Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Inside the palace, in the imperial study, the candlelight was burning brightly.

The interior room was covered with soft Persian carpets, and the bookshelves were tall and filled with ancient scrolls.

A sandalwood desk is placed in the center, with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones neatly arranged on it, and a landscape painting of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains hanging on the wall.

The mountains are majestic and the river flows mightily, a truly magnificent sight.

Emperor Sheng, dressed in a black robe with dragon patterns, sat upright in a grand chair, looking tired with a furrowed brow, his right hand constantly turning a string of sandalwood prayer beads.

The room was silent, save for the crackling of the candlelight.

After a long while, his gaze finally fell on the figure standing with his head bowed in front of him, looking at him with a disappointed expression, and his voice grew cold.

"I asked you to recite the 'Wei Zheng' chapter of the Analects, and you recited it fluently."

"I ask you, how can a ruler win people's hearts and minds through virtue? You stammered and couldn't answer."

"Didn't your master tell you in the study that virtue is the foundation of governance, and that governance should prioritize virtue?"

"Reporting to...Reporting to Father Emperor. It has already been said." Crown Prince Fu Chen, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, stood in the hall, head bowed, his mind focused and his breath held.

"You've already explained it?" Emperor Sheng's voice suddenly rose, his anger intensifying, and he slammed the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand heavily onto the table. "Then why can't you give a coherent explanation? Could it be that you've only been pretending to read, letting it go in one ear and out the other?"

"Cough...cough cough."

A cough broke the silence in the room.

Emperor Sheng's gaze fell on the source of the sound.

The Third Prince, Fu Ke, was extremely handsome, with a high nose bridge, narrow phoenix eyes that were as deep as a pool, and an inescapable gloom between his brows. Even though he was dressed in a wine-red brocade robe, he could not hide his pale face, thin body, and sickly appearance.

"Third brother, what do you say?" Emperor Sheng looked at him, his tone unconsciously softening.

"Your Majesty, I believe that governing with virtue lies not in empty words, but in concrete actions."

"Firstly, it is about self-cultivation and moral integrity. Confucius said, 'If one's conduct is upright, one's orders will be followed without being given; if one's conduct is not upright, one's orders will not be followed even if given.' A ruler is the model for the world, and he must first be strict with himself, avoid extravagance and impetuosity, and be consistent in word and deed in order to gain the trust of his officials and the emulation of the people."

"Secondly, education should come first. To win people over with virtue, one should not rely on harsh laws and punishments to force people to obey, but rather use etiquette and education to enlighten the people, and use integrity and shame to rectify their hearts, so that the people can know good and evil, and understand when to advance and retreat. They will naturally stay away from evil and turn to good, and govern themselves without punishment."

He paused, covered his lips with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and only continued speaking slowly and deliberately after his breathing had calmed down.

"Thirdly, it is about gaining the trust of the people. Government orders should not be changed frequently, rewards and punishments should not be biased or based on personal feelings, the emperor should not speak in jest, and the court should have credibility. Only then can the people entrust their affairs to the court with peace of mind and have something to rely on, and naturally they will turn to the court."

"By establishing oneself with virtue, governing with virtue, and bringing peace to the people with virtue, one need not use force to subdue all directions, just as the North Star remains in its place while all the other stars revolve around it."

Emperor Sheng's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his gaze towards the Third Prince was filled with satisfaction. He said loudly, "A seat is granted!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Ke covered his mouth and coughed a few times before slowly bowing and saying, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

Then, with the help of her maid, she slowly sat down on a chair to the side.

Seeing this, the head steward, Eunuch Li, who was standing nearby, stepped forward with great insight and offered a cup of tea, saying respectfully, "Your Highness, please have some tea."

Emperor Sheng's gaze slowly shifted to the meek and submissive Crown Prince beside him, and he sighed deeply.

He remained silent for a moment, then glanced at the prince, and Eunuch Li immediately understood. He quickly turned around and took out two exquisite blue notes from a tray on the side of the hall, presenting them to the two princes respectively.

