Martial Cultivator

This summer, the Divine Capital received abundant rainfall. As a result, the oppressive heat was much less severe than in previous years. The stored ice in the cellars of the imperial city had scarcely been used a few times, and the ice chests had hardly been moved to the Imperial Study at all. In the blink of an eye, summer was already drawing to a close.

Today’s court session once again ran long. After the Premier retired from office, whether it was the court sessions themselves or the subsequent handling of state affairs, everything was plainly proceeding much more slowly than before. This forced the Crown Prince, who had originally been relatively at ease, to spend far more time overseeing matters. Although this greatly accelerated the Crown Prince’s growth, at such an age, having to concern himself with so many affairs was in truth an extremely draining burden for him.

Not far from the discussion hall, beneath a section of palace wall, a young eunuch stood by the wall, looking toward the hall ahead.

At his side stood another eunuch, also not very old. Seeing that the Supervisor Li beside him had already been standing there for an hour, he softly advised, “Eunuch Li, why not go back and rest for a while? This servant can wait here. If His Highness the Crown Prince summons you later, this servant will have someone go and invite you.”

This young eunuch was none other than Li Shou, the disciple of the former chief eunuch of the Inner Court, Li Heng.

Within the imperial city there was the Inner Court, whose highest office was called the Directorate of Ceremonial. Li Heng had previously been the Seal-Holding Eunuch[Chief Eunuch] of the Directorate of Ceremonial, in charge of all affairs of the Inner Court. To ordinary people, he was what people called the chief steward. Now, however, after Li Heng had personally requested to go guard the Empress’s mausoleum, his official rank still remained, but he no longer managed the affairs of the imperial city. The heavy responsibilities had fallen instead to another Eunuch Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

As for the Li Shou before them, he was still young, yet just last month the Crown Prince had issued a decree appointing him as the Supervisor of the Inner Study Hall. Though it could not be said that he wielded overwhelming authority, within the Inner Court he still possessed considerable power, especially given his two additional identities.

Li Heng’s only disciple, and the Crown Prince’s closest attendant.

This made the present Li Shou someone whom no eunuch in the imperial city dared to underestimate. Even Eunuch Gan, the Eunuch Secretary, was warm and courteous whenever he saw Li Shou.

Almost everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before this young supervisor ascended to the position of Seal-Holding Eunuch [Chief Eunuch], provided he made no mistakes and did not incur the Crown Prince’s displeasure.

“His Highness the Crown Prince spends so much time each day handling state affairs. What right do we servants have to complain of being tired?”

Li Shou spoke calmly, glancing at the eunuch beside him. “You may go back and rest. I will wait here for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The eunuch hurriedly said, “If Eunuch Li has not rested, this servant will accompany you. How would I dare complain of fatigue?”

Li Shou ignored him. He merely raised his head to glance at the sky, then said, “Give me the umbrella.”

As he spoke, the eunuch handed over the umbrella and said softly, “Then this servant will take my leave first.”

Serving in the palace was unlike serving elsewhere. In the court, if one’s words or actions were improper, there might still be room for remedy. But within the palace, a single misstep could lead to grave consequences. Thus the eunuch did not dare insist further and could only comply.

After taking the umbrella, Li Shou said nothing and continued standing in place. Only after a quarter of an hour did several figures appear at the far end of his vision.

Upon seeing them, Li Shou hurried forward at a light trot. The Crown Prince, who had finally finished the court assembly, also noticed Li Shou and immediately dismissed the other eunuchs around him. With a miserable expression, he said, “Li Shou, oh Li Shou, this is no life for a human being. This imperial highness finally understands why, for so many years, Imperial Father was never very willing to attend court.”

Li Shou smiled and said, “The important affairs of the realm and the safety of the common people all rest on Your Highness’ shoulders. If it is tiring, then so be it. If one were to ignore everything and let the people live poorly, would Your Highness not feel uneasy in your own heart as well?”

The Crown Prince glanced at Li Shou and laughed as he scolded him, “You’re the only one who would dare speak to this imperial highness like that. If it were anyone else, would they dare?”

