Ge Qingqing rode under the cover of night to the steamed bun shop on the way to Zhao Zui Temple. He stood in front of the shop, flicked a few copper coins in his palm, and said, “Old sir, give me two buns.”
The old man running the bun shop had bad eyesight; one eye was blind. He slightly tilted his head, as if trying hard to hear what Ge Qingqing said. After Ge Qingqing finished speaking, he lifted the steamer cover, wrapped the last two buns in oil paper, and handed them over.
“Thanks.” Ge Qingqing said.
The old man’s voice was very hoarse. He said, “For an old customer, no money.”
Ge Qingqing’s motion of paying suddenly froze. He abruptly lifted his eyes and stared at the other man. The street lanterns had mostly gone out; only a half-dead remnant lamp not far away still hung there, casting the bun shop’s side shadow into a long slant.
When Ge Qingqing was in Que Du before, when rewarding colleagues he often came here to buy buns. It was not because the buns here were delicious, but because this place could directly reach Zhao Zui Temple. Now he had a short beard stubble, no longer as clean and refined as a few years ago. The biggest difference was his temperament—he already looked no different from an ordinary merchant. Yet this blind old man could still recognize who he was.
“Remember me?” Ge Qingqing asked casually.
The old man, holding the bun steamer basket, swayed as he moved, still a cripple. He stacked the baskets neatly, pulled out a water basin from under the table, bent down and threw the dirty bowls and chopsticks in, and said, “You came yesterday.”
Ge Qingqing took a bite of the bun and said, “You got the wrong person.”
The old man washed the dishes and did not answer again. Ge Qingqing stood there and finished the buns, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and walked while wiping. In the wind there was a faint powder scent, making the remaining lamp sway with a creaking sound. When Ge Qingqing’s figure entered the darkness, he turned back and tossed the copper coins in his palm over. The coins clinked as they fell onto the greasy table. He tucked the handkerchief back and left like that.
The old man washed the dishes alone. When it was almost dawn, he finally arranged the bowls and chopsticks neatly. A vegetable seller pushing a wheelbarrow nearby greeted him and shouted, “Old man Cheng, you’re opening so early?”
The old man removed the cloth towel from his shoulder and wiped sweat, saying, “Not doing it anymore.”
“Not doing it?” The vendor put down the cart and leaned on the table edge, asking, “Why stop doing it?”
The old man threw the towel onto the table, did not touch Ge Qingqing’s left money, and looked toward the end of the street: “Got other work.”
Li Jianming dozed off. The book in his hand slid onto his lap, and suddenly his shoulder sank. He immediately woke up, pushed away Fu Man’s hand, and shouted, “Presumptuous!”
Fu Man knelt holding a blanket, slapped himself, and said, “I disturbed Your Majesty’s rest, this servant deserves to be beaten! Deserves to be beaten!”
Li Jianming saw clearly it was Fu Man and slightly lifted his head, relieved.
After Fu Man finished hitting himself, he secretly glanced at Li Jianming and said, “This hall also has ice basins set up, it’s quite cool. If Your Majesty is tired, this servant will help you to the inner room to rest.”
Without waiting for Li Jianming to respond, he was about to stand and help.
“Kneel down!” Li Jianming gritted the words.
Fu Man quickly knelt properly, holding the blanket, and said aggrievedly, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger, this servant was just momentarily anxious, this servant cares for Your Majesty’s dragon body.”
When Li Jianming heard Fu Man’s voice, he thought of men. He wanted to take the book from his lap but found his hand shaking.
Fu Man kneeled forward and flattered, “Your Majesty must not get angry at yourself because of this servant, the dragon body is most important.”
Li Jianming steadied his thoughts, controlled his expression, and forced himself not to retreat. He tightened the book and his expression eased slightly, saying gently to Fu Man, “A nightmare pressed on me. I wasn’t fully awake just now and scared you. Get up.”
Fu Man saw Li Jianming’s expression was normal and finally relaxed, standing up and saying, “It’s cold here. Next time Your Majesty is tired, just call this servant.”
“Teacher will be coming soon,” Li Jianming said before Fu Man approached again, throwing the memorial aside, “Why aren’t you serving in the office courtyard?”
Fu Man, full of thoughts of promotion and wealth, did not notice Li Jianming’s movement, and bowed, “This servant came to report good news to Your Majesty!”
Li Jianming said, “The grain ledger from Xixuan arrived?”
“Not yet. The relay station says it is on the way, should arrive in one or two days.” Fu Man said, “This servant is here to tell Your Majesty that the Inner Treasury monthly accounts earned Your Majesty eighty thousand taels of silver.”
Li Jianming did not expect this. He said in surprise, “…Wasn’t the Inner Treasury steward newly appointed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, and it was this servant who recommended him,” Fu Man said proudly, “Former Ministry of Revenue official Master Xue Xiu Yi.”
