A Crane Cries in Huating - 8.2

Don’t boast that you can see the whole world,

Consort Xu only wears makeup on half of her face.

All the worries and all the evil in Dingquan’s heart during the past few years were being put to light by this little official of the seventh rank. For a moment, his eyes trembled wildly. He shook his head and laughed, “If there’s no evidence for your words, Registrar, even if you pour the whole Yellow River, you won’t be able to wash off the sin of slandering the emperor.”

Xu Changping paced around the room for a few steps. He saw that the furnishings in this home were not extravagant but clean as a mirror. Imagining Dingquan’s usual behaviour, he couldn’t help but laugh and said, “If Your Highness insists on me giving evidence, I may be ignorant, but I dare to speculate — for example, the current crown prince lives in the Yanzuo Palace, a mere royal groove and a wall away from my new post. However, in the place where I am having an audience with Your Highness today, why is there neither a water pavilion nor even a fireplace? The renovation of the East Palace was completed two years ago, so why did His Majesty delay in ordering His Highness to return to the palace? Was it, perchance, because he did not want to bother Your Highness with relocation?”

Walking in front of Dingquan, he stopped, and said, “Another example, is the current imperial system was created by the founding emperor. The courtiers of the Eastern Palace have the Household Administration, which governs two secretariats and one bureau. All the staff are led by cabinet ministers and their duties are connected. I have a feeling the emperor is thinking long-term. He merely wants to keep the crown prince’s ministers and courtiers connected as one, and not to let the Eastern Palace from becoming a separate system. His Majesty knows perfectly well that the royal scribe is a student of the emperor’s teacher, and he is suspected of having friendly ties with the old nobles. Why did he make the royal scribe the head of the Household Administration for four years, disbanding and dismantling it now so that juniors like, I, Changping could have the opportunity to serve the crown prince? I just can’t seem to figure out the deep meaning behind this for the life of me.”

Dingquan still shook his head and clenched his teeth tightly with a smile. “Registrar, your words still sound unreasonable — if it’s really like how you put it, then perhaps, in your eyes I’m so bullheaded that I’m chasing the throne without understanding His Majesty’s thoughts?”

Since Dingquan still refused to believe his words, Xu Changping could only let out a sigh. “In the current situation, the general is away while Your Highness is in the capital. His Majesty wants to use Your Highness to restrain the general, but the general wants to use Your Highness to resist Your Majesty. Your Highness is stuck in the middle while trying your best to mediate between them, however, it’s also necessary to plan for self-preservation. The storm is treacherous and the road is difficult. The disaster after Li Baizhou‘s imprisonment is a long-term concern, like a sword hanging above the head, affecting the future. However, Lord Li’s disaster is an imminent worry, like a sword pointing at the throat, endangering the present. Your Highness plans to save himself first, and then plan for the future. I can completely appreciate Your Highness’s wisdom and long-term insight.”

Dingquan sneered. “You’re being too modest, Registrar Xu. But if we go by what you said, what should the protagonist do in the future?”

Xu Changping said, “At present, among the six ministries, many at the Personnel and Justice ministries are Your Highness’s relatives while the Privy Council is under the control of His Majesty, the Ministry of Works isn’t worth discussing, and the revenue and rites are irrelevant, so I’m not sure about them. A crucial position in the court mustn’t remain suspended as His Majesty wishes. If the palace secretariat becomes vacant, the three departments^[1]三省 is a central government system established in China since the Tang and Sui dynasties. The so-called three departments refer to the following: the Imperial Secretariat/Department of State … Continue reading will inevitably build castles in the air. His Majesty wants to control both the state and political affairs in his hands. The minister of personnel is the head of the six ministries, so Minister Zhang is the first to bear the brunt. His Majesty cannot tolerate him. Once he’s destroyed, Your Highness will lose his arm. His pivotal position must not be kept as His Highness wishes, even if Minister Zhang can lead for a while, who knows if he may become the second Li Baizhou in the future.”

Dingquan nodded his head and asked, “Oh? So, what is the most appropriate move in your opinion, Registrar Xu?”

Xu Changping said with a smile, “These matters are important national affairs that cannot be discussed by an insignificant official like me. Perhaps I can suggest to Your Highness to try to mediate. It may not be beneficial to His Majesty and Your Highness, or even be harmless to both of you, and who knows? His Majesty may even ignore the minor details. As those money-grubbers in the streets say, the one who will reap the benefits from Lord Li’s matter is Your Highness.”

Translator: turtleneck

Editor: idlemousse

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