EMHTC -Chapter 89 Interrupting Someone’s Sleep? Prepare for Divine Retribution!

Marquis Yongchang endured his punishment, each stab of the blade leaving a bloody hole. He merely bit down on a cloth and let out muffled grunts—never a scream or plea for mercy.

— Normally, such punishments would not be administered, but Marquis Yongchang himself insisted on adding an extra sentence to his original punishment.

Although he retained his title, he suffered numerous setbacks. His eighty adopted sons—those who needed to be captured were captured, and those who deserved punishment were punished. Those guilty of heinous crimes were executed without a word of plea from the marquis. When the ordeal concluded, he brought out a jug of wine, drank a bowl with his sons, and severed their father-son bond.

Eighty adopted sons—essentially equivalent to forming a clique of eighty people, each a robust and capable military general.

They should have separated long ago.

The old emperor pondered for a moment. Today’s air was too heavy with the scent of blood; an otherwise good celebration banquet was ruined.

He needed to lighten the mood.

“Empress,” he asked Empress Dou, seated beside him, “what do you think we should do to cleanse the air of today’s bloodshed?”

Empress Dou replied, “Give out rewards.”

Handing out money always brought joy.

The old emperor coughed. “Something else.”

Empress Dou: “…”

【So stingy.】

The old emperor: “?!”

He widened his eyes in shock.

How had Xu Yanmiao overheard his private conversation with the empress?!

He glanced over to see Xu Yanmiao sitting calmly at his seat, his gaze fixed on the air as if observing something invisible.

—He must be using the system’s artifact again.

The old emperor shot Xu Yanmiao a meaningful look but continued speaking to Empress Dou. “Rewarding people costs too much. We’ve already rewarded the soldiers. If we also reward the civil officials, the private treasury will be excessively depleted.”

So what if he was stingy? Even though they’d discovered a gold mine, other expenditures still demanded funds! Save where you can!

After deliberating, the old emperor decided on a reward that required no silver or gold, just a symbolic honor. “I’ve heard rumors of untapped talent in the countryside. This reflects poorly on you all for failing to recommend the virtuous and demote the unworthy. Now that everyone is gathered here for the celebration banquet, I command each of you to recommend at least one person, be they a scholar or a soldier.”

Xu Yanmiao reflexively lowered his head to the bamboo slip where he had just written down some names.

【Who would dare recommend someone right now?】

Then it dawned on him: 【Oh! The ministers don’t know about the screen incident or the matter with the eighty adopted sons. It must seem like a coincidence to them, like pulling one turnip and dragging up the whole patch.】

But we know.

The ministers all lowered their heads and stared at their desks.

Ah, such a fine cup of tea. The color was vibrant, the texture smooth, and the whiteness so pure. The tea leaves were plump and tender.

Ah, the embroidery on this silk belt looked a little crooked. Better take another good look.

Ah…

In any case, their heads remained bowed, and their mouths stayed shut. No one dared to be the first to recommend anyone.

The old emperor, unperturbed, drawled, “Anonymous.”

The emperor’s version of “anonymous” involved officials whispering names to scribes, who would then write down the recommended person and their qualifications without revealing the recommender’s name.

He set a firm requirement: “Each of you must recommend at least one person.”

Xu Yanmiao was particularly troubled. After much contemplation, he still had no idea whom to recommend.

—He had never paid attention to such things before!

He nearly scratched his head bald before cautiously submitting a name. Then he began quietly observing others.

One glance and his heart sank.

It seemed… everyone else looked quite confident.

The incense in the burner slowly burned to ash as slips of paper were collected and delivered to the emperor. At first, the emperor perused them himself, but soon he handed them to a eunuch to read aloud for everyone’s benefit.

“A recommendation for Guozijian academician Zhai Shang. Despite the rigors of his studies, he buys baked flatbread from the market and eats as he walks. As a learned scholar, he humbles himself, delights in simple pleasures with the common folk, and exemplifies sincerity and approachability. He would make an excellent official.”

Xu Yanmiao’s eyes darted around, searching for people.

Lian Hang whispered, “The one sitting right behind Marquis Yangwu is Dr. Zhai.”

Xu Yanmiao quickly recognized Marquis Yangwu and soon identified the person behind him. His expression grew peculiar. “Why does it seem like that doctor doesn’t look very happy?”

Lian Hang raised his hand and coughed lightly into his fist. “Does Xu Lang truly think this counts as ‘sharing joy with the people’?”

Xu Yanmiao froze. “Huh? Doesn’t it?”

