Chapter 41: 39

Early in the morning the next day, as soon as the Emperor adjourned court, Yan Mingting rushed back to the mansion without stopping. Zhao Yelan happened to be eating breakfast, and wondered: “You left court so early today?”

“En, there was nothing serious to discuss, so we dispersed.” Yan Mingting hurried out after finishing his meal.

Zhao Yelan changed into his official uniform and walked slowly to the sedan chair. He opened the curtain and stared blankly for a moment: “Why are you here?”

“To send you to the Imperial Academy, ah.” Yan Mingting smiled and sat up straight, saying, “It just so happens that I have nothing to do right now, so I’ll just take your sedan chair and go to the Zhong residence.”

“You need a sedan chair? Isn’t it faster to ride a horse?” Zhao Yelan climbed in dubiously, and as soon as he sat down, Yan Mingting ordered the bearers to leave without giving him a chance to stop them.

“I could ride a horse, but what if Auntie Zhong wants to take the sedan chair?” Yan Mingting argued with conviction.

Why would Auntie Zhong sit in the sedan chair? To have a taste of a different life?

Zhao Yelan didn’t want to argue with him anymore, so he turned to business: “Since you are going to Zhong Yuehong’s house, you can bring her a message.”

“What message?”

Zhao Yelan whispered a few words in his ear.

Yan Mingting was distracted. His warm breath was like wind on a summer night, soft and serious, inexplicably making him hot and restless. It also brought a faint fragrance that made his heart itch, and he could see the line of his white neck, down until it sank behind the lapel. The protruding Adam’s apple was like a sharp, gleaming weapon, stabbing at his city gate time after time.

“What did……you just say?” Yan Mingting asked, swallowing.

“Are you deaf?” Zhao Yelan seemed like he was about to get angry.

“The sedan chair was shaking a bit, I didn’t hear it clearly,” Yan Mingting said with a guilty conscience.

Zhao Yelan glared at him with cold fury and repeated himself: “If she is summoned to the palace, you have her do this……”

After listening, Yan Mingting found it hard to understand and asked uncertainly: “Really? Isn’t this directly presenting her to the door? What if the Emperor really likes her?”

“Do you understand him or do I understand him?”

“……You,” Yan Mingting choked out, feeling a bit stifled. It was a very normal answer, but it left a sour taste in his mouth.

After arriving at the Imperial Academy, Zhao Yelan did not allow him to get off the sedan chair, and directly ordered the bearer to carry him back. Then he turned around and went in, hearing commotion inside. Taking a closer look, he saw an old scholar arguing with Wang Guisheng.

He listened closely, and it was nothing more than a small verbal dispute which somehow involved matters of the court. The Bachelor said that Wang Guisheng was arrogant, not knowing respect, and Wang Guisheng in turn insinuated that he was pedantic and old-fashioned, and didn’t know how to adapt.

In any case, the rank and qualifications of the old Bachelor were higher than most people here. Seeing that he, a fresh scholar, was so shameless, he was so angry that he almost couldn’t breathe. The others hurried to appease the Bachelor and teach Wang Guisheng a lesson.

In the blink of an eye, Wang Guisheng became the target of public criticism.

Ruan Xian, who had been sitting on the sidelines, saw Zhao Yelan coming and had a change of mind. He quickly slipped to his side and said in a low voice: “What should be done now? Shall we help Wang Guisheng?”

On one side were many colleagues and seniors, and on the other were powerless newcomers. Ruan Xian weighed it in his heart. If they spoke for the Bachelor, others had already done so, and at most everyone would get along in harmony as before. But if they helped Wang Guisheng at this time, and he was promoted in the future, he would still care about their friendship, so they might as well give it a try.

“It’s up to you,” Zhao Yelan said flatly.

Aware of everyone’s condemning gazes, Wang Guisheng looked around and paused for a moment on Zhao Yelan, wondering if the other party would also take the opportunity to make things difficult for him. Unexpectedly, he whispered something to Ruan Xian and then turned around and left.

The next moment, Ruan Xian smiled and walked forward to mediate. First he placated the Bachelor’s emotions, then pretended to be angry and took Wang Guisheng aside to reprimand him.

As for what happened after, Zhao Yelan didn’t care at all. Anyway, Wang Guisheng’s temperament would definitely make him suffer in officialdom. If he didn’t know how to adapt, it would be difficult to achieve great things. He didn’t have the patience to guide him.

