Chapter 128: Heaven Rewards the Diligent

Chapter 128: Heaven Helps Those Who Work Hard

Zheng Shanci had been busy at the Ministry of Revenue these days. The heavy snowfall this year had all officials hunching their shoulders, wishing they could hide away.

In the Throne Hall, Emperor Wuming addressed the snow disaster. Additionally, for some reason, a large number of soldiers on the frontier had fallen ill, requiring someone to deliver medicinal supplies.

Emperor Wuming summoned the Marquis of Changyang. Zheng Shanci’s heart skipped a beat as his gaze landed on his father-in-law. The Marquis of Changyang stepped forward to give his thanks.

...

"This winter’s been brutal."

"Both Yangzhou and Qingzhou have filed reports of snow disasters. Moreover, an illness has spread among the frontier troops, with many falling ill. Didn’t His Majesty dispatch the Marquis of Changyang to inspect the frontier? He’ll deliver the supplies along the way."

"Quanzhou’s still a mess, and now Qingzhou and Yangzhou are added to the list."

After court adjourned, officials gathered in small groups to discuss the situation, shaking their heads over the snow disaster. This winter had been unusually cold, and they all preferred staying in their offices, hunkered down in corners, reluctant to venture out on assignments.

When they saw the Marquis of Changyang heading to the Ministry of Revenue, they sighed inwardly. The Marquis would be away on duty this year and miss New Year’s.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Revenue, the Marquis of Changyang ordered an inventory of medicinal supplies and provisions. Zheng Shanci, needing to steer clear of favoritism, assigned Yu Feng to handle the matter. As soon as the Marquis entered the ministry, several officials glanced at him, paid their respects, and then a minor official led him to the storeroom.

The Marquis noticed that the officials at the Ministry of Revenue were unusually polite compared to usual. Military and civil officials had always been at odds, and the Marquis rarely handled ministry business himself—usually, he sent subordinates to settle affairs. This was his first visit since Zheng Shanci had become the Director of the Ministry of Revenue.

Yu Feng first paid his respects to the Marquis, with an inventory in hand. He spoke courteously, "Please have a seat, Marquis. We’ve tallied the military supplies based on the number of frontier troops. Check if anything’s missing or unsatisfactory, and let this humble official know. We’ll do our best to accommodate."

A minor official entered with hot tea, sharp and eager to please.

The Marquis felt at ease. He gave a grunt of approval, took a sip of tea, and then examined the list. As it was year-end, the ministry had been efficient, compiling all remaining supplies for the year. With no major disasters this year, reserves were plentiful. Moreover, Yu Feng had pulled some strings, allocating slightly more provisions to the frontier troops than usual. Normally, the ministry’s supplies couldn’t be arbitrarily adjusted, but given the circumstances—the illness among the troops—it was fair to send extra supplies.

This made him appear adaptable and pragmatic. As for the real reason, only Yu Feng knew.

The Marquis was satisfied with the list. According to the report, many frontier soldiers were suffering from high fevers, so the ministry had allocated additional supplies of scrophularia, honeysuckle, ephedra, and bamboo leaves. Though the Marquis couldn’t discern the specifics, the frontier physicians would appreciate the careful consideration. Yu Feng’s little scheme was well-played.

"This will do."

"Please wait a moment longer, Marquis. The provisions and medicines will be ready shortly," Yu Feng said with deference. With his polished looks and smooth, experienced manner despite being only in his twenties, he left a favorable impression on the Marquis.

The minor officials worked from identical lists, swiftly packing and loading the provisions and medicines onto carts. Though the Marquis rarely handled ministry business himself, he knew that large-scale allocations of supplies and funds usually dragged on. This time, however, they wrapped it up before his tea went cold.

The Marquis had his subordinates take charge of the supplies. He wasn’t leaving until tomorrow, so he still had duties at the Ministry of War. Most of the Great Yan Dynasty’s veteran generals and nobility who had earned their titles through military achievements were stationed there. Especially for marquises like him, the Ministry of War had reserved dedicated office spaces.

Upon returning to his courtyard, someone spotted him and called out, "Old Yu!"

"Old Yu, His Majesty assigned you a task, and you’re back from the Ministry of Revenue already?" asked a nobleman around the Marquis’s age.

"The ministry was efficient. They wrapped things up before my tea went cold. I’d hoped to savor the tea, but alas, no such luck," the Marquis replied with a hearty laugh.

"Old Yu, you’re something else. Everyone else hits a snag at the Ministry of Revenue—whether soft or hard. You must have quite the face there," the nobleman remarked, envy lacing his words.

Even for marquises like them, the ministry’s courtesy was superficial at best, their attitudes still stiff and unyielding.

The Marquis waved it off. "You flatter me. Enough—I’ll sound like I’m showing off." With that, he entered his quarters.

The doors were shut against the winter chill. Sitting in his chair, he couldn’t help but jiggle his legs in satisfaction.

The nobleman sighed. Such were the benefits of having capable juniors. With a son-in-law at the Ministry of Revenue, affairs ran smoothly. No more endless delays and frustrations. Now, everything was handled with deference and speed. The Marquis also had another son-in-law serving at the Court of Judicial Review—useful connections if one ever found oneself in trouble.

If that happened, his eldest son could plead for mercy before the Emperor, closing the loop perfectly.

...

Zheng Shanci was reviewing the expenditures of local government offices, flagging several suspicious entries to be forwarded to Vice Minister Mei, who would then transfer them to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice would send investigators to review the cases, and if any issues were found, the culpable officials would be arrested and brought to the capital.

Yu Feng handed the list of supplies for the Marquis of Changyang to Zheng Shanci.

"Lord Zheng, this is the list for the border troops."

