Chapter 190: Dragon Dancing in the Nine Heavens

In the small streets and alleys, the sound of carriage wheels rumbled.

The magnificent ox cart rolled over a puddle and stopped at the alley entrance.

Before long, Wang Yang walked out of the alley, went straight into the carriage, and the ox cart moved slowly.

Inside the carriage, Director Liu Tan Tan handed a small box to Wang Yang: "The travel permits, official certificates, and cargo manifests are all ready."

Wang Yang opened the box to look through them while asking: "Can you guarantee the message will be delivered?"

"Yes, I had someone entrust it to Zhao Jie, the Official of the Five Offices 【Secretary】. I sent a heavy gift. He was promoted by Liu Yin himself and is a shrewd person. Receiving a heavy gift, he will definitely feel something is amiss and will definitely report it."

"What if he is greedy for money and doesn't report it?"

"That's why I had that person entrust it to Qiu Ying, the Military Advisor of Prohibition and Defense 【Chief of the Prohibition and Defense Office】. This person is also valued by Liu Yin, but he and Zhao Jie are not on good terms. Both want to compete for the position of 'Central Record Office' 【Provincial/Hall】. When I had that person entrust them with the task, I revealed that I had also found the other one. This way, whether out of hitting the other or protecting themselves, both will rush to report it first."

Wang Yang smiled: "Beautiful."

"Beau... tiful?" Director Liu Tan Tan didn't understand.

"It means doing things securely. But today this ox cart is a bit too deliberate. We won't go to the silk field in a while; let's go to the restaurant to eat. After eating, we'll split into two paths. I'll go to the silk field first, and you go home to change carriages before going."

Director Liu Tan Tan said: "Beautiful."

Wang Yang was startled.

"It means you do things securely."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Wang Yang said: "I have to go to the commandery school tomorrow, so I won't run to the silk weaving field with you. I'll let the Black Man go with you; he knows the place."

Director Liu Tan Tan nodded, thought for a moment, and reminded: "Liu Yin is a provincial Chief Clerk; he is not easy to deal with."

"I didn't say this was the only path in the game."

"Oh? Then how many paths do you have?" Director Liu Tan Tan asked curiously.

Wang Yang closed his eyes slightly as the ox cart bumped, shaking his head, and said slowly: "More than 'four-sided Chu songs,' less than 'ten-sided ambush.'"

"'Ten-sided ambush'?" Director Liu Tan Tan heard a new term again.

Wang Yang opened his eyes and looked at Director Liu Tan Tan, asking with a smile: "How about... Official Liu adds a path too?"

In the imperial palace, lamps and candles illuminated the halls.

The warm yellow halo moved on the jade floor, like a flowing golden river.

A figure was reflected in the golden river, holding a long pole, dancing slowly, like poling a boat.

This was the most powerful man in the entire Southern Qi territory—Xiao Ze.

He was over fifty this year, his body still strong. Even though the carving knife of time had left clear marks on his temples, it still couldn't damage his heroic demeanor. But he danced the horse-spear very slowly, as if immersed in some kind of emotion. The long spear stirred up ripples of light and shadow, like the ripples of time, staining memories.

Suddenly,

His movements accelerated, and his moves became sharp!

As if a biting cold wind had swept in, wanting to completely break the quiet poetry just now!

The horse-spear shuttled through the air rapidly, stirring up chilling gusts of wind, stirring the surrounding light and shadow into pieces.

Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!

The spear tip tapped lightly, picking the wicks of four candles in a row with lightning-like precision!

At this time, an attendant reported: "Your Majesty, Attendant Lü requests an audience."

"Let him in."

The Emperor stood with the spear, panting and coughing twice. Although he felt exhausted, his expression faintly revealed satisfaction.

Attendant Lü was named Lü Wenxian, a powerful official among the inner officials, holding the official position of Secretariat Attendant.

In the Southern Dynasties, eunuchs were in decline, and the Secretariat Attendants were the leaders among the inner officials. Although this position was low and mostly chosen from humble backgrounds, they served in the cabinet, issued imperial edicts, managed confidential documents, and participated in deciding memorials. People called them "Inner Supervisors," and together with the "Outer Supervisors" represented by the Bureau of Manufacturing, they were the claws and teeth of the Emperor, and their power was not small.

At this time, there were four Secretariat Attendants, living in the four provinces of the Secretariat, the Ministry of Personnel, the Chancellery, and the Secretarial, each with concurrent positions or holding titles to emphasize their status. The world called them the "Four Households."

