Episode Sixty-Two: Xie Renfeng Enters the Capital

The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance, and one of them said, "My lord is simply exhausted, leading to a depleted constitution and an invasion of external pathogens, which has brought on this cold. We shall prescribe a restorative remedy, and within half a month, you will be fully recovered."

Xiao Zhi nodded and cast a glance at He Qing.

Reluctantly, He Qing produced two bank notes.

"Thank you for the lord's reward." The imperial physicians bowed and withdrew to have the medicine prepared.

Xiao Zhi had generously given five hundred taels to each of them, and the physicians showered him with profuse expressions of gratitude.

They had done nothing out of the ordinary, merely following Hu Bao's instructions to dose Xiao Zhi with tonic medicine every day, thus pleasing both sides.

Xiao Zhi, believing he had bribed two imperial physicians, felt that the thousand taels were well spent.

He Qing alone felt a deep reluctance. Over the past few days, he had watched Xiao Zhi spend money like water, every single sum exceeding what he could earn in a lifetime.

Considering himself one of Xiao Zhi's trusted men, he had wanted to advise him to economize, but could not bring himself to speak, ultimately still having to disburse the funds as ordered.

Every time, it broke his heart.

However, He Qing soon had no time to dwell on his financial heartache, because his job of attending to Xiao Zhi was usurped.

Accompanying the imperial guards were six palace maids.

Eunuch Hu was truly considerate, specifically selecting beauties for this mission. Each of them was seventeen or eighteen years old, with willow waists and alluring curves.

Xue Yuan solemnly read out the imperial decree, stating that these maids were to attend to Xiao Zhi closely, shielding him from even the slightest breath of wind—most certainly during sleep as well.

Dark lines crossed Xiao Zhi's forehead. He had known Qin Yong was cunning, but he had no idea the emperor possessed such a playful and malicious streak.

Assigning six palace maids to him—this was practically an attempt to exhaust him to death in the boudoir.

Xiao Zhi could easily picture Qin Yong's mischievous smirk. So you are in no rush to return to the capital? Very well, I have concocted a reason for you: is a dual deficiency of kidney yin and yang sufficient?

As night fell, the six palace maids stood by the bed, each dressed in exceptionally sheer attire.

Xiao Zhi said, "Rooms have been prepared for you. All of you may go and rest."

The maids did not move, looking at one another in confusion.

The bed was clearly not large enough; it could never hold all of them if they climbed up.

With a darkening expression, Xiao Zhi said coldly, "I will not make things difficult for you, nor should you attempt to use the imperial edict to pressure me. If I tell you to get out, and you leave obediently, nothing will happen. But if you provoke me, once we return to the capital, I will have all of you sent to the military camps to serve as camp followers."

Serving in the palace, maids were permitted to leave upon reaching the age of twenty-five, though by then they were considered older women, often forced to become concubines or marry impoverished commoners.

Since Eunuch Hu had arranged for them to serve Xiao Zhi, whether they had lost their purity or not, returning to the palace was no longer an option.

These palace maids had assumed the emperor was rewarding them to Xiao Zhi, and that Xiao Zhi would be obliged to keep them, granting them the status of concubines and a life free from worries about food and clothing.

Never had they imagined Xiao Zhi would react this way.

"Get out!"

At Xiao Zhi's cold reprimand, the maids scurried away in disgrace.

Outside the bedchamber, Xue Yuan was unsurprised by this outcome. He waved his hand, signaling them to retire to the prepared rooms.

Once the maids had departed, Qian Tang emerged from the shadows. "Brother."

Xue Yuan was called away by Qian Tang, and the two drank wine for half the night.

When Xue Yuan finally returned to his room, his bosom held an additional note for one thousand taels.

Early the next morning, after finishing the strong tonic prescribed by the imperial physicians, Xiao Zhi boarded the carriage and set off toward the capital.

Inside the carriage, he lay once more with his head in He Qing's lap, engrossed in a collection of vernacular stories.

He Qing was in high spirits, humming a cheerful little tune.

"Did you eat honey-bee droppings? Why are you smiling so sweetly?"

"I am happy to."

"Are honey-bee droppings delicious?"

"My lord, you are insufferable." He Qing pinched Xiao Zhi's shoulder, though the gesture lacked any real force.

