Emperor Yongchang hadn’t expected his son to choose the Ministry of Works.
Among the court’s many government offices, the Central Secretariat answered to the emperor above and supervised the Six Ministries below. All officials serving in the Central Secretariat were ministers close to the Son of Heaven.
As for the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel managed officials, the Ministry of Revenue managed money, the Ministry of War managed the troops throughout the realm, the Ministry of Rites managed ceremonies, sacrifices, and the imperial examinations, and the Ministry of Justice managed laws, cases, and criminal matters. These five ministries all wielded real power. Only the Ministry of Works, which managed civil engineering projects, manufacturing of implements, as well as military colonies and water conservancy, had many responsibilities but all were carried out under orders. The officials had no real power. Sometimes they could skim some profits, but they would also get into disputes with the Ministry of Revenue over various funds and had to defer to the Ministry of Revenue’s wishes.
Whether in the eyes of officials or commoners, the Ministry of Works ranked last among the Six Ministries. Especially when natural disasters or floods occurred anywhere, the Ministry of Works was often the first to bear responsibility and blame. It was a place where hard work brought no appreciation, and lack of effort brought even more scolding.
Emperor Yongchang naturally knew his second son hadn’t chosen the Ministry of Works to skim profits. This child was too sensible and too formal with his father. He must be afraid that choosing one of the other places would give Father Emperor the impression that he coveted power, or that his brothers would become suspicious and wary.
The more honest his son was, the more Emperor Yongchang’s heart ached. He objected, “The Ministry of Works deals with civil engineering and implements all day long. How would you understand such things? You should go to the Ministry of War instead. You’ve been leading troops since you were eighteen—the affairs of the Ministry of War would be easiest for you to handle. If not that, the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Rites, or Ministry of Revenue would also work. Father Emperor knows you’re widely learned and have extensively read the documents of all ministries. You could handle any of these four with ease.”
Zhao Sui replied, “The Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of War each manage only one area. At the Ministry of Works, taking the construction of imperial gardens as an example: calculating materials, manpower, and expenses requires the talent of Ministry of Revenue officials; selecting sites and determining palace regulations requires the talent of Ministry of Rites officials; selecting supervisors, craftsmen, and laborers requires the talent of Ministry of Personnel officials; if there are casualties or fights among laborers, that requires the talent of Ministry of Justice officials. Furthermore, the weapons workshops fall under the Ministry of Works’ jurisdiction, and I’m confident I understand better what kind of weapons the army needs. If Father Emperor praises me for knowing much, then I believe the Ministry of Works is the most suitable place for me.”
Emperor Yongchang fell silent.
So his son simply didn’t like to talk much—when he needed to speak, he could actually say so much!
Each point his son listed would indeed utilize his talents to the fullest, but if his son only labored mentally and exhausted himself, what benefits would he gain?
No matter how well the gardens were built, besides the imperial family living in them, no one would praise his son. No matter how sharp the weapons were forged, when battles were won, everyone praised the generals and soldiers. It wasn’t like his eldest son at the Ministry of Revenue, where plenty of officials fawned over him, or his third son at the Ministry of Rites, who could also take the opportunity to curry favor with the newly successful examination candidates and build connections—and they did less work than his second son!
Emperor Yongchang was about to persuade him again when Zhao Sui suddenly looked over and asked, “Does Father Emperor not want me to go to the Ministry of Works because you’re worried that sitting in a wheelchair, I won’t have enough energy?”
Emperor Yongchang’s expression changed, and he immediately said, “You even went to avoid the summer heat at Spirit Mountain and rode horses. I’m not at all worried you’ll lack energy.”
Zhao Sui said, “Then please grant your son’s request, Father Emperor. I only wish to go to the Ministry of Works.”
Emperor Yongchang sighed, “…The Ministry of Works it is then. Let me think… ah yes, Yan Lun just complained to me that one of their rooms for storing documents has a leaking roof, and the floorboards have rotted over a large area due to poor maintenance. He wanted me to have the Ministry of Revenue allocate them some silver. Since you want to go to the Ministry of Works, you can pay for the repairs yourself and provide the workers to fix that room. Make it convenient for wheelchair passage however you see fit. Once it’s repaired, you can use it as your office. Since you’re paying for it yourself, when your elder brother and third brother find out, they won’t envy you having a private office or complain that I’m playing favorites.”
Zhao Sui replied, “…Yes, thank you, Father Emperor.”
Seeing his son lower his eyes, apparently understanding the thoughtfulness behind giving him an office, Emperor Yongchang quickly covered up, saying, “What’s there to thank? You don’t know this, but the Ministry of Works argues with the Ministry of Revenue over silver in front of me every day. I’m nearly sick to death of them. When you get to the Ministry of Works, you must be vigilant. If Yan Lun tries to make you take the lead in demanding funds from the Ministry of Revenue, don’t be foolish and let him use you as a pawn. He’s the Minister of Works—these are his responsibilities.”
