Ch18 - The Small Assistant Minister

Third Year of Hong Zheng era, 21st day of the Third Month, Cheng Wang returned to court.　　

Jing Shao stood in the main hall of the dazzling royal palace, looking at the faces he was perhaps familiar or unfamiliar with in front of him. He only felt as if this were a lifetime ago. That year he had been  kneeling in the middle of the hall, listening to everyone counting each of his criminal charges. 

The Minister of Revenue charged him with participating in the reselling of salt certifications for profit, the Minister of Works criticized him for carrying out private large scale constructions without permission, and even the imperial censor charged him with the slaughtering of prisoners of war and deceiving the civilians. But even more people charged him with deceiving the sovereign, with the intention of plotting a rebellion. He looked at each of those people’s faces one by one. Duke Mao was the Fourth Prince’s future father-in-law, the Count of Yongchang followed his own elder brother, and both the Ministers of Revenue and Works were the Emperor’s people. As for the rest, they mostly just blindly followed the crowd.　　

Later on, those relatives over there naturally had to be suppressed. As for the two ministers, Jing Shao has set his sights on the Assistant Minister of Revenue. During that time, the only person willing to justly say a sentence on his behalf, besides his elder brother was that little Assistant Minister. He has always been a just man without corrupt desires, and while he served the people, he was not inflexible. Five years ago, he was the new top scorer in the imperial examination, and his career experienced a smooth road, all the way to getting promoted to Assistant Minister. Up until Jing Shao had run into trouble, he had not been promoted again. Perhaps he could rope in this person to his side and switch in a new minister.　　 

Jing Shao was thinking deeply, and his elder brother who stood next to him suddenly poked him with his elbow. He suddenly lifted his head up and found that his Imperial Father and many of the ministers were looking at him. The imperial censor Fan Jie was currently standing in the middle of the main hall. 　　

“The Fourth Prince’s rumors.” Jing Chen said between his teeth, his lips did not move, but reminded him in a quiet voice. 　

Jing Shao understood, went forward a step and said: “Er Chen believes that the talk of the ignorant masses are merely just idle chatter during leisure times. There is no cause for worry.” This answer could be said to conform with the norms of society, and Emperor Hong Zheng turned his gaze on to Jing Chen. 

Jing Chen walked forth and said: “People from ancient times say ‘A tree invites birds to nest, and an empty cave invites a gust of wind. The wind bends to the one who commands it.’ Since there are these kinds of rumors among the people, then there is definitely a cause too, and there should be clarification as soon as possible, so as not to taint the reputation of younger brother Fourth Prince.”

The two brothers’ answers were quite opposite. It was clear that they had not known about this beforehand. Even if they had known about it, they hadn’t discussed it. Emperor Hong Zheng nodded with satisfaction: “Jing Yu, what do you have to say about what on earth happened?”

The Fourth Prince Jing Yu stepped forth, kneeling down below the steps: “Er Chen fears, that the cause is because before the new year, vassals near the Eastern Coast offered up some fresh ocean fish cut into thin slices to be eaten raw as it was delicious enough, Er Chen found it very delicious, so took a bit more of it. Unexpectedly, the servants in the palace spread misinformation, which stirred up such a big uproar, Er Chen is guilty.”  

The time the Fourth Prince had spent after entering court was still short, he was in charge of the matter regarding the tribute from foreign lands, naturally the strange and rare items he received from overseas in the East and West were not a small amount. 

“The imperial family sets the example for the rest of the country. Your each and every move will naturally be noticed by the civilians. How can you be so attached to things like food?” Emperor Hong Zheng was a little angry, the thing that the people within the imperial family avoided the most was indulging too excessively in something.　　

“Younger brother Fourth Prince really has a knack for chancing upon good food, such a strange thing Er Chen has never seen before.” The Eldest Prince Jing Rong said with a smile that was not a smile, making Emperor Hongzheng’s brow wrinkled even more tightly. The tributes from foreign lands, except for the emperor, no one else had the privilege to enjoy them as they wished. The implicit meaning behind the Eldest Prince’s words were quite far-reaching.

“Imperial Father, please forgive me, Er Chen only obtained two fish from Imperial Mother’s residence, really not being gluttonous!” Jing Yu glared at the Eldest Prince who felt the issue wasn’t made worse enough and quickly kowtowed while trying to explain. 

