The six ministries of the previous dynasty were built on either side of the main gate of the imperial palace, originally to facilitate the officials' work and attendance at court. However, a hot-tempered prince suddenly staged a coup, wiping out all the officials of the six ministries in one fell swoop. After that, the emperor learned his lesson and dispersed the six ministries outside the palace, forming a defensive arrangement.
The Ministry of Rites of the current dynasty is located in the alleyway outside the southern wall of the palace, next to the even poorer Hanlin Academy.
The Ministry of Revenue's office is the most well-built, with even the stone lions at its entrance appearing more imposing than those of other ministries. Despite this, during every grand court assembly, the Minister of Revenue wails about being impoverished, which is utterly shameless.
As the weather grew colder, the officials of the Ministry of Rites huddled around a brazier, their hands trembling as they handled official matters.
"Today is foggy and cold. Prince Chen probably won't come."
"I haven't seen anyone from the Chen Prince's Mansion come to request leave, have you?"
Ming Jingzhou had a hand warmer on his lap, which his daughter had thoughtfully given him before he left home. Listening to his colleagues' idle chatter, he shook the scroll in his hand and made notes in the margins with his brush.
"Lord Ming, are you aware of anything?"
Ming Jingzhou glanced at the speaker and smiled, "Lord Wang, you jest. Even the Minister doesn't know, so how could I, a mere subordinate, be any clearer?"
The questioner chuckled ambiguously. Who didn't know how Ming Jingzhou had obtained his noble title?
According to tradition, only the father of the empress was eligible to be ennobled due to marital ties. Prince Chen wasn't even the crown prince, yet the emperor had already promoted his future father-in-law, almost blatantly showing his favoritism.
"Gentlemen, you've all arrived quite early," Prince Chen entered the room, handing his cloak to his attendant. "I believe I heard someone mention me. What was it about?"
"Greetings, Your Highness," the officials rose in unison, bowing to Prince Chen.
"No need for formalities," Prince Chen walked over to Ming Jingzhou and helped him up by the arm. "There are still some matters I'm unclear about. I hope you can enlighten me, Lord Ming."
"Your Highness is too kind," Ming Jingzhou looked at Prince Chen, who was dressed in luxurious brocade robes, then turned to pick up the scroll he had annotated. "If Your Highness has nothing else to do at the moment, please take these and memorize them. I believe that with Your Highness's intelligence, you'll master the contents quickly."
"Thank you, Lord Ming," Prince Chen took the scroll and returned to the office prepared especially for him in the Ministry of Rites.
"Lord Ming, what did you have Prince Chen memorize?" After Prince Chen left, a familiar official couldn't help but ask.
"The examination questions and top candidates from the past ten imperial examinations, as well as the list of foreign envoys and their important gifts over the past twenty years," Ming Jingzhou replied with a smile. "The affairs of the Ministry of Rites are trivial and complex. His Highness should start by understanding the basics. Although the world is ever-changing, everything ultimately revolves around the same principles. Once the foundation is clear, things will become much simpler in the future."
The other officials: "..."
Is Ming Jingzhou really Prince Chen's future father-in-law, or his sworn enemy?
The examination questions and lists of top candidates have already been publicly announced by the court. Memorizing them would be nothing but a waste of time.
No wonder he had dug out those dusty scrolls early in the morning. He had been waiting for Prince Chen all along.
Truly a member of the Ming Family, who would rather be exiled to the frontier than yield.
Prince Chen didn't return to his mansion until the Ministry of Rites had closed for the day. Seeing the scroll and painting tube on the table, he lazily reclined on the couch and said to his attendant, "Fugui, bring me the painting."
Fugui carefully opened the lid of the painting tube, took out the painting, untied the string, and unrolled it.
Glancing at the painting, Prince Chen's eyes widened, and he unconsciously sat up straight, beckoning to Fugui, "Bring it closer."
"Your Highness, is there something wrong with the painting?" Fugui leaned in, trying to see what was depicted.
"Close your eyes," Prince Chen stood up and took the painting into his hands. "You may leave. I wish to admire this painting alone."
Fugui closed his eyes, "Your Highness, I'll go prepare some hot tea for you."
"Go ahead," Prince Chen placed the painting on the table and frowned as he examined it.
What on earth was this supposed to be?
Where was the koi?
Where was the lotus?
He turned the painting upside down, sideways, and every which way, but all he could make out was a blob of ink in the middle that might have been a chubby carp.
Recalling the young girl's red nose and sparkling eyes, Prince Chen sighed and rolled up the painting, "Someone, bring me a painting box."
When the servant brought the box, he placed the painting inside and locked it.
"Miss Ming's... artistic skills are unparalleled. I am quite fond of them," Prince Chen put away the key. "No one else in the mansion is to touch this without permission."
"Yes," the attendants looked at the wooden box with reverence, wondering what kind of breathtaking artistry the future princess consort possessed to earn such respect from His Highness.
After securing the painting, Prince Chen finally remembered the scroll he had neglected for so long. Picking it up casually, he reclined on the couch again and opened it.
Examination questions and top candidates from the past ten imperial examinations?
Flipping through the pages carelessly, Prince Chen wasn't surprised by Ming Jingzhou's dismissive attitude. He sped through a few more pages and was about to toss the scroll aside when he noticed the small characters in the corner.
The main themes of the top candidates' essays.
Ming Jiyuan, Li En, Zhou Rui, Ming Zengsheng, Zhao Boshen, Sun Yong, Lin Zhongling, Chen Zhixing...
Looking through the list, the names of most of the important officials in the court were included.
After reading Ming Jingzhou's annotations on the main themes of these officials' examination essays, Prince Chen's grip on the scroll tightened. He didn't even notice that it had grown dark outside.
