Green Mountain

Emperor Jing sat alone at the square table.

The large tavern was empty, and not many dishes were laid out on the square table—a plate of sweet and sour pork, a bowl of country chicken stewed with hazel mushrooms, a bowl of pork stew, and a plate of stir-fried liver tips.

Emperor Jing picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork but didn’t bring it to his mouth.

He carefully observed the piece in front of him and sighed, "When I was young, this was my favorite, but now even my favorite dishes are hard to eat. That year, when I returned to the Imperial Capital from Yingkou, even while on the road, I thought to myself that once I completed this great task and became Emperor, I would sleep for a whole day and night, even if the sky fell. But since the day I stepped into the Imperial Capital, I haven’t had a good night’s sleep."

The eunuch whispered softly, "Your Majesty’s concern for the country and the people is a blessing for the populace."

Emperor Jing threw the sweet and sour pork back onto the plate, his voice hoarse, "Enough, don’t just say pleasant words. I’m not unaware of the people’s plight; I’m just a bit unwilling. Even though I’m exhausted, every New Year’s Eve, the streets are still filled with beggars, and the people at the porridge stands are still pale and thin."

The eunuch hurriedly said, "Your Majesty should not blame yourself. The court needs silver for the southern battles, for suppressing northern tribes, for repairing river dikes, and for building city walls—it’s just a matter of choice. Once the wars end, the people’s lives will naturally improve. If to blame, blame the Southern Dynasty for not surrendering willingly, causing continuous conflicts between the two dynasties..."

Emperor Jing lamented, "Oh, Bai Jian, if you weren’t in the palace, you could’ve achieved a First Rank."

At this moment, a young guard briskly ascended the stairs, Bai Jian proactively approached him, listening to the guard whisper.

A moment later, Bai Jian returned to Emperor Jing’s side, "Your Majesty, the carriage from Duke Huang’s Mansion is parked opposite, and an elder with two youngsters have alighted and are drinking. There are a few people furtively trailing behind the carriage—probably Bai Family’s Army, and the Imperial Guard is monitoring them."

Emperor Jing picked a piece of pork liver, placed it in his mouth and slowly chewed, "I’ve already instructed not to be ostentatious in disguise, yet you didn’t heed. Tell me, how many people did you sneak along this time?"

Bai Jian remained silent.

Emperor Jing picked another piece of stir-fried liver tips, "You are pardoned."

Bai Jian bowed, and softly advised, "I brought twenty-four Imperial Guard Right Guards, twelve close, and twelve at a distance. Your Majesty, it can’t be less."

Emperor Jing chuckled, "In this Shangjing City, are you afraid someone will assassinate me?"

Bai Jian hesitated, "One cannot be too careful."

"Guard against whom, against the Fourth and Sixth?" Emperor Jing put down his chopsticks, slowly leaning back in his chair, "If the Fourth or Sixth dare to embolden themselves to assassinate me, what harm would it be to give them the throne?"

Bai Jian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince and Sixth Prince respect and love you, how could they commit such rebellious acts? The Court Minister is making a big deal out of nothing."

Emperor Jing sighed, "I’m not speaking in anger. If they truly had the guts to come assassinate me, it would be better, rather than hiding behind Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin; at least it would appear less pathetic... Among my seventeen sons, not a single one resembles me."

Bai Jian pondered, "Your Majesty possesses immense talent and is unparalleled in both civil and martial affairs; it’s reasonable that the Princes cannot compare."

Emperor Jing scoffed.

It was at this time that he recalled he once said there was someone who resembled him. But that person was not a son, it was a daughter.

Emperor Jing suddenly murmured, "She really came back alive from the Ning Dynasty."

Bai Jian hurriedly said, "Princess Liyang has Your protection; she’s blessed with great fortune."

Emperor Jing shook his head, "What’s it got to do with me? She’s just lucky herself... She went through life and death, she should resent me, right?"

Bai Jian prostrated on the ground, and replied softly, "How could that be? If Her Highness had stayed in the Capital back then, death would have been certain; you sent her to the Southern Dynasty to save her life. Her Highness is wise and surely understands your intentions."