Use it if you can, discard it if you can’t.

He walked into the chess player’s room and coughed weakly twice: “Sir, I heard you want to play chess with me?”

“Precisely, my lord, please come in!” The chess player welcomed him in flatteringly. For those who were good at chess, officialdom was far less fascinating than a chess game. Whether it was a famous scholar or a courtier, as long as he could play a good game of chess, he would be considered a confidant.

The two had never played chess together before, but when the Emperor came to the Imperial Academy, he only played against Zhao Yelan. The chess players were very curious about the level of their opponent. How much courage must he have to beat the Emperor at every game?

In the evening, Zhao Yelan walked out the gate of the Imperial Academy to his sedan chair, opened the curtain, and froze again: “Why are you still here?”

“Waiting for Zhao-daren to be released, ah,” Yan Mingting said with a smile.

After Zhao Yelan sat down, he saw him poking his head out to look around, and asked: “What are you looking for?”

“Has the Emperor come to see you today?”

“No.”

Yan Mingting sat back again and said: “Someone really announced that Zhong Yuehong would enter the palace today, but it was the Empress.”

Zhao Yelan nodded: “It is no wonder that the Emperor didn’t come to the Imperial Academy today. The Empress likely went to see him.”

What this said was that the Imperial Academy was also a courtyard in the harem, just waiting to be favored. Yan Mingting frowned and said: “Yuehong didn’t dare come to the mansion, and went home directly, but sent someone to pass the news to me.”

“Let’s talk about it when we get back.”

In the study, Yan Mingting recounted Zhong Yuehong’s deeds that day.

The Empress sent a letter inviting Zhong Yuehong to the palace to enjoy the flowers. Zhong Yuehong didn’t have much appreciation for these scenes of red flowers, willows, and greenery, and just listened to the Empress nattering on and reading some literary poems. Although she couldn’t understand them, she knew that the general meaning was to praise the flowers for their beauty.

It was a lot of work to say one thing, Zhong Yuehong thought.

During dinner, Zhong Yuehong clearly felt two scrutinizing eyes. Her already rough eating habits were not fit to be displayed, and she nervously knocked over two dishes.

The Empress thoughtfully and generously sent someone to replace the dishes again, and she praised the Empress as much as possible in an extremely over enthusiastic manner. But she was not a person of literary talent, and the words of praise were very plainspoken, making the Empress laugh.

She looked at the Emperor again, secretly pinched her thigh, and her face flushed slightly. With eyes filled with admiration, she praised the Emperor with the same words, but the other party showed no expression, just frowning and eating with indifference.

During the dinner, the Empress expressed her affection for her again and kindly called her younger sister. Zhong Yuehong suppressed the distaste in her heart, and responded delicately with “sister.”

Zhao Xuan’s chopsticks paused. Seeing that she was wearing fine attire and wanted to flatter him, he felt indescribably strange and left Kunning Palace after finishing his meal in a hurry.

“Will this really work?” Yan Mingting asked. “Are you sure the Emperor won’t like Yuehong?”

“He is a contradictory man who likes neither flatterers nor sycophants. He doesn’t like people who compete for fame and fortune, but he is in a high position and is surrounded by these two kinds of people, so deep down, he doesn’t like anyone. As long as he dislikes Yuehong’s flattery, he will also dislike the Empress, and then carefully consider the pros and cons of Yuehong’s entry to the harem. In fact, with his heart, he should have already made his considerations. He only needs a light push to help him make up his mind.” Zhao Yelan picked up a candle wick and rekindled the flame.

Yan Mingting nodded: “Does Yuehong need to do anything else?”

“There have been a lot of outsiders in the city lately. If you have nothing to do tomorrow, take her to patrol,” Zhao Yelan said.

“I will.”

The next day, the Emperor visited the Imperial Academy again in person and summoned Zhao Yelan to play chess.

As the two sat on each side, Zhao Xuan asked: “I heard you lost two chess games in a row yesterday. What is going on?”

Zhao Yelan coughed twice with a pale face and said with a smile: “Chess games always go back and forth, how can I win all the time?”

“You are willing to lose to him, but not to me?” There seemed to be a hint of bitterness and jealousy in his tone.

