Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court-Chapter 345: A Worthy Opponent, a Talented Rival! New

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Awkwardness never disappears; it only gets transferred.

Just like how a smile didn’t disappear, but instead transferred onto Xu Yanmiao’s face.

[But speaking of being unreliable, the old emperor isn’t exactly reliable either.]

The smile on the old emperor’s face vanished instantly.

—Even though he didn’t yet know what Xu Yanmiao was going to say about him.

[Hasn’t he even noticed that Prince Shou has been skipping school for three days?]

The old emperor: “!!!”

Where’s my staff?!

Where’s my Seven-Star Pearl-Coiled Dragon Staff?!

That rascal is only seven this year, and he’s already learned to play hooky?!

[But then again, he is a prince—the youngest one, too. Although he wasn’t born of the empress, the old emperor still dotes on him more than the others. Which of the imperial academy teachers would dare say much? All they can do is turn a blind eye.]

The old emperor grew even more furious.

“So that’s how it is…”

I gave you your salaries so you would properly educate the princes, imperial grandsons, and clan sons, and you’re just turning a blind eye?!

[Mainly because a while back, a great scholar had once slapped a prince’s palm red during class, and the old emperor immediately jumped to the boy’s defense and issued an edict to punish the teacher. Ever since then, no one’s dared be too strict with the princes.]

[Now, I personally don’t support corporal punishment in schools, but isn’t that how a lot of teachers discipline students? Talking in class, making little movements, looking around—three strikes. Coming in late or leaving early—four strikes. Skipping class—five strikes. Not doing homework—six strikes.]

[In any case… ever since that edict from the old emperor, most teachers have only dared to turn a blind eye to the princes’ behavior.]

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Nonsense!!!

The old emperor stared wide-eyed.

Yes, he did do something like that—but after his darling talked him down, he immediately issued a retraction! Not only did he revoke the previous order, he even praised the teachers’ actions and rewarded them with silver. He hadn’t interfered with how they taught the princes since!

Xu Yanmiao, don’t just tell half the story!

[Though Her Majesty the Empress did speak to the old emperor kindly, saying that the teacher had only been doing his duty and putting heart into teaching his son. The old emperor acknowledged his mistake and rescinded the edict. But aside from a few particularly upright teachers who aren’t afraid of authority, most have been noticeably more polite to the princes and grandsons ever since.]

[Which is understandable!]

[—I mean, who knows if Gao Jianyi’s out there saying “I don’t mind if you discipline my son,” but secretly keeping score with every hit.]

Ah! What a nice wall!

The old emperor stared at the wall in front of him for several long moments, as if contemplating a career change from emperor to bricklayer.

Meanwhile, the imperial guards and Minister Bing kept their heads lowered, pretending to be dead.

“Minister Bing,” the emperor finally spoke after admiring the wall enough, his tone slow and leisurely. “What kind of emperor do you think I am?”

Minister Bing: “This humble official does not dare to make rash judgments about His Majesty.”

The emperor: “Recently I heard someone slandering me behind my back—saying I show emotions too easily, that my attitude is inconsistent, that I’m difficult to get along with, petty and narrow-minded…”

“Do you think… that might affect the Prodigy Examination? Children can clearly distinguish between good and bad. They probably prefer a benevolent sage-king, don’t you think?”

—Those last few lines were entirely for fooling Xu Yanmiao, to keep him from growing suspicious.

Clearly, it was a great success.

[Someone’s been badmouthing the old emperor behind his back?!] Xu Yanmiao was shocked: [How did I miss that juicy gossip?!]

[Who was it? Who?!]

You, of course!

Who else!

Minister Bing was full of resentment, but chose his words carefully: “Compared to a benevolent sage-king, it’s precisely an emperor like Your Majesty—decisive and bold, magnanimous and straightforward—who would win children’s favor. Children’s likes and dislikes are very direct; they’re not constrained by too many social rules and expectations. Instead, they’re more likely to be drawn to someone who embodies strength.”

The old emperor: “So, do you think I’m easy to get along with? Do I strike you as petty and overly calculative?!”

Minister Bing instantly erupted with righteous indignation: “Who would dare spread such nonsense! When has Your Majesty ever been petty or narrow-minded? Your Majesty has always been magnanimous with your ministers, and clear in your rewards and punishments!”

The old emperor: “I also heard that before morning court, some of you prepare coffins in your residences—what, am I really that hard to deal with?”

Minister Bing quickly said, “Your Majesty! That is our way of expressing loyalty! They’re saying they’re willing to give their lives for Your Majesty and the people of the realm! Even if they drop dead at their posts, they do so willingly!”

The old emperor nodded. “Mm.”

He was satisfied.

[Lately the old emperor seems to really enjoy people praising him?]

Xu Yanmiao’s worried inner voice chimed in: [A lot of emperors become like that in their later years—they only want to hear flattery. And when that happens… unless they die early, they usually end up making all kinds of foolish decisions surrounded by yes-men.]

[What are we going to do?]

No need to worry.

The old emperor’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

He had a good minister—one who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and stabbed him with sharp words every now and then. There was no way his court could be filled with nothing but flattery.

“Back to the palace!”

The old emperor glanced at the eloquent Minister Bing. “Walk back with me again.”

Minister Bing cupped his hands in salute: “As you command.”

Then, just out of the emperor’s line of sight, he cast a few reluctant glances at a nearby medicine shop.

—He had actually wanted to stop and browse the store.

[Eh? What’s Minister Bing looking at?]

