What an Audacious and Sly Servant! Chapter 87

Ah, sorry! Fell asleep while scheduling the release so didn't manage to publish them in time.

Well, you can guess who is that new eunuch… =_=

Chapter 87 – A New Gonggong

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator's hard work. Don't think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

The morning court on the next day.

The Emperor had yet to arrive when a voice arrived first:

"His Majesty have arrived——"

The civil and military officials knelt on the ground, "May the Emperor lives and reigns for ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years——"

Chu Xun had a stoic face as he entered the main hall. With a profound and overbearing face, he said, "All aiqing, you may rise." Following that, he carefully turned his head to peak at the side where a young, handsome eunuch stood.

That gonggong was fully concentrated and extremely calm as he opened his mouth, "Report if there's anything to say, retreat if there's nothing——"

The Grand Chancellor who stood at the front was the first to raise his head. Today's court is a bit different. Yi, His Majesty had changed his personal eunuch? Why does this gonggong look familiar? I keep on feeling I had seen him somewhere……It was like a wave reaction. The civil and military officials at the back too raised their heads in succession as they sized up this new gonggong beside the Emperor.

That gonggong was still calm.

Instead, Chu Xun was more nervous and diffident, "Lord Grand Chancellor, do you have any matter to report?"

"Ah……replying to Your Majesty……today chen has no matter……"

"Zhen have a matter instead. Has the Capital Magistrate[1] attend the court already?"

The Capital Magistrate who stood at the end shook. Even though he had prepared himself that he would be called by the Emperor, when the time came, his legs still turned feeble from being dizzy and bewildered.

The Capital Magistrate trotted to the Imperial Seat. With a 'putong' sound, he knelt on the floor, "Weichen is here."

Chu Xun glanced at the gonggong a few steps away from him. He saw her standing straight with her eyes drooping. It was an expression of taking a spiritual tour far, far away due to not being interested with the imperial court. The Emperor felt that there was a sentence talked wrongly. The eunuch is more worried than the Emperor[2]? No way, right now, he was too worried until the Emperor was about to die.

A certain person cleared his throat and asked the Capital Magistrate properly, "Yesterday, the young Highness from the Grand Princess' house was injured on the street?"

"Yes." (Vibrato voice)

"Got hit until can't get off the bed?"

"Yes." (Sheepish voice)

"Recently, the capital city is not only out of control with burglaries happening frequently. In the broad daylight, the imperial family member actually got beaten in the street. The capital's public order is this messy. What I have you the Capital Magistrate for? Why don't you resign early and return to your house? It can even save zhen's money."

The Capital Magistrate was scared by Chu Xun. He lied on the floor completely as he cried, "Please don't be angry, Your Majesty. Weichen will deal with those audacious commoners immediately!"

Chu Xun smirked, "Audacious commoners? Why do zhen feel it's a useless move of some certain officials? Let zhen ask you, can you find it out? Do you have any progress with the burglaries? Have you caught the assailants who beat them?"

"……" The Capital Magistrate had tears flowing from aged eyes. He felt like the Emperor today was especially shrew.

"Your salary for this month will be deducted completely! And you will lock yourself inside your house and think about this!"

T.T

Inside the main hall, there was no sound.

Chu Xun glanced again at the nearly gonggong. That gonggong still remained the same.

He touched his nose and swept a glance at the officials. His hawk-like vision was like an arrow knotted on the bow and instantly found a target. The Emperor's majestic voice could be heard again, "Capital Magistrate can retreat. Is the Minister of Public Works here?"

The Minister of Public Works' chrysanthemum flower contracted. He walked out from the middle line. His wrinkled face was oozing with doubts. Ever since the new Emperor ascended, he who was the oldest in the court had never been called by the Emperor. What's wrong with today?

"Laochen is here."

"How is it going with the building of the treasure ships?"

Chu Xun wished to start a maritime commerce. In these few years, he had been pushing the Board of Public Works to research more amazing ships and sea navigation skills.

The Minister of Public Works licked his dry lips and anxiously stared at Chu Xun, "Your Majesty. The treasure ships are special project. At the end of every month, a special report will be submitted to Your Majesty. Laochen is not an expert in this profession and doesn't dare to make own decision." This Minister of Public Works was already old. He only thought of working casually until his resign. The works in the Board of Public Works were all pushed to his deputy minister. How would he know much about this?

Chu Xun at first on account of respecting the elders kept turning a blind eye to him. Plus, the Deputy Minister of Public Works was very serious and dedicated in work. He was practically a nosy one. Eight out of ten, after the court, he would have to follow Chu Xun back to the Imperial Study to report for several hours. Chu Xun usually wouldn't purposely find problems with the Board of Public Works.

"Oh?" That, dare zhen ask Lord Minister, what decision can you make? Why Millionaire Qian can already go a round trip safely from the sea yet zhen who had hired so many experts for so long still have no ship touching the water even once? Are the ones zhen ask you all to create actually flying boats?"

"Laochen is apprehensive."

The Emperor today definitely had ate wrong medicine.

"This month's salary, deduct fully!"

It was only now that the officials realised the Emperor was not right. The Emperor seemed like he had his little universe exploded.

"Minister of War, Minister of Revenue, zhen had previously wanted you both to work together with Board of Public Works and plan together the sea shipping and coastal defence. But why there is still no result until now?"

