Chapter 51

However refreshing it was at Ganquan Villa, it was just as painful to crawl out of bed at dawn to rush back to the palace. From the moment he was dragged up until he was fully dressed, Ji Weiqiu kept wondering if he should just feign illness and ask for a day off. How could this be called dawn? This was the dead of night! The dead of night!!!

Who could understand! The feeling of getting up after only two hours of sleep was worse than not sleeping at all!

Feeling dizzy, Ji Weiqiu thought that in his current state, he wouldn't dare to ride a horse. He randomly grabbed a Qingxuan Guard, intending to trouble them, but he felt it wasn't quite right—they weren't familiar enough, and it felt improper to lean on them to sleep.

He scanned the surroundings. That idiot Zhang Er didn't have to attend court and was still snoring away in his room; when he woke up, he could even enjoy himself for a while before leaving. That only left Zhou Ruhui and Ji Su. After some thought, he went over to Zhou Ruhui. "Second Brother Zhou, will you take me?"

Ji Su looked over upon hearing his voice and heard Zhou Ruhui agree. His fingertips twitched slightly as he watched Ji Weiqiu climb onto Zhou Ruhui's horse, then said, "Let's move out."

As everyone shouted in unison, Ji Weiqiu had originally intended to exchange a few pleasantries with Zhou Ruhui and chat about something, but he was simply too sleepy. Leaning against Zhou Ruhui, he fell asleep almost instantly. Seeing this, Zhou Ruhui took a rope and tied Ji Weiqiu to himself to prevent him from falling off if he wasn't paying attention.

He could have held Ji Weiqiu, of course, but that would be too troublesome and not as secure as tying them together. Besides, he was sleepy too, so he naturally chose the most convenient method.

Ji Weiqiu slept all the way to the imperial palace. He was propped up by palace attendants to change into his court attire, and by the time he reached Taihe Hall, he still looked like he hadn't woken up. He was spacing out throughout the entire morning court session and only became a little more clear-headed as it was about to end.

He saw Ji Su sitting in the imperial carriage, resting his chin on one hand, and knew he probably wasn't very energetic either. Seeing this, he pulled Eunuch Qingxi over to ask, "Eunuch, what was discussed during morning court just now?"

It wasn't that Ji Weiqiu wanted to do anything; it was mainly because he felt there was a high probability that Ji Su would quiz him after they returned to Qingning Hall. Eunuch Qingxi thought for a moment and said, "There was nothing of great importance today, otherwise court wouldn't have been dismissed by now. Your Highness can rest assured."

Ji Weiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. That was good. He said, "Then I'll head back to Wenyuan Pavilion first."

"Your Highness, please go ahead."

Without needing to inform Ji Su, Ji Weiqiu quietly turned and went to Wenyuan Pavilion. Wenyuan Pavilion was as busy as ever, with everyone rushed off their feet. As usual, Ji Weiqiu went to Prime Minister Gu's place to check in, which counted as starting his work.

Prime Minister Gu directed Wei Jinyan to move the memorials belonging to Ji Weiqiu over, then put down his brush and said with a smile, "My younger brother is grateful for Your Highness's care."

"Prime Minister Gu, you're being too formal." It would have been fine if this hadn't been mentioned, but bringing it up reminded Ji Weiqiu of Zhang Er currently sleeping soundly, and he became furious. He gave a sinister smile, "Prime Minister Gu, I've come to put in a bad word for Zhang Er."

Everyone in Wenyuan Pavilion was the type to have eyes in the back of their head and ears on all sides. Upon hearing this, they all pricked up their ears—as expected of the Prince of Rui. It was the first time they had ever heard someone so blunt about putting in a bad word for another.

"Oh?" Prime Minister Gu was a little surprised. "Could it be that the little rascal offended Your Highness?"

"Not at all," said Ji Weiqiu. "How could I take such a trivial matter to heart? It's just that fellow Zhang Er..."

Ji Weiqiu recounted how Zhang Er had mistaken a little black panther for a little black cat and a five-pace snake for a fat-headed fish in the forest yesterday. Prime Minister Gu, who had been smiling at first, grew more and more somber as he listened. In the end, he said, "Thank you, Your Highness. This subject will certainly teach that scoundrel a good lesson!"

Just moments ago, he was 'my younger brother,' and now he's a 'scoundrel.'

