xymnovel Chapter 2 Lanterns Illuminate the Jade Steps
Chapter 2 Lanterns Illuminate the Jade Steps
Outside Hanyuan Hall, the lights were as bright as day.
Palace attendants carried rows of palace lanterns, leading them from the East Palace all the way to the main hall. From a distance, they looked like a flowing golden river spread across the ground. When the wind blew, the lanterns flickered, illuminating the jade steps in front of the hall, making it seem like a "celestial palace."
If Meng Xuanzhe hadn't just crawled out of his "dream of being the crown prince of a fallen kingdom" and still had an urgent report in his sleeve saying "someone outside the city is starving and in danger," he might have actually sighed at this moment: the aesthetics of feudal dynasties were indeed created by throwing money at them.
Unfortunately, when he looked at the glittering light on the ground, he felt it was like applying a layer of gold leaf to a dilapidated roof that was about to leak.
She is beautiful.
But it doesn't prevent collapse.
"Your Highness, please."
Gao Chengli bowed and led the way, his voice low and melodious, as if afraid of disturbing the joy in the air.
Meng Xuanzhe hummed in agreement, but his gaze was not idle.
He walked and looked around.
Along the way, the palace servants were impeccably dressed, the eunuchs moved with measured steps, and the Imperial Guards outside the palace gates stood as if cast from a mold, clad in armor and holding halberds. Even the floor tiles were so clean that one could see their reflection. Anyone who saw this would have to exclaim: "The grandeur of the dynasty is dignified and composed!"
But he only had one thought in his mind—
Goodness, performative order.
The core spirit of his actions was almost identical to the scenes in his previous life where he would rush to clean the night before certain inspections, arrange the filing cabinets by color, and even place the hand sanitizer in the toilet at a 45-degree angle.
The only difference is that one side is wearing a brocade robe and jade ornaments, while the other side is wearing a work vest.
Human beings' pursuit of formalism is truly a timeless form of stability.
As soon as he stepped onto the jade steps, the officials on both sides greeted him in unison.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
That shout was full of energy and had amazing penetrating power, almost causing Meng Xuanzhe's eardrums to suffer a work-related injury.
As soon as the music began in the hall, the strings and pipes played in unison, as if the entire prosperous era of Later Shu was contained within this announcement.
Meng Xuanzhe entered the hall.
Upon entering, he squinted at the brightness.
Inside Hanyuan Hall, beaded curtains were rolled high, thousands of golden lamps shone, thick felt covered the floor, and gold and silver utensils were laid out on the mats. Even the edges of the tables and desks were carved with auspicious beasts and clouds. On both sides, officials were arranged according to their rank, each in bright robes, with jade pendants jingling at their waists. Above them sat Meng Chang, who sat high on his throne. He had a fair complexion and a slightly plump figure, with a smile in his eyes. Even his casual clothes looked more festive than the others.
The concubines, eunuchs, and palace maids standing around him all looked respectful, making His Majesty the Emperor seem like someone who had just stepped out of a peaceful painting.
Meng Xuanzhe's first reaction upon seeing his adopted father was:
This man certainly doesn't seem like a ruler of a fallen kingdom.
To be precise, he doesn't seem like someone who, by conventional standards, is on the verge of national collapse.
He looked gentle, even refined and elegant. Sitting there, he didn't look like an emperor being overwhelmed by state affairs, but rather like a chief judge participating in a grand court arts performance.
Upon seeing him, Meng Chang smiled and said, "Xuan Zhe has arrived."
The tone wasn't particularly intimate, but it wasn't cold either; you could tell the speaker was satisfied.
Following his memory, Meng Xuanzhe stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"No need." Meng Chang raised his hand, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, seemingly somewhat surprised. "I heard earlier that you were a little tipsy and not feeling well. I was worried that you wouldn't be able to handle tonight's investiture ceremony. But now you seem to be in better health than before."
Meng Xuanzhe thought to himself, "Of course! I was so scared by what will happen to your Later Shu in three years that I'm completely terrified. I'm so clear-headed that I can write a 'Risk Assessment and Rectification Plan for the Fall of the State' overnight."
But you can't say that out loud.
He simply lowered his head and said, "It is your fault for causing Father Emperor such worry."
"It's alright." Meng Chang smiled. "Today is a joyous occasion, so a slight breach of etiquette is nothing. Please sit down."
The attendant immediately led him to the designated seat.
His seat was prominent, second only to the emperor's throne, flanked by high-ranking officials who seemed adept at empty rhetoric. As soon as Meng Xuanzhe sat down, several pairs of eyes subtly swept over him.