The older brother of Xue Zhuo Ce. Li Jianming’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Speaking of Master Xue, he was truly underutilized in the past!” Fu Man said, “Just after taking office, he knows how to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the court, and has disciplined merchants and officials entering the capital thoroughly.”
“How so?”
“Your Majesty, anyone bringing goods into the capital must pay tax,” Fu Man said softly, “This ledger is hard to collect; many people owe taxes and refuse to be honest. But Master Xue has methods—not only collecting accounts well, but also procuring many rare goods for the Inner Treasury.”
The Inner Treasury manages monthly tributes sent from various regions to Que Du. Half of the fruits and vegetables the emperor eats in the palace come from here. It deals with merchants and local officials. The tax Ge Qingqing paid when entering the capital went here. The rank of the Inner Treasury is not high; those collecting taxes are minor officials closely connected to eunuchs, and over time, eunuchs control it.
Li Jianming said, “So much?”
“This is still little,” Fu Man said, counting on his fingers, “Merchants from eight cities aside, Xixuan’s thirteen cities and Hezhou merchants are extremely wealthy, Your Majesty. Now with chaos and rebels everywhere, they speculate and do business in Zhongbo, no longer caring about etiquette or hierarchy. Their food, clothing, and expenses are even more extravagant than court officials. These people are willing to spend on themselves, but unwilling to pay taxes to the court, so someone must properly discipline them.”
“Xue Pingjing is this capable?” Li Jianming pretended ignorance, “Never heard of him.”
“Before he wasn’t used in the right place,” Fu Man flattered, “All thanks to Your Majesty’s wise eye!”
Li Jianming saw Feng Quan pass by the window and knew Kong Qiu had arrived, so he whispered to Fu Man, “You handled this well. I will meet him another day.”
Fu Man was overjoyed and withdrew holding the blanket. Outside, he only bowed to Kong Qiu, and nodded slightly to Feng Quan before leaving.
Feng Quan reported outside the door, “Your Majesty, the Grand Councillor has arrived.”
Ji Gang was lying on a rattan chair asleep in the courtyard. Xiao Xun and Ji Ran were crouched beside the chair, secretly drawing beards on Ji Gang’s face with a brush.
“Amitabha,” Ji Ran whispered, “Big tiger.”
“Grandpa is mighty, the tiger is the most mighty.” Xiao Xun drew a curled beard on Ji Gang.
Ji Gang’s nose itched and he sneezed loudly. The two children immediately hid behind the chair. Ji Gang was not in a hurry to wipe his face; he grabbed Xiao Xun by the collar and lifted him up, pinching his real beard and pretending to be angry: “Disturbing my sleep, I’ll properly deal with you two!”
Xiao Xun thought Ji Gang was going to hit him and quickly covered his head. Unexpectedly, Ji Gang lifted him up high and used his beard like an ink brush, smearing Xiao Xun’s face black.
Huo Lingyun came in and saw Xiao Xun and Ji Ran running wildly around the chair. He walked along the corridor under the eaves. Fei Sheng was leaning with arms crossed watching the show and said to Huo Lingyun, “Look at the young master, how clean he was when he came.”
Huo Lingyun nodded slightly, indicating he saw it, and asked, “Is the teacher inside?”
Fei Sheng then withdrew his gaze and said, “Got something?”
Huo Lingyun took out a letter from his sleeve. It was Ge Qingqing’s report to the Jinyi cavalry regarding Que Du movements, already opened and read. He said, “Take a look.”
Fei Sheng took the letter and read it.
Sunlight in the courtyard shone on the eaves, the newly painted lacquer bright and clear, hiding the old decay of the residence.
After reading, Fei Sheng remained calm and asked, “Did you show this to Qiao Tianya?”
“Didn’t see him,” Huo Lingyun said, “He left early this morning with the third team.”
“Wait here.” Fei Sheng folded the letter, lifted the bamboo curtain, went in, and said, “Master, Ge Qingqing has sent a letter. It concerns the reassignment of Que Du’s military governor. The Jinyi cavalry dares not decide, must first present it to Master.”
Gao Zhongxiong stopped speaking. Shen Zechuan raised his folding fan and motioned Gao Zhongxiong to sit. His recently unbandaged right hand lightly pushed the fan and said to Fei Sheng, “Present it.”
Fei Sheng opened the letter and placed it beside Shen Zechuan.
“Shao Chengbi…” Shen Zechuan said, “I remember he was not in the evaluation records of Xiande years. Recommended by Chen Zhen?”
“Master,” Fei Sheng reminded, “He is from the Ministry of War Shao family.”
