Chapter 257: Pills, Pills, Pills
After the morning court session, the Emperor immediately went to take his medicine.
Being older, he needed several doses of medicine throughout the day: one upon waking, one after breakfast, one after lunch, one after dinner, and one before bed—five doses of medicine a day.
There was no other way; it was the aftereffect of those years when he had recklessly courted death. Now, if he didn’t take his medicine, he wouldn’t have any energy.
Of course, although they were alchemical pills, he didn’t just take them randomly; he had asked the imperial physicians to verify them. He had also tested them on other living people. They appeared to be non-toxic, harmless, and free of side effects, and he felt quite energetic after taking them. They were excellent health-preserving pills.
Perhaps in his heart, he sometimes felt there might be a slight issue, but he chose to ignore it because he had developed a dependency.
Nowadays, whether an official, a harem consort, a eunuch, or a palace maid was favored depended on whether the Emperor had bestowed pills upon them. Receiving these pills was the true sign of being favored.
Normally, he took one pill after breakfast. Since there was a morning court session today, he took it after the court adjourned.
Taking the pills also required a sense of ritual. He had to sit up straight, take a deep breath, drink a sip of water to moisten his throat, and then take the pill.
After taking it, he had to sit for a while because there would be a burning sensation in his abdomen. He could only stand up once that burning sensation dissipated. His body would feel a light sweat. Every time he took a pill, he had to go through this ritual.
After taking the medicine and resting for a moment, the eunuch came over to say that Meng Qingshe and Jiang Changtian were already waiting. Only then did the Emperor leisurely rise and head over.
There was a small garden between the place where he rested and took his pills and the place where he received guests. Gardens were everywhere in the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor walked a few steps and suddenly encountered a beautifully dressed woman. She looked at the Emperor timidly, wanting to speak but hesitating, her eyes filled with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
The Emperor glanced at her, saw that her face looked strange, and was startled. Even though he had already walked right up to her, he suddenly turned around, made a detour, and left.
After walking a few steps, he said to the eunuch, “Where did this ugly person come from? Blocking the way like that. Send her to the Cold Palace. It’s fine if she scared me, but if she scared my officials, it would be too embarrassing.”
The eunuch hurriedly trotted back to give orders to send Noble Lady Li to the Cold Palace.
The Emperor had become quite the scumbag in recent years. Clearly, just last month he had been favoring this woman, promoting her from an Attendant to a Noble Lady. Yet, after only a month, he had actually forgotten her. He didn’t even remember what she looked like. His forgetfulness was severe.
However, apart from not remembering the women he had favored, there were no other major problems. In any case, the eunuchs and palace maids all assumed the Emperor was just a scumbag who loved the new and loathed the old.
Meng Qingshe had been kept back after court many times. After all, his father was fighting for his life on the frontier. To express basic concern and condolences, the Emperor would occasionally keep Meng Qingshe behind to say a few intimate words to appear amiable.
After all, he was the Emperor; certain behaviors were carved into his bones. He didn’t need to learn them; he knew them naturally. Of course, another reason was that Meng Qingshe was considered a lovable person.
He was a relatively pure person. If he were like other officials with many hidden thoughts, the Emperor wouldn’t bother guessing. Therefore, Meng Qingshe was not nervous at this moment.
He even had the air of a veteran bad student, sharing his experience of being kept back with his in-law. “If you’re hungry, you can eat a piece of pastry to pad your stomach, but this pastry doesn’t taste good. It’s too sweet, cloyingly sweet, and it makes your throat uncomfortable. If you keep coughing when the Emperor asks you a question, that wouldn’t be very good.”
Jiang Changtian: “…Understood. My in-law has eaten it and has coughed before.”
“If you’re thirsty, you can drink water to moisten your throat, but it’s best not to drink casually. Once, an official sat right here, drank a sip of water, and died,” Meng Qingshe said with a gossipy expression, waiting for his in-law to look horrified. Jiang Changtian gave a horrified look.
Meng Qingshe continued, “That official angered the Emperor while speaking to him and was granted death.”
Jiang Changtian: “…That’s not funny at all.”
