The funeral rites had not yet ended.
The residence of Prince Ming was draped in white.
After hearing the report, Prince Ming toyed with the teacup in his hand and said in a deep, measured voice, “It seems that Lord Yan, renowned for his upright and incorruptible character, is hiding a very big secret.”
A secret even greater than his penchant for young male companions.
Prince Ming asked in a low voice, “Does the Yan household have any weaknesses?”
Wu Jue replied, “Everyone in the Yan household is utterly loyal. The last time we made inquiries about that maid, we only managed to learn a little by pretending that we wanted to find her a match.”
Prince Ming ordered in a grave voice, “Choose several of our finest spies and keep a close watch on the Yan household. Also see whether there’s any chance of getting one of our people inside.”
“Yes.”
…
After leaving Qian’s Silk Shop, Yan Tongshu had Yan Liangyu ride in the same carriage with her.
She carefully considered how to phrase her question.
Yan Madam had not wanted to disturb her while she was busy with the case. Now that the case was over, Lady Yan had immediately summoned Yan Tongshu and asked her to find out what Liangyu was thinking.
If Liangyu had truly decided never to marry, Lady Yan would simply transfer the dowry she had prepared for Liangyu into Liangyu’s name. That way, no matter what happened to the Yan family in the future, Liangyu would always have some security.
If Liangyu still wished to marry, Lady Yan felt that she and Pei Jin’an seemed to get along rather well. Perhaps they could give it a try.
After turning the matter over in her mind, Yan Tongshu asked, “Liangyu, is Pei Jin’an at the Law Bureau today?”
Yan Liangyu nodded. “He oversees the entire Law Bureau. It wouldn’t do for him to concern himself only with my affairs. He has to attend to the other female officials as well, or people will accuse him of favoritism and partiality.”
Yan Tongshu cautiously probed, “What do you think of Pei Jin’an as a person?”
Yan Liangyu lowered her eyes. “He’s a good man. I’m the one who isn’t good enough. I’ve been thinking that I should make things clear to him in the next couple of days. I can’t keep holding him back.”
Oh.
Yan Tongshu felt a little disappointed.
The couple she had been shipping was breaking up?
“Don’t you like him?” Yan Tongshu asked.
Yan Liangyu herself did not know how to answer. She did have a vague, hazy fondness for Pei Jin’an, but that feeling always seemed to be shrouded in a veil.
Besides, she was not good enough.
She herself was not good enough.
“Big Brother, may I ask you something?” Yan Liangyu looked at Yan Tongshu.
Yan Tongshu nodded.
Yan Liangyu slowly tightened her clasped hands, her lashes trembling faintly. “Big Brother, do you think I’m outstanding?”
Yan Tongshu nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
“Is that so?” Yan Liangyu’s slender lashes drooped slightly. “But I feel so ordinary. So utterly unremarkable.”
Yan Tongshu was even more baffled. “You’re kind, clever, brave, and compassionate. You’re skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—every one of them. Liangyu, I truly don’t understand how you can say that.”
She genuinely could not understand it at all.
“But…” Yan Liangyu’s eyes flickered. “Big Brother, you’re clever and perceptive, with an eye for every detail. You were exiled to Xianlin Hall for eight years, yet instead of losing heart, you learned the art of examining corpses from ancient texts…”
Yan Tongshu felt a little guilty hearing this.
Yan Liangyu continued, “…After taking office as Acting Prefect of Kaifeng, you threw yourself into your work and accomplished one great feat after another. Elder Sister has always been ambitious and driven, filled with aspirations and desires. Once she sets her sights on a goal, she works tirelessly and charges forward without hesitation. Compared to the two of you, I seem especially… ordinary.
“I don’t have Elder Sister’s ambition, nor your intelligence and uprightness, Big Brother. I’m mild-tempered, and I tend to go with the flow. I took the Law Bureau examination because Elder Sister was taking it, and because you encouraged me. I helped those girls because they were pitiful and I wanted to help them.
