EMHTC -Chapter 28 Surprise! All monks in the country are required to hold certificates before taking up their posts!

The old emperor was speechless for a long time.

What in the world is this?!

What kind of strange people are my ministers?!

Ever since Xu Yanmiao came to court, everyone’s behavior has become peculiar! First, it was a prince consort demanding to cane a princess to death, then a censor hiding in the deep mountains for days out of fear of his wife. The attendant of the crown prince, at the age of seventy-five, was still exchanging secret love letters—and even contracted a venereal disease!

And now, someone who enjoys watching his wives and concubines have affairs has come forward?! The old emperor couldn’t comprehend it. His pupils quaked with disbelief. The official revealed to have a penchant for cuckoldry stood frozen for a long time… a very long time.

Finally, he bowed to the emperor, retreated backward as if rewinding, and rejoined the ranks of officials. He raised his official tablet, his face serious, though faintly contemplative.

Huh? What just happened? Nothing, right? A colleague beside him nudged his arm: “You… do you really enjoy being cuckolded?”

Wow—

So, such people exist too!

The cuckoldry-loving official held his tablet aloft, tears streaming in the wind. What possessed you to jump out and admit it? Was it your turn to show off? Foolish “beep—”

The old emperor finally managed to speak after a long pause.

“You all…”

The loyal censor, teary-eyed, gazed at him. The Minister of War stared at him expectantly. The cuckoldry-loving official… well, he didn’t look at him.

However, many officials whose wives had visited Yulong Temple appeared particularly troubled, although they didn’t speak up. Their worried glances occasionally flicked toward the emperor.

The old emperor: …

“…Your Majesty…” Some officials whose wives sought entertainment at the temple spoke with trembling voices.

The old emperor: …

Why do I have to deal with this nonsense?!

Am I perhaps a strange kind of emperor? After enjoying the drama and excitement, the emptiness of it all surged in his heart.

The emperor swept his gaze across the useless officials below and suddenly remembered something: “Has Yulong Temple paid taxes? If they’re not a legitimate temple but rather a business selling pleasure, have they paid taxes?”

The ministers: “?”

??

Your Majesty, isn’t your focus a bit off? The Minister of Revenue looked pained: “To answer Your Majesty, they have not.” The emperor’s face darkened: “They didn’t pay taxes, yet they run a secret brothel?! Still provide services? Still operate?”

The emperor, evidently struck where it hurt most, became much more animated: “Collect taxes! Make them pay back taxes! And order them to close! Such temples cannot exist in the Grand Xia!”

“And! Ji Sui!”

Ji Sui stepped forward and respectfully bowed.

“After the new year, you will take the position of Inspecting Censor and travel through the Nine Provinces to inspect and clean up the temples.” Xu Yanmiao recalled that Inspecting Censors were somewhat akin to modern anti-corruption investigators or disciplinary officials. Normally, there were dedicated Inspecting Censors, but if the emperor deemed a matter significant, he would appoint a trusted high-ranking official with the title to handle the task.

The old emperor’s speech grew faster and more impassioned.

“Anyone found falsifying monk certificates—execute them!”

Becoming a monk required a certificate issued by the court. Legitimate Buddhist temples could own property, which was exempt from taxes. As a result, many chose to become monks. The court tightly controlled the issuance of these certificates to prevent tax revenue from declining significantly.

“Any temple engaging in lewd acts, as in the case of Jingyan Temple during Emperor Gaozong’s reign, where women seeking children were led through underground passages to rooms where monks masqueraded as deities to assault them—execute those responsible for similar acts!”

Ji Sui: “Understood!”

“Where is the Minister of Rites?!”

“Here, Your Majesty.”

“For cases before the 32nd year of Tiantong, they are not to be pursued. From the 32nd year onward, all Buddhist and Daoist temples shall be limited to forty people in a prefecture, thirty in a district, and twenty in a county. No men under forty or women under fifty may become monks or nuns. The Ministry of Rites shall oversee this matter.”

The Minister of Rites: “Understood!”

“Resume testing of monks! Zen monks shall be examined on Zen principles! Preachers on key sutras! Yoga monks shall be tested on yoga practices! Only those who are proficient may remain monks; others shall be caned thirty times and returned to civilian life! Starting this year, inspections will occur every three years!”

