Chapter 64 Please Help Your Majesty Leave the Palace
In fact, Xiao Ji had seen the young emperor a moment ago.
But unsure if the young emperor was waiting for him, Xiao Ji spoke tentatively. He initially thought that given the young emperor’s abilities and photographic memory, he should be able to respond to his poetic allusions, but unexpectedly, the young emperor spoke directly from the heart.
Several crisp, new leaves fell from the top of the young emperor’s head.
Xiao Ji didn’t know how to respond. He actually wanted to ruffle the young emperor’s hair.
But constrained by the difference in their status as sovereign and subject, he didn’t dare to do so. He pointed to his own head, indicating that Wei Wanlan still had leaves in his hair. Then, from the large stack of documents tucked into his left sleeve, he pulled out a document to show Wei Wanlan:
“This is the decision regarding the handling of the Luoyang snow disaster. Please, Your Majesty, take a look.”
Even after being here for a while, he still wasn’t used to the traditional vertical writing format.
Wei Wanlan felt a little dizzy. He decided to bluff: “I won’t read it. Tell me about it.”
A Zhongshu Sheren (secretary to the emperor) is the emperor’s secretary; this is Xiao Ji’s duty. Secretary Xiao was concise:
“Your Majesty, the written materials show that Luoyang Prefect Yuan Xi Zai is diligent and incorruptible.”
“Oh?”
“This indicates a serious problem.”
“Explain.”
Xiao Ji: “Yuan Xi Zai has likely already bribed officials at all levels and fooled the inspectors and examiners sent from Chang’an. The true situation in Luoyang is extremely worrying.”
Xiao Ji made an analogy. His fingers were long, slender, and clean as he picked up a crisp new leaf.
“If this tree has one rotten leaf growing, the root system below is likely already rotten.”
Yuan Xi Zai might be rotten to the core with the East Capital officialdom.
Solve internal strife! Solve internal strife!
Corrupt officials are before him, the mission calls.
Wei Wanlan’s eyes lit up; he urgently needed to meet his KPI (Key Performance Indicator). His deer-like eyes blinked, and he felt that he could handle this thorny problem: “I’ll tell the Regent.” This was the fastest way.
“Your Majesty, that’s not appropriate.”
Xiao Ji had a letter hidden in his sleeve.
He took out the letter, and Wei Wanlan was immediately captivated by the petal-like texture of the envelope. Apparently, ancient literati corresponded with each other in an extremely elegant manner; it even smelled fragrant.
It was entirely different from the stationery in the Regent’s study, which focused on simplicity and coldness.
“This is from a literary friend of mine,” Xiao Ji said. “The letter only contains poetic exchanges, no political matters. However, my literary friend wrote a particularly good line, ‘A crimson shoulder towards the wild in spring clothes.’ I pondered a comparable line and casually mentioned it in the Zhongshu Province. As a result, when I went to the Menxia Province to work, a colleague responded.”
Xiao Ji’s meaning was clear: going to the Zhongshu Province to find the Regent would ensure that nothing remained secret. If the court then sent someone to investigate Yuan Xi Zai, the result would be the same.
Wei Wanlan thought that he could wait until the Regent came to the Zichen Palace to sleep next time and secretly tell him in the dragon bed.
But he felt that this way of informing was a little strange. Unfortunately, Wei Wanlan didn’t think of the fitting term “pillow talk.”
“Then no one can deal with him?”
Then he thought again that the emperor is far away, and there are too many variables.
Wei Wanlan suddenly raised his head.
He had a strong intuition that Yuan Xi Zai would definitely strongly contribute to completing task two. He remembered the people who might be living in misery:
“I’ll investigate personally.”
Xiao Ji immediately knelt: “Your Majesty, think it over!”
Although this showed Wei Wanlan’s love for the people, Xiao Ji was willing to provide all kinds of help to stabilize Wei Wanlan’s reign. However, there were too many variables outside the palace.
Xiao Ji’s family had served as ministers for many years and understood the importance of the emperor to the stability of the country. Even though this emperor might just be a puppet emperor, the country couldn’t function without one.
“Your Majesty’s intention is appreciated. The people of Luoyang are already grateful for Your Majesty’s compassion. It is truly inappropriate to take such a risk personally. How about this: you issue a secret decree, and I will go for you?”
Wei Wanlan blinked, thought carefully, felt that it was better not to cause trouble, and if he angered the big villain again, he thought it was feasible:
“Then I might have to trouble you.” Wei Wanlan said softly.
“Your Majesty is too kind. Serving the emperor and sharing his worries are the duty of a minister. I hope Your Majesty will always need me.”