“Nonsense! Am I the kind of person who grants death at the slightest disagreement?” A resonant voice came from the doorway. He sounded exactly like a corporate slave who becomes energetic right after clocking out.
Just a moment ago in the Imperial Court, the Emperor had looked listless and bored. Now, he was full of vigor. He had changed into casual robes and a different headpiece, making him look a bit younger.
Meng Qingshe was caught in the act of gossiping about someone behind their back, but he wasn’t flustered. He pulled his in-law down to kneel and salute together. “Your Majesty, I hadn’t finished speaking yet. It was because that official was corrupt and broke the law that he was granted death.”
The Emperor walked over leisurely. This was not the main hall of the Imperial Court, with its incredibly high ceilings and crowds of people where you could only see the few in the front row clearly, while the rest were just a dark mass. This room was just larger, more elegant, and more luxurious than a normal room, but sitting here was much more comfortable than in the Imperial Court.
Up close, the Emperor felt more and more that Jiang the Second had a remarkable appearance. Most importantly, he was full of familiarity. He felt that he was unique, exceptionally kind, and pleasing to the eye; he had that feeling the very first time he saw him. Therefore, after the court session ended, the Emperor kept him behind to have a private chat.
Jiang Changtian looked at the Emperor who had changed into casual clothes; his state was completely different from the morning court session. He didn’t look like someone who had just clocked out; it was as if he had taken Five Minerals Powder. At this moment, the Emperor was not only energetic, but his thinking also seemed more meticulous.
Keeping Meng Qingshe, he mentioned Old General Meng a couple of times, but when Meng Qingshe turned the conversation to his two grandsons, he promptly stopped the exchange.
Then, he recalled The Former Crown Prince and Grand Tutor Jiang Bai with Jiang Changtian. The Former Crown Prince was dead. With death, crimes were absolved.
The various feelings of displeasure and anger he once felt had all vanished and reconciled after the person died. Thus, looking at the son of Grand Tutor Jiang again, he actually found him to be familiar.
“Your father was outstanding in his youth. I didn’t expect you to surpass him. What plans do you have upon returning to the capital?”
Jiang Changtian said straightforwardly, “To seek an official position, a higher position, so that my wife and daughter can be more at ease when they go out. I heard that officials are everywhere in the capital, and I worry that my daughter will cause trouble when she goes out, so I want to seek a position with some power.”
Seeing this manner and way of speaking from Jiang the Second, the Emperor felt that every word hit home. How could anyone be so much to his liking? He just liked this kind of person who had desires and requirements and stated them directly. He felt that such people were real people, pure people. Those who claimed to have no desires and were always mouthing platitudes about justice—when something really happened, they would be the first to panic.
Meng Qingshe listened and felt that he was indeed his in-law; he spoke even more directly than he did. He was very worried that if he spoke like this in the capital, he would get beaten up when he went out. It seemed he would have to look after him in the future.
“Then what position do you think is suitable?” Meng Qingshe asked with a wink.
Jiang Changtian said, “First or second rank would certainly be great, but I don’t have that much power. I just want to be well-fed and warmly clothed. If my daughter causes trouble when she goes out, I just want to be able to cover for her.”
The Emperor was curious in his heart; just how much trouble could this daughter cause? Didn’t he hear that Jiang the Second only had two daughters? The Eldest Miss was married to Meng Shaoxia, and the second one must still be a little girl.
They reminisced for a while. The Emperor found listening to him speak interesting. He was truly worthy of being Old Meng’s in-law; they were cut from the same cloth. They spoke very straightforwardly. He looked like a civil official but acted like a military one.
“Then will you continue as an Official Rank? You were the Official Rank in Jingzhou, now you will be the Official Rank in the capital, is that acceptable?”
“This subject thanks the Emperor for his grace.” Jiang Changtian bowed in thanks.
The Emperor looked at him with pleasure for a few moments, thought about it, didn’t call Wen Xin to come and see him, and sent him away. He was even looking forward to the court session ten days later.
On the way back, Jiang Changtian walked slowly, listening to his in-law’s chattering voice that wouldn’t stop. This Imperial Palace was truly unfamiliar. He had no memory of it at all. Yet, he had knelt and bowed several times today. There is no gold under a man’s knees, but there is power in a man’s eyes.
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