“Understood!”

“Establish monk registries. These registries must record the birthplace, residence, rank, age, name, gender, temple of ordination, and date of tonsure for every monk. They must also note the names of their family members and preceptors. Every temple must record the number of halls and monk quarters, as well as their permanent properties.”

“These tasks shall be coordinated by the Ministry of Rites, the Monk Registry Office, and local monk supervisors.”

No one shall evade my taxes!

No one!

The Minister of Rites and the Left and Right Shanshi (heads of the Monk Registry Office) hurriedly bowed: “Understood!”

One order after another was issued, and the massive machinery of the imperial court began to move.

“As for Yulong Temple and its monks.”

Unlike his earlier casual tone, the old emperor spoke with great seriousness this time.

“Expel the monks, abolish the temple, and reduce the monks to commoners. Charge them with tax evasion, cane them fifty times, and confiscate half of their property for the state.”

The Minister of Revenue blurted out: “Your Majesty is wise!”

The Minister of Revenue made his stance clear: “This is exactly the correct judgment!”

Who cares about their immoral acts? All that matters is that even if we can’t recover all the money, charging them with tax evasion means half of it goes to the treasury!

Moreover, Yulong Temple was operating illegally—essentially without a license.

The Minister of Revenue’s eyes gleamed so brightly they were almost blinding. Illegal operation! That means double fines!

The old emperor continued: “For those with severe violations, they shall be made state courtesans and registered with the Imperial Music Bureau.” The loyal censor thought about his daughters at home but didn’t lose heart. He only asked, “What constitutes a severe violation?”

“Significant tax evasion.”

—Which referred to those who had the most patrons.

The censor’s eyes lit up, and with a louder voice and more fervent emotion than the Minister of Revenue, he exclaimed: “Your Majesty is wise!!!” Many officials’ eyes brightened with enthusiasm.

The term “official courtesan” refers to courtesans sanctioned by the state rather than government officials. Any entity or individual could apply to hire official courtesans, provided their application was approved by the government. Taverns could hire them to pour drinks and sell alcohol, literary gatherings could employ them for singing, dancing, and reciting poetry, and private residences could invite them to attend banquets and events. Even their family members could…

The emperor continued, “The remaining civilians only need to pay their owed taxes and serve their sentences before being released.”

As for the noblewomen involved, the emperor didn’t mention them at all. That was the end of the discussion. The officials, knowing the timing, promptly echoed in unison, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Following that, the customary session began: “Present your concerns; if there are none, court is adjourned.” The emperor addressed a few more state affairs before impatiently summoning Princess Qinghe and Ji Sui to Wuying Hall. Clearly agitated, he reprimanded them, “What on earth is going on with you two? Qinghe, especially you!”

The emperor was furious. “What’s the deal with that so-called Prime Minister? You’re a grown woman—how could you engage in such things?”

A sudden thought struck him, and his face turned pale. “Could it be… you have improper feelings for Dou Qing?!”

His shout echoed through the hall, shaking the ground. Princess Qinghe, who had been nervously fiddling with her fingers, immediately raised her head upon hearing this and nearly sprained her neck. “Father! Prime Minister Dou is 77 years old!”

But the emperor, consumed by his own train of thought, became increasingly convinced of his suspicion. After all, why else would she be playing these role-playing games?

As an old-fashioned individual, the emperor had no concept of “don’t mix fantasy with reality.” He simply lamented, “Exactly! My dear daughter, he’s 77 years old!”

Princess Qinghe: “…”

Feeling like she was suffocating, Princess Qinghe quickly explained, “Father, you’re overthinking this. At this point, I might as well tell you everything.”

The emperor said, “Go on.”

“I did, indeed, enter into a contractual marriage with Ji Sui before our wedding. I didn’t want to marry, but you wouldn’t have allowed me to stay unmarried. Ji Sui, on the other hand, didn’t mind if I pursued my own life, so I married him.”

“Oh, so you two just do your own thing.” The emperor nodded but then frowned. “What about that missing granddaughter of mine?”

The emperor rarely used “I” or “me” in casual conversation, opting for “we” or “us” instead. But when things got serious, his imperial pronoun “we” immediately slipped out. He turned his sharp gaze to Ji Sui and narrowed his eyes. “She’s not… the daughter of you and your ex-wife, is she?”