It’s not unreasonable that Xiao Ji understands Wei Wanlan’s temper.
Xiao Ji comforted Wei Wanlan skillfully, treating Wei Wanlan as his superior; his position was clear. Except when facing the Regent, he always showed the humility and courtesy of a scholar.
Unlike some Regents, who don’t even understand the hierarchy between themselves and the emperor.
Wei Wanlan was persuaded to give up the idea and felt relieved.
—Because even if he constantly needed a brave warrior, he wouldn’t mind!
After completing all the tasks, he would first give An Gonggong a bonus and then grant Xiao Ji a seal of office.
Wei Wanlan was fantasizing when several people passed by on this palace corridor. Several officials were also holding memorials, walking in a line; they seemed to be reporting to the Regent.
Wei Wanlan hurriedly tried to hide, wanting to crawl back into the bushes. But at that moment, he met Xiao Ji’s questioning gaze, and his legs immediately froze. He was the emperor of Great Wei.
Why should I be afraid?
Finally showing some demeanor befitting a newly-crowned emperor, Wei Wanlan straightened his back: “Cough, cough, several ministers.”
Amazingly, not only were flowers blooming on the early spring road, but there was also a small emperor.
The passing ministers prostrated themselves, and Wei Wanlan successfully reversed the situation.
“Greetings to Your Majesty. We await Your Majesty’s instructions.”
He casually instructed: “I’m just taking a look; what business do you ministers have?”
One of the slightly more outgoing officials answered:
“We have announced this year’s list of outstanding ministers to the world and are about to report to the Regent.”
Wei Wanlan felt a little uneasy but still asked: “Who are the outstanding ministers?”
The outgoing official replied: “First place, Luoyang Prefect Yuan Xi Zai.”
!!!
This can’t be happening! QAQ
The corrupt official I just wanted to secretly investigate has been named one of Great Wei’s outstanding ministers?
The announcement has already been made.
Cold sweat broke out on Wei Wanlan’s back; goosebumps appeared on his arms and the back of his neck.
Even someone with little experience in power struggles like him knew that:
Sending Xiao Ji to investigate Yuan Xi Zai at this time would not only prevent the investigation from proceeding, but even if any problems were found, it would be slapping the court’s own face.
He couldn’t grant Xiao Ji such authority…
Faced with this fait accompli, Wei Wanlan was at a loss.
But should he really choose to give up the investigation knowing that Yuan Xi Zai had problems?
Somehow, Wei Wanlan seemed to be able to see the rivers and mountains of Luoyang from a distance. He also saw the strange snow in Luoyang.
After a long while.
After everyone had left, Wei Wanlan suddenly took a deep breath: “Phew.”
The fresh air of early spring filled his lungs.
Wei Wanlan slowly exhaled.
Then he said to Xiao Ji: “I still intend to leave the palace in disguise. Only if I go to Luoyang personally can I conduct a thorough investigation without worrying about the court’s reputation. Let me take the blame for the court’s face. I know you must have a way; please help me leave the palace.”
Wei Wanlan’s words were reasonable, but Xiao Ji’s body stiffened slightly. Taking the young emperor out of the palace involved great risk.
Xiao Ji lowered his brows: “Your Majesty must go?”
Wei Wanlan nodded: “It’s an order.”
“This minister obeys.”
＊＊＊
His good friend Xiao Ji was probably the only one who could receive his orders and execute them flawlessly.
He deserved to be the off-field partner designated by the Wise Monarch Cultivation System.
Just as he trusted the system, he trusted Xiao Ji. Changing out of his dragon robes, Wei Wanlan and Secretary Xiao arrived at Xing’an Gate, on the side of the palace city.
The gate was significantly smaller than the main gate, Danfeng Gate, at least half the size. Fewer people entered and exited through this gate.
Although the Jinwu soldiers guarding the gate were still well-organized, they had fewer people to deal with and thus less security. The Jinwu Captain was unfamiliar; Wei Wanlan had never seen him, which was a good thing; the other party should not have seen him either.
In ancient times, there were many officials who came to the court from all over the country. Palace checks on access were divided into two methods: tokens and registers.
Tokens were naturally easy; they were like modern passes. Different dynasties had different names for them; in the Tang Dynasty, they were called Yu Fu.
But Wei Wanlan certainly didn’t have a token.
He couldn’t even tell the Regent that he wanted to leave; otherwise, not only would he not be able to leave, but the consequences would be severe. After hiding in the Princess’s servant’s team to leave the palace last time, he was bullied by the mad big villain on the desk. He said it was a severe punishment.
