Chapter 462: Side Story 13: Zhao Jiu's Incognito Inspection — Cai You Ming Tian

Side Story 13: Zhao Jiu's Incognito Inspection — Cai You Ming Tian

It was the hour of Si on the third day of the eighth month in the third year of Jianyan. The sun had just risen, and the market was bustling with people coming and going. Then a group of five people appeared, dressed in splendid clothes, walking at the front. Not far behind them, figures flickered, as if someone was secretly following.

The leader, dressed in a white robe, looked left and right as if setting foot in the streets of Dongjing for the first time. Beside the man in white was one in a blue robe, dressed as a scholar; another in black, with a martial air about him; the remaining two wore red robes, with thick arms and steady steps, their eyes alert—clearly trained fighters, walking two paces behind.

The man in white said to the one in black, "Zhang Ai... Zhang, the gallant, is this your first time in the capital's streets?" The man in black suppressed his urge to clasp his hands and replied, "It is indeed my first time here. I never imagined the streets of Dongjing could be so prosperous." Needless to say, the man in black was Zhang Rong, the great chief of Liangshan Marsh, who had come to the capital to "report on his duties." The man in white was naturally our Zhao Jiu, His Majesty. The reason he wore white was, of course, because someone had the crooked idea of "the white dragon in fish's clothing" stuck in his head. The remaining three were the scholar in blue, Academician Lin, and the two in red, Liu Yan and Qu Duan.

Why were these five men of high rank and great power mingling in the market in such disguise? It was because there was no court session that day, and Zhao Jiu was bored staying in the palace. On top of that, Lady Pan kept sending people to invite His Majesty to taste some ice cream. While Zhao Jiu was torn between humanity and reason, he remembered that Zhang Rong had been staying at the Xiangguo Temple for quite some time. He quickly took his attendants and, using the excuse of "investigating customs, observing the people's labor, winning over military officials, and diligently attending to state affairs," went out incognito.

Once outside the palace, Academician Lin was a taciturn man; unless asked directly, he wouldn't say a word. And His Majesty, who should have been the most familiar with Dongjing and acted as a guide, seemed like a newcomer, completely unable to explain the various famous places. Others could only assume that His Majesty had been diligent in his studies as a youth and had no time for idle wandering. Fortunately, Zhang Rong was also a rough and simple man, with no interest in Dongjing's famous sights, only wanting to go where it was lively. So the group ended up in the market.

Zhao Jiu and Zhang Rong chatted amid the hawkers' cries, occasionally drawn by some novel trinket by the roadside. But given their status and standing, they inevitably ended up discussing recent court affairs, such as the upcoming palace examination.

They were just talking about the folk custom of "catching a son-in-law by the list" when they saw a crowd gathered in a circle ahead. Outside the circle were several jujubes and some crushed crispy pears. Inside the circle came the sound of banging and clattering, followed suddenly by a miserable scream, which drew a gasp from the crowd.

The group immediately stopped. Liu Yan and Qu Duan stepped forward two paces, flanking Zhao Jiu protectively. Zhang Rong also placed his hand on his waist. Seeing that the commotion ahead had died down, Zhao Jiu pursed his lips. Liu Yan understood and immediately went to investigate. After a short while, Liu Yan returned, slightly nodding in salute: "Guan... Young Master Guan, I've found out. Ahead, there's a jujube seller and a pear seller. The pear seller saw the jujubes selling well and, out of envy, told a customer that eating jujubes is bad for the teeth, and they'd be better off with some crisp pears to quench their thirst. The jujube seller took offense and started fighting with him. In the scuffle, a push sent the pear seller's head hitting the ground. He's already passed out, and it's unknown if he's alive or dead."

Everyone stared at Zhao Jiu, waiting for his decision. But Zhao Jiu just looked at the crushed pears on the ground, their juice flowing out, lost in thought. After a moment, Zhao Jiu, his interest waning, told the group to turn back to the palace. Zhang Rong seemed about to speak but held back. The other three said nothing either. After all, His Majesty had finally managed to get out for some relaxation, only to run into this kind of trouble. And given their identities, they couldn't expose themselves carelessly. If they rashly went up to ask, who knew what might go wrong? At this point, leaving was the best course.

Turning the corner, everyone could see His Majesty was in low spirits and dared not speak. When they reached a stationery stall, Zhao Jiu suddenly picked up a brush and wrote a note. He handed it to Liu Yan, let out a breath, and said, "Have someone buy some pears, rock sugar, and wolfberries, and prepare them according to the method on this note." Liu Yan took the note, paid for the brush and ink, and went to find the followers behind to arrange things. The rest were baffled, but Zhang Rong was easygoing, and the others had more or less seen His Majesty's oddities before, so they didn't ask. Fortunately, everyone could see that His Majesty's mood had improved considerably, and even Academician Lin rarely took the initiative to liven up the atmosphere.

