Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Xie Jinyu stared at Xie Chengze in shock.
He wanted Xie Jinyu to answer?
Had he not sent a spy to the Eastern Palace last night to eavesdrop on Xie Jinyu’s discussion with his retainers and steal the response they had devised? And had he not ordered that spying precisely so he could distinguish himself at court and win the praise of Father and the ministers?
Why had he suddenly handed the chance to shine to Xie Jinyu on a silver platter?
This was not like Xie Chengze.
Too suspicious.
Everything about Xie Chengze today was suspicious. No one could tell what he was trying to accomplish.
Xie Jinyu’s brows drew together. The method he and his retainers had discussed might not have been a perfect answer, but it would score seventy or eighty out of a hundred – more than enough to handle Father’s question.
Could Xie Chengze have spotted some crucial flaw and be waiting for him to finish before rushing in to add corrections?
That had to be it. Otherwise, Xie Chengze would never surrender a chance to distinguish himself at court.
Steadying himself, Xie Jinyu stepped forward from the ranks and answered with perfect clarity. “Yizhou has suffered from flooding for many years. Because of it, the Jiangdu Plain – which could otherwise be a great breadbasket – produces disappointing grain harvests year after year. Controlling the waters is indeed an urgent matter. Yet as the Minister of Works has said, every dynasty has tried every conceivable means of building dikes, only for all of them to be swept away within three years. Addressing the root of the problem will indeed be difficult.”
Xie Chengze nodded inwardly.
In *The Powerful Minister*, Yizhou lay on the Jiangdu Plain, a vast expanse of fertile land ideally suited for growing crops. Unfortunately, it also sat downstream on the Min River. Every summer, melting snow from the high mountains and unending rain sent the Min River’s floodwaters roaring down in full force, washing away every crop the people of the Jiangdu Plain had spent the year cultivating and leaving them in misery.
Many farmers could only leave their homes in sorrow. More and more soil was abandoned, a sight that could make anyone sigh.
It was not that no one in any dynasty had ever attempted flood control in Yizhou. River embankments and dams of every kind had been built, yet none had proved effective. Whenever a flash flood came, they were utterly destroyed, leaving the court to provide relief and rebuild them over and over again.
The novel had never offered any supposed permanent solution, either. Instead, the embezzlement of disaster-relief funds became the incident that launched Shen Yuan down the path of becoming the powerful minister.
Beside him, Xie Jinyu continued, “This son believes our immediate priority should be rebuilding the dams and providing relief to settle the people. Then, during next year’s spring imperial examination, perhaps this matter could be included on the examination paper.”
“Absurd! The spring imperial examination is held once every three years to select outstanding talent. How can you leak an examination question?” An elderly official immediately stepped forward and objected in a stern voice.
Xie Chengze’s interest was instantly piqued. Oh? Let’s see who this is~
Anyone who jumped out to oppose the Crown Prince at a moment like this was most likely a member of the Second Prince’s faction. Xie Chengze had better memorize his face so he would not fail to recognize one of his own men later.
Xie Chengze poked his head out like a curious kitten to peer at the assembled ministers. At the sight of him, the elderly official immediately shot him a meaningful look, as if to say, *Rest assured, Your Highness. We will make certain the Crown Prince cannot show his face after this!*
Xie Chengze was instantly moved beyond words.
Sir! You are a good man! But thanks, anyway. All I want now is to lie low!
Xie Chengze tucked his kittenish head back in and obediently returned to his place.
“If it concerns the people’s livelihood, why should it be forbidden?” Xie Jinyu took another step forward and inclined himself slightly toward Emperor Jian, his words earnest. “We could add one openly announced question as an optional extra, awarding additional points according to the quality of each answer. The question could be distributed in advance to every prefecture and county, allowing us to pool the realm’s wisdom and deliberate on a method of controlling Yizhou’s waters. What do you think, Father?”
“Hmm…” Emperor Jian considered the proposal briefly. “It is a sound method.”
The Ministry of Works happened to be short of men. If they truly discovered someone gifted in civil engineering and water management, that person could even be admitted by special exception.
