"Wait a moment," Jiuzhu called out to the concubines who were about to bow with incense in hand. "Ladies, when offering incense to the heavens, one should hold the incense with the right hand, cover it with the left, and raise it to the level of the forehead."
Seeing the concubines so devout, how could she bear to watch their sincere efforts go to waste?
"Jiuzhu," Consort Su smiled. "Go and demonstrate for them."
Taking the incense, Jiuzhu calmed her mind and faced the altar, offering three sticks of incense.
As the fragrant smoke swirled, the concubines watched the young girl performing the ritual. For a moment, they felt as though her every movement exuded a natural grace, reminiscent of a transcendent sage.
After placing the incense in the burner, Jiuzhu bowed and turned to the concubines. "Ladies, please proceed."
"Have you all seen clearly?" Consort Su raised her delicate hand, and the maids brought forward more incense. "Follow Miss Jiuzhu's example and try again."
The concubines stared at the incense placed before them, not daring to show anger or speak out.
"Why are you all standing there?" Consort Su looked at them with a half-smile. "There are only twelve hours in a day. If you dawdle any longer, you may have to stay up late copying scriptures to show your sincerity."
"Thank you for the reminder, Consort Su," Consort Ning said with a gentle smile, taking the lead by picking up three sticks of incense and stepping forward to offer them. Seeing Consort Ning yield to Consort Su's authority, the other concubines had no choice but to follow suit.
Jiuzhu was moved by the concubines' devotion and turned to Consort Su. "Their sincerity is truly touching."
"Indeed," Consort Su nodded slowly. "I am also deeply moved."
The other concubines: "..."
If you're so moved, why don't the two of you join us in copying scriptures?!
Who cares if you're moved or not?!
"Miss Jiuzhu is so knowledgeable at such a young age," Consort Ning said softly after finishing her offering. "It seems that during your years at the Taoist temple, you not only recovered your health but also learned a great deal."
Jiuzhu looked at the elegant woman speaking to her, unsure of her identity.
"This is Consort Ning, Lady Zheng, the mother of Prince Qi and the younger sister of the Pingyuan Marquis," Consort Su added.
At the mention of "younger sister," Consort Ning's hand holding the brush paused slightly, though her gentle smile remained unchanged.
"Greetings, Consort Ning," Jiuzhu curtsied. "Thank you for your praise. My master also says I’ve learned well."
A drop of ink fell from the brush onto the paper, and Consort Ning's hand trembled slightly.
"Oh, my lady!" Jiuzhu exclaimed in alarm. "The scriptures offered to the heavens must not have any blemishes."
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Jiuzhu," Consort Ning said, setting down the brush and crumpling the paper with a smile. She crumpled it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Please, just shut your mouth!
At the grand court assembly, officials from the six ministries were engaged in heated debates, with officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Hanlin Academy, and other departments occasionally joining the fray. The ceremonial tablets waved in the air from time to time, creating a lively scene.
Watching the commotion, Emperor Longfeng showed no anger. Instead, he adjusted his position on the throne for greater comfort, patiently observing the arguments.
The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy is a place to nurture scholars. How can we continue to use dilapidated desks?"
The Minister of Revenue: "The Ministry of Revenue has no funds."
The Minister of War: "Your Majesty, the selection of military officers is imminent. I dare to ask when the Ministry of Revenue will allocate the funds?"
Officials from the Ministry of Revenue: "..."
As the year-end approached, every department was actively vying for next year's budget.
Li En, the Minister of Rites, and Zhao Boshen, the Minister of Revenue, had often clashed over political matters since entering the court. There were even times when their tempers flared, and they hurled ceremonial tablets at each other.
At this grand assembly, Zhao Boshen surprisingly did not target Li En, though he occasionally glanced at him with a gloating expression, which only fueled Li En's irritation.
"Sir, calm down," Zhou Rui whispered, tugging at Li En's sleeve. "The Ministry of Revenue still has Prince Qi."
"As if our Ministry of Rites doesn't have a prince," Li En retorted, glaring at Zhao Boshen's smug face. "He’s not so special."
Zhou Rui thought that if it weren't for the prince in their ministry, Zhao Boshen probably wouldn't be looking at them with such disdain.
"Sir," Ming Jingzhou reminded him. "The repairs to the Ministry of Rites are more urgent."
"You're right," Li En said, regaining his composure. He raised his chin haughtily at Zhao Boshen and turned away.
Zhao Boshen, Minister of Revenue: "..."
With that troublemaker in their ministry, what is Li En so proud of?
"Your Majesty," Li En stepped forward, bowing, and began to recount the Ministry of Rites' achievements over the past year, from overseeing the imperial examinations to minor acts of kindness by its officials, such as escorting an elderly person home. He concluded that the Ministry of Rites was doing well and deserved some funding to repair its dilapidated offices.
Emperor Longfeng watched the eloquent Minister of Rites. If he remembered correctly, Li En had been the second-place scholar in the imperial examinations. No wonder he was so persuasive.
"Prince Chen," Emperor Longfeng turned to the prince standing at the front of the assembly. "You've been in the Ministry of Rites for a few days now. What are your thoughts?"
All eyes in the Ministry of Rites turned to Prince Chen. At this critical moment, the prince had to stand by their side.
Li En whispered to Ming Jingzhou, "Do you think he understood my hints last time?"
Ming Jingzhou replied calmly, "Sir, I cannot say."
"Ah," Li En sighed. "I should have been more direct last time."
The intense gazes almost pierced Prince Chen's back. Without turning around, he knew the Ministry of Rites officials were staring at him.
"Father, I have been in the Ministry of Rites for less than ten days and do not yet fully understand its workings."
The officials of the Ministry of Rites lowered their eyes in disappointment. They had been wrong to place their hopes on Prince Chen from the start.