Shen Zechuan’s leisurely expression slightly tightened. He looked again and said, “The Ministry of War Shao family of Yongyi years?” He looked at Fei Sheng and quickly recalled, “…Is this the former Ministry of War Vice Minister Shao Chengbi who was framed by Ji Lei after the Eastern Palace case and imprisoned?”
“Master has a good memory, it is him.” Fei Sheng said, “This time the eight major camps were renamed military garrisons. All military officers above rank six were dismissed and replaced. The Minister of War Chen Zhen recommended him, and the cabinet reviewed it, granting the post of governor to Shao Chengbi. He is now called ‘Chengbi’. Ge Qingqing said this man never left Que Du these years, staying beside Zhao Zui Temple selling buns.”
“Shao Chengbi is Chen Zhen’s brother-in-law. It is reasonable for Chen Zhen to save him, but he should be over sixty years old.” Shen Zechuan closed his folding fan again, “Can he still ride and wield a spear?”
“More than that, Master, to hide himself he had his voice drugged mute and blinded one eye,” Fei Sheng said.
Chen Zhen, as Minister of War, recommended many capable generals. Like Cen Yu, he was also a discerning talent. But now Que Du is in a crisis of survival—was he giving the position of military governor to an old man because there were truly no generals left, or because Shao Chengbi truly had ability?
“Your Majesty is using old ministers,” Zhou Gui looked at Shen Zechuan, “This is to clear the old Eastern Palace case of Yongyi years.”
Kong Ling said, “Not so easy.”
“The eight cities have not yet removed hidden dangers. If Your Majesty reverses the Eastern Palace case now, she must first arrest remaining aristocratic factions.” Yao Wenyu said while covering his teacup, “She has just stabilized the situation; she cannot take this risk.”
Li Jianming killed one to warn a hundred, using cane punishment to scare He Lianhou into bedridden illness. The other families immediately began paying overdue land taxes. Que Du finally caught its breath. If she reopens the case now, it will be harmful.
“The Eastern Palace case involves countless officials. To reverse it requires planning and time,” Yao Wenyu continued, “It cannot be rushed.”
He was indirectly reminding Shen Zechuan not to rush.
“Shao clan is long hidden,” Shen Zechuan said, “We must ask Qiao Tianya about this.”
Qiao Tianya returned at the hour of Hai, removed his armor in the side hall, then went to the main room to meet Shen Zechuan. After reading Ge Qingqing’s letter, he said, “If it is truly Shao Bo, then Beiyuan training grounds must increase troops.”
“Shao clan belongs to the Ministry of War. Shao Chengbi is still Vice Minister; he not only knows all troop deployments but also has Zhongbo terrain maps.” Shen Zechuan stirred tea foam, “Ce An just left. Que Du dares not attack now, but before the tenth month we must return to Cizhou.”
If Yin Chang were still here, Shen Zechuan could remain in Danzhou. Without Yin Chang, he must go to Cizhou to coordinate defenses of Cizhou and Dunzhou.
“Correct,” Qiao Tianya casually folded the letter into a crane, “During the ‘Three Yao’ period, the Shao family was already a military family. The Ministry of War is unlike the other five ministries; Shao Bo became vice minister under the promotion of the Grand Tutor, real ability.”
He referred to the “Three Yao” period of Emperor Yong’an when three cabinet ministers all came from the Yao family of Jin City, with Yao Wenyu’s grandfather as the central pillar. It was both the peak of the Yao family and the beginning of its withdrawal.
“My father, seeking safety, defected to the Hua family after the Grand Tutor was imprisoned, and Shao Bo thus severed ties with him.” Qiao Tianya burned the paper crane at the candle edge. “When I left Que Du, I heard he had already been executed.”
“If Shao Chengbi was promoted by the Grand Tutor, then he should call him ‘teacher’,” Fei Sheng said, “Master is the Grand Tutor’s student. By that logic, we are also related to him.”
“During Yongyi years, countless people were promoted by the Grand Tutor. Although Shao Bo was one of them, he neither interacted with the Eastern Palace nor with the Grand Tutor. Moreover, the Shao family was punished because of the Li family, so the Li family should be the one to restore his honor,” Qiao Tianya said, brushing off dust from his hand.
“But,” Zhou Gui asked, “didn’t Yuan Zhe say the Empress cannot take risks now?”
“She truly cannot take risks now. She must wait until Shao Chengbi defeats the Zhongbo garrison army,” Yao Wenyu said, “Once external threats are gone, internal aristocratic troubles can be eliminated.”
If war breaks out now, then so be it.
“If it really starts fighting,” Zhou Gui said, “we still have Tantai Hu!”
“The tiger is impulsive and needs supervision.” Shen Zechuan gathered himself, “Fei Sheng, tell the teacher we are moving back to Cizhou.”