In the end, Yun Ye had still underestimated Li Dayin’s importance to the Emperor. He had beaten the man in the morning, and by afternoon Duan Hong had already come galloping over on horseback, carrying two imperial edicts in his breast. One ordered Sun Simiao to do everything in his power to save Li Dayin, while the other summoned Yun Ye to enter the palace immediately—the Emperor was prepared to question whether Yun Ye had eaten the gall of a bear or the courage of a leopard to dare commit such an outrageous act.

“Who says I beat anyone?” Yun Ye ignored Duan Hong’s contemptuous gaze and asked with a puzzled expression, curling his lips.

“Yun Ye, this is really boring. You’ve always been someone who dares to act and dares to take responsibility. Li Dayin is currently wrapped in gauze like a corpse. I just saw him—all his limbs are broken, and most excessive of all, his neck bone is also fractured. Especially his right leg—it’s actually broken into two sections! You were too vicious this time. His Majesty is extremely angry, and the Empress won’t help you this time either. You’re going to be in trouble.”

Sun Simiao walked out from behind the curtain wearing a leather apron, the bloodstains on his hands not yet cleaned off. He slapped Duan Hong on the head and asked through gritted teeth: “Who gave you permission to enter Li Dayin’s room without sterilizing? Ah? If he dies from complications, it will be your fault, you stupid eunuch.”

When Sun Simiao went to hit Duan Hong, Duan Hong clearly could have dodged but instead stubbornly held his head out and let the old Daoist strike him squarely. He asked Sun Simiao in confusion: “Master Sun, please be reasonable. Li Dayin was beaten by Yun Ye until he had fractures all over his body. Even if his life can’t be saved, that’s still Yun Ye’s fault. Why would you blame this servant?”

“That person’s bones were broken by this old Daoist. I’m preparing to reset his bones for him. A perfectly good person was reduced to half-dead by those quack doctors. His right leg was actually set crooked—does a person walking like a duck look good?”

“This person cannot get out of bed for half a year. There are also many wounds on his body that I need to reopen, remove the foreign objects from his flesh, and then sew him back up. If you dare go in again and bring in disease and insects together, be careful or this old Daoist will break your legs too.”

After Master Sun finished speaking, he entered the room to check on his precious Li Dayin. He absolutely loved this treasure. Just now he had asked Li Dayin if he could break his bones and reset them properly—that way his leg wouldn’t show much disability, and there would be no need to use the official gait to replace his duck walk.

He had also stated clearly that the process would be extremely painful, and if his willpower collapsed, his life would be over. Unexpectedly, Li Dayin immediately agreed, saying he would rather not have legs at all than walk like a duck, and he urged Sun Simiao to act immediately, not to consider whether he could endure it—if he couldn’t endure it and died, it would be what he deserved.

Yun Ye laughed with a cackling sound. Old Sun was truly righteous! Even if Duan Hong racked his brains, he would never imagine that someone would willingly let another person break his bones just to avoid walking with a duck gait, to avoid being hunched over year after year.

Not only did Duan Hong not believe it, Li Er also didn’t believe it. He stared at Yun Ye viciously and said: “If you dare to make Master Sun take the blame for you, it won’t just be a charge of arrogance and willfulness. Think carefully before you speak.”

Zhangsun had appeared quite calm at first, but when she heard Duan Hong relay what Sun Simiao had said, she could no longer sit still either. She came forward and said to Yun Ye once again: “You accidentally broke someone’s bones, and being able to invite Master Sun to treat him is his good fortune—this can also be considered atonement for your crime. Tell this palace properly—you didn’t make Master Sun help you take the blame. This involves the ethical relationship between teacher and student, it’s not something that can be passed over by just beating you with a few boards.”

Since both the Emperor and Empress didn’t believe him, Yun Ye had no choice but to say: “When I was at Li Ji’s house, this humble subject did indeed raise his hands against him. That was because he provoked me first. After beating him, this humble subject also felt very regretful, so at his request, I took him to see Master Sun.”

“Who knew that after Master Sun saw Li Dayin, he became extremely angry, constantly saying that quack doctors kill people. A man who could clearly live seventy or eighty years had been reduced by those quacks to only three years of life left. He also said that if Li Dayin could live to see a fourth year, he could go to his medicine hut and smash the signboard.”

“Your Majesty, you don’t know—that Li Dayin is really pitiful. There’s a nail through his neck bone, and it’s not even copper. Once it rusts into the bone, Li Dayin could die at any moment. The quack doctors also installed his foot incorrectly, which is why he walks like a duck. Li Dayin considered this his greatest humiliation. He practiced the official gait strenuously but was still mocked by people. Now hearing Master Sun say there’s a way to correct it for him, he immediately agreed. His bones really were broken by Master Sun. This humble subject was only holding an empty wine flask—how could I possibly have beaten Li Dayin so badly?”

“Moreover, judging from the injuries Li Dayin suffered before, he’s also a brave man. Your Majesty knows this humble subject’s temperament—how could I possibly use Master Sun as a scapegoat? This isn’t the first time I’ve hit someone. Which time have you seen me shirk responsibility?”

Li Er raised his head to look at the ornamental columns outside the great hall, then at the sundials and standard measures on both sides. He sighed and said to Yun Ye: “I don’t care whether you injured Li Dayin with good intentions or malice. What I care about is that I don’t have much time left. Every day watching the sun rise and set, I wish I could hang a long rope in the blue sky and tie down this westward-flying white sun.”

