Sueño de Jiangshan

Capítulo 15

Leng Jie and Qing Feng exchanged glances again, and Leng Jie replied, feigning embarrassment:

"Uh! Nothing can be hidden from the Emperor! I was bored this morning, so I went to the main hall with my senior brother to take a look." She paused, then adopted a fearless and righteous demeanor, saying, "I know that's not a place for lowly people like us. If you want to punish me, then punish me! I won't complain. However, this has nothing to do with my senior brother. Please, for the sake of him helping you get revenge today, don't hold him responsible!"

A sly smile played on the emperor's lips, his eyes narrowing to slits, revealing no emotion. His languid voice carried a mixture of mockery and threat.

"Hmm! Entering the main hall without being summoned is a capital offense. Considering that you once saved my life and are Qingfeng's junior brother, plus you have some talent, killing you would be a real waste! Since you also think being a eunuch is fun, I might as well grant your wish. You can stay by my side as a little eunuch! That way, you can enter the main hall every day."

"Eunuch! Me?" Before the emperor could finish speaking, Wuming suddenly turned pale, then exaggeratedly protected his "treasure" with both hands, staggering back three steps before barely managing to regain his balance. He stammered in astonishment.

"Haha... What? You don't want to?" Xuanyuan was amused by Wuming's appearance and laughed heartily, all his doubts vanished.

Qingfeng was stunned by Leng Jie's shocking behavior. Did she really think of herself as a man? He shook his head and smiled wryly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He could only admire her acting skills once again.

The question, "What, you don't want to?" suddenly brought back a scene from the hotel she had witnessed before the accident.

That day, for work, she went from the fifteenth-floor window of the hotel to the eighteenth floor. Unexpectedly, on the sixteenth-floor window, she heard a voice she knew all too well. "What, you don't want to?" Then a seductive voice replied, "Look at you, so impatient! Your wife is quite beautiful, why are you always out chasing after other women? Can't she satisfy you?" "She's the kind of woman whose heart is only in work; sex is dispensable to her. But I'm a normal man, how can a man's life be without sex!" The shock she felt at that moment was beyond words.

Leng Jie's face suddenly stiffened and turned ugly, her tone full of sarcasm as she sneered:

"Willing? What man in this world would willingly become a eunuch? That thing is an essential tool for men to continue their lineage and enjoy a fulfilling sex life. Tell me, what's the point of a man's life if he lacks sexual desire?"

Xuanyuan and Qingfeng exchanged a bewildered glance and shrugged. They automatically ignored what Wuming was saying, which they couldn't understand. They were astonished by the sudden look of unbearable pain and cynicism on Wuming's face. Xuanyuan wondered if he had frightened him and was about to explain that he was just joking and didn't really want him to become a eunuch when Wuming's cold, ruthless voice rang out again.

"However, I really want to see how a man can go wild without that 'troublesome organ'!" She now truly regretted not rushing in and castrating that despicable man.

Looking at Wuming's clenched teeth, Xuanyuan had a fleeting illusion that Wuming's expression was exactly the same as his mother's when she learned that his father was going to choose a concubine. How could this be? Wuming was just a child; how could he have had such an experience? The thought flashed through Xuanyuan's mind, and he quickly realized he was overthinking it, banishing the ridiculous idea from his head.

Qingfeng glanced at Xuanyuan with concern, then turned his gaze to Wuming, asking Xuanyuan:

"Xuanyuan, you don't really want Wuming to be castrated, do you?"

[Main Text: Chapter Forty-Five Temporary Identity (Revised)]

Qingfeng glanced at Xuanyuan with concern, then turned his gaze to Wuming, asking Xuanyuan:

"Xuanyuan, you don't really want Wuming to be castrated, do you?" Knowing that Xuanyuan was not a tyrant, Qingfeng asked knowingly in order to find out his true intentions.

"I only said that Wuming should be a eunuch again. When did I say that he should be castrated? You are the ones who think that, aren't you? It's not like he hasn't done it before, and he did it very well, didn't he?"

"Should I pretend again?" Qingfeng looked at Wuming, who seemed lost in some kind of memory, unable to pull herself out. She wasn't listening to his conversation with Xuanyuan at all. What's wrong with her? Did she regain her memories and remember something? Qingfeng looked at her dazed state with concern, his lips moving a few times, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped, and in the end, he didn't make a sound to wake her.

