Chapter 223
[There is one. Host, do you remember what Little Fuzi told you a few days ago? He discovered a eunuch named Xiao Yinzi secretly asking around about you.
He also mentioned that this Xiao Yinzi's identity was suspicious?]
"I remember. He said Xiao Yinzi entered the palace right around the same time he did, and the two had interacted privately. Ever since Xiao Yinzi was transferred to serve in the Fourth Prince's palace, it was like he had become a completely different person.
This little eunuch was also secretly snooping for information about me."
[He wasn't wrong at all when he said Xiao Yinzi seemed like a different person. After the Xiao Yinzi he knew entered the Fourth Prince's palace, he was replaced by the current one, who looks eighty to ninety percent like him.
However, this Xiao Yinzi is just like his father: one is a fake palace maid, and the other is a fake eunuch.]
"Is Emperor Mingxi indirectly helping Yue Ying raise his wife and child?"
[The Fourth Prince is surrounded by his own people. Otherwise, as an unfavored prince with no real power, how could he accomplish those great things later on?
I have to say, among the emperors of the six nations, Gan Sheng is indeed an outstanding figure when it comes to scheming. His plot almost succeeded.]
Yue Fuguang nodded in agreement.
Among the emperors of the six nations, the only one who could compare to Gan Sheng in terms of craftiness and deceit was that short and squat emperor of Dongyi.
The conversation between Yue Fuguang and the system was soon presented on Emperor Mingxi's desk.
Crash! Clang!
Since Yue Fuguang wasn't present, Emperor Mingxi let loose and vented his anger.
The Crown Prince and Qian Gui exchanged a glance. Both felt that it was better for the Junior Preceptor to be enjoying the gossip in the royal court; that way, no matter how angry His Majesty was, he would have to hold it in.
Unlike now, where the two of them were the only punching bags present. They might very well suffer collateral damage at any moment!
The two lowered their heads, one lower than the other, trying hard to minimize their presence.
Xie Zhiyan looked at the tips of his shoes and his blue four-clawed python robe, sighing inwardly. His outfit today seemed a bit too bright, which wasn't conducive to turning invisible!
Sure enough, just as this thought crossed his mind, Emperor Mingxi's voice came from above, "Crown Prince, go tell your mother to manage the inner palace well.
Especially..."
Thinking of Yue Ying's possible methods, the Empress's people might not necessarily be of use against him.
He turned and ordered Eunuch Qian, "Qian Gui, go find Shadow Two. Have him bring some men to keep a close watch on Xinrong Palace. Don't let a single fly escape from there!"
The Great Yan imperial palace suddenly became relaxed on the inside but strict on the outside, with all areas heavily monitored by Emperor Mingxi's men.
Faced with the sudden appearance of countless watching eyes, Yue Fuguang didn't panic in the slightest.
She still leisurely led her two older sisters as they strolled toward the Hongwen Pavilion.
[Host, hasn't Old Master Yu found a study companion for you yet?]
"It's not that he hasn't found one. It's just that there are too many wolves and too little meat. There are only two spots, but the number of male and female applicants combined is nearly a hundred. Tell me, how is he supposed to choose?"
[Then does the host have any candidates in mind?]
"I do, but I'll confirm it once I see them in person."
Tomorrow was the auspicious day selected by the Imperial Astronomy Bureau for digging up the potatoes. Commoners and the families of officials would all be present.
The location was at the Fengtian Hall, which was also the only place where commoners could get up close to the imperial palace buildings.
During every major sacrifice, to show the royal family's desire to share joy with the people, they would open up Fengtian Hall, the closest building to the inner palace within the Imperial City.
In Yue Fuguang's eyes, this was just the royal family wanting to show off and needing a free audience!
Upon arriving at the Hongwen Pavilion, Yue Fuguang didn't follow her two sisters to class. Instead, she was stopped by the Minister of Rites. After the situation was explained to her, she headed east, following Zhang Zhongping toward the outer perimeter of the palace city.