The group chatted and laughed as they walked. Not far ahead, they encountered two men dressed as peddlers, pushing a large cart of rotten woodberries (kiwifruit). They were hawking them with a tearful voice, but the woodberries were so rotten that no one was interested. Academician Lin and the other three paid no attention and were about to continue on, but Zhao Jiu quickened his pace, stopped the two peddlers, and struck up a conversation with them under the pretext of asking the price. The four hurried to catch up, but Zhao Jiu waved them to stop.

Zhao Jiu talked with the two for a long time. The hour gradually reached noon, and the sun rose higher. Qu Duan and Zhang Rong grew increasingly impatient. When Zhao Jiu ordered a pot of tea by the roadside and continued talking with the two while drinking, Liu Yan also became impatient. But Academician Lin felt a slight stir in his heart.

After a while longer, as the sun climbed high, the three finally finished their discussion. Before parting, Zhao Jiu even removed an ornament from his person and gave it to the two peddlers. The peddlers naturally expressed a thousand thanks and even paid for the tea before pushing their cart away.

The remaining four waited in the sun for a long time. Academician Lin and Liu Yan, having been with His Majesty for a long time, had calmed down after their initial impatience. In contrast, Zhang Rong and Qu Duan grew increasingly indignant.

When Zhao Jiu signaled and the four followed, Qu Duan managed to hold back and not speak. But Zhang Rong, feeling that His Majesty was a man of honor, and seeing no one around, couldn't help saying, "Guan... Young Master Guan, if you were an ordinary person, it would be fine to meddle in such matters. But you... you have a future ahead of you. Just now, two men were fighting by the roadside, even risking a murder charge, and you paid them no mind. Yet when you saw two peddlers selling rotten woodberries, why did you talk with them for so long? Truly... ai!"

Hearing Zhang Rong's complaint, and not understanding His Majesty's mysterious actions, Liu Yan and Qu Duan silently gave Zhang Rong a thumbs-up in their hearts. Zhao Jiu was taken aback, then smiled slightly, about to explain. Zhang Rong then heard his "backer," Academician Lin, say, "Bing Ji asked about the ox."

Hearing this half-finished remark with no follow-up, Zhang Rong grew even more displeased. Zhao Jiu and Liu Yan also began to look confused. But Qu Duan—the second most learned person present—understood.

Qu Duan didn't dare look directly at His Majesty, but seeing the blank looks on the two rough men, Zhang Rong and Liu Yan, he felt a surge of superiority.

So he spoke eloquently: "Bing Ji was the Chancellor under Emperor Xuan of Han. One morning in the fourth or fifth month, Bing Ji went out with his servant. Ahead, they saw a man killed by the roadside. Bing Ji signaled the servant to take a detour. A little later, they saw a man leading an ox, and the ox was sweating. Bing Ji went up and talked with the ox-driver for a long time, asking why the ox was sweating—had it been working hard? Afterwards, the servant asked Bing Ji why he cared about an ox sweating but ignored a murder case—wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

Bing Ji replied, 'The major matters you speak of are for the local prefect and constables to investigate. Such things don't require me, the Chancellor, to handle personally. On the other hand, the minor matter of the ox sweating, which you see, concerns the nation's spring plowing and the food supply for countless people.'

'It was morning, and the sun had not yet risen. If the ox was sweating without having worked hard, it meant the climate was abnormal and the temperature too high. The people might face a drought this year. How could I not ask about it?'"

After Qu Duan finished his smug explanation, he didn't dare look at His Majesty but glanced around. He saw Academician Lin nodding slightly, while Zhang Rong and Liu Yan were still in a daze.

Zhao Jiu was the first to react. He coughed to draw everyone's attention and said, "Exactly. Just now, the two peddlers were fighting. With witnesses and evidence at hand, it only required the constables to judge the case and a physician to save the man. We couldn't have helped by stepping in. But the peddlers selling rotten woodberries clearly had something special going on. Their clothing didn't suggest they were reduced to selling rotten woodberries. So either they were delayed for a long time on their way into the city, or someone blocked them from selling, causing even the woodberries, which can be kept for half a month, to rot. And obstructed roads or malicious interference with commerce are major issues concerning public order, tax revenue, and the stability of people's hearts. How could I not get involved?"

After hearing this, Academician Lin, Liu Yan, and Qu Duan, while admiring His Majesty's ability to see the big from the small, couldn't help but feel a secret awe. Zhang Rong, however, disregarding the occasion, immediately knelt down and begged forgiveness: "I, Old Zhang, am a rough man. I used to think the court was unjust and that the ministers were all full of shit. Just now, I even maliciously guessed at the Young Master's thoughts. Now I know that the Young Master's thinking is different from us rough men, and his reasoning is greater. For this, I beg the Young Master to punish me."

