Chapter 365: State Letter

Early the next morning, a young eunuch arrived at the Princes’ Residence carrying an oral decree from His Majesty summoning Ji Chengjue into the palace.

Ji Chengjue did not rush out at the crack of dawn and sit uselessly inside the palace waiting.

Instead, he slept until he was fully rested, then leisurely ate two bowls of meat porridge personally cooked by the young woman from the He family. Only after eating his fill did he climb into the carriage driven by Eunuch Zhang and head toward the imperial palace.

It was not arrogance.

He did not attend morning court anyway.

If he entered too early, he would merely wait inside until his father finished court and came over.

Waiting was unavoidable either way.

Naturally, waiting at home was more comfortable.

As for displaying the proper attitude before the sovereign between this particular father and son, there was genuinely no need for too much cumbersome hypocrisy anymore.

Ji Chengjue sat inside the Imperial Study and drank two cups of tea on his own initiative.

Footsteps soon sounded outside.

He set down his cup and immediately rose.

A moment later the Emperor of Yan entered.

He glanced once at Ji Chengjue standing in the corner but said nothing. Instead, he spread his arms, and Wei Zhonghe personally stepped forward to remove the dragon robe from his shoulders.

Once the robe had been removed and fresh tea served, Wei Zhonghe understood the situation without being told. He left the Imperial Study and stood guard outside the door.

Ever since the Grand Eunuch at Tianhu Mountain departed this world, Wei Zhonghe had become the true helmsman of Great Yan’s Secret Intelligence Department, both in name and in fact.

Certain things could escape the notice of others.

If Wei Zhonghe failed to smell anything unusual, however, he would no longer deserve his position.

More importantly, once the Presented Scholar officials had been driven into action, they could hardly all be killed afterward to silence them.

Tracing the force behind them was not particularly difficult.

But Wei Zhonghe had only investigated far enough to discover the Sixth Prince’s shadow.

Then he stopped.

Without an order from the Emperor of Yan, it was not appropriate for him to dig any deeper.

Standing outside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Wei could not help feeling somewhat emotional.

In the past, he had grown accustomed to watching His Majesty treat Sixth Highness harshly.

But now it seemed—

Sixth Highness himself was hardly an easy man to deal with.

You might believe all his wings had already been clipped away.

And yet somehow he always managed to produce another “surprise.”

That style of maneuvering, that instinct for controlling events, made Wei Zhonghe involuntarily remember the years when he had first entered the princely residence to serve the present Emperor.

His Majesty had been young then too.

But even in those days, the way he handled affairs had already carried the air of a man holding the pearl of wisdom securely in his palm.

There was one difference.

His Majesty had always been outstanding.

Although the previous Emperor had behaved absurdly while pursuing gods and immortality, when it came to appointing the heir, he had never wavered and never been ambiguous.

Wei Zhonghe unconsciously narrowed his eyes.

The Buddha-like smile remained fixed on his face.

As a servant he could only think such treasonous thoughts privately.

The affairs of the imperial family were not something he had any right to interfere with.

Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor of Yan sat down.

Ji Chengjue stepped forward and saluted.

“This son pays respects to Imperial Father.”

“Enough.”

“Thank you, Imperial Father.”

“Tell Us about the Ministry of Revenue.”

“Reporting to Imperial Father, this son had already planned to request an audience tomorrow.”

As he spoke, Ji Chengjue took a very thick memorial from inside his robe.

He did not call Wei Zhonghe back inside.

Instead, he personally walked forward and placed it upon the imperial desk.

“Imperial Father, this contains what this son has learned during these days observing affairs at the Ministry of Revenue, together with thirteen proposals for improving Great Yan’s policies regarding money, grain, and commerce.

“I ask Imperial Father to examine them.”

The Emperor of Yan placed one palm on top of the memorial and patted it lightly.

A moment earlier, he had asked about the Ministry of Revenue.

His son had answered about the Ministry of Revenue.

And somehow the former Minister of Revenue, Xu Guanghuai, did not even count as part of the Ministry of Revenue anymore.

