Chapter 72: Extortion

Chapter 72: Extortion

After Zhang Yanghao left, no one came to bother them again, and the deposed Emperor’s first night passed peacefully. Han Ruzi lay on the cold, hard bed, tossing and turning. In his mind, the image of his first meeting with Cui Xiaojun kept appearing: her small face damp with a few strands of wet hair, and her large eyes fearful, yet calm.

No matter whose daughter she was, she was his wife. He had to bring her to his side, Han Ruzi resolved to himself once more.

Yang Feng had said he had come up with an idea, but he did not reveal it at the time, instead asking the Weary Marquis to wait patiently.

The night was cold, and there was not even a basin of charcoal in the manor. Han Ruzi could not sleep at all, so he simply sat still, wrapped in his quilt, and looked around the study. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and based on his daytime impressions, he could roughly make out the room’s furnishings.

The bookshelves needed to be filled with books, the desk needed to be set with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, and there was no need to keep the incense burner in the corner. They should add a weapon rack and place a few swords and blades... Would Meng E come to teach him inner qi again? After taking Cui Xiaojun back, what would the Cui clan do? And there was Prince Donghai; if he truly succeeded to the throne, even if only as a puppet, he would pose a great threat to himself...

When Han Ruzi awoke, the sky was already bright. He lay on his side, wrapped in his quilt, his body curled into a ball.

Zhang Youcai knocked on the door and entered, rubbing his hands together and exhaling, “So cold, it’s so cold that I’m not hungry anymore. No, I’m actually hungrier than ever, I just can’t feel it, my stomach is frozen stiff. Master, you haven’t eaten all day, aren’t you hungry too?”

Han Ruzi got up and stomped his feet, “Just like you, I can’t feel the hunger.”

“We should find a plump palace maid to warm the master’s bed...”

Han Ruzi shook his head repeatedly. Last night, he had driven away all the attendants. This study belonged only to him, and he did not want outsiders to intrude.

Cai Xinghai shouted outside the room, “Time for meals, everyone come out quickly. Fresh, piping hot dishes!”

“Even Brother Cai is breaking the rules now, does he think we are beggars?” Zhang Youcai ran towards the door, “I’ll go and bring some for the master.”

As soon as he opened the door, Cai Xinghai had already brought the food. Zhang Youcai took it into his hands. After just one glance, he stopped in his tracks, surprised, “Huh, how come it’s just rice porridge and salted vegetables? This... this must have been picked up from the street.”

“It was bought with money. There are no food stalls along Hundred Prince Street, so I had to run quite a distance to buy it. Please make do with this meal, Lord Marquis. Lord Yang has already sent someone to replenish the rice, flour, oil, and firewood.”

“The food’s too plain.” Zhang Youcai looked at the steaming porridge, his throat moving as he swallowed saliva continuously.

“Bring it over quickly, I can feel my hunger now.” Han Ruzi called out.

Zhang Youcai placed the tray on the desk, his eyes still fixed on the rice porridge.

“Go out and eat, you’re making me uneasy with your staring,” Han Ruzi laughed. The thought of not having to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and not having to sit idly all day made his heart leap with joy.

The rice porridge was sweet and fragrant, the salted vegetables crisp and salty, a perfect match. After tasting it, Han Ruzi could not stop eating, quickly finishing a bowl. He then praised Cai Xinghai, who was standing at the door, “I never thought there would be such delicious food outside the palace. The best part is its simplicity. It’s just some rice and radish.”

Cai Xinghai laughed, “Lord Marquis, you must be truly hungry. Once you’ve had enough of it, you won’t find it so good anymore.”

Yang Feng walked in and asked Han Ruzi, “Are you done eating? Let’s go.”

“Where to?” Han Ruzi stood up, thinking that Yang Feng was going to get Cui Xiaojun.

Yang Feng glanced at the simple study. “No matter what, you are a marquis. Let’s go and get everything that a marquis’ manor should have.”

“What should a marquis’ manor have?” Han Ruzi had no knowledge of this.