Xuanyuan looked at Qingfeng, then at Wuming, completely baffled by Wuming's expression. He felt he had explained himself clearly enough! Was he still afraid? But given his usual fearless personality, he didn't seem like someone who would be scared out of his wits by a joke. Or perhaps he hadn't joked in a long time, making it hard for people to tell if he was serious or not?

He seemed to have forgotten the saying that a ruler's word is law. Perhaps his words, as the emperor, held sway over others, but had always carried no weight with Qingfeng and Wuming. Therefore, in their presence, he no longer acted as if he were the emperor.

And so, the three of them fell into a silent stalemate.

Time ticked by, and half the incense stick used to keep track of time had burned down. Qingfeng and Xuanyuan stared blankly at Wuming, whose expression was constantly changing. She seemed to be smiling one moment and crying the next; her face was gloomy and cold one moment and gentle and warm the next; finally, her expression froze on a calm surface.

Having arrived in this unfamiliar time and space for over half a month, Leng Jie hadn't had much time to dwell on the past in order to survive. A casual remark from the Emperor plunged her into memories. It brought back not only the betrayal and pain, but also the happy and beautiful things, especially her beloved career. She almost wanted to return to her roots. Of course, that would require her to have the ability. Although Leng Jie was furious and hated the man who betrayed her, she would absolutely not allow herself to pay for someone else's mistakes—to bear the pain. She thought, since she couldn't make that man pay the price now, she would erase him from her memory like trash. Having made up her mind, Leng Jie suddenly returned to reality, finding two people, four piercing gazes fixed on her.

Realizing she had been daydreaming, Leng Jie immediately tried to reactivate her stagnant brain. But! What was she just saying? Oh, right, eunuchs. The emperor wanted her to be his personal eunuch. He asked if she was willing? What a ridiculous question, who would want to be a eunuch?

"Junior brother, are you scared out of your wits? The Emperor wants you to pretend to be a eunuch again, not to actually become one." Seeing that Wuming had finally regained her composure and come back to her senses, but her expression suddenly showed a hint of regret, Qingfeng quickly told her about the part she had missed.

"Oh! I see! Why didn't you say so sooner! You made me worry for nothing." The complaint that came out of her mouth brought them even closer together.

Xuanyuan and Qingfeng exchanged a smile and asked, "So you're agreeing?"

"Playing a eunuch is no problem! But there has to be a time limit! If you make me play a eunuch for life, then the fake will become real, won't it? Besides, I don't know how to do anything that requires me to serve others!" This is called putting the unpleasant truth upfront, so that they don't actually treat her like a slave.

"Don't worry, I won't make you a eunuch for life. I won't make you serve me either. You just need to go to the morning court with me, and after court, go to the Imperial Study to help me organize the memorials. This way, you can not only learn more about the situation in the court, but also keep your identity as Qingfeng's junior brother a secret. Those old guys will naturally not be wary of a new eunuch. So far, besides the people from Qingfeng Residence, only I and Eunuch Fu know your identity, right?" After carefully explaining his intentions, the emperor saw them nod and added, "Twenty days later, you will still go to help me manage Longmen as originally planned. I believe you will perform even better then."

"You're going to attend the morning court session by yourself?" Qingfeng asked excitedly.

“They’re already suspicious. Given the huge loss we suffered today, they’re bound to pull some crazy stunts at tomorrow’s morning court.” Xuanyuan frowned, saying helplessly, “My injuries have almost healed, and I’m content to have ten days of leisure. I have to face problems myself; running away is never my style. However, both of you will have to come to the morning court with me tomorrow.”

"As long as I don't have to sit motionless on your dragon throne pretending to be mute while wearing that suffocating golden crown, everything is negotiable." Qingfeng's sword-like eyebrows immediately relaxed, and his eyes shone. He said with a relaxed and cheerful tone, as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, "To be honest, that pure gold dragon throne is uncomfortable to sit on. Only that kind of person can truly bear it."

Xuanyuan's face suddenly darkened, his eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow. Such an expression might be unremarkable on an ordinary person. However, when it appears on an emperor, especially a strikingly handsome one, the effect is far more dramatic—a world of difference. Any ordinary person would be filled with admiration and pity upon seeing such an expression.

However, the two people he was facing were not ordinary people, much less normal. Qingfeng was used to their expressions and ignored them.

Leng Jie was slightly astonished! "No way! This bald man is so handsome!" However, she never pitied the strong. She then thought, "But why does he suddenly look so pitiful, like he's lost his father, remarried his mother, and had his wife run away?" Leng Jie considered herself quite good at psychology, able to see through many people's thoughts. But she couldn't understand the thoughts of the man before her. Could it be the difference in their eras that caused this difference in their thinking? Perhaps, once she adapted to life here and understood the culture, she would be able to understand the thoughts of these ancient people!

