Chapter 9

The Prime Minister rubbed his forehead; although he did not quite believe that eyelid twitching would affect that particular function, the fatigue was indeed real

The Prime Minister has always been steady and composed; such a great commotion, of course, draws attention. Wen Rong followed his gaze and whispered, "Does Your Excellency have intentions?"

Finally, he was getting closer, faintly able to see the scene behind the curtain. He raised his hand to lift the last layer of gauze, and suddenly everything became clear before his eyes, yet his neck felt a chill. Looking down, he saw the Shao Emperor's Lu Lu sword resting on his shoulder, held by a person wearing a soft nightgown, with long hair cascading down, smiling at him with extraordinary warmth

He sighed, "Are you drunk?"

In a country, the decision-making of numerous officials is a complex affair. In the beginning, he struggled to sleep through the night, even dreaming of official documents. Now, he navigates it with ease; besides the maneuvering in the court, there are also the inevitable personal connections to maintain outside of it. Scholars and dignitaries gather without a clear purpose, which can lead to forming factions for personal gain. To avoid giving others leverage, let us engage in a session of light conversation, where we can discover new talents through the exchange of ideas and also strengthen relationships with other key ministers.

As soon as the chancellor arrived, everyone hurried out of the pavilion to greet him, engaging in a lively exchange of pleasantries and compliments that could fill several baskets. Even within this circle, the chancellor maintained a good reputation for treating the worthy with respect, and he did not dismiss their gestures. He returned the greetings with a bow and was then surrounded like a constellation of stars encircling the moon, being escorted to the seat of honor

Yushi Yixiao: "Congratulations to the Prime Minister, even if the blue bricks are three points thicker than a person, who would dare to speak out? The voices of opposition in the court mostly come from the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites, which are not to be feared. What is concerning is whether His Majesty has his own resolutions... Recently, His Majesty seems to be different from before, has the Prime Minister noticed?"

The Grand Inspector holds a position among the Three Dukes, overseeing supervision and concurrently serving as the deputy to the Prime Minister, sharing a close rapport with him. The two silently clinked their cups, and amidst the clamor, the Grand Inspector quietly asked the Prime Minister: "I have heard that His Majesty has visited your esteemed residence? What are His Majesty's intentions regarding the matters discussed in the morning court after the establishment?"

Wen Rong shook her head, "There are many young ladies seeking marriage in the spring, and it is impossible to determine which family the girl belongs to. If you are interested, I will immediately send someone to inquire."

How could it have gone unnoticed? She went to his residence and spoke those wild words, and even now it still makes him feel humiliated. The child has grown up and is beginning to try to resist; it is of no concern, such trivial tactics can be easily suppressed with a snap of the fingers. He simply cannot understand why Nie Lingjun, whom he had chosen after much deliberation, does not catch her eye.

"Father, you have arrived"

As Your Majesty ages, she will inevitably have her own thoughts. If she does not favor the adopted daughter, I will seek another for her. After all, establishing a successor is a significant matter... a matter of lifelong importance, and I must live up to the late Emperor's trust.

The chariot of the Prime Minister, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, departed from the residence, heading directly towards Baopu at the far end of Chunshengye. Chunshengye is the name of a lake, bordered by countless red maples. The summer scenery is simply refreshing, but when autumn arrives, the azure waters reflect the maple leaves, creating a clash and interplay of blue and red that evokes boundless admiration. Scholars, who cherish elegance and refinement, place great importance on their surroundings. Baopu is the retreat of the renowned scholar Wen Rong from Yangxia, situated at the foot of the maple forest, beside the green waters. The Prime Minister was invited to preside over a discussion and could not decline. As night approached, he arrived early at the location, where a considerable number of people had already gathered in the lakeside pavilion, adorned with silk caps and waving feather fans. Regardless of the topics of discussion, their attire was undoubtedly authentic.

Recently, a man from Fufeng named Liu Tang has spread misleading words, accusing the intellectual discourse of leading the country astray. Upon hearing this, I was greatly indignant

The door of the front hall was half open, and he paused at the threshold, adjusting his attire before stepping across the threshold

The attendant in charge of communications appeared at this moment, likely with some urgent matter. He straightened his posture as the attendant approached, whispering in his ear while holding up his wide sleeves: "The Yellow Gate Commandant of Zhangde Hall has arrived at the Prime Minister's residence to request an audience with the Prime Minister, but has not specified the purpose of the visit, only stating that it is imperative for the Prime Minister to enter the palace once."