Li Shou replied solemnly, “This servant’s master once said that when one goes out to serve, one should not think too much of oneself. Being scolded or beaten can be ignored, but one must not curry favor and turn one’s master into a benighted ruler, leaving a bad name in the historical records. That would be the fault of us servants, and after death we would be sent to hell.”

Mentioning Li Heng, the Crown Prince could not help asking, “Has Chief Eunuch Li’s state of mind changed recently?”

Li Shou shook his head and said softly, “A few days ago, this servant went to the Empress’s mausoleum to see Master. He has made up his mind to stay there and accompany Her Majesty.”

The Crown Prince nodded and said, “Then we won’t force him. After all, he can be considered half an uncle to this imperial highness. He watched Imperial Elder Sister and the others grow up.”

Master and servant then slowly walked toward the Imperial Study. The court meeting had been dealt with, but there were in fact still many memorials waiting there.

In the current Great Liang Dynasty, when it came to reviewing and responding to memorial reports, in order to temper the Crown Prince’s ability to handle state affairs, they were first given to him for approval. They were then passed down. If there were problems, only then would the Premier bring the memorials, together with the other ministers, back to the Imperial Study to explain in detail to the Crown Prince why they were inappropriate, after which they would discuss a new result and issue it to the various prefectures.

The Crown Prince rubbed his forehead and sighed, “Had I known it would be this exhausting, no matter what this official should not have taken on this duty back then.”

Li Shou smiled and said, “If Your Highness didn’t take it on, then who would?”

“Give it to this imperial highness’ elder brother.”

The Crown Prince laughed and said, “He’s far smarter than this imperial highness is. It’s just a pity he ran off. Now he’s traveling everywhere, who knows how comfortable he is.”

Li Shou glanced at the Crown Prince and shook his head. “The Lord Warden Commander is very tired as well. He’s not any more relaxed than Your Highness.”

“Of course this imperial highness knows that, it’s just complaining. You servant, can’t you tell good words from bad?”

Li Shou scratched his head and said with a beaming smile, “If Your Highness feels weary, then you really should marry a consort. That way there would be someone close to talk to every day. How nice would that be?”

“Do you think this imperial highness doesn’t want to? This imperial highness has made up my mind to learn from Imperial Father. In this life this imperial highness will marry only one wife and won’t act recklessly. Those ministers have looked at everything - family background and upbringing, appearance and temperament, but the one thing they didn’t look at was whether this imperial highness likes her or not.

“If this official doesn’t like her, how exhausting would it be to live like that for a lifetime?”

The Crown Prince frowned. In earlier years he had harbored some resentment toward his Imperial Father, but later, after thinking it over, he could understand. Imperial Father liked Imperial Mother, and only liked her alone.

Li Shou said, “What they say does make some sense. Your Highness needs to leave heirs in order to secure the foundation of the state.”

If he remembered correctly, his master had once said that when His Majesty was still a prince, he was only willing to marry one wife, and had been reprimanded by Emperor Lingzong. There had even been an edict saying that as a member of the imperial family, one must expand the imperial lineage, how could marrying only one woman be acceptable?

But at that time, His Majesty the Emperor had steeled his heart and wrote a memorial, stating clearly, roughly meaning: “Imperial Father, you are the emperor, and you decide all matters of the realm, I understand that. But if you insist that I marry someone else, then you might as well kill your son. In any case, this son wou’t ever do such a thing, even if it means death.”

It was said that Emperor Lingzong was furious at the time and confined this emperor-to-be in the Zongren Manor for a whole month. Yet in the end, he still did not force this son.

But now, the Crown Prince...

Li Shou hesitated, but in the end shook his head.

The Crown Prince rubbed his cheek and sighed, “It’s only because this imperial highness doesn’t even have the strength to tie up a chicken. If this imperial highness was like Elder Brother, these ministers, whoever dares to give advice, this imperial highness will give them a tight slap.”

Li Shou was about to speak when a laugh rang out nearby. “If Your Highness really lays hands on someone, you’d leave an unsavory record in the history books.”

Li Shou was startled and stepped forward to block the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince had already turned around, and exclaimed in delight, “Elder Brother!”

In the distance, a figure was slowly approaching - a young man in black.

But no saber was hanging at the waist.

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