"Alright! I was just thinking of going to see if those thirty lashes had any effect or consequences. But let me make it clear, I won't be doing anything like serving tea and water to people! Don't try to use your imperial privileges to bully them!"

Xuanyuan suppressed his sorrow and sighed at Wuming, "Forget it! I wouldn't even dare to think of having you two brothers serve me! Especially your senior brother, ask him if he has ever been oppressed by imperial power in the past three years in the palace?"

"Hey, Xuanyuan, you're being really unfair! According to you, all my hard work these past ten days—reviewing your memorials, handling your affairs, treating your wounds, changing your bandages—has been for nothing? Doesn't that count as serving you?" Qingfeng retorted, dissatisfied.

“We’ve been brothers for so many years, and you’re holding a grudge against me for this? If you were the one lying in bed unable to move, would I just stand by and watch you like that?” Xuan Yuan retorted nonchalantly.

After thinking for a moment, Qingfeng said, "You're right! But that day will never come. So, don't make such analogies."

"You and my senior brother were brothers who went through thick and thin together, but I'm not your brother. So, your answer still offers me no guarantee whatsoever. Who knows if one day I might carelessly do something wrong or say something inappropriate, leading to my death?" For Leng Jie, the role she played didn't matter, but if she played a role of too low a status and was treated like a servant by the masters of the harem, she definitely wouldn't be able to bear it. Therefore, she had to let the emperor know first that she wasn't a real servant.

"Do you really think I'm a tyrant? How could I possibly take someone's life so easily?"

"Hmph, you think you're a good person? Didn't you already harm the idiot once?" Leng Jie glared at him inwardly, then smiled and said:

"Of course you're not a tyrant, but there are many other masters in this harem besides you. If I were just a servant, it would be hard to guarantee that I wouldn't be bullied and ordered around by the other masters. You know I have a bad temper. If a conflict really breaks out, I don't have the skills of my senior brother. Look at my small body, any two of those guards could easily take me down. By the time you and my senior brother arrive, I might already be reporting to the King of Hell."

"So what do you want?" Knowing that he already had a plan, Xuanyuan asked directly.

"If you're truly sincere, why not give me a get-out-of-jail-free card or a summons—something to protect my life? That way, I'll feel more confident navigating the palace. And helping you with your affairs will be much easier, won't it?"

After Leng Jie's persistent efforts, the emperor finally gave in to her incessant chatter and bestowed upon her a life-saving golden token that allowed her to roam freely in the harem. Although it was a one-time use token, it was better than nothing.

[Main Text: Chapter Forty-Six: Above the Hall]

The following morning, the Golden Palace, equally resplendent and solemn, was completely different from the bustling teahouse and tavern atmosphere of the previous day. Instead, it was filled with painful screams and groans, like those coming from a surgical ward in a hospital.

Dressed as a eunuch, Leng Jie stood quietly in a corner of the hall. Without needing to hide under the desk, she could observe the expressions of every official. The military officers fared slightly better; aside from their pale complexions, they could still maintain their official bearing. The civil officials, however, were all pale, their lips bluish-purple. Their faces were contorted with pain, their eyes filled with fierce resentment. Few could bear the pain and straighten their backs.

Several officials standing at the very back of the line, their backs ramrod straight, caught Leng Jie's special attention. They all shared a common characteristic: they were relatively young, appearing to be no more than thirty-five years old. Furthermore, although their faces also bore expressions of pain, their eyes held not a trace of resentment. Occasionally, a hint of mockery could be seen flickering at the corner of their eyes.

"These are the people, aren't they? Interesting!" Leng Jie thought to herself.

With a cry of "The Emperor has arrived!" the wailing ceased instantly. The officials carefully knelt, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Someone accidentally touched his injured bottom, immediately letting out a soft hiss.

The officials were preoccupied with the emperor's affairs and had no time to notice the young eunuch who emerged from the corner. Instead of kneeling and bowing to the emperor like the others, he went directly to greet the emperor, who was being accompanied by Eunuch Fu and Physician Hu as they entered the hall. He then took Physician Hu's place and accompanied the emperor to stand to the left of the throne.