Before Ji Sui could respond, Princess Qinghe angrily retorted, “What nonsense are you saying? That’s my child, whom I carried for ten months! Father, just because you were away at war doesn’t mean I wouldn’t know if I were pregnant.”

Moved to tears, she continued passionately, “She was lost when she was just a baby. Ji Sui has searched for her for over thirty years, and I have often inquired about her whereabouts as well. You’ve seen this yourself—how could there be any doubt?”

The emperor remained wary. “But some say that after your marriage, you and Ji Sui have never shared a bed.”

Princess Qinghe: “… Actually, Ji Sui and I had… a fling at first. When I found out I was pregnant, Ji Sui proposed marriage to you.”

Ji Sui fell into a strange silence.

The emperor was utterly stunned. “Ji Sui? A fling? Wasn’t he bothered by the dirt?”

“…” Princess Qinghe held onto Ji Sui’s arm, leaned against him with an air of shyness, and said, “Love conquers all.”

The emperor: “…”

Ji Sui: “…”

Ji Sui said firmly, “Indeed, Your Majesty, that is how it was.”

The emperor pressed, “Then why haven’t you…”

Princess Qinghe hadn’t expected the emperor to think so quickly on his feet and was caught off guard.

Ji Sui, however, closed his eyes briefly and then resolutely declared, “After losing my daughter, I found it impossible to engage with women anymore!”

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, so it’s my granddaughter, and the problem is just you being… incapable.”

Recalling how upset Princess Qinghe had been earlier, the emperor felt a little guilty. To make amends, he bestowed treasures upon her and promised her several favors, finally cheering her up.

Satisfied with the answers, the emperor picked up his pen. “Fine, a contractual marriage it is.” … After all, his daughter wasn’t the one being wronged.

“You may leave now.”

“Yes, father/Your Majesty. Your daughter/subject takes her leave.”

As the emperor bent down to review his memorials, he completely missed the look of relief on his daughter’s face as she left.

Outside the palace gates, Princess Qinghe gave Ji Sui a sidelong glance. “You’d better be careful.”

Ji Sui paused for a moment, bowed, and said, “Thank you, Princess.”

Princess Qinghe raised an eyebrow. “Thank me? It’s mutual benefit.”

She turned and climbed into her carriage. Without waiting for Ji Sui, the carriage began to roll away. Ji Sui suddenly stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and said, “I plan to request a transfer soon to serve as a magistrate in a remote region.”

He continued, “Once I’ve rescued Qier, I’ll host a private banquet and invite Xu Yan to discuss the matter of my daughter. Princess, could you avoid attending on that day?”

Princess Qinghe looked at him curiously and nodded.

The carriage moved slowly away.

Ji Sui turned and returned to the palace.

The emperor was surprised. “Why are you back?”

Ji Sui said, “Your Majesty, do you recall Lessons for Women?”

The emperor rubbed his pen contemplatively and suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! I knew I forgot something—the author of that book is still in the custody of the Imperial Guard!”

“That’s not a concern, Your Majesty. But I must tell you…”

★

Xu Yanmiao was stunned. “The Young Prince is being released?!”

The Princess Xiangyang, who had come to show off, nodded vigorously, looking pleased with herself. “How about that! You’ve always been ahead of me in everything, but this time, you didn’t know, did you?”

Indeed, Xu Yanmiao hadn’t known.

The gossip system was vast and overwhelming, and he couldn’t catch every piece of news in time. Curious, he asked, “How did you manage this?”

The Princess of Xiangyang bit her thumbnail and carefully phrased her response. “Well, my second brother-in-law… I heard Lord Ji sat with the emperor to debate this matter, arguing that the Young Prince shouldn’t be blamed. Instead, the fault lay with Consort Qin for her lack of virtue. He even referenced some points from Lessons for Women to shift all the blame onto her. Eventually, the emperor decided to release the Young Prince on New Year’s Eve.”

“Oh…” Xu Yanmiao blinked. “But…”

Just last night, he’d stumbled upon a piece of gossip he’d been pondering how to discreetly share with Ji Sui without revealing his source.

The Princess Xiangyang was puzzled. “But what?”

Xu Yan scratched his head, feeling troubled. The thing was… Consort Qin was actually Ji Sui’s granddaughter.