After listening, no one in Wenyuan Pavilion felt Prime Minister Gu was in the wrong. Instead, they lamented in their hearts: Prime Minister Gu's youngest brother sure is hard to kill!

He didn't die from that?!

He really needs to be disciplined! He was lucky to be with the Prince of Rui this time. Otherwise, wouldn't he have played his own life away?!

His mission to put in a bad word a success, Ji Weiqiu yawned and sat back down in his seat. His three followers were quite perceptive; they had already divided the memorials into four piles and started reading. His own pile was exceptionally small. As Ji Weiqiu read, he thought that they handled matters quite well. Maybe he should reward them with something?

Ji Weiqiu made a mental note of this. He hadn't been reading for long when Wei Jinyan took the opportunity of delivering memorials to give him a wedding pastry. Upon seeing it, Ji Weiqiu asked, "Are you getting married?"

Wei Jinyan laughed heartily. "Replying to Your Highness, it is my elder brother. This subject is not yet engaged!"

Ji Weiqiu was just getting bored with his reading. These piles of flattering words felt like crap at a glance, and upon closer inspection, they felt like flowers carved on crap. It was nice to have someone to chat with for a bit, so he continued the conversation, "Eh? I remember you've already reached the age of maturity. Not engaged yet?"

In this day and age, marriage wasn't something where you could get engaged today and marry tomorrow. For Wei Jinyan to be working in Wenyuan Pavilion, even if only as an archivist, he must have been a provincial graduate from a prestigious family—who could enter Wenyuan Pavilion at his age without connections? In your dreams! Hadn't they seen that Ye Enguang and Yuan Zhu were already in their forties?!

Therefore, any potential marriage partner for him would certainly be a young lady from a distinguished family. Most of these families placed great importance on marriage alliances. They would typically observe for a couple of years, and only after seeing that the person had a good character and a suitable family background would they begin to make contact. After an agreement was reached, they still had to go through the Three Letters and Six Rites. The entire process taking a year or two was not considered slow.

Was there something wrong with Wei Jinyan?

He thought about himself, a Prince, who had just turned eighteen and had already been urged by his old mother seven or eight times. Even Ji Su had mentioned it to him twice.

Wei Jinyan noticed Ji Weiqiu's gaze and explained, "This subject was previously engaged to a daughter of the Su family from Hexi. Unfortunately, Miss Su contracted a serious illness before the wedding and passed away, so the matter was delayed."

Ji Weiqiu: "I see. When your engagement is settled, don't forget to tell this Prince."

Hearing this, Wei Jinyan visibly brightened. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Ji Weiqiu picked up another memorial, intending to chat about some other odds and ends, but he saw that this one contained no flattery. Instead, it was an extremely serious report accusing the Qingyang County Magistrate, Zheng Liu, of colluding with the Huainan Prefecture Prefect, Cao Zhiyu, in corruption, bribery, and the selling of official posts. After reading it, he took it to Prime Minister Gu. Prime Minister Gu glanced at it and said with a smile, "What does Your Highness think should be done?"

"Gather evidence, naturally." Perhaps because answering Ji Su had become a habit, Ji Weiqiu was not the least bit flustered by Prime Minister Gu's question. "For this person to dare accuse his superior, he must have some evidence in hand. But we can't completely trust his word alone. We should send someone else to investigate. Since it's reached the point of selling official posts, evidence shouldn't be hard to find. Send a Censor, and bring a few clever people along... Maybe start by gathering information among the common folk?"

Which specific Censor to send was the real question. If a thorough investigation was desired, one would find someone impartial and incorruptible with no ties to the local area, and just have them investigate brazenly. If there was room for leeway, then that was another matter entirely.

Prime Minister Gu said with great interest, "Who does Your Highness think would be best to send?"

Ji Weiqiu had intended to suggest sending Censor Wu Lin, as that Official Wu was famously impartial and incorruptible. But the moment he opened his mouth, he said instead, "How would I know? I don't even know all the Censors. Shouldn't this matter be submitted to my Imperial Elder Brother? Let him decide."

"Since Your Highness thinks so, then please present it to His Majesty." Prime Minister Gu's smile was full of meaning. The hairs on Ji Weiqiu's back stood on end, and he said sharply, "Prime Minister Gu, you're not setting me up, are you?"

"This subject wouldn't dare." Prime Minister Gu tapped the memorial. "Selling official posts is no small matter. It should indeed be presented to His Majesty."

Ji Weiqiu had no choice but to agree—he had to go back eventually anyway.

