Chapter 9: Martial competition
In the square at the doors of the Shengru Palace, Wei Xiren and Wu Dongmu stood, one at the left one at the right, hands behind their backs, in the middle of the group of people. Now, it was already wushi,[1] precisely the time of day when the sun was most burning; standing entirely unhidden beneath the sun, the group of great ministers all felt somewhat unable to bear it. Although Jiang Changbai stood beneath the shade of an umbrella, she also felt that the surroundings were incredibly stifling, the dry heat pent up in the heart.
But in the middle of the group, between the two of them, Wei Xiren and Wu Dongmu, a thread of breeze rose for no reason, faintly lifting her clothes up and ruffling them. She wore a navy blue, close-fitting outfit, neat and orderly, and seemed to have great confidence in her own marital skills, the gaze of her eyes towards Wu Dongmu filled with disdain.
Wu Dongmu had resided in a high position for a long time, and it seemed that the people by his side were all reverent and deferential towards him; suddenly facing this expression of Wei Xiren's, a dissatisfied feeling rose suddenly in his heart. Adding on the various disturbances of the past couple days, anger overflowed in his chest; without speaking, he directed a single blow of his fist towards Wei Xiren's face.
Wei Xiren's face didn't have a single threat of panic, and actually, that degree of disdain increased a degree. She only leaned to the side slightly, her left foot advancing a step, and she avoided the fist, causing Wu Dongmu to throw himself at emptiness. Wu Dongmu steadied himself and threw himself back, his motions incredibly quick, the left and right hooks bringing a whistling breeze.
But Wei Xiren still wasn't taking him seriously; she swayed to the left and tilted to the right, unexpectedly avoiding all of it. In the end, a person's endurance had a limit, and after half an incense's time passed, the speed of Wu Dongmu's attacks finally gradually slowed. Wei Xiren narrowed her eyes, and slightly tilted her head.
Song Juguang, who had originally been standing at Jiang Changbai's side, her arms crossed, suddenly advanced a step, using her shoulder to partially cover the greater half of Jiang Changbai's body.
"I can't see," Jiang Chngbai said, using a tone that only the two of them could hear.
"Bixia, safety is paramount." Though Song Juguang said this, she still shifted her position.
In the few sentences, the appearance of the martial scene had changed precipitously; Wei Xiren swept out a leg to hick Wu Dongmu's right leg, the blow causing him to stagger. Without waiting for him to steady himself, his left arm was grabbed by Wei Xiren. With only a light tug by Wei Xiren, Wu Dongmu lost his centre of gravity entirely, and with a "putong," he fell heavily to the ground.
Wu Dongmu shouted loudly, "Once more!" and clambered up from the ground. Wei Xiren didn't refuse, and actually showed off her skill, and in a single manoeuvre and move, revealed the hinted appeal of a mystery within a mystery faintly. Each of the military men in the court had studied beneath masters of various schools, yet not a single one could determine the antecedent of this fighting technique.
Yet Jiang Changbai could recognise it. "She studied with you?" she asked, quietly prodding at Song Juguang behind the cover of her sleeve.
Song Juguang didn't reply at all, only laughing quietly as she asked, "How does Bixia feel?"
"It's alright," Jiang Changbai said, thinking for a moment. "But it's not as skilled as when you were young."
When she raised her head once more, she only saw Wu Dongmu half-kneeling on the ground, a few strands of his gathered hair astray. Two of Wei Xiren's fingers were together, the fingers acting as a blade, pressed against Wu Dongmu's throat. The outcome of the competition was already clear.
What was most unexpected was that Liu Zihe led the call of "good". The rest of the group exchanged glances; though they felt that it was strange, they still echoed with cries of applause. Liu Zihe smiled as he flattered, "She's definitely someone the Prince Regent brought, even Lao Wu had to step down gracefully and concede defeat."
Yet Song Juguang wasn't in the slightest appreciative, and only nodded slightly, indicating that she had heard. But if these words had raised any heads, it couldn't be stopped once more. The officials, one following the next, clasped their hands in congratulations, faces smiling broadly as they said some ingratiating words that couldn't be more perfunctory. The more Jiang Changbai listened, the more moody she felt, and simply waved her hand, sending each of the group of ministers to return to their homes.
