Ink Burns

Chapter 285 Initial Calculation
Xue Xiao's tone was slightly wistful. Coupled with the fact that he had been confined to his quarters after arguing with the emperor two days earlier, he felt a bit conflicted. After all, they were brothers who had supported him all the way.

Are we still brothers?
Or is it merely for the sake of the ruler and his subjects as the world sees them?

"When we first met, I thought he was a leisurely young master from a wealthy family in the capital, physically weak and refined; he thought I was a novice Taoist priest born and raised in the temple, violent and taciturn. At that time, my master had just started a business of killing and robbing to support his family. He could eat, but he was never full. Whenever he came, I would share two of the three pieces of meat in my bowl with him."

Xue Xiao raised his chin, his sharply defined jawline sharp and jagged: "He knew that Jing An was the real culprit who killed my mother's clan, but he let him go for the sake of the emperor's name."

Xue Xiao's voice was as taut as a well rope: "He never even considered killing Jing'an."

“Now that we have the decree of succession and are legitimate, perhaps things will be different.” Shan Yue gently placed her hand on Xue Xiao’s knee. Her long black hair, like a waterfall, cascaded down from her shoulders to her front. The cold and fierce aura in her eyes had diminished considerably, and her appearance was gentle and dignified.

If we set aside those turbulent years, He Shanyue from Hetou Village should have grown up to look like this.

Xue Xiao shook his head: "No, he won't kill her either."

"He will take over the power and officials from Jing'an with the gentle grace of spring rain, without making a sound. He wants to be a composed successor, not a tyrannical usurper. He wants to complete the power transition with Jing'an silently, without bloodshed or upheaval. He wants history to record his wise, enlightened, and benevolent name as a ruler, and his glorious achievements in leading the Great Wei into the 'Eternal Peace Era'—leaving no room for criticism or doubt from future generations."

Xue Xiao said softly while raising his eyes.

Brothers who grew up together need no words; a single glance is enough to know what the other is up to.

“He wants to seize power from Jing’an, not their lives.” Xue Xiao pulled Shan Yue’s hand away with his large palm: “We’ll take Jing’an’s life ourselves.”

Shan Yue grasped Xue Xiao's hand in return: "We shouldn't have relied on others in the first place."

Xue Xiaoru suddenly remembered something: "Once things settle down, we need to find a way to bring my sister out of the palace."

Sending Shui Guang to the palace was a last resort at the time. The emperor's mind is unpredictable, and it is not right to keep relatives by his side for too long. Now there is Fang Mingguan to shield them. However, Shui Guang is kind, intelligent and pure, and she is already eye-catching in the palace.

It is really not worth causing trouble in the palace.

Shan Yue lowered her eyes, her face radiating an extremely gentle glow.

She really liked the way Xue Xiao called Shui Guang "little sister." After years of wandering, she finally managed to gather a family for herself.

"The Imperial Medical Academy's practice of having women disguise themselves as men is not a long-term solution. Once the imperial power is stable and we have avenged our great grudge, we will bail Shuiguang out of the palace." Shanyue's voice was soft, accompanied by the clanging wind of early winter: "Shuiguang is the most lively girl. She grew up in the mountains and barely wore a few pairs of shoes when she was young. Now she is huddled up in the palace, struggling to make a living. It breaks my heart to think about it."

Xue Xiao turned around and closed the window that had been slightly ajar. He remained silent for a long time. Just when Shan Yue thought he was still grieving over his memories with Emperor Yongping, she suddenly heard him speak.

"Your heart hurts? Where does it hurt? Here—?"

The silent, stubborn donkey lowered its eyes and reached into its clothes.

Shan Yue looked up at the sky in despair.

A pig that has been vegetarian for decades has finally managed to root up a cabbage—it's truly terrifying.

******
Cats have their paths, and mice have theirs. Xue Xiao's information came from the sage, while the information from others came from all sorts of strange sources, but all were accurate.

The following day at court, after shouting "Long live the Emperor!" three times, officials from various ministries and departments, holding their official tablets, reported their matters one by one. During this time, some would glance at the Emperor's face out of the corner of their eye, while others would exchange glances with their colleagues. The morning court session was conducted with great vigilance.

The emperor is different now.

The unfounded rumors that had been circulating for some time were suddenly and dramatically reversed overnight.

Was his previous humility and gentleness just an act?

Isn't it time to settle the score now?
Who has challenged the emperor? Set up obstacles? Spread spies? Created hurdles? Showed displeasure?

