Chapter 256: Ancestral Wisdom

In the late afternoon, Li Jianting took a stroll in the garden, her only leisure time of the day. Feng Quan accompanied her, walking slowly along the pebble path as she pondered over state affairs.

"We'll be offering sacrifices to pray for rain in a few days," said Li Jianting, brushing aside a flower branch that had brushed against her cheek. "It's a critical matter, so there can't be any mishaps on that day."

Feng Quan moved the flower branch away from Li Jianting and respectfully replied, "This servant will do her best."

Li Jianting stood by the pond, scattering fish food into the water, watching the carp compete for it. "Back when you were serving Empress Mu, you were impetuous and didn't know how to yield. This caused many officials to criticize you. Now that you've gone through a near-death experience, you've become more restrained."

The fact that the Crown Princess mentioned this matter while discussing state affairs suggested that there was more to her words. Feng Quan's eyes flickered, and she bowed, inwardly pondering the Crown Princess's intentions as she spoke softly, "A servant inherits their master's temperament. Your Highness treats people with kindness, and this servant has benefited from your guidance, so I naturally dare not behave without propriety as I did before. It's shameful to admit, but I used to lack decorum when encountering the cabinet ministers. Now, having received the favor of the monarch, I should take my past mistakes as a lesson."

Li Jianting glanced at Feng Quan and said, "You're doing well."

Feng Quan had served Emperor Tianchen, who was simple-minded and wore his emotions on his sleeve. However, ever since Li Jianting entered the palace, she had developed an air of authority that was difficult to discern. She had no particular preferences when it came to food; no matter how delicious something was, she wouldn't eat more than three servings. It was also challenging to tell her mood from her words.

"You were in prison before, and I heard that Fu Man criticized you often. Now that you're both serving together in the court," Li Jianting continued, "do you have any resentment?"

Feng Quan lifted her robes and knelt down, saying, "This servant is your humble servant, and I understand that Your Highness's arrangements must have a deeper meaning. Although I once had a falling out with Fu Man, he was just carrying out his duties this time. This servant doesn't dare to hold any grudges."

"He almost broke your leg," Li Jianting observed the carp still fighting over their food.

Feng Quan knelt and sobbed softly, "The eunuchs with canes are all veterans of the East Factory, knowing how to behave."

Li Jianting focused on the fish, casually remarking, "Although Fu Man was an old eunuch from the previous emperor's time, he only started serving in the imperial court after being idle at the East Factory." She smiled. "I've never heard that the previous emperor entrusted him with East Factory affairs. It seems he is familiar with its old guards, just as he is with the pets in my palace."

Feng Quan wiped his sweat under the pretense of drying his tears, quickly grasping the prince's intention. Li Jianting had been poisoned within the palace, and her people were all selected by Xue Xiuzhuo, yet they failed to stop the Empress Dowager. There must have been someone well-versed in palace ways who assisted her. When Li Jianting hosted a banquet to assassinate Han Cheng, she employed Fu Man. Now that this major threat was eliminated, it was time to settle accounts.

Feng Quan, having reached this realization, calmed down and said, "As an old servant from the previous emperor's era, Fu Man holds a different status within the inner court. He has deep roots and enjoys the favor of the cabinet ministers. Naturally, he knows more people than I do. Despite his numerous descendants, he treats others kindly and carries out tasks diligently, respecting etiquette."

"You haven't quite finished your statement. Respecting etiquette? From what I see, he has an arrogant heart, thinking himself a revered ancestor." Li Jianting wiped her hands with a handkerchief. "He's an imperial eunuch without any notable contributions to the stability of the realm or the courage to advise the sovereign honestly. Just because he has served in the imperial presence for a long time, he calls himself a 'revered ancestor.' Whose ancestor?" She glanced sidelong at Feng Quan. "Mine?"

Feng Quan felt the weight of these three light words as heavy as towering mountains, preventing him from raising his head. He hurriedly bowed, "Your Highness is of royal bloodline! The brilliant legacy of our great ancestor is in Your Highness's hands, making you the supreme ruler of the land!"

"In Emperor Xiande's reign, the eunuchs caused chaos, killing one revered ancestor. Who would have thought that I, Li Jianting, would encounter another. It shows that human greed is boundless, and even the greatest favors cannot guarantee loyalty. Excessive favoritism inevitably leads to disaster." Li Jianting passed the handkerchief to a nearby palace girl and jestingly added, "But he does possess talent. Without a reason, he could indeed be my ancestor."

