Today was a beautiful day, with a clear, cloudless sky—unusually rare in the Imperial Capital. Although it was still cold outside, the direct sunlight at least brought a trace of warmth.
It was noon, and Chen Kaiming was dining with the Crown Prince in a small pavilion by the Leaping Koi Lake in the Imperial City. Eunuch Yue stood by quietly.
Leaping Koi Lake was Chen Kaiming’s favorite place in his palatial grounds.
In the center of the lake stood a towering and jagged artificial mountain with a waterfall. The rocks were rugged and steep, and the frothing waterfall flowed throughout the year.
Thousands of koi were kept in the lake, and occasionally, a fish would leap out of the water, its scales gleaming gold in the sunlight.
Feeding time was a truly magnificent sight. Thousands of koi swam across the lake, forming golden waves that stretched for hundreds of feet.
Pear trees lined the path along the lake. It was said that Chen Kaiming ordered the planting of this pear orchard after the passing of the Empress because she had loved pear blossoms so much.
Nearly ten years had passed, and the trees were now tall enough to lend some shade to the path. Towers and pavilions of various designs were scattered throughout the orchard, and it was in this idyllic landscape that Chen Kaiming was having a meal with his son.
"Your Majesty, it seems Lord Qi has encountered some trouble recently," Eunuch Yue reported with a slight bow.
"Oh?" Chen Kaiming took a handkerchief from a maid and wiped his lips. "Tell me about it."
Eunuch Yue lowered his gaze and spoke calmly, "The day before yesterday, someone infiltrated the External Prime Minister’s residence, to try to assassinate Lord Qi." After a pause, he added, "According to the spies from the Eastern Depot, the perpetrator may be Stormqueller from the Ghostbane Association."
"Stormqueller again?" Chen Kaiming furrowed his brow slightly. "Didn’t we let him off the hook last time? I remember sending you to tell Qi Zongbi not to pursue the matter any further. Why is Stormqueller still causing him trouble?"
"About that." Eunuch Yue bent over and clasped his hands. "I am not quite clear on the details... but it seems that Lord Qi ordered the Imperial Guardians to wipe out an escort agency where Stormqueller was hiding. I’m not sure if these matters are related or not."
Chen Kaiming snorted coldly. "How ridiculous! Why is Qi Zongbi always embroiled in such trouble?"
Eunuch Yue lowered his head, not daring to respond.
Chen Kaiming slammed his chopsticks on the table and said, "Forget about him. Does he expect me to clean up the mess he made? I already approved his request to wage war. With the battle looming, how does he still have time for these trivial matters? It’s already a great mercy that I haven’t punished him!"
Eunuch Yue stepped forward and urged with clasped hands. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your health is the most important thing."
"Hmm." Chen Kaiming nodded, lightly tapping his fingers on the stone table. "You're right. Speaking of the war, is Ying Gutong’s side fully prepared?"
"In accordance with Your Majesty’s instructions, Marshal Ying has long been ready. The distant forces like the Wuling Army and the Shanzhen Army have already begun their march north," Eunuch Yue replied.
"Hmm..." Chen Kaiming nodded slightly. "This battle is no small matter and must be handled with care. One wrong step could plunge our Ruen Dynasty into eternal damnation. However, if we succeed..."
"Then we would establish a foundation for our dynasty that would last a thousand generations, right Father?" Crown Prince Chen Xun, who had finished eating, chimed in.
"Hehe..." Chen Kaiming smiled slightly and patted Chen Xun's head. "You’re smart, Xun’er. That’s right."
"The Crown Prince is truly gifted and will surely be a wise ruler in the future," Eunuch Yue praised without reservation, his eyes squinting with repressed laughter.
"Ah, Ah Dou, don’t flatter him too much," Chen Kaiming said with a smile, waving his hand. "Confidence is good, but if it builds, it becomes arrogance."
Chen Xun turned his face away and pouted.
Chen Kaiming didn't know if he should laugh or cry, so he placed his hand on Chen Xun's shoulder and asked, "Xun'er, your teacher... is his name Su Yi? Have you learned anything?"
As soon as Su Yi was mentioned, Chen Xun became excited.
"Yes, yes! Teacher Su is very different from those boring old scholars!"
"Different?" Intrigued, Chen Kaiming asked, "In what way is he different?"
Chen Xun shook his head as if recalling.
"Although the teacher has only been teaching me for a short time, he doesn’t spend all day talking about the boring Four Books and Five Classics like the previous teachers."[ref]Fundamental texts in Confucianism, serving as the core of traditional Chinese education and philosophy. These works have deeply influenced Chinese culture, politics, and ethics.[ref/]
"He doesn't teach those? Chen Kaiming frowned and asked, "Then what does he talk to you about?"
"He tells me stories"—Chen Xun began counting on his fingers—"like how people live in extreme poverty, or why those who raised the banner of rebellion in the past were often farmers, or how local officials exploited the common people, and so on."
Eunuch Yue stood to the side, listening, and his back was already drenched with sweat. Does Su Yi not value his life?!
The anger in Chen Kaiming's eyes intensified, and it was clear he was truly angry. "Is that all he teaches you about?"
Chen Xun, seemingly oblivious to his father's anger, looked directly at Chen Kaiming and said, "Teacher Su said an emperor can lack literary talent and be ignorant of Confucius and Mencius, but he cannot be unaware of the people's hearts.
"Only by understanding the people, knowing their thoughts and aspirations, can one govern in a way that benefits the realm. Only then can one be considered a good emperor."
Chen Kaiming remained silent for a long time. Then, he took a deep breath and turned to Eunuch Yue. "This Su Yi... is no ordinary person."
Eunuch Yue swallowed hard and said, "As a top scholar... his thoughts differ greatly from others, but he is indeed a person of great talent."
Chen Kaiming snorted and said, "He may have great talent, but in his eyes, I fear I might not be considered a good emperor."
Eunuch Yue gave a bitter smile and dared not reply.
"Father?" Chen Xun blinked and looked up at Chen Kaiming, "Did the teacher say something wrong? But I think what he said makes sense..."
"He didn't say anything wrong." Chen Kaiming looked down at Chen Xun, his eyes full of affection. He shook his head and sighed, "Xun'er, follow your teacher closely in the future, and learn as much as you can..."
After saying that, Chen Kaiming stood up, and Eunuch Yue hurriedly stepped forward to support him.
Chen Kaiming gazed into the distance, looking at a pear blossom grove outside the pavilion. It was as if he could already see the sea of white blossoms although the trees were still bare. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Eunuch Yue did not disturb him and simply stood there, supporting him quietly.
After a long time, Chen Kaiming came back to himself and said, "That's enough. Let's return... There are still memorials that need my approval."
Hearing they were going back, Chen Xun jumped up from the stone stool and ran ahead.
"Don't run so fast! Xun'er, be careful!" Chen Kaiming hurriedly called out from behind, then instructed Eunuch Yue, "Ah Dou, go watch Xun'er, make sure he doesn't fall."
Eunuch Yue smiled and shook his head. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I need to be by your side now."
The group gradually walked off into the distance. A cold wind swept through the grove, making the bare branches of the pear trees sway as they waited for the opportunity for their buds to sprout.