Chapter 71

Chapter 71: The Seventy-First Episode

Meng Chong backed down, accepted the decree, and returned to his place among the military officials. The emperor then assigned Lian Cheng to preside over this case, with the Three Judicial Departments assisting. He chuckled, saying that if such a heinous case did not yield a resolution, he would hold the investigating bodies accountable. Then, with gold, silver, and fine silks, he graciously consoled the shaken Lian Pu. "Lord Lian is a top loyal minister and devoted son of Dayao. Who would dare to badmouth him?"

Lian Pu quickly knelt, tablet in hand, knocking his head on the ground and stammering in reply, "Your subjects only do their duty, Your Majesty is too kind. I don't deserve such praise."

The emperor ignored him from then on and had the hundred officials proceed with their daily reports. There were no major crises like border invasions or natural disasters, which seemed to bode well for the Great Yao dynasty's continued prosperity. They discussed military affairs, legal codes, the promotion of agriculture and light taxation, how to control land annexation, and how regional academies would submit their teaching materials to the central government for review and then have them distributed uniformly by the state. They also talked about how the grand sacrificial ceremony would be conducted this year. But it was mostly talk, with little actually decided.

Seeing that most of the memorials involved money, the Ministry of Revenue spoke up on its own, protesting they had no money for all these plans. "If taxes are to be reduced, then other areas must tighten their belts. Why not start with the Chief Military Command? With the realm at peace, why keep so many idle hands? Let them return to their native lands and farm!"

The Ministry of War jumped in to argue. "Nonsense! If military expenditures are cut improperly, the entire army will fall into chaos. In my opinion, it would be better to start cutting from the Ministry of Rites."

"With Grand Secretary Ye not present, you old man dare to lecture us on the Ministry of Rites' affairs?" Zhang Shijie sneered. "Rites are the foundation of the state, stabilize the altars of the land, order the people, and benefit posterity. Vice Minister Zheng wants to touch the Ministry of Rites—does he mean to shake the whole foundation of Great Yao? Your Majesty, in my opinion, Vice Minister Zheng of the Ministry of War is a member of the rebels!"

Vice Minister Zheng nearly spat blood. "We're just talking about the issue, Minister Zhang, why drag in talk of rebels? Got a guilty conscience?"

"In the end, it's the Ministry of Revenue that refuses to allocate silver. For the past few years, the country has been peaceful, the harvests good. How could there be no silver to spend?" The Ministry of War passed the buck back.

Xie Lanjin from the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward to speak. "Every cent in and out of the treasury is documented. I am not just making this up. Last year, the state treasury's income was nine million three hundred sixty thousand taels. Border military pay took up three million five hundred thousand. The capital's garrisons and officials' salaries together amounted to one million two hundred thousand. Palace expenses were two million. The Ministry of Works spent a full four million. The Ministry of Revenue manages money; it does not produce it. Everyone comes to the Ministry of Revenue asking for money. Who do we ask? The common people?!"

Seeing the Ministry of Works dragged into the fray, Minister of Works Luo Da also stepped forward. "What does Minister Xie mean? The Ministry of Works' expenditures were not for personal use but for the construction of Xielu Hall. Does Minister Xie think that hall should not be built?"

Xie Lanjin was just stating the facts and had no intention of touching on the emperor's most sensitive matter. He flatly denied it. "I only talked about income and spending. When did I say Xielu Hall should not be built?"

Then Prince Hui piped up. "Now that the realm is peaceful, the five grains abundant, and the harvests plentiful year after year, I think raising taxes by twenty percent would not be unacceptable."

"Your Highness, are you out of your mind after getting your estate cleaned out by Young Lord Lian last time?" Xie Lanjin marched forward, tablet in hand, burning with righteous fury as he pointed at Prince Hui and scolded. "Your Highness wears silk and satin, feasts on delicacies. Do you know what a twenty percent tax increase means to the common people? Your Highness's comfort is built on the people's blood and sweat. Since you do not understand the people's livelihood and the state's affairs, keep your mouth shut and don't say such stupid things!"

Xie Lanjin turned and saw the emperor deep in thought. He quickly knelt and knocked his head, holding up his tablet to state his intentions. "If Your Majesty wishes to adopt Prince Hui's suggestion, burden the people with higher taxes to fill the treasury, then you might as well fire me from my post as Minister of Revenue!"

