Chapter 129: The Whole Family Goes

Chapter 129 The Whole Family Goes

Emperor Wuming listened to this with his hands clasped behind his back before leaving. He returned to the Coiling Dragon Hall and remained silent for a long while before asking, "What rank does Zheng Aiqing currently hold?"

Feng De replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Zheng is a Director of the Bureau of Revenue, holding the fifth-rank position."

This was already an exceptionally young fifth-rank official.

Emperor Wuming narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this but said nothing more. One phrase from Zheng Shanci had struck a chord with him: "Heaven favors the diligent." Emperor Wuming had a palace attendant remove his boots—he was ready for his midday rest on the imperial bed.

Seeing the emperor retire to his bedchamber, Feng De withdrawn silently. He instructed the palace servants to keep watch while he went to rest briefly, lest he grow too weary in the afternoon. Serving Emperor Wuming daily was no small matter; a single misstep could cost one’s head, so he had to remain alert at all times.

His godson brought him a basin of water to wash his face. Though Feng De was a man without roots, as the emperor’s personal attendant, many flattered and fawned over him.

"Rest for now," Feng De said as he lay down. "Wake me when it’s time." After a moment’s thought, he added, "Go and gather more information about Lord Zheng to present to me this evening."

"Which Lord Zheng do you mean, Father?"

"Who else? Director Zheng of the Bureau of Revenue, of course."

With that, Feng De pulled the covers over himself and drifted off. Since the emperor had taken an interest in Zheng Shanci, Feng De had to pay attention as well. If the emperor ever inquired, he would need to have answers ready.

At noon, Zheng Shanci spoke further with Xie Cheng, advising him to read *Records of the Grand Historian*, starting with the imperial biographies, and to summarize the personality traits of each emperor.

Xie Cheng accepted the assignment and returned to the Crown Prince’s residence. Assistant Grand Secretary Wei had also assigned him work, so Xie Cheng carried two sets of tasks with him, feeling fulfilled and content. Zheng Shanci’s words had brought him peace of mind. That evening, to Nanny Zhou’s surprise, he stopped studying early and went to bed.

Nanny Zhou’s heart swelled with relief.

The Crown Prince had been under immense pressure, his entire body tense. Now, seeing him much calmer, she thought it good that a thirteen-year-old did not push himself too hard. Her past attempts to persuade him had been futile, but this time, the prince had realized it himself—he had learned to care for his own well-being. Nanny Zhou was overjoyed.

She quietly left Xie Cheng’s room and went to the kitchen to instruct the servants to prepare the prince’s favorite dishes the next day, hoping he would remain happy every day.

Xie Cheng closed his eyes peacefully in bed.

...

Zheng Shanci returned home and informed Yu Lanyi that his father-in-law would be leaving for the borderlands.

"Then Father won’t be able to spend the New Year in the capital? And at his age, traveling all the way to the border—I worry his health might suffer," Yu Lanyi fretted.

"Your father is still strong. Transporting medical provisions and overseeing grain shipments to the border shouldn’t pose much trouble," Zheng Shanci reassured him.

Though Yu Lanyi understood this, he remained uneasy.

The next day, after Zheng Shanci left for work, Yu Lanyi returned to the Changyang Marquisate. He asked Mr. Yu whether it was true that his father was going to the border.

"The Emperor’s decree cannot be disobeyed. Your father departed early this morning—imperial orders must be followed. Matters at the border take precedence. You know your uncle is stationed there, and many of his most loyal retainers remain in the army. Your father couldn’t rest easy if someone else were sent. Now that he’s been assigned, he feels more at peace."

Hearing this, Yu Lanyi could only try to set his heart at ease.

"Yesterday, when your father returned, he even praised Shan Ci for handling affairs so well that it brought him honor. He couldn’t help gloating to his friends—that’s just the kind of man he is, always lighthearted. But his health is still robust, and he took all his trusted aides with him. Set your heart at ease."

When Mr. Yu mentioned that the Marquis of Changyang had praised Zheng Shanci, Yu Lanyi smiled faintly. "So Zheng Shanci did something impressive in the Ministry of Revenue again, giving Father another reason to show off."

