Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Lord Chen!"

At the call, the middle-aged man turned around with a bow, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes when he saw his colleague. "Isn't this Lord Zhou? What a coincidence! You’ve come too?"

"It’s because the Ministry of Works kept me busy until now. But the spring examinations are almost here, Lord Chen, your workload must be no less than mine!"

Chen Yuanli smiled, his words flawless: "Not at all. The new Lord Minister has taken charge skillfully, and the Ministry of Rites is far better now than before. The spring examination assembly is a major affair—there’s no room for delay."

"Don’t be modest, don’t be modest! Your selfless act of reporting the Lord Minister was just. His Majesty even inquired about you a few days ago..."

Outside the building, a man approached and said, "Lord Chen, you’ve arrived just in time. There’s a scholar causing trouble."

Chen Yuanli looked outside and saw a student being held back by the assembly guards. When the student spotted Chen Yuanli, he knelt down hastily, his face anxious as he shouted, "My Lord, please save Zixuan! You know him best—how could he possibly have colluded with high officials to traffic in official posts?"

Chen Yuanli frowned slightly upon seeing him, but quickly changed his expression. "Rise. This matter is serious and backed by evidence. It’s not something I can influence."

The scholar cried out, "You know full well that when Zixuan sought your guidance, he had already..."

Chen Yuanli had no intention of continuing. He summoned the guard from the ministry to take the man away. As he was dragged off, the man kept shouting, drawing sidelong glances from nearby colleagues. "Lord Chen, is that about Liu Zixuan again? He’s caused a scene several times now. The evidence is solid, yet he still comes to plead? Liu Zixuan has already signed his confession."

"Yes, he’s rather foolish," Chen Yuanli said with a smile.

A colleague added, "It’s only because Lord Chen is so kind that you explain it to him each time. If you ask me, next time he shows up, just have him thrown out. No need for all this trouble..."

Chen Yuanli didn’t respond to his colleague’s words. Instead, he remarked on the student’s plight.

His colleague praised his kindness, saying that even such trivial matters deserved attention.

As his colleague walked away, Chen Yuanli’s gaze fell on the now-departed student. The smile on his face gradually faded, and he turned to enter the assembly.

Inside a private room on the upper floor of the tea house, an adjutant caught a glimpse of the scene at the entrance. "We’ve been tailing this Lord Chen from the Ministry of Rites for nearly a month now, but haven’t noticed anything unusual."

"Who was that?" asked Qi Hanzhou.

His adjutant, Ye Xuanjiu, continued, "Weng Yanqing, a provincial scholar from Huchuan. He came to the capital last month and has been pleading for his friend Liu Zixuan ever since. As for Liu Zixuan, he was implicated in the official post-buying case last year. Liu Zixuan was Chen Yuanli’s student."

Qi Hanzhou: "When the official post-buying case broke last year, all the mentors and their protégés kept their distance. Why did this man come to Chen Yuanli for justice instead of the government?"

"Though Chen Yuanli is only a director in the Ministry of Rites, he’s meticulous in all his duties," the adjutant said with some hesitation. "He’s known for being selfless, which has earned him a special status among the scholars. Weng Yanqing found no recourse with the authorities, so he keeps coming to Chen Yuanli. And Chen Yuanli never gets angry—he always pacifies the scholar until he leaves."

Such patience, even to a military officer like himself, seemed remarkable. Why had this man become the target of the Junior General? To this end, the Junior General had even gone undercover to enter the Guozijian assembly.

As the adjutant puzzled over this, he saw the Junior General’s gaze fall slightly, and he said softly, "He’s here."

Chen Yuanli’s carriage had just stopped when several luxurious carriages arrived on the roadside. The First Prince and other princes outside the palace had already arrived. The carriage came from the imperial city.

The Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince got out first. Though young, the Eighth Prince was virtuous and talented, treating scholars with respect and earning great admiration among them.

Following him came the Seventh Prince, richly dressed, and behind him was a prince who looked somewhat frail.

The surrounding scholars couldn’t help but glance over. The prince at the rear looked unfamiliar and seemed a bit weak. Given his youth, many immediately thought of the rumored Sixth Prince.

Not long ago, during the Crown Prince’s birthday, the Emperor ordered a grand celebration, including a palace banquet. The Sixth Prince shared the same birthday and age as the Crown Prince, so the banquet honored them both. There was no precedent for this in previous years. Some said the Emperor took pity on the Sixth Prince for having a mother who was as good as none, and the Empress Dowager was raising her grandson, so she gave him this special treatment.

Thus, the Sixth Prince’s reputation spread among the people.