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Zhao Yelan smiled: “Yesterday, my physical condition was not good.”

“The weather has been pretty good recently, isn’t your health better?” Zhao Xuan asked with concern.

Zhao Yelan shook his head helplessly and smiled: “It is better, but I have headaches occasionally. Your Majesty, let’s begin.”

The round passed quickly, and Zhao Xuan sighed: “Why did you win again?”

“Because His Majesty is not paying attention.” Zhao Yelan picked up the chess pieces and rolled them into the chess box one by one with crisp, clacking sounds.

Zhao Xuan’s eyes inadvertently fell on his slender hands, and he said bluntly: “The Empress suggested that I accept Zhong Yuehong as my concubine.”

“What about His Majesty’s own thoughts?”

If they hadn’t seen Zhong Yuehong last night, perhaps she would have been a concubine within a few days. Zhao Xuan sighed, “I thought she had wisdom, but yesterday in Kunning Palace, she kept currying favor with the Empress. With rough manners and a simple mind, it would be difficult for her to become a lady of the household.”

Zhao Yelan rubbed a chess piece and said with a smile: “Your Majesty, you are too greedy. Lieutenant General Zhong is a military official, after all. You didn’t think her manners were rough when she was killing enemies outside, but now that she is to be included in the harem, you want her to be beautiful and intelligent, and leave behind her independence?”

Zhao Xuan rubbed his eyebrows: “I am naturally aware of the dilemma, but I suspect that she has been won over by the Empress. If she has the ambition to climb higher and really enters the harem, wouldn’t it be reduced to a stream of competition for favor?”

“It is as His Majesty says.” Zhao Yelan added, “That would be a great loss for His Majesty.”

“Loss?”

“Nowadays the world is peaceful. Zhong Yuehong’s position as a female military official seems to be useless, and the Empress thinks she is an easy pawn to win over. If His Majesty truly summons her into the harem as a favor to the Empress in return for nothing, what is the benefit to His Majesty? Secondly, since His Majesty said she was simple-minded, it would be difficult for her to gain a foothold in this harem without the grace of god. But she is also a resounding heroine within the hearts of the soldiers. If she is accepted as a concubine, how can they see their heroine be treated badly? Unless His Majesty is willing to spoil her forever, but can he do it? Furthermore, there have never been female military officials in this dynasty. Now that Zhong Yuehong has returned triumphantly, she has become a role model among the people. Many women are now willing to follow her example. If you let them see the indomitable female lieutenant general finally collapse in the back courtyard of the deep palace due to conspiracies and tricks, at that time, the hearts and minds of the people and the army will truly be lost, ah.”

Zhao Xuan frowned, taking a deep look at him: “It seems that you object to her entering the harem.”

“Yes.”

“How do you know she doesn’t want to enter the harem? What if she wants to?”

“Willing or not, I have explained my reasoning. Whether you listen or not is up to you, Your Majesty.” Zhao Yelan closed the chess box. “This official is still busy with government affairs, so he cannot accompany His Majesty. Chess players will be invited over.”

“Why are you getting angry?” Zhao Xuan laughingly stopped him. “It’s all right, I’m just asking casually. In fact, I already rejected the Empress last night. It is most appropriate to let Zhong Yuehong remain in her original position.”

“Then why did Your Majesty come to ask about this?” Zhao Yelan looked up at him.

Zhao Xuan thought to himself: Because I wanted to see you angry.

Ever since Zhao Yelan got married and was dismissed, he always acted in a “you can do whatever you want” manner. To put it bluntly, he was good and obedient, but in fact, he was disappointed with Zhao Xuan, and he could see it.

These days, he had stabilized the laws and discipline of the Imperial court, but he couldn’t help but miss the days when he and Zhao Yelan talked about everything. Thinking over it last night, he first thought of Zhong Yuehong’s vulgar behavior in Kunning Palace, and then his mind wandered to Zhao Yelan’s words and demeanor, and he fell asleep in a daze. In his dreams, the two played chess all night long.

He sacrificed Zhao Yelan in exchange for the stability of the throne, but no matter how ignorant he was, he would take pity on his people.

Looking at the slightly angry person in front of him who was becoming more and more familiar, Zhao Xuan smiled and asked: “You are very concerned about the matter of accepting a concubine?”

