Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Seven I Disagree with Sending Seventh to Handle the Disaster Relief…

Chapter 27: “Father, I object to sending Seventh Brother for disaster relief…”

After that night, the two men continued as before. Aside from the necessary public displays of affection, Wei San became even more scrupulous in his duties. Whenever Wei Zheng sought intimacy, he had to contrive excuses Wei San couldn't refuse to gain even a slight advantage.

Wei Zheng felt vexed, but for some unknown reason, after confirming his mental illness had truly healed, the Old Emperor appointed him Right Vice Minister of Personnel.

As an outsider parachuted into the role, he wielded little real power and had few connections. Each day, beyond morning roll call and court sessions, he served as little more than a figurehead at the Ministry of Personnel, not returning home until after the hour of Shen (3-5 p.m.). This drastically cut short his time with his young assassin.

Wei San, moreover, was adept at avoiding him. Even when they were both home, opportunities to catch him were scarce. Wei Zheng mentally noted this debt, intending to settle it along with old scores in due course.

Since taking office, Wei Zheng wasn't exactly busy, but he was far from idle. Even without substantial power, numerous officials, both openly and covertly, pledged their allegiance to him.

The Old Emperor’s stance on the Virtuous Prince was enigmatic. To say he didn't value him seemed contradictory, given the immediate appointment that allowed him to attend court and discuss state affairs. Yet, if he did value him, why assign him the busy but powerless role of Right Vice Minister of Personnel?

Officials from various court factions speculated, but none could fully decipher the Emperor’s intentions. Nevertheless, many who had once admired or followed Duke Dingguo Xu Heng secretly began to shift their support towards Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng, however, could surmise the Old Emperor’s true objective. Placing him in officialdom at this juncture was merely to allow him to cultivate his own influence, thereby balancing the increasingly arrogant Fifth Prince’s faction and the Crown Prince’s party, who presumed their secure succession after the Emperor’s demise.

Since the Old Emperor permitted his growth, why not seize this opportunity to ascend rapidly?

Wei Zheng made up his mind but refrained from hastily courting favor. Instead, he allowed those who approached him to do so without committing, keeping them in suspense while meticulously assessing their character in secret.

Days turned into weeks, and after about ten days, June quietly passed, giving way to the sweltering July. With it came news that shocked the court and enraged the Emperor.

Quanzhou had endured nearly two years without rain. A drought had struck late last year, leaving the populace with no harvest. Instead of truthfully reporting the situation, the Prefect of Quanzhou forcibly extorted grain and money from the people to pay taxes and deliver provisions to the court, all to safeguard his own reputation.

But paper, after all, cannot wrap fire. Countless refugees fleeing Quanzhou poured into Yu City, dozens of miles from the capital. The local magistrate, upon learning of this, immediately dispatched a messenger to gallop through the night and report the matter to the court.

The drought memorial went directly to the Imperial Study. The Old Emperor, in a fit of rage, threw the memorial down, ordering Zhao Fu to summon all officials for an audience.

In the Golden Throne Hall, it was rare for the Great Yu Dynasty to convene court on a rest day. Unaware of the reason, officials gathered in small groups, whispering and exchanging information, while the well-informed looked deeply worried.

The Crown Prince appeared solemn, yet his gaze subtly drifted towards Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng himself, however, presented a stark contrast to the anxious officials. He stood unperturbed in a corner, holding his court tablet, as if the entire affair had nothing to do with him.

The Fifth Prince had likely already received the news. He struggled to suppress his excitement and delight, though he feigned ignorance.

Shortly after, the Old Emperor, supported by Zhao Fu, took his seat on the dragon throne. The officials knelt and paid their respects, but he waved them off, excusing them from the formalities.

The Old Emperor went straight to the point, ordering Zhao Fu to read the drought memorial aloud.

“What are your thoughts on the Quanzhou drought, my lords?” he asked sternly, his voice laced with suppressed fury and a hint of menace.

The officials in the court displayed varied expressions, but without exception, beads of nervous sweat appeared on their brows.

“What? Have you all lost your tongues?” The Old Emperor grew incensed by their cautious silence. He rose, snatched the memorial from Zhao Fu’s hands, and hurled it forcefully onto the hall floor.

“Such a major disaster in Quanzhou, and not a single one of you noticed! Is this how you serve as imperial officials?”

“Useless fools!”

He was so furious that he flicked his sleeve, nearly choking on his anger.

Zhao Fu rushed forward to support him and help him calm down, but the Old Emperor pushed him away.

“Immediately send someone to arrest Wu Qi, the Prefect of Quanzhou, and bring him to the capital. Imprison him directly for execution in the autumn! Confiscate his property and exile his three clans to the southern border!”

The Emperor’s wrath caused all the officials to kneel in unison, pleading for him to calm his anger.

No one dared to provoke his temper at this moment. They all remained silent, like ducks with their necks wrung. Finally, Chancellor Zhao was the first to speak.

He stepped forward, holding his court tablet high. “Your Majesty, the drought is a matter of great importance. It is too late to assign blame now. Instead, we should first send someone to settle the refugees and address the drought in Quanzhou to reassure the populace.”

“The Chancellor speaks wisely.”

The Old Emperor calmed down slightly. His sharp gaze swept across the court officials, pausing briefly when it reached Wei Zheng before moving away indifferently.

He sat back on the dragon throne, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the dragon head carved into the armrest. After a moment of thought, he said, “My esteemed ministers, do you have suitable candidates for the disaster-relief imperial censor this time?”

The role of disaster-relief imperial censor was no easy task. If handled well and the drought resolved, one’s official career would soar effortlessly. But if handled poorly, losing one’s official position would be the least of it—one might lose their life and bring disaster upon their family.

No one dared to take on the role, but officials who had already been influenced by the Crown Prince began to stir.

The Imperial Censor-in-Chief stepped forward. “I believe the disaster-relief imperial censor should be His Highness the Virtuous Prince.”

“Oh? Why?”

The Old Emperor grew interested, his eyes scanning Wei Zheng with a barely noticeable measure of scrutiny and inquiry.

The Imperial Censor-in-Chief launched into effusive praise of Wei Zheng, citing his childhood intelligence and perceptiveness, and subtly hinting that his sudden recovery from his mental ailment must be due to the protection of the gods and ancestors, which might prove beneficial for the drought.

The Old Emperor, now at an age where he understood Heaven’s mandate, grew increasingly superstitious. The more he listened to the Imperial Censor-in-Chief, the more he felt it made sense.

He was still hesitating when twenty or thirty other officials stepped forward to agree with the recommendation. Many of them were officials who had recently grown closer to Wei Zheng. Those unaware of the situation would assume it was the Virtuous Prince’s secret instigation, aiming to secure the disaster-relief imperial censor role and impress the Emperor.

Following the crowd psychology, soon nearly half the court officials expressed their hope that the Virtuous Prince would be sent for disaster relief.

As the recommended party, Wei Zheng remained indifferent, offering no response.

Just as it seemed the matter was settled and only awaited the Old Emperor’s decree, the Crown Prince felt secretly pleased, his gaze toward Wei Zheng tinged with contempt.

What did it matter if he had endured for ten years and won their father’s affection? Wasn’t he about to be defeated by his own hands?

“Father! I, your son, object to sending Seventh Brother for disaster relief!”

At that moment, someone intervened, turning the tide.

Everyone turned their attention to the Fifth Prince, who shot a haughty glare at Wei Zheng before striding to the front of the hall.