Chapter 34: My Heart
Feng Guangwei knew that His Majesty was not as extravagant as the rumors said, but there were countless eyes watching here, so he cleaned up a place in the prefectural mansion for banquets. Lu Liang's mansion was large, so this place was also very spacious.
Since the palace steward Li Zhongxian was also there, Feng Guangwei didn't need to do anything. He just had to follow his orders. The dishes served at the banquet between His Majesty and the ministers were all characteristic of Fengxian City.
The relationship between the officials and the emperor of the Great Zhou was more like that of the Tang and Song dynasties, and the emperor and his ministers were relatively relaxed when enjoying themselves together on weekdays.
Maids filed in carrying dishes. An attendant from the prefect's residence said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this dish is called Dianzhu Cui."
Yan Xuanyu said "hmm" lightly. The maid knelt in front of the couch, raised the dish above her head, slowly bent down to put it down, and stepped aside.
He looked at the dish that was highlighted. It was a vegetarian dish, but the presentation was so exquisite, like a peacock spreading its tail, with dots of pearly color chasing it, it was very beautiful.
"Not bad, reward." Yan Xuanyu picked up the jade chopsticks and tasted some, but of course he still couldn't taste anything.
He looked at the ministers and officials from Fengxian City who were following the emperor, and he could tell at a glance that they all had their own thoughts.
Yan Xuanyu said without any expression, "This isn't the capital, so just treat it as an ordinary banquet."
This means that everyone can start eating.
But everyone present here has ulterior motives and is testing each other, speaking with hidden meanings. Even if there is a table full of delicious food, it won't taste good.
Yan Xuanyu felt a little tired and thought that staying here was a waste of time. Li Zhongxian tilted his head and gave a few instructions, and the singing and dancing began.
During the emperor's birthday celebration, there was also singing and dancing in the palace, but it was different from what was going on here. A singing girl, her face covered with veil, gently plucked her instrument, unleashing a graceful Jiangnan tune, while the dancers danced to the tune, flicking their sleeves in a graceful manner.
Yan Xuanyu watched for a while with the attitude of appreciating art, but then lost interest.
He has never been keen on watching singing and dancing. Every Spring Festival he just watches crosstalk and sketches. His aesthetic taste is not up to the standard of elegance.
There was drinking and singing and dancing in the room.
Exquisite dishes were served one after another, and the cold dishes were taken away.
"I heard that Lord Feng managed Fengxian City in perfect order within just a few months after arriving in Fengxian City. I admire you so much!"
"Lord Feng..."
The voice was not loud, just loud enough for Yan Xuanyu to hear. He waved his hand to stop several officials who were talking and looked at the people near Feng Guangwei.
Every sentence praised Feng Guangwei, but every sentence set a trap for him. Officials from the capital must have known that Feng Guangwei was demoted to Fengxian City for a crime, and was initially demoted to a county magistrate. Later, he was appointed as the prefect of Fengxian City for his meritorious service in flood control. However, it was repeatedly mentioned that Feng Guangwei had achieved such great things in just a few months after coming to Fengxian City. What would the emperor, who personally issued an order to demote Feng Guangwei, think?
What's more, the current emperor has no tolerance for others!
When they saw Yan Xuanyu looking at them, they stopped talking and saluted Yan Xuanyu who was sitting up. Yan Xuanyu's eyes fell lightly on the few people, not missing Wen Yongwang who seemed to have been perfectly invisible.
Sometimes, silence can make people feel more uneasy than speaking. The servants serving on both sides of Yan Xuanyu were very considerate and poured a glass of wine for him. Yan Xuanyu put it to his lips and took a sip twice.
The emperor must have taken the words to heart. Some officials laughed inwardly.
After all, according to their information, the emperor is extremely easy to be provoked.
Feng Guangwei suppressed his expression, and from then on, no matter who came up to him, he would refuse to drink on the grounds of feeling unwell, and no one would make things difficult for him.
Yan Xuanyu watched as the atmosphere in the banquet hall, once cold, returned to normal as the dancers began to dance and the musicians began to play. He ate the food in front of him with a distracted expression. Figuring that time was almost up, he decided not to linger any longer.
The singing, dancing and talking in the room stopped, and everyone bowed their heads to see the emperor off.
As the emperor who was being sent off respectfully, Yan Xuanyu himself no longer felt anything.
As an outsider looking at history, Yan Xuanyu really understood the rulers of the time who only cared about enjoying themselves when the world was about to fall into chaos.
Power is such a wonderful thing. The prosperity and peace cover up the weak voices of the people. As long as their luxurious lives are not affected, who would care about what is happening outside the palace?