“Hmph!” Emperor Hong Zheng coldly snorted, with these kind of rumors in the capital, from his point of view, it was completely the result of the Fourth Prince ostentatiously making public a happy occasion. As for the matter regarding tributes, it should be thoroughly investigated. 　　

In the end, Emperor Hong Zheng decreed that the Fourth Prince was forbidden to go out for a month and must stay inside to ponder about his mistakes. Although this punishment was not severe, in the heart of Emperor Hong Zheng, a bad impression had been formed, which is enough. 

This rumor was spread by Jing Shao. Originally, he just wanted to cover up the rumors regarding him. As he went, he was disgusted by the Fourth Prince, but he didn’t think that it would actually develop to this result. It was truly an unexpected fortune. He stealthily shot a glance at his expressionless brother by his side, and suddenly thought that perhaps when they decided on this “topic”, his brother had already considered it. 

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“Wang Ye, would you like to go directly back to your palace?” The chariot driver pulled open the chariot curtain and asked. 

Jing Shao thought about it. Today he got up quite early in the morning, and just ate a bowl of porridge and a pancake. As he thought he said: “Go to Hui Wei restaurant to eat breakfast.”

“Wang Ye, Hui Wei Building is not open in the morning.” Yun Song reminded him. 

“Doesn’t matter, just go.” Jing Shao put down the curtain and leaned on the soft pillows to rest his eyes. This soft pillow was especially instructed to be put there by Mu Hanzhang. He felt that because Jing Shao had to get up early, he would definitely get sleepy, and so, this way, he could just sleep in the chariot for a bit. 

Hui Wei Restaurant indeed did not sell breakfast, but the boss would come quite early in order to tidy up things and open for business. Moreover, he would also be preparing breakfast for his husband that was also just returning from morning court.　

The Assistant Minister of Revenue is surnamed Xiao, and his name is Yuan, courtesy name is Heng Zhi. Speaking on this, he was related to the second prince’s mother, sharing an ancestor with the Marquis of Dingnan’s Xiao family, but they were already distant relatives of five generations. Xiao Yuan’s conduct was noble and virtuous, and he was, from the beginning, unwilling to climb the ranks using his relatives.

Only one of the doors in Hui Wei Restaurant was open, a shop assistant swept in front of the door alone, Jing Shao walked in with his hands clasped behind his back.　　

“Heng Zhi, you’re back.” The boss of tall stature dressed in a light blue plain cotton clothes came out of the kitchen in the back, holding a steaming basket of small stuffed dumplings in his hand. After seeing Jing Shao, he stared blankly for a second and then immediately laughed saying: “Esteemed guest, my apologies, Hui Wei Restaurant has not yet opened for business.” 

“Hello Fu Ren, Jing Shao greeted with a smile. “I am Xiao Yuan’s colleague, I came here to discuss something with him.” 

The Assistant Minister’s wife slightly frowned and let Jing Shao sit down, then he put the steamed soup dumplings in his hands down for him to eat, and also ladled out a bowl of fragrant glutinous rice porridge. 

“Fu Ren has really honed your craft, I also took a male wife, but he is not as skilled with his hands as Fu Ren.” Jing Shao ate a dumpling, the thin as paper skin immediately entered his mouth. The fresh and fragrant meat filling bringing with it the broth, after biting a mouthful it immediately left a savory taste on his lips and teeth. 

“I don’t know how to read many words, I can only cook. This honorable Sir’s wife is a man of great wisdom and knowledge, one must not compare such an uncouth individual like me with him,” the boss smiled and said. 

Jing Shao paused, this person actually knows his identity, shortly after he smiled: “Fu Ren is indeed outstandingly witty– how should I address you?” Male wives were different from female wives. In the end, they are still a man. Other people could directly ask their full names and not offend.

“Wang Ye is too polite, the surname of this civilian is Zhou, my name is the one word Jin.” Zhou Jin’s straightforward personality hit off with Jing Shao and he couldn’t help but chat with him a little more.

And thus, when Xiao Yuan returned sitting and shaking about on a sedan chair, he saw a certain Wang Ye, whom he himself had not interacted with before, who was eating his soup dumplings and drinking the rice porridge from his family’s restaurant, chatting ever so happily with his wife, and he could only feel the blue veins on his forehead throb: “This small official greets Your Highness Cheng Wang!” 