“For an official, such behavior might be considered undignified. If no one notices, or if the observer doesn’t mind, it’s fine. But if someone sees it and uses it as grounds for impeachment, it could very well lead to being demoted or sent out of the capital. Right now, someone is using a recommendation as a pretext for an impeachment attempt.”

It was like the saying about the “five-day marital duty”—everything was fine until someone with an agenda came along. Then you’d be doomed.

—Of course, in a rule-by-man society, it ultimately depended on the emperor’s opinion.

Xu Yanmiao’s pupils quaked.

【I’m doomed! I’ve done this countless times! Not only have I walked around eating flatbread, but I’ve also snacked on meatballs, sunflower seeds, duck feet, chestnuts… Whatever street food I see, I eat it!】

【What if someone saw me?】

The censors: “…”

What a big fish.

But…

They sighed silently.

This one couldn’t be touched. Better to focus on finding faults in others.

Zhai Shang cast a resentful glance at Xu Yanmiao. Though he knew Xu Lang hadn’t done it intentionally—and that Xu Yanmiao had a divine artifact far beyond his own reach—it was hard not to feel envious and bitter in the moment.

The old emperor tried to recall who Zhai Shang was. Unable to place him, he remarked blandly, “Zhai Shang’s behavior lacks decorum; disqualify him.”

Had the emperor remembered him, felt a fondness for him, or found him useful, the matter might have been brushed aside.

Such was the cold reality of officialdom.

—In other words, no one could say this wasn’t a recommendation. If the emperor deemed the behavior to be sincerely humble and approachable, the recommended individual could rise. If not, it simply meant the emperor didn’t want them.

By now, Zhai Shang had resigned himself to the outcome. He stood, bowed deeply, and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. This humble servant feels unworthy and ashamed for failing to meet Your Majesty’s expectations. I shall no longer present myself before the throne and only wish for Your Majesty’s long-lasting health and peace.”

The eunuch moved on to the next anonymous recommendation: “I recommend Zhao Li, brother of Marquis Hongyang and a disciple of Prime Minister Dou. Though he holds no official position, he is a scholar of immense talent and vision, capable of securing the empire for generations to come.”

Even Xu Yanmiao could tell something was off.

Given the old emperor’s temperament, this kind of recommendation—with phrases like “brother of Marquis Hongyang” and “disciple of Prime Minister Dou”—was anything but genuine.

Prime Minister Dou’s gaze swept across the room, and he chuckled coldly.

Who knew which political enemy had set their sights on him this time?

He had never intended to recommend his student outright. His plan was to have the student participate in the imperial examination for the first-class rank, gaining recognition through talent and thereby earning the emperor’s favor.

But now…

Prime Minister Dou exchanged a glance with Marquis Hongyang. Both immediately understood what the other was thinking.

—They had to find out who was behind this!

The old emperor observed the turbulent undercurrents without giving anything away. He neither summoned the recommended person to the court nor dismissed them entirely. Instead, he simply gestured for the eunuch to continue reading the recommendations.

The subsequent recommendations were a mix of genuine suggestions and scheming plots. Xu Yanmiao watched in amazement, thoroughly entertained.

The court was indeed a dangerous place, but it was undeniably lively as well.

Far away, in a distant fiefdom…

The emperor’s third son, titled “Prince Fu,” stroked the large white snake coiled around his arm and waist, its cool and slick texture helping to stave off the summer heat. With a gentle smile, he asked, “So the Prince of Jibei rebelled?”

The guard who brought the news added, “The rebellion is already over—he’s been captured.”

Prince Fu paused.

The guard, catching the subtle cue in his master’s gaze, tactfully elaborated, “From the start of the rebellion to his capture, it reportedly took only two hours.”

The guard then provided detailed accounts of the rebellion’s methods.

Prince Fu: “…”

Still stroking his beloved snake’s icy skin, he cursed, “Foolish and incompetent! How did he even have the nerve to rebel?”

After giving the guard a look, he said, “You may leave—or rather, go fetch Chief Steward Liu.”

“As you command.”

Once the guard departed, Prince Fu crouched down and scooped up a handful of the artificially redirected spring water. The clear, icy stream rippled through his fingers as the white snake slid into the water, splashing about and sending droplets all over Prince Fu’s face and robes.

He used his sleeve to wipe the water from his face as rivulets streamed down his hair.

“Big Brother,” he murmured with a smile, as if discovering something new and intriguing. “So, you can die after all.”

If the crown prince were to die, it would open opportunities for non-heirs.