Reassured by his father’s words, Yu Lanyi relaxed—but his relief was short-lived.

At court that morning, the court debated the dispatch of officials to Qingzhou and Yangzhou for disaster relief. Many recommended Ye Yunchu, as he had previously quelled disasters efficiently whenever dispatched.

Emperor Wuming pointed at Ye Yunchu. "Minister Ye has already served in Qingzhou. This time, he will proceed to Yangzhou."

Ye Yunchu stepped forward and responded with a "Yes."

At the end of the year, the Dali Temple had few cases to handle, so it was an opportune time for him to go manage disaster relief without neglecting his duties.

Emperor Wuming realized he still needed one more person. He knew better than to send someone too old for disaster relief—lest they collapse unexpectedly, which would be a grave responsibility.

His gaze swept over the gathered officials. This one was too old, that one had unclean hands, and this nobility member was unsuitable. Since the trip to Qingzhou for disaster relief would take some time, Emperor Wuming sought an official with a relatively light workload.

A thought occurred to him, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Where is the Director of the Revenue Ministry?"

The officials were still debating candidates when the emperor suddenly called for the Director of the Revenue Ministry. They fell silent, minds racing—why was His Majesty summoning him?

Xie Cheng, standing at the front, felt his heart skip a beat at the words.

Zheng Shanci stepped into the center of the civil and military officials and bowed. "Your Majesty."

Emperor Wuming chuckled, his tone inscrutable. "Director Zheng, you shall take charge of Qingzhou's relief efforts."

Grand Secretary Tang remained unmoved upon hearing this. He was about to retire and cared little for court politics. The Six Ministers and the Grand Secretariat members merely noted that Zheng Shanci had impressed the emperor. This disaster relief mission was an opportunity—if handled well, it could earn him another promotion.

This was simply giving him a reason to rise. Assistant Grand Secretary Wei figured it must be this way, or else he couldn’t fathom why Emperor Wuming would send Zheng Shanci to Qingzhou.

Another factor was that Zheng Shanci had once served in Qingzhou, making him more familiar with the region.

Zheng Shanci: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this great kindness."

After accepting the decree, Zheng Shanci returned to his position, feeling uneasy all over. He hadn’t expected Emperor Wuming to assign him to Qingzhou for disaster relief—by all rights, he wasn’t qualified. Likely, the emperor had pulled him out based on his past decent performance in relief efforts.

With the assignments for the snow disaster in both regions settled, the matter could be set aside for now.

Next, Emperor Wuming had to announce the most important year-end matter. He glanced at Grand Secretary Tang below, who understood and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this old minister is advanced in years and can no longer handle court affairs. I now request permission to retire and return home to live out my remaining years."

Emperor Wuming made the customary show of reluctance, persuading him three times before sorrowfully granting the request.

The civil and military officials all knew this was a necessary formality and followed the expected script. It was, in another sense, a scripted ritual.

With this matter settled, Grand Secretary Tang felt relieved. But those who had relied on him were anything but. A new reign meant new ministers—Grand Secretary Tang had held his position for years, with countless officials attached to his faction. One change could ripple through everything. Before this, he had already informed his subordinates of his impending retirement when he reached an understanding with Emperor Wuming.

Yet they had no time to reposition themselves, leaving them suddenly without their faction leader. Once Grand Secretary Tang stepped down, they would be replaced by newcomers. The change of the Chief Grand Secretary was a major event for the court.

Zheng Shanci had an inkling. Military officials, due to military budget reforms and the lack of wars, had seen their influence over civil officials wane. But with the Chief Grand Secretary’s replacement, the civil officials would undergo a reshuffling, restoring balance between the civil and military factions.

He sighed inwardly—this was no whim of Emperor Wuming’s. Grand Secretary Tang’s advanced age was common knowledge, so why retire him at this critical juncture? This had been prearranged between ruler and minister; today’s performance was merely a formality for the court.

With Grand Secretary Tang retiring, the position of Chief Grand Secretary was now vacant. No official dared ask Emperor Wuming who the next Chief Grand Secretary would be—each harbored their own schemes. The emperor glanced at the gathered officials, then at Xie Cheng, before leaving the throne hall.

