The capital of Que was lush with greenery, and both sides of the open space in Mingli Hall were lined with potted plants. Eunuchs carried basins filled with ice and set them in the four corners of the hall to dispel the heat. The court officials waiting under the eaves for summons were sweating in the swelter, yet could not lose their decorum, and could only endure as their robes were soaked through.
The bamboo curtain of Mingli Hall was lifted. Feng Quan stepped out holding a fly-whisk, bowed to the officials, and said softly, “The scorching heat is hard to bear. Your Excellencies have labored hard on your duties. His Highness has specially instructed this servant to prepare mung bean soup.”
The young eunuchs quickly served the soup, having already prepared towels and paper flowers. Feng Quan bowed again and withdrew back into Mingli Hall.
“His Highness shows consideration to us subordinates,” the officials from the provinces said while drinking the soup. “We are truly moved to tears of gratitude.”
The soup spoons lightly tapped against porcelain bowls. The Director said to Jiang Qingshan beside him, “Is Wanxiao still comfortable staying at the post station?”
Jiang Qingshan finished his soup and nodded slightly. He did not quite match the rumored decisiveness and vigor; his manner was slow and unhurried, as if he treated everything perfunctorily, not taking things too much to heart. After half a shichen, a eunuch called the names. Jiang Qingshan lifted his robe and entered, kneeling inside the hall to pay his respects.
“Your subject, Jiang Qingshan, Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, pays respects to Your Highness.”
Li Jian Ting said, “Wanxiao, rise. The weather is hot—you have been standing outside for long. I was just discussing Juexi’s administration with the Grand Secretary. In your memorial, you said that Yongcheng has had no rain for over a month, and the local granaries cannot supply enough grain. You wish to borrow grain from Huaizhou?”
“Last year the grain levied by the court was borne by Juexi. The granaries of the thirteen cities have already run dry,” Jiang Qingshan said without raising his head. “We did not expect to encounter a drought.”
Kong Qiu, standing at the side, said to Li Jian Ting, “Yongcheng is also a granary of the southwest. If the drought is severe, relying only on Wanxiao borrowing grain will likely not be enough. It still depends on the court allocating relief grain.”
The floral ornament on Li Jian Ting’s forehead was bright red. She pondered for a moment, then said, “In the Xian De years you offended local merchants for disaster relief, letting them block the yamen to make things difficult for you. This year you have negotiated in every way with Huaizhou for grain. It has not been easy. Yongcheng encountering disaster is no small matter, but do not be anxious. The Grand Secretary and I will quickly give you a plan. The grain will certainly be allocated.”
Jiang Qingshan had grown accustomed to evasive words after entering the capital. Neither the former Tianchen Emperor nor the Xian De Emperor had shown such decisiveness. Hearing Li Jian Ting speak so plainly, he could not help but become solemn. He kowtowed and said, “This subject knows that the court must also take care of the war in Qidong this year, and military provisions are the priority. Juexi is willing to use silk to offset the debt and exchange it with Huaizhou for grain.”
At this, Kong Qiu grew somewhat angry. “Official grain is publicly transferred—once Your Highness approves in vermilion, it can be carried out. Why does Tao Ming, Prefect of Huaizhou, dare to resist the decree? Huaizhou had a bumper harvest last year. According to the memorial Tao Ming submitted at the beginning of the year, he can provide this relief grain.”
“The edict was already issued a few days ago,” Li Jian Ting said. “Feng Quan, go outside and ask whether Tao Ming, Prefect of Huaizhou, has arrived. If he has, summon him to the hall to explain himself clearly.”
Before Feng Quan could step out, Fu Man hurried to the doorway and said, “Your Highness, a message has come from the post station. It says that Tao Ming, Prefect of Huaizhou, has fled with his entire family!”
Li Jian Ting was startled. “Where has he fled? The court summoned him here for discussion—why would he run?”
Fu Man lightly stamped his foot and said, “He has defected to Shen Zechuan of Zhongbo!”
A buzz of discussion immediately arose in the hall.
Chen Zhen frowned and said, “Borrowing grain is a common matter—why would he run? There must be a reason!”
