Chapter 82: The Answer
As the sun set in the west, dusk gradually enveloped the land. Huangfu Xuan left satisfied with the answers given by Lu Yun.
Lu Yun, however, glared irritably at his back. He had already spoken so plainly, yet this fellow still refused to admit his identity no matter what!
It turned out that all those things said in books about wise rulers seeking talent thirstily, wishing to give their hearts to them upon seeing great ability, were all deception!
Of course, it was also possible that this fellow simply wasn’t a wise ruler, or that he himself didn’t yet qualify as a person of great talent…
Lu Yun silently reviewed the gains and losses of the day, soon rallying himself once more. Because his most important goal this time was to befriend the First Prince, and now that goal had been achieved. As for the rest, there was still plenty of time…
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That night, several princes were sleepless. Huangfu Zhen barely closed his eyes all night, his mind full of guesses about what assignment Father Emperor would give him today.
It was only in the latter half of the night that he suddenly realized with a start how unbecoming his behavior was. How could he accomplish great things like this!
With this thought, Huangfu Zhen ordered someone to attend him as he rose and went to the study room for calligraphy practice to calm his mind. After a full hour, he finally suppressed the restlessness in his heart and regained his calm composure.
“Second Brother!” Suddenly, Huangfu Shi’s voice exploded outside the hall.
Only then did Huangfu Zhen set down his brush, rub his sore neck, and look up at the hall outside, seeing that daylight had already broken.
Huangfu Shi burst in energetically, not even bothering to remove his shoes, with Huangfu Xuan trailing behind him, sleepy-eyed.
“Word has come from Grandfather!” Huangfu Shi slapped a palm-sized piece of paper in front of him, jolting the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk.
Huangfu Zhen frowned slightly, glanced at the footprints on the floor, then withdrew his gaze and picked up the paper.
It was covered in densely packed tiny characters—the answers to the Initial Emperor’s three questions.
“Good!” Huangfu Zhen’s suspended heart eased as he looked at Huangfu Shi and said, “What did Grandfather say?”
“Such a small matter, why bother Grandfather?” Huangfu Shi laughed smugly. “I went straight to Eldest Uncle.” As the saying goes, a nephew takes after his uncle. Huangfu Shi was martial and robust, just like Xiahou Bushang cast from the same mold, and the uncle and nephew had the best relationship.
“Foolish!” Huangfu Zhen’s brows furrowed tightly as he said, “What did Grandfather say back then? For any matter you’re unsure about, you must consult him!”
“What’s there to be unsure about?” Huangfu Shi immediately grew displeased and grumbled, “I ran around busily for this, while you sat here reaping the benefits. Not only no thanks, but you’re blaming me!”
“It’s not like that…” Huangfu Zhen sighed in frustration. What was done was done; it was too late to say anything more. He put away the paper, rose, and said, “Let’s go pay respects to Father Emperor.”
.
The three brothers arrived at Zhaoyang Gate and, as per custom, waited for the First Prince.
They didn’t have to wait long before Huangfu Xuan’s carried sedan arrived.
The three brothers stepped forward to greet him. Huangfu Shi, knowing full well, asked, “Big Brother, did you come up with the answers?”
Huangfu Xuan shook his head and said flatly, “Where would I go to find out?” With that, he walked straight toward the inner palace.
“Then how will you answer Father Emperor later?” Huangfu Shi pressed, with Huangfu Xuan following closely, asking cheekily.
“Tell the truth. It’s not like Father Emperor will eat me.” Huangfu Xuan replied expressionlessly. As he spoke, he didn’t even turn his head, just strode quickly ahead.
Huangfu Shi and Huangfu Xuan took it as him being dead to the world, snickering behind his back, while Huangfu Zhen still shook his head helplessly.
Soon, the four brothers arrived outside the Initial Emperor’s bedchamber. As the day before, they accompanied the emperor and empress at breakfast. Though he saw Empress Xiahou had stayed in Yanbo Hall again last night, for some reason, Huangfu Xuan felt less resentment today and instead a trace of cold laughter rose in his heart.
After breakfast, the Initial Emperor looked at his four sons and said, “You have answers to yesterday’s questions by now, yes?”
Huangfu Shi and Huangfu Xuan rushed to say, “We do, we do!”
“No rush. One at a time.” The Initial Emperor rose as he spoke, glancing at the most eager Huangfu Xuan and saying, “You’re so impatient, so come with me first.”
Huangfu Xuan bounced up and followed behind the Initial Emperor to the adjacent study room.
