A Crane Cries in Huating - 7.0

Who is that last young man in light green?^[1]惨绿少年 is a reference to a story, but it just means an elegant/bright young man.

The next day, Dingquan entered the palace. He went to court first, accompanied by Dingtang and the others, and listened to the emperor’s lecture. After listening to the lecture, the brothers shared a few words together, but Dingquan wasn’t in the mood for a discussion, so he excused himself first. 

After leaving the palace gate, just as he was about to leave on the one-horse shay of the East Palace, he saw an official in green robes suddenly appearing from behind the slant of the pillars. 

The man saluted Dingquan and praised, “I, Registrar of the Registrar’s Office^[2]A member of The Household Administration of the Crown Prince, Xu Changping, pay respect to Your Highness.” 

Dingquan was puzzled to hear that he was addressing him. He looked around, but there was no one else, so he said, “Please rise, Registrar Xu.” 

Xu Changping stood upright and Dingquan inevitably scrutinised him from head to toe and saw that he was wearing a black muslin cap and a green robe. It looked like he was not more than twenty-four or five years old, with a handsome face that Dingquan didn’t recognize.

Thanks to the bad father and son relationship with the emperor in recent years, and since Li Baizhou was put to death, there was nobody holding the positions of the three excellencies^[3]三公 – San Gong came first, then the Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian, respectively. Their status was only next to the Prime Minister. and the three deputies^[4]三孤 – San Gu were the ministers of the crown prince (similar positions to San Gong but for the crown prince), deputy members of the Privy Council, namely Deputy Preceptor, Deputy Mentor and … Continue reading at the time except for Gu Silin. Most of the left and right secretariats of the crown prince were vacant, and most recently, all the members of the Household Administration were all haphazardly replaced. To this day, apart from the Supervisor and his deputy, Dingquan had not seen all the officials in the Household Administration, not to mention the seventh-ranked official who had helped the traitor. If he hadn’t been informed of his origin just now, Dingquan would never have imagined even in his dreams that such a figure existed in court. 

Seeing that he was clearly waiting at the palace gate, Dingquan couldn’t help but become sceptical of him, and asked with a fake smile on his lips, “Are you good, Registrar Xu? Do you have some official business with me?” 

Xu Changping hastily bowed and politely replied, “I wouldn’t dare suggest such a thing. It’s just that I wish to give some advice to Your Highness. Even though my position is humble and my words are light, I hope that His Highness will lower himself to hear me out.” 

Dingquan saw that he really had something to say, but he had no idea what it was. He looked back at the palace gate, and said helplessly, “I do wish to hear Registrar Xu’s advice, but it’s inconvenient to talk here like this. I’m returning to the West Mansion now. If you have something to say, please let me know once I get back there.” 

Xu Changping thought it over for a moment, then replied, “I shall heed Your Highness’s orders.” 

Dingquan saw that he was young but his actions and speech were rather bookish, finding his overscrupulous behaviour rather ridiculous, so Dingquan smiled and got into his carriage. Nothing worthy of note happened on the way back. He kept making random guesses, but he couldn’t figure out what this low-ranking official wanted to say but couldn’t come right out and say it. 

In the afternoon, the servant informed him that Xu Changping had indeed paid a visit to the crown prince as the Registrar of the Household Administration. Dingquan changed his clothes and came out to meet him. After exchanging greetings, Xu Changping sat down. Dingquan ordered the servants to prepare some tea to serve his guest. Since he didn’t know the reason for his visit, he simply asked out of courtesy, “Did you assume office a few days ago, Registrar Xu?” 

Xu Changping replied, “I was honoured to join the Shouchang Sixth Year Entrance Examination. As the third rank out of 118 candidates, I was awarded the Erudite of the Ministry of Rites. After fulfilling my term, I was transferred to the Household Administration of the Crown Prince as the registrar.” 

His scholarly honour was ordinary and so was his experience, so Dingquan casually said, “Oh? Erudite is a seventh-rank officer and the chief registrar of the Household Administration is also a seventh-rank. Did the transfer wrong you, Registrar Xu?” 

Xu Changping did not explain the reason but said seriously, “I was transferred within the seventh rank, not to mention to the Household Affairs to assist Your Highness. It is a much greater responsibility than all the others. Why would I dare feel wronged?”

Now that he was bringing up business matters, Dingquan smiled and said, “Registrar Xu, don’t be overly polite. Since you’re here, please speak up.” 

After hearing this, Xu Changping no longer acted ceremonially and asked straight away, “I have something to ask. Your Highness was convicted a few days ago, but was it because of Li Jiangyuan’s imprisonment last year?” 

Dingquan’s heart sank in his chest at once. He stayed in the West Garden for more than two months. Even though it was said to the public that he was recuperating from illness, quite a few people in the court knew that he was actually punished and grounded by the emperor. Xu Changping was in the Household Administration of the Crown Prince, so it was not surprising for him to learn about this matter. It was just that the real reason, apart from the emperor, Prince Qi, and some others, was not known to outsiders. Xu Changping, who was merely a seventh-rank official, not only knew the exact reason, he even dared to speak of it outright in front of him.

Thinking about this, Dingquan’s face had already changed colour. He put down the teacup in his hand and said in a cold voice, “There are rumours circulating everywhere in court saying that His Majesty and I don’t get along. However, this kind of nonsense only slanders the imperial family. It may be a frivolous rumour in court, but it’s disrespectful to simply utter it. Even though you just transferred to the Household Administration, you have studied for a decade and have been an official for three years, so you must abstain from speaking so recklessly. Did you hear it from anywhere or did someone tell you about it?” 

Xu Changping, however, was not fazed in the slightest. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, please don’t be suspicious. It was neither His Majesty nor Prince Qi who told me. But as a part of the Household Administration of the Crown Prince, it is my duty to assist Your Highness. I just want to use my humble efforts to show my loyalty to His Highness.” 

At his plain explanation, Dingquan felt even more dubious inside. After a long time, he said, “I have the Household Administration and the Left and Right Secretariats to assist me. Do you think that in the entire government, a mere registrar of miscellaneous stuff is the only one left to assist me?” 

Xu Changping said, “I know that Your Highness doesn’t trust me, but I have something to ask Your Highness.” 

Dingquan looked at him for a long time, then finally nodded his head. “Tell me.” 

Xu Changping said, “Li Jiangyuan’s position as the palace secretariat has been vacant for nearly a year. Why hasn’t His Majesty found a replacement yet?” 

And with that, without waiting for Dingquan to give him an answer, he bowed, got up, and left.

Dingquan’s face appeared overcast right at that moment. He stayed where he was, mulled it over in his head for a while, then walked back to his table to write a note, and ordered a servant nearby, “Go and invite the Registrar back.”

Translator: turtleneck

Editor: Ryuubi, idlemousse