“As for whether I could rise in rank, whether I would gain anything in return, or whether I could remain at the Law Bureau, I don’t think I ever considered those things. Aside from the matter involving Zhou Zhengxun, there doesn’t seem to be anything I particularly want, nor any remarkable desire I possess. I could marry, or not marry. I could become an official, or not become one. I feel as though I’m simply a terribly dull and ordinary person.”
Yan Liangyu lowered her eyes, her voice almost scattering into the wind.
“Even Pei Jin’an, that tagalong, has grown up. While spending time with him, I discovered how gentle he is. When we built the stage near Fish Village, he was considerate and attentive even toward ordinary village women. He never put on the airs of an official.
“He knows the law by heart, yet he doesn’t have the arrogance of a noble-born heir. He can manage a group of female officials at the Law Bureau, then take off his official robes and mingle with ordinary people—singing and drinking with them. When he first returned to the capital, I still remembered him as the tagalong who needed protecting. I had to protect him.
“But later I realized that he was remarkable. He understands human relationships, knows when to advance and when to retreat, and handles official business with ease. His personality is so distinct, so…”
Yan Liangyu did not know how to continue.
Yan Tongshu picked up the thread. “So much like himself?”
Yan Liangyu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “But I feel as though I don’t have a personality of my own. I’m just an ordinary, unremarkable person.”
“That isn’t called having no personality.” Yan Tongshu looked at Yan Liangyu with an amused smile.
Silly girl.
It was all so obvious, yet she still had not figured it out.
Yan Liangyu looked at Yan Tongshu helplessly. She did not understand what Yan Tongshu meant.
Yan Tongshu reached out and patted her on the head. “Our Liangyu is simply an honest girl.”
Yan Tongshu smiled. “You’re just too honest. You approach every problem in a rigid, methodical way. You were the same with Zhou Zhengxun—you insisted on sorting everything out clearly, leaving no room for anything vague or muddled. Plenty of people muddle through life, but you insist on getting to the bottom of everything.
“See? That’s your personality. You’re serious—extremely, exceptionally, extraordinarily serious.”
Confusion still filled Yan Liangyu’s eyes.
“It’s the same now.” Yan Tongshu’s smile faded as she looked at her earnestly. “Liangyu, everyone has a different personality. Me, Elder Sister, Pei Jin’an—we simply wear ours more openly. Some people live intensely, with love and hatred, affection and resentment, all blazing and dramatic.
“Others are like water. Their love and hatred remain in their hearts instead of showing on the surface, yet they are tranquil—and sometimes possess an even greater strength. You can’t insist on scrutinizing everything so seriously. This world isn’t a place where every matter has to be made perfectly clear and precise before you can act.
“For example, right now—”
Yan Liangyu looked at her blankly. “What about me?”
Yan Tongshu smiled. “In your eyes, Pei Jin’an is too wonderful. So am I, and so is Elder Sister.”
After a pause, Yan Tongshu continued, “First of all, Liangyu, I need to correct one misconception you have. I really do like Xianlin Hall. I’ve always wanted to lie around and do nothing. I never became discouraged there. Your Big Brother truly, genuinely, wholeheartedly enjoyed every day spent loafing around at Xianlin Hall.”
That was the truth—the absolute truth.
Why did no one ever believe her?
Yan Liangyu stared blankly, then let out a small, “Ah.”
“And besides, what’s wrong with those of us who have no great ambitions?” Yan Tongshu planted her hands on her hips. “Who says everyone has to be driven by desire and ambition? What’s wrong with living an honest, ordinary life? What’s wrong with being happy for a lifetime, even if that happiness is plain and unremarkable? If everyone in this world were an ambitious schemer, then things would truly descend into chaos. Society ought to be grateful to people like us. We don’t break the law or disrupt public order, we don’t hurt or harm anyone—we simply live our quiet little lives.”
