The Imperial Palace.
Jingrong hadn’t changed into court robes and hurriedly entered the palace.
But—
He waited for a long while outside Fuyang Hall. The eunuch who went in to report went in time and time again.
The words brought back out were always the same: “Prince Rong, His Majesty… is still resting.”
This was already the fourth time!
The eunuch dared not disturb him, could only go in and peek through the door crack at the inner chamber’s movements. He vaguely saw His Majesty hadn’t yet risen, but didn’t dare alarm him, so could only withdraw time and time again.
Jingrong wasn’t irritated either, his expression remaining coldly indifferent throughout, yet those two sword-like brows above his eyes were twisted with a cold air.
Making the two eunuchs at the entrance involuntarily tremble in their hearts.
Afraid Jingrong would lose patience and innocents would suffer for it then.
Yet Jingrong still waited tirelessly!
Waiting for Wei Yi to wake.
Watching as nearly an hour passed, a young eunuch hurriedly came out from inside.
Standing at the entrance, head lowered, he said: “Prince Rong, His Majesty summons you to enter the hall.”
He had finally awakened!
Jingrong’s expression unchanged, eyes looking straight ahead, he stepped inside.
Inside Fuyang Main Hall.
Wei Yi had just awakened, his face drowsy, yet his eyes were quite spirited and alert.
Seeing Jingrong enter, he was both surprised and delighted, hurrying over to grasp Jingrong’s sleeve saying: “When did you return? Why didn’t you say anything? Where’s Shu’er? Did she return with you? Why didn’t she come into the palace with you?”
He asked each question in turn.
Jingrong’s eyes flickered slightly, about to speak.
But the words hadn’t yet reached his lips—
Wei Yi turned instead to rebuke the young eunuchs attending at his side: “How do you all conduct your duties? Prince Rong has been here so long and you didn’t know to notify me!”
His tone stern!
Those several eunuchs hurriedly knelt: “We slaves know our wrongs, we beg His Majesty’s mercy.”
Though Wei Yi was angered, he concealed it extremely well: “Enough, enough, don’t let it happen again.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“All of you withdraw.”
“Yes.”
They withdrew one by one!
Only the two of them remained in the hall.
Wei Yi solemnly said to Jingrong: “From now on, you may enter this Fuyang Hall freely, no need to have anyone announce you.”
Granting permission!
Jingrong’s face serious, he cupped his hands toward him, performing a grand salute: “This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Uh!
This salute made Wei Yi freeze for a moment.
“What are you doing?”
Jingrong’s eyes serious, he said earnestly: “A ruler is a ruler, a subject is a subject—how dare I overstep.”
“You speak too seriously.”
“These are the rules and cannot be violated.”
“Between you and me, such empty formalities are unnecessary.” Wei Yi emphasized.
However—
Jingrong only replied with four words: “Ruler and subject are distinct.”
Wei Yi’s entire body stiffened, his eyes darkening, the corners of his mouth bearing a trace of bitter smile. He took a deep breath: “Enough, whether ruler or subject, you’ve rarely returned, let’s sit down and have a good talk.”
Saying this, he pulled Jingrong to sit at the side.
He personally poured him a cup of tea.
Jingrong looked at the cup of tea before him, mist rising in swirls, winding upward.
The air filled with the faint fragrance of tea, refreshing to the heart and mind.
Yet his face grew increasingly somber.
Wei Yi’s hand pouring tea also slowly lowered. He picked up the tea and took a sip.
Between the two, the atmosphere was heavy.
Neither spoke.
Wei Yi’s harmless-looking eyes also gradually narrowed. He set down the teacup, the base tapping on the table, producing a crisp sound.
Echoing through the spacious hall, lingering long without dispersing.
It was precisely this sound that seemed to mark the beginning of a rupture between the two.
Wei Yi was the first to speak after all: “Jingrong, between you and me, there’s no need to beat around the bush.”
Getting straight to the point after all.
He wasn’t foolish—Jingrong’s purpose in returning to the capital, he knew!
Jingrong’s cold eyes looked at him, words brewing in his throat for a long while.
He asked in a low voice: “Does Your Majesty know what a ruler is? What a subject is?”
Uh!
Wei Yi’s brows and eyes inadvertently ached fiercely, then he boldly met Jingrong’s gaze, asking in return: “Then what answer do you want me to give you?”
Jingrong said with an expectant tone: “I hope… the answer Your Majesty gives me is still the one I’ve always believed in my heart.”
Wei Yi said: “Ruler as ruler, subject as subject—speaking round and round, it comes down to those few words after all. As the saying goes, ruler and subjects are originally one family, neither can be lacking. But the ruler is above, the subject below. As you said, in the end ruler and subject are still distinct.”
Uh!
Jingrong wasn’t surprised by his answer.
Just too disappointed!
At this moment, in Wei Yi’s eyes he could no longer find that original purity and sincerity, but rather eyes filled with desire after being steeped in imperial position and power. He couldn’t see directly into that kind and innocent heart. Jingrong said: “If Your Majesty is determined, no one can stop you. But even so, you should understand the principle that the court takes subjects as its foundation, the empire takes the people as priority. When subjects and people lose heart, all under heaven will perish. Win the hearts of people, win all under heaven. Conversely, the same principle applies. Your Majesty has read so many books—you should understand this principle.”
Different from before!
At this moment, Jingrong spoke to Wei Yi completely with the tone of a “subject.”
Wei Yi frowned: “What do you want to say? You might as well speak directly.” “I left the capital for barely two short months, yet Your Majesty has successively dismissed many court officials, even including several old ministers. After Your Majesty dismissed them from the capital, you immediately arranged for new officials to enter the court. Such large-scale replacement of officials has never occurred in any dynasty—even the late Emperor didn’t dare take such a risk.”
“So you returned to the capital for this matter?”
“Since ancient times, to stabilize the court structure requires settling the people’s hearts. Your Majesty’s actions are truly absurd!”
Truly absurd!
Resounding forcefully!
These four great words struck heavily toward Wei Yi. Wei Yi’s expression changed dramatically, yet immediately returned to normal. He sighed and said earnestly to Jingrong: “Stabilize the court structure, settle the people’s hearts, win the hearts of people, win all under heaven—how could I not understand this principle? I also know this action will definitely invite controversy, even cause internal chaos throughout the court. But in this I have my own plans and absolutely won’t act recklessly. The empire and state are no child’s play, and even less can they be called absurd. Jingrong, your words just now were truly too harsh.”
His tone carried sorrow!
As if truly very wronged.
Jingrong could somewhat no longer see through him—didn’t know when he was genuine, when false.
Like a fishbone stuck in his throat!
He actually didn’t know what to say.
Wei Yi continued: “I know those ministers are mostly your people. This time my dismissing them will inevitably make you uncomfortable in your heart, but…”
“Your Majesty!” Jingrong suddenly interrupted him, correcting him: “Throughout the court, all the ministers serve the Great Lin empire, and are not as Your Majesty says ‘my people.’ With these words spoken, the crime upon my head would be great.”
“I misspoke. I take back those words.” Wei Yi admitted his impropriety, his face apologetic. After pausing briefly, he said: “But I only wanted to tell you, this time I dismissed them naturally for a reason. It’s absolutely not targeting anyone, or… intentionally targeting you.”
Jingrong’s cold eyes deepened once more: “Then this subject is all ears.” He wanted to see just what Wei Yi’s reasons for dismissing them were.