Who will be the first to launch an attack?! Yuan Wenying was on tenterhooks: How could he have managed to waver between the emperor and Jing'an and escape unscathed? Because the emperor also owed Jing'an a debt! No matter how angry the emperor was, he wouldn't go too far! Now that the tables have turned, if the emperor demands he take a clear side, how can he choose?! He still has the "tethering force" attached to him! No matter which side he chooses, he'll die a horrible death!
Even the neutral faction within the "pure stream" is filled with unease: Sometimes, those who don't take sides die the fastest!
After the meeting was concluded, Emperor Yongping remained unmoved. His tone and manner of inquiry remained as calm as ever, without the slightest change.

The officials lamented: "What a pity the mad dog of the Xue family is confined to his quarters and court is closed! Otherwise, we could have gleaned some insight into the political climate from Xue Qishu's expression! The emperor was gentle and polite, but Xue Xiao's emotions were readily apparent; he was a veritable barometer of the emperor's sentiments. Xue Xiao holding his head high meant the emperor was pleased; Xue Xiao lowering his eyes meant the emperor disapproved."
When it came to the last question, Zhen Que, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, stepped forward, bowed, and confessed his crimes: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die ten thousand times over!"

The Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Imperial Ancestral Temple were in charge of managing the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Imperial A

This is the place where the fire started last night!

I'm coming!

All officials stood tall and bowed to meet the fierce wind and rain!

In the main hall, Emperor Yongping was reading a memorial with his head bowed, his crown beads hanging in front of his eyes. He spoke in a calm voice: "Last night, the Imperial Ancestral Temple caught fire. It was caused by a young eunuch who fell asleep and knocked over a candlestick. The officials and eunuchs of the Imperial Ancestral Temple put out the fire in time, and it did not cause a major disaster. Zhen Que is hereby punished with a two-year suspension of salary and demoted to the right to supervise the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the Ministry of Works. He will lead the subsequent repairs of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. All other officials of the fourth rank and above will be dismissed and investigated, and those of the fourth rank and below will be demoted by half a rank. This matter should serve as a warning, and we must not repeat it."

The officials waited and waited.

Gone?

!! ?
This is gone! ?
It just passed by so easily?!

Why not have a prince from a close relative of the imperial family read the will to pass on the throne again, above all the officials?

And that's it... that's the end of it?
The ministers and workers were astonished!
Only Cui Yulang of the Ministry of Works, who had recently recovered and was attending court, bowed and exchanged a glance with Yuan Wenying, who was standing in front of him in the third row.

The emperor was shrewd, magnanimous, and resilient!
If he were to take this seriously and bring up the current imperial edict of succession, what would have been the meaning of his previous eight years in power?

Xu Quyan is the true orthodox master!
It has been from the very beginning!
With the late emperor's oral edict and now the imperial will as proof, his ascension to the throne has always been clean. Why then should he act as if he has grasped at a lifeline, and openly proclaim this to his ministers?

He doesn't need to give an explanation to the court officials!

He's all about being light and airy!

Be as steady as Mount Tai!
We must ensure that no one sees the joke, and no one has any leverage against us!

Cui Yulang lowered his head even further.

If an emperor with such a magnanimous heart were to be punished, he would never start with the lowest of the low!
If liquidation is to be pursued, the only possibility is—

"The day before yesterday, I received a battle report from the northern frontier."

Emperor Yongping glossed over the matter of the imperial edict at the ancestral temple, speaking calmly without revealing any emotion: "The soldiers are going to have to get through the cold winter, and their pay and provisions are scarce, so we need to raise funds from the capital. According to the calculations of Marquis Wuding, we need to allocate 100,000 shi of grain, 50,000 sets of cotton clothing, and 30,000 jin of medicine."

Emperor Yongping looked at the Minister of Revenue: "Lord Ai, do you think the national treasury has any silver?"

Lord Ai: ? Wasn't this matter just discussed the day before yesterday? He's already tired of saying he has no money!

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue's income and expenditure are currently in good balance. If we turn back the year, this expenditure will be easier to manage." Minister Ai of the Ministry of Revenue changed his words, making them more tactful and polite, and his cursing was less intense.

"That means they don't have money."

When Emperor Yongping first learned of this, he remained silent for a moment before saying, “For twenty years, the Tatars’ dream of subjugation has not been extinguished. The war has intensified at Shanhaiguan, and hundreds of soldiers are living in poverty. The imperial family members, relying solely on their blood ties, are worshipped by the people and enjoy the riches and honors of incense offerings—this money should be paid by the imperial family members.”

Lord Ai's eyes were glued to the floor.

A member of the imperial family?
He seemed to know what the emperor was going to do.

The most powerful member of the imperial clan right now is none other than Princess Jing'an.