Chapter 389: Rare

On the East Pavilion, father and daughter walked quietly, one behind the other.

The East Pavilion has two passageways: one called the "Pavilion Walk," directly connecting to the Upper Minister Office; Xiao Luan had just come from the Lower Office via this path. (See previous diagram.)

A painted Eastern Han ceramic pavilion structure, currently housed in the Henan Museum, shows the Pavilion Walk linking the two buildings; for the precise location of the Minister Office, refer to the earlier illustration, the two offices.

(Continuing from the previous diagram: between the two offices lies a wavy structure—the Pavilion Walk. The "Chen Shu·Xu Xiaoke Biography" states, "A Pavilion Walk spans the road east-west, connecting to the Court Hall," referring to this elevated passage linking the two Minister Offices.)

The other passageway descends directly to the East Courtyard of the Lower Office, where officials reside. Bao Yue followed her father down this path, seeing continuous corridors and closely packed dwellings. Occasionally, passersby spotted Xiao Luan and stepped aside, bowing their heads in salute; only after the father and daughter passed did they resume their way.

The Lower Office was vast, almost like a small city. A central avenue ran north-south, with offices flanking both sides; night-duty quarters lay near the central courtyard, archives to the west; lower-ranking officials mostly dwelled in the southern rows, their families mingling, doors adjacent. High officials each had separate residences scattered in the northern corner, forming their own district.

The Left Minister had his own courtyard in the Lower Office, three courtyards deep, with over ten side rooms. Xiao Luan brought his daughter there, arranged her lodging, and prepared to leave.

Bao Yue bit her lip and called out:

"Father."

Xiao Luan stopped.

"What is it?"

Bao Yue fell silent.

Her coming here today was due partly to Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Qian Ruoer's tardiness, delaying her departure from the palace, and partly to Shen Qu Qu Yuan's coercion. But more than that, it was for another reason—one she had resolved upon, yet still needed an external push to complete.

Yet even now, at this point, she hesitated—hesitated to speak. Deep down, she did not wish to do so, even though rationally she had no other choice.

"Is something the matter?" Xiao Luan asked.

"Nothing," Bao Yue replied.

Xiao Luan showed no surprise at this answer, nor any curiosity as to why she had called out if there was nothing. He turned and walked away—three steps—

"Father," Bao Yue clenched her fists.

Xiao Luan's face showed a faint smile, yet when he turned back to face his daughter, no trace remained:

"Hmm?"

Bao Yue had expected Xiao Luan to ask about her conflict with Shen Qu Qu Yuan, so she could Shunshi bring up her request. But Xiao Luan asked nothing, as if nothing had happened—as if she had merely stepped out for a stroll, happened to pass by, and happened to call out "Father."

"There is something..."

Bao Yue's voice was barely audible.

"Rare indeed..."

Xiao Luan looked at his daughter, sighed with emotion, his expression no longer detached; a hint of pleasure curled his lips:

"What is it?"

Bao Yue fell silent again.

Xiao Luan did not press.

"Rest first. I'm returning to the Upper Office. I'll be back soon."

Bao Yue glanced at her father, hesitated, then nodded.

The Minister Office operated on a duty roster. Xiao Luan was on duty today; by custom, he would finish morning duties and leave the palace by dusk. But with the Jingzhou rebellion, affairs were urgent, forcing him to stay overnight. Moreover, vacations were suspended; all Eight Seats convened daily at court. Even if he could leave, he'd have to return at dawn tomorrow—highly inconvenient. Thus, he had not returned home for several days.

Just now, Xiao Luan had been working in the Upper Office when he received word to return to the Lower Office to handle Shen Qu Qu Yuan's matter. Now, returning to the Upper Office, he first stamped the three completed Yellow Cases (all important documents—merit evaluations, demotions, enfeoffments, disputed rulings—were written on yellow paper, hence "Yellow Cases") with red seals (also called Zhu Fu), signed them, then handed them to the Capital Secretary (a mid-level official overseeing document review and case supervision) for verification and recording; after completion, they were forwarded to Xiao Luan for his horizontal mark (indicating he had reviewed them).

He then selected four of the seven pending matters for resolution: First, Liu Liu Daoji, the dianqian of Prince Prince Prince Xiyang, exploited the prince's youth by privately conscripting fifty officials from Fuzhou to serve his personal needs, embezzling public boats and equipment for resale, and accumulating a total of one million cash in bribes—punishable by death. Shen Ruan Xian, as Chief Secretary, failed to report this; he shall be dismissed from office.