Zheng Shanci took it and lingered over the entries for medicinal herbs. Having encouraged the people of Xinfeng County to cultivate herbs, he had some understanding of them and recognized the thought put into this list. He nodded in satisfaction. "This is well done."

Zheng Shanci affixed his seal on the document and said, "You may go now. Remember to review the officials' salaries—by year-end, you'll be responsible for the stipend disbursement."

Yu Feng was thrilled inwardly. Being entrusted with the year-end stipend disbursement was a clear sign of Lord Zheng's regard for him. He eagerly assented and left.

It seemed he had handled this matter well, at least to Lord Zheng's satisfaction. Though thrilled inwardly, Yu Feng kept his face neutral. He recalled that Lord Zheng often visited the library at noon. Once, he had gone to deliver documents at midday, only to find Lord Zheng absent. Earlier, he had overheard colleagues mention that the Emperor was in the library, though they were barred from entering.

On a whim, Yu Feng had gone to Zheng Shanci’s courtyard, claiming urgent matters, only to find him absent. The shock had left him sweating. He had kept this incident to himself, never speaking of it to anyone.

Yu Feng returned to his duties.

After finishing his tasks, Zheng Shanci went to the library at noon and noted with relief the crowd of officials still present. He continued reading an unfinished volume.

Several days later, Zheng Shanci finally completed the book, having gleaned much wisdom. He returned it, knowing the year-end holiday was approaching. He wouldn’t be able to visit the library again until after the New Year. As he walked back to the Ministry of Revenue along a small path, he noticed a youth by the roadside. Xie Cheng seemed to sense his presence and looked up, calling out, "Lord Zheng."

Zheng Shanci understood that if the Eldest Prince wished to know his identity, it would be easy. Having not visited the library for nearly half a month, it was reasonable for the Prince to have investigated him.

"This official pays respects to His Royal Highness the Eldest Prince," Zheng Shanci said with a bow.

Xie Cheng quickly helped him up. "I acted rashly in investigating Lord Zheng’s identity. I broke our agreement and ask for your forgiveness."

Xie Cheng spoke sincerely, genuinely respecting Zheng Shanci. Learning that he had risen from local governance to the imperial court only deepened his admiration.

Merit knows no pedigree—whether a Third-Ranked Jinshi, Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, or Tanhua, what mattered was fulfilling one’s duty and contributing to the Great Yan Dynasty. To Xie Cheng, these distinctions were irrelevant.

Xie Cheng was known for his cultivated poise, embodying the grace and magnanimity of royalty even at a young age. Since Zheng Shanci had guided him, he had come to realize that while Zheng might lack the seniority of great scholars or high-ranking ministers, his insight rivaled all.

"Your Highness honors me unduly."

Xie Cheng smiled faintly. "Lord Zheng, there is a pavilion nearby. This prince would like to invite you to sit for a while. It won’t take much of your time."

Seeing his earnestness, Zheng Shanci acquiesced.

"The terms Lord Zheng pointed out to me—when I incorporated them into my essay, I couldn’t grasp their full meaning. The Emperor took notice and visited the library, likely startling you, which is why you haven’t returned for so long," Xie Cheng explained.

He paused. "I am naturally dull of understanding. I often fail to comprehend the questions posed by Crown Prince Tutor Jiang, His Majesty, and Lord Wei, disappointing them frequently. After Lord Zheng clarified my doubts in the library, my tutors praised me. But I know it was your wisdom that gave me this opportunity. My visit today is to humbly ask for your guidance once more."

It took great courage for Xie Cheng to admit his "dullness." As a prince of Great Yan, he struggled to understand the intentions of Tutor Jiang, Lord Wei, and other court officials, which weighed heavily on him. Confessing this to Zheng Shanci was painful but sincere.

Zheng Shanci did not stand on ceremony. Steadying the prince’s hand, he said, "Your Highness must not belittle yourself. In my eyes, you have always been intelligent. You grasp things quickly, and at such a young age, you have a long journey ahead. What folly to call yourself slow! You are already exceptional."

Xie Cheng’s eyes pricked with unshed tears, his heart swelling. No one had ever spoken to him like this. As a member of the royal family, he suppressed his feelings, but Zheng Shanci’s warm hand on his felt intimate and comforting.

Xie Cheng was momentarily dazed, as if the whisper of a feather in his chest.

Zheng Shanci smiled, his eyes filled with encouragement and expectation.

"Have you not seen the towering pine, lying in the ravine, battered by wind and frost, yet rising in time to support the grand hall? How can Your Highness be certain you are not wise? And even if not, heaven favors the diligent. As long as your path is true, nothing is beyond your reach."

A tempest awoke in Xie Cheng’s heart. He felt as though he stood on a shore, waves crashing, sand and stones swept away by the storm. Fish were flung onto the beach, the moon yet to rise from the dark, fathomless sea. Mountains loomed in shadow. But once the moon ascended and the storm ceased, the black-blue shore would brighten.

"Before it leaves the sea, a thousand mountains are dark; once it reaches the sky, ten thousand lands are lit."

Xie Cheng’s lips trembled slightly. He bowed deeply to Zheng Shanci, his eyes brimming with respect. He longed to call him "teacher," though Zheng Shanci held no such title. Yet in his heart, Xie Cheng repeated the word silently.

The rustling of imperial yellow robes brushed through the grass. Feng De dared not make a sound, treading lightly behind Emperor Wuming. The Emperor had taken a midday stroll and come upon the Eldest Prince and Zheng Shanci heading to the pavilion. Intrigued, Emperor Wuming raised an eyebrow, ordering his retinue to wait while he followed discreetly with Feng De. Amused, the Emperor thought, "My son has sought out Zheng Shanci again—this time, I’ve stumbled upon their meeting."