[Host, does this count as an advance rehearsal for tomorrow's event?]
Yue Fuguang silently replied, "Of course it's an advance rehearsal! Right now, the streets and alleys of the entire capital city are spreading the news that Great Yan has discovered a crop that yields a thousand catties per mu.
Just watch, I bet more than half the people in the capital will flock over tomorrow."
When the two arrived at Fengtian Hall, Yue Fuguang found that she was once again the last to arrive. The monarch and officials of Great Yan had already lined up neatly.
Hundreds of people stood solemnly. Even the official uniforms they wore were ninety percent new. If you asked Yue Fuguang how she knew, it was because she saw that several impoverished officials standing at the back of the line weren't wearing their old uniforms today.
Yue Fuguang didn't feel the slightest bit of awkwardness for making people wait. Zhang Zhongping led her all the way to the front. As she passed the group of royals, she saw that even the long-bedridden Prince Ming had shown up today, sporting a pale face.
Prince Kang, who had been reprimanded, grounded, and demoted in title by His Majesty... Oh, he should be called Prince Jing now, Jing as in quiet.
Prince Jing had also come. As a senior member from the youngest branch of the family, this Prince Jing looked only a few years older than Emperor Mingxi and was exceptionally well-maintained.
It was just that the way these two looked at her was a bit strange. If looks could speak, their eyes would surely be hiding thousands of words.
Yue Fuguang had no interest in deciphering their thousands of words and didn't let her gaze linger on them for even a second.
Finally, she stood side by side with the Crown Prince. In front of them was Emperor Mingxi, standing on the jade steps.
With everyone present, Minister of Rites Zhang Zhongping and the Head Envoy of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, Yun Tianxing, began to rehearse according to the schedule.
Although it was said that there was no need to offer incense, the Emperor had already done so before Yue Fuguang arrived. In front of the large incense burner, Xuanmingzi temporarily took on the role of the incense-watching boy.
Going through the entire procedure, even with the heaven-worshipping paper-burning segment omitted, took more than two hours. Even though she had a great physique now, standing completely still was much more tiring than walking for two hours.
Yue Fuguang turned around with a world-weary expression, only to see that some of the elderly officials, who were about the same age as her grandfather, hardly showed any signs of fatigue.
She couldn't help but secretly praise them: these old officials had incredible standing skills!
[Host, the morning court session lasts for two to three hours. This little bit of time is nothing to these old officials who are used to standing.
You're just finding it hard to transition from an easy life to a demanding one; you lack exercise.]
"Don't you think it's because it's boring? Without any gossip to distract me, of course I get more and more tired the longer I stand."
[The big gossip naturally has to be saved for tomorrow.]
"What's that?" Yue Fuguang asked, looking in a certain direction.
Yu Chongshan followed his granddaughter's gaze and saw that inside and outside the grand hall named the Pavilion of Rare Treasures within the palace city, guards holding halberds stood in three layers inside and out.
The armor on these guards and the weapons in their hands actually looked better than the equipment of the escort guards who accompanied Xie Zhiyao for her political marriage.
The leader of these men was Shen Kang, someone she recognized. Seeing Yue Fuguang looking over, he cupped his hands in a respectful greeting from afar.
Before Yu Chongshan could reply, the Crown Prince behind them spoke up, "The Pavilion of Rare Treasures is currently holding those eight pots of potatoes that were moved from the Junior Preceptor's residence yesterday."
"It's holding potatoes? I thought it was holding some sort of treasure belonging to His Majesty!"
Xie Zhiyan smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice slightly, saying, "The things in this Pavilion of Rare Treasures all center around the word rare.
If you're talking about real treasures, those are only found in my imperial father's private vault."
As a son, Xie Zhiyan didn't hesitate in the slightest to sell out his own father.
Emperor Mingxi: Having you is truly my blessing!
Seeing that Yue Fuguang remained unmoved, he couldn't help but ask, "Does the Junior Preceptor want to go in and take a look?"