Emperor Jing laughed disdainfully, "No need to make excuses for me. If a king needs to find reasons for his callousness, then shed fake tears, hypocritically telling everyone it was out of necessity... Then that’s just too cowardly."

Suddenly, he began to cough, and after quite a fit, he weakly gasped, "Children outside can go home to their parents when wronged, husbands exhausted can confide in their wives, wives unhappy can lean on their husband’s back, only the Emperor can’t do that. The realm is yours alone, all advantages in the world belong to you alone, no matter how bitter or tiring, you should bear it alone. Bai Jian, I don’t care how history records me. If they want to call me heartless, let them."

Bai Jian whispered, "Reporting to Your Majesty, they wouldn’t dare."

"There’s something they wouldn’t dare?" The elderly Emperor Jing suddenly sparked interest, raising his cup and sipping lightly, "Do you know what in this world can constrain royal power?"

Bai Jian replied flustered, "Who would dare to constrain Your Majesty?"

Emperor Jing laughed heartily, "In the Jing Dynasty, civil servants use the Central Secretariat, Minxia, and the Ministry of Personnel to constrain royal power. The Prime Ministers of Central Secretariat draft decrees, not letting me dictate whimsically; Minxia holds veto power, able to reject my edicts if dissatisfied; Ministry of Personnel has Prime Ministers deliberating, discussing matters amongst themselves before reporting to me."

Emperor Jing pointed south, "The Southern Dynasty uses ancestral laws, etiquette, and Imperial Censor to constrain royal power; ancestral laws mustn’t be violated, moral ethics mustn’t be abandoned. If you don’t meet their expectations, they’ll strike their heads until death before the Petitioning Drum."

Upon speaking thus far, Emperor Jing scoffed again, "Ultimately, whether the methods of civil servants from both sides are effective depends on whether the Emperor cares about his legacy. If an Emperor is indifferent to legacy, those blocking the way are doomed. When the army draws swords in the Imperial City, they’ll understand royal power is just royal power."

Bai Jian remained kneeling, fearing to utter a sound.

At this time, laughter echoed from the tavern opposite, "One crab, eight claws, two sharp tips this big..."

The gray-haired Emperor Jing slowly rose, intending to walk to the window but paused.

He gazed afar outwards and suddenly mocked himself, "It’s New Year’s Eve, and I have no one to drink with. Perhaps that Southern Emperor is the same... Bai Jian, what do you think if I could sit and drink a few glasses with that Emperor? Only he and I truly understand each other’s difficulties in this world, no one else would know."

Bai Jian froze, imagining the scene of two Emperors sitting and drinking together.

Emperor Jing chuckled, "At that time, I would play a drinking game with him, employing the crab game—whoever wins takes the realm, the loser goes home to farm, how convenient?"

Bai Jian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty will surely win."

Amid their conversation, the outside grew noisier, as Old Ears shouted, "Come on, come on, the wine here is finished, let this old man lead you to a place full of fine wine, the wine there is wonderful, and it doesn’t cost any silver, we can drink until dawn!"

Emperor Jing was taken aback by the sound and instructed Bai Jian, "Go see what’s happening."

Bai Jian went to the window and looked out. He saw the back of Old Ears leading a large crowd westward, inviting the patrons and songstresses from nearby taverns along the way. In no time, he had gathered hundreds of people, forming a more spectacular sight than the court’s Nuotu Team.

Bai Jian turned back in astonishment, "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Jing, unbeknownst to Bai Jian, had already come to the window and was staring blankly at the retreating figure at the front of the crowd, "Where are they going?"

Bai Jian watched for a moment and hesitantly said, "Your Majesty, the direction they are headed seems to be the mansion where Yuan Xiang hides his wine..."

Emperor Jing’s eyes lit up, and his aged face showed a hint of excitement as he turned to head down the stairs, "I shall join the fun as well."

Bai Jian’s expression changed, and he quickly knelt in front of Emperor Jing to stop him, "Your Majesty, this place is full of uncertainty; you must not put yourself in danger."

Emperor Jing turned back, looking through the window at the front of the crowd, "Where is the danger? This place is even safer than the palace."

