Chapter 20
THE NEXT DAY was another Grand Assembly.
Jiang Suizhou was not looking forward to dealing with the emperor’s pompous attitude again, but there was no avoiding it. Despite the slight antipathy that stirred within him, he quickly finished his breakfast and headed out.
The moment he passed through Zhengyang Gate, though, he ran into someone.
“Ah, if it isn’t His Highness the Prince of Jing!”
The man who called out to him was wearing the uniform of a fourth-rank military official and looked to be in his thirties or forties. He was tall and dark-skinned, and his thick beard and bulging round eyes put Jiang Suizhou in mind of Zhong Kui.12
That likeness was only strengthened by the fake smile he was currently forcing onto his face. It distorted his already grim features and failed to mask the man’s obvious disdain and hostility.
Jiang Suizhou swiftly glanced at the official’s ivory hu.
Ministry of War, Office of Operations, Ji Hongcheng
Realization dawned on Jiang Suizhou.
Ah, it’s that guy.
Standing before him was the Minister Ji, the court official so notoriously ugly that even mainstream historical records made note of it—the chronicles of Jing bluntly described him as “ill-favored.” Looking at him now, Jiang Suizhou understood it wasn’t an exaggeration.
In ancient times, the imperial examinations that court officials underwent would take into account the candidate’s physical appearance as well as their score. And as such, had this gentleman relied on simply becoming an official through the exams, he’d never have passed in his lifetime. He clearly owed his current position entirely to his military background and the patronage of Lou Yue, renowned general of Southern Jing.
Jiang Suizhou took a moment to quickly run through the man’s life story in his mind.
Ji Hongcheng’s superior, Lou Yue, was an old friend of Huo Wujiu’s father. When Northern Liang rebelled, Emperor Ling and the current emperor had been so afraid of Lou Yue that they dared not let him face the Liang army. That was just how deep the bonds between Lou Yue and Huo Wujiu’s father ran. Therefore, Ji Hongcheng’s hostility toward him was almost certainly because of Huo Wujiu.
With that in mind, Jiang Suizhou decided to merely cast him a cold glance as he walked past in silence.
But Ji Hongcheng pursued him.
“I’ve often heard of Your Highness’s integrity and virtue. From what I see of you in person now, it seems they were telling the truth,” Ji Hongcheng remarked.
Jiang Suizhou didn’t even bother to turn his head. Ji Hongcheng, however, refused to back down. He continued, his tone dripping with venomous condescension.
“After all, the mark of a true gentleman is in how he flaunts his authority and takes advantage of the disabled and vulnerable in his own courtyard, is it not?”
He’d clearly been bottling this anger in for a long time. He had probably nursed a grudge ever since the last court meeting, lying in wait for the perfect time to deliver his barbed remarks directly.
This man was known for his bravery on the battlefield, but that courage was without strategy. Apparently that held true in his civilian life as well.
Fortunately for all involved, Jiang Suizhou wasn’t the original prince, and he didn’t dare lay a finger on Huo Wujiu. Had that version of the prince heard these words, Huo Wujiu’s life within the Prince of Jing’s residence would only have grown more difficult in response.
Jiang Suizhou turned his head and shot him a cool look.
Ji Hongcheng fearlessly matched it, his large, bell-like eyes ablaze with righteous fury. He seemed to be waiting for Jiang Suizhou to fire back so he could argue.
Finally, Jiang Suizhou smiled faintly.
“Thank you for your concern, Minister Ji, but I don’t think that what happens in my courtyard is any of your business,” he said. “Whether I kill, maim, or mistreat someone… Well, that has nothing to do with you, now does it?”
Ji Hongcheng flushed crimson with rage, frozen and speechless. Pleased at the sight, Jiang Suizhou turned and walked away.
He knew that Ji Hongcheng was only worried about Huo Wujiu. He meant well, but that didn’t make his remarks any less dangerous.
Jiang Suizhou didn’t mind being the one to teach him that lesson. Maybe he’d think twice before taking such counterproductive actions in the future.
He arrived at Guangyuan Hall precisely on time. The exterior of the building was solemn and dignified, the quiet atmosphere broken only by the sound of the drum and the voice of the eunuch announcing the assembly.
Inside, the hall was packed with ministers, and yet the dais remained utterly silent.
The emperor had yet to arrive.
Jiang Suizhou looked around to gauge the crowd’s reaction, but the other officials seemed accustomed to this. They simply stood there, quietly waiting.
So Jiang Suizhou waited as well.
This wait lasted nearly an hour, until the sun was high in the sky. Jiang Suizhou was starting to feel dizzy from all the standing when the emperor finally sauntered in.
“So early today, my beloved subjects?” Jiang Shunheng asked lazily, slumping against the throne with a yawn.
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help but notice the dark circles beneath the emperor’s eyes, his sallow complexion, his listless demeanor—clear signs of excessive indulgence.