To scrutinize, to weigh, to speculate.
Very normal.
A prince who has just been made crown prince will, after tonight, become the future foundation of the nation, a new variable in the court, and a new topic of choosing sides. Anyone who doesn't pay close attention will be considered to have a problem with political sensitivity.
Meng Xuanzhe naturally looked back as well.
On the left sat an elderly minister in a purple robe, his hair and beard meticulously groomed, his eyelids half-closed, his expression as steady as a still pond, almost imperceptible when still. But if you looked closely, you would notice that when others spoke, he would lightly tap the corner of the table with his fingers, as if silently tapping out the wind direction for the entire hall.
This man is Han Chongdu, a key minister under the Secretariat.
Meng Xuanzhe was deeply impressed by him.
It's not because this person is particularly bad.
On the contrary, it's because this kind of person is the hardest to write into the "bad guy" category.
He may not be the most greedy, the most fake-smiling, or the first to jump out and harm you. But he understands best what "the big picture" means, what "proper boundaries" mean, and what "old rules should not be easily broken" means.
To put it bluntly, these people are high-level maintenance workers of the old order.
The system is broken, but he doesn't want to dismantle it; he wants to plaster it. The roof beam is crooked, but he doesn't want to replace it; he wants to prop it up. The bottom of the pot is leaking, but he doesn't want to fix it; he wants to turn the heat down a bit so that the people below can eat less, making the pot seem usable.
In times of peace, such a person might be considered a capable minister.
However, when a country is on the verge of collapse, it can easily become a slow poison to the nation's fate.
Meng Xuanzhe remembered it.
Further to the right were several members of the imperial family and close advisors, each with a kind smile, but their eyes held different expressions. Some were genuinely happy, some were pleased that "the Crown Prince has finally been decided, no more guessing," while others wore expressions that said, "Although you are the Crown Prince, whether you can live to become Emperor is another matter."
Several officials from the Eastern Palace stood slightly behind, their expressions particularly complex.
After all, they belonged to the Crown Prince's faction, which was officially "registered" tonight. Logically, they should have been overjoyed, smiling at everyone they met, and even walking with the swagger of "future meritorious officials who helped the emperor rise to power." However, Meng Xuanzhe's words about "nailing gold trim to the coffin" seemed to have reached the ears of some people through some mysterious palace information superhighway.
At this moment, their gazes toward the new crown prince held not only respect, but also a distinct hint of something else:
This prince doesn't seem to play by the rules.
well.
Meng Xuanzhe thought this reaction was quite normal.
He himself is not quite sure what his next move will be.
The only thing that's certain is that I definitely won't join this group in reading the congratulatory message as a eulogy.
As the music faded, the banquet officially began.
The Ministry of Rites officials stepped forward first to read the congratulatory memorial. The words were so beautiful that they were breathtaking. There were phrases like "The dragon has taken flight from its hiding place, and the foundation of the nation is forever secure" and "Bestowed by Heaven, a joyous occasion for the country." After listening to this long passage, Meng Xuanzhe almost reflexively wanted to find a place to sign "read" (meaning "reviewed").
Then the courtiers took turns offering toasts.
"Your Majesty, I congratulate you on establishing a second heir; may your reign be long and prosperous!"
"Your Highness, I congratulate you on receiving the mandate to become Crown Prince; your virtue is worthy of Heaven and Earth!"
"With such a foundation, the Later Shu kingdom is truly a blessing for all its people!"
Each sentence was louder and more eloquent than the last.
Meng Xuanzhe held his wine cup, a polite yet dignified smile on his face, but his mind was already automatically translating:
—May our nation prosper: I hope it won't die before we retire.
—A blessing for all people: I wish you well first, whether it works or not is another matter.
—Virtue matches Heaven and Earth: Anyway, it's always right to praise someone.
He heard this language a lot in meetings in his past life.
A different dynasty, but the same familiar flavor.
After several rounds of toasts, Meng Xuanzhe realized one thing: in this grand hall, "reality" was a very unpopular thing.
When people talk about taxes, they talk about "abundant national revenue";
When people talk about the border troops, they talk about "the soldiers risking their lives";
When people talk about prefectures and counties, they are talking about "the people's well-being and safety".
Not every sentence is entirely wrong.
The problem is that they're only talking about the most respectable aspect.
As for what lies beneath the surface—whether there are empty granaries, empty military quotas, and whether the people are safe, well-fed, or not—that's not on the agenda tonight.
It's as if if we say auspicious words tonight, even the hungry stomachs outside will be full.
Meng Xuanzhe couldn't help but want to laugh.