So, half an incense's time later, of the group of great ministers from just then, only Song Juguang, Lin Yingqing, and Xie Qianbing remained. Lin Yingqing stood off to one side deferentially and respectfully, even his breathing cuatious and solemn. When Emperor Tai was on the throne, though he'd already become the Minister of Revenue, because his character was honest and he didn't understand flattery, he hadn't received Emperor Tai's interest. The Ministry of Revenue's various matters and issues were also usually handled by the Vice Minister of Revenue, and bypassed him to report to Emperor Tai. If he hadn't had the virtuous reputation of an "honest and upright official" outside, the position of Minister of Revenue would probably have long since given to another.
But, before, after Song Juguang had brought troops into the capital, there had been no trace of that Vice Minister of Revenue; he feared that Emperor Tai had valued him too much, and so in the end, had taken him along.
In many years, this was still the first time that Lin Yingqing had been left behind in the Shengru Palace after discussing official business. So, his heart couldn't help but rise with emotions, and he was only waiting for Jiang Changbai to give him an opportunity to put his ambitions to use.
Jiang Changbai, sitting on the xumi seat, sitting high and overlooking the scene below, asked, "In regards to the matter of rebuilding in the North after the war, what opinions does Lin-daren have?"
This phrase seemed to have been the key which opened up the small box of Lin Yingqing's speech, and all the words of the world seemed to be at his disposal, speaking frankly and with assurance. Yet he'd only spoken halfway, when he was cut off by Song Juguang. "The common people being destitute and homeless, the cities' facilities being damaged; where did Lin-daren hear this news from?"
Lin Yingqing replied without thinking, "Naturally, it was reported by the prefecture magistrates of the provinces."
Song Juguang continued, asking, "That's to say, Lin-daren didn't actually see it with his own eyes, then?"
Lin Yingqing was first startled, and then nodded, calmly replying, "Yes, that's true."
"But I saw it with my own eyes." Song Juguang's voice rose slightly, and she repeated what she'd spoken about with Jiang Changbai in the Yangxin Hall once more.
The more Lin Yingqing listened, the tighter his brows furrowed, and finally, he fell silent for a long while, then asked, "The Prince Regent's meaning is that I've been tricked?"
Song Juguang nodded nonchalantly, not having the slightest intention to give Lin Yingqing face. She saw Lin Yingqing's gaze move to Jiang Changbai's figure, and she added, "Bixia knows about this matter."
So, Lin Yingqing understood even less, and his eyes roamed back and forth, yet he hesitated, not daring to speak. Yet Jiang Changbai saw. "You want to ask Us, since We know, why would We still call upon the ministers during court to contribute funds?"
Yet Lin Yingqing lowered his head. "This minister wouldn't dare."
"In the past, although We did not attend to politics, We know how large the tax payments the court receives in a year ought to be. Not to speak of other, just the province of Xinchong, in a single year, collects tax payments of over one million liang of silver. Yet now, even if the late emperor fled south and took along a portion, the remaining silver liang within the state treasury ought not be only four hundred thousand liang. You're the Minister of Revenue, and ought to know where all this money went."
Lin Yingqing lowered his head even further, and said, "This minister was negligent."
Yet a degree of frustration rose in Jiang Changbai's heart for no reason, and she waved her sleeve, saying reprovingly, "We don't need you to play at this timidity, We only need a result. We will give you a month's time to investigate all the old and disorganised accounts for Us."
"This minister will live up to the task Bixia has entrusted me with!" Lin Yingqing fell to his knees with a "putong," knocking his head against the ground as he spoke. He only felt that a gust of hot air burst out of his chest, spreading out to all his limbs and bones.
Song Juguang's gaze swept over Lin Yingqing's figure, and she raised her brows, her expression showing a few degrees of astonishment. She raised her head, and saw Jiang Changbai's expression was also similar; for a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So, she walked over to Lin Yingqing's side, and said, "Don't kowtow here, Lin-daren, go on and leave; there's a not insignificant amount of work waiting for you still."
The hundred layered cloth soles rubbed against the pale tiles that had been inlaid for over a hundred years; Song Juguang's very best attempts at persuasion, in the end, finally made Lin Yingqing depart. But they'd only just parted, when Jiang Changbai withdrew the expression of solemnity of just then, and came down from the xumi seat, hurriedly moving to Xie Qianbing's side. "Let me see, were you injured?"
