Chapter 0288: Eating, Drinking, and Living in Leisure—Squatting in the Harem and Playing with Emperor Jian
Shen Yuan was outmatched by the cunning of the court officials.
Perhaps dissatisfied with the Crown Prince’s insistence on heeding the nonsense of self-proclaimed enlightened masters, or perhaps expressing anger over the deliberate targeting during court sessions, the officials had been frantically submitting memorials these days, as if determined to exhaust their lifetime’s quota all at once, dumping them like trash onto Xie Jinyu.
Having reviewed memorials for two lifetimes and grown utterly sick of it, Xie Jinyu once again felt the urge to flip the table and quit, heading to Jizhou to seek solace and rejuvenation from Xie Chengze.
Shen Yuan, overwhelmed and unable to manage alone, eventually set his sights on the hair of Empress Cao and the two princes.
He couldn’t be the only one going bald.
Xie Chengze would mock him for it.
Cao Qingran, who was packing her bags in Kunning Palace, ready to flee once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, was handed a thick stack of memorials by Shen Yuan’s messengers. Under the guise of “special times call for special measures,” they urged, “We implore the Empress to assist from the sidelines and protect the people of Jian’an.”
Cao Qingran: …
I refuse to review memorials!
In Wu De Hall, Xie Shoujun was polishing his ink-black spear with red tassels, preparing to practice a newly learned spear technique in the courtyard, when several eunuchs filed in, carrying boxes of memorials. They announced:
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince says since you’re idle in Wu De Hall anyway, why not mark ‘Reviewed’ on these trivial memorials? It’ll keep your calligraphy from getting rusty.”
Xie Shoujun: …
Does writing a single character, “Reviewed,” count as calligraphy practice? If you want me to clean up this mess, just say it outright!
In Yu Fu Palace, Rou Fei was engrossed in painting her nails with relish when several palace maids entered, carrying trays of memorials. With pained expressions, they reported, “Your Highness, Lord Shen has sent word that these memorials are for the Fourth Prince to practice with. Once reviewed, they should be sent to the Crown Prince as soon as possible.”
Rou Fei: ???
Has the Eastern Palace gone mad? They want Zimiao to review memorials?
Is this a test?
Are they afraid Yu Fu Palace is supporting the Third Prince in a bid for the throne?
As if handling a hot potato, Rou Fei recoiled in fright, shrieking, “Take them away! We’d rather die than review them!!”
The maids continued with strained faces, “Lord Shen’s messengers said the Eastern Palace is truly overwhelmed. Even the Empress and the Eldest Prince have been forced to deal with the mess. As a prince, the Third Prince cannot shirk this duty.”
Rou Fei’s ears perked up, “The Empress and the Eldest Prince are reviewing them too?”
“That’s what they said,” the maid nodded.
Rou Fei stroked her chin thoughtfully, then waved a hand, “Fine, you may leave.”
She rose and headed to the western hall of Yu Fu Palace to discuss the matter with Xie Zimiao, but after searching around, she couldn’t find him. Xie Zimiao disliked having maids or eunuchs attend to him, was highly independent and assertive, and rarely consulted Rou Fei, leaving her with no one to question about his whereabouts.
Finally, she wandered to his bedchamber, pushed the door open, and found a letter on the desk.
“To be opened by my beloved mother?”
Puzzled, Rou Fei unfolded the letter. The moment she read its contents, her face darkened.
[To my beautiful and gracious Mother, your son has gone to Pingcheng with Xiao Bai to assist Second Brother with a small matter. Do not worry about me.
If you do worry, please send someone to the Hu Family Bank in Jingcheng and deposit funds into the account under the name Xie San. Your son would be eternally grateful!]
Rou Fei: …
Xie! Zi! Miao!
Sneaking off to play without taking your mother along—you unfilial son!!!
Rou Fei returned to the eastern hall in a towering rage. After dismissing the palace maids from the room, she paced anxiously around the pile of memorials several times before crossing her arms and stroking her chin in contemplation. “What should I do now?”
Should she try to muddle through?
But she didn’t know how to review memorials either… All she knew was eating, drinking, and enjoying life while idling away in the rear palace amusing Emperor Jian.
Scratching her head, her gaze fell upon the small trinkets that the Second and Third Princesses had brought during their daily visits. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Emperor Jian had been too lazy to find new tutors for the princesses, so he simply had them attend the same lessons as Prince Zi Miao. Their academic performances were quite similar – they could definitely handle this task!
Rou Fei immediately stood up, changed her clothes, and went out.
…
Ping City.
In late spring, the distant mountains were already lush with vegetation. Tender new greens blended with deep, rich emerald, as if the Creator had freely splashed ink across the mountainside, gradually transitioning to the pale yellow of the earth where it met the bluish-white stone path. Occasional fresh greens emerged like sprites, playful and natural.
Along the winding official road, trees rustled in the gentle breeze. At the road’s end, a magnificent city gradually came into view. Commoners and merchants’ carriages came and went, with carts frequently hauling large bundles of timber into the city.
With the government planning to build vehicles and completely lifting logging restrictions outside the city, many had seized the business opportunity to enter the mountains and earn some silver by logging.
Others had spotted opportunities serving these loggers. As queues moved slowly and people grew tired and thirsty, vendors had set up tea stalls nearby for temporary rest and refreshment.
Just as a commoner approached a tea stall for a cool drink, suddenly, a tiger’s roar that seemed to shake the heavens came from the end of the official road behind them. Startled, everyone turned to look. Most commoners didn’t recognize what beast could make such a sound, only feeling the roar was exceptionally deafening and heart-shaking.
They stared dumbfounded at the distant road.
At the narrow road’s end, a majestic white tiger gradually emerged stepping on stones. The tiger’s posture was powerful, its fur pure as winter snow. As the road widened, its formidable physique became increasingly apparent. Its glass-like eyes gazed indifferently ahead, and when its paws touched the ground, it seemed to carry force that could shake heaven and earth, making people unable to suppress their fear.
Flanking the tiger were ten women wearing white veiled hats and light-colored robes of various hues. The first two held high vermilion banners, while the following eight carried bamboo baskets, scattering mixed petals and leaves with yellow talismans along both sides of the road.
Most astonishingly, seated upon the white tiger was a revered figure. Beneath the noble golden framework of the veiled hat, lightweight white gauze curtains and purple tasseled silk enveloped the person, making it impossible to discern their gender. The crowd could only see the figure wearing precious-colored robes with gold-powdered purple as base, embroidered with abundant treasure lotus patterns. A multicolored palace sash tied at the waist hung with golden tassels, while large silver ornaments were particularly dazzling – both magnificent and solemn.
As they drew nearer, the figure’s features beneath the veiled hat appeared exceptionally beautiful and radiant, their splendor undimmed even by the thin gauze. Those who saw them felt dizzy, as if beholding a celestial being. Seeing the majestic white tiger beast behaving as tamely as a cat beneath them made people unable to control their trembling excitement.
What kind of immortal could this be?
Or perhaps, an enlightened monk?
The gate guards who came at the sound were equally astonished and promptly sent for the city gate captain.
By the time the captain arrived, the white tiger had already reached the city gate. Standing on the ground, it raised its head and yawned into the wind. The common people stepped back one after another, observing the procession with a mix of curiosity and caution. Those who were literate saw the vermilion banner inscribed with:
“I can decipher the script of fate,
On the white tiger’s seat, I reveal heaven’s secrets.”
The latter part was largely understandable, but what did the “script” in the former line mean?