Chapter 159: Routine Humoring of the Old Man, Even Dating is About Cost-Effectiveness
Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Routine Humoring of the Old Man, Even Dating is About Cost-Effectiveness
The next day, Pei Shaoqing entered the Imperial Palace once more.
This time, besides thanking the Emperor for the gift of a residence, he was also there to bid farewell. He planned to set off for Tongzhou the next day.
Theoretically, a mere Hundred Households Commander like him didn’t need to inform the Emperor when he was leaving the Capital City after attending the imperial banquet. He wasn’t of a high enough rank to bid the Emperor a formal farewell.
But Pei Shaoqing had positioned himself before the Emperor as not just a loyal subject, but also as a junior. Therefore, he had to go and say goodbye to demonstrate his reliance, intimacy, and loyalty to the Emperor. Old men ate that sort of thing up.
Of course, this only worked if said old man liked you or had a significant use for you. Otherwise, he would just find you annoying.
It was actually a similar principle to dealing with women.
The Diligent Governance Hall was where the Emperor handled daily affairs and met with his ministers. However, Emperor Jingtai found it too vast and preferred to work in the Imperial Study.
The Imperial Study was where he spent most of his time.
Upon entering the Imperial Study, the ever-loyal Pei Shaoqing dropped to his knees and kowtowed as smoothly as ever. "Your humble subject pays his respects, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand, ten thousand..."
"Enough, enough. You may rise." Emperor Jingtai casually tossed a memorandum aside and waved a hand, cutting off Pei Shaoqing’s greeting. "All day long, it’s ’ten thousand years, ten thousand years.’ I’ve grown tired of hearing it. Since the Spiritual Qi dried up, who in this world can live for ten thousand years? A century is all it takes to become a pile of dirt."
As an old man in his twilight years, hearing his subjects wish him ten thousand years of life every day was incredibly vexing for Emperor Jingtai.
It was especially tedious knowing that while some people respectfully wished him a long life to his face, they were secretly hoping he would kick the bucket tomorrow.
"But this subject genuinely hopes Your Majesty can live for ten thousand years and achieve immortality!" Pei Shaoqing raised his head, his face a mask of sincerity. "After all, since I was a child, I have never had an elder treat me as well as Your Majesty has. If Your Majesty lives for ten thousand years, this subject will always have someone to rely on."
Emperor Jingtai believed him, because Pei Shaoqing had a terrible relationship with his own father, and the Emperor had indeed treated him very well.
Thus, he couldn’t help but think that Pei Shaoqing might be the only person in the world who actually meant it when he wished him ten thousand years of life. His mood instantly improved, and he asked amiably, "Little Pei Aiqing, what brings you to the palace?"
"This subject has come for two reasons. The first is to express my gratitude. Your Majesty has bestowed the Shu Royal Mansion upon me, and while I am terrified, I am also endlessly grateful." Pei Shaoqing bowed deeply.
Hearing this, Emperor Jingtai sat up straight, a look of great interest on his face as he asked, "If you are so terrified, why not refuse? Are you aware that several high-ranking ministers have come to ask me to rescind the order, citing a breach of protocol?"
"Your Majesty misunderstands this subject." Pei Shaoqing looked up, his expression moved. "My terror does not stem from occupying a Royal Mansion as a mere County Marquis, which is a breach of protocol. Rather, I am terrified by Your Majesty’s immense favor. I could die ten thousand deaths and still not be able to repay it!"
’Just another day of sweet-talking the old man.’
In the Great Zhou, as long as you could keep the withered old man on the Dragon Throne happy, your future was bound to be bright.
"Why are you not afraid of breaching protocol? Do you hold the rites in such low regard?" Emperor Jingtai feigned displeasure.
Pei Shaoqing’s expression turned solemn as he replied, "Your Majesty yourself does not care about breaching protocol and has withstood the pressure from the entire court to grant me this great reward. If I were to refuse it out of fear of protocol, where would that leave Your Majesty? A wise ruler makes for loyal subjects. This humble subject feels that Your Majesty and I are on the same path, moving toward each other."
’Your Majesty, it’s us against the world.’