Compared to the Crown Prince, who excelled at the birthday banquet, the Sixth Prince had no outstanding performance. He often left the palace to frequent taverns, rumored to associate with a group of unruly libertines.

Qi Hanzhou’s gaze narrowed, falling on the thin figure of Ying Fusheng. He wore fewer clothes than usual, making him look even more fragile. Following behind the Seventh Prince, he appeared somewhat shy, but many scholars’ eyes had already gathered on him.

Ying Fusheng took Shen Yunfei’s hand to step down, his peripheral vision sweeping the private room’s heights. Catching a few gazes, he looked away and said softly, "So many people."

The Seventh Prince saw Ying Fusheng’s timid demeanor. "Brother Six, don’t be afraid. Just sit inside."

Despite the lively surroundings, Ying Fusheng didn’t share the Seventh Prince’s openness. He seemed restrained.

The gazes from above all withdrew. Ying Fusheng followed the Seventh Prince, taking in a scene he had never seen in his past life—the Guozijian assembly.

The Guozijian was the gathering place for scholars in the capital of Dayuan. Apart from the Wenhua Hall where princes studied, its other institutions were located on the outskirts of the imperial city. All youths of appropriate age in the capital studied there. On the eve of the spring examinations, scholars from across the land flocked to the capital. The great scholars of the Guozijian would host assemblies, inviting scholars to discuss and, at the same time, asking civil officials from the court to offer guidance.

Upon entering, the Seventh Prince looked toward the First Prince’s direction. "I’m going to find Big Brother. Brother Six, go ahead first."

There were private rooms on the upper floor of the tea house. From a distance, one could see civil officials seated in the tea area. Ying Fusheng scanned the area for a moment, but instead of going upstairs, he chose a seat in the front. As soon as he sat down, he looked up at the private room above, then quickly looked away.

This place was filled with spies from the court factions. What was called an assembly was really a place for the pure-minded officials or other factions to nurture their protégés. The civil officials of Dayuan were divided among various factions, with Grand Secretary Xu leading the pure-minded faction and others remaining neutral...

The court lacked personnel, and everyone wanted to insert or cultivate their own people there. Ying Fusheng looked up at the private rooms, noticing that several were covered with thick curtains, indicating the presence of advisors inside.

Outside the window, it was bustling. Many scholars looked out. The scholar who had caused trouble at the tea house entrance had already been dragged away.

"If I recall correctly, that man is quite famous. Weng Yanqing, a talented scholar from Huchuan, a provincial scholar at sixteen!" Shen Yunfei looked at the scholar being dragged away, speaking softly to Ying Fusheng. "If Lord Chen hadn’t spoken up for him, those officials would have been much harsher."

Ying Fusheng followed Shen Yunfei’s gaze and saw the provincial scholar being driven into the street. He was in a scuffle with the officials, and the surrounding commoners and scholars were pointing at him. Ying Fusheng’s eyes shifted sideways. He noticed that even in his disheveled state, the scholar maintained a scholarly composure, his back straight.

"Do you think he’s a good man?" Ying Fusheng asked.

"I don’t know." Shen Yunfei sympathized, recalling his own experience of traveling far and wide for his father. "If someone truly cared for his student, when the student was in trouble, he would have gone everywhere to clear his name and prove his innocence."

Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes slightly, noticing Shen Yunfei’s change. He said nothing more.

Throughout the tea house, the great scholars and officials looked on, their gazes filled with scrutiny.

Seeing the Sixth Prince seated in the main hall, several people glanced over.

"Why is he there?" Not far away, the Crown Prince noticed.

"It’s the Sixth Brother’s first time here. He doesn’t know where to sit," the Eighth Prince said, keeping an eye on that side. "He’s used to loafing around in taverns with those idlers."

The Crown Prince’s expression turned displeased when the Eighth Prince mentioned Ying Fusheng.

On the upper floor, the First Prince also noticed and asked sideways, "What’s going on?"

"The Sixth Prince arrived with the Seventh Prince. The original arrangement was for the second-floor private room," the steward said. "There was a commotion outside, and in the crowd, we didn’t have time to guide the Sixth Prince. He went over there on his own."

The First Prince smiled. "Let him be. Have the Seventh come over. Don’t stir up trouble."

If a prince wanted to sit somewhere, no one dared to stop him.

The surrounding scholars looked over, all eyes on this unfamiliar prince.

"Your Highness, the First Prince arranged for a seat on the second-floor private room," Shen Yunfei noted the whispers around him.

Just then, a few people approached Ying Fusheng.

Ying Fusheng looked up and saw Chen Yuanli walking toward him.

