Chapter 174 Ink Stick
"I have also heard that Prime Minister Zheng has asked the Emperor for permission to retire. This is his last task in office. If he can finish it smoothly, then Sister Zheng will not have to worry."
The Princess knew that Zheng Yanling and Qi Yuxuan had a good relationship.
"I rarely concern myself with matters of the court. If you are worried, I will ask Jun'er tomorrow and ask him to look after you and help you out."
Since Prime Minister Zheng has already retired, even if the Crown Prince shows some concern, he will not be criticized for trying to win over a powerful minister. Instead, he will be praised for showing consideration for an old minister.
"I don't understand the laws and regulations, so I'm troubling my cousin, the Crown Prince, for your help. I recently acquired a fine piece of ink; could Mother please take it with me as a token of my gratitude?"
"Why be so serious? This is nothing more than a small favor for him. You're just making things awkward."
"Mother, please let your daughter deliver this gift. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble my cousin, the Crown Prince, a lot more in the future."
Qi Yuxuan blinked, and the princess immediately understood.
This girl has a lot of ideas; there's probably a reason behind her gift-giving.
"Alright then, whatever you say."
The next day.
Qi Jun stayed up all night and only learned this morning that the woman named Aru had died a gruesome death and that the murderer was unknown.
After the court session ended, an official suddenly blocked Qi Jun's path.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please wait!"
Minister Tao was over fifty years old and looked thin. His phoenix eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light. At this moment, he was wearing an official robe, but he had no official air about him. He was kneeling and bowing, showing a fawning attitude.
Qi Jun remained expressionless and glanced at him sideways.
"What brings you here, Minister Tao?"
Minister Tao chuckled awkwardly, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and bent even lower:
"I have been unable to eat or sleep these past few days, and I am filled with remorse whenever I think about what happened the other day. Your Highness is an outstanding person and a pillar of the nation. I was deceived by a villain and acted foolishly for a moment... I humbly beg Your Highness to give me a chance to atone for my sins. I will do my utmost to serve Your Highness with all my might..."
He spoke at length, only to look up and realize that the Crown Prince's gaze had already passed through him and landed on Prime Minister Zheng in front of him.
"Your Highness has a refined taste. I've been listening to someone talk non-stop since early this morning. If it were an old minister like me, I would have already gotten annoyed by the noise and left."
Prime Minister Zheng calmly glanced at Minister Tao, whose face had turned a deep purplish-red, then bowed slightly to Qi Jun in a simple gesture of respect.
Qi Jun nodded in return.
Seeing that Qi Jun had not expressed his opinion and remained indifferent, Minister Tao pondered for a moment.
He was in his prime and could serve as an official for at least another ten years, while that old bastard surnamed Zheng was about to step down. He didn't believe the Crown Prince wouldn't be able to make a decision about which was more important.
Thinking this way, he decided not to be polite to Prime Minister Zheng anymore:
"Prime Minister Zheng is still vigorous despite his advanced age. In my opinion, he should not retire so early. He should devote himself to the country and the people until the very end."
One was the current prime minister, and the other was the minister of six ministries. They openly confronted each other in front of the crown prince. Many slow-moving court officials passed by and glanced at them curiously.
"Minister Tao, please go to the government office first."
Qi Jun's voice was aloof, and Tao Shangshu inexplicably detected a hint of disdain in it, but he shook his head, thinking it was just his imagination.
"Then this humble subject shall take his leave."
Minister Tao bowed obsequiously, then gave Prime Minister Zheng a perfunctory hand salute before turning and walking toward the Six Ministries.
"Tao Duo is not a man fit for important tasks."
Watching Minister Tao's departing figure, Prime Minister Zheng sighed softly.
"Those who are too driven by self-interest and resort to any means necessary, even if talented, are ultimately dangerous soldiers."
Qi Jun didn't offer any comment, but instead asked:
"If that's the case, why did Prime Minister Zheng choose to retire gracefully at this crucial juncture?"
Zheng Xiang silently gazed into the distance, looking at the high sky in all directions. Hanyuan Palace was situated on a high ground, and from the top of the long steps, one could easily see the layout of the capital of Qi outside the palace walls.
After a long pause, he lowered his aged, loose eyelids and said in a trembling voice:
“Your Highness, Princess Pingyin contracted the plague a few days ago. Although she has recovered after taking medicine, it has aggravated her old ailment. When I was young, I devoted myself to the State of Qi and neglected Princess Pingyin for many years. Now I am old and no longer capable of great service. I only wish to live out the rest of my life well and be able to stay by her side…”
Speaking of which, Princess Pingyin was Qi Jun's great-aunt. When she was young, she was choosing a husband from among the successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and she took a liking to Prime Minister Zheng, who did not yet hold an official position.
Qi Jun's gaze fell on the old man before him, who had toiled for the Qi Kingdom for most of his life. He couldn't utter another word, only letting out a soft sigh and saying:
"I understand. Prime Minister Zheng, please rest assured."
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Qi Jun received a gift from the Princess's residence.
The palace servant who delivered the message conveyed the message to Prime Minister Zheng. Qi Jun nodded to indicate that he understood, and then personally reached out and opened the brocade box that had been delivered.
Inside, two ink sticks lay quietly, the fragrant aroma of ink wafting slowly from the brocade box, and there seemed to be small characters engraved on them.
He reached out and picked it up, then looked at it against the candlelight to see clearly the words "keen observation" and "unique insight" written on it.
What does this mean?
The palace attendant seemed to sense his confusion and explained in a timely manner:
"Your Highness, this was sent by Princess Chang Le. She said it was to help Prime Minister Zheng and to put her close friend, Miss Zheng, at ease. She has troubled Your Highness again this time, and this is a thank-you gift she prepared."
Qi Jun put down the ink stick, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
"I understand. Sun Miao, you should personally deliver this to Prime Minister Zheng and tell him that I am commending him for his progress in compiling the laws."
"……yes."
Although Sun Miao didn't understand why, he quickly accepted the order and left the way he came with the brocade box.
On his way from the Eastern Palace to the government office where Prime Minister Zheng was located, Sun Miao encountered several officials, and he greeted them all politely. However, as he turned a corner, he happened to bump into Xiao Jue.
"Greetings, Xiao Shaoqing."
He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, but when he saw Xiao Jue's appearance clearly, his expression changed, and he was slightly shocked.
When did Xiao Jue become like this?
He was dressed neatly, but his eyes were bloodshot, his under-eyes were dark, and his lips were stiff, making him look like he had suffered a great blow.
Is it still because of that demotion?
Xiao Jue seemed not to hear him and continued walking without any reaction, like a walking corpse.
"Xiao Shaoqing!"
Sun Miao raised his voice and shouted again.
Only then did Xiao Jue finally come to his senses, lifting his gaze from his toes to the person in front of him.
He was Eunuch Sun, the most trusted eunuch by the Crown Prince's side.
"Greetings, Eunuch Sun."
He raised his hand perfunctorily, and upon seeing the brocade box carried by the palace servants behind Sun Miao, he almost instinctively and habitually offered a polite greeting:
"Which esteemed person is Eunuch Sun going to deliver a reward to?"
Sun Miao gave a polite smile and explained:
"This is an ink stick that Princess Chang Le gave to His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness, mindful of Prime Minister Zheng's recent hard work, specially gifted it to him."
Princess Chang Le...
The familiar yet unfamiliar words entered Xiao Jue's ears, making his scalp tingle instantly, and he shuddered as if he had been startled by something.
"Oh dear, what's wrong with Young Master Xiao?"
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