“Your Highness does not know,” Fu Man said urgently in his thin voice. “The officials sent to summon him went to Huaizhou and opened the granaries, only to find that there was hardly any grain left—far from enough for relief. Tao Ming colluded with Shen Zechuan and had already sold all the grain to Cizhou. The moment he heard Juexi wanted to borrow grain, he was so frightened that he fled overnight!”
The hall was in an uproar. Cen Yu stood up and said, “This… how did the local censors say nothing!”
Huaizhou had no grain, Hezhou was empty, the eight great cities could not be relied upon—then what of Yongcheng? Juexi would have to tighten its belt and squeeze out grain from between its teeth!
The atmosphere in the hall dropped sharply. The ice basins in the four corners gave off a chill so cold that Kong Qiu’s back ached. He covered his mouth and nose, coughing for a while. After calming himself, he stood and bowed to Li Jian Ting, saying, “Disaster relief is the highest priority and must not be delayed. The salaries of the officials can be reduced as appropriate, starting with this subject. The people must not starve to death!”
The officials outside looked at one another, then knelt as well, echoing, “We are willing from the heart. We ask Your Highness to grant this.”
The cicadas in the trees had been stuck down by eunuchs. Li Jian Ting also stood. In that brief silence, she said with emotion, “Since you gentlemen are like this, how could I obstruct? Since it is for the people of Yongcheng, the palace should also reduce its expenditures accordingly. Wanxiao, you are the one who requested the grain—then you shall arrange the relief.”
Jiang Qingshan kowtowed in thanks.
At night, under gauze lanterns, chopsticks were set and food arranged in the courtyard. Only the mute servant attended at the side.
Xue Xiuzhuo, dressed in plain clothes, poured tea for Jiang Qingshan and said, “You have been wronged to stay at my residence.”
Jiang Qingshan took the tea and sighed. “Ever since I entered the capital, there have been countless social engagements. No delicacies of mountains and seas compare to the simple fare here.”
“A poor fate,” Xue Xiuzhuo set down the teapot and joked rarely. “Which regional commander is like you? You don’t even have a decent carriage when you go out.”
“I am truly poor; you are falsely poor,” Jiang Qingshan said. “But the two of us are birds of a feather, both reeking of poverty!”
The two clinked their cups and laughed.
“I think the Crown Prince is intelligent, measured in treating subordinates, decisive in handling matters, quite having the bearing of Lord Guangcheng,” Jiang Qingshan said, picking up his chopsticks to eat scallion-mixed tofu. “Just a bit overly reserved, speaks too maturely.”
“She has had a rough youth, naturally unlike ordinary girls.” Xue Xiuzhuo watched Jiang Qingshan eat. “From the letter you sent at the start of the year, Lady Liu is pregnant?”
Jiang Qingshan slowed his chewing, glanced at Xue Xiuzhuo, his smile fading slightly, and said, “The same as before.”
Xue Xiuzhuo did not continue asking.
Jiang Qingshan had a wife but no children. His wife was from the Liu clan of Baima Prefecture, not a particularly wealthy family, and the two had a good relationship, yet had long had no child. Lady Liu was in poor health. Her first pregnancy was in the fourth year of Xian De; at that time Jiang Qingshan was running about everywhere borrowing grain. Merchants coming to collect debts frightened Lady Liu, and after that miscarriage, she could no longer conceive.
“Why are you so dejected?” Jiang Qingshan set down his chopsticks. “If I am destined to have no children, then so be it. I will not force it.” As he spoke, he looked toward the flower bushes at the side, paused for a moment. “It is just that my mother presses urgently, inevitably treating Lady Liu somewhat… sigh.”
Madam Jiang was eager for a grandson and was quite harsh toward her daughter-in-law.
“My mother is old and strong-willed. Lady Liu serves at her side and suffers grievances. These years I have been busy with affairs of governance and neglected the household; in the end I have failed the vows I made to her.” Jiang Qingshan grew sorrowful when speaking of family matters. “At the start of the year my mother even brought over some distant niece to stay temporarily, yet she has not left to this day. Each time I return, I see Lady Liu standing under the eaves observing rules, and my mother still tries to match me with that woman…”
“If you are unwilling, you should refuse directly,” Xue Xiuzhuo refilled his tea. “Otherwise the old lady will think it feasible and hurt Lady Liu’s heart.”