Seeing this, Ying Fusheng's hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled uncontrollably, as the image of this man from his past life vividly surfaced in his mind. Back then, Chen had been even older, speaking with an even more amiable smile, as if, if you told him something, he would go all out to advise you.

In his past life, after Vice Minister Ning rose from Vice Minister to Minister of Rites, Chen Yuanli was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites. He was selfless, upright, and honest, enjoying a fine reputation at court. Many considered him a neutral party and associated with him. When Ying Fusheng left the palace to establish his own residence at around sixteen, the Ning family wanted to keep him under their watch, so he once entered the Ministry of Rites.

Back then, due to an incident in his teens, half of his face was disfigured, and he wore a mask year-round. Others treated him with apparent respect but kept their distance. The only one who was close to him was Lord Chen. Chen Yuanli had many protégés and was very approachable. Many successful candidates who shared his ideals entered the court. Ying Fusheng had also once regarded him as a teacher and consulted him on everything.

So when Consort Ning asked him to do a small favor, he also sought advice from this 'good teacher'.

In the end, that small favor became the beginning of his frame-up. This upright and honest teacher eventually became one of those who impeached him at court, pushing him into a state of house arrest.

The nearby officials and great scholars hadn’t expected the Sixth Prince to sit here.

Before they could ask the steward for the situation, they heard him speak—

“What are you gentlemen standing around dazed for?”

Ying Fusheng poured tea, his gaze slightly resting on Chen Yuanli, who was at the front. “Won’t you sit?”

The assembly was about to begin, and several officials hesitated.

When Chen Yuanli looked over, his eyes met Ying Fusheng’s. He promptly put on a benevolent expression: “Then we shall disturb Your Highness.”

The other officials had to consider their status. Chen Yuanli was a well-known neutral at court, and several officials who were on good terms with him were also neutral. They had no need to worry about rank or the watchful eyes around them, so they quickly sat down.

After they sat, Chen Yuanli’s gaze lingered on Ying Fusheng. The latter seemed not to notice his observation, his attention fixed on the empty platform in the distance.

Before long, the assembly began. A venerable elder stepped forward and said, “We gather here today, regardless of rank or family background. Please speak freely and express your thoughts.”

With his words, the assembly officially started. The great scholars of the Imperial Academy first ascended to give lectures and engage in debate with the students.

At the outset, the students opened their minds and came forward to present their policy essays.

Ying Fusheng listened to the students above voicing their opinions. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chen Yuanli beside him.

Chen Yuanli was currently conversing with a young student. His words seemed encouraging but were subtly probing. In such a setting, where students were at a loss, he excelled at this—knowing how to win their hearts.

This drew sidelong glances from several nearby officials, who admired Lord Chen’s dedication.

“I’ve heard much from Lord Chen, but with your abilities, why don’t you go up and speak?” Suddenly, a voice came from nearby.

Chen Yuanli snapped back to the present and found that the speaker was Ying Fusheng.

This Sixth Prince had been sitting here without speaking for a long time, and now he suddenly spoke.

The students also looked at Chen Yuanli: “Yes, Lord Zhou went up just now. Why don’t you go up, sir?”

Chen Yuanli looked at his other colleagues who had gone up, masking his inner thoughts. The Emperor had set this topic for the assembly, testing the courtiers’ views. Whatever a minister said would be presented on the desk the next day, clear to the Emperor. Those who had gone up spoke so freely, completely unaware that the assembly was full of people's spies. “I’d rather not go up.”

“But I actually found what Lord Chen said quite reasonable,” Ying Fusheng looked at him. “I heard from my seventh brother that this assembly is meant to ease Father’s concerns. Lord Chen, won’t you go up?”

Having said this, everyone turned to Chen Yuanli.

Chen Yuanli nodded slightly and then said, “If there’s no practical solution, speaking would only add to unnecessary worries.”

Other officials shook their heads, sympathizing.

Indeed, it was better to have a solution; otherwise, speaking would only add worry.

After Chen Yuanli finished, he glanced at Ying Fusheng beside him, who seemed to have said just those two words and no longer cared, instead listening attentively to the students’ debate up front. He watched Ying Fusheng for a moment, finding nothing unusual, and then set aside his doubts.

On the stage, a group of students delivered impassioned speeches, vehemently denouncing maladministration but avoiding real issues and daring not to touch upon key points.

Several great scholars shook their heads, dissatisfied with their performance.

Now that the fighting in Dayuan had subsided, the nation needed to recuperate. The treasury was empty, and people’s livelihoods were in decline. The court intended to recruit talents through the spring examination, selecting practical men rather than mere rhetoricians.

