Chapter 18
In the study room of Chonghua Palace.
The two Imperial Cabinet ministers, Minister of Rites, and Privy Council Academician who were summoned looked at each other in bewilderment.
Especially Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet, who had just learned that his son-in-law was punished for presenting a Daoist priest, not knowing which nerve of the Emperor he had touched.
"Is there a Privy Academician named Pan Ji?" Xiao Yunzhou, seated in the principal seat, came straight to the point.
The Privy Council Academician twitched his eyelid, "To respond to Your Majesty, there is indeed such a person, a fifth-rank Editor."
Xiao Yunzhou immediately grabbed the chair arms, it was real!
The Little Princess was right again!
"What has Pan Ji's performance been like in recent years?"
The Minister of Rites was sweating profusely.
Officials were evaluated once every three years, why was the Emperor suddenly asking about a minor fifth-rank official?
There must be an issue.
The Privy Council Academician answered on behalf of the Minister of Rites, "To respond to Your Majesty, Editor Pan Ji comes from the same Metropolitan Examination intake, mainly tasked with collating and compiling ancient texts related to the dredging of the Gui River Basin. In recent years, he has been diligently editing books, rain or shine."
However, after a moment's thought, he added, "But he does not communicate much with his colleagues, his temperament is rather eccentric, and he often comes and goes alone."
Xiao Yunzhou's gaze flickered.
This aligned with what the Princess had said - that Pan Ji worked on collating ancient texts related to dredging.
With his eccentric temperament and solitary habits, it's no wonder no one recommended him during the recent flood control efforts.
Until this minor editor gave a bribe to the Imperial Cabinet, and then received a recommendation.
Thinking about this, Xiao Yunzhou looked disapprovingly at Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet.
What a family the Fuchas are!
One trying to poison him in the palace, the other taking bribes in court!
A capable person like Pan Ji, who wished to apply for dredging the Yellow River Basin after three years, still had to bribe Lord Fucha!
This was simply unacceptable.
"Appoint Pan Ji to Yang Mountain as Director-General of River Dredging," Xiao Yunzhou ordered. "He shall take up the post immediately."
The officials in the study were all greatly astonished.
Especially the two elderly Imperial Cabinet ministers and the Minister of Rites, they could not help but look up and observe Xiao Yunzhou's expression.
The Emperor ascended the throne at fifteen and learned governance under the Grand Secretariat for three years.
He only started presiding over court sessions himself at eighteen, but even after personally taking charge, he had always greatly trusted the Imperial Cabinet, especially the elderly Lord Fucha who was related to him.
The Emperor rarely intervened directly in official appointments.
Usually, the Imperial Cabinet would recommend candidates, and Xiao Yunzhou would give his approval.
But today was different.
"Your Majesty, this cannot be done. This Pan Ji has no experience in river management. Where did Your Majesty hear about him? You should know that learning from texts is superficial - he is merely an editor and may not have even seen what a river looks like."
Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet stood up to object.
Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes, about to speak, when suddenly the cries of an infant came from the side room.
All the officials were startled.
Who was in the side chamber?
Why was there a newborn crying?
They were puzzled, but saw Xiao Yunzhou suddenly tense up and ask Wei Zheng with concern, "Is the Little Princess crying? What happened to her?"
The officials were dumbfounded.
The Third Princess?
The Third Princess had just given birth recently, but how could the Little Princess be in the Emperor's Chonghua Palace?
Last night, the Emperor hurt his leg from the Earth Dragon's upheaval, and today he summoned the newborn Little Princess...
The Emperor seemed different somehow.
The officials were perplexed, but Wei Zheng knew who was currently favored.
He immediately trotted over, as if attending to not the Little Princess, but the future Crown Prince.
In a short while, he came back panting with an answer.
"Your Majesty, it is the Little Princess crying. The Little Princess seems to want to go out and see the flowers, but Consort Liu is not allowing it."
Xiao Yunzhou could not help but laugh. "Bring her to me, I will take her to see the flowers. It's snowing outside, so we'll look at them in this study room."
"Go, bring some potted narcissus and winter sweet flowers."
The two elderly ministers were greatly surprised.
This was too indulgent!
They themselves would not be so doting towards their own children.
They were in the middle of a discussion, but now they were going to hold the child and look at flowers?
However, Wei Zheng soon steadily carried over the swaddled Xiao Chuchú.
Xiao Yunzhou usually devoted himself to Taoism and did not often show much affection towards his own offspring.
He seldom even called his eldest son to be by his side, but now, when holding Xiao Chuchú, he was all smiles.
He even carefully checked to ensure there were no gaps in the little blanket that would let in the cold air.
"My dear Chuchú is so good."
"It's snowing outside, it's cold, so let's look at the flowers indoors. Your father will personally hold you while we admire them."
The officials were stunned to see Xiao Yunzhou acting like a doting elderly father.
[Woof, so these are the Imperial Cabinet ministers?]
Xiao Chuchú looked around in her swaddling, her little face beaming with excitement, no longer crying.
She just wanted to see the Grand Secretaries.
For scholars to reach this level was the highest honor.
[It's a pity Lord Fucha does not cherish it, truly disgracing the face of scholars. Just the bribes he secretly accepted are more than the Emperor Father's private treasury has accumulated over the ten years since his ascension!]
[Ah, the Emperor Father was so frugal before, wanting to build a Taoist temple but couldn't afford it due to lacking funds, so he gave up.]