“That kid actually went first…” There was only one standard answer to each of the three questions, so whoever answered first had the advantage. Huangfu Shi muttered in dissatisfaction, but this earned him a stern look from Mother Empress. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to say more.
In Yingfeng Pavilion, everyone harbored their own thoughts and remained silent.
.
In the side hall, the Initial Emperor sat on the low couch, with Huangfu Xuan kneeling sit before him, his face unable to hide his excitement.
Looking at his youngest son’s dark circles, the Initial Emperor smiled faintly. “Xuan’er, you didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Without answering Father Emperor’s questions, how could I dare sleep?” Huangfu Xuan quickly smiled obsequiously. “Fortunately, before dawn, I had answers to all the questions.”
“Then let’s hear them.” The Initial Emperor nodded slightly.
“Reporting to Father Emperor, according to my investigation, in Great Xuan central and local levels combined, last year there were a total of five hundred seventy-seven thousand three hundred sixty-one cases adjudicated.” Huangfu Xuan had memorized the data perfectly and rattled it off like beans from a bamboo tube. “Last year, the Ministry of Revenue’s income was one thousand eight hundred thirty million strings of cash, one million one hundred thousand shi of millet, and four hundred eighty thousand shi of rice. Expenditures were two thousand thirty-seven million strings of cash, one million four hundred thousand shi of millet, and four hundred sixty thousand shi of rice. Various provinces, commanderies, and counties’ income was two thousand fifty-five million strings of cash, one million nine hundred thousand shi of millet, and six hundred twenty thousand shi of rice. Expenditures were one thousand nine hundred twenty-eight million strings of cash, one million three hundred twenty thousand shi of millet, and three hundred ten thousand shi of rice.”
Swallowing some saliva, Huangfu Xuan continued with the third question. “Great Xuan has a total of twenty-one thousand eight hundred five officials paid by national salary. The state issues money and grain to one hundred seventeen thousand two hundred three clerks.”
The Initial Emperor listened with somewhat glazed eyes. This was the first time he had heard quantitative statistics about his own country. He hadn’t realized until now—one listen and it was shocking… Indeed, he had no answers to these three questions himself.
But when Huangfu Xuan finished answering and looked at him eagerly, the Initial Emperor nodded with a satisfied expression. “Not bad. You put in the effort. Go, call your third brother in.”
“Ah…” Huangfu Xuan’s mouth gaped wide, unable to hide his disappointment.
“You’re just a child. What’s the rush? Study hard first; there will be a place for you to shine in the future.” The Initial Emperor consoled him perfunctorily.
“Yes…” Huangfu Xuan deflated instantly and exited the side hall with his head down.
Once Huangfu Xuan was gone, the Initial Emperor glanced at Grand Inner Manager Du Hui standing by and asked quietly, “Old Du, do you think the numbers this child reported are accurate or not?”
“Such numbers with decimals and wholes— even this old slave couldn’t make them up.” Du Hui had been the Initial Emperor’s manager in his princely days, with a kind and benevolent face, completely opposite to Zuo Yanqing.
“You couldn’t make them up, nor could he, but someone could.” The Initial Emperor sneered. At that moment, Huangfu Shi entered. He stopped mid-sentence and looked toward his third son.
Although Huangfu Shi’s head wasn’t as quick as Huangfu Xuan’s, he still memorized the numbers firmly and reported them out with slight stumbles.
“Identical to what your youngest brother reported.” The Initial Emperor looked at the sturdy Huangfu Shi with a half-smile. “Impressive, impressive.”
“Heh heh…” Huangfu Shi grinned.
“Go on out.” Before he could speak, the Initial Emperor waved him off. “Call your second brother in.”
Like a basin of cold water over his head, Huangfu Shi wilted instantly and couldn’t help muttering softly, “Father Emperor, I’m not that young anymore.”
“True, but you haven’t read as much as Fourth…” The Initial Emperor jabbed sarcastically.
Huangfu Shi had no choice but to slink out dejectedly.
Soon, Huangfu Zhen entered. Unlike his two flamboyant and restless younger brothers, he appeared very steady.
“You say it too.” The Initial Emperor said flatly.
“Reporting to Father Emperor, Third Brother and Fourth Brother have already said it. For me to repeat would waste Father Emperor’s time.” Huangfu Zhen watched the Initial Emperor with slight vigilance. Clearly, from his brothers’ experiences, he sensed something amiss.
“Slippery.” The Initial Emperor snorted ambiguously, looking at his most mature and prudent son, and asked coldly, “Since you won’t repeat, then tell me where these numbers came from!”
