The next day, Third Master Chen went to see Second Master Chen.

Second Master Chen had just finished his breakfast at Madam Qin’s quarters and arrived at Ninghui Hall where a servant brought him a cup of hot tea.

He took a sip and slowly frowned, “Third Brother, don’t you keep any good tea here?”

Third Master Chen smiled, “Chrysanthemum tea reduces internal heat and improves eyesight. You should drink more of it.”

Second Master Chen felt his third brother was implying something and uncomfortably coughed twice, “…Enough about that. Are you planning to transfer Zhao Huai to the Central Military Command? The current Commander of the Central Military Command is Zhang Julian’s man. It won’t be easy to get him back. I should discuss this with Zhao Huai first.”

“He has led troops in Shaanxi for many years; his qualifications are certainly sufficient. Besides, he has wanted to return for a long time.” Third Master Chen sighed, “Military officials like him already hold low positions these days, and their military authority is counterbalanced by the Ministry of War. To gain promotion, they need powerful backing… Otherwise, with his military achievements, the position of Commander of the Central Military Command would have been his long ago.”

Second Master Chen nodded and pondered for a moment.

“Third Brother, I’m about to be transferred to Huguang, so I can’t help you much. You must be cautious… I’ll leave all my subordinates at your disposal. Tomorrow I’ll send Ji Yuan to you. If you need my connections, have Ji Yuan write to me.”

His interests were aligned with Third Master Chen’s. Without Third Master Chen in the cabinet, his official career wouldn’t have progressed so smoothly. The Chen family relied on both of them for support, so naturally, he would do everything possible to help Third Master Chen now.

Although he knew this method was dangerous, when forced to fight back, they had no choice but to take this gamble.

Ji Yuan was Second Master Chen’s most valued advisor who had helped him considerably over the years.

Third Master Chen nodded, “At this time, you must be cautious and avoid giving others any leverage against you. Once I openly oppose Zhang Julian, anything you’ve done will be scrutinized. Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, they’ll find ways to incriminate you.”

“I understand, don’t worry!” Second Master Chen simply said.

Having been an official for many years, he knew this was an extremely sensitive time. He couldn’t add to his younger brother’s troubles. Third Master was already walking on a tightrope, being extremely cautious, fearing a fall at any moment. After all, Zhang Julian was the one who could control everything in court now.

After Second Master Chen left, Third Master Chen stood in his study thinking for a long time.

He had been planning for so long, and now it was time to begin.

If there was anything he worried about, it was his large family—his mother, Jin Chao, Chang Suo, and the unborn child in Jin Chao’s belly.

If he truly failed, he wouldn’t even see this child’s face.

That would be what people call a posthumous child.

He closed his eyes briefly, called Jiang Yan in, and prepared to arrange future matters.

If something happened to him, he must leave an escape route for Jin Chao and the others. He had promised to protect her.

A husband was like heaven to his wife, and he had to shelter Jin Chao, or how would she manage in the future?

Jin Chao knew nothing of these concerns as she finished making shoes and socks for the baby and began making belly wraps.

Mama Song looked at her round belly and said this pregnancy was a girl. Jin Chao prepared a yellow belly wrap embroidered with red lotus and a red one embroidered with albizia flowers, both made of lu silk. She also hoped the baby would be a girl, to give Chang Suo a little sister.

When visitors came to see Jin Chao, they would point at her belly and tell Chang Suo that a little sister was inside.

Chang Suo opened his eyes wide with curiosity, believing it to be true. At bedtime, he would lie on his mother’s body looking for his sister.

Gu Jin Chao would move him aside, then he would flip himself over, spreading his limbs to play by himself. A moment later, he might have forgotten about his sister and would smile, asking Jin Chao to hold him again.

Seeing that Third Master Chen hadn’t returned yet, Gu Jin Chao had the kitchen bring some yam and pork trotter soup to feed Chang Suo.

Shortly after the New Year, spring arrived, and the weather gradually warmed.

The last light snow fell, piling up fluffily on the willow branches along the imperial city’s avenues. When the rising sun shone upon it, it melted within a quarter of an hour.

Third Master Chen opened the carriage curtain to look outside. The sunshine was perfect, and new buds had sprouted on the branches.

The driver Hu Rong smiled and said, “Third Master, see how early spring has come this year? We’ll probably need to reduce our clothing in just a few days.”

He was wearing only a thin cotton coat and was already sweating from the heat.

Third Master Chen squinted at the clear sky; spring had indeed come very early this year.

After passing through the Zhongji Gate, he dismounted from his carriage. Though the sun was out, the wind was still dry and cold. Hu Rong brought a cloak for him to wear. When he arrived at the cabinet, he waited for a moment before Zhang Julian came with his attendants, and everyone stood up to address him as Prime Minister.

All the cabinet ministers took their seats, and Zhang Julian’s attendant first brought up a stack of memorials.

They first discussed spring plowing, then snow disasters, followed by the dismissal of officials.

“…The coastal areas of Fujian have suffered severe wind damage. The coastal reclamation in Zhangzhou Prefecture has no strength for spring plowing, so this year will likely be difficult,” Zhang Julian said. “Let’s discuss this first and see if we can send some officials knowledgeable about water conservancy to investigate.”

“Zhangzhou Prefecture was originally proposed for development by Master Chen, who said its terrain was favorable. When the coastal reclamation began, quite a bit of silver was allocated from the Ministry of Revenue… Now that there’s wind damage, Master Chen should come up with more solutions. Master Chen is certainly more familiar with Zhangzhou Prefecture than we are,” Yao Ping said with a smile.