Naturally, he wouldn’t announce the next Chief Grand Secretary now. Let them sit and wonder. He would make his decision after the New Year, giving some minds time to cool and reconsider, avoiding rash factionalism.

The New Year holiday was the buffer Emperor Wuming had granted his court.

He smiled with satisfaction.

After court adjourned, Ye Yunchu returned to the Dali Temple, where his colleagues praised him.

"Your Lordship, His Majesty holds you in such high esteem."

"The Marquis’s future looks bright."

Ye Yunchu smiled faintly, thanking his colleagues one by one for their words. He didn’t leave until he’d organized the case files at the Dali Temple.

The officials at the Dali Temple all held Ye Yunchu in high regard. Despite his status as a prince’s heir, he was punctual and never exploited his subordinates. Instead, if any of his subordinates had good ideas, Ye Yunchu would acknowledge them and recommend them for advancement when the opportunity arose.

There was once an official who was originally just an eighth-rank minor official. During a case, he voiced his thoughts, which Ye Yunchu adopted. When the case was concluded, Ye Yunchu even credited the minor official in the report. As a result, the official was promoted to the seventh rank as a Scribe of the Dali Temple.

Thus, Ye Yunchu, highly trusted by the emperor and a member of the imperial clan, was deeply respected by the officials at the Dali Temple. Though he had minor personal shortcomings, they were insignificant and not a major issue.

After returning home, Ye Yunchu informed the Zhennan Prince Consort about his assignment to Yangzhou for disaster relief.

“I’m going to Yangzhou for disaster relief. Shiyan will take Xiaoyezi to stay at the estate,” Ye Yunchu told the Prince Consort.

The Zhennan Prince Consort was stung by his words. “Your father already shuns me, and now even the son I bore distances himself from me, not even letting me see my grandson. You’ve wounded your mother’s heart so deeply. Now that everything is settled, would I really harm Yu Shiyan?”

Ye Yunchu saluted respectfully. “As a son, I should not judge my mother’s actions. The emperor trusts me and has given me this duty—I am grateful. But I must also protect my husband and child, and wouldn’t dream of burdening Mother with their care. They will be fine living at the estate.”

The Prince Consort was heartbroken. “The princely residence is their home. Will you really have them spend the New Year outside? This is completely unacceptable.”

Ye Yunchu said they would return for the New Year but go back to the estate afterward. Ever since the incident with his son, he had lost all trust in the Prince Consort.

After speaking, Ye Yunchu bowed courteously and returned to his courtyard, informing Yu Shiyan about his assignment to Yangzhou.

Ye Yucheng, upon seeing Ye Yunchu, called out “Father” and hugged his leg.

“Xiaoyezi, you and your father will stay at the estate. When I return, I’ll bring you both back,” Ye Yunchu said, stroking his son’s head before lifting him onto his lap.

Yu Shiyan nodded gently. “I’ll pack your belongings. The winter is harsh—take care of yourself and don’t fall ill. Many may perish in the snow disaster, but you have a gentle nature. Don’t let it weigh too heavily on your heart.”

Ye Yunchu nodded solemnly. Watching Yu Shiyan pull clothes from the wardrobe, his heart settled. Only Yu Shiyan would tell him not to let these things burden him—he understood him.

Just as they had during their first conversation at the banquet.

Yu Shiyan packed several thick garments for Ye Yunchu, along with hand warmers. Recently, he had embroidered a few calming sachets and tucked two into Ye Yunchu’s bundle. He also folded two cloaks neatly inside, finishing the packing swiftly.

Placing the bundle on the table, he was about to call for Ye Yunchu when he saw him sitting on the floor with Xiaoyezi, assembling a tangram puzzle—a gift from one of the Dali Temple officials.

There was also a Luban lock and a nine-linked ring, both challenging toys. When Ye Yunchu first learned his colleagues had sent these for Xiaoyezi, he had covered his mouth, amused but exasperated. “Xiaoyezi is still so young—how can he manage these?”