Bing Hui’s body tensed; his butt cheeks clenched.

He’d forgotten—His Majesty might not be able to see his subtle movements, but Xu Yanmiao could see everything clearly!

It’s fine, it’s fine…

Bing Hui tried to reassure himself.

Maybe Xu Yanmiao wouldn’t figure it out…

[“New batch of purified pine resin—limited quantity, first come first served.” —Ah! Minister Bing must be eyeing that sign!]

[Yes, yes! Purified pine resin mixed with lead powder and glass shards can be used to make fake agate. That explains it!]

—Several dynasties ago, a material called “glass” had already spread into the country from abroad. It was quite different from native liuli (colored glaze) in both texture and craftsmanship. Things like white glass plates, glass vases, and bowls had long since found their way onto dining tables.

The old emperor gave Bing Hui a meaningful glance. Minister Bing had even thought about which plot of land to bury the coffin at home.

Xu Yanmiao casually added more dirt to that mental grave: [To be able to think about faking gems while accompanying a moody emperor on an outing—Minister, you really have a passion for forgery!]

No, no, no! Don’t call me “Minister”! You’re my lord, okay?! I’ll call you “my lord,” please just spare me!

Bing Hui was on the verge of tears.

Some things are better left unsaid. If you don’t expose them, even if His Majesty suspects something, he might let it slide.

But now that you’ve said it aloud…

[I am a bit curious though. I wonder how fake agate is made?]

Truth be told, the old emperor was curious too.

“Alright!” Pretending he’d only just noticed Bing Hui repeatedly eyeing the sign that read ‘New stock of purified pine resin—limited supply, first come, first served’, he said, “If it’s urgent, just say so. You think I’d stop you from going? If you want to go in that pharmacy, then go.”

Bing Hui: “!!!”

Bing Hui: “Thank you, Your Majesty!!!”

Bless you, Little White Marsh Beast (Xiao Baize)! Waaaah!

Sorry, Xu Lang, I was too loud earlier.jpg

The old emperor added, “Once you’re inside, don’t call me ‘Your Majesty.’ Say ‘my lord.’”

“Yes, my lord!”

Bing Hui strode in gleefully—only for the smile to vanish from his face at once: “What… what’s going on here?!”

Inside, a woman lay on a straw mat, blood streaming from a head wound. Several doctors were trying to save her.

After asking the pharmacy assistant, they learned she’d just been brought in. She lived nearby and was a newlywed. The reason for her injury? Her husband had smashed a vase on her head.

Upon hearing that she was the man’s legal wife, the old emperor was furious: “To treat one’s wife like this—he should be executed! This must be reported to the authorities!”

—In his view, a zhengshi (first wife) should be respected.

The assistant looked at the old man like he was a clueless civilian: “Officials can’t easily settle family disputes. Unless one of the parties files a complaint themselves, the government won’t intervene, no matter how serious the injury. Outsiders have no standing to report it.”

The old emperor huffed coldly: “Well then, let’s see if they’ll accept it this time.”

The assistant’s eyes lit up: “Sir, are you someone of status?”

After the old emperor nodded, the assistant immediately launched into a torrent of complaints: “That man’s a monster! The madam was brought in nearly a quarter of an hour ago, and he hasn’t even shown up! And he really meant to kill her—he smashed the vase straight at her forehead, like he wouldn’t be satisfied unless she died!”

The old emperor’s brows furrowed.

Bing Hui no longer cared about his pine resin. He was too furious. “A man who bullies women should be—played with by men!”

Assistant: “???”

The assistant stared in horror at the utterly feral words coming out of Minister Bing’s mouth.

“Don’t say such disgusting things,” the old emperor rejected Bing Hui’s violent phrasing, before offering his own preferred brand of cruelty: “Pierce his heart, flay his skin, peel him alive—that should suffice.”

The assistant quietly shuffled backward. He started reconsidering—maybe reporting this husband wouldn’t get very far… but these two in front of him? They were probably psychopaths. That might be worth reporting.

The old emperor continued watching for a while, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. “It’s been so long and her husband still hasn’t shown up?! What a disgrace!”

He shot a look at the Jinyiwei Commander, silently ordering him to take the imperial token and personally fetch the City Inspector.

The commander gave a slight bow and turned to leave—

[Hic.]

The long-absent voice suddenly returned, complete with a hiccup of fullness.

[Ugh, I’m so stuffed from this melon.]

[No wonder the husband hasn’t shown up—he’s across the street in another pharmacy, being rescued by several attending physicians.]

[The madam didn’t hold back either—she bashed his head in just as hard, and there are even bloody marks on his back from where her hairpins got embedded.]

[Now this is a match made in heaven—equal adversaries, worthy opponents! Both of them have a history of domestic violence, and both are on their second marriages! Their first spouses were driven away by abuse!]

[The matchmaker who paired them must be a genius! What kind of galaxy-brain logic led them to think these two should end up together?!]

Bang—

The Jinyiwei Commander, stunned by this new intel, didn’t watch where he was going and smacked his forehead right into the edge of a medicine cabinet—nearly becoming the third person with a head injury.

Meanwhile, the old emperor and Minister Bing stood there, slack-jawed in shock.

There was actually such a twisted coincidence in this world?!

This really was a case of “evil meets evil.”

Were they just righteously outraged for nothing?

[So…]

Xu Yanmiao concluded decisively: [Now it’s just a matter of which team of doctors is better at emergency care.]

[Whoever gets resuscitated first gets first dibs on the follow-up beatdown!]

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