The emperor, clad in his dragon robe and facing his officials, was a completely different person from the one in the Qingfeng Pharmacy. He no longer possessed the listless, dejected expression of the past; instead, he exuded a dignified and composed demeanor, an imposing and awe-inspiring presence, and an unassailable imperial aura. After calmly taking his seat, the emperor leisurely began to speak:

"All of you may dispense with the formalities and rise to your new positions!"

Suddenly hearing these golden words, so long unheard of for ten days and earned only after a beating, the ministers abruptly looked up at the young emperor. To their astonishment, they found him smiling, his eyes fixed on them, as if awaiting their thanks. Good heavens! The emperor was actually smiling? How strange! These ministers, after all, were cunning and shrewd old foxes. What hadn't they seen? Though their doubts were unfounded, they maintained their proper decorum.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" The ministers carefully and slowly straightened up again.

Qingfeng stood among the ministers, coldly observing the group of old men, usually so pampered, now contorting in pain and making comical faces. He felt incredibly pleased, almost bursting into laughter. Xuanyuan, seated above him, gave him a warning glance and spoke gently in his uniquely magnetic voice:

"Despite yesterday's corporal punishment, not a single one of my beloved ministers was absent from this morning's court session, which greatly pleases me. This is enough to prove that the ministers of my Jinghe Dynasty are all capable individuals, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and physically strong! This is truly a blessing for Jinghe and a boon for the people!"

The ministers looked at each other, then replied in unison, "Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune!"

The perceptive ministers sensed that the Emperor seemed somewhat different. His current gentle, smiling face was one they hadn't seen since the young emperor's ascension to the throne three years ago. Yet, somehow, this expression seemed even more chilling than his previous frosty, cold demeanor and icy gaze.

Xuanyuan continued:

"A few days ago, due to the bandits in Chongzhou, the plague in Qizhou, and the civil unrest in Yingzhou, I was so anxious that I lost my voice. Even after several days of treatment by the imperial physicians, I still couldn't speak normally. Thanks to the astonishing remarks you all made before the morning court session the other day, which stirred my anger and anger again, my voice has miraculously recovered. Tell me, how should I thank you?" He then asked Qingfeng:

"Doctor Hu, how do you explain this situation medically?"

“This is called fighting poison with poison,” Qingfeng replied immediately before the emperor could finish speaking.

These words caused an uproar in the hall! Good heavens! Had they inadvertently cured the young emperor's muteness and even gotten a beating in return? The ministers' already contorted faces became even more unsightly. Yet, they still had to kneel and shout with gratitude:

"Your Majesty is still the Son of Heaven, protected by Heaven! We dare not take credit for this."

The emperor turned and exchanged a glance with the eunuch on his left, adopting a half-smile, and said in a calm, unhurried voice:

"My lords, there's no need for such modesty. I've always been fair in my rewards and punishments. Yesterday, you all voluntarily requested corporal punishment for your mistakes, so today I should reward you according to your merits. But what should I reward you with? This is troubling me greatly! Rewarding you with gold and silver jewels seems too vulgar and insufficient to express my gratitude. Rewarding you with beautiful women? I worry that it might affect the harmony of your married families. Rewarding you with fine wine and delicacies? From your conversation yesterday, it seems that the food you've eaten is several times more exquisite and delicious than the imperial cuisine in the palace. After much thought, I've finally come up with a reward that can adequately express my gratitude."

The cunning and shrewd ministers sensed something sinister in the young emperor's words, and hastily and tremblingly replied:

"Your Majesty is wise! It is our duty to share Your Majesty's burdens. We dare not accept any reward!"

"Oh! Don't you want to hear what I'm going to reward you with? Perhaps after you hear it, you'll dare to accept the reward?"

Besides gold, silver, jewels, beautiful women, and fine wine and food, what else could be the rewards? Surely not just titles and official ranks? But judging from the Emperor's expression, it must be more than that. Although a few began to waver, the cunning old foxes refused to be fooled. Only the lowest-ranking, youngest officials standing at the very back, fearlessly answered:

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness!"

"What? Have all the other ministers decided not to accept my reward?" The emperor seemed to be talking to himself. Before anyone could answer, he solemnly addressed the few who were thanking him, saying, "Good! Minister Min, Minister Chen, Minister Yu, Minister Zhang. I will grant you an opportunity to make a name for yourselves."