After the northern campaign, the Emperor first investigated military pay, then summoned officials like Hu Buyu to the capital. A few days ago, he posed questions to the princes.

Although not explicitly stated, the Emperor’s intention was clear: the court’s biggest problem was an empty treasury.

With no money, the solution was taxation.

A few days earlier, the question the Emperor gave to the princes was about the current tax policy.

The officials present were well aware: the Emperor set the question for the princes, essentially throwing the problem to the ministers. Which prince didn’t have advisors behind him?

The Emperor allowed this assembly, ostensibly to examine the talents and political views of the candidates, but also to throw the problem to these princes.

“In recent years, the northern campaign consumed enormous resources, and the Northern Barbarians are restless,” said the First Prince. “You all talk about people’s livelihoods. Without securing the nation, how can there be livelihoods? We should reform taxes to stabilize the national power and relieve the treasury’s strain.”

After the First Prince finished, the others agreed.

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd, and spoke: “I agree with my imperial brother, but reforming taxes must consider the common people.”

These words hit the mark, stirring murmurs among the audience. He looked at the First Prince with some satisfaction. Increasing taxes would benefit the powerful at court; everyone knew the First Prince stood behind the court’s influential figures. How much profit could be made from increasing taxes?

He twisted the jade thumb ring on his finger, eyes lowered, assuming a look of concern for the people: “Excessive spending on the war in recent years stems from a bloated military system and poor logistics. With the war now at rest, we should consider how to cut expenses and reduce spending, rather than blindly imposing taxes and burdening the people.”

These words caused a stir among the attendees, many swayed by their words.

Up on the upper floor, Ye Xuanjiu, the deputy officer, sneered: “These civil officials are really looking out for themselves. One uses the border as an excuse to ask for money. How much of the grain and pay sent to the border do they embezzle? And the Crown Prince talks about taxes harming the people and cutting expenses. What does he want to cut? Isn’t it just to reduce military funds?”

The First Prince traveled with a grand carriage procession and owned countless properties in the capital.

The Crown Prince claimed to sympathize with the people, fearing overfishing, but last year he spent a fortune crafting a jade beast statue as a gift.

Qi Hanzhou frowned upon hearing the debate. He looked down at the study room below, where Ying Fusheng sat quietly, looking like he was just watching the show.

What was he thinking?

Among the tea tables, Chen Yuanli had been observing Ying Fusheng since his earlier question. He noticed that the prince just listened, occasionally exchanging a word or two with his attendant Shen Yunfei, appearing genuinely there just to audit. But Ying Fusheng’s earlier question was truly abrupt, making Chen Yuanli pay extra attention.

Just then, a nearby student came to ask: “Sir, what is your view on taxation?”

Chen Yuanli hesitated. With the topic raised, he could only say: “Both the First Prince and the crown prince made valid points. The First Prince advocates increased taxes, which would undoubtedly burden the people, and not everyone can bear such a tax load. How to define the tax system is a challenge. The crown prince speaks of cutting expenses, but our court values military strength, and our borders are vast. Cutting expenses harms governance and is difficult to implement.”

“Indeed, if it could be solved simply…”

“Lord Zhang has raised this issue since the year before last, and it remains unresolved.”

Ying Fusheng listened to him speak, feigning humility, as Chen’s smoothing things over drew approval from the surrounding students. When Chen Yuanli got to this point, his tone softened: “There is still a way. To reform taxes, one must look at the major families; then, regarding cuts, the direction of cuts is also a problem…”

Some students caught on: “To cut expenses, we must start from the court!”

Cutting expenses—most of the powerful at court would be affected. The students, guided by Chen Yuanli, began to think tax reform was too problematic and felt the First Prince’s proposal to increase taxes was biased.

Chen Yuanli wore a thoughtful expression, his eyes calculating. Many students, under his guidance, started pondering ways to cut expenses, sparking a lively debate.

Ying Fusheng watched quietly. Chen’s words sounded good: the crown prince’s call for cuts aimed to weaken the financial power of the powerful; the First Prince’s advocacy for increased taxes had the support of Prince Yongjia. These two imperial brothers had dressed up their words nicely, merely showcasing themselves before the students so they could later win over those with similar political views.

At first glance, the crowd seemed mostly made up of civil officials and great scholars, but a large chunk of them were part of the Eldest Prince's faction, backed by the powerful noble families. Chen Yuanli pretended to be neutral, using these students to fight his battles and back the Crown Prince's position, thereby steering the discussion toward cutting expenditures.

If public demands for the people's welfare were strong and the people's will was clear, after the spring imperial examinations, any reform of taxation would have to prioritize cutting expenditures; or the people would grow restless.