This time, he didn’t want to be “severely punished” again!
Wei Wanlan inexplicably felt chest tightness; he couldn’t breathe; he took several deep breaths of the fresh early spring air at Danfeng Gate; it was sweet and cool.
This time, Xiao Ji took him out using the register verification method.
At first, Wei Wanlan didn’t understand, but after a simple explanation from Xiao Ji, he not only understood but also thought that Secretary Xiao was truly brilliant—
The register was a method designed to solve the trouble of verifying tokens one by one and issuing tokens. The information of certain specific groups of people was registered at the gate beforehand. After the guards verified it according to the register, they allowed people to enter or exit the palace.
And this register would gradually be simplified by the soldiers to improve efficiency, turning into allowing people to pass when they were seen.
In short, facial recognition.
It so happened that Xiao Ji’s family had five generations of ministers, and he had grown up in the court.
He was familiar with court laws and regulations; he had long since noticed a huge loophole in the current register system. But he didn’t explain it; he thought it could be used in the future. Who would have thought it would be used today.
Secretary Xiao said: “I have the register for this gate. Cheng’en County Prince Wei Wanqing, a collateral branch of the royal family, was registered at Xing’an Gate several years ago, but the prince hasn’t entered the palace for many years, and with the changing of times, several batches of soldiers have been replaced at Danfeng Gate.”
“What does that mean?” Wei Wanlan wondered in his heart.
Secretary Xiao was always willing to show his intelligence in front of Wei Wanlan:
“You will take the place of Cheng’en County Prince to leave the palace. Remember his information in the register, and the verification will not be discovered.”
If one really wanted to ask why, Wei Wanlan thought, because the people in those personal information portraits could not be made lifelike; this is a limitation of ancient technology.
Royal family members impersonating royal family members, the emperor replacing a county prince; their age and appearance are similar.
Last time, he relied on method 404 to leave the palace and had to impersonate the Princess’s servant; he had to dress as a woman, but this time, he didn’t even need to bother Wei Wanyi.
The warrior is strong enough…
If it weren’t to maintain the emperor’s little dignity in front of the warrior, Wei Wanlan would have once again expressed his admiration for the Great Wei civil servants, and he almost wrote “You are amazing” on his face.
“Who is leaving the palace?”
While feeling sentimental, they had already arrived at Xing’an Gate.
While a little nervous, Wei Wanlan’s heart was pounding. Lying makes one’s nose grow long; he was lying to complete the task; he must not let his nose grow long.
Wei Wanlan covered his nose and said, “Cheng’en County Prince.”
The Wei family had few offspring; the Regent was in charge in the palace, and the guards rarely saw a prince; regardless of who came first, the guards bowed:
“Greetings to the County Prince. We will verify the register; please wait a moment—bring the register!”
Indeed, people with unfamiliar faces need to have their information checked.
Wei Wanlan nodded, still nervous, although Secretary Xiao had told him that Cheng’en County Prince was somewhat similar to him.
He saw the Xing’an Gate soldier open the thick register, find the page with Cheng’en County Prince’s registration, glance hastily at the portrait on it; it was not very clear, but as shown in costume dramas, it was a sketchy outline, showing nothing special.
Wei Wanlan secretly relaxed.
He glanced at Xiao Ji; Secretary Xiao was already familiar with this gate; the soldiers respectfully clasped their fists: “Mr. Xiao.”
“Mr.” is a respectful title for famous scholars. More impressive than “Mr. Xiao.”
He watched Xiao Ji leave, gently and politely; he couldn’t help but compare him in his mind to a certain big villain; the scene was simply incomparable to ordinary people; even he, the emperor, was incomparable; the whole city tower had to kneel! The sound of armor was neat and deafening.
The big villain was a fire-breathing evil dragon!
The Xing’an Gate Jinwu Guard compared him carefully with the portrait for a while. The soldier’s brows gradually relaxed; his attitude became even more respectful:
“Please pass, County Prince!”
Oh, it’s over.
Then, in the future, if I want to leave the palace again, can I just use Cheng’en County Prince’s face?
His feet were about to step out of Xing’an Gate.
The big villain who bites people, rare opportunity, goodbye for now, I’m going on a mission~~~~
But a Jinwu Captain’s call stopped him from behind: “Cheng’en County Prince, stop!”
The Captain was in charge of Xing’an Gate’s defense; his footsteps came closer and closer.
Wei Wanlan turned around and saw him approaching with his sword, solemnly and seriously asking: “County Prince, you want to leave the palace, but why haven’t we seen you enter the palace?”
Danger! QAQ!!!