After hearing this, Zhao Jiu quickly helped Zhang Rong up and said, "Zhang, the gallant, you are outspoken. What crime is there? I and many around me have also misunderstood you. So from now on, we need to understand each other and tolerate each other for the sake of the nation." Zhang Rong stood up and said, "The Young Master need not say more. I understand. From now on, I will tell my men about the Young Master's righteousness. At court discussions, I will also earnestly explain the situation in Shandong, so that those around the Young Master can understand me."

It was a scene of harmonious ruler-minister relations. But Zhang Rong let out a long sigh, drawing everyone's attention, and said, "I've suffered from a lack of learning. I can't see many things as clearly as the Young Master and you gentlemen. I've decided: from now on, my sons will all study, and my daughters will marry learned men."

Academician Lin, hearing this, was about to say something, but considering the occasion, decided to speak later. Qu Duan, upon hearing Zhang Rong's praise, began to have other thoughts. He secretly mused that his own learning was probably only slightly inferior to someone like Academician Lin, and far superior to most literati. As for military men like Zhang Rong and Liu Yan, he disdained to compare himself with them.

After hearing Zhang Rong's words, Zhao Jiu, of course, didn't realize that those around him were having their own private thoughts. Instead, he said, "The realm is not yet settled. Studying is certainly good, but military preparedness must not be neglected either. Secretary Lin, when you go back, pass a note to the other secretaries. In the coming days, besides allowing goods through all gates, designate a specific city gate for merchants to pass through. Don't let the influx of examination candidates delay commerce. If they tighten things here, the slick constables below will start squeezing the common people. A man selling some woodberries, without giving bribes, was held up for half a month—how outrageous!" Academician Lin quickly acknowledged.

Then, on the way, everyone changed into their court robes and accompanied Zhao Jiu back to the palace. They waited in the hall. After Zhao Jiu changed back into His Majesty's attire, he said to Lan Yaban, "I and the ministers have not yet eaten. Prepare some food." Lan Yaban acknowledged and went to arrange it. Academician Lin and the other two quickly thanked His Majesty. Zhang Rong also caught on and hastily performed the ritual. After a short while, Lan Yaban returned and said, "Your Majesty, the food will be ready shortly. Also, the note sent back by Controller Liu—the 'rock sugar pear soup' written on it has already been prepared. Would Your Majesty like to taste it first?"

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu perked up slightly and said, "Bring it up immediately. Share some with the ministers as well." The others then remembered the note His Majesty had written at the stationery stall. They couldn't help but feel expectant. After all, anything that could make His Majesty, who had tasted all the delicacies of land and sea, yearn for it must be a rare delicacy.

When the attendants brought the "rock sugar pear soup" to each person's table, the few were parched. Smelling the faint fragrance from the bowls, they were already drooling. But constrained by etiquette, they didn't dare start first. Seeing this, Zhao Jiu took the lead without hesitation, picked up his spoon, and began to drink. The others followed suit and began to taste it. Just as they were about to praise it, they saw Zhao Jiu sitting upright with his eyes tightly shut, saying nothing. Startled, everyone quickly put down their spoons and stood up. Lan Yaban even knelt down directly. Zhang Rong nearly kicked over his table, shouting, "This is a den of thieves!"

After a long while, Zhao Jiu opened his eyes. Qu Duan, sharp-eyed, noticed that His Majesty's eye sockets were red, as if he was holding back tears, not letting them fall.

After another moment, Zhao Jiu said slowly, "Ministers, no need for ceremony. I have alarmed you. This thing is called rock sugar pear soup. It is my favorite drink. I... in the past... when I was young, I occasionally had a fever, and no medicine worked. My mother personally made me rock sugar pear soup. After drinking it, my fever subsided, and I recovered. I haven't had this drink in a long time. Drinking it today, I didn't expect that after so long, the taste is still the same. But my mother is no longer by my side!"

Everyone again begged forgiveness. Zhang Rong, moved by what he heard, said, "Since Your Majesty misses the Empress Dowager, why not bring her here? Although the road is far, still..." At this point, Zhang Rong noticed a sudden silence around him and realized that the mother His Majesty spoke of was not Empress Dowager Meng in the southeast. He quickly shut his mouth.

Zhao Jiu sighed, "I hope I can see my mother again. My heart is troubled. I want to be alone for a while. After you ministers have eaten, you may leave. What happened today must not be spoken of outside." With that, he rose and left. Everyone acknowledged. Those who considered themselves clever, like Lan Yaban, guessed that His Majesty wasn't thinking of Empress Dowager Meng at all, but of his "birth mother," Empress Dowager Wei, far away in the northern lands. Only...

Turning into the rear hall, Zhao Jiu clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face, murmuring, "Mother, I miss you. I miss the rock sugar pear juice you made for me with your own hands!"