Chapter Sixty-Four: Rapid Preparations (Part Four)

As evening drew near, Yang Yaozong finished dealing with the intelligence at hand and was just about to leave when Jing Yijun returned once more.

Without waiting for Yang Yaozong to speak, Jing Yijun said, “His Majesty summons you to the palace. Come with me—I’ve brought a carriage.”

Jing Yijun led Yang Yaozong into the hall where the Emperor was resting. Inside were only the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The Emperor lay on the bed, while the Crown Prince sat at the bedside, keeping vigil.

Yang Yaozong waited in the hall for a summons. Jing Yijun walked to the Emperor’s bedside, glanced at the Crown Prince, and was about to ask quietly when the Emperor, seeming to sense their presence, slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Jing Yijun, he smiled weakly and said, “You’re back. Has Yang arrived?”

Jing Yijun nodded. The Crown Prince looked toward the hall and saw Yang Yaozong bowing respectfully at the center. “Grand Tutor, please come here to speak,” he said.

Yang Yaozong approached the Crown Prince and was about to kneel when the Emperor coughed a few times. The Crown Prince understood the Emperor’s intention and hurriedly began to regulate the Emperor’s breathing as he said, “Grand Tutor, you are exempt from ceremony.” Jing Yijun also quickly bent low, using her inner energy to help smooth the Emperor’s breathing.

Yang Yaozong bowed and whispered, “Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Highness.”

It had been less than half a month since Yang Yaozong last saw the Emperor and the Crown Prince, yet now the Emperor’s face was ashen, his lips bloodless, his eyes dull—a man who appeared ready to depart this world at any moment. The Crown Prince, too, had grown noticeably thinner, worry deep in his eyes.

When the Emperor’s breathing steadied, the Crown Prince sat up straight and addressed Yang Yaozong. “Tomorrow, the results of the imperial examination will be announced. Since you contributed to the examination questions, His Majesty wishes to hear your opinion.” The Crown Prince took several exam papers from the Emperor’s bedside and handed them to Yang Yaozong. “Here, Grand Tutor, take a look. These are the answers to your questions from the candidates deemed by Lord Qin and the other examiners to be potential top three finalists. The final rankings must be determined after your review.”

Yang Yaozong hastily replied, “I am too inexperienced to judge examination papers.” He truly did not dare to assess them; he knew his own limitations regarding the knowledge of this era, fearing he could not compare even to a child under ten. He looked at Jing Yijun with earnest anxiety.

Jing Yijun, seeing his expression, felt both amused and exasperated. Though she found his actions unusually odd today, she reassured him, “You wrote the question yourself; just take a look. The final decision isn’t yours alone—it will be based on the opinions of Lord Qin and the others.”

Yang Yaozong felt reassured by her words and began to review the papers, one by one. There were six in total: three essays, two paintings, and one blank sheet. Looking at the signature on the blank paper, Yang Yaozong asked, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I wonder why this candidate named Zhang Lie submitted a blank answer.”

The Crown Prince recalled Zhang Lie and found it quite amusing. “Lord Qin and the other examiners specially invited these six candidates to the palace and explained their answers to your question. I was present. This Zhang Lie, a candidate from the north, performed brilliantly on the first three questions and was a top contender. Yet, for your fourth question, he submitted a blank paper. Fortunately, Lord Qin explained that you had previously notified him that any form of answer was acceptable—poetry, painting, or even a blank sheet, provided there was a reason. Among nearly twenty thousand candidates, only he handed in a blank paper. All the examiners were curious about his reasoning. Zhang Lie declared confidently, ‘A blank paper cannot contain my ambitions and aspirations!’”

Yang Yaozong nodded approvingly. “His answer pleases me most. If possible, I’d like to meet him in person.”

The Crown Prince smiled. “Grand Tutor, your view matches mine. I found his manner dignified, his analysis unique—he is truly a rare talent.”

Yang Yaozong then offered brief comments on the other candidates’ answers, all of which the Crown Prince agreed with.