"These are the questions I have set for you two. Go back and study them carefully, and submit them to the palace in three days. I will review them personally."

After speaking, he wearily waved his hand, "You may all leave."

The two princes bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the room.

Emperor Sheng watched the two figures disappear into the distance, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes. He then rubbed his aching temples.

Seeing this, Eunuch Li quickly stepped forward and poured Emperor Sheng a cup of hot tea.

She gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, please don't worry too much. His Highness the Crown Prince is kind-hearted by nature, but he is also simple-minded. He is still young, and with proper guidance in the future, he will surely make progress. Please put your mind at ease."

"The Crown Prince is healthy but mediocre, while the Third Prince is clever and quick-witted, but unfortunately, he is not in good health," Emperor Sheng said meaningfully. Suddenly, the image of the late Empress Dowager teaching him flashed through his mind.

At that time, although he was not like the Crown Prince, he was still ignorant. However, the Empress Dowager never spoke harshly to him, but patiently taught him everything she had learned in her life.

At that time, he had just ascended the throne, and the situation was turbulent. The Xi Kingdom was eyeing him covetously from the outside, and the officials had their own agendas from within.

It was the late Empress Dowager who, with her extraordinary wisdom and ruthless methods, helped him stabilize the court, support the precarious empire, and gradually elevate him from a naive new emperor to a monarch who rules the world.

Thinking of this, Emperor Sheng felt a pang of sadness and a sense of loss.

If the late Empress Dowager were still alive, why would he be sitting alone on the high platform, isolated and helpless, as he is now?

Just as he was feeling lost, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department bowed and entered, holding a tray covered with bright yellow brocade in both hands, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, it's time to turn over the green nameplates."

Emperor Sheng frowned slightly, his heart filled with turmoil.

The court is currently overwhelmed with problems, and his only two legitimate sons are unable to share his burdens.

With the entire burden of the empire resting on his shoulders, he struggled to move forward. How could he possibly have any mind to care about the affairs of the harem?

……

As dawn breaks and the sun rises in the east, a gentle spring breeze brushes past, bringing a touch of coolness.

Lin Xihe simply tied her hair into a bun, with only a jade hairpin inserted diagonally in the bun. She wore no jewelry, dressed in coarse cotton clothes, and disguised herself as an ordinary woman. She went to the black market to look for clues about the Eastern Pearl.

The black market is hidden deep in a quiet alley in the west of the city.

Lin Xihe pretended to be strolling around, slowly searching through the alley.

As fate would have it, while chatting with the owner of a general store, he actually gleaned some clues.

The shopkeeper vaguely mentioned that in the nearby Baochang shop, there was a manager named Wang Wu who had several high-quality pearls hidden in his possession.

With time running out and the task at hand, Lin Xi thanked the shopkeeper and rushed to Baochang Ship without stopping.

The shop was small and simply decorated. There was only one shop assistant in a gray cloth jacket arranging goods. When she came in, he looked her up and down with some wariness.

"Send Wang Wu to see me," Lin Xihe said calmly in a deep voice.

Seeing her natural air of nobility and commanding presence, the waiter assumed she was a distinguished guest. He bowed respectfully and quickly entered the inner hall.

Before long, Wang Wu hurried over. He was of medium height and slightly plump. He wore a blue brocade robe and a brown jacket. He exuded an air of maturity and slickness.

When he saw Lin Xihe, his small eyes darted around, scrutinizing her from head to toe with great caution.

Smiling, she respectfully asked, "May I ask whose wife you are? What brings you to seek that Eastern Pearl?"

Lin Xihe remained silent, but took out a jade pendant that had been prepared beforehand from her bosom. It was engraved with the insignia of the Minister of War and handed it to Wang Wu.

Wang Wu took the jade token, his brows furrowing, his voice growing deeper, "The Minister just sent people not long ago to take away all the finished pearls. Why are you asking for more today?"