The hall was very quiet, with the fragrance of Mihu incense burning in the Boshan furnace, a slightly decadent scent that he did not favor. The inner chamber of the young emperor was hidden behind layers of curtains, requiring one to pass through them layer by layer, like peeling an onion. For some reason, even the chirping of insects was silenced today; within the palace, only the sound of black-soled shoes stepping on the golden bricks echoed, the short, abrupt sounds amplifying infinitely, inexplicably leaving one feeling at a loss.

Literati are unrestrained, a consensus that has long been established. The discussions are not as the common folk imagine; every participant is refined and elegant, akin to high mountains and flowing water. It is quite common for the learned to debate passionately, gesticulating wildly and even uttering foul language at times. The Prime Minister sometimes thinks that compared to them, he is indeed a true gentleman. At the very least, he has never lost his composure or behaved in an unrestrained manner. In fact, being with these literary madmen inevitably leads to feelings of oppression and confusion. The Prime Minister sometimes thinks that compared to them, he is indeed a true gentleman. At the very least, he has never lost his composure or behaved in an unrestrained manner. In fact, being with these literary madmen inevitably leads to feelings of oppression and confusion

Old friends, old friends, this phrase always evokes boundless thoughts. The Prime Minister is twenty-eight this year; it seems implausible to say he is unfamiliar with the taste of love. However, given his high position and power, he must understand the need for self-preservation. Therefore, there has never been a definitive conclusion about him from the outside world. Although the Minister of Justice is his colleague, their understanding is limited to official matters. Seeing him lost in thought, it is not appropriate to say much, so he simply pours wine into his cup and generously encourages him to drink more

In recent years, the Chancellor has been quite concerned about the Young Emperor. Whenever someone from the palace arrives, it is easy to deduce that something has gone awry with Fu Wei. After all, for an emperor, any slip-up is of great consequence and cannot be taken lightly. There was no time to inquire about the details, so he boarded the palanquin and hurried towards the palace. It was only halfway there that he learned the situation: it was said that the Young Emperor had gone mad, ordering ten jars of wine to be brought into his sleeping quarters, without even using a cup, simply embracing a jar and pouring it down his throat, regardless of how much he was persuaded, leaving the palace attendants in a state of panic, unsure of what to do.

The Prime Minister sat down again, the light in his eyes gradually dimming, and he waved his hand to indicate it was unnecessary, "Do not disturb others for a momentary whim..." His gaze continued to follow, watching as the beautiful woman gazed into the distance for a long time, then picked up the lamp and slowly walked away along the embankment.

The wine was poured into the goblet before him, and the Chancellor observed them passionately debating in unison against a common enemy. He lifted the goblet and took a gentle sip. He wanted to preside over the matter, but found himself unable to do so; the esteemed guests would no longer be interested in the discussions of Laozi and Zhuangzi. The Chancellor sat cross-legged, casting a glance at the Grand Inspector beside him

Before he could speak, someone could no longer contain themselves and slammed the table in anger. The Prime Minister chose to remain silent, anticipating that today's negotiations would likely be disrupted, and the proposal for the rhyme and tone would probably fall through.

Therefore, it is still advisable to rest more. You bear great responsibilities, and you must not overexert yourself simply because you are in your prime. One must understand that even springs can run dry. You have not yet started a family, and once your health is depleted..." The physician spoke halfway, and did not continue further. After all, everyone is a man, and such matters are understood implicitly.

Upon reaching the emperor's residence with its soaring eaves, he indeed saw numerous palace attendants and officials anxiously standing at the foot of the steps. He immediately felt quite displeased and waved his sleeve, saying: "Your Majesty has merely had a little to drink; what is the big deal? Why is everyone gathered here? Disperse!" He then lifted the hem of his robe to ascend the steps, but due to the loose and flowing nature of his attire, he found it cumbersome and inadvertently stumbled along the way.

Jianye tugged at the reins and chuckled, "The lord is searching everywhere for the marquis, and he refuses to settle down if he cannot find him"

He immediately rose and bowed to the distinguished guests, saying, "I have urgent matters to attend to and must leave first. I hope you will forgive me." After speaking, he did not wait for a response from the crowd and walked straight out of the pavilion. As he walked, he inquired, "Where is the person now? Is he in the forbidden area?"

The Prime Minister hurriedly arrived at the roadside, where Jianye was anxiously rubbing his hands and pacing around the carriage. Upon seeing him, he quickly clasped his fists and bowed deeply, saying, "Have you found the Duke? Duke, please save my life!"

