Chapter 6

Ning Mao ran too fast, and Ning Chen couldn't catch up.

Returning to the West Courtyard, he drove away those evil servants.

Ning Chen brought Uncle Chai back to the room and gave him the half-roasted chicken he had packed.

Uncle Chai opened the oiled paper and found half a roasted chicken inside. He was initially stunned, then couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

As a servant, his monthly salary was very low, barely enough to make ends meet... He rarely got to eat meat throughout the year.

"Uncle Chai, this is specially for you, eat it quickly!"

Uncle Chai shook his head repeatedly, "Such a good thing, it's better for the Fourth Young Master to recover... You just got over a serious illness, eating more meat will help you recover faster."

"I've already eaten, this half is specially saved for you... Take it back and have it with some wine."

Ning Chen was firm, otherwise Uncle Chai wouldn't accept it.

Uncle Chai couldn't refuse and kept thanking him, "Thank you, Fourth Young Master, thank you, Fourth Young Master..."

"Uncle Chai, don't thank me... If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive."

...

At this moment, in the imperial palace, the Imperial Study.

Emperor Xuan held a book, reading by candlelight.

A eunuch with a high-pitched voice was serving him cautiously, not daring to breathe loudly.

At this moment, a small eunuch tiptoed in.

Emperor Xuan looked up, "What is it?"

The small eunuch knelt down, "Your Majesty, Commander Nie requests an audience!"

Commander Nie was the bearded, fierce-looking man.

His name was Nie Liang, the commander of the emperor's personal guards, a trusted aide of Emperor Xuan.

"Summon him in!"

"Yes!"

The small eunuch got up and left. Soon, Nie Liang walked in.

"Your servant, Nie Liang, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise and speak!"

Emperor Xuan put down the book and asked, "Have you found out?"

"Your Majesty, that young man is not called Lan Xing. He is the fourth son of Minister Ning, his real name is Ning Chen."

Emperor Xuan raised an eyebrow, "Ning Chen?"

The eunuch with the high-pitched voice bowed and said, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to arrest him? He has the audacity to deceive Your Majesty, which is a crime of deceiving the emperor."

Emperor Xuan snorted, "He didn't know my identity, what crime has he committed?"

The eunuch with the high-pitched voice didn't dare to speak again.

Emperor Xuan frowned, "Why do I remember that Minister Ning only has three sons?"

Nie Liang bowed and said, "Your servant has inquired... This Ning Chen used to be in exile and was only brought back a few years ago."

"Your Majesty, your servant also found out that Ning Chen is not favored in the Ning family, and he lives poorly. Minister Ning rarely mentions Ning Chen to outsiders."

Emperor Xuan thought for a moment, "I remember that a few years ago, someone accused Minister Ning of abandoning his wife and children. But at the time, we were at war with the Tuoluo Kingdom, and I was preoccupied, so I forgot about it."

"The fourth son of the esteemed Minister Ning, dressed in tattered clothes, is now approaching winter and still wearing thin clothes. From the way he eats, it's clear he has been hungry for a long time... This is enough to show the problem."

"Hmph, this Minister Ning, who has a good reputation and is somewhat famous in the literary world... I didn't expect him to be so different behind closed doors, lacking in private virtue."

The eunuch with the high-pitched voice bowed and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, should we summon Minister Ning to the palace?"

Emperor Xuan waved his hand.

Ning Ziming only lacked in private virtue. Even if he really abandoned his wife and children, Emperor Xuan wouldn't take action against him.

In the court, who was a traitor? Who was a loyal minister? Emperor Xuan knew it all clearly.

As long as they didn't cross his bottom line, such as treason or contempt for the royal family, Emperor Xuan could tolerate them.

Because, whether they were loyal or traitorous, in Emperor Xuan's eyes, many of them were capable ministers.

As long as they were capable and within Emperor Xuan's control, he wouldn't take action against them.

Ning Ziming was a second-rank official, and he had always been diligent and conscientious, never making mistakes... Emperor Xuan wouldn't take action against a capable minister just for a young man he had only met once.

This is the art of imperial rule.

...

The next day, morning court.

Emperor Xuan sat high on the dragon throne.

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

Actually, serving under the emperor was quite miserable, waking up earlier than chickens and going to bed later than chickens.

During the morning court, it was usually still dark.

The officials had to attend court on an empty stomach.

If you ate something bad and had to fart while the emperor was speaking... that would be courting death.

Moreover, there were too many officials, and the hall couldn't accommodate all of them. Many officials of lower rank had to stand outside.

In summer, it was still okay, but in winter, the cold wind blew... By the time the court was dismissed, their bodies were frozen stiff.

"Those with matters to report, speak now; those without, retire!"

A high-pitched voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report. Winter is approaching, and the Tuoluo Kingdom is short of food, frequently raiding our northern borders, burning, killing, and looting. Please send troops to suppress them."

"Your Majesty, I accuse the Minister of Personnel of allowing his son to commit violence and harm the people."

"Your Majesty, I have something to report. The Gan Nan region is suffering from floods, leaving the people homeless and hungry. Please order the granaries to be opened to provide food for the people."

These matters had already been reported in memorials, and Emperor Xuan was generally aware of them.

Bringing them up in court was to discuss how to solve the problems.

After an hour of intense discussion, these major issues were finally resolved.

Next, there were some trivial matters, which Emperor Xuan didn't care about.

Emperor Xuan's gaze fell on an old man with one leg, the only person in the court, besides Emperor Xuan, who was allowed to sit.

This old man was General Chen, who had spent his life in military service.

General Chen was also puzzled. Since he lost a leg, Emperor Xuan had allowed him to skip court... But last night, he received an oral edict ordering him to attend court no matter what.

"Chen Aijie, you were quite impressive at the Zhuangyuan Tower yesterday, weren't you?"

General Chen's heart skipped a beat. Yesterday, he got drunk at the Zhuangyuan Tower, feeling bitter and venting his frustration... He didn't expect Emperor Xuan to know so quickly.

He glanced at the censors, who must have reported him.

These censors were the most annoying, the trolls of the court.

These people cared only about their reputation and were not afraid to die!

Sometimes, they dared to oppose Emperor Xuan, making him so angry that his stomach hurt, but they wouldn't back down and would secretly rejoice, "Look, look, he's angry, he's angry..."

Emperor Xuan had executed censors before, but they all ended up with the reputation of loyal and upright ministers.

These censors were even more enthusiastic, all trying to emulate them.

These censors were stubborn, rigid, and pedantic... Whether it was Emperor Xuan or a ninth-rank official, if anyone did something wrong, they would criticize them.

To these people, reputation was more important than life.

General Chen, leaning on his cane, hurriedly tried to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but Emperor Xuan stopped him.

"General Chen, I know you are bitter, but the Zhuangyuan Tower is a place for scholars. Getting drunk and making a fool of yourself there can easily invite criticism."

To hell with those scholars, it was these poor, pedantic people who were always talking behind his back, calling him a crude warrior, which made him so angry that he ran to the Zhuangyuan Tower... General Chen cursed in his heart.

"Your servant knows his crime!"

Emperor Xuan waved his hand, "Enough, I'm not a tyrant. I know you are bitter and don't blame you... By the way, I have a gift for you!"

"Attendant Quan, read it to General Chen."

Attendant Quan was the eunuch with the high-pitched voice, a favorite of Emperor Xuan, who had been with him since he was the crown prince.

Attendant Quan carefully took the paper from the dragon desk. It was Emperor Xuan's calligraphy, the poem that Ning Chen had sold to him.