Feudal official language is indeed a great discipline: it can describe "the house is about to collapse" as "although the beams and pillars are slightly tilted, the overall appearance is still good".
He had just drunk half a cup of wine and was about to catch his breath when he suddenly heard Meng Chang on the throne speak with a laugh:
"It's a rare occasion for the ruler and his subjects to enjoy themselves together tonight. Xuan Zhe, why don't you say a few words?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Countless gazes fell upon Meng Xuanzhe.
This is one of the downsides of being the crown prince.
You want to keep a low profile, but the environment won't allow it.
Meng Xuanzhe put down his wine cup, stood up, and first bowed to the throne.
Normally, at this point he would say some high-sounding platitudes, such as expressing gratitude for the emperor's favor, being mindful of his position, being vigilant day and night, and fulfilling his responsibilities. In plain terms, it would be something like: Thank you for your guidance, leader. I will definitely study hard, strive to become independent as soon as possible, and never cause trouble for the organization.
The problem was that he still had that urgent report in his sleeve.
That thing was heavy, and its presence was so strong it felt like a death warrant.
He paused for a moment, then said only, "Your subject is deeply grateful for the Emperor's great favor and has been granted the position of Crown Prince. I dare not express joy, but only caution."
Upon hearing this, several people in the hall twitched slightly.
I dare not express joy, but only caution?
In this kind of setting tonight, such words are not exactly festive.
Meng Chang's expression didn't change immediately, but he was slightly surprised: "Oh? Why are you so wary?"
Meng Xuanzhe, facing the gazes of the entire hall, remained unmoved: "When I awoke just now, I saw an urgent report on the table, saying that refugees had gathered outside the city, rice prices had risen continuously, and the border troops were running out of monthly rations. I think that now that the Crown Prince has been established, if we only know how to celebrate and not how to worry, we are not worthy of the title 'foundation of the nation'."
As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if an invisible string in the hall tightened slightly.
Gao Chengli stood to one side of the throne, his face almost glowing white.
He probably never dreamed that the new crown prince would actually dare to openly present the urgent report that had been hidden under the congratulatory letter in such a setting.
Meng Chang's smile faded slightly.
It wasn't anger, but rather like someone who was sitting in warm water suddenly having a block of ice thrown into the water.
It's a bit chilly, and I'm not used to it.
He pondered for a moment before saying, "There have been some minor disturbances in the area, but the prefectures and counties will handle them themselves. You will be establishing the Crown Prince tonight, so there's no need to worry about it too much."
Meng Xuanzhe sighed inwardly.
Look.
This is where the problem lies.
It's not that nobody knows something's going on, but rather that everyone assumes this kind of thing can be put off.
I have a book-giving ceremony today, so I'll put it aside for now.
There's a banquet tomorrow, so let's postpone it.
The Ministry of Rites will determine the ceremonial system for the Crown Prince the day after tomorrow; the matter will be discussed again on another day.
When things really escalate, then we can say, "How did this place come to this?"
A standard, layered, deferred method of national subjugation.
Han Chongdu rose at the opportune moment, his smile gentle and his voice steady: "Your Highness's concern for the country is truly a blessing for the nation. However, the local officials are all present, and there are established procedures for everything. It is not appropriate to disrupt the court's celebrations because of one or two urgent reports. Moreover, Sichuan has enjoyed peace for many years, and occasional fluctuations in rice prices are common."
What a fine set of words.
First they praise you for being patriotic, then tell you not to meddle; first they acknowledge the problem exists, then emphasize that the problem isn't serious; finally, they casually slap a label on you saying "don't mess things up."
Gentle, dignified, smooth, and not a drop of water spilled.
If it were a younger, more impetuous crown prince, he would most likely have been tricked by him, replying with "What Chancellor Han said is absolutely right," and then everyone would continue drinking.
Unfortunately, Meng Xuanzhe is not the original.
He was someone who had just crawled out of the double whammy of working at the grassroots level and the nightmare of national subjugation, and he was naturally allergic to this kind of rhetoric.
So he smiled and asked politely, "What Prime Minister Han said is common sense, but I would like to ask a question—"
"Is it common for rice prices to rise for three consecutive days?"
"Is it common for displaced people to gather and fight over food?"
"Is it common for border troops to run out of monthly rations?"
After asking the three questions, Han Chongdu's smile remained, but his eyes finally narrowed slightly.
The hall became even quieter.
Those who had initially viewed the evening merely as a celebration began to realize that the new crown prince did not seem to intend to follow the established procedures.
Meng Chang gently put down his wine cup.
