At noon, the sun came out.
The climate in the Capital City was warm, suitable for growing bamboo.
There was an extremely beautiful bamboo grove in the imperial palace.
When the wind blew, the bamboo branches swayed.
At midday, The Emperor dined in a crystal pavilion in the middle of the bamboo grove.
A long table was set out.
The food was mostly meat dishes.
The Emperor was not a vegetarian enthusiast.
Vice Minister Jiang, being pleasing to the eye and pleasant to listen to, was granted the special honor of dining with The Emperor.
Otherwise, he would typically eat a work meal alone.
The Emperor always felt that Jiang Er was very amiable.
He thought it was because of his father, Grand Preceptor Jiang.
Grand Preceptor Jiang was also a modest gentleman, but unfortunately he was too clever and too blunt. The ruler and minister could have become a beautiful story, but in the end, he preferred exile to admitting his mistake.
It had been a long time since he had recalled this person.
He thought the memory had faded.
But unexpectedly, when he recalled it, the impression was very vivid.
The Emperor didn't like to reminisce about the past.
Especially about deceased people, as it made him feel lonely and old.
Some people lived in his memory, forever young.
In recent years, there were fewer and fewer old friends from the past.
Looking at the person before him, in the prime of his life, Jiang Bai must have been about this age back then.
"You have an older brother, don't you? I remember."
The Emperor recalled that Jiang Bai should have had three children, the second one was a girl. Hui Yun liked that girl, who often played in the palace, and later married Old Seventh.
Dining with The Emperor was actually much more tiring than eating alone.
It was like dining with a superior. Most people barely ate a few bites, having to answer questions in between.
They had to think.
It wasn't convenient to eat foods with bones, especially chicken feet. Otherwise, when the leader asked you a question, you'd open your mouth to spit out bones, one, two, three, four pieces, never-ending...
The leader might even be holding his chopsticks waiting for you to finish spitting out bones, which was also very awkward.
Fortunately, Jiang Changtian didn't like meat dishes, so he just picked at the vegetables in front of him, taking small bites.
He couldn't eat too fast either. If he ate too quickly and put down his chopsticks, it would make the other diners uncomfortable.
Jiang Changtian spoke slowly and methodically: "My elder brother is a devout believer in Buddhism, he has converted to Buddhism."
"Oh?"
The Emperor was surprised by this answer, not expecting that a man would be so determined.
Many people believe in Buddhism, either by inviting Buddha into their homes to worship, but it was relatively rare for men to actually become monks.
"When I came to the capital, I went to see my elder brother. He was in the process of having his head shaved. He has wholeheartedly converted to Buddhism. He said that from now on, there is no Jiang Huaisheng in this world. He even wrote a divorce letter for my sister-in-law and asked me to bring it to the capital."
The Emperor suddenly remembered that his nephew had made a muddle of things by marrying someone else's sister-in-law.
He silently changed the subject.
"You and Wenxin are old acquaintances, aren't you?"
To be honest, looking at the two people before him, each had their own charm.
Wenxin was neat and handsome. Although he was a eunuch, he had a scholarly air about him, sitting there like an unfurling green leaf.
Jiang Changtian was stunningly beautiful. Although he was an official, he had no scholarly air, sitting there like a blooming flower.
The two complemented each other well.
"Yes. We were so poor back then, we couldn't even eat our fill. Third often came to my house to mooch meals. The villagers called me Old Second Jiang and him Old Third Yan. Third liked to sing, and the villagers always mocked him. In the village, singing was the most useless skill, not even as good as being able to carry a bucket of manure. Of course, the villagers also mocked me because I couldn't carry heavy loads either."
Speaking of this, Jiang Er's eyes naturally moistened.
"My wife Luoxia was strong, she did all the heavy work at home. I only earned a meager amount of money, not even enough for food. We actually relied on her to support us. Now things are better. I've come to the capital and have an official position. Our days will get better and better, and Xia-mei will be able to enjoy a good life."
The Emperor held his chopsticks, trying to pick up the meat in front of him, but after several attempts, he couldn't grasp it.
