Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
“Your Majesty, do you remember what you said a year ago at the Imperial Decree Hall, during the announcement of the Imperial Examinations Golden Roll?” Yan Xiu asked directly, showing no signs of hesitation.
“A year ago, the Imperial Decree Hall…” Emperor Lin Mubai squinted slightly at Yan Xiu, then glanced at Fang Zhengzhi.
“I remember!” he replied.
“Your Majesty, you once said that if Fang Zhengzhi stood before you and stated that he did not kill the Southern Region Noblelite, you would personally mention him in the Golden Roll. Or have I remembered incorrectly?” said Yan Xiu.
“You didn’t.” Emperor Lin Mubai said as he shook his head.
“In this case, your Majesty, please honor this promise!” Yan Xiu said with a straight face as he saluted the emperor once again.
Hearing this, the officials dropped their jaws, exchanging looks.
Of course, they had remembered clearly this incident a year ago at the Imperial Decree Hall.
That day, when Yan Xiu nominated Fang Zhengzhi for the Golden Roll, not only did Emperor Lin Mubai refuse, he was furious.
After that, Yan Xiu left Yan Capital and refused to participate in the Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test.
Since then, Yan Xiu has stayed in Western Liang for over a year and never stepped foot in Yan Capital. And today, he decided to bring up the past…
How was this act any different from challenging the emperor?
Moreover, it was nearly two years since that Imperial Examination. If the next Imperial Examination was imminent, then they could’ve waited for it. What was the point of bringing up the previous Imperial Examination?
For fairness!
Indeed, this made sense. But Yan Xiu’s mention of this matter seemed even more outrageous than the overturning of Crown Prince’s case. Because this would implicate the emperor himself!
Emperor Lin Mubai’s expressions started to change, while his gaze swept across the encircling band of shocked officials and confused commoners nearby.
He had to think quickly.
A year ago, he had personally announced the Golden Roll. If he were to change its mention, he would have to announce it all over again.
It was like slapping his own face.
Indeed, Emperor Lin Mubai felt embarrassed, but it was also a fact that he had announced personally announced it in the presence of all the officials.
But how could he go back on his word?
After a moment of thought, he laid his eyes on Fang Zhengzhi. With his eyes lit up, he cleared his throat.
“Fang Zhengzhi, what do you think?”
“Since it is mine, why would I reject it? Of course, even if it is not mine, while others are willing to give, I won’t mind keeping it.” Fang Zhengzhi said candidly as he stepped beside Yan Xiu.
“Aren’t you afraid that it would be too much?” Emperor Lin Mubai retorted. He took a good look at his surrounding and waved at Fang Zhengzhi.
“Why would it be too much?” Puzzled, Fang Zhengzhi stayed rooted in his position.
“Official Fang, Your Majesty wants you to get closer!” Eunuch Wei pointed out as he saw Fang Zhengzhi remained motionless.
“Get closer? Oh…” Fang Zhengzhi, too, surveyed the surroundings. With a dazed expression, he reached beside Emperor Lin Mubai, and then asked, “Your Majesty, how may I help you?”
Emperor Lin Mubai looked at Fang Zhengzhi and shook his head in frustration. Although Fang Zhengzhi was superbly intelligent, he could also be a real annoyance.
“Regarding the Golden Roll, you should give it more thought. Since you cannot train now, that ranking in the Imperial Examinations would be useless for you now, isn’t it?” Emperor Lin Mubai said audibly. Yet his words were heard only by Fang Zhengzhi, as though an imaginary veil separated them and the rest of the world.
“How is it useless? I think it’s useful.” Fang Zhengzhi replied immediately.
“What use would it be? For honor? Or reputation? If you wanted these, here I could better compensate you. If you don’t enjoy being an official, how would you like some money?” Emperor Lin Mubai, too, said candidly. At this juncture, knowing Fang Zhengzhi’s personality, he didn’t seem to mind anymore.
“No, I have enough money!” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
“How much?” Emperor Lin Mubai said, a little startled. That felt strange, as though a greedy person said he had enough money.
“Ten of Southern Region’s largest gold mines.” Fang Zhengzhi said as he pointed to Southern Region Princess Shan Yu, revealing a contract.
“Oh…” Emperor Lin Mubai was surprised.
Looking at the red seal and Shan Yu’s signature on the contract, he finally understood why Fang Zhengzhi could not return to Yan Capital from the Southern Region.