The Minister of Rites hurried to voice his agreement. “Making it an examination question means the court is testing the scholars’ knowledge of rivers and geography rather than asking the common people for a flood-control plan. It gathers wisdom from across the realm without damaging the dignity of the court’s officials. A truly excellent policy! Your Highness is wise!”
The other ministers echoed him one after another, and a barrage of flattery filled the hall.
Xie Jinyu glanced at Xie Chengze. Last night, he and his retainers had known that Xie Chengze’s spy was outside the door, so they had discussed only seventy percent of the plan. Now he had revealed it in full. Xie Chengze had nothing left to add and must surely be stamping his feet in fury.
Yet when Xie Jinyu turned, the person who had always fought to outdo everyone was looking down and playing with his fair fingertips. His unfocused eyes made it obvious his mind had wandered elsewhere.
Xie Jinyu: ?
From atop the Dragon Throne, Emperor Jian’s sharp, imposing gaze settled on Xie Chengze, then softened with a hint of warmth. “What does Chengze think?”
Xie Chengze, called upon yet again, returned to his senses. *Huh?*
*Why are you asking me again?*
Meeting Emperor Jian’s half-encouraging, half-indulgent gaze, Xie Chengze reluctantly stepped out of line. He sighed inwardly. *You’re a grown man. Can’t you make up your own mind? Why do you have to ask me about something like this?*
He grumbled inwardly, but his answer was perfectly obedient. “This son believes everything the Crown Prince said is correct. Why not entrust the matter to the Crown Prince? He will surely live up to Your Majesty’s trust and select outstanding talent for Father during next year’s spring imperial examination!”
Xie Jinyu’s eyes darkened. His gaze on Xie Chengze became increasingly fathomless.
In the past, Xie Chengze would already have rushed forward to snatch this assignment. Why had he handed the opportunity away so readily today?
Did he believe Xie Jinyu could never find a way to control the floods and intend to watch safely from the opposite bank while he made a fool of himself?
Or did he plan to stir up trouble during the spring imperial examination and make His Majesty condemn Xie Jinyu for poor management and incompetence?
As he pondered, Xie Chengze’s soft, kittenish voice rang out once more. “Father, this son is feeling unwell. May I take a few days’ leave from court?”
Xie Jinyu’s heart sank, and a thread of agitation rose within him. The sense that Xie Chengze had slipped beyond his control began to leave him restless and irritable, unable to sit still.
Feeling unwell… Was he sick?
Was that why he seemed so listless today and could not even be bothered to fight with him?
No. It was not as if Xie Chengze had never fallen ill before. Even when sick, he would drag himself to court and fight Xie Jinyu tooth and nail, scrambling for a good reputation and Father’s praise. How could he suddenly request leave – and several days of it at once?
Could he have… some incurable disease?
Remembering the moisture at the corner of Xie Chengze’s eye, Xie Jinyu rubbed his fingertips together, recalling the sensation that lingered there. His thoughts were in disarray.
Had he given up on their struggle because his terminal illness could not be cured, and he no longer cared what happened?
At the thought, the emotions in Xie Jinyu’s eyes grew even more darkly agitated. He was just about to nudge Xie Zimiao discreetly with an elbow when Xie Zimiao spoke up on his own. He looked anxiously at Xie Chengze. “Second Brother, what illness do you have?”
Thinking of how Xie Chengze had taken his pulse moments ago, Xie Zimiao berated himself inwardly. Second Brother was clearly ill himself, yet had been more concerned about whether Xie Zimiao was sick – and Xie Zimiao had not even noticed that Second Brother was unwell!
“I merely caught a chill and shouldn’t be exposed to the wind. Before requesting leave, I wanted to see Father one more time,” Xie Chengze fabricated on the spot.
The words plainly delighted Emperor Jian. He raised a hand and laughed. “Very well, very well. We grant it.”
Once Emperor Jian gave permission, Xie Chengze hurriedly bent to express his thanks, then returned to his place with perfect decorum.