Then, with a powerful and resounding voice, he proclaimed, word by word: "The Ministry of Personnel is hereby ordered to draft an edict: Min Siguo is appointed as a third-rank military officer, leading 30,000 elite troops to depart in three days to suppress bandits in Chongzhou. Chen Dongshan is appointed as his deputy, to assist in the battle. Yu Pinzhang is appointed as the Imperial Inspector of Eight Prefectures, bestowed with an imperial sword, to inspect the affairs of Qizhou and Yingzhou on my behalf. All officials are to cooperate and assist him; anyone who obstructs him may be executed first and reported later. Zhang Guangsheng is appointed as a second-rank medical officer, leading the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy to accompany Lord Yu to Qizhou to control the epidemic."

The emperor's words caused another uproar in the hall, and the ministers were stunned into silence! They even forgot their injuries and collapsed onto their knees. A promotion of three ranks! Some of them had painstakingly cultivated their careers for decades without ever achieving a single promotion. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had been snatched away by themselves. They realized, after losing what they had finally obtained, that what they had lost was their very dream. The regret and anger they felt were unimaginable.

The four adults who had suddenly undergone a triple jump were equally astonished, even Xie En was speechless and his tongue was trembling.

Only the breeze below the hall and the emperor and two eunuchs in the hall remained unfazed, enjoying the carefully orchestrated drama.

[Chapter 47: The Imperial Concubine's Intrusion into the Palace]

The ministers, gradually recovering from their regret, quickly realized the unusual nature of the day. First, the Emperor's expression was strange; second, Physician Hu, who had lived in the palace for three years but never attended the morning court, had suddenly appeared. Some observant individuals even noticed that besides Eunuch Fu, the Emperor was accompanied by a young eunuch they had never seen before.

A series of unusual events piled up, and the old foxes suddenly realized they had been tricked by the young emperor. They had fallen into his gentle trap. For three years, they had tried every means and scheme to prevent the young emperor from assuming real power. Preventing the emperor from installing his cronies in court was one of their easiest and quickest methods. Whenever the emperor punished a corrupt official or a traitor, they would immediately replace him with another. If the emperor wanted someone to cause trouble, they would use bribery and coercion to bring that person over. If neither of these methods worked, they would simply eliminate them. In the end, it was always their own people who filled the gaps.

After several such instances, the young emperor learned his lesson. After completing one task, he would simply leave the position vacant. He wouldn't appoint anyone himself, nor would he appoint anyone else. Thus, after the reclusive prime minister who held sole control of the three provinces stepped down, the position of prime minister remained vacant. This position, second only to the emperor and above all others, was the dream of every official, especially the ministers of the six ministries, who were only one rank below him. This explains their intense frustration when they learned that the emperor had given them all a chance for promotion, which they had failed to seize.

Even a fool could see that those four newly promoted young officials were undoubtedly the emperor's confidants. Although the imperial edict had been issued, the deed was done, and the old foxes couldn't change it for the time being. However, while they had been promoted three ranks, their mission was far from simple! Successfully completing it would be even more difficult. What awaited them might not be as glamorous as it seemed on the surface. What if they messed things up? Could the young emperor still rely on them?

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Laughter echoed continuously from the Emperor's study. The guards standing watch outside exchanged astonished glances. They then looked up at the sky—the sun was still hanging in the east! It hadn't risen in the west, and there was no blood rain falling from the sky. How could the Emperor be laughing? It was truly a miracle!

"What are you looking at? Is there something interesting in the sky?"

A dignified female voice suddenly rang out, and the guards, without hesitation, immediately knelt down and bowed:

"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine, may you live a thousand years! We pay our respects to Your Highness!"

The person who arrived was none other than the Emperor's Consort Shui. Shui Rong'er had come to the Imperial Study several times but had not been able to see the Emperor. Requesting an audience was useless, waiting in vain, and even using her status as a consort could not intimidate the Emperor's guards.

Yesterday, after learning that her father, the Minister of War, her uncle, the Minister of Revenue, her elder brother, the Assistant Minister of War, and her second elder brother, the Vice Minister of Personnel, had all been flogged by her husband, the Emperor, she became even more eager to see him and plead for her family. Although she didn't know what her family had done wrong, she believed that although the Emperor never saw her during the day, she firmly believed that her cousin, the Emperor, who always silently guided her to heaven in the darkness and tenderly caressed her in bed, would surely show leniency for her sake.

However, she waited for half a day outside the Imperial Study yesterday but didn't see the Emperor. So, she sent a young eunuch to stand guard outside Xinhe Hall early this morning. Just now, the young eunuch ran back breathlessly and said that the Emperor had gone to the Imperial Study after court. She rushed over immediately after hearing this.

"Is the Emperor inside?" Shui Rong'er asked haughtily, looking down at the guards on the ground. Without waiting for their answer, she barged in.