SEHE Chapter 52

Subordinate Officials 

Pei Yanci handed the painting to Gu Jiuqing. Gu Jiuqing merely glanced at it without saying anything, casually placing it aside, and said, “Today Wang Lingche has already returned to Anjing. See when you can arrange for this prince to pay him a visit.”

“This humble one will go deliver the visiting card tomorrow,” Pei Yanci replied.

Just as Gu Jiuqing was about to speak, someone outside came to report that the Zhongyun and Zuo Yude, two daren, had arrived.

Pei Yanci took the opportunity to request leave, but Gu Jiuqing waved his hand, “No matter, you listen from the side.”

After a pause, he said helplessly, “Previously I only knew the benefits of holding power, but in just this short time, I’ve been so busy I can’t even squeeze out time for the evening meal.”

The time for the evening meal had already passed, so where was there no time to eat? Moreover, Gu Jiuqing’s desire for power was no less than his own. Having just taken control, he wished he could throw himself wholeheartedly into it. When people came seeking audiences with him, he was more than pleased.

Pei Yanci thought for a moment and said, “Later this humble one will speak with the gatekeeper. Your Highness is not made of iron – you must also pay attention to rest.”

Gu Jiuqing’s expression relaxed with satisfaction.

Receiving guests in the evening, especially court officials, always gave the feeling of secretly plotting in private, which would leave a poor impression on others, especially those in the palace.

Tomorrow he would just have a word with the gatekeeper – from before the evening meal onward, the Crown Prince’s Mansion would no longer receive outside guests.

Pei Yanci walked behind him and knelt to sit down, just as the two men outside entered.

The man walking on the left was named Qin Xiong. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with a rather robust build, though he was somewhat short, about five chi tall. He wore a mustache and had two deep wrinkles between his brows, suggesting he frowned frequently.

The Great Yu Dynasty honored the left in official positions, so even the subordinate officials of the Left Chunfang wielded more real power and handled more governmental affairs than those of the Right Chunfang. Both Zhongyun and Zuo Yude were positions in the Left Chunfang – Yude was fourth rank, Zhongyun fifth rank. In terms of grade, Qin Xiong was higher, so he walked on the left to show his nobility, but as the two entered the inner hall, his steps consistently fell half a pace behind his companion.

(TL: 春坊 (Chūnfáng) was an administrative office in imperial China, usually part of the central secretariat or palace bureaucracy, responsible for drafting edicts, handling memorials, or managing palace affairs.)

This was because Zhongyun Hu’erlai was the second-in-command of the Left Chunfang, holding a position superior to Qin Xiong.

Hu’erlai had an unusual name because he was a foreigner – with a prominent nose, deep-set eyes, thick lips, and skin much darker than that of Great Yu people. In earlier years, when the Emperor’s mighty reputation had subjugated the small southern kingdoms, many foreigners came to Yu to study, and afterward became officials here. His fluent Anjing accent was even better than Qin Xiong’s.

After the two paid their respects to Gu Jiuqing and took their seats, Hu’erlai eagerly spoke first. “Your Highness, the treasury books within the Eastern Palace have been organized according to your instructions. Fearing you were anxious, the books you requested have already been transported here, along with medicine, food, clothing, umbrellas, fans, tables and other items – twenty-three thousand one hundred sixty-five items in total. As for the one hundred servants for cleaning and lighting duties, and the palace officials, they will also come to pay their respects to Your Highness tomorrow.”

He handed over the registry as he spoke.

Since the Emperor had not explicitly stated that the Crown Prince should take up residence in the Eastern Palace within the imperial city, this place would have to serve as a second Eastern Palace.

“You’ve worked hard. To come running over here in the night for these miscellaneous matters,” Gu Jiuqing said, casually flipping through the register before setting it aside, appearing very confident in their work and not wanting to inquire too deeply.

“Where are there small matters concerning Your Highness? Everything is a major matter.”

“Everyone in the Eastern Palace keeps Your Highness’s affairs close to heart,” Qin Xiong chimed in with a hearty laugh. “As long as Your Highness doesn’t find us bothersome for disturbing you in the night, we were worried Your Highness might be lacking something here, so we thought to deliver it quickly so we could attend to other matters Your Highness has entrusted to us tomorrow.”

“Indeed, recently Eastern Palace affairs have been numerous, and we ministers finally have a chance to display our abilities,” Hu’erlai said with a smile. “Your Highness need not be polite – if there’s anything, just give orders.”