The sound was crisp and clear, not loud, but enough to make everyone's heart skip a beat.
"Xuan Zhe." He looked at his son, his tone still gentle, but with a hint of scrutiny, "You seem somewhat different tonight than usual."
Meng Xuanzhe thought to himself, "Nonsense, I've changed my core, it would be a miracle if it were the same."
But of course, you can't say that.
He simply lowered his eyes and said, "Father, I used to think little, but now that I have been appointed Crown Prince, I dare not think little anymore."
This sentence caused Meng Chang to fall silent for a moment.
He looked at his son, who had just been officially recognized, and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity with him.
The Meng Xuanzhe of the past was certainly not foolish, but he was far less sharp than he is now. He would never, at such a time, tear a hole in the brocade of the wedding banquet, forcing everyone to look out at the wind through that opening.
This is not a bad thing.
But it's by no means an easy thing.
Because once you start observing the winds, you'll easily discover that what comes from outside isn't necessarily wind; it could be torrential rain, war, or cracks in the nation's destiny.
Most people don't like being told that their roof is leaking.
Just as the atmosphere in the hall was about to become heavy, a master of rites rushed in, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has completed the newly drafted detailed rules for the Eastern Palace's ceremonies. Please review them. If there are no issues, they can be issued to the relevant authorities for implementation tomorrow."
As he spoke, he presented a scroll of documents with both hands.
Meng Xuanzhe found it amusing.
Well, reality is just that magical.
Just as the conversation turned to the impending food shortage outside the city and the border troops running out of supplies, the Ministry of Rites promptly provided a detailed implementation plan on "How to Make the Eastern Palace More Respectable."
With such transition skills, it would be a waste not to be the chief planner of large-scale celebrations.
Meng Chang took the document, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and his expression gradually returned to some of its previous ease. He nodded and said, "The Ministry of Rites is always thorough in its work."
The official in charge of rites perked up: "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom."
The familiar formula, the familiar response.
Meng Xuanzhe even suspected that these people had rehearsed in private.
He was already calculating in his mind: if he rushed up now and snatched that scroll of the Eastern Palace ceremonial documents, and asked in front of all the civil and military officials, "Does the national treasury really have this much spare money?" would he be entering a courtroom battleground mode ahead of schedule tonight?
After thinking about it, I decided to hold back.
Now is not the time.
He had only been here for less than an hour, and although he already had strong opinions about the work style of this group of people, no matter how strong his opinions were, he still had to follow the proper procedures.
Governing a country is similar to defusing a bomb.
You can't just start pulling the string if you get angry.
If you pull the wrong string, you'll be the one who gets blown up first.
So he withdrew his sharp edge, only slightly lowering his head, as if to put the topic aside.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a young eunuch outside the palace gate looking flustered, being stopped by another eunuch. He seemed to want to come in, but dared not.
As the two struggled, the object in the eunuch's hand flashed.
It looks like a document.
Meng Xuanzhe's eyelids twitched slightly.
His intuition told him that it was probably not something good that said "Congratulations to His Highness the Crown Prince on his long life and good fortune."
As expected, Gao Chengli glanced at the eunuch, then quickly stepped down the stairs. He whispered a few words to the eunuch, whose face turned even paler, but he was still forced to leave.
The movement was minor.
But Meng Xuanzhe saw it.
He wasn't the only one who saw it.
Han Chongdu saw it too, but pretended not to.
Meng Chang, sitting on the throne, probably saw it too, but chose not to ask.
Very simple.
Because tonight is a wedding banquet.
There should be no bad news at a wedding banquet.
Bad news should be buried under the congratulatory message, just like that urgent report before, preferably until dawn, until the party is over, until everyone has confirmed the consensus that "tonight was very successful," before it is brought up.
Meng Xuanzhe suddenly found it a bit ridiculous.
It turns out that the Later Shu dynasty did receive the warning.
Every alarm goes through a process called "Don't spoil the fun".
He looked down at the flickering lamplight in the wine glass, and the chill in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
The hall has become lively again.
The Ministry of Rites was discussing the ceremonial system for the Crown Prince, the Ministry of Works was discussing the materials needed for repairs, the Ministry of Revenue was discussing the abundance of the imperial treasury, and there was even an unidentified official who started quoting classical texts and praising the ancient meaning of "establishing an heir to secure the nation."
A piece of peace.
Everything is perfectly arranged.
It's as if if everyone works together to pretend that nothing is wrong, then nothing will really happen.
Meng Xuanzhe suddenly realized something.