Zhao Sui nodded.
Emperor Yongchang continued, “Just wait. Tomorrow I’ll have someone tidy up that broken-down room first. The day after—yes, the day after tomorrow I’ll summon you to the palace. Go look at it yourself, and once you’ve decided how to renovate it, just have the craftsmen from your residence go over. Once the office is ready, I’ll formally assign you there. Like your elder brother and third brother, you’ll have the position of Assistant Administrator, with a monthly salary of twenty taels.”
Assistant Administrator wasn’t a proper official position but rather a nominal post the imperial family gave to princes of first and second rank. The salary was also set arbitrarily by the emperor—those with ability who actually worked received more, those who just wanted to coast received less. However, under Emperor Yongchang, princes of first and second rank who were merely coasting didn’t even get the opportunity to request such a nominal position.
A monthly salary of twenty taels was comparable to a fourth-rank official. Prince Kang had been at the Ministry of Revenue for many years and, due to his diligence, had long since been raised to this amount. Prince Qing had just entered the Ministry of Rites and hadn’t yet achieved anything, so Emperor Yongchang temporarily set Prince Qing’s salary at five taels per month. Prince Hui had military achievements and demonstrated ability—Emperor Yongchang setting it at only twenty taels was still giving face to the eldest son.
Zhao Sui said, “Yes.”
Once official business was concluded, Prince Hui once again became economical with his words.
At this moment, Yao Huang, awakened by A’Ji, finally rushed over. She had deliberately applied a layer of whitening face powder to conceal the flush of someone just awakened from a good sleep.
Hiding by the doorway, Yao Huang quietly peeked in. The imperial father and son both looked over at the same time.
Yao Huang blinked her eyes and looked pitifully at Emperor Yongchang. “Father Emperor, did the Second Prince tell you why your daughter-in-law didn’t come to receive you just now?”
Emperor Yongchang shook his head. He hadn’t thought about his daughter-in-law earlier—he’d been focused entirely on discussing the position with his son.
“Why?”
Yao Huang glanced resentfully at Prince Hui and said, “The Second Prince blamed me for running to Father Emperor and speaking nonsense. Ever since I returned, he’s been punishing me by making me kneel. I was uncomfortable, so I snuck over to take a look. If the Second Prince has accepted Father Emperor’s assignment, then I’m a meritorious person, and the Second Prince shouldn’t punish me anymore.”
Zhao Sui remained silent.
Emperor Yongchang also fell silent.
Shocked that his usually gentle son would actually punish such a good daughter-in-law by making her kneel, Emperor Yongchang was stunned for a moment. Then he coughed and said to his son, “The princess consort simply couldn’t bear to see your talents go to waste. I won’t blame her, and you shouldn’t hold it against her either.”
Zhao Sui said, “…Yes.”
Yao Huang smiled, still half-hiding outside the door as she asked, “Does this mean the Second Prince has agreed to take up the position?”
Emperor Yongchang replied, “He’s agreed. Once he finishes renovating the office, he’ll take up his post.”
Yao Huang said with relief, “Father Emperor’s words still carry weight. If I’d known, I should have just brought you over directly when I left the palace. It would have saved me from kneeling for nothing.”
Although his daughter-in-law had suffered a grievance, Emperor Yongchang felt quite pleased inside, gratified that his son respected him so much.
“All right, you two live your lives well. I should return to the palace.”
Yao Huang glanced at the sky and walked in, saying, “Father Emperor, stay and eat dinner with us before returning. You’ve made another trip today—let me and the Second Prince show our filial devotion.”
Emperor Yongchang smiled and said, “No need. Father Emperor still has a pile of memorials to review at the palace. I’ll come another day when I have time.”
Yao Huang had no choice but to push Prince Hui as they saw him out.
From Ming’an Hall to the prince’s residence gate, Yao Huang kept exclaiming about Emperor Yongchang’s favor toward Prince Hui, and told Emperor Yongchang that Prince Hui was simply not good with words but surely must be very moved in his heart. This made it so neither father nor son dared look at each other, lest the other believe it was true. Emperor Yongchang felt he wasn’t at all a good father where his second son was concerned—only Prince Hui himself knew whether he was moved or not.
Finally, under his son’s respectful gaze and his daughter-in-law’s brilliant smile, Emperor Yongchang boarded his carriage. He had arrived with anxiety in his heart but returned with everything settled comfortably.
Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui back to Ming’an Hall.
Seeing Prince Hui staring at her face, Yao Huang sat to one side and, while taking out a handkerchief to carefully wipe away the snow-white face powder, asked expectantly, “What position did His Majesty arrange for you?”