Although Lü Wenxian came from a humble background, he was currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel and was one of the "Four Households." He also held the title of Governor of Huainan (having the official title and salary without leading affairs, which was called 'carrying'). His official rank was no longer low. But as soon as he entered the hall, he knelt down and kowtowed, without any dignity to speak of.

The daily kowtowing to the Emperor originated after the Song Dynasty. In the medieval period, unless it was an important ceremonial occasion or for special purposes such as pleading guilty or begging, officials would only bow when facing the Emperor.

But Lü Wenxian had long since made kneeling a habit, and the Emperor was accustomed to it, so he beckoned him to get up.

"Your Majesty's spear technique is divine; I heard it from outside, it truly has the momentum of thunder!"

Lü Wenxian bowed his waist, stepped forward quickly, took out a brand-new ice towel specially prepared from his sleeve, and presented it to the Emperor.

"What thunderous momentum? Don't say that outside; let the experts hear it and laugh!"

The Emperor picked up the ice towel, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and threw it aside casually.

Lü Wenxian had already moved to the Emperor's right side, caught the towel smoothly, and stuffed it back into his sleeve, answering:

"I don't understand the skill of the horse-spear, but the dragon dancing in the nine heavens—isn't that the momentum of thunder and lightning?"

The Emperor laughed: "Where are the nine heavens?"

Lü Wenxian took the horse-spear with some difficulty and said seriously: "Where the true dragon is, it is naturally the nine heavens."

The Emperor shook his head and laughed, then sighed: "I'm tired after just a little while; I'm truly old."

Lü Wenxian used both hands, supporting the spear with his body, and handed the horse-spear to the attendant with great effort. While panting, he said in surprise:

"This horse-spear looks light, but it's really heavy when you take it! I've only held it for such a short while, and my arms still feel sore! How can Your Majesty dance with it!"

An attendant brought a bowl of medicine, and the Emperor sat down and drank it in one gulp. This was the health-preserving medicine he had been insisting on taking since he fell seriously ill and brushed with death when he first ascended the throne.

"Alright, alright, stop coaxing me. Speak, what's the matter?"

Lü Wenxian's expression became serious, and he took out a document: "This is the estimate of the cost of building seventeen temporary granaries, led by the Ministry of Revenue and coordinated by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works..."

"Put it aside first." The Emperor closed his eyes and twisted his neck.

Lü Wenxian immediately stopped the topic and placed the document gently on top of a stack of documents on the left side of the imperial desk. Then he took a fan from the attendant, fanned the Emperor, and asked:

"Is Your Majesty worried about the matter of the Fourth Young Master Liu?"

The Emperor closed his eyes and said slowly:

"The Southern Barbarians are rampant, actually penetrating deep into Jiangling and kidnapping even the Duke's son. If it were a few years ago, I wouldn't even think about it; I would definitely send a large army to clear them out. But now..."

The Emperor didn't continue speaking.

Lü Wenxian said in a relaxed tone:

"Your Majesty doesn't need to worry too much. Duke Liu is calm, determined, and resourceful, and his prestige is well-established. He has many retainers and strong men, and many officers in the Jingzhou army are also close to him. I heard that they send gifts to the Duke's mansion every festival; it's very lively! Why doesn't Your Majesty let Duke Liu solve it himself? Maybe he can save the person without much effort."

The Emperor opened his eyes like a dragon, his face showing no joy or anger. Lü Wenxian's heart jumped.

"You mean, things that the imperial court finds difficult to handle are easy for Duke Liu?"

Lü Wenxian was secretly happy and immediately said in panic: "I don't mean that. I mean, Duke Liu might have other ways..."

"What way? You mean he can bypass the imperial court and move troops privately?"

Lü Wenxian immediately knelt down to apologize: "I don't dare! I misspoke! Duke Liu is loyal to the country, so I think he wouldn't do that."

The Emperor didn't speak.

Lü Wenxian lay on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

"Caiming, how long have you been an attendant?" The Emperor suddenly asked.

"Returning to Your Majesty, I became an attendant on March 5th of the first year of Yongming, was transferred to the Magistrate of Jiankang in the fifth year, and returned to the Attendant Province in the sixth year. Adding it all up, it has been six years, five months, and seventeen days."

"Hmm, not short... You are very capable, and I am comfortable using you, but I can't use you anymore. Go to Huainan and be the Governor."

Lü Wenxian was stunned; this was completely different from what he had expected!

"Your Majesty! Don't drive me away! I am guilty! I am guilty!"

Lü Wenxian kowtowed, wishing he could bleed immediately.