After saying this, Yan Tongshu stroked her chin and sized up Yan Liangyu. “Your personality is so foul-tempered and stubborn, and you’re so rigid and proper…”
“Big Brother! I am not!” Yan Liangyu’s face flushed at his words.
Yan Tongshu continued, “Lastly—”
“Lastly?”
Yan Tongshu blinked. “Don’t you think Pei Jin’an seems a little too perfect in your eyes?”
Yan Tongshu remembered overhearing Pei Jin’an’s conversation with Lady Yan the last time. He had said that Liangyu was far too wonderful: beautiful, considerate, like a handful of clear spring water. Everyone who came into contact with Liangyu liked her. She was merely a little slow to realize it. There were simply too many people who liked Liangyu, and he was so jealous he was practically going mad.
What Liangyu had just said sounded remarkably similar.
Yan Liangyu froze for a moment, then seemed to understand something. She covered her face with both hands.
Oh heavens! What on earth had she just said to her big brother?
Yan Tongshu chuckled. “It’s fine. I doubt that boy is going anywhere. Take your time and think it over. A few more days won’t hurt.”
Yan Liangyu spoke softly. “Then… if I didn’t understand it before, but I do now, there’s no need to keep thinking about it.”
“Oh?”
Yan Tongshu snickered to herself.
It seemed the Yan residence would soon have a happy occasion to celebrate.
She would have to start preparing the wedding gifts ahead of time and give Liangyu the greatest gift of familial love she could.
The next day, Yan Tongshu was holding a brush and scribbling away on a sheet of rice paper, drawing up a list of gifts, when Lu Xi arrived.
Yan Tongshu continued her struggle with the paper. “What is it?”
Lu Xi wore a broad smile. “Wonderful news.”
Yan Tongshu’s eyes lit up. “Has the Emperor granted me another reward?”
Lu Xi shook his head, though his smile deepened. “His Majesty sent me to inform Lord Yan that the first deliberative assembly for the ten-yearly revision of the laws will be held three days from now. His Majesty has given an oral decree that Lord Yan is to make preparations and enter the palace three days from now to participate in the discussions.”
This was the highest form of imperial favor. With this qualification on her record, Lord Yan would be one step closer to attaining the position of one of the Three Excellencies—or even Chancellor.
The brush in Yan Tongshu’s hand halted abruptly. A large drop of ink fell onto the rice paper and slowly spread.
The law-revision assembly.
Held once every ten years.
When she thought about it, the timing was indeed right. This year was when the process was to begin.
The law-revision period would last three months. Before it began, personnel would be drawn from the various offices to establish a temporary Bureau of Law Revision, rather like a modern committee for amending legislation.
Officials from every region and from the central government could gather public opinion and propose revisions to laws that had fallen behind the needs of the people.
These recommendations would all be collected by the temporary Bureau of Law Revision. Guided by the general principles established when the bureau was formed, its members would collate and categorize the proposals, then submit them to the Emperor to be decided upon together with him.
In addition, worthy and virtuous commoners, as well as men renowned for filial piety, would be invited to participate.
Qin Yi’s order for her to enter the palace in three days was presumably an invitation for her to join the law-revision bureau as one of its members.
Yan Tongshu was overjoyed and rubbed her hands together.
She was going to ban all the brothels and gambling houses!
She had long since found those two vile institutions an eyesore.
Yan Tongshu immediately raised her hand. “I’ll go! Eunuch Lu Xi, please tell His Majesty that I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”
With those words and that tone, the Emperor would surely be delighted to hear it. Lu Xi immediately agreed.
Three days later, in the afternoon, Yan Tongshu changed into her official robes, put on her official hat, and entered the palace in high spirits.
The temporary Bureau of Law Revision drew personnel from the Three Departments and Six Ministries, so there were a great many participants.
Although Yan Tongshu’s official rank was high, her experience was limited, and she was young as well. As a result, she was scheduled somewhere in the middle of the audience.
Fortunately, she had brought plenty of illustrated storybooks to pass the time. Sitting off to one side, she read quietly and was not bored in the slightest.