The court ministers dared not speak.
“Have we any important business today, Uncle?” Jiang Shunheng continued.
So, now he was just openly asking Pang Shao this question with no pretense.
Pang Shao stood at the forefront, wearing a faint smile as he began his report. He’d already made his decision on all matters, large and small. As he spoke, the emperor merely nodded along, ordering others to carry out Pang Shao’s arrangements.
Even when funds were requested from the Ministry of Revenue, Jiang Shunheng didn’t bother to ask how much money was needed. He simply ordered the Minister of Revenue to allocate the funds.
Jiang Suizhou frowned as he listened. He noted the key points while lamenting that the fall of Southern Jing was fully deserved.
Once Pang Shao concluded his report, only a handful of ministers stepped forward with formal memorials to the throne. The emperor listened to their speeches with varying degrees of inattention, then asked Pang Shao what to do. Ultimately, every matter was resolved following Pang Shao’s suggestions.
By this point, the emperor seemed to have finally woken up, as he was sitting a little straighter on his throne. Also by this point, however, most business had concluded. Seeing that no one else had anything to report, the emperor immediately leaned back again and gazed at Jiang Suizhou.
“Wudi, I heard a few days ago that you relocated General Huo to your personal courtyard,” he said, his tone languid.
Oh boy, here we go again.
Fortunately, Jiang Suizhou had fully expected this line of questioning. He stepped forward and delivered the explanation he’d prepared in advance.
“I did so because he was causing trouble in my rear courtyard and even injured another concubine. After careful consideration, I decided to keep him under my direct supervision.”
“Mm, of course,” the emperor said, leaning forward with interest. “But I also heard that the man hasn’t left your bedroom even once…”
Jiang Suizhou looked up. The emperor’s beady eyes were positively gleaming, his expression all but broadcasting the thought So he’s your personal sex slave, then.
On an individual level, Jiang Suizhou was speechless. However, he obediently played along.
He lowered his head awkwardly and cleared his throat into his fist. This was his tacit confirmation of the emperor’s speculation.
With that, the emperor broke into a wicked smile.
“It appears I made the perfect match,” he said. “Wudi seems very pleased with General Huo!”
Suppressing his revulsion, Jiang Suizhou allowed the flow of conversation to carry him through this wretched encounter.
“That’s not entirely the case,” he explained quickly. “The man is wild and difficult to tame. I’ve merely had to resort to…certain methods, that’s all. I ask for Huangxiong not to mention this again.”
The emperor found his words amusing and burst into hearty laughter.
“All right, all right, I won’t bring up your bedroom affairs anymore.” He continued casually, “However, in half a month, it will be my birthday banquet. Wudi doesn’t have a princess consort, so why not bring your lovely little Madam Huo?”
This again? Really? Jiang Suizhou thought, gritting his teeth.
It seemed that the emperor was determined to drag Huo Wujiu inside the palace at least once. Jiang Suizhou had managed to thwart his efforts before, but how much longer could he continue to do so?
Jiang Suizhou remained silent as he racked his brain for any kind of countermeasure.
Seeing his troubled expression, the emperor assumed it was because he found it shameful, and his enthusiasm grew.
“Wudi, why do you insist on hiding away the gift I gave you?” the emperor said, smiling. “You’ll be left sitting all alone at the banquet while everyone else brings their families! Now how would that look?”
Before Jiang Suizhou could speak, the emperor turned to Pang Shao, still smiling.
“Don’t you agree, Uncle?”
“His Majesty is entirely correct,” Pang Shao replied. “I’ve heard that the Prince of Jing’s two other concubines include one from a brothel and another of common birth. How could they be brought before His Majesty?”
As the two bounced off each other, the pressure mounted, and the emperor’s laughter became even more exuberant.
Jiang Suizhou pressed his lips together.
He knew he couldn’t avoid this. He paused, then kept his voice low and even as he gave his reply.
“I will obey Huangxiong’s orders.”
“That’s more like it!” the emperor exclaimed. “Ah, Wudi, I truly can’t understand what it is about men that has you so captivated!”
It was a rhetorical statement; he didn’t expect Jiang Suizhou to respond.
Unfortunately for him, it didn’t matter what he expected. Jiang Suizhou’s simmering anger had reached the point that he did, in fact, decide to respond.
“The wonders, Huangxiong, can only be understood when one tries it oneself,” he remarked casually as he looked up at Jiang Shunheng.
As the emperor heard this, his eyes involuntarily darted first down to Jiang Suizhou, then out to the crowd of men gathered in the court.
They were all older men with faces full of wrinkles. A few particularly egregious examples of the male form stood out among them, such as Ji Hongcheng, whose towering frame and darker skin especially stuck out to the emperor.
Jiang Shunheng seemed to be momentarily speechless, not to mention slightly nauseated.