“Just follow me,” Yang Feng turned around, and Han Ruzi followed him.

Since Cai Xinghai already had his official duties, it was inappropriate for him to accompany the Weary Marquis outside. Little eunuch Zhang Youcai ate three big bowls of porridge in his room and saw that the Weary Marquis and Yang Feng were leaving. He put down his bowl and hurriedly followed them out of the room, “Wait for me!”

The gatekeeper was startled, realizing that this eunuch was no ordinary person. “In reply to your Grace, it is Attendant Ning who is presiding over the court today.”

“Call him out, and also call out the Director of the Nobility Management Department.”

The gatekeeper was taken aback once more, “May I ask who this distinguished person is?”

Han Ruzi was young and not dressed like an official, so the gatekeeper guessed he was a nobleman.

Yang Feng frowned, “Have your superior come out; he will recognize us.”

The gatekeeper, who had seen his fair share of the world, found the nobleman on horseback beside the elderly eunuch increasingly peculiar. As he was sizing them up, the eunuch’s horsewhip suddenly swung over, producing a crisp sound above the gatekeeper’s head, followed by an angry shout, “Get moving!”

The gatekeeper covered his head and ran into the office, as if he had actually been whipped.

Han Ruzi whispered, “Was it necessary... to do that?”

Yang Feng replied, “By following the normal procedure, it would take us at least three days to see the person in charge. Do you wish wait that long?”

Han Ruzi stuck out his tongue, “I’ll observe more and speak less.”

The soldiers and gatekeepers at the entrance of the office were all pointing and gesturing, but Yang Feng paid no mind. A man in official attire emerged from the inside and stood within the gate, looking around. Yang Feng recognized him as a low-ranking official and ignored him, but he positioned himself in front of the Weary Marquis, blocking the official’s view.

The junior official looked around, perplexed, and went back inside. After a while, an official in his fifties came out, and the soldiers and gatekeepers at the entrance immediately bowed in respect.

The official had a cold expression, looking very impatient, as if he had been rudely awakened from a deep sleep. He stood inside the gate, and the junior official who had come out earlier ran over to Yang Feng, saying, “May I know which eunuch you are, sir? Why did you not even present a name card?[1]“

Yang Feng ignored him, spurred his horse forward two steps, and revealed the Weary Marquis behind him.

Finally, the official of the Ministry of Rites inside the gate saw the visitor’s face clearly. Although others did not recognize him, the official did. He had been present during both the Emperor’s enthronement and abdication, having stolen a few glances at the time.

However, he could not believe his eyes. Rubbing them, he suddenly shouted and turned to run, startling everyone at the entrance. In their memory, their superior had never behaved in such a manner before.

The left-behind junior official did not understand what was going on, but he became more respectful in his demeanor, holding his fists and retreating, “Please wait a moment longer. I will be right back...”

The junior official turned and ran back into the office as well.

Han Ruzi couldn’t help but whisper again, “Are we just going to wait like this?”

Yang Feng snorted coldly, “You are now the most feared figure in the realm. Whichever department you stand in front of, the officials there will be scared out of their wits. Just wait; soon, we’ll get whatever we want.”

Han Ruzi was both astonished and amused, not expecting the deposed Emperor to have such a significant impact.

Du Chuanyun, who was standing on the ground, overheard their conversation and could not help but interject, “Isn’t this just the behavior of ruffians? Local ruffians often use such tactics to extort payment.[2]“

Yang Feng coldly replied, “Those who extort commoners are ruffians; those who extort the imperial government are heroes.”

Han Ruzi was speechless. Just last night, he had been trapped by ruffians, and now he was using the tactics of ruffians to extort the government. He was momentarily confused as to whether there was any difference between the rough and rowdy crowd, and proper and polite society.

[1] It was customary in ancient China for visitors to present their name cards at the door so that the host would know who it was that was visiting.

[2] What ruffians would do to extort some money from shopkeepers is to look threatening in front of their shops and scare potential customers away. The shopkeeper would then pay them money to get them to go away.

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