"HAHAHA! A fine ’moving toward each other’ indeed!" Emperor Jingtai laughed, slapping the armrest of his throne, his face beaming. "With such a heart, my breach of protocol to reward you so heavily was not in vain. It is all what you deserve, Aiqing."
In his thirty years as Emperor, he had actually bestowed many gifts that violated protocol upon ministers he valued, as a way to express his high regard and affection for them. But without exception, they had all refused and urged him to retract his order.
He dared to give, but they did not dare to receive!
Pei Shaoqing was the first to accept it so boldly and righteously. He was completely on the Emperor’s side. One could even say that in Pei Shaoqing’s eyes, the Emperor’s word far outweighed protocol.
This naturally left Emperor Jingtai overjoyed.
’What is this? A truly loyal subject!’
’Words cannot describe his loyalty!’
Pei Shaoqing could tell his previous words had hit the old man’s sweet spot, so he continued his offensive. "Besides, what have the rites and laws ever done for me? They didn’t grant me a high office or a noble title. They didn’t grant me a grand residence. All of these things were given to me by you, Your Majesty!
The system of rites and laws established by the ancestors is naturally worthy of respect, but that depends on who it’s compared to. In this subject’s eyes, Your Majesty is the only sun!"
’The ancestors are already dead. Even if I disrespected them, it’s not like they could climb out of their graves to beat me.’
’But Emperor Jingtai is very much alive. If I displease him, he could genuinely have me beheaded on the spot.’
’How treasonous!’ Liu Hai cursed silently in his heart. ’This Pei Shaoqing must be mad. To please His Majesty, he even dares to say such things that belittle the sages of the past.’
’A sycophant! A treacherous minister!’
’If I were a court minister, I would be kneeling right now and shouting: Your Majesty, I beseech you to boil Pei Shaoqing alive!’
But he was a eunuch, so he remained silent.
"Insolence! How utterly treasonous!" Emperor Jingtai rebuked, his expression serious. "What virtue or ability do I possess to place myself above the sages of old? You must never speak such nonsense again, or I will not let you off lightly."
Although he said that, anyone could see he was very pleased.
"Yes, this subject will be sure to remember. I will never speak my mind so carelessly again," Pei Shaoqing nodded and replied.
The Emperor was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "You’ve only told me the first reason for your visit. What is the second?"
"The second is that this subject has come to bid farewell." Pei Shaoqing’s eyes gradually reddened as he bit his lip. "This subject has been back in the Capital City for less than half a month, yet I have experienced from Your Majesty a paternal kindness I haven’t felt in twenty years. Though I am loath to part, a farewell is inevitable. This subject plans to return to Tongzhou tomorrow to wholeheartedly serve Your Majesty."
Upon suddenly hearing that he was leaving, Emperor Jingtai was also taken aback for a moment.
The time Pei Shaoqing had spent in the Capital City seemed to be the days when he had laughed the most. He slowly nodded and said, "Little Pei Aiqing, serve me well. When you achieve more merits in the future, I will transfer you back to the Capital City for a post."
"Er... Your Majesty, there’s no rush for that," Pei Shaoqing said, his expression stiffening as he stammered a little.
Emperor Jingtai raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
’You mean to tell me you’re not willing to return to the Capital City?’
Pei Shaoqing lowered his head slightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Although I am only a Hundred Households Commander, I am considered a somebody in Tongzhou and even throughout Shu State. But even if I were promoted to Thousand Households Commander, what would that count for here in the Capital City? So, this subject was thinking of first accumulating merits and getting promoted in Shu State. That way, when I’m transferred back to the Capital City, I’d at least be an Attendant Fourth Grade, right?"
The reason he mentioned Attendant Fourth Grade was because a Thousand Households Commander in Shu State was a Standard Fifth Grade position. On the Jing’an Guard career path, reaching Thousand Households Commander in Shu State was more or less the ceiling.
Besides, he still needed to build his power base in Shu State. He didn’t want to be transferred back to the Capital City so soon.