Second, on the sixth day of the fourth month, lightning struck the pagoda of Baolin Temple in Shanyin County, Kuaiji. The monk Fa Zhi, holding his alms bowl to protect the pagoda, chanted, "The moonlight shall rise; the sacred bowl shall descend." The pagoda cracked in four places, yet the Buddha statue and its windows remained unharmed. He then proclaimed himself the reincarnation of the Moonlight Boy, entrusted by the Buddha, and received offerings from all directions. His followers surged. Shanyin and Shangyu counties followed suit, gathering thousands; County Magistrate Zhou Longpan became his disciple.

Xiao Luan ordered Kuaiji Commandery to direct Shanyin County to assist Baolin Temple in repairing the pagoda and expanding the temple, then ordered the county to spend thirty million cash to provide Fa Zhi with robes, land, and housing. Simultaneously, he directed the Monastic Bureau to bring this monk to the capital and have him preach for three months at Jiankang's Lotus Temple.

As for Fa Zhi, after his preaching, he was to be permanently retained in the capital under the pretext of "profound Buddhist wisdom," forbidden to return. Zhou Longpan was dismissed from office and reduced to commoner status for illegally opening the county treasury and arbitrarily levying taxes and corvée; the rising public resentment against Buddhism in Shanyin would emerge months later.

Third, Zhang Chong, acting Inspector of Qing and Ji Provinces (i. e., temporarily filling the post without formal appointment) and General Who Assists the State, strongly argued that the Northern Barbarians' Tan Commandery was weak and proposed establishing a garrison at Zha Kou, launching an attack on Jianling, promising certain victory. (See previous diagram.)

From Tan Tan Qixiang's "Historical Atlas of China," Volume Four: this map depicts the fourth year of Jianwu, seven years later. At present, Qing and Ji's territory was not this large, but the relative positions are

(Continuing from the previous diagram: similar enough; just grasp the general layout. Zha Kou is where I drew the blue line; Jianling is not marked in Mr. Tan's map—my red mark is its location.)

He also submitted a strategy to recover Qing and Xu provinces, requesting funds and grain to recruit troops himself, with fervent rhetoric.

Xiao Luan recommended permitting the establishment of the Zha Kou garrison but strictly forbade any offensive action. Recruitment of troops was denied. Instead, he ordered the Jiao City garrison relocated to Tong County under Zhang Chong's command. He granted Jiao City's commander, Du Senghu, authority to submit secret reports, and issued a secret imperial edict (or Tai Fu or Zhao Shu) praising Zhang Chong, postponing his formal appointment by two or three months.

Fourth, Imperial Student Qu Qu Yuan Gu submitted forty-eight memorials on state governance. Xiao Luan annotated "No merit" on three words, but approved only the clause "Imperial Students of exceptional talent may be examined as Outstanding Candidates and appointed without regard to tenure," forwarding it to the Three Dukes' Office and the Ministry of Personnel for deliberation.

These four drafted decisions were sent to the Left Minister and the Minister of Minister; the remaining three would be presented to the Eight Seats for public deliberation tomorrow.

After completing his instructions, Xiao Luan returned to the Lower Minister Office. As he entered the Pavilion Walk, the Capital Secretary rushed up, breathless. Xiao Luan listened a moment, then interrupted:

"This is state business. Say no more."

The Capital Secretary pleaded:

"This is the Crown Prince—"

"I will speak to the Eastern Palace myself."

Xiao Luan waved him off and walked away, leaving the Capital Secretary with a furrowed brow...

Lanterns glowed faintly, scattered like stars across the ground.

Supper time arrived, but Bao Yue did not lift her chopsticks; she waited for Xiao Luan. In truth, father and daughter had not dined together in a long time.

Xiao Luan, seeing this, was surprised, and murmured again, "Rare indeed." Noticing that beside her usual one meat, one vegetable, one soup, her table now held an additional wine flask, he ordered the kitchen to add four more dishes. Bao Yue said, "No need," but Xiao Luan ignored her.

Xiao Luan's meals were always simple. When returning to the Marquis's mansion, he might eat more lavishly, but when dining alone, he always ate plain fare. In the Lower Office, he ate only "work meals." So when the kitchen heard the Marquis had ordered four expensive dishes, they were startled; one dish, "Red Ming Fragrant Jerky," the cook could not make. "Tiao Wan Zhi" could be made, but there was no lamb. The steward hurried to River River Jiang Jiao's private residence to borrow a chef and lamb, resolving the matter.