“Thank you both for your efforts. Hu Daren as well – it’s nearly time for the night curfew, yet he still sent you over. Another day this prince must have a good word with him.”

The Hu Minlai he had seen during the day was precisely the Left Shuzi who managed all affairs of the Left Chunfang.

(TL: 庶子 (Shùzǐ) was an official title in imperial China, usually referring to a junior or subordinate secretary/administrator within a governmental office or bureau.)

“Have you had your evening meal?”

Without waiting for their answer, he turned to Pei Yanci behind him. “Go to the kitchen and have them reheat the remaining evening meal, add two hot dishes, and have the servants prepare two guest rooms. Seeing as the curfew approaches, the two daren have traveled back and forth with such hardship – stay the night here.”

“Oh my, no trouble for Chief Steward Pei, no trouble,” the two men quickly rose and waved their hands.

“There’s nothing else, so we ministers should take our leave.”

Pei Yanci made as if to go out but was stopped by the two men, so he could only stand with them, stepping slightly to one side.

How would they dare to dine and lodge at the Crown Prince’s Mansion? Even if their homes were in the southern part of the city, they would have to rush back through the night. Gu Jiuqing’s words both demonstrated his consideration for subordinates and his kind, generous nature as a ruler, while also reminding them it was time to leave.

Just as Qin Xiong was about to take his leave, he heard Hu’erlai say, “Your Highness, don’t blame us. Recently Eastern Palace affairs have been heavy, and Hu Daren manages all matters, often so busy he can’t be seen from head to tail. Before coming to see Your Highness this evening, this minister saw that he hadn’t time to eat, and was preparing to enter the palace with Sun Daren. We subordinates also wish to share his burdens and reduce Your Highness’s worries.”

The Sun Daren he mentioned was Sun Jing, the Crown Prince’s Ceremonial Officer of the Left Chunfang, one of whose duties was to record the Crown Prince’s daily comings and goings and report them to the Emperor in a timely manner.

This inevitably led one to associate Hu Minlai and Sun Jing with reporting the day’s events to those in the imperial palace.

Qin Xiong’s expression stiffened for a moment, then he laughed heartily as if nothing had happened. “So when Hu Daren said he was going out this evening, he meant entering the palace! This minister was wondering – recently there have been so many matters that I’ve been dizzy with busyness. When subordinates came to report to me, I misheared quite a few things.”

He had no idea that Hu Minlai was entering the palace – all he had heard was about going out. Tonight’s coming here under the pretense of delivering items to complain and disturb His Highness’s rest was not his idea, and he knew nothing about it.

As for his last remark, he was smoothing things over, hinting that Hu’erlai should quickly find an excuse to save everyone’s face.

Gu Jiuqing’s expression remained unchanged. “Hu Daren has indeed been working very hard recently, and this prince knows it. Previously, when this prince had no time to attend to Eastern Palace affairs, many matters lacked a decision-maker and had to be temporarily set aside.”

This wasn’t a case of matters being set aside due to lack of a decision-maker – it was that no one was doing any work at all. Some of them held empty sinecures, others were officials concurrently holding these positions, and still others used these posts as stepping stones for rapid advancement. The Emperor deliberately prevented the Eastern Palace faction from growing strong, so these people were all the court’s dregs huddled together – either lacking ability and excluded by the eunuch faction and great families, or with their hearts not focused on the Eastern Palace and Crown Prince at all.

“Seeing you all so considerate of him, united in purpose, this prince is very gratified. Yanci, go to this prince’s storeroom and fetch two hundred-year-old ginseng roots. Send them to Hu Daren’s residence tomorrow and tell him to nourish himself well. This prince still has many things for him to do – he cannot collapse from exhaustion at this time.”

Listening to their conversation, Hu’erlai’s smile wavered between continuing and stopping.

Wasn’t this plainly telling Hu Minlai that he had attempted to speak ill of him before the Crown Prince today, yet the Crown Prince not only bore no grudge but intended to make important use of him?

This was a move to win over Hu’s heart.

Qin Xiong tactfully bowed and took his leave, and Hu’erlai naturally followed suit.

After they left, Gu Jiuqing leaned back and said coldly, “this prince has so few people to use, yet they still engage in such antics.”