Emperor Jian withdrew his gaze and said mildly, “As for the openly announced examination question, the Ministry of Rites will remain responsible for the matter for now. Disaster relief in Yizhou brooks no delay. Allocate three hundred thousand taels of silver to rebuild the embankments and aid the people, under the personal supervision of Liang Wanda, Prefect of Yizhou.”
“Your Majesty! Is three hundred thousand taels of silver not a little too much? The autumn hunt is approaching and will already cost a considerable sum. Last year’s harvest was poor, and the Imperial Observatory said this year would bring many disasters. Who knows how much more bad news is on its way? The Ministry of Revenue’s funds cannot withstand it!” The Minister of Revenue’s voice trembled.
Xie Chengze nodded to himself again. Ancient populations were small, and their technology was undeveloped, so natural disasters were already difficult to resolve. Add the demands of a novel’s plot, and calamities among the people became even more frequent and more likely to occur. Many more prefectures and counties would indeed need relief funds later.
It was precisely because the treasury was empty that Shen Yuan would be entrusted with saving the situation, purging corrupt officials and reorganizing the imperial court.
On the Dragon Throne, Emperor Jian frowned slightly. “That has always been the amount allocated for disaster relief.”
“Your Majesty!” The Minister of Revenue dropped straight to his knees and wailed, “There are too many disasters this year. We truly are destitute!”
Emperor Jian’s gaze drifted eerily back toward Xie Chengze.
Xie Chengze instantly went on high alert. He decided then and there to spout something outrageous and kill any desire the emperor had to question him again. “Father, if we don’t have enough money, why don’t we confiscate someone’s estate? One confiscation and we’ll have it!”
The moment the words fell, every official recoiled in horror.
Xie Jinyu gave Xie Chengze an even more appalled look.
Was there nothing he would not dare say?
Xie Chengze looked perfectly innocent, while Emperor Jian appeared to be seriously considering the possibility. Xie Jinyu hurriedly stepped forward. “Father, when the people suffer, officials should be the first to set an example. Surely the civil and military officials are willing to open their purses generously and donate silver to help the people through this crisis.”
The ministers hastened to agree. Terrified that their estates might be confiscated, they all knelt. “This minister is willing to donate silver to the people of Yizhou!”
They had no choice but to donate! Given how greatly Emperor Jian indulged the Second Prince, he might truly consider confiscation. It would be cause for celebration if a rival’s estate were seized, but if the confiscations reached their own doors –
Then they would have far more than tears to worry about. They would lose their heads!
Seeing that all the civil and military officials had volunteered to donate silver, Emperor Jian nodded in satisfaction. “In that case, my beloved ministers shall go to the Ministry of Revenue after court and settle the matter. Chengze, you will oversee it. Find out who donates the least and report that person to Us yourself. We shall withhold his salary for the next six months, both as punishment and as further relief funds for the disaster victims!”
At those words, the officials who had planned to donate less began wailing in their hearts.
“Yes, Father.” Xie Chengze accepted the order with great reluctance.
That dog of an emperor he called Father was making him supervise the donations. Wasn’t that forcing him to offend every official at court?
Why should the Crown Prince come up with the idea while Xie Chengze took the blame? Originally, he only had to offend one official and be done with it. Now he would offend them all!
Alas, life was hard. The whetstone could only sigh.
After court adjourned, Xie Chengze fled as though his backside were on fire. Pretending not to see the questions and pleas for him to stay in Xie Zimiao’s and Xie Jinyu’s eyes, he oiled the soles of his feet and slipped away.
Xie Zimiao watched Xie Chengze’s departing figure with regret. “Second Brother was incredible today. With one simple sentence, he made those stingy civil and military officials offer silver for the emergency on their own.”
“But what illness does Second Brother have? He asked for so many days of leave.” Worry filled Xie Zimiao’s voice.
Xie Jinyu stared after Xie Chengze, his fingertips rubbing the spot that had touched the tear. After a moment, he said flatly, “Who knows? Perhaps he’s about to die.”
Xie Zimiao nearly burst into tears at that.
He, too, believed that Xie Chengze – who had stopped fighting the Crown Prince – might be nearing the end of his life.