Transmigrated as the Emperor, but Slacking Off - Chapter 14

Funing Hall.

Li Dequan bowed and scraped, pleading with Wen Xing as if praying to every god and ancestor. “This old servant begs Your Majesty, today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. You simply must go.”

Wen Xing curled up in his quilts, looking completely listless. “It’s cold. Not going.”

The Hanlu (Cold Dew) period had passed, and the weather had turned abruptly chilly. In the courtyard, the autumn begonias had already withered into a scattered mess. Wen Xing had a frail constitution he feared the heat in summer and the cold in winter. As the autumn chill rose, the coldness in his bones was several degrees sharper than that of an ordinary person.

When it was warm, he spent half his time lounging in bed. Now that the chill had arrived, he was like a window paper pasted shut with thick rice glue, impossible to peel off easily though it was the bedframe, not a window frame, that he was glued to.

Li Dequan was in a difficult position. “The Empress Dowager said that due to the recent national treasury case, as a way to save expenses, this birthday will not be a grand affair. It’s just a simple family banquet. Only imperial relatives and kin are coming; no formal etiquette or grand displays.”

Wen Xing remained motionless. Li Dequan scratched his head in a panic, racking his brains. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Right! This servant heard that the Empress Dowager specifically opted against a traditional banquet for a ‘sovereign and subject sharing joy’ theme. She’s arranged games. It’s said that if one comes out on top, there’s even a prize!”

Hearing the word “games,” Wen Xing’s ears twitched. Seeing that he still had no intention of rising, the old eunuch grew desperate. What to do? If he didn’t even attend the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the Emperor’s reputation for filial piety and benevolence would be completely ruined.

Since ancient times, the imperial family had ruled the world through filial piety. If even the Sovereign failed in his filial duties, how would the common people view imperial power? How could they be convinced? Thus, in every dynasty, save for the most tyrannical and desolate of rulers, few emperors dared to openly defy the Empress Dowager.

It seems… Li Dequan thought and sighed. It seems I’ll have to ask that little beauty for help again. He was just about to go out and find his savior when he heard Xing He ask: “Games! What games?”

Li Dequan, seeing a straw to clutch at, immediately explained: “They say checkpoints have been arranged in the gardens of Yongshou Palace. There are rewards for winning. As for the specifics, this old servant isn’t quite sure.”

Xing He was eager to try. “Can I play too?”

Li Dequan smiled. “It should be possible.”

Xing He turned to look at Wen Xing, his eyes bright. “Master! Let’s go!” Ever since the last time he’d sulked with Ning Wujie, he hadn’t left Wen Xing’s side. Guarding the Emperor every day was his way of proving he wasn’t flighty. As a result, being cooped up in the palace for over half a month had nearly made mushrooms grow on his head out of boredom.

On the bed, the Emperor let out a long breath, as if exhaling several days’ worth of boredom. Then, the figure beneath the quilts squirmed and rolled over. “Li Dequan.”

Li Dequan replied with joy, “Your Majesty, are you rising?”

“Mm.”

The quiet bedchamber instantly became lively.

The back garden of Yongshou Palace.

A “winding stream party” (Qushuiliushang) was set up in the garden, with imperial kin sitting around the water. At the head seat, Empress Dowager Wang Fuwei wore a phoenix crown, looking elegant and poised, yet her phoenix brows were tightly furrowed.

“Where is His Majesty?” she asked the attendant beside her, suppressing her irritation.

The attendant said timidly, “We have urged him many times. They say he hasn’t risen yet.” Her voice trailed off until it almost vanished.

Wang Fuwei’s gaze turned cold upon hearing this. Seeing the seat beside the Empress Dowager consistently empty, the nobles and kin looked at each other, whispering amongst themselves.

“Surely His Majesty wouldn’t fail to show even for the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet?”

“I heard that the ‘beauty’ favored by His Majesty just arrested dozens of officials in the court. Could he be busy with that?”

“Doesn’t that mean many positions are now vacant? I must quickly find a way to send a few of my people into the Ministry of Civil Appointments.”

“What are you thinking? Currently, every official appointment and dismissal has to pass the eyes of that Ning fellow. You think forcing someone in is that easy?”

A noble sighed and shook his head. “Things are different now; the good old days are over.”

“You are all short-sighted. What’s the use of staring at those few positions in the Six Ministries?” Another said, “If you want to force someone in, they must be thrust into His Majesty’s sight.”

Some muttered in their hearts: But His Majesty favors men. What respectable family is willing to send their well-raised sons to the dragon bed? Others had a glint in their eyes, appearing to have a plan already in mind.

Amidst the discussion, the crowd heard: “His Majesty arrives!”

Everyone turned to look as the sixteen-man imperial palanquin was lowered. As usual, the young Emperor did not wear his formal robes, but merely wore a hollowed-out gold thread crown inset with jade. Over his shoulders was a bamboo-moon-blue cloak with a fox-fur collar. The white fox fur moved gently in the autumn breeze, making his superior facial contours look even softer, his features as beautiful as a painting.

The nobles all knelt to welcome the Emperor’s arrival. Wang Fuwei finally had a smile on her face. “Huaiyu, are political affairs so busy today? Why are you so late?”

Wen Xing thought to himself: I was sleeping, not busy. But he guessed that the Empress Dowager wanted to save some face by suggesting his lateness was due to official business rather than neglecting her as his mother. Thus, he was too lazy to refute her and simply gave a non-committal “Mm.”

The banquet began after the Emperor took his seat. Since it was called a family banquet, there weren’t too many complicated rituals. Wang Fuwei sat beside him and spoke with concern: “I heard that Huaiyu encountered an assassination attempt outside the palace. Why hide such a major thing from your mother?”