—Among the sons of the empress, only the eldest could be deemed the legitimate heir. All other sons, regardless of whether their mothers were the empress or consorts, were considered secondary in status under the law.

And Prince Fu’s title alone revealed that he was not born of the empress. For the old emperor, the empress’s sons deserved illustrious titles such as Qin, Han, or Tang—names of ancient states. For sons born of other mothers, auspicious yet modest titles like Fu, Hui, or Rui sufficed.

Though Prince Fu had harbored some minor ambitions in the past, he’d never seriously considered competing for the throne. To him, the crown prince’s position was unshakable, an unquestionable reality.

However, the Prince of Jibei’s rebellion had shattered that illusion.

The emperor’s favor for the crown prince might not change, but the crown prince could die.

By the time Chief Steward Liu arrived, Prince Fu had already dried his face with a handkerchief, erasing all traces of the spring water. His pet snake frolicked in the water as he sat calmly by the edge.

“Chief Steward Liu,” Prince Fu ordered, “you are to secretly travel to the capital and seek out a palace aide named Xu Yanmiao. He should be about nineteen this year.”

Liu tentatively asked, “Are you certain he’s nineteen?”

Prince Fu knew what he was implying. “The young palace aide is indeed a prodigy.”

Liu struggled to suppress his astonishment.

After a moment, he asked, “What would you have me do with him, Your Highness?”

Prince Fu smiled faintly. “He has just been promoted to palace aide and lacks a solid foundation. Find an arrogant scholar and incite them to step on this young talent to climb the ranks. Create a sense of crisis for him, make him believe his position is precarious, that he could fall at any moment. Then, you are to feign support and protection, earning his trust.”

“Most of the other palace aides are wily old foxes who won’t act without seeing the bait. But this Xu Yanmiao is still very young.”

Youth meant inexperience, and inexperience meant susceptibility to manipulation.

After some thought, Prince Fu added, “Go to the treasury and withdraw a thousand taels of gold. Having just been promoted, he likely doesn’t have the wealth to indulge himself. Use this money to introduce him to the pleasures of the world.”

This way, Xu Yanmiao could be turned into an informant at the emperor’s side.

Chief Steward Liu bowed. “Understood.”

When Liu Changshi arrived in the capital, his brows were still furrowed.

An arrogant scholar… inciting someone to target a palace aide, no less one who was obviously full of potential and highly favored by the emperor…

Who could he find?

In this vast capital, was there anyone foolish enough for the task?

Liu Changshi spent a full seven days searching for the right person to carry out this mission.

When several young scholars passed by and complained, “Brother Zhao is so innocent. If it weren’t for that recommendation, you’d already be eligible for the imperial exam!”

Brother Zhao didn’t feel embarrassed at all, and said angrily, “Don’t let me find out who did this!”

Blocking someone’s future was like avenging one’s father’s death!

Liu Changshi, who had already walked quite a distance, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

Xu Yanmiao heard the knocking on the door and climbed out of bed, his hair still a mess.

“Who is it… such a nice holiday, and someone’s knocking so early in the morning! Can I just pretend I’m not home…”

He grumbled for a moment but still got up, calling out from the door, “Wait a moment!”

After quickly washing up and changing into clothes suitable for going out, he went to open the door, asking, “May I ask who it is?”

After all, he was an official now. What if it was the old emperor or some superior calling?

The visitor, very politely, handed over an invitation: “Xu Lang, on your next day off, my master, the younger cousin of Marquis Hongyang, Zhao Li, will be hosting a spring banquet in the peach orchard on the outskirts of the city. We would be honored to have you join us.”

Xu Yanmiao asked, “Your master is…?”

“He is Zhao Li, the younger cousin of Marquis Hongyang.”

【But… I don’t think I have any particular relationship with the younger cousin of Marquis Hongyang?】

Still, Xu Yanmiao, thinking it best not to offend anyone, hesitated and said, “Alright. If there’s nothing pressing, I will attend.”

The visitor bowed and turned to leave.

Once the visitor was gone, Xu Yanmiao stared at the door for a long time, deep in thought. Then, he pulled out a toolbox and began knocking on the door in a series of clinks and clangs for a long while. Only after he was satisfied did he close the door and return to bed.

The Left Military Supervisor’s assistant, who lived next door, curiously came over and saw that a new sign had been added to her door.

“Here, the master loves to sleep. Please do not disturb in the morning unless there is an urgent matter.”

To prevent the sign from being removed, it was nailed securely to the door.