After the Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Concurrent Vice Minister of the Chancellery, Chang Zhengzhang, entered, the procession continued with the Chief Minister of the Chancellery, the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Justice, and many others. By the time it was Yan Tongshu’s turn, more than an hour had passed.
“Summon Grand Academician of Longwen Pavilion and Acting Prefect of Kaifeng, Yan Tongshu.”
The eunuch’s summons rang out. Yan Tongshu put down her illustrated storybook, took out the memorial she had carefully prepared, straightened her robes and official hat, and walked toward the Hall of Chuigong.
The moment she rose, everyone present instinctively turned to look at her. Then they realized what they were doing.
Why had they suddenly become nervous?
This wasn’t the morning court session. It wasn’t as though Yan Tongshu could impeach them or anything.
Hmph.
Everyone turned their attention away again.
Yan Tongshu entered the Hall of Chuigong, knelt and performed the formal rites, then handed her memorial to Lu Xi. Lu Xi respectfully carried it over to Qin Yi.
Qin Yi opened it and immediately felt his temple throb.
Yan Tongshu stared intently at him. She had just begun to explain why she had made such a proposal when Qin Yi slowly said, “Not bad.”
Yan Tongshu’s open mouth froze in place.
Qin Yi raised his eyes to look at her. There was a profound meaning hidden in their depths. “What? You didn’t expect Me to support your proposal?”
Yan Tongshu closed her mouth and nodded honestly.
Qin Yi was furious. The moment he saw Yan Tongshu’s proposal, he had known exactly what this brat was going to say.
He had already solved the mystery, yet this brat still didn’t trust him.
Qin Yi snapped, “Get out!”
“Oh.”
Yan Tongshu silently withdrew.
Yan Tongshu had entered quickly and left just as quickly, leaving the assembled officials deeply puzzled.
When they entered, they had all been required to explain their proposals in detail and persuade the Emperor to support them so that the proposals could be placed on the initial agenda. So how had Yan Tongshu come out almost the instant she entered?
After another half hour or so, the remaining officials had also gone in and come back out.
Some emerged with their heads hanging in disappointment, while others looked pleased with themselves.
The Emperor was the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler. Every proposal required his approval before it could be placed on the agenda.
Naturally, those who came out dejected had been rejected. The officials who had managed to persuade the Emperor were the true members of the temporary Bureau of Law Revision.
Qin Yi summoned all the officials whose proposals had been accepted. He ordered Lu Xi to distribute the memorials he had reviewed, allowing everyone to read them in turn. These memorials would serve as the general framework for gathering further recommendations.
The memorials had only made it halfway around the circle and had not yet reached everyone when several officials could no longer contain themselves.
The Minister of Personnel immediately rose to oppose the Minister of Justice’s proposal.
At that point, the Minister of Justice’s memorial had not yet reached Yan Tongshu. When it finally did, she glanced at it.
Oh.
It proposed abolishing such extreme punishments as dismemberment by a thousand cuts and being roasted alive, making execution the harshest penalty permitted by law.
The Minister of Justice and the Minister of Personnel began arguing. Chang Zhengzhang also opposed the Chief Minister’s proposal, and soon they were arguing as well.
Everyone opposed someone else’s proposal, and the whole hall dissolved into a shouting match.
At last, Yan Tongshu’s memorial arrived.
The Vice Grand Councilor, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Personnel, the Court Gentleman, and several others spoke in unison.
“We oppose it.”
Qin Yi raised an eyebrow and looked at Yan Tongshu. She was so angry that steam practically came out of her nose.
What was wrong with her proposal?
All she had suggested was that the court issue an edict officially banning brothels and gambling houses from operating.
Yan Tongshu angrily lashed out, "My lords, what are your opinions? Is it because you've kept concubines in the brothels and can't bear to part with them, or because you've secretly invested in the gambling houses and are afraid of losing your money-making machines?"
