Chapter 405

The Emperor tossed the essay back at him and said, "Put in a little effort—someone even wrote the essay for you; it's just adaptation, how hard can it be?"

The Emperor snatched a blank sheet of paper, picked up his brush, and directly rewrote the first half for him, then handed it over casually: "Use it like this. Take it. Figure out the rest yourself."

Prince Cheng took it and honestly set about pondering the half-completed essay.

The Emperor shook his head; when he remembered the matter again in the afternoon, he asked Niu Yu beside him, "Where's Prince Cheng? How's his assignment coming?"

Niu Yu smiled, "Prince Cheng just left the Grand Tutor's quarters—he doesn't look scolded; the essay must be well done."

"Did he write it himself?" The Emperor shook his head and chuckled, "It's just adaptation—the food's been spoon-fed to his mouth; he shouldn't be unable to open it and eat."

The Emperor twisted his neck, and Niu Yu reminded him, "Your Majesty has sat too long—you should step out for a walk. There aren't many memorials left; you can finish them before dinner."

The Emperor glanced at the pile of memorials on his left, felt his mind restless, and no longer wished to work—he rose and said, "Fine, let's take a walk."

Niu Yu was about to assist him out the door when the Emperor suddenly asked, "Where's Mr. Wang?"

Niu Yu's hand paused briefly as he reached for the cloak, then replied, "Someone secretly reported that Prefect Chen Shi of Changzhou was corrupt, accepting massive bribes and oppressing the people. Mr. Wang has gone to the Southern Capital Security Bureau—he likely intends to take over this case from the Censorate to ease Your Majesty's burdens."

The Emperor: "Changzhou? Two days ago, the Censorate reported a shipwreck there, killing several people?"

"Yes. An imperial censor impeached Chen Shi's son and those who were bribed. The case is about to be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review, to be jointly investigated by the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review."

The Emperor grew curious: "Such cases are best left to the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review—why is Mr. Wang interested in this one?"

Niu Yu draped the cloak over the Emperor's shoulders and whispered, "Perhaps because of Yang Ge's son, Yang Ji. It's said the two imperial censors from Nanzhili submitted their memorials under Yang Ji's direction."

The Emperor glanced at Niu Yu, pulled on the cloak, and stepped out.

Yin Song was meditating atop Wangxing Tower—its elevated position offered broad views and dense spiritual energy; even when not stargazing, he preferred to meditate here.

The Emperor shared his fondness for Wangxing Tower.

Since he turned fourteen, he had loved climbing high to gaze afar; in Jingcheng, there were two such high points.

One was Wangxing Tower inside the palace; the other was the Observing Star Terrace beside the Imperial City.

Hearing the familiar footsteps behind him, Yin Song opened his eyes and sighed inwardly—he'd been found again.

As the Emperor stepped onto the final stair, Yin Song rose from the ground, turned sideways, lowered his head, and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty."

"Rise." The Emperor walked to the tower's edge, looked down upon the entire palace, and exhaled contentedly, "This place is truly comfortable."

Yin Song smiled and bowed slightly.

The Emperor turned to look at him, his gaze sweeping over the mat on the ground, and asked, "Yin Qing, how high is your cultivation?"

Yin Song replied, "Moderate—far below my junior sister in the sect."

"Huh? You're her senior—you've trained longer. How can she surpass you?"

Yin Song explained gently, "Some are geniuses—by eleven or twelve, they've devoured countless texts and achieved much; yet the vast majority of people, at eleven or twelve, are still learning their first characters, and passing the entry-level civil exam is already impressive."

"I am one of the vast majority; my junior sister is that genius."

The Emperor burst into laughter, proudly saying, "True enough—Great Ming's vast lands and fertile talents naturally produce many young prodigies."

The Emperor asked casually, "How old is your junior sister?"

Yin Song replied, "She was born in the ninth year of Xuande."

The Emperor was genuinely startled: "So young? Her skill surpasses yours?"

Yin Song nodded with a smile.

The Emperor loved geniuses—especially young ones—and immediately grew restless, wanting to leave the palace.

Niu Yu, sensing his thoughts, stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, the second day of the second lunar month is near—the Ministry of Rites has already submitted a memorial urging the plowing ceremony. The Grand Secretaries are watching."

The Emperor suppressed his restlessness and asked Yin Song, "I recall you're from Sanqing Temple on Mount Sanqing—how long does it take to travel from Jingcheng to Mount Sanqing?"

Yin Song replied, "Not far—five days by horse, seven by carriage; on foot, it depends on the traveler's pace…"

The Emperor waved his hand hastily, "I understand."

Yin Song smiled, "Your Majesty seems restless today—why not walk to the Observing Star Terrace in the Imperial City? From there, you can see the entire Inner City; a breath of wind may calm your mind."

The Emperor was still a boy, at an age for play; as Emperor, he could never bear to hear "no." So when Yin Song suggested it, he immediately agreed, leaving Niu Yu with a mouthful of words stuck in his chest.

The Emperor also felt Niu Yu's presence was inappropriate, so he told him, "Have Cao Jixiang accompany me. Return to the Directorate of Ceremonial and organize all the memorials."

Niu Yu swiftly glanced at Yin Song, then reluctantly acquiesced.

He felt Yin Song seemed odd today, but wasn't certain—sometimes, Yin Song did indeed attend to the Emperor's mood and eased his burdens.

Niu Yu suppressed his feeling, bowed, and withdrew.

By the time the Emperor and Yin Song reached the bottom of the tower, guards and the eunuch Cao Jixiang were already waiting.

They helped the Emperor mount his horse and headed straight for the palace gate.