After the review, Yang Yaozong reported to the Emperor and Crown Prince on the recent operations and intelligence gathered by the Secret Investigation Bureau, though he avoided mentioning matters concerning the eldest prince.

The Emperor, though silent, listened and watched the conversation between the Crown Prince and Yang Yaozong, feeling gratified. He believed the Crown Prince had matured greatly of late and handled affairs with greater prudence. He was equally appreciative of Yang Yaozong’s abilities and felt genuinely pleased.

Noting the Emperor’s exhaustion, Yang Yaozong bowed to request leave. The Crown Prince, seeing the Emperor’s fatigue and that their matters were concluded, personally escorted Yang Yaozong outside.

Once Yang Yaozong had left, the Emperor gathered his strength and asked weakly, “Yijun, you spend time with Yang Yaozong every day. What is your assessment of his character?”

Jing Yijun looked at her father, furrowing her delicate brows as she answered earnestly, “Yang Yaozong is exceptionally intelligent and forthright, never presuming upon his scholarly status. He is unrestrained, yet his analysis is subtle and his actions cautious. The members of the Secret Investigation Bureau greatly admire him. But sometimes, what he thinks and does is beyond my comprehension. He cares nothing for reputation or power. Given his fame and the Bureau’s accomplishments, he could easily seek favor or rewards, yet he does not. He remains as he always has, and even knowing the treasury is strained, he runs a tavern to fund the Bureau and even spends his own money to reward the investigators. Though the tavern is not officially under his control, such behavior is considered disgraceful by most scholars.”

The Emperor closed his eyes, his breath barely audible, and said with effort, “I won’t last much longer. Besides a few trustworthy ministers at court, he is worthy of great responsibility. Jing Min trusts him deeply. If ever he harbors ambitions beyond his station, I beg you, you must…”

Suddenly, the Emperor summoned unexpected strength, his eyes snapping open with fierce determination as he stared at Jing Yijun.

Jing Yijun’s brows locked in a golden arch as she regulated her father’s breathing with her inner energy, nodding with a complex heart. “I understand. Please rest—don’t speak anymore.”

The Crown Prince escorted Yang Yaozong outside, his upright posture suddenly slackening, weariness etched across his face. “Grand Tutor, Grandfather… he…” At this, tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes. He dared not sob aloud, only stifling his cries.

Yang Yaozong looked at the thirteen-year-old Crown Prince—still a child, yet bearing burdens unimaginable for most. He felt deep affection and wished to comfort him, though he knew not how. This boy, destined from birth for an extraordinary life, possessed a status many envied, but carried a sacred and weighty mission. Yang Yaozong could only offer quiet solace: “Your Highness, you must take care of yourself. When His Majesty sees you well, he will be comforted, and his health will gradually improve.”

Night had deepened. By the Qinhuai River, on the third floor of Drunken Red Dust, Yin Ruxin and her sister Yin Ruyun leaned against the window, gazing out.

Days of scheming had left Yin Ruxin weary. Her slender brows knit as she lazily tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ll see if everything goes smoothly the day after tomorrow.”

Yin Ruyun frowned. “I can’t shake a sense of unease, as if someone’s investigating the eldest prince and also looking into us. I feel watched.”

Yin Ruxin smiled and nodded. “I sense it too. But the eldest prince has always been under surveillance; otherwise, we wouldn’t have needed such elaborate measures. They’re investigating me as well. After all, my contacts with the eldest prince have been too frequent. Still, they won’t uncover much about my identity, and if someone is repeatedly following us, wouldn’t your skills detect them?”

Yin Ruyun looked at her sister. “Aren’t you afraid Yang Yaozong will find out what you’ve done?”

Thinking of Yang Yaozong, Yin Ruxin broke into a radiant smile, happiness suffusing her features. “Sister, I have a feeling he knows something. Besides, some things can’t be avoided just because we fear them. What we do may not be right, but is there always a clear boundary between right and wrong? He’s never urged me to stop, never tried to prevent me. Instead, he tells me to be careful and focused. He knows I have reasons I can’t ignore. He once said he’d bring me onto his side, that he’d protect me. So I trust him—I believe my man has the ability!”