye Jiangbai continued, "His Highness is frail and should avoid the cold winds. I've entrusted the trifles of the Ministry of Revenue to Tianyun for handling. Once everything is in order, he will report to you, Your Highness."

These words were spoken politely, but in essence, it meant he was "assuming authority" on her behalf. In reality, he was using his own people under the guise of serving her. This way, the Third Prince would gain a reputation for "brotherly love," while Ye Jiangbai reaped tangible benefits and won her favor.

Chang Nian felt fortunate to be allied with Ye Jiangbai. If she had been on the opposite side, she would have no escape from his schemes.

"Thank you for your consideration, Duke," Chang Nian replied with her usual amiable smile.

Ye Jiangbai exhaled softly, his eyes half-lowered as he spoke to her gently, "I've been swamped with work lately and can't return home during the day. If Your Highness has any troubles or desires something, please inform my servants so they can relay it to me."

What a thoughtful master! Chang Nian was deeply moved. She picked up a pastry from the plate and fed it to him.

Ye Jiangbai paused slightly before taking a bite, his eyes holding a hint of reproof as if to say, How proper is this?

Chang Nian giggled foolishly, watching him eat the pastry despite his disdain. She whispered, "Duke, you work so hard, but don't forget to eat. It's already noon."

Noon? Ye Jiangbai looked up at the sky and pursed his lips. "I'm running out of time. I need to head to the palace. You can have lunch on your own, Your Highness."

"Alright." Chang Nian rose to see him off.

Ye Jiangbai stepped into the carriage and turned back for one last glance.

The young figure standing at the door was obedient and lovely. If not for the male attire, she would have resembled the perfect lady of the Duke's household, sending him off to the palace with a gentle gaze and waiting with a lamp lit for his return.

It was such a pity that she was a man.

Shaking his head, Ye Jiangbai gathered his thoughts and drew the carriage curtains, preparing to enter the palace for a confrontation.

Chang Nian stood at the entrance, watching as Ye Jiangbai's carriage dwindled into a tiny black dot. Suddenly, she gasped, "Oh!"

"Your Highness?" the steward inquired from beside her.

"Can I go out?" Chang Nian turned around, her eyes filled with anticipation.

The steward was taken aback for a moment before nodding. "Of course you can."

There were no restrictions on Seventh Prince within this residence. She could go wherever she pleased; at most, she would be under surveillance to prevent any mishaps.

Chang Nian clapped her hands and joyfully exclaimed, "Hong Ti, Hong Ti, let's go! I promised you that Beggar Chicken from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion yesterday, so I'll take you there today."

"Hai," Hong Ti replied, bowing slightly.

The steward hastily handed Hong Ti a purse of money and assigned eight guards. Only after watching the group depart in a grand manner did he feel somewhat reassured.

However, those eight guards soon lost track of them.

Chang Nian led Hong Ti through a labyrinth of alleys until they reached the back entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, where she knocked and entered, ascending straight to the second floor.

"Duke," Feng Jingxian had been waiting respectfully for her arrival and bowed deeply upon seeing her.

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion was open for business, frequented by numerous patrons. The five-story pavilion had rooms scattered about, and no one knew who occupied them. With entrances at both front and back, it was convenient for coming and going.

Chang Nian helped him up and said, "Your Excellency, there's no need for such formality here, it's like our own home. I won't hide anything from you; this establishment is owned by a cousin of the Qin family. Although he's not highly regarded for his business dealings, he treats me very well. Here, we can dine without paying a single silver coin."

Feng Jingxian chuckled at her words and, as he sat down, presented a stack of documents with both hands.

"The documents that were screened out by the Ministry of Revenue, Your Excellency, I've gone through them and transcribed the relevant ones. Please have a look."

Adopting a serious expression, Chang Nian took them and began to peruse them.

What Ye Jiangbai didn't want her to see included meaningless flattery and matters involving the division of interests. Zhao Chang Nian had no intention of manipulating the current situation, but there were still things she wanted to know.

For instance, the registered grain reserves in Jiangxi were adequate for military salaries, yet the Ministry of Revenue reported the need to purchase more elsewhere. Also, the provincial governor had intended to invite her to a banquet, something Ye Jiangbai hadn't planned on telling her.

What was the Duke of State planning? Laying the documents aside, Chang Nian propped her chin in her hand and pondered. He was already wealthy and powerful; even if he did nothing for the rest of his life, he would have no worries about food or drink.

Yet he insisted on doing so, even if it meant neglecting his meals and sleep to meddle in court affairs.

Was there something he desperately desired?

Letting out a soft sigh, Chang Nian turned to Feng Jingxian and said, "You've worked hard, Your Excellency."

"Fufu," Feng Jingxian replied. "There are still several colleagues from the Ministry of Finance waiting outside who wish to pay their respects to Your Highness."

"Very well," Chang Nian said with a glimmer in his eyes. "Ask them to come in."

The burning silver charcoal crackled, filling the imperial study with warmth like a spring day.

Ye Jiangbai stood before the emperor, recounting the grace bestowed by previous rulers up until the widespread distribution of rice by the emperor the previous year.

"Minister," the emperor interrupted, unable to contain himself, "do you believe that this year's grace is insufficient?"

Ye Jiangbai smiled as he tucked his sleeves. "Your Majesty's amnesty this year, allowing soldiers to return home and wanderers to go back to their families, is indeed a great act of grace. Your Majesty regards the world as your home and the people as your children. With such grace, how can it be considered insufficient?"

"However," he sighed, "the late Empress passed away too soon. At that time, the ancestral temples had yet to be expanded, and the nation was in turmoil. We were forced to lay her to rest at the White Horse Temple. Now that everyone in the land has found their place, how can those closest to Your Majesty not have a place to return to?"

The emperor fell silent, recalling how he had previously expressed his wish to enshrine the late Empress's spirit tablet in the ancestral temple. Wasn't it Ye Jiangbai who had argued that, as she had died of an illness, moving her spirit tablet might disrupt the nation's fortune, thus delaying the matter? Yet now, how had the blame shifted to him for being heartless and forgetting the late Empress?

Despite these thoughts, the emperor nodded outwardly. "Your words hold merit, Minister."

"Given that the late Empress bore His Highness the Fifth Prince, her title can be posthumously upgraded," Ye Jiangbai said, bowing his hands. "The Ministry of Rites has drafted several options for your consideration, Your Majesty."

In the past, Ye Jiangbai would never have bothered with such empty titles and rewards. In his view, what good were they after someone had passed away? What use were these titles when the deceased could not even enjoy them? Would Yama in the underworld be impressed?

Yet here he was, standing before the emperor, earnestly discussing this matter.

The monarch was taken aback, but also strangely moved. The Duke of State Affairs, who had always focused on civilian and political affairs, was finally engaging in discussions about rewards without any personal agenda. How rare!

"Your Majesty," Venerable Scholar Wen interjected, "It wasn't only the late Empress who gave birth to a prince. With the New Year's festivities approaching, bestowing special honors solely upon her might…."

"The minister raises a valid point," the emperor acknowledged with a nod. "Then let this year's imperial grace extend to all consorts in the harem who have borne children, rewarding them equally."

"Benevolent of Your Majesty," Ye Jiangbai bowed with a smile.