Still, he accepted their goodwill. Though Xiaoyezi didn’t fully grasp them, he adored them. Ye Yunchu had bought him other toys—a cloth tiger, a rattle-drum, and a small wooden horse, which was Xiaoyezi’s favorite. He could rock back and forth on it.

Xiaoyezi put a puzzle piece in the wrong spot, and Ye Yunchu discreetly nudged him toward the right spot. The child immediately placed the piece there.

Thick carpets covered the floor for Xiaoyezi’s comfort—even sleeping on it in this weather wouldn’t make him ill. The boy loved running around barefoot, and here, he was even more unrestrained.

The snow disaster in Yangzhou was worsening. Though Emperor Wuming hadn’t specified a departure time, Ye Yunchu decided to leave at dawn. He kissed his son and handed him the tangram.

“Shiyan, if you need anything, go ahead and buy it. You may freely use any of my estates or shops. If anything happens, tell Father—he’ll handle it properly.”

Yu Shiyan acknowledged with a sound.

...

Zheng Shanci returned home after duty and told the agitated Yu Lanyi about his assignment to Qingzhou for disaster relief.

Yu Lanyi was shocked. “Father just left, and now you’re going too? Leaving me and Dad to celebrate the New Year alone?”

Zheng Shanci soothed the upset Yu Lanyi. “It’s the emperor’s decree. The disaster won’t wait—I leave at dawn.”

Zheng Shanci knew that arriving even a moment earlier might save more lives. When it came to matters of life and death, he would never refuse. This winter was indeed bitterly cold—if the snow disaster worsened, people could freeze to death.

Zheng Shanci also mentioned that Ye Yunchu had been sent by Emperor Wuming to Yangzhou for disaster relief.

"Why does it always have to be *someone from our family*?" Yu Lanyi grumbled.

Zheng Shanci thought about it and realized it was indeed the case.

Yu Lanyi couldn’t bear to part with Zheng Shanci but still had to pack for his husband’s journey. His heart *twisted* as he packed four *massive* bundles for Zheng Shanci—so large they couldn’t even fit on the table.

Zheng Shanci *stared blankly*.

"Lan Yi, I don’t need this much."

Yu Lanyi refused to listen. "It’s *all* just going on the carriage anyway. Just toss it in there and be done with it."

Zheng Shanci agreed. He *preferred traveling light*, and hauling so much to Qingzhou felt *odd*, but it *warmed his heart*.

Yu Lanyi *told* Jin Yun to have the kitchen prepare a *feast* for Zheng Shanci’s farewell.

"Yes, Young Master."

Zheng Shanci sighed.

Later, he checked on Xiao Pingan, who was already asleep. He wouldn’t be back for *six months*.

"*Get some rest*. You’ve got an early start tomorrow," Yu Lanyi said tenderly, patting the other side of the bed.

Zheng Shanci lay down, and Yu Lanyi murmured, "*Watch yourself* out there. Stay safe, *look after your health*. Don’t fall ill while helping others. You won’t be back for the New Year, so have the servants prepare a good meal for you. You *never splurge* and *brush off* trivial things, but some matters still deserve attention. Just remember this—*eat, drink, live, and sleep well*."

Zheng Shanci held Yu Lanyi and softly replied, "I know. I’ll listen to you."

Yu Lanyi kissed him. "*No more of this for a long time*."

*Hearing that*, Zheng Shanci *pulled him closer* and kissed him *hard*.

The next day, *before sunrise*, Zheng Shanci *set out* with his entourage. At the gates, he *ran into* Ye Yunchu, who was also leading his own group out. Neither had expected to meet there, and they *bowed slightly in greeting*.

The *routes* to Yangzhou and Qingzhou *split*, so they parted ways at the gates—Ye Yunchu heading south, Zheng Shanci north.

Zheng Shanci thought the north would be even colder. *Huddling* into his cloak, he *shut his eyes* to rest. *Last time* in Qingzhou, he’d *only visited* Xinfeng County, but this time, he was going as the Imperial Commissioner.

The carriage *lurched* over *snowdrifts*. Zheng Shanci lifted the curtain—*nothing but white stretching endlessly, not a soul around*.

Two months later, he arrived in Qingzhou.