[He must not have expected that with just a glimpse of what was in Lord Fucha's hands, he would have had enough.]
Xiao Yunzhou's expression suddenly turned grim.
The officials in the study all felt a chill in the air.
But Xiao Chuchú had not noticed yet, her eyes still rolling as she recalled.
[This time, the provincial governor sent to manage the flood of the Yellow River was Lord Fucha's son-in-law. He gave Lord Fucha a bribe of a hundred thousand taels of silver.]
Outrageous!
Xiao Yunzhou almost coughed up blood.
A hundred thousand taels - he could hardly afford that!
During this flood relief effort, the Ministry of Revenue had said there was a shortage of funds.
Yet Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet had personally accepted a hundred thousand taels!
[Ah, even more despicable was that this bribe-giving son-in-law was also greedy himself. Calculating the time, the Emperor Father will soon receive news that the embankment has breached again.]
[This was because he stole and cut corners, only spending a third of the silver on the embankment.]
Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
After all, he was a Taoist cultivator, practicing self-discipline.
With his breathing, he suppressed his fury and looked towards the Minister of Rites, "Why are you not going to carry out the order?"
The Minister of Rites glanced at Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet, hesitating, "Your Majesty, without the Imperial Cabinet's approval document, this minister..."
Xiao Yunzhou was enraged.
But in an instant, an eunuch came rushing to the door, sweating profusely.
"Your Majesty, urgent news from Yang Mountain three hundred li away!"
"Last night, the embankment breached again!"
All the officials in the study room were stunned.
Especially the Minister of Rites, who had just hesitated to immediately obey the order to appoint Pan Ji - he almost went weak in the knees.
The previous flood control governor, Zhu Ming, was recommended by the Ministry of Rites, then approved by the Imperial Cabinet, before finally receiving the Emperor's red stamp of approval.
But the Minister of Rites knew that this was just a formality.
In reality, Governor Zhu was directly suggested by Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet for him to recommend!
Now that Zhu Ming had made a mistake, the Ministry of Rites that recommended him could not escape blame!
The Minister of Rites had sweat pouring down his back.
He was doomed...
"Summon the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lu Tong, immediately arrest Governor Zhu Ming and River Management Minister Liu Xun, and bring them back to the capital!"
Xiao Yunzhou, holding the Little Princess to avoid frightening her, did not shout but spoke in a low, calm voice with a piercing gaze like a sword.
The Minister of Rites fell to his knees.
"The Minister of Rites is suspended for failing to properly oversee officials. Cooperate with the Imperial Guards' investigation."
"The Imperial Cabinet ministers who approved this appointment shall receive the same punishment, and have their salaries docked for five years!"
Lord Fucha's face turned ashen.
But Xiao Yunzhou could no longer be bothered to look at him.
[Woohoo, well done! Punish those greedy and corrupt officials severely!]
[The Emperor Father was so wise today~~~]
Xiao Chuchú was truly delighted to see the corrupt officials being punished.
And by extension, she even found the frugal Emperor Father who was devoted to Taoism a bit more likable.
For the first time, Xiao Yunzhou heard his daughter's flattery, and the corners of his mouth curved up into a smile.
Holding his daughter, he went into the inner chambers.
"Wei Zheng, call the Fifth Prince to join us for the evening meal."
*
At the Qianxi No.5 Residence.
The Fifth Prince, Cheng Qian, accompanied by a young eunuch, headed to the South Imperial Garden.
They met the on-duty Imperial Guard Pang Rusong along the way.
Pang Rusong was the guard who carried the Emperor out of the Qianqing Palace last night and was rewarded.
He was the future great general of the border regions who was mentioned by the gentle Chuchun.
Cheng Qian nodded at him from afar, "Pang the Imperial Guard, were you injured last night?"
Pang the Imperial Guard was touched and quickly paid respects, "Fifth Prince, this servant was not seriously harmed."
"Last night, thanks to the Fifth Prince's warning, this servant escaped through the west gate of the palace, avoiding being struck by the fallen beam."
His wife is now the wet nurse of the Third Princess.
Yesterday, she sent him a message saying that Liu had promised to take good care of her.
Pang the Imperial Guard did not expect that the Fifth Prince would be such a magnanimous person.
He was just an ordinary Imperial Guard.
Usually, when other princes saw their guards, they would look down upon them with disdain.
The Imperial Guards serving the Crown Prince had even been punished by him after being injured in a fight.
In comparison, the Fifth Prince was truly kind and benevolent toward others!
"This servant thanks the Prince for his concern."
"It is good that there is no serious harm," Cheng Qian breathed a sigh of relief.
He had heard from his sister and truly could not bear the thought of a future great general being plagued by illness and dying from it.
Cheng Qian knew that as a prince, he could not have too much contact with the Imperial Guards in front of the Emperor, lest it arouse suspicion.
So he had a eunuch deliver some golden wound medicine from the Imperial Physician's Office, "This time, thanks to Pang the Imperial Guard for rescuing our father the Emperor. In the future, you must take extra care. Minor injuries must be treated promptly, or they will develop into serious illnesses."
Pang was so moved that he was about to kneel, but Cheng Qian quickly went over and helped him up.
"There is no need for such ceremony. You saved our father, so it is only right that I do this for you."
As he spoke, Wei Zheng hurriedly arrived.
"Fifth Prince, so you were here. This servant has been searching all over for you."
"Please come with me to the Chonghua Palace quickly."
"The Emperor is waiting for you to join him for skewered meat and hotpot."