HMAM CH 36 Various Happenings
A few days later, Lu Baizang returned to the palace and brought back the news from Wen Xueyi.
With the grain and horses sent to them by Jing Ye, Wuhuan had the courage to challenge the Dayue clan. At this time, the two clans were at a stalemate. Dayue's intention to join forces with Zhao Mingde to take a bite of the northern border naturally came to nothing. Not only that, but also in the next few years, the northern grasslands would become the battlefield and judgment table between the two clans.
Jing Ye casually took a look at the letter of gratitude and smiled: "This King Wuhuan, his sincerity is worrying."
Lu Baizang said while feeding Jing Xiao Yun curd cheese, "What?"
"A king of barbarians, his letter of gratitude is written more beautifully than the ministers in my court." Jing Ye looked over it, "Who would believe it? En... though the words used... are very sincere."
"Of course he couldn't have written it." Lu Baizang put down the porcelain bowl, sat over and hugged Jing Ye, "Someone wrote it for him. I heard from Wen Xueyi that there is a Han adviser beside the new king to advise him, otherwise how could he step on his brothers and ascend to the throne?”
Jing Ye nodded: "So it is like this..."
"I heard that the advisor is greatly favored by King Wuhuan. The two eat at the same table and sleep on the same bed..." Lu Baizang smiled and leaned close to his ear, his thin lips touching Jing Ye's round earlobe, "Say Your Majesty, the two of them... Aren’t they similar to us?”
Jing Xiao Yun swallowed the curd cheese in his mouth and looked at the two with big eyes.
Jing Ye didn't even look back, he raised his hand and slapped Lu Baizang on the face: "Yun'er is still here, please pay attention."
Lu Baizang put his arms around his waist, buried his head between his neck and shoulders, and began to make unreasonable noises, commonly known as throwing a tantrum.
“How long has it been since you asked me to be intimate with you! These days that I haven't been with you, someone has taken advantage, haven't they? I worked hard for you outside, but you are here enjoying the new and forgetting the old... Hmmph, I'm back now yet I don’t see how happy you are..."
Jing Ye: "..."
Lu Baizang looked like a resentful wife, but his hands gently and slowly twisted on Jing Ye's jade belt-wrapped waist, trying to get inside.
Jing Ye felt embarrassed being rubbed by him, so he pinched his wrist and turned around, “En? Why did I hear that when you went to Zhengzhou, a beauty climbed on your bed at night?"
Lu Baizang's handsome face froze and he said sheepishly: “That surnamed Gu spread the rumor..."
Jing Ye patted his hand and said, "Enough, I have to go to the imperial study room. You can watch them both here." After saying that, he stood up.
Lu Baizang was startled and said, "Aren't you angry?"
Jing Ye said: "What is there to be angry about?"
"..." Lu Baizang grabbed his hand, "Me and that woman, you don't ask me about that woman..."
Jing Ye looked at him and said, "You..."
Seeing his calm expression, Lu Baizang was so angry that he sneered: "That's right. I was bored at night, so I spent the night with her, it was very enjoyable. I must pamper her well when I go back to Zhengzhou."
Jing Ye was stunned for a moment, looked at him and said, "It's up to you." Then he left.
Feng Ling returned home after going to court, and first went to the main hall to see his mother.
The maid smiled and lifted the curtain, saying: "The young master is back."
Madam Feng was leaning on an azure pillow, comparing needlework with several older servants. When she saw him coming in, she smiled and said, "Come here Qingsheng. Seeing that winter is coming soon, the servant girls told me those winter clothes in your cabinet are still the same as they were two years ago. I'm discussing with them to make some new ones for you."
Feng Ling went over and saluted, "Thank you, mother. Mother, please pay attention to your health and don't hurt your eyes."
Madam Feng waved her hands and said with a smile: "I only have one son, shouldn't I worry about you? While I can still move my old bones, I will make some clothes for you. In a year and a half, you will be married. Your wife will be doing all this instead, and I, as the mother, can’t get involved."
Everything else was fine, but hearing the word "married", Feng Ling couldn't help but be startled: "Married?"
"You don't want to get married?" Madam Feng glared at him, "How old are you? The fifth son of the Qin family is the same age as you yet his child can already talk. I discussed it with your father last night. Within the next six months, I must choose a marriage for you, and find a virtuous young lady as soon as possible."