Jiang Qingshan blocked Xue Xiuzhuo’s hand. “Let’s switch to wine.”
“I still have duties tomorrow morning.” Xue Xiuzhuo said this while glancing at the mute servant, signaling him to fetch wine.
“You live alone in this residence, empty and desolate,” Jiang Qingshan raised his arm and waved. “You should also find someone.”
“Han Cheng has only just been removed, and the land tax has not been fully investigated,” Xue Xiuzhuo took the wine and poured only for him. “To marry would only leave her alone in this empty house, wasting her youth. Why commit such a sin?”
“Official business is never finished,” Jiang Qingshan said. “Will you handle it until you are old, until you die?”
Xue Xiuzhuo actually nodded, then began speaking of official matters. “The drought in Yongcheng is not as severe as in the Xian De years, yet it has already left you at your wits’ end. If after July the rain still does not come, or if the other twelve cities also begin to suffer drought, then even if Que Capital reduces salaries, it will be useless—people in Juexi will still die.”
Jiang Qingshan sipped his wine. “The Grand Secretariat has the will but lacks the strength. If there truly were surplus grain, the Grand Secretary would not resort to this measure. I also want to ask you—are the eight cities truly empty?”
“They are empty. The grain confiscated from the Pan clan of Dancheng,” Xue Xiuzhuo lifted his hand and pointed to the side, “cannot even feed the people in this palace.”
“In the past we lacked money,” Jiang Qingshan shook his head. “Now we lack grain. If orders had been issued earlier to reorganize the six prefectures of Zhongbo and restore vast fertile fields, then Shen Zechuan would not have become a regional warlord, and the Great Zhou would not be in today’s predicament.”
Xue Xiuzhuo said slowly, “Now the most abundant granaries in the world are in Zhongbo. If after July the drought in Juexi worsens, I will have to consider buying grain from Shen Zechuan.”
“I fear it will be difficult,” Jiang Qingshan said. “Who would have thought Shen Ba could subdue the six prefectures? The battle of Duanzhou especially made him win the hearts of the people. This man bears grudges—he will not easily sell grain to you.”
Xue Xiuzhuo set the wine pot aside. “If he wishes to walk the world under the name of benevolence and righteousness, he cannot stand by and ignore the drought in Juexi.”
Jiang Qingshan was somewhat drunk, his steps unsteady.
“I see him so triumphant—he may implicate you in the future… you should be careful.”
Xue Xiuzhuo acknowledged.
Xue Da drank until his face was flushed. He patted his pouch and said, “Ah, I forgot to bring my money pouch when I left! Qingqing, put it on the tab!”
Ge Qingqing blew on the dice and said with a smile, “Why be polite with me, sir? It should be charged to my account. How was the fragrant tea I sent to your residence a few days ago? Recently goods from Qinzhou have also arrived. If there’s anything you fancy, just say the word.”
“No, no.” Though Xue Da said no, he still sat to the side and lit his pipe. “My residence has everything, not lacking these trifles. It’s just that lately the Ministry of Personnel will reassign court posts. From what the eunuchs in the palace say, there’s a lucrative position.”
Ge Qingqing shifted his leg and sat closer to Xue Da. “Then our lord is about to be promoted—congratulations, congratulations.”
“But the eunuchs in the palace all serve the Emperor and have seen much; ordinary things do not catch their eye,” Xue Da said, somewhat hesitant. “Do you have any sea goods here?”
“Yes, plenty. I’ll have Xiao Wu bring the catalog shortly for you to choose from. Whatever you pick, I’ll present it to you—don’t be polite!”
“Good brother!” Xue Da immediately laughed, pointing at Ge Qingqing. “If this position really comes through, I’ll definitely repay you double in the future.”
As Ge Qingqing tossed the dice, he casually tapped the low table at the side. The Jinyiwei disguised as servants nearby gave a slight nod, prepared everything for Xue Da, and even laid a layer of gold underneath.
Outside, the night deepened. Xue Da did not notice—he was already lost in pleasure.