Zhao Yelan did not deny it, nodding blatantly. In any case, he still had a lot of reasons for him to give up accepting Zhong Yuehong as his concubine.

Zhao Xuan didn’t ask any more questions, and pulled him back to the chess table for a second game. Even though he lost, he was still in a good mood, but it was not early and it was time to return to the palace.

Before leaving, he looked at Zhao Yelan again: “Do you have anything else to say?”

Zhao Yelan blurted out: “Your Majesty, it is time for you to consider the issue of your heirs.”

Zhao Xuan’s face froze: “What?”

“The concubine election is coming up soon, and many people will enter the harem. This is a good opportunity. Your Majesty, you must hurry up.”

Zhao Yelan learned from Eunuch Gao that the Emperor stayed in the Imperial study at night and rarely stepped into the harem. There were only a few concubines in the harem, and he had been on the throne for a year with nothing to show for it. A while ago, the officials were advising about this every day, so the general election was scheduled in order to fill the harem.

He suggested: “If His Majesty doesn’t want to make a spectacle concerning concubines, he can let the Empress give birth to a prince first, so that the prince can be established as soon as possible……”

“Enough! Why are you just like those old stubborn ones!”

Zhao Xuan flicked his sleeves and left the Imperial Academy in a fit of pique. When he was about to reach the palace, he heard a commotion outside and lifted the curtain to ask: “What is that noise?”

The entourage replied: “Answering Your Majesty, it seems that Lieutenant General Zhong has captured a fleeing thief, and the people are cheering for her.”

Zhao Xuan looked over at the woman on a horse in the distance, looking very imposing with long hair flying and a man tied up with a whip.

He suddenly remembered Zhao Yelan’s words: “Not all women are vainly trying to obtain the grace of the throne. Some people are good at feminine arts, so naturally there are others who are good at martial arts. The way of a ruler is to protect them, instead of telling them to change.”

Zhao Xuan’s heart was touched. Thinking back to the early years when the two of them were at each other’s sides day and night, behind all their deliberations, the goal was to let all the common people escape from the former Emperor. When exactly did strategy become the most important thing to him?

As the sun set, the remaining clouds on the horizon were dyed red.

When Zhao Yelan stepped into the General’s Mansion, Yan Mingting greeted him in the foyer with a restless appearance, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

“It should be fine.” Zhao Yelan surmised that he was waiting on the results.

But Yan Mingting asked: “Why did you come back so late?”

“After talking with the Emperor for a time, it happened that he had already rejected the Empress last night,” Zhao Yelan said.

“He really went to the Imperial Academy to look for you?” Yan Mingting straightened his expression. “Did you only talk about Yuehong?”

“En.” Zhao Yelan sat down, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and saw that he didn’t seem to believe him. Thinking about it, he added: “There was also the matter of the dragon heir.”

“Dragon heir?” Yan Mingting immediately moved to the side.

“En.” This was the foyer, and Zhao Yelan didn’t want to talk too much about the royal family. In order to avoid being overheard by interested people, he got up and walked to the study, hearing a burst of brisk footsteps behind him.

He turned his head and saw Yan Mingting walking two steps and running back three steps, going back and forth very much like a fool about to be beaten.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, I just think……a dragon heir is good, a dragon heir is very good, how could the Emperor not have a dragon heir!” Yan Mingting laughed loudly.

“Keep your voice down.” Zhao Yelan quickly covered his mouth, looking at the servants coming and going in a hurry. “Are you not afraid that others will hear you talking about the royal family?”

Yan Mingting pressed his wrist, but did not take it away immediately. He rubbed it casually, then smiled and said: “Zhao-daren has taught me a lesson.”

His lips parted slightly as he spoke, touching the palm of his hand. Zhao Yelan quickly withdrew it and continued walking with his hands behind his back.

Yan Mingting gazed at his back with a smile on his face for a moment, and suddenly said: “Mengting, you are on the same hands and feet.”[1]

“……What does it matter to you?” Zhao Yelan paused and turned around to give him a hard look, but saw an indescribable cunning hidden in his smile. Only then did he realize that he was walking with his hands behind his back – behind his back! How could he be walking with the same hands and feet?

Yan Mingting leaned against a beam and looked at him with a smile: “Mengting, where did your thoughts go?”

 

 

[1] When the left hand and left foot move at the same time, the right hand and right foot move at the same time. ⮐

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