Over the past few days, Xiao Zhi had grown quite fond of these storybooks. They were far more entertaining than the novels of later generations, primarily because they lacked censorship and were as explicit as one could wish.

Moreover, these stories all featured Xiao Zhi as the protagonist, with wildly imaginative plots that he found remarkably immersive.

"My lord, early this morning, a squadron captain was trying to curry favor with the palace maids, and Qian Tang gave him a slap across the face."

Xiao Zhi frowned slightly. "Indeed?"

After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you know which captain it was?"

He Qing nodded. "A tall, slender fellow named Tian Guan."

"That slap was too light."

Whether Xiao Zhi wanted those palace maids or not, they were not something a mere captain could covet. That was a matter of basic propriety.

Xiao Zhi might give them away, and others might ask for them, but theft was intolerable.

Xiao Zhi sat up, lifted the side curtain of the carriage, and beckoned to Qian Tang, who was riding alongside.

Qian Tang reined in his horse and approached. "My lord, what are your orders?"

Xiao Zhi asked, "How is that Tian Guan being dealt with?"

Qian Tang replied, "Upon our return to the capital, he will receive twenty heavy board strikes of his own accord."

Xiao Zhi nodded. This matter had to be handled strictly; ideally, the Imperial City Garrison should not retain such a man, as those with rebellious bones in their nature were untrustworthy.

However, since Qian Tang had already administered punishment, there was no need for Xiao Zhi to add a few more lashes.

"Tell him that if there is a next time, he will be shown no mercy."

He dropped the curtain, only to lift it again an instant later.

"Pass the word down: if any of the guards take a fancy to those palace maids, and the maid is agreeable, they may take them home and treat them well. After all, these were bestowed by His Majesty. Tian Guan alone is excluded from this."

Qian Tang acknowledged the command, and Xiao Zhi leaned back and resumed his reclining position.

This time, Xiao Zhi's journey back to the capital was considerably faster, and he estimated he would arrive in at most three days.

...

In the capital.

Tang Sanjian, wearing a bamboo hat, entered through the North Gate, ate a bowl of noodles in the Western Market, purchased some dried rations, and promptly left the city through the South Gate.

Outside the South Gate, he was met head-on by a prison cart, carrying none other than Shi Weizhi.

Behind the cart, the members of the Shi family followed in wooden cangues.

Shi Weizhi still wore his official robes, once a symbol of fourth-rank glory, which now served only as a laughingstock for passersby.

The prison cart entered the city, making its way along the main avenue toward the Imperial City Garrison.

As it passed an intersection, several carriages were parked by the roadside to yield the way.

These carriages belonged to the Xie family.

The Xie family was renowned as a scholarly lineage, with numerous members holding academic honors, though none in the current generation held positions of supreme power.

Among those serving in the capital, there was only a Compiler in the Academy of Letters—a minor official of the lower sixth rank who lacked even the qualifications to attend imperial court assemblies.

Yet small as the position was, it was better than nothing.

It was precisely this Compiler who had acted as an intermediary, enabling Xie Renfeng to establish contact with Hu Bao, an imperial attendant close to the emperor.

Just moments prior, Xie Renfeng had met with Hu Bao at a teahouse.

The agreement concluded between Xiao Zhi and Xie Renfeng could not be brought to light, so Xiao Zhi had merely mentioned it briefly in his memorial, stating only that the Xie family was willing to open their granaries for famine relief, omitting the detail about donating land to the imperial court.

When Hu Bao heard that Xie Renfeng intended to donate over ten thousand mu of land to the state, he was utterly astonished.

What kind of miraculous maneuver was this?

Yet when he inquired whether Xie Renfeng had met with Xiao Zhi, Xie Renfeng answered evasively, instantly making the situation clear to Hu Bao.

Unable to make such a decision on his own, Hu Bao immediately returned to the palace to report to the emperor.

Qin Yong was likewise filled with astonishment. These aristocratic clans were usually eager to suck the very last drop of blood from the Great Chu Empire; it was the first time he had ever heard of anyone voluntarily donating land.

Qin Yong could scarcely imagine how Xiao Zhi had managed it.

Though it amounted to slightly less than twenty thousand mu—a mere drop in the bucket for the entire empire—this was an event of great significance.

Qin Yong was determined to bestow utmost prestige upon the act, making an example of it for the entire realm to witness.