In his past life, when he read history, he always felt that many countries fell in an unbelievable way: how could the court seem oblivious to the mountains of problems? How could internal factions be covering up their tracks, fighting over etiquette, and vying for positions when foreign enemies were already sharpening their knives at the door?
Now he understands.
It's not that they really can't see.
Even if they see it, they may not be willing to admit it first.
Because acknowledging the problem means mobilizing people, money, and breaking old rules; it means some people will lose face, some will lose their positions, and some may even lose their lives.
To gloss over the truth, all it takes is a few polite words.
It's low-cost, quick to produce results, and makes you seem very stable.
Who doesn't love?
Thinking of this, Meng Xuanzhe suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Compared to the Song army that invaded three years later, many of the people in this room are perhaps more difficult to deal with.
Because you know that an external enemy will come.
But your own people will always smile and tell you: It's okay, no rush, just wait a little longer.
If you wait and wait, the country will be gone.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly "perfect".
Meng Xuanzhe said no more, but silently acknowledged the people, their faces, and their words while responding to the toasts.
He kept in mind who truly cared about the matter, who only cared about saving face, who was best at smoothing things over, and who was most adept at turning danger into a minor disturbance.
When he was working at the grassroots level in his previous life, his old leader taught him a saying: Don't rush to make changes, first see who is turning on the tap.
Now he feels that this statement also holds true in the imperial court.
The country is leaking like this; it's definitely not just a matter of holes being drilled on the outside, but also people inside trying to tighten the valves.
Just then, Meng Chang suddenly spoke up from above with a smile: "Xuan Zhe."
Meng Xuanzhe stood up: "Your subject is here."
Meng Chang looked at him, his gaze deeper than before: "I know you have something on your mind tonight. But as the emperor and the crown prince, you must first learn one thing—to be steady in important matters."
These words sound like a lecture, or perhaps a reminder.
There was even a hint of subtle persuasion.
Meng Xuanzhe, however, only thought of the next sentence:
Is it possible to remain stable until the very end, achieving a stability akin to "Shu Ping" (a famous Chinese martial arts game)?
Of course, he only dared to say these words in his heart.
He bowed his head and said, "Your subject will remember."
While saying they would keep this in mind, what they really thought was: stability is good, but stability should not lead to stagnation; major issues do require stability, but even with stability, one must first know where the major issues are.
Clearly, many people in this hall have a different definition of "important events" than he does.
Seeing that he had agreed, Meng Chang stopped pressing him and simply gestured for the musicians to play again.
A new round of song and dance performances is about to begin.
With flowing sleeves and trailing skirts, the dancers on stage moved as lightly as the wind, while the courtiers below watched intently, or at least outwardly so.
Meng Xuanzhe didn't look at it again.
He glanced towards the palace gate as he raised his cup.
The eunuch who had tried to barge in to report something is gone.
Not even a shadow remained.
It's as if it never happened.
Meng Xuanzhe suddenly felt that he should not do only one thing tonight.
Participation in the investiture ceremony is mandatory.
But after the event, he couldn't go back to the East Palace to sleep.
At least, I can't sleep like the original owner.
He has to go and take a look.
Go and see how the grain dispute outside the city, as mentioned in that urgent report, has actually turned out; go and see if the "abundant national treasury" displayed throughout the palace can actually buy a bowl of hot porridge outside the city gates; go and see just how much trouble lies hidden beneath the congratulatory messages and music.
Thinking of this, he slowly put down his wine cup.
The lights in the palace were still bright, the music was still melodious, and the officials were still smiling.
Everything was like a flawless, peaceful painting.
But he knew that the edges of the painting had already started to mold.
And the scariest thing is—
Most of the people in the painting are still praising its bright colors.
Sitting on the table, Meng Xuanzhe looked up at the lamplight and suddenly felt as if he had stumbled into a grand comedy.
Everyone in the room was laughing.
Only he knew that coffins were piled up behind the curtain.
He looked up and met Han Chongdu's gaze.
The old minister smiled slightly, raised his wine cup, and offered a toast to him from afar.
His smile was gentle, and his manners were impeccable.
But Meng Xuanzhe somehow discerned something in that smile—
This new crown prince has been talking too much tonight.
Meng Xuanzhe smiled and raised his cup in return.
But in my heart I replied:
Han Xiang, don't be in a hurry.
I just woke up.
There's more to come.
Just then, the night outside the palace deepened, and the wind swept across the palace walls, bringing with it a scent that was hard to tell whether it was the fragrance of flowers or the smell of dust.
Inside Hanyuan Hall, singing and dancing were in full swing.
Outside Hanyuan Hall, under a certain city gate, the price of rice continued to rise.