Chen Yuanli watched indifferently as the students followed the Crown Prince's thinking, he glanced sideways at Ying Fusheng beside him. Seeing how intrigued he looked, Chen Yuanli began to scheme: "Your Highness, do you have any insights?"

"I don't really know," said Ying Fusheng.

Chen Yuanli said gently, "Regarding what the students said just now, do you have any doubts, Your Highness?"

Chen Yuanli watched Ying Fusheng finish using the students and then turn the focus back onto himself. These students had been led to the point of cutting expenditures, growing more indignant as they spoke.

At this moment, he had led the students to speak so indignantly, completely ignoring their futures and merely inciting them. Some extremist students had already stepped forward, speaking vehemently, while other students nearby showed hesitation on their faces. With so many powerful people here, some students were wary for their careers—they needed someone to lead them.

The words of a few students could hardly sway the situation; only the voices of court officials and great scholars carried weight.

But everyone knew that discussing cutting expenditures in depth right now would mean offending the great families.

If the great scholars kept quiet, who would take the lead?

The surrounding students had already turned their eyes to the Sixth Prince. Chen Yuanli maintained a calm demeanor, appearing like a patient teacher ready to resolve the prince's doubts, but he had, without being obvious, placed Ying Fusheng at the critical juncture.

Everyone present knew that the Sixth Prince had entered with the Seventh Prince, which meant the backing of the Eldest Prince and the noble families.

With the students' emotions stirred, whether Ying Fusheng acted or not would be made plain in the students' eyes. Through the spring exams, this would spread, and the narrative could turn in ways beyond Ying Fusheng's control.

If he said nothing, it would breed resentment among the students.

If he spoke, he would offend the Eldest Prince and all the powerful nobles.

Ying Fusheng glanced at Chen Yuanli, still playing the part of a kindly old man, waiting for him to speak so he could enlighten him.

"I was thinking... there must be a solution," murmured Ying Fusheng.

Many nearby turned to look. The tea area was already crowded, and any small movement could be noticed by the students. Chen Yuanli, a Director of the Ministry of Rites, had recently been favored by the emperor and served as the right-hand man for the new Minister of Rites. Though the chief examiner of the spring exams was nominally the Minister of Rites, in reality, it was Chen Yuanli.

More and more people were looking toward the tea area. Several emotionally charged students stood nearby. Chen Yuanli noticed this and deliberately reduced interaction, but then the Sixth Prince clung to him, asking all sorts of questions.

Chen Yuanli frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. He had intended to guide, but didn't want to leave himself open to gossip. So he said, "Your Highness, if you have doubts, you may step forward and debate. There are many great scholars present; perhaps Your Highness's words might inspire others."

"I don't think I can," said Ying Fusheng nervously.

Chen Yuanli replied, "The Seventh Prince has already spoken his thoughts a little. This gathering is all about open discussion. You need not worry, Your Highness."

Ying Fusheng was about to stand up but hesitated. He leaned in slightly and asked in a low voice, "What did you just say, Lord Chen? I don't quite remember."

Chen Yuanli patiently repeated what he had said.

The princes had all appeared one after another. When the Sixth Prince stood up, he leaned slightly toward Chen Yuanli, as if they had just finished a conversation. Many in the teahouse looked over, some officials frowning slightly, but the Sixth Prince had already begun to speak: "May I speak?"

The great scholar on the platform said, "Of course, Your Highness."

"My elder brothers' points are all reasonable—whether increasing taxes or cutting expenditures, both aim to fill the treasury." The Sixth Prince spoke a bit nervously, pausing before continuing: "In the end, it's about not having enough money... so wouldn't it be better to have money?"

The civil officials and great scholars looked at him; the Sixth Prince was young and naive.

If wanting money meant having money, why would so many of them be here debating this?

"But money is not easy to come by," one great scholar patiently explained. "Your Highness, do you have any insights?"

Seeing everyone looking at him, Ying Fusheng's expression shifted slightly. He spoke with a sincere tone: "High taxes burden the people, and the people have no money. So if we want money, we can only cut from where the money is. Last year, when the Emperor investigated military funds, several officials were dismissed..."

As he said this, Chen Yuanli suddenly had a bad feeling. The next moment, he heard the Sixth Prince announce to the entire gathering: "Since the treasury is short of money, why not directly go after corrupt officials, root out the rot, seize and confiscate their assets—wouldn't that be faster?"

The words fell, and the hall fell silent.

"...That's how it is, isn't it?" Ying Fusheng finished and looked over at Chen Yuanli, who was sitting beside him.

Chen Yuanli's face changed abruptly.