“Li Dayin is of great use to me. You carelessly crippled him, and even if he’s not crippled, you’ve successfully wasted half a year of my time. Some of the things Li Dayin needs to do cannot be replaced by others. Although you’re somewhat slippery, you’re still too upright to do these things. Otherwise, you would be the best candidate.”

“Since you can’t do it, then find such capable hands for me—at least someone who can prop up a framework within half a year. There’s no one better than Li Dayin in my talent pool. I wonder if there’s anyone in your academy?”

Yun Ye thought for a moment, then turned to look at Zhangsun, only to discover that Zhangsun had already retreated. Duan Hong was also guarding the door, not allowing idle people to approach. The words to be spoken now were confidential, and he didn’t want to hear them at all.

“Your Majesty, there are two candidates. One is called Pang Yuhai, and the other is called Li Yifu. In this humble subject’s view, both are good, but this humble subject leans more toward Pang Yuhai. This Li Yifu has flaws—very serious character flaws. Currently, the two of them are fighting each other to the death at the academy. To tell the truth, this humble subject finds it quite shocking to watch.”

“One attacked his opponent’s common birth, his fondness for flowers and women, and his love of money. He handed over the large sum of money the academy students earned during the Lantern Festival to his opponent to manage, and also spent money to bribe a singing girl to seduce this person. If this humble subject’s expectations are correct, the truth will come to light very soon.”

“The other relies on his outstanding talent and has stirred up his silver tongue, extensively befriending other student leaders, attempting to achieve a position of unquestionable authority among the academy students.”

“They’ve already clashed several times. If Li Yifu cannot see through Pang Yuhai’s trap, this humble subject thinks that in a few days the academy will have to expel an elite student. I wonder if Your Majesty wants such personnel?”

Li Er looked at Yun Ye with a half-smile and said: “As a teacher, are you really going to watch your students step onto the wrong path without reaching out to help? What’s the point of hiding in the shadows watching the show?”

“Your Majesty doesn’t know—the academy only takes responsibility for teaching knowledge, not for judging good and evil. People actually all have base natures. As long as it’s within an understandable范畴, the academy won’t easily give up on a student. The struggles between them can make them mature quickly, so the academy never interferes with such struggles. It just puts itself in the position of a referee, watching with cold eyes, trying its best not to disturb their respective plans.”

“I see. No wonder every one of the academy graduates is skilled at competing. Aren’t you worried about corrupting the atmosphere of the court?” Li Er’s words made Yun Ye want to vomit. Who was corrupting whom in the end? The high officials in the court wouldn’t let go of even the right to eat an extra mouthful of meat, let alone other benefits.

Some time ago, Li Er had a brain spasm and launched a new anti-corruption campaign, reducing the distribution of firewood allowances to officials and stipulating firmly that capital officials on inspection tours outside the capital were absolutely not allowed to eat meat. No one took this prohibition seriously—they ate when they should, and as long as no one reported them, they were fine. Everyone worked hard as officials for what reason? Wasn’t it to seek a mouthful of meat to eat?

“Everyone” didn’t represent all officials though. Some officials had too many enemies and could be said to have the whole world as their enemy. When others ate meat, there would definitely be no problems. For example, when someone like Yun Ye went outside the capital, who didn’t treat him with good food, good drink, and beautiful women? Everyone happily took care of all matters while in pools of wine and forests of meat. When subordinates committed errors, they had to give Marquis Yun an explanation. Marquis Yun would also roar like thunder, act with lightning speed, and boldly handle things casually. As long as it wasn’t too excessive, pulling out two scapegoats to hand over to the superiors would complete the task.

Who would report such officials for eating a couple of mouthfuls of meat? Even if someone did report them, that person’s official career would be completely finished—he would immediately become the enemy of all officials.

Ma Zhou didn’t have this treatment. He was poor but liked to eat chicken, and unfortunately was spotted by a censor. Then one enormous hat after another came crashing down on him desperately. Ma Zhou waited at home in trepidation for impeachment. Fortunately, Li Er felt Ma Zhou was very useful and hadn’t planned to give up his loyal subordinate yet. He quibbled over the wording to the assembled officials, saying chicken meat wasn’t meat, so it didn’t count as a violation—just a warning would do.

If the Emperor hadn’t stepped forward to suppress this matter, the memorial suggesting Ma Zhou be exiled eight thousand li had already been written. As long as the Emperor’s tone shifted slightly, this memorial would be submitted, and Ma Zhou, a堂堂 fourth-rank official, would be sent to Yaizhou to fish because he ate one extra chicken. With such a court, how could anyone have the nerve to say who was corrupting whom?

Li Er also felt it was inappropriate to say this. Looking at Yun Ye, he said: “Since you’ve already found candidates, then write out the details of the matter and submit it as a secret memorial. Li Dayin is a meritorious official of the Great Tang. This time we’ve treated him rather poorly. When you go to the medicine hut, tell Li Dayin on my behalf that I have never forgotten his contributions to the Great Tang.”

Yun Ye was escorted out of the palace by Duan Hong. Now the inner palace access token in Yun Ye’s hand had been confiscated. Who knew whether Li Er was worried about being cuckolded, or whether Zhangsun wanted to protect her husband’s dignity. In any case, without a summons now, he couldn’t enter the rear palace.

Yun Ye didn’t care about this privilege. Since he had already successfully recommended Li Yifu and Pang Yuhai to the Emperor, his purpose had been achieved.