Chen Yan Yun raised his head and gave him a cool glance.

He had indeed proposed to help develop Zhangzhou Prefecture, and in recent years, grain production there had increased significantly. When merits were being assigned a few years ago, he hadn’t claimed credit, thinking he had only broadly suggested the idea, while the actual implementation was carried out by the Zhangzhou prefect and his subordinate from the Ministry of Revenue, so he hadn’t accepted any credit.

Now that problems had arisen, they were being attributed to him.

“That region of Zhangzhou Prefecture does indeed suffer frequent wind damage,” he withdrew his gaze and said softly. “When I looked at the county records of Zhangzhou Prefecture, there were management methods available. If addressed early, it wouldn’t have delayed spring plowing.”

Zhang Julian looked toward Chen Yan Yun, “You were indeed somewhat careless in this matter. Didn’t you consider the frequent wind damage in Zhangzhou Prefecture at that time?”

Chen Yan Yun simply replied, “At that time, it didn’t seem serious.”

“You have indeed accomplished quite a bit in recent years, but this is still due to your youth and lack of steadiness,” Zhang Julian said. “If Zhangzhou Prefecture fails in spring plowing, you must bear responsibility. Next time, think more carefully when taking action. As for managing the wind damage, let’s leave that to the Ministry of Works.”

He took a sip of tea and had his reading secretary bring up the next memorial.

Everyone’s gaze fell on Chen Yan Yun, filled with various speculations and implications.

Chen Yan Yun’s expression remained unchanged, “Yes, I understand.”

In such cabinet meetings, Zhang Julian should have shown Chen Yan Yun at least some courtesy.

His current lack of consideration merely showed his desire to suppress him openly and subtly. Zhang Julian wanted him to be obedient and wanted to control him, so naturally, he couldn’t give him too much face.

The wind damage losses in Zhangzhou Prefecture were attributed to Chen Yan Yun, but someone else would handle the remediation, rendering his achievements in Zhangzhou Prefecture over the years meaningless. Liang Lin’s gaze toward him inevitably showed some exmotion. After the meeting concluded, Liang Lin approached him to say, “The Prime Minister used to trust you the most. I think Liu Xin Yun’s case truly angered him. But since you were promoted by the Prime Minister himself, he’s probably just upset with you…”

He nearly lost his life, and that was merely being upset.

Chen Yan Yun left the cabinet and couldn’t help but laugh.

A eunuch came over saying the Emperor had summoned him.

Chen Yan Yun stopped thinking about this matter and followed the eunuch toward Qianqing Palace. Emperor Zhu Jun An was fishing by the lotus pond behind Qianqing Palace, surrounded by palace attendants. He appeared quite unhappy, his face tense. Upon seeing Chen Yan Yun approach, he relaxed somewhat and beckoned him over, “Minister Chen, come sit here!”

He then said to the surrounding palace attendants, “All of you withdraw. I wish to speak with Minister Chen.”

Beside him stood Feng Cheng Shan, the supervising secretary of the Ceremonial Court, who glanced at Chen Yan Yun upon hearing this. Then he smiled, “Your Majesty, how can you stay by this pond without anyone attending to you? Why not let the others withdraw, and I’ll stay to watch over you?”

Zhang Julian had instructed Feng Cheng Shan not to let Emperor Zhu Jun An speak privately with officials.

Previously, Zhu Jun An would have agreed, but this time he darkened his face, “You’re not listening to my words? Then I’ll tell Mother, and let Mother speak to you!”

From his tone, he was still just a child.

Feng Cheng Shan lost some face, “This… if the Empress Dowager blames me, I’m afraid I won’t know what to say!”

Zhu Jun An snorted, “If you want to keep watch, then do so. Minister Chen, come with me to the study to talk.” He stood up, pulled Chen Yan Yun, and turned back to say, “None of you are allowed to follow.”

After walking through the corridor, Zhu Jun An looked back to see that no one had followed, then stopped.

“Minister Chen, how was that?”

Although the young Emperor’s actions weren’t thorough, it was due to his youth.

Chen Yan Yun smiled and praised him, “Your Majesty did well.”

Zhu Jun An sighed in relief, but his handsome face showed some bitterness, “This is all I can do. When I saw Minister Liu being so humiliated last time, I couldn’t do anything. After Concubine Zhuang was promoted to Noble Consort, she doesn’t even respect Consort Jing anymore… I truly dislike her! Minister Chen, last time you told me to be patient, but until when?”

He paused briefly, then said softly, “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. If you don’t wish to endure, then don’t.”

Zhu Jun An’s eyes brightened, “Minister Chen means…”

“We can begin,” he said. “The eunuch Jiang Xia by your side is my man. If I speak too much with you, others will become suspicious. In the future, if I need you to do something, Jiang Xia will convey it to you. You cannot trust the Imperial Guards, but the Imperial Secret Police can still be used. Next time you summon the commander of the Imperial Secret Police, instruct him according to what Jiang Xia tells you.”

This commander of the Imperial Secret Police had been personally promoted by the late Emperor and was fiercely loyal to the imperial family. It was only because the Emperor was young that he couldn’t utilize them yet.

Though the Imperial Secret Police had a fearsome reputation, used properly, they were a sharp weapon.

Zhu Jun An nodded, his face showing both anxiety and excitement. Chen Yan Yun saw Feng Cheng Shan coming along the corridor and changed the subject to fishing. Zhu Jun An was confused for a moment but quickly understood, laughing and responding with a few words, successfully dealing with Feng Cheng Shan.