The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 166 Beginning of Autumn
Just after the start of autumn, the emperor's condition had improved, and he continued to preside over state affairs.

After several days of discussion, the Qin court unanimously approved the plan for teaching in rural areas and preparing for the exams.

As for the details, they will still be overseen by the young master and Prime Minister Li Si.

After the court meeting concluded today, Feng Quji went to the rear hall to meet the emperor.

Inside the rear hall, the emperor was eating noodles, which were wide and topped with meat sauce.

Feng Quji bowed and said, "The Emperor is in good health, which puts the court and the people at ease."

Seeing that the emperor was able to eat so heartily, it seems that his illness has recovered very well.

Ying Zheng finished his noodles, put down his chopsticks, and asked, "Has the matter of overseeing the court and the people been settled?"

Feng Quji handed over a scroll and said, "Hmm, Grand Commandant Wang has not come to court for half a month, citing poor health as the reason."

Ying Zheng ignored the matter while drinking his tea.

Feng Quji knew that the position of Grand Commandant must belong to Meng Tian. This was almost a favor that the emperor owed to the Meng family, because when Meng Wu passed away, Meng Tian did not come to fulfill his filial duty and was still guarding the north.

Before Meng Tian returned to Xianyang, the position of Grand Commandant would remain with Wang Ben. As for these minor mistakes or dereliction of duty, the emperor could disregard them.

Furthermore, the emperor was more concerned about the old man in Pinyang County.

Ying Zheng said, "Every time I see Fusu speaking in the palace, I feel that I am getting old."

Feng Quji bowed and said, "Everyone has to go through this day."

"I went to see Wang Jian. He was still in good spirits, but his family said that he had begun to become somewhat senile. He always talked to himself. His family often said that Wang Jian would see his brothers who died in battle and talk to them."

Feng Quji lowered his head, unsure of what to say.

Everyone grows old eventually, including the emperor who is now nearly fifty. His temples are already white, with strands of white hair mixed in with his black hair.

Ying Zheng said, "Gao sent someone to Guanzhong. He also sent Jiang Lü and Hu Hai to the Northwest to suffer in the army."

At this point, the tone of these words softened considerably.

"Fusu said that these younger brothers should be sent to the Northwest to reclaim wasteland. If they are not good enough, they can be left in the Northwest and will not need to come back."

The emperor's expression was thoughtful, as if he were recalling something from long ago.

Feng Quji wholeheartedly supports Prince Fusu, who is currently the most powerful person in the Qin court and the emperor's most beloved child—this is beyond doubt and remains so to this day.

As for the other children, the emperor only mentioned them occasionally.

Feng Quji said, "I believe it is not yet time to let General Meng Tian return."

"Zhao Tuo and Tu Ju are still in the south..." The emperor's voice was low as he said, "When one of them returns, we will replace Meng Tian."

Feng Quji bowed and said, "Your subject understands."

Ying Zheng picked up a walnut, which was cracked and easily crushed. He put the walnut kernel in his mouth and chewed it, then said, "Alright, you should help Fusu more."

"Yes."

Feng Quji left the inner palace, passed by Zhangtai Palace, and returned to the Imperial Censor's Mansion.

There were many officials coming and going in the Censorate.

Sitting in his seat, handling the daily affairs of state, Feng Quji would occasionally recall their conversation in the rear hall while reviewing the case files.

The position of Grand Commandant belongs to Meng Tian, ​​and that is unchangeable. Before Meng Tian returns, Wang Ben will continue to hold the position of Grand Commandant.

Wang Ben's appointment as Grand Commandant was the emperor's reward to the Wang family.

These were all the credits that the meritorious officials had already divided up after Qin unified the six states.

Thinking it over, Feng Quji understood the emperor's meaning. Wang Ben was Prince Fusu's father-in-law, so there was only one possibility for this matter.

The emperor hoped that in the future, Prince Fusu would recall Meng Tian and remove Wang Ben from his position as Grand Commandant.

And then rearrange Tuju and Zhao Tuo.

These were all left by the emperor to Prince Fusu.

As the Right Chancellor of the Qin court, Feng Quji had been assisting the emperor in handling state affairs for so many years. If he could no longer understand the emperor's implied meanings, he would no longer need to remain in the position of Right Chancellor.

After reading the documents, Feng Quji carried the several scrolls of documents and headed to the Prime Minister's residence.

The afternoons after court meetings are the busiest time at the Prime Minister's residence.

In Guanzhong, where the autumn rains have just passed, there is an unusual warmth at noon every day. The old farmers in Guanzhong know that the abnormal warmth in autumn will only bring more violent wind and snow in winter.

Feng Quji met Tian An, who was sitting in front of the Prime Minister's residence.

These days, there's always a stove next to Tian An, with tea eggs boiling inside.

Upon seeing that it was the Right Prime Minister, Tian An scooped a tea egg out of the pot, placed it in a wooden bowl of varying sizes, and handed it over, saying, "Right Prime Minister."

Feng Quji looked around and saw that there were still many bowls beside Tian An. Most of those bowls were used to hold tea eggs that others had eaten, as there were some eggshells on them.