He had seized ten gold mines in the Southern Region.
If it were anyone else, they would have killed him after the war.
“Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, please honor your promise.” Fang Zhengzhi said while he kept the contract, as Emperor Lin Mubai fell silent.
“Wait a minute. Can you tell me, why do you want so badly for me to mention you on the Golden Roll?” Emperor Lin Mubai said, roused and determined to know Fang Zhengzhi’s motive.
“It is for an agreement.” Fang Zhengzhi replied after giving it some thought.
“An agreement?”
“Yes, an agreement established long ago.”
“Can you tell me what agreement it is?”
“Sure.”
“Go on.”
“I will naturally say it after Your Majesty has mentioned me on Golden Roll.”
Emperor Lin Mubai was stunned. He finally understood how Crown Prince Lin Tianrong felt when he was fooled by Fang Zhengzhi.
“Can’t you say it now?”
“No!”
“Alright, can you at least tell me when it was established?” Emperor Lin Mubai said. At this moment, a memory of one agreement flashed in his mind.
An agreement Fang Zhengzhi established at the Divine Constabulary.
During then…
Fang Zhengzhi had just passed the Prefectural Examinations and attended the feast at the Divine Constabulary. It was then when Chi Guyan publicly said he had some agreement with Fang Zhengzhi.
That matter occurred long ago, and no one expected had the agreement would come to fruition. But times have changed, and Fang Zhengzhi now held a completely different status. If this was the agreement Fang Zhengzhi was talking about, then Emperor Lin Mubai had to give it some deep thought indeed.
“When was it established? It was around… after the Imperial Examinations.” Fang Zhengzhi recalled.
“After the Imperial Examinations?” Emperor Lin Mubai, startled, started searching for answers in his mind. It was also after the Imperial Examinations when Fang Zhengzhi was appointed the Rank 4 Sword Envoy. In the period, hadn’t he returned to Northern Mountain Village to visit relatives? With this thought, Emperor Lin Mubai said: “Was it established at the Northern Mountain Village?”
“Yes.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
Indeed, his agreement with Chi Guyan was established at the Northern Mountain Village. So, he replied as such.
“I see. It seems that you insist on me mentioning you in the Golden Roll?” Lin Mubai nodded. Considering Fang Zhengzhi’s background as a plain villager, it seemed natural for him to have reached some agreement with his parents or elders in the village before attending the Court Examinations.
“Of course.” Fang Zhengzhi replied firmly.
“Not at all negotiable?”
“No!”
“Alright. So, you want me to mention you in the Golden Roll at the Imperial Decree Hall, but do you wish to let my great officials lay on the ground forever?” Emperor Lin Mubai said as he scanned through the many officials sprawled on the ground.
With the situation developed this way, if he hadn’t guessed the relation between Shan Yu’s roast lamb and Fang Zhengzhi’s plan, he wasn’t fit to be the emperor.
“Oh… there aren’t many antidotes left, and it’s pretty expensive.” Fang Zhengzhi seemed embarrassed.
“Don’t bargain with me and wake them up now. Don’t you own ten gold mines?” Emperor Lin Mubai retorted sternly.
“Okay.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“Prepare the carriage for the Imperial Decree Hall!” Emperor Lin Mubai’s voice filled Yan Capital.
“Yes!” Eunuch Wei replied immediately. He raised his voice: “Prepare the carriage for the Imperial Decree Hall!”
This cascaded through the palace in a series of echoes.
But the officials couldn’t help but wonder. Was the emperor really going to re-announce the Golden Roll? Wasn’t this… quite unbelievable?
While Emperor Lin Mubai slowly strode toward the Palace gate, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu distributed the antidote to the officials.
When the other officials saw this, they exchanged looks as they hesitated to help them.
But…
From a short distance away, they noticed Crown Prince Lin Tianrong’s eyes held with the purest form of evil and hatred.
Fang Zhengzhi did not notice Crown Prince Lin Tianrong’s expression as he hastily withdrew his antidote and passed some to Yan Xiu.
“Yan Xiu, after my mention in the Golden Roll, let’s participate in the upcoming Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test. When that happens, I hope you won’t be my burden!” Fang Zhengzhi said while he distributed the antidote.
“Plonk!”
The surrounding officials fell as they heard this.
A handicapped person shamelessly telling the one with the boundless potential to not be his burden? How ridiculous.
But hold on!
He’s participating in the upcoming Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test?!