"You, you, you—you're talking nonsense!" The Minister of Justice blew his beard and stared in anger. "I've always conducted myself with integrity and would never go to such a place of debauchery."
Yan Tongshu snorted. "If it were Lord Chang saying this, I'd believe him. He's well - known for being hen - pecked. But you? You've committed incestuous adultery, and I don't believe a word you say."
"You, you, you—" The Minister of Justice was so furious that he almost choked. "You're lying. I didn't do it!"
Yan Tongshu directly exposed the contents of the note left by Venerable Yu Ping. "Your youngest son's concubine he took in four years ago was actually yours, just registered under your son's name. You pretended to be an honest man but took a concubine from a brothel. Afraid of ruining your reputation, you made your son take the blame, committed incestuous adultery, and even had a male baby who is actually your son but is called your grandson."
The Minister of Justice let out a groan and fainted.
The Minister of Personnel asked in surprise, "How do you know all these things?"
Judging from the Minister of Justice's reaction, it seemed that the incestuous adultery was true.
Yan Tongshu stared with wide eyes, looking as if she would expose anyone's dark secrets if they dared to oppose her.
The Minister of Justice was at least an official of the Six Ministries. The Minister - in - Chief immediately said angrily, "Lord Yan, this is a serious moment for discussing the laws."
Yan Tongshu stared back at him. "Then why do you oppose it, Minister - in - Chief?"
The Minister - in - Chief snorted. "Brothels and gambling houses are important sources of tax revenue in our dynasty, accounting for 3.7% of the total tax revenue. That's a huge amount of income. With just one word from you, you want to ban brothels and gambling houses. Where will we make up for such a large amount of tax? The common people can barely make ends meet throughout the year. Are you suggesting increasing the tax?"
Yan Tongshu said, "The fact that the common people work hard all year round without any savings shows that the current tax - collection method has problems. The rentier class gets too much. We should think of more ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, and balance the differences between the upper and lower classes, rather than oppressing the ordinary people more extremely."
The Chancellor of the Exchequer also opposed, "Lord Yan, you're good at handling criminal cases in Kaifeng. But brothels and gambling houses are not as you think. The courtesans in brothels are all of low - status, while the common people are of good - status. The common people are the customers of the brothels. Where is the oppression? Gambling in the gambling houses is entirely voluntary. It's all a personal choice."
Yan Tongshu sharply retorted, "Then where do the low - status people come from? Let's not talk about those who were demoted to low - status because of crimes. Aren't those who were born into low - status people? How many times have gambling houses lured people into gambling and forced them to sell their children?"
The Chancellor of the Exchequer knelt in front of Qin Yi and said, "Your Majesty, many farmers nowadays can't afford to marry wives. If they even lose this form of consolation, it may lead to unrest."
Yan Tongshu was extremely angry. "You say there will be unrest? Where are the statistics? Where are the experiments? Where is the evidence?"
As Yan Tongshu refuted one by one, the lords put forward one reason after another, from tax revenue to management, to maintaining stable rule. In short, everyone was arguing red - faced, and no one would give in to the other.
Seeing that the argument was about to turn into a fight, Chang Zhengzhang said, "Your Majesty, each of the lords has their own reasons. But I think there's no need to determine right or wrong at the first proposal. We might as well announce Lord Yan's proposal, let local authorities at all levels put forward specific measures and opinions based on it, select worthy people from all over the country to make a joint decision, and finally, Your Majesty can make a decision after listening to a wide range of advice."
This was exactly what Qin Yi was waiting for. He remained expressionless and said calmly, "Since there's so much debate, let it be so."
Yan Tongshu sat down angrily. Her proposal had barely passed, and then the others started arguing again, which gave Yan Tongshu a headache.
I don't know how long the argument lasted. Finally, a conclusion was reached. About 80% of the proposals won the argument, and the remaining 20% were rejected again.
Qin Yi rubbed his temples with his hand and let the ministers leave.
"Yan Tongshu, stay behind."
The ministers glared at Yan Tongshu and then respectfully withdrew.