After all, she is a young woman. If only the feudal lords had united to establish a new ruler back then, today would not be so laborious. He pressed against his temples, as the jolting of the carriage caused a sudden pain in his head. Originally, the imperial court would lock the palace gates at night, prohibiting anyone from passing through, but he had always been unrestricted in his comings and goings. As the carriage arrived at the Canglong Gate, the long and spacious avenue lay before him, unobstructed. He hurriedly dismounted and rushed up, passing through the Middle East Gate into the Eastern Palace. This path was one he frequently traveled, so even in the dim light, he was able to navigate his way into the Zhangde Hall.

For some unknown reason, in the past two days, the Prime Minister's eyelids have been twitching incessantly, causing him great annoyance. He summoned the court physician to examine him, and after taking his pulse for a considerable time, the physician could only conclude that it was due to excessive fatigue, without any better explanation.

The Prime Minister felt displeased at the thought of this, his eyelashes lowered as he gazed into the clear wine in the goblet. The lights from the pavilion shattered and reformed within the cup, and after staring for a long time, he felt a slight dizziness.

The Chancellor lightly furrowed his brow, "I..." just as he began to speak, he saw the attendant hastily approaching from the other end of the corridor, having taken off his shoes.

He turned his head and gazed at the tranquil lake water of Chunshengye. Across the lake, there were numerous lotus lanterns, and on the waterside pavilion stood a beautiful woman in a flowing dress, her reflection lingering on the lake's surface. Her slender yet resolute figure unexpectedly reminded him of someone. He was taken aback, suddenly sitting up straight. In the dim light, he could not clearly see the woman's brows and eyes, but he felt as if a long-dormant string in his mind had been struck hard, resonating with a clear sound.

The attendant said no, "When the spring leaves arrive, I will be waiting for news ahead."

After the distinguished guests finished greeting the ancestors of Liu Tang from Fufeng for eighteen generations, they finally settled down and recalled the theme of this discussion—because of his non-contention, no one in the world can contend with him. Indeed, it is precisely because of non-contention that no one in the world can contend with him

No one can control her, and the Empress Dowager is not easily disturbed, so he is the only one who can act as a savior. The Chancellor sat in the palanquin, feeling troubled, thinking that with his current power, the Young Emperor should be wary of him and deliberately distance himself. However, for some unknown reason, over the years he has gradually become her guardian, involved in everything from family matters to physiological issues, with nothing he cannot participate in.

When it comes to the drinking capacity of the young emperor, it should not be so easily overwhelmed, yet he cannot withstand ten vats of wine. It seems that when things do not go well for him, he wishes to establish the Changqiu Palace, and he has appointed a male consort for her; in an attempt to gain an unexpected victory and embarrass him, she was subtly criticized for not being beautiful enough, thus suffering a heavy blow. Perhaps getting drunk is the way to relieve a thousand sorrows

Jianye nodded vigorously, "so drunk that he couldn't even recognize people."

However, the Prime Minister seems to be in low spirits today; although he is present, his thoughts appear to be far away. While everyone else is engaged in a heated debate, he sits alone drinking. The Chief Clerk observes for a long time and quietly says: "Your Excellency, are you feeling unwell? There are also Inspector Cai and others here; perhaps you should return to your residence to rest first"

The Chancellor presides, and naturally, he speaks first. Leaning on the table, he pondered, "Since there is no contention, how can one know that the world cannot contend with it? If one knows that the world cannot contend with it, how can it be said that there is no contention?"

Still undecided, it seems necessary to deliberate further. After all, she is an adopted daughter, and there will inevitably be opposition from some in the court

The Prime Minister murmured: "It reminds me of a deceased friend..." He then asked again, "Is that the lady from your residence?"

In the afternoon, a heavy rain poured down with great intensity, only ceasing by evening. The horizon was adorned with a faint glow of sunset, and the vast expanse of fiery clouds spread across half the sky, resembling the layered patterns on the back of a koi fish.

One person initiates the discussion, followed by a hundred families contributing their thoughts, with each talented individual holding their own opinion, presenting unique insights and clever arguments. The Prime Minister then selects and nurtures those with potential from among these individuals. Therefore, aspiring to enter the officialdom is not limited to the imperial examination; participating in such refined discussions is a shortcut for those with lofty ambitions to ascend to greatness

Why are you still awake when you are drunk

The Prime Minister's migraine has flared up again. He had also consumed quite a bit of alcohol earlier, thinking that on this melancholic night, a few more drinks would allow him to fall asleep immediately upon returning. Unexpectedly, there has been another incident in the palace.