“Haha, Official Xiao is back. I passed by on my way, and just came over to your place to freeload a meal. These dumplings are delicious, Official Xiao has such good fortune.” Jing Shao said as the last soup dumpling was stuffed into his mouth. With his mouth full, he asked, “Elder Brother Zhou, are there still more?” 

“Yes.” Zhou Jin smiled and turned around to go back into the kitchen to get more dumplings.

“Does Wang Ye need something?” The small Assistant Minister, who naturally had a fair complexion now had a face that was even blacker than the bottom of a pot. Did this person understand proper etiquette at all, actually daring to call other people’s wives “Elder Brother Zhou” in front of their husband! Those two shouldn’t have been familiar with each other previously, right?

“Actually, there isn’t really anything. Just heard that Official Xiao and Zhou Fu Ren’s feelings are very sincere,” Jing Shao paused. He lifted his eyes and looked all around. He leaned towards Xiao Yuan’s ear and lowered his voice. “This prince just wanted to consult you about how to make one’s male wife no longer afraid of those affairs done in the bed.”  

Xiao Yuan blanked, he looked at Jing Shao’s quite sincere appearance, and his mouth, that was originally frowning, perked up: “It turned out to be this matter, then Wang Ye has found the right person…” And so, the ordinarily silent assistant minister, suddenly became a Master of Confucian Rites, talking non-stop with Jing Shao on the subject of “How to subdue a male wife”.

When Zhou Jin came out with two baskets of dumplings, he saw the two men close together muttering about something, snickering from time to time. He shook his head helplessly, and adoringly looked at Xiao Yuan, who was so full of excitement that his whole face turned red. He turned around and went to the back kitchen commanding the workers to organize the ingredients for the day.  

Sometimes the friendship between men is established in an instant, such as Xiao Yuan and Jing Shao, after they finished breakfast, the conversation between the two had already become: 

“Heng Zhi, in the future let Elder Brother Zhou take my family’s Jun Qing out for a walk sometimes, when he has time. I’m afraid he will be bored to death stuck inside by himself.” 

“Wang Ye don’t worry, leave it to me.You’ve remembered all the methods I told you about?” 

“En, if matters work out, I’ll invite you to go out and drink.” “ 

Jing Shao left perfectly content, Xiao Yuan elatedly wandered to the kitchen in the back to see his wife. 

“What did you chat about with Cheng Wang? Even your face is red.” Zhou Jin pinched his husband’s chin and carefully examined him. 

“Hmph!” Xiao Yuan shook off his hand and angrily said, “I still want to ask you, what did you say to him before I came back? Why did he still call you Elder Brother Zhou before leaving?” 

“Let me kiss you once and I’ll tell you.” Zhou Jin hugged him and gotten into a position as if he were about to kiss.  

Xiao Yuan hurriedly pushed his taller than him by an entire head wife away, furiously saying: “You’re not telling me the truth, punishing you to wear baby pink clothes tomorrow!” After saying this, he flung his sleeve and walked outside.

“I don’t have baby pink colored clothes.” Zhou Jin helplessly said, every time this happened, this person would demand him to wear a variety of different colored garish clothing, making the entire capital think that the Hui Wei Restaurant’s boss had a strange personality. 

“Once I’m off duty, I will go buy a set for you!” Xiao Yuan waved his hand and went to the Ministry of Revenue in a good mood. 

“I didn’t do anything last night…” Zhou Jin muttered, but shortly after he hooked up his lips into a smirk. Since he had to wear baby pink, then tonight he would have to make the trade-off worth it.  

Jing Shao returned to the palace, thinking about the various methods that Xiao Yuan introduced to him, and walked towards the East Court. Just before he arrived in front of the small study, he heard the biting voice of Song Fu Ren: “The rules of the palace are so, even if you are the Wang Fei, you can not break them, otherwise the palace would become a mess in the future.” 

“It is just a temporary residence for a subordinate, their living costs can just come from my portion of the monthly allowances.” Mu Hanzhang’s voice was still mild, but one could hear that it brought with it a slight hint of anger.  

“Wang Fei really speaks quite well. Forgive this concubine for being blunt, Wang Fei was married in on the eighth day of the third month, your allowance for this month completely does not exist.” Song Lingxing did not yield an inch and the sound of her voice was a bit sharp, but it made the Jing Shao, who was originally in a good mood, instantly become so angry it was as if his head were on fire.