Yan Tongshu was puzzled. She hadn't participated in the second - half of the argument at all. Why did these people only hold a grudge against her?
What had she done wrong?
She thought these people either had concubines in brothels or had invested in gambling houses.
Humph!
Qin Yi waved to Yan Tongshu, and Yan Tongshu took two steps forward.
After listening to the argument for an afternoon, Qin Yi's tone was also a bit tired. "Yan Tongshu, you don't trust me."
Yan Tongshu frowned. "Your Majesty, I do trust you."
Qin Yi slightly raised his eyebrows. "There should be more trust between a monarch and his subject. I find that I'm starting to doubt what you say now, Minister Yan."
Yan Tongshu pursed her lips and looked at Qin Yi, intuitively feeling that there was a plot in these words.
Qin Yi slowly said, "After careful consideration, I think our relationship as monarch and subject should be taken to the next level."
Yan Tongshu frowned even deeper.
So, what did he mean?
Qin Yi stood up and walked to Yan Tongshu's side. "Since ancient times, for an emperor to achieve great governance, he must rely on his assistant ministers.
"A remonstrating and assisting minister like you, Minister Yan, is a minister of the state, a treasure of the monarch, and someone respected and valued by a wise monarch." Qin Yi grabbed Yan Tongshu's wrist and pulled her along. "It's getting late today. Let's follow the example of the sages, sleep side by side, and have an in - depth discussion about the world's affairs. Let's be sincere and open - hearted with each other."
"No, no, no, no, no..."
Yan Tongshu was a bit panicked.
Are you crazy?
She had already said she trusted him.
It was he who didn't trust her. It should be him who changed. What did it have to do with her?
Did they really have to sleep side by side and have an in - depth conversation?
"Your, Your Majesty." Yan Tongshu grabbed the door frame and tried her best to persuade him. "Well, it's summer now. It's very hot..."
"It doesn't matter." Qin Yi gave a signal to Lu Xi, and Lu Xi started to pry Yan Tongshu's hands off.
Qin Yi said, "I have a hot spring in my private room. You can take a bath with me to wash off the heat. If you feel restricted, then forget about the relationship between the monarch and the subject today. Just think of us as friends. Let's be honest with each other like friends and be of one mind from now on."
Yan Tongshu shook her head desperately at Lu Xi.
Lu Xi said apologetically, "Lord Yan, I'm sorry."
Yan Tongshu was stunned.
Are you two crazy?
Yan Tongshu was dragged to sit down and have a meal with Qin Yi.
After the meal, Qin Yi was going to take a bath. Before she could figure out how to escape, she kept stalling, asking Qin Yi to go first.
In the end, there was no more time to stall.
Yan Tongshu said with a stiff expression, "I don't think I really need to."
Lu Xi said respectfully, "Lord Yan, His Majesty is waiting for you inside."
After saying that, Lu Xi walked out of the bathing hall and closed the door from the outside.
Dog emperor, dog emperor, dog emperor!
Yan Tongshu took a deep breath.
Did the dog emperor hear some rumors and suspect her?
Yan Tongshu closed her eyes and prepared herself mentally.
Don't show fear. Absolutely don't show fear.
May God bless me.
She opened her eyes and walked towards the bathing pool.
There was a huge screen in front of the bathing pool.
Behind the screen, the hot spring water filled the white - jade - paved pool, and the hall was filled with a hazy steam. The glazed palace lanterns were quietly burning, and the light halo spread into a gentle and dim yellow in the swirling water vapor. The lamp shadows fell on the water surface and broke into floating dots of light.
Beside the pool, Qin Yi's removed clothes were piled up in one place. There was a jet - black outer robe, a plain white inner robe, and a jet - black belt on top. The belt buckle was made of pure gold, and the water vapor gathered on it had condensed into fine beads.
In the hot spring pool, Qin Yi was sitting inside. The water waves gently rippled away from his side, spreading in circles towards the pool wall.