Bai Jian changed his approach, "But Your Majesty, the New Year’s Eve banquet is about to begin. The Imperial Guard has already led the Nuotu Team and is waiting outside Yongxing Square, and the nobles are also waiting outside the Zichen Hall, just waiting for you to return and preside over it."

Emperor Jing waved his hand, "Let them wait."

He turned to go down the stairs, shakily shrugging off Bai Jian, who came over to support him, "I can still walk on my own."

Once outside the tavern, he saw more and more people being called over by Old Ears, almost pulling all the patrons and songstresses from a street onto the street. Emperor Jing, with a smile, followed behind the crowd but not too closely, always keeping a distance of twenty steps.

He turned back and smiled at Bai Jian, "Isn’t it more interesting for so many people to drink up all of Yuan Xiang’s wine than the New Year’s Eve banquet? I heard earlier that the best tribute wine is sent to Yuan Xiang first and then to the palace. Taking this opportunity, I must go see how much good wine Yuan Xiang has hidden and whether he has hidden the finest Jade Pot Spring."

Bai Jian was at a loss.

Suddenly seeing the Imperial Guard behind Bai Jian, Emperor Jing frowned and said, "Get lost, or you’ll all be exiled to Ningguta."

The Imperial Guard looked at each other and had to stop in their tracks.

"Madness, absolute madness..." Bai Jian turned to instruct the Imperial Guard, "Hurry to Yuan Xiang’s residence, don’t let Yuan Xiang’s people have the chance to warn him. Send someone back to the palace to report, telling them that His Majesty is reviewing memorials, and the New Year’s Eve banquet will be postponed!"

...

...

By the time Emperor Jing followed the crowd and reached outside Yuan Xiang’s private residence, the main gate was already wide open, and an unknown number of drunkards had rushed into the residence.

The residence’s Protectors were nowhere to be seen, and from the wine cellar came the voice of Old Ears, "Move this pot out, move that pot out, move all of them out!"

Emperor Jing stood in a corner, watching from afar as the drunkards carried out all of Yuan Xiang’s hidden wine, men and women of all ages sitting on the ground, hugging pots of wine, drinking away.

One person would take a big swig from a pot and then pass it to the next person, drinking with boldness and delight.

Emperor Jing felt a stirring and pointed to a pot of wine, quietly instructing Bai Jian, "Go grab that pot for me; it’s a tribute wine from the official kiln on Tokyo Road."

Bai Jian whispered, "Your Majesty, you’re not fit to drink wine."

Emperor Jing gave him a sidelong glance, "Are you suggesting I’m dying?"

"This servant wouldn’t dare, this servant deserves to die a thousand times," Bai Jian, bracing himself, squeezed into the crowd and snatched the wine pot before running back to Emperor Jing.

The man who had his wine pot taken was not angry but waved a friendly hand at Emperor Jing, then opened a new pot for himself with a smile.

Emperor Jing snatched the wine pot from Bai Jian’s hands and took a big swig, Bai Jian was so anxious but dared not snatch it back.

After placing down the wine pot, Emperor Jing burped, "Indeed, it smells better than the wine I have."

Bai Jian took a sniff, "Your Majesty, this tribute wine is no different from the tribute wine in our palace."

Emperor Jing laughed heartily, "What do you know? Stolen things naturally taste better."

At this moment, cheers rose from the center of the courtyard, and as he looked closely, he saw Old Ears was competing in drinking against a young man. Old Ears and the young man had just downed an entire pot of strong wine and each picked up a new pot, as if their bellies were bottomless pits.

Bai Jian’s expression changed. He had only seen the back of Old Ears earlier, but seeing his face now, he understood why Emperor Jing said this place was the safest.

Emperor Jing watched the crowd, where Old Ears and the young man sat cross-legged, and another even younger boy was miserably moving pots of wine for them.

Seeing this boy of eleven or twelve years, Emperor Jing exclaimed softly, "Isn’t that Bai Xingzhen?"

Bai Jian squinted his eyes for a moment, "Your Majesty, it truly is Bai Xingzhen."

Emperor Jing’s gaze returned to the young man opposite Old Ears, "Oh, then who is that kid?"

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