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墨書 Inktalez
In Jiangnan, the Yuan City yamen received an urgent letter from the capital. Yuan Cheng Ling hurriedly summoned Yuan Xian Cheng and the County Lieutenant for a small meeting.
"Minister of Revenue Zhao Jue is being escorted to Xia City? Will he be formally executed on August First? Is the Second Prince personally overseeing the execution and inviting us all to witness it?!"
As Yuan Cheng Ling recounted the events, both the County Magistrate and the County Lieutenant displayed expressions of shock and fear. After all, this was Minister of Revenue Zhao Jue! To them, he was akin to a celestial official, a figure so far removed that their schemes and machinations barely reached the level of a governor.
For them, a Shang Shu was an unattainable existence, something they could only look up to from afar. Yet here was a celestial official who could be so easily taken down by the Emperor, executed without a shred of mercy. He was being transported all the way from the north to Jiangnan, with many colleagues invited to witness his execution? Such a grand spectacle could very well be recorded in history, leaving a lasting stain.
Wasn't this a bit excessive? What face would scholars have left? The County Magistrate wanted to say something but ultimately decided to keep quiet; after all, this was the Emperor's decree. The thunder and rain of his favor were all part of the imperial grace, and he dared not speak out against it. Yet deep down, he felt a sense of sorrow for Zhao Jue—compared to him, Zhao Jue was no mere rabbit; perhaps it would be more accurate to say it was like a tiger mourning for a rabbit.
Meanwhile, the County Lieutenant was more intrigued by this sensational news. On one hand, he was not a scholar but rather a warrior; on the other hand, news from the capital involving someone of Zhao Jue's stature was simply too captivating to ignore.
"I say, City Magistrate, with so much happening, why are you keeping this from us? Please tell us more! What did that Shang Shu do?"
Yuan Cheng Ling briefly outlined Zhao Jue's charges—primarily for undermining the Kaihai initiative, disregarding imperial favor, and harboring pirates who threatened the prince.
The Emperor was still rational; executing Zhao Jue was due to his obstruction of Kaihai, which could potentially hinder the Emperor's longevity. However, such personal reasons would not look good if published in official reports for local officials to read. Fortunately, Zhao Jue had other charges piled on him; fundamentally, there was only one core idea: Zhao Jue must die.
After hearing the full story, the County Lieutenant immediately expressed his support. "Hmph! Harboring pirates? This Zhao Jue deserves no pity! The Emperor’s judgment is just—people like him should be executed!"
A swift decapitation would be a fitting end for that old thief, Zhao Jue!
Along the coastal cities, the threat of pirates has always loomed large. Yuan City and Xia City, both reliant on the sea for their livelihoods, frequently suffer from pirate raids. As the Constable of Yuan Cheng County, I am responsible for the city's defenses and have my own grievances against those pirates.
The County Magistrate sighed, shaking off any lingering sorrow. "In that case, it’s a fitting punishment."
In mid-July, we planned to set off in the latter half of the month. Should we arrive early in Xia City to pay our respects to the Second Prince, or should we stick to our schedule? The three of us sitting here for this small meeting were all astute individuals; some things didn’t need to be said in full for the point to be made.
The County Magistrate was essentially asking whether we should go early to curry favor with the Second Prince or arrive on time and subtly align ourselves with his faction. Although they were officials of Yuan City, in the eyes of those at the top, they were merely insignificant figures who didn’t need to overthink things—just follow orders.
Yet, concerns lingered. What if the Second Prince happened to be here? What if he wanted to gauge our loyalty? Who could guarantee that such a situation wouldn’t arise?
With so many cities and counties in Jiangnan, the Second Prince might not remember who arrived early, but he would certainly remember those who arrived right on time. The current court was rife with undercurrents.
The once reckless Second Prince had unexpectedly gained the Emperor's favor and trust, establishing the Kaihai Division and wielding significant power, attracting many courtiers to his side. In contrast, the Crown Prince seemed precariously positioned; he could only accompany the Emperor to court meetings while lacking any real authority. None!
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