Zhao Sui replied, “Assistant Administrator at the Ministry of Works.”
Yao Huang didn’t understand. “What kind of official position is that?”
Zhao Sui explained. In short, the prince could wait for His Majesty to assign tasks temporarily if he wanted to work, or he could go to the Minister of Works and proactively take on assignments. If he didn’t want to work, he could also muddle through by handling some leisurely trivial matters, though he’d risk being found out by His Majesty and severely scolded for being incompetent.
Yao Huang asked, “What does the Ministry of Works do?”
Zhao Sui continued explaining.
Yao Huang understood. The Ministry of Works was responsible both for building gardens for the imperial family, manufacturing various exquisite implements, distributing charcoal and ice, and also overseeing military colonies, water conservancy, and bridge and road repairs throughout the Great Qi Dynasty’s territories.
“Does clearing land to grow polygonatum at Spirit Mountain County also have to go through the Ministry of Works?”
Zhao Sui replied, “Yes, the Ministry of Works must send people to verify whether such a plan is feasible.”
Yao Huang smiled and said, “That’s wonderful then. When you go to the Ministry of Works, you can handle many such assignments. If they’re feasible, approving them will benefit the local people. If they’re not feasible, rejecting them will prevent local officials from pursuing grandiose projects that waste resources and harm the people.”
Zhao Sui looked at the princess consort’s face, patchy with red and white, and took the handkerchief from her hand to help her wipe it off.
The princess consort with her patchy face still smiled at him. “Tomorrow I’ll continue taking you out of the city, while you still have such leisure time.”
At the palace, when Emperor Yongchang returned, officials from the Central Secretariat and the Six Ministries had mostly left. Only some particularly diligent officials remained, or those who had been slacking off and were now hurrying to handle official business because deadlines were approaching.
Emperor Yongchang strode directly toward the Ministry of Works, then encountered Minister Yan Lun, who was about to go home, right outside the Ministry of Works’ main gate.
Yan Lun was over sixty years old, a thin little old man with slightly graying temples. As Emperor Yongchang had thought earlier, the Ministry of Works mostly handled thankless tasks. Whenever river embankments broke, the Ministry of Works got scolded. When weapon manufacturing cost too much silver and they had to ask the Ministry of Revenue for money, the Ministry of Revenue blamed them for being spendthrifts. All these hardships showed on Yan Lun’s face—several vertical lines between his brows made him look worried even when nothing was wrong.
“Your Majesty?” Yan Lun said in surprise.
Emperor Yongchang excused him from the formalities and, grabbing Yan Lun’s arm, walked directly inside. “Are there any unused rooms here?”
Yan Lun didn’t like hearing this at all. “What does Your Majesty mean by that? Our Ministry of Works’ major and minor accounts, and the accumulated documents from years of repairs, pile up no less than the Ministry of Revenue’s. Add to that fabric samples, wood samples, mineral samples, and implement samples sent over by various manufacturing offices—everything needs a place to store it. Officials of all ranks barely have places to work. Where would there be empty rooms?”
He was a veteran minister who had accompanied Emperor Yongchang all along and dared to speak frankly.
Emperor Yongchang asked, “Which one is relatively empty?”
Yan Lun thought for a moment and led Emperor Yongchang to a recently cleared storeroom that was somewhat empty.
This location was too remote. Emperor Yongchang toured the Ministry of Works and pointed to a storeroom that could catch sunlight both morning and afternoon. “Move the documents from here to that one. Clear this room out for Prince Hui to use as his private office.”
Yan Lun exclaimed in shock, “Prince Hui?”
Emperor Yongchang said, “Yes. I’ll announce this matter after the office is renovated. Don’t spread word of it yet.”
Yan Lun’s mind turned several corners, and he smiled. “This minister will have people move things tomorrow.”
Emperor Yongchang corrected him, “Move them tonight. Remember to poke some holes in the roof to make it look like it’s leaking, and damage several floorboards too. The day after tomorrow I’ll bring Prince Hui over to inspect it. He’ll decide how to renovate it, and he’ll arrange the craftsmen too. You don’t need to manage anything.”
Yan Lun said, “…Damage is easy, but where will the silver for repairs come from?”
Emperor Yongchang replied, “…Prince Hui will pay for it himself.” He’d find a way to compensate his son later.
Yan Lun breathed a long sigh of relief. “It’s not that this minister is unwilling to contribute. Your Majesty knows that the Ministry of Revenue treats this minister like we’re sworn enemies. At my age, I’ve had enough of their cold faces. Unless absolutely necessary, I really don’t want to waste more words arguing with them.”
Emperor Yongchang stared at the vertical lines between his brows, which seemed to have relaxed somewhat, and warned, “Don’t try to take advantage of Prince Hui.”
Yan Lun smiled and said, “This minister wouldn’t dare.”