"Your Highness," Fugui lit the candles in the room and, seeing the prince's serious expression, asked nervously, "It's late. You haven't eaten yet."
"I know," Prince Chen looked at the flickering flame on the candlestick. "Serve the meal."
At the dining table, Jiuzhu ladled a bowl of soup for Ming Jingzhou, "Father, please have some soup."
The hot soup gave off a faint medicinal smell, which Ming Jingzhou disliked.
But it was his daughter who had served it, so no matter how unpleasant it tasted, he had to endure it.
Seeing Ming Jingzhou obediently drink the soup, Lady Shen smiled with satisfaction, "The weather has been getting colder lately. I had a few new padded jackets made for you. They're warm yet lightweight, and you can wear them under your official robes without it being noticeable. Remember to put one on before court tomorrow."
"Don't worry, my dear. The Ministry of Rites has been generous with the charcoal rations lately. I won't freeze," ever since Prince Chen had started attending the Ministry of Rites, not only were the charcoal rations more plentiful, but even the tea and ingredients in the official kitchen had become more refined.
"Oh, by the way, this afternoon someone from Bright Moon Palace came by. They said they would pick up Jiuzhu tomorrow morning to accompany Consort Su for a chat," Lady Shen added two more spoonfuls of soup to Ming Jingzhou's bowl. "I agreed."
Ming Jingzhou grimaced and downed the bowl in one gulp, "I've heard that Consort Su is fond of jade. There's a jade carving of a flowering branch in the storeroom. Have Jiuzhu take it tomorrow as an offering to Her Highness. It would be a shame for such a fine piece to gather dust in the storeroom."
Lady Shen glanced at her daughter and nodded with a smile, "Very well."
Jiuzhu watched the two of them. Although she had heard every word of their conversation, she still felt that their smiles were inscrutable. Was this the wisdom of elders?
"Your Highness, since Prince Chen joined the Ministry of Rites, the officials have been polite but distant. No one dares to get close to him."
"What is Ming Jingzhou's attitude?" Under the candlelight, Prince Qi's handsome face showed no expression.
"He only gave Prince Chen a list of past examination questions and top candidates, telling him to memorize them. His attitude was very dismissive, even cold, and seemed almost deliberately obstructive," the advisor said. "Ming Jingzhou's actions suggest that he is treating his daughter as a pawn, completely disregarding how she might be treated after marrying into the Chen Prince's Mansion."
"Is that so?" Prince Qi flipped through the Buddhist scripture in his hand. "If that's the case, why is Consort Su trying to win over Ming Jiuzhu?"
"Consort Su dotes on Prince Chen and assumes that all parents feel the same way about their children," the advisor sneered. "Now that the emperor has ennobled Ming Jingzhou, as long as he doesn't want to be branded as a sycophant who sold his daughter for glory, he won't support Prince Chen."
"Doesn't he fear angering the emperor?" Prince Qi closed the scripture, stood up, and trimmed the wick of the candle.
"Your Highness may have forgotten that sixteen years ago, the three Ming brothers were exiled to the frontier for the emperor's sake, enduring great hardships," the advisor explained. "The emperor is benevolent. Even if he is displeased with Ming Jingzhou over these matters, he won't punish him too severely."
"So, even if the Ming Family doesn't support Prince Chen, all they're sacrificing is one daughter," the advisor smiled. "What they gain, however, is countless accolades."
Prince Qi thought of the innocent and naive young girl from the Ming Family, put down the scissors, and slightly lowered his eyelids: "Hmm."
What a pity.
"Your Highness," Jiuzhu looked at the thick stack of scriptures on the table, "Do you enjoy copying scriptures?"
"Miss Ming, these were not copied by Her Highness," Xiangjuan entered with a tray of tea. "They were written by other ladies in the palace, who, out of gratitude for the heavens' benevolence, copy scriptures daily to repay divine favor."
Jiuzhu was stunned. The ladies of the palace truly held the heavens in high regard.
"If it weren't for your visit today, they would have come to copy scriptures as well."
"Honoring the heavens is of utmost importance. How could I, a mere subject, interfere with such a significant matter for the ladies?" Jiuzhu turned to Consort Su. "Your Highness, please let the other ladies continue their copying. I will simply accompany you by your side."
"Since Jiuzhu insists, we shall do as she suggests," Consort Su said with a warm smile. "Our Jiuzhu is so thoughtful and considerate. It seems I was the one who didn't think this through."
"It's not Your Highness's fault," Jiuzhu quickly shook her head. "I simply came at an inconvenient time."
"Not at all," Consort Su tapped Jiuzhu's forehead playfully. "In fact, it's perfect timing. Later, I'll take you to watch the other ladies copy scriptures."
"Wouldn't that disturb them?"
"If they are truly focused on their task, how could they be distracted by external matters?" Consort Su raised an eyebrow. "Unless, of course, their hearts are not sincere."
In the Hall of Serenity, the concubines were quietly copying scriptures when the sound of footsteps and conversation drifted in from outside.
"Your Highness," Jiuzhu whispered, "The ladies are copying so diligently."
Consort Su chuckled softly, "Perhaps it's because sincerity brings divine favor?"
"Did the ladies offer three sticks of incense before the divine statue before they began copying?" Jiuzhu whispered a reminder. "If they didn't light incense, how would the heavens hear their sincerity?"
"Jiuzhu makes a valid point," Consort Su sighed. "Attendants, bring the finest incense from my chambers. Let the ladies cleanse their hands, light the incense, and start copying today's scriptures anew. We must ensure the heavens feel their sincerity."
Jiuzhu clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Consort Su.
Her Highness is so kind and considerate. To ensure the heavens hear the ladies' sincerity, she even offered her finest incense.
The concubines, still copying scriptures: "..."
Can these two women outside please act like normal human beings?
