Chapter 88 - 89: Arrival
Once one person tried it, the others grew bold and took a taste as well.
The moment they tasted it, those who had dug some felt they hadn’t dug enough. Meanwhile, those who hadn’t were beating their chests and stamping their feet, wondering why they hadn’t come along up the mountain.
Jin Qianqian closed her eyes to rest, taking the opportunity to explore her dimension.
The ginseng she had planted before didn’t look any different. They stood straight and tall, which meant they must have taken root successfully.
’If I can bring things in with my thoughts, can I pull things out with them too?’ Jin Qianqian fell into a meditative state, but the herbs didn’t move an inch, refusing to yield to her will.
"What are you up to?" Ancient Wen Heng asked, giving her a gentle nudge when he saw her brow furrowed in concentration.
Jin Qianqian told him about her discovery. "I just can’t figure out why it’s not working."
Ancient Wen Heng said, "If you can’t figure it out now, don’t dwell on it. You’ll understand it eventually."
"..."
「 」
"Holy Emperor, they’ve fallen into chaos amongst themselves," Le San reported in a low voice the moment he entered the study, his tone brimming with schadenfreude.
Hua Shunming replied, "Now it’s my turn to be unhurried. Pass down my decree: I am unwell and will not be holding court today. Any matters can be reported tomorrow."
"Yes, this servant will go and relay the decree at once." Le San bowed and backed out of the room. The moment he was out, a wide grin spread across his face, and his steps deliberately slowed by a few beats.
Hua Shunming tapped his fingers on the desk, then soon picked up his brush and resumed reviewing the memorials on his desk.
When the host of officials waiting in the throne room heard that court was canceled for the day, an uproar immediately erupted.
"What are we to do? What are we to do?"
"Chancellor Kuang, this can’t be delayed any longer! Our households have no peace. If we don’t find a solution soon, how are we supposed to live?"
"Chancellor Kuang, if the Holy Emperor doesn’t hold court, how are we supposed to discuss anything?"
Kuang Yijun pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Everyone, stop shouting! Didn’t you hear what Eunuch Le just said? The Holy Emperor is unwell. We should first find an Imperial Physician to inquire about his condition."
"Right," everyone said, the realization dawning on them.
Cao Xiangqian let out a derisive snort and, without another word, led the military generals out of the throne room.
After having doors slammed in their faces one after another, the civil servants could only turn to Cao Xiangqian for help.
"Absolutely not. Our North and South Army is responsible only for the security of the Shangjing Imperial City. Without a command from the Holy Emperor, we will not abandon our posts," General Liu Chang said before turning and walking away.
Cao Xiangqian simply spread his hands. "You saw it yourselves. Although I’m the Minister of War, I have no authority over General Liu’s men. Besides, the North and South Army are the Holy Emperor’s personal guard. You can’t be naive enough to think General Liu would be willing to take a risk for you, can you?"
’I don’t know whether to call these people smart or stupid,’ Cao Xiangqian thought. ’No, they’re just playing dumb. They know full well that the North and South Army is the Emperor’s most critical line of defense for the Capital City, yet they still dare to entertain such ideas.’
Zhou Shicong said, "Mr. Cao, we have no other choice. All the manservants in my household are guarding the outer courtyard, but even so, the refugees keep trying to force their way in. If the old maids hadn’t come out to help, they would have broken into the second courtyard.
The rear courtyard is full of our womenfolk! What would happen if they were accosted?
The men under you at the Ministry of War are all martial artists; of course they can hold them off. How about you lend me some of your men?"
Cao Xiangqian replied, "This must be an isolated incident. The refugees haven’t been troubling the official residences before. If you talk to them properly, you’ll see it’s just a misunderstanding."
Chen Zishu, the Minister of Rites, had a pained expression on his face. "How could it be a misunderstanding? I think they’ve done their research! They’re targeting all of our civil servant manors. A small estate of mine in the suburb has been completely looted! If they keep this up, we won’t be able to go on!"
Cao Xiangqian threw his hands up. "But what can I do about it? I don’t have many men at my own residence to begin with, just barely enough for my own needs. I’m in no position to help you.
How about this? Instead of being bound by all these rules, just settle the refugees a day sooner. Then won’t life just go back to normal?"
’These bastards,’ he thought. ’Whenever I asked them for a favor in the past, they’d just give me the runaround. Now, I finally get to enjoy myself. Seeing the looks of utter frustration on their faces is just so satisfying.’
"General Liu is, after all, under the jurisdiction of your Ministry of War," Xu Zhiwen chimed in. "Just give the order for his soldiers to patrol the city a few more times and help round up the refugees. That doesn’t conflict with their duty to guard Shangjing."
Cao Xiangqian’s eyelids drooped. "Mr. Xu, you think too highly of me. General Liu is the Holy Emperor’s trusted aide, not to mention His Majesty’s own cousin. How would I dare to give him orders?
In fact, I think you at the Astronomical Bureau would be better off putting your efforts into calculating when the blessed rains will fall. Then the refugees could return home sooner."
Xu Zhiwen was speechless. ’These coarse brutes,’ he thought. ’Do they really think the Astronomical Bureau controls the heavens?’
"Alright, it’s no use crowding around me," Cao Xiangqian said. "If you’re worried about losses at your estates, then settling the refugees as quickly as possible is your best bet."
Having had his fun and gotten his jabs in, Cao Xiangqian had no desire to beat around the bush with them any longer. He casually made an excuse and swaggered off, leaving them in his wake.
「 」
"These refugees must have been incited by someone, otherwise why would they all be targeting the official residences?" Chen Zishu said through gritted teeth. His family had been caught off guard at first; his granddaughter, who was preparing to enter the palace, had nearly been accosted. The thought alone sent a chill down his spine.
"We must go find Chancellor Kuang. This matter can’t be delayed any further, or I fear none of our estates will be safe," Xu Zhiwen said, sharing the sentiment. "The North and South Army won’t do anything; they’re only guarding the Imperial Palace. In the end, we’re the ones who suffer."
He actually had a suspicion he didn’t dare to voice, and he guessed the other officials had the same thought, but no one dared to be the one to say it aloud.
「 」
The Emperor sat calmly in the Southern Study Room, listening to the reports as they came in one by one. Finally, a mocking laugh escaped him.
"So these are the great officials the late Emperor so favored, the pillars of the state he left for me. I see nothing but a swarm of pests. A swarm of ignorant, greedy pests."
Le San and the other trusted aides faded into the background, making themselves as inconspicuous as possible.
"It seems I must reinstate the imperial examinations soon. This filth needs to be washed away by a new, clear stream."
Hua Shunming didn’t ponder for long. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a drafting officer. He stared at the Holy Decree placed before him, but in the end, he sighed. "I still have to wait a little longer."
「 」
"Look, someone else is coming." Over the past few days, people had been trickling in to get water or join their group, so everyone had grown accustomed to it.
"That looks like a lot of people, a whole dense crowd of them." Someone quickly noticed something was amiss. "Look, aren’t those people at the front from Stone Village?"
"You’re right, they are! Come on, let’s go see why they’re here too."
"They look like they’re in a rough state. Everyone, hurry over and lend them a hand."
Young and old alike were staggering as they walked, some even having to support one another just to stay upright.