His hand was shaking.
It usually shook, but more so when he was emotional.
Hearing the man before him speak of his wife, who must be the sister Wenxin had mentioned, she was indeed a good woman.
The end of hardship and a happy reunion was a story that all humans loved.
The Emperor was no exception.
He felt that he too was a passionate person.
Unfortunately, his first wife had died early.
Men can be particularly fickle in certain aspects.
For example, he deeply loved the Empress, but after her death, he never appointed another Empress.
For example, he deeply loved the Crown Prince, but after the Crown Prince's confinement and death, he never appointed another Crown Prince.
Perhaps he felt that reserving the most important place in his heart for them was proof of his love.
So don't be loved by a scumbag.
He thinks that reserving a place for you in his heart is loving you.
Regardless of your actual life or death.
Upon hearing about this ordinary family's perfect life, The Emperor rarely became emotional.
He even started singing while keeping the beat: "In life and death, in joy and sorrow, I made a promise with you..."
Eunuch Yan casually picked up his chopsticks and tapped on the bowls and plates: "Hold your hand, grow old with you..."
The eunuchs and palace maids applauded.
Jiang Changtian listened very attentively.
This poem about life and death promises on the battlefield was used by The Emperor to praise marital love, very well indeed.
After spending the afternoon in the palace,
He left for home just before the palace gates were locked.
At the moment of leaving the palace, he looked back.
The massive palace gates were bathed in yellow sunlight, glowing golden.
The title of Imperial Secretary probably came from this.
Home.
Hug wife.
The next day.
The newly appointed Vice Minister Jiang went to see Minister Lu early in the morning.
Because he had seen The Emperor yesterday.
Apart from the eunuchs, not even Minister Lu had the honor of spending an entire day by The Emperor's side.
Minister Lu had thought that Jiang Er would come to report to him after leaving the palace.
He waited for a long time at the office, until it was dark, when someone told him that Jiang Er had already gone home.
Minister Lu: ...
Early in the morning.
Vice Minister Jiang came to see him.
Normally, he would definitely make this ignorant dog wait for a while.
But when it came to matters concerning The Emperor, nothing was trivial.
Minister Lu still let him in.
When Jiang Changtian arrived before Minister Lu, he saw the plump, landlord-like Prime Minister. Perhaps from frowning too much at people, there was a deep furrow between his eyebrows.
He didn't actually look like a kind person.
Especially in this big room.
He looked like a fierce judge of the underworld.
With a wave of his hand, he could decide life and death.
Jiang Changtian reminded himself not to frown casually. It's not a big deal, things outside are all small matters. If he frowned every day, wrinkles would form between his eyebrows, which would be very ugly. Xia-mei would dislike it.
Minister Lu opened his mouth and asked, "Vice Minister Jiang, did The Emperor give any instructions?"
Jiang Changtian respectfully said, "The Emperor instructed this official to thoroughly study the rules, regulations, and laws."
The corners of Minister Lu's mouth turned up slightly.
He knew it. After so many years with The Emperor and the court officials, they had this much tacit understanding.
The Emperor wouldn't disregard his face.
After all, he worked very hard and understood The Emperor's thoughts well.
People outside cursed him as a treacherous official, but in reality, he bore more than half of the blame for The Emperor.
"So how is your study going?"
"This official has finished reading. The Emperor thinks Minister Lu's method of having people study laws, regulations, and rules is very good. He praised it and instructed this official to organize all officials to study the laws, regulations, and rules together, preferably memorizing them in full. After leaving the office yesterday, this official dared not sleep, diligently worked through the night, and compiled all the laws, regulations, and rules. Starting from today, we can have everyone begin memorizing, a total of eighteen chapters."
Jiang Changtian held out a thick stack of books to Minister Lu.
Minister Lu's face turned green.
Looking at the lunatic in front of him.
He wanted to curse out loud.
But he heard him say seriously, "Everyone in the court must memorize all the laws, regulations, and rules. The Emperor will conduct random checks at any time!"
...