"Broad-mindedness is something only people who do great things have. You are a talented official, and it doesn't matter if your mind is narrow. But the position of Secretariat Attendant is important and confidential, communicating inside and outside. If one has ulterior motives, provokes and incites, alienates the monarch and ministers, and causes rifts among the pillars of the state, this will become a national disaster! So I cannot keep you."

"I am terrified! I don't dare to do that, Your Majesty! I just want to share the worries for Your Majesty, thinking that the national treasury is tight and there are many things in all directions. If Duke Liu can solve this matter himself, there is no need to trouble the imperial court. I just want to save some expenses for the imperial court!"

Lü Wenxian cried and spoke very fast, trying his best to grasp the power and imperial favor that were flying away from his palms.

The Emperor sighed: "Caiming, I am letting you go to Huainan to be the Governor, which also means to preserve you. If you still don't tell the truth, then you will have failed my painstaking efforts."

Lü Wenxian trembled and dared not cry injustice anymore:

"I am confused! I am guilty! Duke Liu has always looked down on me and even turned my nephew away from his door. I was blinded by jealousy for a moment, and that's why... I beg Your Majesty to look at the years I have served you and not drive me away! I can't bear to leave Your Majesty! I am willing to be a scribe in the Secretariat! I only ask to stay in the imperial city and occasionally look at Your Majesty from afar, and my wishes will be satisfied!"

Lü Wenxian cried bitterly.

Regarding the situation after this, the history books recorded: "Wenxian shed tears and refused to leave. The Emperor also felt sorry for him, issued an edict to bestow a portrait, and sent him out to be the Governor of Huainan."

——————

Note: ① *History of the Southern Dynasties, Biographies of Favored Officials*: "At that time, there were four Secretariat Attendants, each living in one province. The world called them the 'Four Households.' Since they held total power, their influence tilted the world."

*Book of Southern Qi, Biographies of Favored Officials*: "Lü Wenxian managed grain and silk affairs."

In the original historical line, Liu Cheng was not kidnapped, so naturally, there was no incident of Lü Wenxian being banished for jealousy. After Wang Yang traveled through time, the butterfly effect had already begun to take effect quietly.

② Before the Yuan Dynasty, kneeling was never a convention for officials to face the Emperor in daily life. In the Song Dynasty, kneeling during court was even considered "loss of court etiquette" along with "talking and laughing loudly," "walking slowly," and "standing improperly," and would be punished with salary deductions (*History of Song, Court Etiquette*). As for facing the Emperor alone, it was just bowing. Therefore, in the *Draft Edict to Exempt Kneeling* drafted by Kang Youwei for Puyi, it said: "The Han system was for the Emperor to stand for the Prime Minister; in the Jin, Six Dynasties, and Tang, the monarch and ministers all sat; only in the Song did they stand; in the Yuan, they knelt, and later generations followed it." (*Kang Youwei's Drafts*, Volume 2, "Drafts").

Kang's statement is correct. This can be compared with the note in Chapter 117 of this book that the word "Long Live" gradually became exclusive to the Emperor. Both are external manifestations of the gradually strengthening imperial power and autocracy.

③ I know I'm not updating fast, but there's no way around it. Writing time is too little, and I am the kind of person who, if I feel a character or even what they are eating is a waste of scenes, would rather not write a single word. And the verification of some details is sometimes far more time-consuming than writing the main text. For example, although Kang Youwei's assertion is consistent with my understanding, I am not sure whether they knelt when facing the Emperor alone in the Song Dynasty, and the academic research on the issue of kneeling etiquette before the Yuan Dynasty is extremely lacking.

So even though I know the Hu people were famous for the kneeling etiquette in the Song Dynasty, and the Mongol Yuan Dynasty normalized kneeling, which is logical, verification requires evidence. So I looked at many Song paintings and combined them with original classics to determine that in the Song Dynasty, not only officials, but even commoners didn't necessarily have to kneel when seeing the Emperor's imperial carriage on the road. It's just that in order not to overshadow the host, I omitted many detailed pieces of evidence in the notes. Therefore, although my notes are very short on the surface, the foundation hidden underground is actually very long.

Every item is a cultural history, and every system has twists and turns in different periods. When encountering problems that cannot be determined, one has to go through a verification to reach a conclusion. In fact, if it were purely academic verification, it would be easier to write, but to build the skeleton of historical details while integrating them into the plot and taking into account the fun, this requires more thought. So the quantity can't come up, which is no way. Each meeting is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I can't guarantee the quantity, only that the text of each meeting is sincere and not perfunctory.

I will try to keep regular updates, but there will also be times when I am too busy or delayed by things. ===== CHAPTER 191 =====