Now, Jiang Changbai's gaze was filled with a deep concern; if one overlooked the bright yellow outfit she wore, no one would have been able to tell her identity was that of the emperor. In comparison with an emperor, right now, she seemed more like an elder sister. Aside from Xun Zhu, Xie Qianbing was the person who'd accompanied Jiang Changbai by her side for the longest.
During today, Xie Qianbing had experienced the extreme situation of "acting as a farming youth in the morning, and entering the court in the evening" for herself. In the early morning, in the midst of dreams, she'd been woken and received an imperial edict; in an instant, she'd gone from a plain-clothed commoner to a third-grade official. Rushing about for half a day, such that until now, she hadn't even had the opportunity to eat a bite of food. But she couldn't feel exhausted in the slightest, her entire person looking radiant. She was happy for Jiang Changbai, and also happy for herself. In the past, women couldn't take the imperial examinations; she'd felt that the most she could manage in this lifetime was being an aide in Prince Ling's residence; although she didn't have to worry about her food and drink, it was hard to avoid feeling helpless and useless. But now, becoming a third-grade official, she'd obviously increased her ability to fully put her skills to use a few degrees.
It was only that this degree of excitement had unexpectedly disappeared almost entirely just now.
She'd accompanied Jiang Changbai from childhood til adulthood; originally, she'd assumed that since she sat on the throne, there wouldn't be too much of a difference with the Dianxia of before. But just now, as she'd stood by the side, she'd seen the oppressive might belonging exclusively to an emperor reveal itself on Jiang Changbai's figure, and she'd felt it incredibly strange. It was as if the two of them had been separated by a layer of something murky, and while she could see, she couldn't touch, yet it vividly and distinctly separated her and Jiang Changbai.
So, when Jiang Changbai approached her now, Xie Qianbing subconsciously wanted to give obeisance. Jiang Changbai, seeing this, hurriedly drew her back up, only saying, "I've treated you as a sister since childhood; there doesn't need to be this estrangement between us."
"Dianxia, no, Bixia, anything is alright for this minister." Speaking to this point, even if Xie Qianbing's heart felt strange, she couldn't make any appearance of polite greetings. The palace maid waiting by the door brought a chair for Xie Qianbing to sit down in, and the two sat across from each other, speaking. It was as if they were still in the Prince's residence. But although this thought had been born, Xie Qianbing was still more or less stiff.
Jiang Changbai saw it all, and almost spoke, yet didn't know what to say. She had no alternative but to pretend as if she hadn't seen anything, and swallowed what she wanted to say back down.
After only a few phrases, the topic once more turned to money. When Prince Ling had passed away, Jiang Changbai's sisters and brothers fled and ran away, and in the end, the only masters remaining in the residence had been the two of them, her and Lu Pingwan. Lu Pingwan had only attended to reciting scripture and saying prayers, and so all of the internal and external matters of the Prince Ling's residence had been given over to Jiang Changbai to attend to. As a result, how much money still remained in the Prince Ling's accounts, Jiang Changbai was naturally fully aware. In the past day and night, after she'd decided to call Xie Qianbing to fill the appointment of the Vice Minister of Appointments, Jiang Changbai had decided to have her relinquish all the cash remaining in the Prince Ling's accounts to the state treasury.
Firstly, it would set an example for the ministers; a new minister who completely lacked any foundation could contribute this much, and every long-standing minister who wanted to save face would have to withdraw some money; secondly, it also counted as giving Xie Qianbing some prestige; after all, even if she'd received the imperial edict to take up the position of the Vice Minister of Appointments, if she weren't to make any actions, it would be hard to convince the masses.
It was just that not even Jiang Changbai knew where this extra fifty thousand had come from.
Xie Qianbing had originally not been willing to reply, and had wanted to find an excuse to evade this matter. But, having no alternatives as Jiang Changbai continued to pursue the inquiry, only then did she say, carefully and cautiously, "This minister pawned off all the gifts that you'd given this minister over the years."
Translator's notes:
[1]: Between 11:00am and 1:00pm.
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