Fu Man's descendants were widespread, and through his duties, he maintained connections with officials. Unlike Pan Rugui, he was clever enough not to offend the cabinet ministers, practically kneeling every ten steps. When Kong Qiu was unwell, Fu Man personally tested medicines while serving in the Mingli Hall, attending to Yuan Fu meticulously, earning Li Jianting praise. However, his efforts to gain favor had crossed a line. He advocated flattering the censors – why would an inner court eunuch curry favor with outer court officials? Seeking to be both a revered ancestor inside the palace and a well-regarded eunuch outside, he neglected his primary duty.

Eunuchs were servants of the emperor, and their role was to attend to the emperor. If not for Pan Rugui setting the precedent of corrupt governance, the power to approve documents wouldn't have become a license for eunuchs' personal gain. Yet, Fu Man was humble outside but accumulated influence within. For Li Jianting to remove Fu Man, she needed a convincing reason that would satisfy everyone.

At this moment, the sky was tinged with darkness as a group of people carrying lanterns entered the garden. Fu Man had been performing his duties well lately, and his complexion naturally radiated health. From afar, he saw Li Jianting standing by the pond, with a little eunuch whispering to him, "Your Highness, Feng Quan is kneeling!"

Fu Man flicked his whisk and said, "He did earn praise during the banquet. If he were to behave himself, His Highness wouldn't have troubled him. But his temperament is truly inappropriate for court life; it's no surprise that he has angered His Highness over trivial matters."

With a light harrumph, he approached with a smile on his face, bowing to Li Jianting. "You're here," Li Jianting smiled. "Is there something urgent?"

"I'm always thinking about Your Highness," Fu Man said, stepping around Feng Quan. Knowing that Li Jianting disliked physical contact, he pretended to protect her as she descended the steps. "I waited inside but didn't hear any news, so I was worried! Then, I noticed clouds gathering in the sky and feared it might rain soon, so I hurried to bring an umbrella for Your Highness."

Li Jianting replied, "You're thoughtful, always considering every detail."

As if just noticing Feng Quan, Fu Man exclaimed, "Oh dear, what happened here?"

The daylight faded, and an idea occurred to Li Jianting amidst the flickering lamplight. Her expression turned cold as she said, "Arrogant and self-important. I heard he was disrespectful to the officials while on duty in the hall. That's why I've punished him to kneel here."

"You served as an imperial scribe during the previous emperor's reign, but how can eunuchs be compared to the officials of the former dynasty? Those local officials come to the palace to report on their provincial affairs, working tirelessly for the people. Yet, you dare to show them your attitude? Who do you think you are?"

Local officials.

Fu Man felt a sense of relief. No wonder Li Jianting had lost his temper. The recent drought in Yongcheng had been keeping the Crown Prince up at night, and both within and outside the palace, expenses were being cut. Even the Crown Prince himself was eating common rice, saying he wanted to remember the hardships of the people. She placed great importance on local officials like him.

"Your Highness is busy with state affairs in the hall, so a stroll in the garden is a rare chance to unwind. Please don't let this ruin your mood," Fu Man said, leading Li Jianting along with a conciliatory smile. "Minister Xue is already waiting in the hall for Your Highness."

The little eunuch chuckled. "He's still kneeling."

"Let him get up," Li Jianting instructed.

"But, Your Highness," the eunuch replied, puzzled, "usually he acts all high and mighty, and his mouth can be quite nasty. Why should Your Highness help him? Wouldn't it be better for him to remain kneeling until Your Highness has finished discussing state affairs?"

"As a servant, one must think of what the master thinks and alleviate their worries," Fu Man said. "He and Your Highness share a bond from the old days. His punishment is simply kneeling; Your Highness hasn't truly punished him, showing leniency. If Your Highness forgets for now, but later remembers, and he cries, Your Highness will soften out of nostalgia. If I hadn't pleaded for him just now, and he continues kneeling for too long, Your Highness might blame us servants for our insensitivity."

"Well thought out, Your Highness," the eunuch admired. "Always knowing what the master wants, brilliant! I'll go get him up right away."

Looking back at the dim candlelight shining from Mingli Hall, Fu Man couldn't help but smile to himself.

Without Han Cheng, that old dog, he had no leverage outside the palace. As long as he served the Crown Prince well and gained the support of the cabinet, a meteoric rise was within reach. Whatever Pan Rugui could do, he could do too, only better and more elegantly.

Turning his gaze, Fu Man realized that even with the Empress Dowager still alive, he couldn't rest easy. To eliminate any future threats, he needed to act swiftly.