Father and daughter ate in silence, neither speaking. Such a scene would usually seem dull or eerie—but for this father and daughter, it felt perfectly natural. The only difference was that Bao Yue poured and drank for herself, eating little, yet finishing three cups.

Xiao Luan frowned:

"Drinking cold wine again?"

Bao Yue murmured, "No," but kept pouring another cup.

"Take the wine away," Xiao Luan ordered his attendants directly.

Bao Yue gripped the wine flask, her eyes flashing resistance; then, as if recalling something, her resistance turned to restraint. Her fingers slowly released the flask, offering no further objection.

Xiao Luan smiled silently:

"Rare indeed."

And resumed eating.

Xiao Luan ate calmly; Bao Yue was distracted, holding back again and again, until finally she could not hold back:

"Won't Father ask about today's matter?"

Xiao Luan set down his bowl, put down his chopsticks, and looked at his daughter:

"You've truly improved. Single-handedly, you stirred the Censorate to upheaval—what a grand show—"

He smiled then:

"But you're not foolish. You came here. I thought I wouldn't see you enter the Minister Office until I retired."

Bao Yue's expression remained unchanged:

"Disturbing Father and causing friction with the Censorate is my fault. I offer three trading posts in Guangzhou as a gift to Father."

(Guangzhou was the Southern Dynasty's most vital foreign trade port, connecting the South China Sea nations with inland regions; ships from Guangzhou reached all coastal ports of the Southern Dynasty, most frequently Min and Zhejiang. Trading posts were commercial agencies; Bao Yue had business in Guangzhou, hence her remark to Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Sima Sima Qian Sima Qian Ruoer: "Such a large one is rare—it must be from the South Seas" (Chapter 383), her gift to Wang Yang: "South Sea Chi Yue gold ring" (Chapter 329), and her guesses about Wang Yang's song titles mostly referencing South Asian and Southeast Asian names—because of this.)

Bao Yue's fortune came from her mother; these three trading posts alone yielded an annual income of around 2.8 million cash. If sold, their total value exceeded thirty million. Even if Bao Yue were wealthy, she would never give such a lavish gift.

Xiao Luan showed neither curiosity about Bao Yue's intent nor displeasure at her distance; he merely pointed at her:

"You've added another crime: bribing a high official."

Bao Yue lowered her eyes:

"It is not bribery—it is my filial offering."

Xiao Luan gave a faint, mocking smile—whether mocking his daughter or himself, it was unclear.

He did not pursue the "filial offering" remark, but asked:

"Do you know where the danger lies in today's matter with Shen Qu Qu Yuan?"

Bao Yue thought a moment, then said:

"Shen Qu Qu Yuan's younger brother, Shen Chong, is aligned with Prince Prince Prince Luling. Perhaps Shen Qu Qu Yuan is acting on his brother's orders—or perhaps he has secretly defected to Prince Prince Prince Luling and is directly carrying out his will—"

Xiao Luan shook his head:

"The danger is not there. The danger is—who made the accusation. Who reported to Shen Qu Qu Yuan that you were communicating with that young eunuch?"

Bao Yue froze.

Xiao Luan continued:

"And what was his purpose? To uphold the law? To hold a grudge against the Marquis's household? To capture you and strike at me? To strike at the Crown Prince? Or—does he intend to incite conflict between the Minister Office and the Censorate?"

——————

Notes: ① "Nan Shi·Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Jiqing Biography": "Later, while on duty at night, he wore a short loincloth, drank wine with disciples on the Pavilion Walk, shouting drunkenly, and was reported by officials... He once stripped naked, drank drunkenly on the Pavilion, and urinated, soaking the clerks below, and was impeached by the Southern Censorate..." (The Pavilion Walk was elevated; this man, drunk, shouted from above and urinated down, drenching those below.)

② "Book of Southern Qi·Biographies of Good Governance": "In the eighth year of Yongming, Liu Liu Daoji, the dianqian of Prince Prince Prince Xiyang, conscripted fifty officials from Fuzhou for personal service, forced the prince's attendants into labor, and embezzled public boats and equipment, accumulating one million cash in illicit gains, and was reported by officials."

③ "Nan Qi Shu·Five Phases Chronicle": "On the sixth day of the fourth month of Yongming eighth year, lightning struck, shattering the stupa of Baolin Temple in Shanyin County, Kuaiji; fire burned the tower, yet the Buddha statue and its windows remained unharmed."

④ "Nan Qi Shu·Emperor Wu's Annals": "On the day Guisi, Zhang Chong, acting Inspector of Qing and Ji Provinces, was appointed Inspector of Qing and Ji Provinces."