The other two Ministers who initially planned to watch the play were shot too. They quickly knelt down on the spot.

"The spring ceremony is near now. Why is there no movements at all from the Board of Rites?"

The Minister of Rites and his deputy minister didn't say anything as they instantly knelt down. They didn't even try to explain. Because they could see it. The Emperor right now didn't want to listen to any excuse, he just wanted to throw his weight about.

Out of the six boards, five ministers were already kneeling[3]. The last remaining Deputy Minister of Personnel didn't wait for the Emperor's bombardment as he knelt behind the Minister of Rites and his deputy minister.

Chu Xun had keen eyes. He immediately pointed at the Deputy Minister of Personnel, "Deputy Minister of Personnel, who let you kneel?! Stand up right away!"

The Deputy Minister of Personnel was grieving in his heart. He could only withdraw his shoulders and stand up like a young girl.

The Deputy Minister of Personnel suddenly remembered his superior Minister who didn't attend the court. Was it possible that his Minister had known this earlier and managed to predict the Emperor today would bombard the officials and hence decided to ask for sick leave? He had accidentally avoided this bloody tragedy.

"Zhen wanted all aiqing think of methods for the country to prosper and militarily strong. Have anyone thought of the method?" Chu Xun narrowed his eyes, his aura extremely cold.

Inside the hall was a death silence. Someone's stomach suddenly rumbled. It was possible a certain superior was too busy upon waking up and had yet to eat breakfast.

Chu Xun for today's court wouldn't be lenient. Since no one responded, he turned his sight to the Grand Chancellor standing at the front. "Grand Chancellor, you say first. It will give some ideas for other aiqing."

"Chen……" The unlucky Grand Chancellor lowered his head to the limit that his chin was sticking to the neck. He even bent his body and raised both his hands to cover most of his face with the sleeves. Seeing from Chu Xun's perspective, only the Grand Chancellor's sparse hair on his head.

"En?"

"Your Majesty had just announced it yesterday. The time is too short. Us chen have yet to think fully. Asking Your Majesty to give a few more days for us chen to think……" Grand Chancellor this evil person, even when replying he wanted to pull down all the officials with him.

Hence, everyone knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty, please forgive us. Your Majesty, please have mercy."

Chu Xun felt today those that should be scolded had been scolded. It was nearly the end up until here. It was not really good to alarm them too much. He lazily waved his hand, "Who else have matters to report?"

No sound.

Everyone noticed the Emperor today was hard to communicate with. They decided not to find trouble for themselves.

"Since it's like this, then the court is end now. Grand Chancellor, Supreme General, stay back and follow zhen back to the study room to discuss.

Saying so, Chu Xun stood up and left confidently. At the same time, the new gonggong announced, "End of the court——" The penetration strength of the voice was very strong. It could even reach below the white jade stone steps outside the hall. After the gonggong was done shouting, they closely walked three steps behind Chu Xun out of the hall.

The Minister of War elbowed the Deputy Minister of Personnel's arm, "Why is His Majesty today scarier than his first time conducting the court three years ago?"

The Deputy Minister of Personnel shook his head, "I don't know!"

The Deputy Minister of Personnel went back to find his own Minister. The Minister of Personnel was coincidentally chatting at Senior Official Song's place. Hearing his own deputy minister depicting the storms in this morning's court, he turned his head and looked meaningfully at Senior Official Song. Senior Official Song caressed his beard, "Laofu already told you not to attend the court today. When had laofu ever lie to you? Not only did laofu let you see such usual treasured scrolls of painting, laofu even help you avoid a scolding. Quick, come and thanks laofu."

Minister of Personnel, "Senior Official really has a miraculous foresight."

The Deputy Minister was dumbfounded, "Say, Senior Official, what's wrong with His Majesty in today's morning court?"

"His Majesty is fine. He's just a hot-blooded youngster. Every month, he will have those few days. All of you were young once, you will surely understand……! Some inner agitation need a place to release them. If he can't release it last night, the ones suffering in the morning will be you all." Senior Official Song's eyes beamed, his grin a mischievous one.

The Minister, "Now that you mention it, His Majesty had ascended the throne for three years now yet he has yet to appoint his Empress. This is a serious matter too."

The Deputy Minister made a ruckus, "Not just the Empress, he didn't even have a concubine. Both Lords, I heard in His Majesty's personal records, every day in his imperial visit[4] area every year it's empty! Both Lords, it can't be our Emperor is……"

The Minister couldn't sit anymore. "This can't do. I have to go find and ask the Board of Rites. Also, there is a need to meet Empress Dowager!"

Senior Official Song was already this old. Other than basking under the sun and reading some dirty books, he had no other pleasures. Right now, both his eyes were shining as he agreed with the Minister of Personnel, "Right, right. Go quick! His Majesty's marriage is one of the nation's pillar, we can't delay it any longer!"

[1] I think there is a better translation for it but I can't find it. Basically, the magistrate in charge of the capital city.

[2] A word play, maybe. Another more familiar line will be the onlooker (eunuch) is more worried than the player (emperor).

[3] Either I missed something or the author wrote it wrong. The six boards are Board of Personnel, Board of Revenue, Board of Rites, Board of War, Board of Justice and Board of Public Works. The Board of Justice is not included in those who are kneeling.

[4] A visit to copulate with his concubine

Chapter end

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