Beyond the palace gate lay the Imperial City, where the Grand Secretariat and Six Ministries were located.

The main gate of the Imperial City was what commoners called the "palace gate."

The Emperor often came here, so no one dared to dissuade or block him.

The Emperor reached the Observing Star Terrace beside the Imperial City without hindrance and ascended with Yin Song. As soon as he stepped onto the terrace, he exhaled deeply and smiled, "The air here is indeed better than on Wangxing Tower."

From here, one could see the streets, people, and vendors of the Inner City.

The Emperor watched silently, then after a while pointed to a spot and asked Yin Song, "Yin Qing, what is that?"

Yin Song looked, studied it carefully, then said, "It's probably a waterwheel."

He explained, "Some households have no wells—they either fetch water themselves or buy it. I see it's heading toward Haiyan Hutong, where many officials live. To preserve face, they won't fetch water themselves or send family members, so those without wells mostly buy water."

The Emperor asked curiously, "Does your household have a well?"

Yin Song: "I was fortunate—my rented house happens to have one."

He added with a smile, "Even if it didn't, I wouldn't care about losing face—there's a well right at the hutong entrance. When I have free time, I can fetch water myself; if I'm busy, I can send my junior sister. She's currently in the capital anyway, so it saves me considerable trouble."

The Emperor beamed, "Your junior sister is in the capital now?"

Yin Song nodded with a smile, "Yes, she came to visit me."

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The Emperor turned around at once. "Let's go, take me to see her. Yin Qing's cultivation is already impressive—I want to see what someone even more capable than you looks like."

Yin Song readily agreed.

Cao Jixiang froze for a moment, then hurried after them.

The captain of the guards, however, tried to dissuade him. "Your Majesty, we haven't prepared in advance. If you leave the palace and something happens…"

The Emperor didn't care. "It's not my first time leaving the palace, and besides, we're not going far—just to Yin Qing's home. Go get the horses ready. We'll go and come back quick, and still make it in time for a bowl of lamb soup at the lamb soup place outside the palace gate."

Cao Jixiang didn't try to dissuade him at all.

He knew perfectly well what this master was like—one could only stroke him with the fur, for if you went against his wishes even a little, he'd be displeased.

And when he was displeased, in the end it was them, the ones attending him at his side, who suffered for it.

Besides, for the Emperor of Great Ming, leaving the palace really wasn't any big matter.

What year did the young Emperor not slip out of the palace a few times?

Of course, he never went far—just wandered around within the city.

A crowd clustered around the Emperor as he descended the Star-Gazing Terrace.

Leaving the city from the Star-Gazing Terrace was much closer—less than three hundred paces north and they were at the city gate.

They mounted their horses directly, but had only reached the city gate when they ran head-on into Yang Shiqi, who was riding in a sedan chair.

Yin Song saw Yang Shiqi's sedan chair, sighed inwardly, and knew they wouldn't be going out today.

It seemed today's divination was quite accurate—eight chances out of ten, yet it all fell apart at the last moment.

Sigh—he should have waited until he was more certain before speaking up.

Yin Song was reviewing the situation in his mind, but his movements didn't slow at all as he dismounted behind the Emperor.

Yang Shiqi stepped out of his sedan chair as well, and lifting his robes toward the Emperor, was about to kneel and pay his respects.

The Emperor knew he wouldn't be leaving the palace today, and was displeased. He waited for Yang Shiqi to kneel, let him kowtow once, and only then had someone help him up.

The young Emperor asked with a pleasant expression, "Grand Secretary, why have you come to the palace at this hour?"

Yang Shiqi also replied with a pleasant expression, "This old minister heard that Wang Zhi's investigation southward into the matter of the miners' rebellion has yielded results, so I came to the palace to request an audience with Your Majesty."

Yang Shiqi acted as though he couldn't see the Emperor dressed for going out, and said, "It concerns the safety of Jiangnan, and spring plowing is imminent, so I came in some haste. Has Your Majesty seen the memorial?"

No.

The Emperor had not yet reviewed that memorial.

The matter was indeed important.

The Emperor muttered to himself—why had Jiangnan had so many incidents these past two years? First collusion with Japanese pirates to smuggle sabers, then a treasure map of the Japanese pirates; miners revolting, and now a Prefect of Changzhou demanding bribes and embezzling had cropped up.

At this moment, the Emperor transferred all his anger onto the Prefect of Changzhou, Chen Shi. Turning back toward the palace with Yang Shiqi, he asked, "I have heard this matter was looked after by Yang Ji. Does the Grand Secretary know the details?"

Yang Shiqi truly didn't know, but he showed a faint smile and said, "Although I am unaware of this matter, Yang Ji has always been public-spirited and righteous, with a chivalrous heart. Perhaps he heard of this unlawful business, could not bear to see people suffer, and so gave it some attention."

Yang Shiqi said, "I will have the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review investigate thoroughly, and certainly get to the bottom of this matter."

The Emperor nodded. "Have the Southern Garrison Office assist in the investigation."

Yang Shiqi frowned slightly—he was not too keen on letting the Brocaded Guards get involved. Once they meddled, it would be very hard to keep things fair.

The guilty would become guilty of greater crimes, and the innocent might also become guilty.

But the Emperor had already spoken, and he had just intercepted the man; for the moment, it wouldn't do to object.

Yin Song had long since quietly stepped aside, watching them leave.

From beginning to end, Yang Shiqi hadn't noticed him.

Yin Song didn't know whether to count this as a good thing or a bad one.

He sighed—it seemed his junior sister would have to wait a while longer.

(End of chapter)