The people in the Prime Minister's residence held Tian An in high esteem. This Attendant Tian was very approachable and would bring food to the people in the Prime Minister's residence every day.

I remember it was during the sweltering heat of this year, and everyone in the Prime Minister's residence still remembers that bowl of chilled mung bean soup.

Since the end of the court meeting, Feng Quji had not eaten anything. He sat down and said, "I am indeed hungry." He then handed over a flatbread from the other side of the stove.

Feng Quji did not refuse. Then Cheng Miao came over, took the cake that Tian An handed him, and sat down to eat it.

Judging from their appearance, they must have been busy until now without having eaten.

Tian An chuckled and said, "The Right Chancellor can come directly to the Prime Minister's residence for a meal before returning to attend to state affairs. It won't cause any delay."

Cheng Miao nodded vigorously as he ate.

Tian An added, "Young Master said that no matter how busy or tired you are, you must eat well."

Feng Quji sensed the goodwill in the other person's words and nodded emphatically, unable to refuse their kindness.

After finishing his meal, Feng Quji stood up and said, "Thank you, Attendant Tian."

Tian An waved his hand and said, "It's all for the sake of the country and the people, why thank me?"

Feng Quji bowed once more and then entered the Prime Minister's residence.

The Prime Minister's office is very busy right now; reports on the grain harvest from various regions have already been sent to Xianyang.

Prince Fusu sat here to the side of the Prime Minister, with piles of documents in front of him.

Feng Quji put down his documents, not daring to disturb the people there, and left quietly.

As dusk fell, when Fusu put down his pen once more and relaxed his eyes, all that remained before him was Cheng Miao tidying up the files scattered on the floor.

Fusu said, "Let someone else clean it up."

Cheng Miao was still bending down to pick up a few pieces of paper that had fallen to the ground. He said, "Those clerks don't know how to classify documents. If the files we need for tomorrow can't be found, it will cause delays. I'm used to it, so let me do these things."

Fusu took the tea offered by Tian An, drank a sip, and continued looking at the documents in front of him.

As night fell, the documents in front of him became illegible.

Cheng Miao has left, and he has also cleaned up the Prime Minister's residence.

Fusu and Tian An were the last to leave the Prime Minister's residence.

Walking under the moonlight, Tian An lagged half a step behind the young master and whispered, "Young master, today Prime Minister Feng mentioned the matter of Duke Pinyang."

Fusu said, "It has indeed been a long time since I visited him."

After walking through the narrow and high palace corridors and passing through the palace gates, the view opened up considerably.

Unless there was something important to do, Prince Fusu would return to Gaoquan Palace on time every day. His punctuality had even become a habit for the deer herd in Gaoquan Palace.

Every afternoon, these deer are drowsy, but as soon as Prince Fusu returns, they perk up.

After the young master returned, the little master became much more lively.

Fusu looked at his son playing on the seesaw, and thought that in two years his son would be going to study with Shusun Tong.

The child speaks much more fluently than before. Because Gongzi Heng started speaking later than other children, he used to stumble and stammer when he spoke, but now he can speak fluently.

When Fusu returned to Gaoquan Palace, everyone there immediately began to get busy.

Some started tidying up inside and out, while others put on aprons to help Tian An cook. Tian An was usually surrounded by the most people.

Gongzi Heng walked to the basket, tiptoed and grabbed a handful of dates. Then he ran back and placed a handful of dates on his father's table. He then ate the dates and sat down next to his father.

At this time, Wang Tang'er would come over and glare at the boy. He would get glared at by his mother for eating snacks during mealtime.

The fact that the young master returns on time every day is the most reassuring and reassuring thing for everyone in Gaoquan Palace.

It seems that no matter how great the difficulties, they can all be resolved as long as the young master returns.

The young master's life was particularly simple. Every morning he would go to Zhangtai Palace, return for lunch, go to the Prime Minister's residence in the afternoon, and then return to Gaoquan Palace on time.

This is the young master's life, which has remained unchanged for years.

The young master never lingered at banquets or hunting trips, as if he disliked those things.

The family of three was having a meal. Wang Tang'er was pregnant, and she didn't have a good appetite today. She only drank some light porridge and ate a couple of bites of mutton.

Then she sat down on the side and prepared clothes for her son to wear this winter.

The child is growing taller almost every day, and last year's winter clothes are too small for this year. She said with distress, "Last year I clearly told the weavers in the palace to make them bigger, how come they are too small for me now?"

The young master's clothes are very expensive, made of the finest fabrics. Although Tang'er is Wang Jian's granddaughter and comes from the most prominent family in Guanzhong, she grew up by Wang Jian's side and lives a very frugal life.

She said, "Put away all these clothes that you can't wear anymore."

Grandma Wang nodded and said, "Yes, these clothes should be left for the next child."

Seeing her son finish his meal and about to run off to find the deer, Wang Tang'er said in a deep voice, "Heng'er!"

The young master stopped and stepped forward somewhat fearfully, saying, "Mother."

"Stand still!" Wang Tang'er said sternly again, and began to take the child's measurements for the new clothes.

Granny Wang always had a kind and gentle expression in front of the young master.

(End of this chapter)