CH 124.2

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 124 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

After nearly two months of turbulence in the imperial court, the matter of the princes’ return to the capital finally settled.

Obviously, it wasn’t announced to the outside world that Emperor Hongjing intended to take back the feudal states. It was only said that the emperor was getting old and needed the help of the princes to help manage the affairs of the nation. This was why he ordered the princes to return to the capital and for them to enter the Six Ministries to study government affairs.

It was a bloodless victory against the malignant tumour that was the feudal lords’ thirst for power. 

Situations like this happen in every dynasty.

The establishment of feudal lords and vassal states happened during the reign of Emperor Taizu.

In the beginning, the effects were remarkable. The central ruler’s power was strengthened and the discord among brothers as they fought for the throne lessened. Unfortunately, as the country’s military power grew, drawbacks to this system gradually appeared. The vassal lords’ power grew to the extent that it could even threaten the rightful ruler, causing instability to the nation. 

Whenever a new emperor ascended the throne, he would promote and suppress a number of vassals. Those who were honest and well-behaved naturally got to enjoy wealth and peace. Whereas those who were disobedient would not have a good end.

Back when Emperor Taizu established the feudal states, it was originally for the sake of maintaining harmonious relationships with his relatives. His thoughts were sincere, but he miscalculated the hearts of the people. As an elder, he hoped that his descendants would be able to protect this huge country together. But for all those imperial princes, becoming a vassal lord was akin to becoming the great ancestor of that area.  

It wasn’t that emperors in the later generations didn’t think about disbanding the feudal system, but for some reason or another, it was never carried out. After one generation then another, the feudal system was unexpectedly ended by Emperor Hongjing. But rivalry among brothers as they fought for the throne was inevitable. Perhaps this was the fate of all men born into the imperial family.

An Wang was sent to the Ministry of Rites, Dai Wang to the Ministry of War, Yong Wang to the Ministry of Revenue, Lu Wang to the Ministry of Justice, Wu Wang to the Court of Imperial Stud, and Qing Wang to the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Jin Wang was arranged to go to the Ministry of Works, the most rigid and inconspicuous among the Six Ministries.

However, Zhao Zuo, the son of Hui Wang, was sent to the Ministry of Personnel, which came as a shock to many.

Emperor Hongjing’s arrangement clearly exposed his thoughts. Zhao Zuo, the former crown prince heir, also shared the same opportunity as his imperial uncles.

Although this was what everyone said, reality was not as people imagined. Each of the Six Ministries was led by an imperial prince. Each of them would play to their own strengths to stand out from amongst the others, in the hopes that Emperor Hongjing would choose them to be the next crown prince. 

These noble sons of heaven, all took on their new job as a sixth-rank official. These positions were as small as sesame seeds, and they didn’t even have the qualifications to attend court.

However, the princes had no objections to this. Taking on the position of an official means they can now participate in the affairs of the state openly. Except for the crown prince, all the other princes were forbidden from participating in politics and associating with courtiers. So for Jin Wang and the others, this new opportunity was akin to lifting their ban. Their new job was simply a title to pull the wool over others’ eyes.

Everyone understood this in their hearts, but none of them exposed their thoughts.

However, Emperor Hongjing obviously had different thoughts. During court, he specifically told the various high-ranking officials from each of the Six Ministries that he was training his sons. He also asked each of these officials to keep an eye on them and to not be partial.

For Emperor Hongjing to deliberately say words like these during court, it was obvious that he was instructing them not to have any funny ideas. All in all, Jin Wang and the others were soon to become officials in each of their respective ministries.

Yaoniang was still in confinement and it took longer than usual for information to travel to her. It was only when she saw Jin Wang bringing back two sets of official uniforms that she realized he was entering the Ministry of Works as a minor official.

She was stunned. For the old her, a sixth-rank official was already someone who was many times more powerful than the county magistrate. But Jin Wang was a qinwang, a prince of the first rank, and now, he regressed to become a sixth-rank official.

She wondered whether Jin Wang had been punished by His Majesty or something, and felt uneasy inside. She specifically warned Xiaobao not to be naughty, so as not to make his father angry.

Xiaobao felt very helpless about this. It was a good thing to become an official in court, okay? But seeing his ignorant mother making a mountain out of a molehill, then looking at Jin Wang’s face, he felt it was better to not say anything.

All day long, Yaoniang watched Jin Wang with trepidation.

Normally thirty days were enough for confinement but Jin Wang insisted on forty-two days. The weather was so hot, it was becoming unbearable. Yet the only thing Yaoniang could do was lie down and sit as little as possible. She had long gotten enough of this. Day in and day out, she pestered Jin Wang until he agreed to let her walk around and do as she wished, as long as she didn’t go outside. 

Yaoniang also moved back into the main courtyard where Jin Wang lived, but they still abstained from sex.

Yaoniang went to look through the two sets of official uniforms that Jin Wang had brought back. They were both azure in colour with a heron embroidered on the front. The uniform was a complete set, including a hat, belt, waist pendant, and boots.

There was also a booklet.

Yaoniang was literate, so she grabbed it and started flipping through it. Once she saw what was written inside, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

This was a manual equivalent to the Code of Conduct for officials. It explicitly listed all the principles and ethics an official should have as well as when they are on and off duty. Everyone needs to arrive at their office on time every day and they aren’t allowed to leave before their shift is over. As for those who were absent for no reason or chose to leave early, they would be punished accordingly.

For example, it clearly stated in the book: all officials, no matter the rank, who do not participate in court, act unjust outside of the office, or return to work after their leave expires, would be punished with a minimum of ten lashes to a maximum of eighty. 

And the time to report for duty was maoshi¹.

Maoshi?! 

At that time, the sky was still dark and she’s still fast asleep.

Perhaps Yaoniang’s sympathetic gaze was too obvious. Jin Wang took a sip of tea and said, “Back when this prince was younger, I had to get up at yinshi².”

Yaoniang automatically asked, “What do you do when you get up so early?”

“Study.”

His Highness was too pitiful!

Bearing this thought in mind, the next day, despite being barely able to keep her eyes open, Yaoniang still got up and sent Jin Wang off at the crack of dawn.

From then on, Jin Wang began his new job at the Ministry of Works.