He had figured it out. Simply because he had to return to Qingning Hall, the task of delivering memorials fell to him nine times out of ten. It wasn't that the Grand Secretaries were intentionally targeting him or sending him to be cannon fodder; they purely didn't want to make an extra trip and just wanted to save some trouble.

When the day's work was done, Ji Weiqiu returned with the Grand Scholar in charge of delivering memorials, but he didn't plan to tell Ji Su. It wasn't because he was afraid Ji Su would quiz him, but because he truly didn't have the mental energy for these things today. He still wanted to catch up on some sleep.

Ji Su could see the sleepiness on his face and didn't make things difficult for him, waving a hand to dismiss him. Ji Weiqiu returned to the side hall and changed his clothes, but after lying in bed for a long while, he still couldn't fall asleep. He stared blankly at the bed curtains and finally had to get up. An idea struck him, and he said to Eunuch Xiao Zhuo, "Did your master tell you where the Biyun Brew and Luyun Spring are hidden? I'll go get them myself."

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo was taken aback for a moment. "Your Highness is tired. Why don't this little one go fetch it? There's Luyun Spring in the small kitchen."

Normally, Ji Weiqiu might have agreed, but how could he not tell that this was Xiao Zhuo's gentle way of refusing to tell him where the Biyun Brew was? A rebellious urge instantly arose in him. There were only a few places in the palace where wine was stored. He ordered Xiao Zhuo to stay in the side hall and not to follow him, then headed for the Imperial Kitchen himself.

He was quite familiar with the Imperial Kitchen. Right now, the Imperial Kitchen was busy with lunch. Palace attendants bustled about, bowing and greeting him when they saw him, stepping to one side. Ji Weiqiu waved his hand to dismiss the formalities. Head Steward Liu came forward to greet him, his face wreathed in smiles, "What wind has blown Your Highness here today? No wonder this servant heard a magpie chirping when I went out this morning..."

"Enough." How could Ji Weiqiu not know what kind of person he was? He smiled and said, "Let's skip the nonsense. You just go about your business. Where is the Biyun Brew hidden? Just point me in the right direction."

"Oh," said Head Steward Liu. "Your Highness, that Biyun Brew was ordered to be sealed by Your Majesty. If you desire good wine, how about this servant finds you something even better?"

"Go, go, go." Seeing his attitude, Ji Weiqiu dropped the pleasantries and headed straight for the wine cellar. Head Steward Liu hurried forward to block him, but he didn't dare to actually lay hands on him and pull him back. Making the gesture was enough—His Highness the Prince of Rui was insistent on taking it. They, as servants, had tried to persuade and obstruct him. Were they really supposed to have His Highness tied up and dragged away? Weren't they tired of living?!

Ji Weiqiu walked directly into the depths of the wine cellar. Sealed wines would be placed in the very back. Sure enough, he found the Biyun Brew without any trouble. He wasn't greedy; he took a wine gourd he had picked up on his way into the cellar and had the eunuch in charge there fill it for him before leaving.

Ji Weiqiu estimated his own tolerance. This one flask would last him a long time!

After finally returning to the side hall and sitting down, Ji Weiqiu toyed with the small wine gourd, feeling that it really wasn't easy for him to get a good night's sleep. Xiao Zhuo brought a wine cup and advised in a low voice, "Your Highness, it is best not to drink during the day. If the Emperor sees, I'm afraid you will be reprimanded..."

Ji Weiqiu poured a little into the cup and said, "I'll drink it secretly. Why would my Imperial Elder Brother bother with me over something like this?"

Ji Weiqiu drank two small cups and fell asleep peacefully. As expected, he slept soundly.

At noon, Ji Su rose from his afternoon rest and summoned Ji Weiqiu to discuss matters, only to be told that he had drunk wine and fallen asleep. After a moment of silence, he gave a faint command, "Take it away. Tell the Prince of Rui that he is forbidden from drinking Biyun Brew again."

Eunuch Qingxi respectfully acknowledged the order, but he found it very strange in his heart. Wasn't it just a flask of wine? His Highness only drank it to help him sleep, just two cups. What difference was there between Biyun Brew and Luyun Spring? Eunuch Qingxi asked again, "Your Majesty, should we summon His Highness?"

Ji Su said, "No need. Let him sleep."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Order the Prince of Rui to proceed to Huainan Prefecture in three days to investigate the case of Cao Zhiyu."