No.

At this moment, he barely even counted as a person.

The Emperor rubbed between his brows with a tired hand.

He had far too many matters to manage every day.

Sometimes, when he wanted to engage this son in another round of probing and maneuvering, he found himself lacking the energy.

In truth, he understood perfectly well that the problem was not merely exhaustion.

This son was simply no ordinary article.

“We will read it later.”

“Yes, Imperial Father.”

“What do you think of the alliance with Chu?” the Emperor asked.

Ji Chengjue remained silent.

The Emperor waited.

He assumed his son was thinking.

This was, after all, an important state matter.

No one could or dared answer such a question carelessly.

Emperors frequently tested their princes this way.

And princes were expected to respond solemnly and properly.

But after drinking two mouthfuls of tea, the Emperor realized that Ji Chengjue was still simply standing there.

His expression was calm.

There was no sign of contemplation at all.

“Speak.”

The Emperor asked again.

Ji Chengjue lowered his head.

“Reporting to Imperial Father...

“This son has already finished answering.”

“Finished answering?”

“Yes, Imperial Father.”

The Emperor sighed.

Then shifted his posture, leaning slightly toward the right side of his chair.

He pointed at Ji Chengjue.

“You grow more presumptuous by the day.”

It was a warning.

But when Ji Chengjue heard it, he involuntarily remembered a phrase that bastard surnamed Zheng had once used:

*Wanting to be a whore while insisting on a memorial arch for chastity.*

You want to use me.

And you want to suppress me.

Conflicted, aren’t you?

I know what you care about.

You do not care about family.

You do not care about kin.

The only thing you truly care about is your realm.

After so many years of having one layer after another cut from him and being beaten down again and again, Ji Chengjue had gradually discovered a method of resisting his father.

*I am your son.*

*Your bottom line toward your son is simple:*

*You can torment him however you like.*

*But preferably—*

*do not kill him.*

That was the Emperor of Yan’s mountain-like fatherly love.

Because Ji Chengjue could help manage money and grain, could help his father fulfill the lifelong ambition of unifying all the Huaxia states, he could stand here now.

Stand directly before him.

And because the people who had collectively struck at Xu Guanghuai were Presented Scholar officials, the Emperor could not attack them without damaging his own grand plan for generations to come.

So instead he sacrificed Xu Guanghuai, a minister he had actually found reasonably useful.

The identity of father and son could no longer form any meaningful bond between them.

People said even a tiger would not devour its own cubs.

His Imperial Father would not devour his sons either.

He merely did not care.

Then Ji Chengjue could only seize the thing his father cared about most and use it to force concessions.

Force tolerance.

*I’m presumptuous?*

Very well.

Little Sixth had returned to Yanjing this time with his thoughts already completely unobstructed.

Inside his head, that was what he was thinking.

Outwardly, however, Ji Chengjue still said with proper fear:

“This son would not dare.”

The Emperor stared at him.

He said nothing.

He disliked this increasingly “concise and comprehensive” manner of conversation.

One sentence from one side.

One sentence from the other.

And both instantly understood.

No matter how complicated the matter, it seemed only a few phrases were needed before every meaning had already been exchanged.

This did not resemble normal court discussion or father-son questioning at all.

But both men understood the other too clearly.

One or two lines were enough to illuminate every layer beneath them.

There were no outsiders present either.

Were father and son truly supposed to perform a long exchange back and forth solely for the sake of wasting saliva?

Setting every other consideration aside for an emperor, the mere fact that another person could completely read his thoughts was already an extremely sensitive matter.

At that moment, Wei Zhonghe entered and reported:

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The Crown Prince entered.

When he saw Ji Chengjue standing inside the Imperial Study as well, he was slightly surprised.

But a warm and gentle smile immediately appeared on his face.

“Sixth Brother, you’re here too?

“I haven’t seen you for so many days. I’ve truly missed you.”

Ji Chengjue remained where he stood.

His gaze drifted slightly to the right.