“Since ancient times, which second-in-command hasn’t coveted the position closest to them, especially those who think themselves capable?” Pei Yanci poured him a cup of tea at his side. “Perhaps during the day when Hu Daren was aggressive, asking Your Highness if you had feasible new tax strategies, and was questioned by other daren while Your Highness didn’t speak up to stop it, he assumed Your Highness also disliked the man, which is why he eagerly came to spread poison.”

Their every word and action required special attention – sometimes a slight misstep would lead subordinates to misinterpret their meaning.

“Who genuinely wants to work well and cares for this prince’s safety – can this prince not see it?” Gu Jiuqing drained the tea in one gulp. “Incompetent people are at least on this prince’s side, which is infinitely better than those who only know how to flatter.”

Even after taking control of the Eastern Palace, Gu Jiuqing still faced one problem – having no one available for use.

Perhaps it was even more serious. Originally, when he secluded himself in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, the Emperor gave him no responsibilities. Now that he had assumed control of governmental affairs, if he managed the Eastern Palace into a complete mess, wouldn’t that invite ridicule from outsiders and make court ministers think him incompetent and unworthy of important use?

Managing subordinates is an art – especially when your subordinates are the cleverest people in the world.

“Hu’erlai isn’t that hopeless either,” Pei Yanci said with a smile.

“Those not of our race surely harbor different intentions. Stirring up trouble recklessly, constantly watching others’ every move – he still lacks sufficient tempering and has unstable determination.”

It seemed Gu Jiuqing already had preconceived notions about this foreigner.

Admittedly, Hu’erlai had all the faults he mentioned, but this also showed the man had ambitions to climb up through comparison – something that might be considered too impetuous and overeager for advancement elsewhere. But in today’s Eastern Palace, how many people were there who wanted to work actively and earn the Crown Prince’s favorable attention to seek promotion?

What was needed was precisely such people.

The important thing was wanting to work and being able to work. If it were him, Hu Minlai had already shown some inclination to serve the Crown Prince with his life, and combined with the advancement-seeking Hu’erlai, there would be no worry about properly reforming the atmosphere throughout the Left Chunfang.

Later, if Hu’erlai wanted advancement, fine – directly transfer him to the Right Chunfang to serve as Right Shuzi, setting an example for the lazy non-workers. He wouldn’t shortchange anyone who supported him – even foreign status could become a symbol of his fair and just decisions.

With the Right Chunfang having someone in charge who wanted to achieve real results, and with him backing them up, after a few disciplinary actions, the Right Chunfang could quickly be set in order too.

With both Left and Right Chunfang properly managed, what waves could the few people in the Bureau of the Heir Apparent make? When the time came, those who wanted to stay would remain, those whose hearts weren’t in it needn’t be worried over much or expected to work – just maintain good relations with them, speak some heart-to-heart words, and they would surely be of great use someday.

These people who used this as a stepping stone had all gained the Emperor’s favor – they just lacked sufficient credentials. To avoid disrupting protocol by jumping ranks all at once to reach powerful departments, they came to the Eastern Palace instead.

Like Crown Prince’s Court Companion Zhang Dongqin, who was reportedly originally a fifth-rank Deputy Director of the Censorate. When the Emperor intended to promote him, he had him serve as the third-rank Crown Prince’s Court Companion. Though this was a rank promotion, at that time the Eastern Palace was merely an empty shell with a hollow reputation and no real power, so such promotion was acceptable. After spending a year or two in this position, when the Emperor transferred him to a powerful department as a third-rank official, no one would say anything about violating protocol, and his promotion speed would be much faster than ordinary credential-building.

(TL: The term 太子賓客 (Tàizǐ Bīnkè) literally means “Crown Prince’s Guest/Companion.”

It was a formal court title, not just a casual guest. Holders were often scholars or officials temporarily attached to the Eastern Palace, sometimes as advisors, companions, or stepping-stone appointments.)

These people would all be the court’s rising stars in the near future. What did it matter if their hearts weren’t currently in the Eastern Palace? As Crown Prince, all the court’s ministers would eventually serve under his command.

Gu Jiuqing seemed blinded by his desire to achieve results quickly, constantly worrying about who could be used and who had great talent, not realizing that everyone has shortcomings. An opportunity was right before his eyes, yet he was constrained by Hu’erlai’s love of sowing discord and spreading gossip.

Pei Yanci didn’t remind him, only watched silently, waiting to see when he would come to this realization.