A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 705: Chapter 705: Stand Tall and Upright

She watched Little Bun leave. Xia Ruqing couldn’t sleep anymore, thinking about the question Little Bun had just asked. She looked toward Sister Huang.

”Who taught him these words?”

Sister Huang and Sister Song exchanged glances and knelt down together. ”Please forgive us, Your Highness! It was our negligence!”

Xia Ruqing turned and sat on the kang bed, taking a bowl of hot tea. ”What happened?”

Sister Huang began to explain, ”Yesterday, the Crown Prince took Yellow Bean to the Imperial Garden. We followed them and ran into Consort Ning and the Eldest Princess!

”Consort Ning called the Little Prince over to play with the Eldest Princess!

”We were watching them closely from the side!

”Since we were far away and stayed only for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, we didn’t pay attention to what the Eldest Princess and Little Prince talked about...”

Xia Ruqing sipped her tea, narrowing her eyes. ”The Eldest Princess?”

The Eldest Princess Yi Ming was already eight years old this year, the very time to learn the proper etiquette with the sisters.

Why would she have the time to play with a two-year-old child?! Then she thought, it was Consort Ning, this made sense! This was her way of showing dissatisfaction with me, trying to take advantage of my son!

Xia Ruqing gave a faint smile. ”Alright, I understand the situation! It’s not your fault for what you didn’t see. However, from now on, keep Chenchen away from them!”

Sister Huang and Sister Song quickly knocked their heads on the ground. ”We understand!”

Xia Ruqing stood up. ”Get up, both of you, it’s not your fault!”

”Yes!”

Before long, it was the second month. Spring returned to the earth, the weather warmed, the ice and snow melted, and new green sprouted on the branches.

It goes without saying that the Empress’s health in Wanyue Nunnery outside the palace was getting better by the day. The palace life was also becoming lively.

With the Empress’s faction losing influence, Noble Consort Shih’s faction began to rise. The Ministry of Internal Affairs Food Preparation Room got back on track.

There weren’t many women left in the palace, and most of them were not favored. They just wanted a peaceful life. With not much to compete for, they lived in harmony, and for a while, the palace was unusually tranquil.

Zhao Junyao was very pleased. For him, who controlled the Six Palaces was not important. What mattered most was managing those women well so they wouldn’t cause him any trouble!

Indeed, if Noble Consort Shih could truly manage the Harem diligently for him, he wouldn’t mind letting her stay in charge and giving her more face. As for giving her his affection, he’d rather not; one princess was already the limit. The Shih family could absolutely not have any more royal bloodlines!

The Harem remained calm. There was nothing significant happening in the court either. However, during this transition between the declining winter and the busy spring farming, the borderlands were most susceptible to trouble. Hence, Zhao Junyao ordered the Ministry of War to strengthen patrols. He also dispatched Imperial Censors to inspect personally, and only then did he feel relieved.

Zhao Junyao, bored out of his mind, reviewed the examination papers of a batch of new Graduates who had passed the imperial examination at the end of the previous year. He then personally met with the top few dozen candidates. He had a good grasp of each person’s character and their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, he recommended their official appointments to the Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministry of Personnel, based on the Emperor’s arrangements, placed each of them in areas that matched their strengths. Those who liked to work on engineering projects were sent to the Ministry of Works. Those skilled at managing the routine affairs of the common people were appointed local magistrates, becoming the parental officials to the populace. Of course, for those who were mere bookworms, skilled at little else besides composing essays, Zhao Junyao arranged for them to be in the Ministry of Rites. Writing official documents, issuing public notices, and so on—no one was more suited for these tasks than they.

In short, there’s a place for every person. However, not all positions are equal; there’s no absolute fairness. Initially, there were complaints about why some became officials in the capital, while others were appointed as local officials. But over time, as they settled into their roles, they found themselves well-suited to their positions and ceased to complain.

Take Xia Jingfeng, for example. As a new Third Place Scholar, he had enough qualifications to be a capital official, even to enter the Hanlin Academy. But he had his own ambitions. When summoned by the Emperor to the Imperial Study Room, he requested to be appointed as Magistrate in the most challenging region.

Zhao Junyao didn’t agree immediately, but simply asked, ”Are you sure?”

Xia Jingfeng’s gaze was steadfast, his demeanor refined and scholarly. ”Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ’cultivate oneself, put family in order, govern the country, and lead peace throughout the world.’ I dare not aspire to govern the country and bring peace to the world; I merely wish to do my bit for the people—that’s all! What I wish to do is to come from the people and return to the people!”

Zhao Junyao sat on the dragon throne, looking at the young man who stood before him with grace and scholarly poise.

He could hardly believe his eyes. Was this truly the boy who years ago was as thin as a bean sprout with a sallow complexion and scrawny limbs? He had grown taller, become more robust, with a clear brow and handsome countenance, and a dignified and graceful manner. He could see that before him stood a person of integrity, free from corruption—a Parent Official to the people. Perhaps he was stubborn and not quite tactful. Maybe he was stubborn and rigid, likely to offend many, and might even go unrewarded for his entire career. But he could assure a clean conscience; he could guarantee his thoughts were for the people. Such officials were rare, and Zhao Junyao wished to retain one.

Gradually, he stood up, walked around the desk, and patted him on the shoulder. ”Impressive! A fine example of coming from the people, returning to the people!”

Xia Jingfeng smiled faintly. ”Many thanks to Your Majesty for fulfilling my wish!”

Zhao Junyao also smiled and then said, ”Originally, I intended to place you in the Hanlin Academy!”

Xia Jingfeng was not naive; his expression changed upon hearing this, but he quickly composed himself. ”Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for the recognition! However, when it comes to being an official, one must start from the foundation. If the foundation is not stable, how can a tall building be erected?”

For civil servants, the Hanlin Academy is an excellent place. It is the essential steppingstone for those aspiring to join the Cabinet as influential Ministers. Since the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty, nearly all Elder Statesmen and high-ranking officials have come from the Hanlin Academy.

The Emperor’s intention to place him there was tantamount to telling him that he had high hopes for his future! And yet, he refused...

Zhao Junyao was almost amused by him. ”A proper foundation to start, what a man you are, Xia Jingfeng! Since you have such confidence, then I will entrust you with this place, how about that?”

Zhao Junyao strode back to the desk, pulled a local gazetteer from a pile of booklets, leafed through it expertly to a certain page, and pointed to it. ”Northwestern Yongzhou.”

Xia Jingfeng asked seriously, ”Northwestern Yongzhou?”

Zhao Junyao nodded. ”The land of Yongzhou lies in the Northwest, near the borders, where the climate is harsh. The people there make a living from livestock breeding, producing excellent leathers, meat products, and dairy. Yet, they can’t even get half a cup of tea from Jiangnan!”

Regret filled Zhao Junyao’s eyes as he spoke these words.

He believed that the Great Chu Dynasty, with its vast territory and abundant resources, had precious goods that all people should enjoy together. But due to practical reasons, this was not feasible. Relying on the efforts of merchants who travel from the south to the north, carrying only a small quantity of cherished goods to trade, with prices marked up thousands of miles along the way, only the wealthy could afford them. Meanwhile, the lives of the remaining populace were middling, neither truly bitter nor sweet. They wouldn’t starve to death, but neither could they live well!