If anyone had been watching carefully, they would have noticed that the Emperor of Yan made an almost identical motion at the same moment.

Clearly, both father and son had chosen to skip over the Crown Prince’s blatantly false warmth and courtesy.

Ji Chengjue was not normally this arrogant.

Usually, he did not show his edge so openly.

The problem was that he had not yet fully shifted out of the conversational mode he had just been using with his father.

The Emperor of Yan felt something similar.

Watching the Crown Prince stand before Ji Chengjue, inquiring after him warmly and performing the image of harmonious brotherhood, the Emperor—who only moments earlier had been irritated by how little effort his Sixth Son put into speaking with him—suddenly felt an even deeper disgust.

He even experienced a momentary urge to ask the Crown Prince:

*If We handed you a sword right now—*

*and ordered you to kill your Sixth Brother—*

*would you do it?*

Naturally, such thoughts could only remain thoughts.

Just as Wei Zhonghe could only keep his own treasonous ideas inside his stomach while standing outside earlier.

The hardest thing in the world was the human belly.

Because it separated one heart from another.

Through flesh, clothing, expressions, and practiced disguises, it was almost impossible to know what another person was truly thinking.

The Crown Prince received no warmth in return, but he did not become angry.

Instead, he turned toward the Emperor.

“Imperial Father, every detail of the alliance has now been settled.”

The Crown Prince had poured enormous effort into finalizing this treaty.

It could be said that this was the first truly major matter he had personally completed after entering the Eastern Palace.

Naturally, he attached great importance to it and proceeded with extreme caution.

Xu Guanghuai’s fall had created some disturbance around the negotiations.

But not enough to derail them.

The Emperor nodded.

“The Crown Prince has worked hard.”

“This son would not dare claim hardship.

“It is merely this son’s duty.”

Wei Zhonghe walked forward and placed a stack of memorials on the imperial desk.

The Emperor reached out.

He casually flipped through them.

Then said:

“Enough.

“Both of you may withdraw.

“We are tired.”

The Crown Prince froze.

He had not expected the matter to end like this.

One simple sentence:

*You worked hard.*

Then one equally simple polite answer from him.

And that was it?

Leave?

He had barely eaten or slept these past days.

He had poured himself completely into the negotiations.

And the result was one light sentence before being dismissed?

The Crown Prince certainly was not asking for rewards.

As heir to the throne, he had already reached the point where there was almost nothing left His Majesty could reward him with.

The Emperor could hardly abdicate, become Retired Emperor, and hand him the throne as a prize.

Ji Chengjue watched his brother’s expression and almost laughed.

*What?*

*Were you hoping the old man would praise you some more?*

*Give you a kiss?*

*Pick you up and toss you into the air?*

But almost immediately—

Ji Chengjue’s brow furrowed slightly.

*Heh.*

*What exactly am I looking down on him for?*

*We’re both eggs laid by the same old bastard turtle.*

*So why does yours get to be “Father,” while mine is just a damn turtle?*

Then again, they were both far too old now for childish competition over parental affection.

And if one stripped away the Crown Prince’s ceremonial robes both their maternal clans had been flattened by the man sitting above them.

Ji Chengjue’s mother had died early.

The Crown Prince’s mother had gone mad.

Two little bastards standing here what exactly was there to be jealous over?

Thinking this, Ji Chengjue lifted his head and looked toward the Emperor seated above.

*Heh.*

*Old bastard.*

Everyone possessed private thoughts.

Some dark.

Some rebellious beyond imagination.

But they were all carefully hidden beneath disguises.

“This son takes his leave!”

“This son takes his leave!”

Ji Chengjue and the Crown Prince exited the Imperial Study together.

Outside lay the imperial garden.

The Crown Prince did not continue acting out affectionate brotherhood.

Instead, he stopped.

Ji Chengjue stopped with him.

“You’ve heard about Minister Xu, haven’t you?”

Ji Chengjue nodded.

“I’ve heard something of it.”