Prince Qi glanced at Prince Chen and then at the officials behind him before looking away.
"However, in my humble opinion, the officials of the Ministry of Rites are diligent and not given to luxury. In just a few days, I have learned much and developed great respect for them."
Ministry of Rites officials: Huh?
Prince Chen actually praised them at the grand assembly? They were... somewhat flattered?
"But the Ministry of Rites still has many problems."
Ministry of Rites officials: They had celebrated too soon!
"Oh?" Emperor Longfeng seemed particularly patient with Prince Chen. "What problems?"
"The walls are peeling, the table legs are uneven, and tiles are falling in some places," Prince Chen frowned. "As one of the six ministries of our great dynasty, the Ministry of Rites' offices are in a disgraceful state. Our people live in peace and prosperity. How can we allow our government offices to be so shabby? It tarnishes the dignity of our empire."
The officials of the Ministry of Rites nodded eagerly. Prince Chen was absolutely right; their offices were in dire need of repair.
"Prince Chen, what do you suggest?" Emperor Longfeng smiled.
"I propose that the court allocate funds to repair the Ministry of Rites' offices."
"Hmm," Emperor Longfeng nodded. "Prince Chen makes a valid point. The Ministry of Rites not only handles many important domestic matters but also receives foreign envoys. Shabby offices would indeed be unseemly."
"Minister of Works, Lin Zhongling, are you present?" Emperor Longfeng looked toward the Minister of Works standing next to Zhao Boshen.
Zhao Boshen felt a sense of foreboding.
"Your servant is here," Lin Zhongling stepped forward, holding his ceremonial tablet.
"Starting tomorrow, arrange for craftsmen to repair the Ministry of Rites' offices without delay," Emperor Longfeng ordered. He then turned to Li En. "Minister Li, my son is young and inexperienced. If he makes any mistakes, feel free to reprimand him without hesitation."
After much wrangling, the funds for repairs were finally secured. For the first time, Li En felt the joy of having "connections at the top."
"Prince Chen is intelligent and diligent."
Although he hadn't seen Prince Chen memorize the list of scholars Ming Jingzhou provided, he had at least taken it home. That counted as progress.
"He treats his subordinates with respect."
Since joining the Ministry of Rites, Prince Chen had not deliberately caused trouble for anyone. Most importantly, he had secured the funding for repairs. For that alone, he could be considered half a member of the Ministry of Rites.
"He dines with his colleagues in the ministry canteen without complaint."
Though the food was from Ming Jingzhou's household, it was indeed served in the ministry canteen.
"Your humble servant believes that with Your Highness's natural talents, you will quickly grasp the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and share the burden for His Majesty." With the funds for the Ministry of Rites' repairs secured, Li En's praise was sincere.
The praised Prince Chen: "..."
Perhaps this was the adaptability, maturity, and quick wit of a scholar.
Other officials glanced sideways at Li En, thinking to themselves that for the sake of securing these funds for the Ministry of Rites, he had gone so far as to flatter Prince Chen. Li En, ah, Li En, you shouldn’t be working in the Ministry of Rites as its minister; you should be in the Palace Music Bureau, putting on performances for His Majesty.
Li En paid no mind to how others viewed him. After all, their Ministry of Rites had secured the benefits, so what harm was there in saying a few more pleasant words?
After the court session, Emperor Longfeng was in high spirits. His mood would have been even better if he hadn’t heard someone crying on his way back.
"Liu Zhongbao, go and find out what’s going on," Emperor Longfeng said, his face devoid of any tenderness as he listened to the sobbing coming from behind the flower bushes.
Liu Zhongbao quickly returned after gathering the information: "Your Majesty, the one crying is Concubine Liu."
"Concubine Liu?" Emperor Longfeng had no recollection of this Concubine Liu.
"Concubine Liu is someone Empress Dowager Pingxian sent to the palace in the 21st year of Xiande. She entered the palace around the same time as Consort Su," Liu Zhongbao explained, detailing Concubine Liu's background.
"Hmm, go on."
"She’s crying because... Consort Su has been making the concubines copy scriptures daily. She’s not skilled with a brush, so she can’t keep up with the others, which is why she’s crying." Liu Zhongbao knew full well that even if she genuinely wanted to cry, she didn’t need to do it here. Clearly, she was trying to catch the Emperor’s attention.
"Consort Su is making them copy scriptures?" Emperor Longfeng showed a hint of interest. "What’s the story behind this?"
"Your Majesty, ever since Consort Su’s birthday, she has been having the other concubines copy scriptures," Liu Zhongbao continued, noticing the Emperor’s growing smile. "I’ve also heard that today, Consort Su summoned Miss Ming into the palace to assist her in overseeing the copying process."
"Copying scriptures is beneficial for cultivating one’s character. This is a good practice," Emperor Longfeng nodded with a smile. "But it must be quite taxing for Consort Su to oversee this daily. Send some nourishing and calming supplements to Bright Moon Palace."
"As for that Concubine Liu, since she finds copying scriptures so burdensome, she need not do it anymore," Emperor Longfeng said indifferently. "Send her to the Buddhist hall to chant sutras. She is not to appear before Consort Su again."
Liu Zhongbao didn’t correct the Emperor about Concubine Liu’s name and simply bowed before retreating.
The Emperor had grown up witnessing all sorts of schemes and tactics from the women of the inner palace. How could he not see through Concubine Liu’s act of crying by the roadside?
As Liu Zhongbao was about to leave, he noticed Miss Ming heading toward the pavilion where Concubine Liu was.
Seeing this, he paused and faintly heard footsteps approaching from behind. Turning around, he bowed respectfully. "Your Highness."
Prince Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze casually drifting in the direction Liu Zhongbao had been looking.
Was that... the young lady from the Ming family?