As long as the Chinese people can survive, except for a few exceptions, no one will resist the rule of a dynasty. Their request is so humble, just to survive.
But even so, there are still people who force them to live. When people are living in dire straits, it is time for them to rise up in rebellion, and the replacement of dynasties comes from this.
However, looking at the Great Zhou, there are not only internal troubles, but external threats are even more serious.
It is also very tiring to play a foolish emperor. He tells himself not to be impatient, but at the same time he wants to do everything in his mind quickly.
Yan Xuanyu was walking in the pavilion in the back garden. Everyone had been dispersed long ago to allow the emperor to have fun. The evening wind had brought a little chill. Li Zhongxian was holding a lamp beside him, and the eunuchs behind him also held a lamp each, lighting up everywhere Yan Xuanyu went.
Yan Xuanyu had just drunk some wine, and the drunkenness was blown away a little by the wind.
He sat down in the pavilion, and soon the person he was waiting for arrived.
"Your Majesty." The visitor saluted respectfully.
It was Feng Guangwei, whose eyes were very clear despite being drunk.
Yan Xuanyu tapped the stone table lightly. "I have three things for you to do now. Please implement them quickly after I leave..."
——————
The next day, several officials were talking to Yan Xuanyu about the tour when they heard a commotion coming from the backyard of the prefect's mansion.
In front of everyone, Yan Xuanyu showed his fear: "Li Zhongxian, go see who is so bold."
"Yes." Li Zhongxian lowered his head and walked away, taking the two young eunuchs with him and leaving quickly.
Several officials looked at each other, not knowing whether to continue or...
"Go on." Yan Xuanyu closed his eyes, impatience showing on his face.
The official in the middle was from the Ministry of Rites, named Zhang Wencheng. He glanced at Yan Xuanyu's expression, lowered his head, and continued, "Your Majesty, tomorrow's parade will start from Fengxian City and head east..."
After only a few words, Li Zhongxian returned and bowed, "Your Majesty, these are the maids and servants from the wife of the prefect. I have ordered them to be taken away."
Yan Xuanyu, who had been uninterested in listening to anyone talk, suddenly became interested: "Oh? What's the matter?"
The prefect's wife was, after all, the wife of a minister. If a servant disturbed the front yard, they could be dragged away and beaten to death. It was against the rules for the emperor to ask about matters in other people's courtyards. Some officials shook their heads secretly.
Li Zhongxian continued, "Your Majesty, it was the servant who was dishonest and stole things from the master's household. The Madam's maid discovered that he had been deceiving the master for a long time by passing off inferior goods as good ones, and that's why he was flogged."
Yan Xuanyu laughed a few times.
"Mr. Zhang, how long will it take to build a temporary palace in Fengxian City?" Yan Xuanyu asked.
"This..." Zhang Wencheng was stunned, "I...I don't know."
He was just an official from the Ministry of Rites, how did he know about the construction?
His Majesty, seated in the main seat, had already waved his hand, as if dismissing some trash, and had him go aside. "I was in such a hurry on this trip, but I remember that my father has a villa in Yuandu City?"
After he finished speaking, he showed regret: "If I had known earlier, I would not have come to Fengxian City. There is not even a temporary palace. It would have been much better to go to Yuandu City."
The officials were collectively speechless. Did His Majesty intend to live in the palace?
"Okay, I'm tired too. Let's talk about the tour later." Yan Xuanyu held his forehead.
Li Zhongxian immediately said, "My lords, please return."
When looking at Wen Yongwang, Li Zhongxian's expression instantly changed, and he said with a smile, "Master Wen, please stay."
Several officials left in confusion.
...
Zhang Wencheng walked back with another official. Before leaving, the official patted Zhang Wencheng on the shoulder in a comforting tone: "Your Majesty has always acted in this way."
"I saved it." Zhang Wencheng smiled.
After they turned around, their expressions changed, and they both looked thoughtful.
...
Yan Xuanyu summoned Wen Yongwang to accompany him, and set up a banquet in the pavilion. He summoned musicians to play music and had beautiful maids accompany him.
He half leaned on the couch, completely ignoring Wen Yongwang, who he had called to accompany him.
After listening to the music, Yan Xuanyu played with the maid in the pavilion for a while, completely ignoring the presence of an official sitting below him.
After Yan Xuanyu had listened to enough music and played enough, someone took them downstairs.
Yan Xuanyu sat in the pavilion with fluttering curtains with a sullen face, and cursed in his heart for the first time since arriving here. This Wen Yongwang was really hard to fool. He had been keeping quiet outside and was very patient.