"Minister Xie, do not be hasty!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Prince Hui, go home. It doesn't matter if you skip court."

Seeing the officials all arguing their own positions, shouting, crying, spitting, faces red and ears burning, nearly coming to blows, yet nothing decided, the emperor finally cleared his throat and said, "A few of you ministers can come to Wenhua Hall later to keep talking with me. Are there other matters to report?"

Then Imperial Censor Fu stepped forward and accused over a dozen officials, ranging from bribery and corruption to patronizing prostitutes and eating beef. The emperor turned them over to the Three Judicial Departments for investigation. He said, "The Ministry of Revenue says there is no money. I see these corrupt officials have plenty of money. Confiscate their property and give it to you. That would be excellent, excellent."

The entire morning court session lasted less than an hour. Afterward, the emperor summoned the Grand Secretaries to Wenhua Hall for private consultation, which took another hour. Then the Grand Secretaries departed, and Meng Chong entered.

The hall was filled with the scent of aloeswood incense. White jade and pearls adorned the room; auspicious clouds and vapors filled the air. The majestic hall was breathtaking; the yellow robes and jade belt were unspeakably regal.

Meng Chong entered the hall and knelt before the steps. He looked up at the Son of Heaven, who had already removed his winged-good-luck crown. Before he could clearly see the emperor's face, a vase flew at him. He didn't dare dodge and took it square in the face. Seeing the dragon countenance already clouded with anger, he was met with a flurry of kicks and punches. Before Meng Chong could react, his jaw was seized, and the emperor shoved his dick into his mouth.

The emperor looked down at his close minister, speaking softly as he forced him to breathe and swallow. "You came from a tiny seed—your teacher and relatives are still alive. I'll give you three months. If you can't catch the man, I won't let you off easy."

With that, the emperor kicked Meng Chong aside. He turned and walked a few steps, then came back. Suddenly, he stepped on Meng Chong's crotch, a malevolent smile on his face. "You bastard dog, you dare to get hard in front of me? What nerve."

His boot pressed down hard. Meng Chong's face turned white. When the emperor released him, he heard a voice from above. "Eunuch Cui, bring Noble Consort De. Since she was offered by Assistant Magistrate Meng, let Assistant Magistrate Meng make use of her."

Meng Chong gritted his teeth, crawled to his feet to thank the imperial favor, then was helped away by Eunuch Cui. Soon, the hall was left with only the emperor. He let his hair down, threw off his outer robe, and collapsed onto the dragon throne. After a long while, he opened the drawer before him and took out a writing brush left behind by Li Jiao. Without hesitation, he gently inserted it into his own behind. His brows and eyes filled with gloom, he murmured, "Crown Prince Li Jiao deserves to die ten thousand deaths—death is too good for him."

Thus: The flower of the cherry-plum, Its calyx does not bloom in vain. But brothers fight within the walls, How can the cherry-plum survive?

-

The sun was high. Having eaten and drunk his fill, Lian Cheng was still sleeping.

The prison cell in the Imperial Prison actually had a hint of homey feeling.

He was sleeping soundly when he heard voices outside. Homey or not, it wasn't home. Lian Cheng quickly scrambled up, worried it might be some important minister coming to interrogate him. He hastily messed up his hair, crouched in the corner with a wronged expression, and as the footsteps drew nearer, he stretched his neck and shouted, "I am wronged! I am wronged!"

But when he saw who it was, he fell silent. It was his father, eldest brother, and sixth brother.

"Didn't you just come yesterday? Why again? And why haven't you gone to pull strings to get me out?" Lian Cheng scolded.

Seeing his lack of concern, the others were speechless. They had Wei Xiaoyu open the door. Lian Xiusheng entered first, bent to pack the bedding, and said, "Third Brother, the emperor has ordered your release."

As he rolled up the bedding, Lian Xiusheng touched the mattress and found it still warm, so he knew his third brother could sleep until the sun was high even in prison. The frost from court melted away like spring thaw.

Only after his shackles and handcuffs were removed did Lian Cheng react. "They're letting me out? They found out who the killer is?"

