Chapter 511 — Reward
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
The Crown Prince looked toward Song Yan.
Song Dan said, "What Lord Ji says is reasonable."
Could my own counsel be wrong?
Ji Yong stood to one side with a modest air, muttering inwardly.
The Crown Prince smiled. "Then let it be done so! Have the Messenger Office draft a notice presently; once His Majesty has rested and reviewed it, it can be posted throughout the realm." As he spoke, a shadow of gloom crossed his brow. "But in that case, I fear we cannot petition for rewards for everyone."
Who doesn't know how to cast a long line for a big fish?
Ji Yong hastened to say, "This was but our duty; Your Highness's words would crush us."
Song Yan also said, "The Jinwu Guard is charged with protecting the forbidden palace, yet men slipped in—death would be too light a punishment. How would we dare claim merit?"
The Crown Prince had been fretting over having nothing to bestow upon those who had saved him. Hearing the two speak thus, he was moved and said, "Rest assured, both of you—whenever there is opportunity, I shall certainly petition for your ennoblement!"
What use are such empty words now?
Ji Yong was impatient at heart, but smiled and said, "I shall make the trip to the Messenger Office myself. As for the several Grand Secretaries—I fear Lord Song must remain at Your Highness's side to guard you. Who knows how many are counting on this affair to climb in rank and fortune!"
Let you go wrangle with those old men of the Grand Secretariat!
I can't be bothered to keep you company.
He glanced at Song Yan.
Song Yan stood there smiling, still wearing that light, breezy air.
Ji Yong was left fuming.
The Crown Prince had already said, "Then Jianming, make the trip."
Ji Yong assented and departed.
Song Yan accompanied the Crown Prince to the side chamber to discuss matters before the Emperor had returned to the palace.
Hearing that the Crown Prince had decided to conceal the Prince of Liao's treason, Liang Jifen's attitude was not merely firm but fierce: "How can this be! The Prince of Liao has committed an unpardonable crime! If word of this gets out, where will the royal family's dignity be, and where will Your Highness's authority be?"
Song Yan had long harbored a grudge against Liang Jifen—if he did not strike now, when would he?
Smiling, he cut Liang Jifen off: "Minister Liang, when His Highness asked you all to devise a way to welcome the Emperor back into the palace, why did you say nothing? Now that the Emperor has returned, you find fault. This is, after all, the Emperor's family affair—you would do well not to meddle. His Highness the Prince of Zhaohua has plans enough in his breast."
"You—" Liang Jifen was red in the face with fury.
He was a graduate of both the provincial and metropolitan examinations, a man of great learning, who had later entered the Grand Secretariat as a minister. It had been many years since anyone had mocked him to his face like this, and he could not help but fly into a shameful rage. He knew well that a new sovereign brings new ministers, and that at such a moment he ought to swallow his temper for a while—yet the thought that a youth of less than twenty should accuse him so before the Crown Prince was more than he could bear, and he retorted, "What manner of talk is this from Minister Song? How is this the Emperor's family affair? The Prince of Liao's treason shakes the very foundations of the state. He ought to be executed to serve as a warning to all—"
Yao Zhongshi lowered his head, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
This Song Yantang—he had known only that he was a son of a family of meritorious nobles; he had never imagined that when it came to picking a fight, the man was not the least bit hesitant.
The Crown Prince had just taken the reins of power and was at the very moment for establishing his authority. With Liang Jifen's neck this stiff, the Crown Prince might not take kindly to him.
He stole a glance at the Crown Prince.