After Yang Wan left, Deng Ying walked back to the Supervisorate of Imperial Ceremonial alone.
In the rear hall, the early meal was being served. Zheng Yuejia and Hu Xiang sat on either side of He Yixian, while two young eunuchs stood to the left and right behind He Yixian, attending to him carefully.
The meals at the Supervisorate of Imperial Ceremonial were different from other places. They were prepared in a separate kitchen at the back, with fixed portions of rice and meat. Generally, the food was prioritized for those of higher status, while those below would share what remained. After Deng Ying was promoted to Senior Secretary and concurrent Supervisor of the Eastern Depot, the kitchen included him in their considerations. However, since he had been spending most of his time at the Eastern Depot recently, the shrewd young eunuchs in the kitchen had been giving his portion to Li Yu.
Today was Deng Ying’s first time dining at the Supervisorate.
When He Yixian saw him enter, he said nothing, unhurriedly finishing a bowl of porridge before setting it down. The young eunuch at his side quickly took it away to refill it.
He Yixian glanced at Deng Ying and casually asked, “Did they prepare his portion?”
The kitchen eunuch quickly responded, “Yes, yes we did.”
He Yixian took the refilled porridge bowl and said, “Then give him bowls and chopsticks.”
The eunuch handed over the utensils, which Deng Ying accepted with a nod. Seeing there was no place for him to sit, Zheng Yuejia put down his chopsticks and stood up.
“Venerable Elder, I’ll go attend to the memorials.”
“Sit down,” He Yixian picked up a piece of pickled cucumber. “What time is it that you’re in such a hurry?”
“Yes…” Zheng Yuejia had no choice but to sit back down.
Hu Xiang gave a cold laugh, “Zheng Yuejia, you’re quick to change with the wind, aren’t you?”
He Yixian suddenly tapped the table with his chopsticks. “Hu Xiang, haven’t you suffered enough from your reckless nature?”
Hu Xiang quickly stood up. “Yes, Venerable Elder.”
He Yixian said irritably, “Sit down. Can’t even eat a meal in peace since he came in.”
He finished speaking and, holding his bowl, looked at Deng Ying. “You should be kneeling outside to eat, but with today’s snowy winds being so strong, I’m worried about your health getting worse in the cold. So just stand here and eat. When you’re done, follow me to take up duties at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Deng Ying lowered his head. “Thank you, Venerable Elder.”
“Don’t use that affected tone with me. I can’t stand it. You may be beyond teaching now, but the rules of the Supervisorate have always been that if you can’t meet my standards, you won’t make it to His Majesty’s presence. You’ve broken all the Supervisorate’s rules, and now it’s too late to make amends.”
Deng Ying said nothing more, standing by the snow curtain and slowly finishing the porridge in his bowl.
He Yixian put down his chopsticks, and Zheng Yuejia and Hu Xiang followed suit. The young eunuchs cleared away the remaining food, taking it out to distribute among the lower-ranking staff. Shortly after, fresh hot tea was brought up.
He Yixian asked casually, “Today’s memorials don’t need to be rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. We need to discuss with His Majesty those two memorials he held back yesterday. Which two were they again?”
Zheng Yuejia replied, “Yesterday His Majesty held back the memorials from Censor Huang Ran and Ministry of Revenue Secretary Zhao Ande, both requesting the establishment of a Crown Prince. Including the six from three days ago and twelve from five days ago, His Majesty has held back twenty memorials in total. Today we must decide on returning them.”
He Yixian took a sip of tea and looked up at Deng Ying. “What’s your view on this?”
Deng Ying responded, “Discussing the establishment of an heir at this time is indeed premature. These twenty memorials can be rejected.”
He Yixian said, “Rejecting them now is simple enough, but I fear that after the Noble Lady gives birth, this wayward trend will become impossible to suppress.”
As he finished speaking, the snow curtain was lifted by the wind, letting in a dazzling ray of morning light. He Yixian raised his sleeve to shield his eyes. “What time is it?”
The eunuch at the door replied, “Venerable Elder, it’s the Chen hour (7-9 AM). The Grand Secretaries have all arrived for their duties.”
“Very well. Where is His Majesty now?”
“His Majesty has gone to inquire after the Empress’s health.”
He Yixian nodded and stood up. “Let’s go sit in the main hall.”
The main hall of the Supervisorate had only one room, furnished with four long tables equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The original purpose of establishing the Supervisorate of Imperial Ceremonial was simply to have eunuchs help the emperor organize memorials submitted by the Grand Secretariat and assist in imperial endorsements. They were forbidden from participating in political affairs. The Founding Emperor had even established an iron plaque prohibiting eunuchs from participating in politics.
However, by the Zhenning era, court affairs had become increasingly complex. Having been strictly controlled by the rules of the Hall of Literary Brilliance while he was Crown Prince, Emperor Zhenning showed little interest in political affairs after ascending the throne. Throughout the year, he only kept control of financial matters, allowing himself and the imperial clan to indulge in extravagant pleasures.
Deng Yi took advantage of this to collude with the Supervisorate of Imperial Ceremonial, tacitly allowing the eunuchs to exercise the emperor’s authority to issue vermillion endorsements.
Emperor Zhenning realized that people like He Yixian were genuinely looking out for his interests. By focusing on major issues and delegating minor ones, he could still maintain clear oversight. Thus, the Founding Emperor’s iron plaque gradually gathered dust.
At this moment, the Grand Secretariat’s memorials hadn’t yet arrived, so during this idle time, He Yixian gestured for the Senior Secretaries to sit down. Seeing Deng Ying still standing, he said, “So you’re willing to accept my guidance?”
“Yes.”
He Yixian laughed, “Fine, then keep standing. In any case, you spend most of your time at the Depot office, so do as you please here.”
After speaking, he turned to Hu Xiang and casually asked, “I hear the Palace of Extended Joy is getting quite a lot of things?”
Hu Xiang replied, “It’s not so much that they’re asking for things, but rather that His Majesty is bestowing many gifts. You know, Noble Lady Jiang’s background isn’t particularly distinguished, her family in Zhejiang only has that tiny plot of land. His Majesty is elevating their family and has already promised that if the Noble Lady bears a prince, the Jiang family will be granted a marquis title. This generous reward can’t easily be changed now.”
He Yixian said, “What’s the hurry? Noble Lady Jiang will give birth at the beginning of the year. When spring comes, we can bring it up with the Ministry of Revenue.”
Hu Xiang shook his head. “Yang Lun from the Ministry of Revenue is single-mindedly focused on implementing new policies in the South. Would he listen to this?”
He Yixian smiled, “He might not listen to you, but he might listen to Senior Secretary Deng.”
Without waiting for Deng Ying to respond, he continued, “Although the court is all petitioning to establish the eldest prince as Crown Prince, we can’t show favoritism. The Palace of Extended Joy is precious now – whatever they want or lack, the Twenty-Four Offices mustn’t be stingy.”
“The people in the Twenty-Four Offices are all very sensible. Seeing His Majesty punish Noble Consort Ning, haven’t they all rushed to curry favor with the Palace of Extended Joy?”
“Punish Noble, Consort Ning?” He Yixian massaged his tiger’s mouth point. “When did this happen?”
Hu Xiang said, “Oh my, you were recuperating outside these past few days, and I forgot to tell you. A few days ago, His Majesty punished Noble Consort Ning at the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Somehow, this news spread throughout the six palaces.”
He Yixian nodded with a smile, “Then what is there left for the court to debate?”
Hu Xiang also smiled, “Exactly.”