"Ha! HAHAHAHA!" Hearing Pei Shaoqing’s little scheme to avoid returning to the Capital City, Emperor Jingtai couldn’t help but laugh again. "Fine, fine, we’ll do it your way. But no matter how much I favor you, promotion requires merit. I won’t promote you for no reason. You must work hard to achieve great things."
"This subject will absolutely not fail Your Majesty’s high expectations! I will definitely not bring you shame," Pei Shaoqing knelt and vowed.
Emperor Jingtai let out a breath and personally went down to help him up. He patted his shoulder like an elder sending off a junior. "Go on, then. Have a safe journey."
For now, regardless of his true thoughts, he truly had nothing but praise for Pei Shaoqing.
"This subject takes his leave. I hope Your Majesty takes care of your health." Pei Shaoqing bowed solemnly one last time before departing.
Emperor Jingtai remained standing in place, quietly watching Pei Shaoqing’s back until it disappeared from sight.
"Your Majesty, this Marquis of Pingyang certainly knows how to please people," Liu Hai stepped forward and said with a smile.
"I know his words are intentionally meant to please me," Emperor Jingtai said flatly, glancing at him. "But he did, in fact, make me happy."
"It was this servant’s slip of the tongue," Liu Hai said, lowering his head.
Emperor Jingtai turned back toward the Dragon Throne. "I am not yet so senile that I need an old dog like you to worry for me."
He was the Emperor. Who didn’t want to please him?
At the very least, he felt that although Pei Shaoqing’s words contained elements of flattery, there was also a component of sincerity.
.........
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Pei Shaoqing went to the Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion.
He was returning to Tongzhou tomorrow.
’After this farewell, who knows when I’ll see that little widow Jiang Yuechan again? Even if I can’t eat the meat, a sip of the soup would be nice. Otherwise, wouldn’t this trip back to the Capital City have been for nothing?’
It wasn’t that he couldn’t "afford" Noble Consort Wan.
It was just that her sister was a better value.
"Please announce me. I am here to visit the Second Young Master Jiang," Pei Shaoqing said to the gatekeeper.
He had already come looking for Jiang Yuechan last time.
If he was always seen visiting her, Jiang Xiaoyun would surely become suspicious.
’In any case, I’m sure that once Jiang Yuechan hears I’ve come to her home, she will take the initiative to come see me.’
Jiang Xiaoyun received Pei Shaoqing in the main hall, rising with a broad smile to greet him. "Brother Pei, please, take the seat of honor. What wind has blown you here today?"
"I was rude to arrive unannounced. I hope Brother Jiang won’t hold it against me," Pei Shaoqing said, clasping his hands and apologizing repeatedly.
Jiang Xiaoyun laughed heartily. "Brother Pei’s visit is a joyous occasion. How could it possibly be rude? Please, sit. Try this tea my father had my fourth sister bring back from West State."
"I could smell its fragrance from the doorway. It must be an excellent tea." Pei Shaoqing sat down, took a sip of the prepared tea, closed his eyes, and smacked his lips theatrically before opening them again to exclaim, "It truly is a fine tea."
"If Brother Pei likes this tea, you can take some with you later," Jiang Xiaoyun said with a smile.
Pei Shaoqing said, "Then it would be disrespectful to refuse."
After some pleasantries, Pei Shaoqing stated his excuse for visiting the Jiang Family: "I’ve taken the liberty of visiting today to thank the Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion for its assistance in the Tang Zhi case..."
At the same time, a maid had already informed Jiang Yuechan in the rear residence that Pei Shaoqing had arrived.
"Pei Shaoqing is here?" Jiang Yuechan’s heart skipped a beat. She stood up and began to pace around the room. She had a premonition that he had come for her. Musing, she said, "Since an honored guest has arrived, it would be improper not to see him. Have someone quickly bring hot water. I wish to bathe and change to entertain the Marquis of Pingyang."
’What ill intentions could she possibly have?’
’She just wanted to help her second brother-in-law entertain his guest, that’s all.’
Bathing and changing before meeting an important guest was a matter of etiquette, a sign of respect. But to the maid, it sounded as though her mistress wanted to wash herself clean to be *served* to the Marquis of Pingyang. She chuckled silently to herself.