With just one look from him, Li Zhongxian immediately understood what he meant and went outside the pavilion to announce Wen Yongwang.
Wen Yongwang walked into the pavilion without looking around and bowed to Yan Xuanyu.
Yan Xuanyu said nonchalantly, "Master Wen seems so hesitant today. Do you want to tell me something?"
Wen Yongwang raised his head, his face still hesitant, "Your Majesty..."
After a while, Wen Yongwang suddenly knelt down and bowed deeply, then said in a resounding voice, "Your Majesty, I have discovered that the governor of Fengxian City has been plundering the people's property! Many wealthy families in the city have been emptied of their wealth. Your Majesty, please investigate!"
Yan Xuanyu: .....
This is one thing after another? Yan Xuanyu sneered in his heart. If he didn't follow their wishes, would this play be over?!
This time, Feng Guangwei was made to take the blame.
Yan Xuanyu didn't know whether to be angry or amused. He remained expressionless and asked, "How did Lord Wen know this?"
"Your Majesty, I have been worried about you ever since I followed you from the capital to Fengxian City. Several adults have heard about this matter, but they just didn't dare to present it to your Majesty!" Wen Yongwang seemed to have made up his mind and knocked his head to the ground.
Yan Xuanyu: "You should get up first."
He amiably asked Li Zhongxian to offer Wen Yongwang a seat. Wen Yongwang looked up in surprise and then immediately lowered his head, acting exactly as he should in front of the emperor.
"I've long known that Feng Guangwei is unsuitable." Yan Xuanyu snorted coldly, "It's Lord Wen who has won my heart in this matter."
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid Feng Guangwei has done many things in private to deceive Your Majesty!" Wen Yongwang said sadly.
Yan Xuanyu thought that only a fool like him would watch Wen Yongwang's play. If it was a foolish king who knew nothing, Wen Yongwang would probably really understand his thoughts.
Anger washed over his face. "I will immediately order Feng Guangwei to be dismissed from his post and brought back to the capital to be imprisoned in the Dali Temple!"
"Your Majesty, absolutely not." Wen Yongwang carefully analyzed the situation for Yan Xuanyu. "Feng Guangwei holds great prestige among the people of Fengxian City, and for this reason, the wealthy families dare not speak out. Your Majesty, why not..."
He explained the countermeasures in detail, which surprised Yan Xuanyu. In this way, Feng Guangwei would be in a difficult position and had to accept it regardless of whether it was right or wrong.
There were not many talented people available in the Zhou Dynasty, and they tried to remove as many as they could, taking it as their responsibility to remove all the talents in the world.
Yan Xuanyu looked at Wen Yongwang deeply. At first he thought this person was someone close to the prime minister, but now he was a little unsure.
"This plan is brilliant." Yan Xuanyu laughed heartily, as if his sore spot had been touched.
The next second, his expression turned cold. "But why bother? I'll go on a secret visit tomorrow and catch them off guard."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Wen Yongwang was delighted.
He was about to say something when Li Zhongxian suddenly came up to him, followed by several strong eunuchs.
"Your Majesty is not feeling well, Lord Wen, please leave first." Li Zhongxian said with a smile.
"I'll take my leave." Wen Yongwang bowed and followed Li Zhongxian out of the pavilion.
....
The officials gathered again, still discussing the parade.
Unexpectedly, as he was speaking, Yan Xuanyu pretended to slap his head and lips and proposed an idea of going on a secret visit.
He is a person who doesn't care about anyone but his own wishes, and has the potential to become a tyrant.
Because Yan Xuanyu did not "kill everyone" like the original owner after he came here, even though he was played as a "tyrant", people still felt that he could be saved. After he said that he wanted to go on a private visit, the ministers naturally tried to dissuade him but they absolutely refused.
Of course, the true intentions of some of them are unknown.
Yan Xuanyu waved his hand, asking them to stop. He sneered twice, "If I were to go on a tour, how would I know if there were people in Fengxian City and the surrounding cities who were just pretending to fool me?"
The officials looked at each other, wondering what was wrong with the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I think you need to make some preparations for your incognito visit. How about setting it for tomorrow?" At this time, Wen Yongwang suddenly stood up and said with a smile.
"Very good." Yan Xuanyu said with satisfaction, then glanced at everyone indifferently.
"My Lords, please ask yourselves, how many of you are as devoted to me as Lord Wen?"
After saying this, his eyes deliberately lingered on Feng Guangwei for a while. Everyone followed his gaze and remained silent.
At this time, Feng Guangwei only looked at Wen Yongwang.
The latter stood there silently.
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