Feng Ling couldn't refute his mother. But he thought of Jing Ye and felt that he couldn't let go. He hurriedly said, "This son will go back to my room first" and walked out regardless of Madam Feng calling after him.
In the evening, Lord Feng went back to his room to go to bed. Madam Feng sat in front of the mirror and said, "I feel Qing Sheng has become a bit strange."
Lord Feng turned around and said, "I feel that too."
Madam Feng thought about it carefully and said, "Is it possible that he may have a sweetheart outside?"
Lord Feng raised his head, and Madam Feng said: "The manservant said that he comes back to the manor every day after court and does not go out. Could it be a maid at home? It doesn't look like it..."
The couple looked at each other, but they still didn't understand.
Jing Ye did not return to his palace residence until very late in the evening.
"Your Majesty." Ye Mao led the palace servants to welcome him into the palace residence and whispered, "Lu Gongzi is inside, he's not asleep yet."
Jing Ye paused and nodded.
Lu Baizang was sitting by the window. The window was open. When he saw Jing Ye coming in, he reached out and closed it.
The palace attendants came forward to remove his clothes. After washing, the palace attendants all left, leaving only two people in the room.
Jing Ye stood there and thought for a while, then stepped forward.
Lu Baizang didn't look at him.
Jing Ye leaned over and held his slender hand. Lu Baizang twitched his fingers.
Jing Ye said: "I don't ask, not because I don't care."
In the early morning of the next day, the palace maids were guarding outside the room with face towels and copper basins. Two palace maids standing side by side chatted secretly.
Palace Maid A said: “His Majesty and Lu Gongzi had a quarrel yesterday. I wonder if they reconciled last night."
Palace Maid B smiled and said, "They've already reconciled."
Palace Maid A said: "How do you know?"
Palace Maid B said: "Last night I was keeping watch with Ye Gonggong, and I heard His Majesty inside saying, 'Gu Hong won't be back tonight.'"
Palace Maid A was confused: "What does this mean?... What else did His Majesty say?"
Palace Maid B said: "His Majesty also said: 'Get out'."
Palace Maid A looked at her and had an epiphany.
As soon as the door opened, Ye Mao came out and waved his horsetail whisk to signal the palace attendants to enter.
On the dragon bed, Jing Ye got up with his hair disheveled. Lu Baizang turned over and hugged him, smiling: "Your Majesty, shall this subject serve you in washing up?"
Jing Ye looked at his gleeful face and gathered enough strength to kick him out of bed.
“Get out!"
Jing Ye didn't get enough sleep at night, and went to court under a cloud of low pressure during the day. He spoke in the same expressionless tone, which frightened several ministers who wanted to remonstrate.
After taking a noon nap, he went to the imperial study as usual. After Jing Ye handled some of the memorials, he heard two knocks outside the door. It was Ye Mao: "Your Majesty, Lin Gongzi requests an audience."
Jing Ye lowered his head and said, "Let him in."
Lin Xiaosheng came in with several volumes of account books and placed them on the desk in front of Jing Ye.
Jing Ye said: "This is…”
Lin Xiaosheng said: "The tax account books sent by the Ministry of Revenue."
Jing Ye took it over and looked through it. There were marks written by Lin Xiaosheng everywhere on it.
Lin Xiaosheng said: "Corruption is too serious. Even if a lot of money has been 'purged' this time, in the long run, the national treasury will still be in deficit and the common people will be overwhelmed."
Jing Ye looked up at him, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring zhen the account books and zhen will take a closer look."
Lin Xiaosheng said: "There are many account books. Forgive this subject for the rudeness, but how much does Your Majesty know about this matter?"
"Learn from ignorance." Jing Ye said bravely, "Let zhen have a look, and gain an estimate in my mind."
Lin Xiaosheng lowered his eyes and looked at him, then suddenly smiled: "If Your Majesty doesn't mind, why not come to this subject's palace to take a closer look, and this subject can also help from the side."
This person could also smile.
Jing Ye was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to his senses. Lin Xiaosheng's smile had him feeling inexplicably embarrassed.
"...Fine, let's go."