Wen Xing, who was raising his chopsticks, paused. He had intentionally kept the assassination quiet for no other reason than to avoid trouble. If word got out, the entire palace would be in chaos for a while; specifically, the Empress Dowager and certain noble elder officials would surely come to offer “care and concern” to show their sincerity. He liked peace and hated having people visit Funing Hall every day.

However, such a major event couldn’t be hidden forever. He just didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to find out so quickly.

“Huaiyu, you aren’t injured, are you?” The Empress Dowager truly appeared concerned. Wen Xing couldn’t see anything through the act and simply shook his head. “It’s fine. Just a group of mountain bandits.”

Wang Fuwei acted shocked. “Mountain bandits in the capital region? What are the troops of the Three Great Camps doing? Well, were they exterminated?”

Wen Xing glanced at her and said flatly, “They have been exterminated.”

Wang Fuwei felt relieved. “In the future, it is best to leave the palace less. Was it that Xing He who provoked you again?”

Xing He, who was hiding on a high tree branch with his arms crossed, pouted in dissatisfaction upon hearing this. The Empress Dowager spoke with gravity, in the posture of an elder: “Your Majesty should know your status is precious. You should spend less time with such servants who don’t know their place…”

“Mother,” Wen Xing interrupted sharply. He set down his chopsticks, a sharp gaze sweeping over her. “There is no need for Mother to worry about the people by my side.”

Meeting that gaze, Wang Fuwei’s expression didn’t change, but her sharp fingernail guards dug into her sleeve, wrinkling the fabric. Ever since Wen Xing’s major illness, his attitude toward her had completely changed. Previously, he was respectful and obedient; now, not only could she barely see him, but even when she did, he was perfunctory, or would even argue with her. The sense of unease from losing control burned ever brighter in her heart.

Still, she suppressed the anger in her heart, putting on the kind face of a loving mother. She said softly, “It is Mother who has overstepped.”

“Didn’t you say there was a program?” Wen Xing had no interest in small talk and went straight to the point. Hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared in Wang Fuwei’s eyes.

“Yes, it’s already arranged. We were just waiting for you, Huaiyu.” Following the direction Wang Fuwei pointed, Wen Xing saw that downstream of the winding stream, there were rockeries, arch bridges, water pavilions, and corridors interlaced.

The Empress Dowager announced the rules: “There are six checkpoints in those water pavilions. Each has a question-setter. As long as you pass, you can obtain a token from them. If you collect four, you can ask for a reward from this palace.”

Wen Xing had no interest in the reward; he purely wanted to see what was in those checkpoints. After all, life in the palace was far too boring. He might as well play this ready-made “escape room” game.

Wen Xing rose and walked over on his own. Seeing the Emperor rise, the group of nobles followed in clusters.

The door to the first room was wide open. Inside stood a refined young gentleman in green robes with clear features. Seeing Wen Xing stop, he hurried forward a step and bowed deeply. “This lowly subject is the second legitimate son of the Marquis of Zhongsu, Jin Ziyu. I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

Before his words finished, a noble behind Wen Xing pushed forward enthusiastically: “Your Majesty, this is my son. By seniority, he should call you ‘Imperial Cousin’.” The Marquis of Zhongsu didn’t wait for Wen Xing to respond and began rattling off praises: “My son has just reached adulthood (twenty). He is of grand appearance and is also in the Academy of Scholars…”

Wen Xing frowned slightly, having zero interest in claiming relatives. He asked Jin Ziyu directly: “What is your question?”

Jin Ziyu had been waiting for his father to finish his string of praises; being suddenly interrupted made him stunned for a moment. He looked at Wen Xing’s expression with some trepidation before quickly stepping aside to clear the path. His ears turned slightly red, and his voice lowered: “Please… please enter and see, Your Majesty.”

Wen Xing turned back to the crowd of imperial relatives. “You aren’t participating?”

Everyone shook their heads and waved their hands. “No, no, no. After you, Your Majesty.”

Wen Xing was puzzled. Is the Empress Dowager’s reward so unappealing? He didn’t think too deeply on it and stepped into the room.

Xing He flew down and followed him in. “Master! What’s the question? Let me see too!”

Ning Wujie had just returned from the Bureau of Investigation’s prison. He removed his blood-scented “Yesa” robes, went to the bathhouse to wash clean, and changed into casual clothes before heading to Funing Hall to report the recent progress of the case to Wen Xing.

However, he met Li Dequan coming out the door. The eunuch said genially, “His Majesty has gone to the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. He likely won’t be back for a while. Lord Ning, please return for now.”

Ning Wujie let out an “Oh” and was about to turn and leave, but then he paused. He asked with concern, “How many people did His Majesty take with him?” As he spoke, his gaze swept the courtyard, quickly noticing the shadow guards he had left behind.

They were all here. His brow slowly furrowed.

The old eunuch smiled. “He only took Xing He. After all, that is the Empress Dowager’s palace; taking too many guards would be improper.” People might think the Emperor didn’t trust his own mother and took a bunch of guards to stay on guard against her.

Seeing his doubt, Li Dequan added, “Lord Ning, rest assured. The security at Yongshou Palace is no worse than ours. Besides, Xing He is there. Nothing will happen.”

Ning Wujie pondered for a moment and called out: “Suixing.”

A shadow guard appeared instantly, kneeling on one knee before Ning Wujie. “My Lord.”

Ning Wujie looked down at the shadow guard’s black martial attire. Three words escaped his thin lips:

“Remove your clothes.”

The shadow guard looked up: ? Li Dequan looked on in total confusion: ???