The ancient judicial system was faster than the modern world, Lian Cheng thought. He had learned something new.

Lian Feng packed the various items their family had sent into a felt bag, saying, "Not yet. But this case has wide implications and no longer concerns you. His Majesty has ordered you to oversee the investigation jointly with the Three Judicial Departments."

Lian Cheng moved among the three men busily working. "Why me?"

"It's inconvenient to speak in the Imperial Prison. Let's go home, and Sixth Brother will explain in detail," Lian Feng said.

Lian Cheng was naturally curious. Hearing this, he itched with curiosity. He began packing too. Wei Xiaoyu came to help. Seeing him, Lian Cheng remembered something and pulled him aside to talk. He asked if Wei Xiaoyu had been bullied in the prison and why he was always on duty. Wei Xiaoyu knew he couldn't hide it, so he confessed.

It turned out that the prison workers were all lowly, and among the lowly, there were even lower ones. Even ants had to be sorted into high and low. Wei Xiaoyu was born to a prostitute, abandoned on the street by the brothel madam, and grew up begging with a gang of beggars. He got this stable job only by luck, when he saved a high official's daughter's cat.

But with such a lowly background, among the martial and hereditary officers of the Imperial Guard, he was too base. No one took him seriously, and everyone made him do their work.

Lian Cheng thought a moment, then said, "Go find Ji Xing. From now on, work close to me."

Wei Xiaoyu was stunned, then quickly knelt, tears in his eyes, and kowtowed. Lian Cheng quickly helped him up. "No need to kneel. I don't like that."

On the other side, Lian Xiusheng was slamming books down noisily, finally drawing his elder brother back.

Before leaving the Imperial Prison, Lian Cheng went to the Imperial Guard bathhouse to bathe and perfume himself, washing off the filth and bad luck. He changed into the clothes he had come in. Ji Xing and Qiao Yuer happily attended him. "My lord, we almost thought you wouldn't come back. We were really scared!"

Lian Cheng hadn't seen natural light for a whole day; the sudden brightness stung his eyes. He casually gathered his hair and stuffed it into a hairnet, grumbling, "So worried, and yet you didn't come see me."

"How dare we?" Qiao Yuer said. "Before, you told us to keep our distance so the Commander wouldn't think we were your trusted men. So last night, we deliberately went to a tea stall and ordered two pots of fine tea, to let people think we were happy you were down."

"..."

Lian Cheng couldn't be bothered to argue further. He handed Wei Xiaoyu over to their care and left to board the family carriage. The carriage was small, used personally by Lian Pu. Since the three of them had come to fetch Lian Cheng, Lian Pu had sent Lian Feng and Lian Xiusheng's sedan chairs home. They'd squeeze together to save horses and effort.

But it was fine for three men, a bit cramped for four, and with Lian Cheng's pile of prison belongings, it was quite insufficient. So Lian Pu had to hold Lian Feng, and Lian Xiusheng had to hold Lian Cheng.

Lian Cheng didn't mind. He sat facing Lian Feng, who was sweating and wishing he could squat in a horse stance. Seeing Lian Cheng staring at him, Lian Feng clasped his hands in his sleeves with a sigh. "It should be me holding Father."

Lian Pu was relaxed and laughed. "When you were little, you always wanted me to hold you. Now that you're grown, there are more rules. Since we're family, don't stand on ceremony."

Lian Cheng had never been held by his father before. Lian Feng was uneasy, but Lian Cheng was not. "Father, you hold me. Eldest Brother, let's switch—have Sixth Brother hold you. How about it?" He started to rise.

Lian Feng was happy to agree.

Just as they were about to switch, Lian Cheng felt his waist tightened by Lian Xiusheng behind him. He sat back down. Lian Xiusheng's voice came from behind, unseen. "Third Brother is restless. Don't trouble Father. Eldest Brother, stay seated."

"Exactly, exactly." Lian Feng reached out and pressed Lian Cheng back down, scolding him. "Don't move around so much. Let Sixth Brother save his strength."

Lian Cheng was disappointed but couldn't do anything about Lian Xiusheng. He deliberately sat down heavily, sinking his weight, and when he heard the other let out a suppressed grunt, he smiled in satisfaction.