“Aren’t you observing affairs at the Ministry of Revenue?”

*The head of your own ministry has just been kicked down, and all you’ve done is “hear something of it”?*

“The Crown Prince jokes.

“Your younger brother merely reports for attendance at the Ministry each day.

“There really isn’t much else for me to do.”

“Sixth Brother, you have talent.

“That is something your elder brother has never doubted.”

“The Crown Prince overpraises me.

“You are the model for all of us younger brothers.”

“Do more real work.

“For the state.

“For the family.

“Do more real work.”

“This subject respectfully accepts the Crown Prince’s instruction.”

Perhaps feeling that his words had been somewhat heavy, the Crown Prince hesitated.

Then asked:

“Are you free today?”

“What instructions does the Crown Prince have?”

“One of the servants at my residence obtained some wild game.

“You know I’ve never liked eating such things.

“But the Commandery Princess probably does.

“Take one portion for yourself.

“Send the rest to the Western Garden on my behalf.”

“This younger brother understands.

“Many thanks for the Crown Prince’s gift.”

The wedding had been interrupted by the war.

According to custom and propriety, a bride and groom were not supposed to meet privately again before formally entering the marriage.

So the Crown Prince could not conveniently visit the Western Garden himself now.

Doing so would appear improper.

Ji Chengjue had far more freedom.

His own marriage with the young woman of the He family had not been formally conducted either.

Yet he had simply moved her directly into his residence.

Of course, his new elder brother-in-law no longer dared wave a butcher knife at him.

The Li Liangshen standing beside the Commandery Princess, however absolutely did dare draw a sword on the Crown Prince.

“Sixth Brother,” the Crown Prince said, “once the alliance is formally concluded and the day of my wedding arrives, come with me to escort the bride.”

The first time the wedding procession had begun—

Ji Chengjue had not been among those escorting the bride.

He had been wearing a constable’s uniform, sitting inside Quande Restaurant and eating roast duck.

Now he had returned.

Returned openly and legitimately.

Naturally, he should be invited.

It was obvious the Crown Prince already suspected him in Xu Guanghuai’s downfall.

But Ji Chengjue had not even tried to hide the matter from their father.

Why would he fear the Crown Prince knowing?

“It would be this younger brother’s honor.”

“You and I are brothers.

“Why speak so distantly?”

“Crown Prince— sovereign and subject must remain distinct.”

“Haaah...”

The Crown Prince sighed.

Then turned and left first.

He was heading toward a side hall.

He still had his own work to deal with.

Ji Chengjue, meanwhile, needed to leave the palace and return to the Princes’ Residence.

They were not going the same way.

At the palace gate, Ji Chengjue climbed into the carriage driven by Eunuch Zhang.

While driving, Eunuch Zhang said:

“Master, the Eastern Palace has begun purchasing large amounts of goods again.

“Perhaps they’re preparing for the second wedding ceremony.”

“The Crown Prince just invited me to accompany him when he goes to escort the bride.”

“Then should this slave start preparing gifts over the next few days?”

Ji Chengjue shook his head.

“It won’t happen.”

...

Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor of Yan was reading the thick memorial Ji Chengjue had submitted earlier.

Wei Zhonghe came over to refill his tea and quietly reminded him:

“Your Majesty, should the midday meal be served?”

The Emperor set the memorial down.

Without noticing, he had been absorbed in it for quite a while.

He nodded.

“Serve it.”

“Yes.”

Wei Zhonghe turned to leave and summon the meal.

“Also...”

Wei Zhonghe immediately turned back and waited for further instruction.

The Emperor pointed toward the pile of treaty memorials the Crown Prince had delivered earlier, stacked on the left side of the imperial desk.

Wei Zhonghe knew—

His Majesty had not read them at all.

“Tell Zhao Jiulang and the others that We have carefully reviewed every detail of the alliance.

“There is nothing improper.

“Apply the vermilion approval and imperial seal.

“Have them draw up the formal State Letter and send it to Yupan City as soon as possible.”

————

[End of Chapter 365]