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Before Even Taking Post, First Lighting a Fire (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
After taking care of these random matters, Li Hong Yuan clearly didn’t plan on opening his mouth again. These more or less already included majority of the important matters of the capital. The remaining trivial matters, if it still requires him to come take care of, then next time, he should just take care of these court officials.
Although there was still a pile of memorandums waiting for Li Hong Yuan to look at, these officials didn’t need to continue following his carriage anymore. They were ultimately elderly in age. Even if the speed was slow enough, they will still be tired.
The imperial palace right now was still under the Imperial Guards’ tight control. The people of the various palaces all weren’t allowed to casually go in and out. Starting from the first to now, it was already the eighth of the first lunar month, from top to bottom, it can be said that everyone was all anxious. No one knew where the path in front was, so it can’t be helped that these last few days, they were unable to eat well and sleep well, all sides inconvenient.
Once Li Hong Yuan entered the palace, despite knowing that the time in which their fate will be determined has come, because of having gotten suspended in midair for too long, they instead had a kind of ‘the dust has finally settled’ feeling.
However, clearly, they won’t be able to receive Li Hong Yuan’s sentencing. These trivial matters clearly will all be given to the newly appointed inner court team led by Eunuch Mu to handle. Towards the matters in the palace, Eunuch Mu clearly won’t be too unfamiliar, but for matters regarding the emperor, he just wasn’t that clear. However, it didn’t matter, at this time, there will absolutely be quite a few that were willing to offer their services before him. Regardless of how high their position was previously, for the sake of being able to stay, they can all have themselves lowered into the dust.
And for Eunuch Mu to be able to stay by Li Hong Yuan’s side for this many years and not get swapped out or die, it was already more than enough to prove his abilities and brains. As such, if he wants to learn, it also won’t be that taxing.
The first stop was naturally just Kunyi Palace, having the empress ‘moved’ out from Kunyi Palace. As for the imperial decree, it actually wasn’t that important and can just be filled in later. If Li Hong Yuan forgets, then it was just forgetting. Everything in Kunyi Palace all got swapped out. However, towards this kind of thing, the people of the Internal Affairs Department were also quite familiar with. For the most part, every time the owner changed, there will always be such a process. That’s why, a lot of things were actually already prepared, even though they don’t know why it was handling the empress’s residence first, but they don’t really need to know either. At this time, they just needed to bury their heads and work.
It was just changing the things, and not like the usual practice in Jing Wan’s past life, carrying out major renovations. That’s why, it was also quite quick.
Eunuch Mu examined the place inside and out. Aside from the details, it was overall satisfactory. As for the more specific arrangements, it can only wait until the mamas by wangfei’s side come to handle.
Although the empress and wangfei used different things, the daily necessities were still just those. As such, they probably still need to move quite a few things in from the manor, because he was very clear, back in the manor, when changing things, it was all done very slowly, and they won’t change this many things all at once. If too many at once, it will make one feel unfamiliar, thus it needed to be done gradually, needing to consider wangfei’s preferences.
For the entire Kunyi Palace, it naturally won’t just be that bit of people like back in the main courtyard of the manor. However, the Internal Affairs Department had plenty of people, and quite a few people will use every means possible to squeeze in. That’s why, when Eunuch Mu was admonishing the people below, aside from the people that will occupy the most important positions by the empress’s side, the rest were all present.
However, these people, they still don’t know their origins, so anyone can be mixed in among them. However, it also didn’t matter. They can take their time. This kind of thing naturally wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
After he finished handling, Eunuch Mu went back to report to Li Hong Yuan.
Li Hong Yuan at this very moment was in the imperial study handling governmental affairs. Even though he didn’t really want to sit in that chair, but because the dragon chair can’t be easily changed, needing to be remade, requiring time, that’s why, he could only make do.
However, Li Hong Yuan still very much disdained, letting someone wipe down countless times.
Below the imperial desk, there were quite a few officials. The officials of the third rank and higher in the capital that were still at their post were all present.
The ones among them that have once faced the true Li Hong Yuan before were still just the minority. In their eyes, although Jin Qinwang’s methods in the dark were impressive, he ultimately has never learned the ways of a ruler before, and also never gotten involved in governmental affairs before. The matters of the world were different from those matters of his previously. That’s why, the great majority just assumed that he will definitely be flustered, unable to organize properly, and will undoubtedly need their assistance. When time comes, they will definitely nicely show off.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, Ruan Rui Zhong, Luo Pei Shan, Qin Tian Ming, and such people were nevertheless very perceptive, having their head and eyes lowered. All in all, if Li Hong Yuan doesn’t issue a question, then they just won’t open their mouth. If Li Hong Yuan speaks, then they will just attentively and respectfully listen. If he inquires something, then they will just tell him everything they know and absolutely won’t hide anything. In any case, it was just completely unlike facing a new emperor.
However, by the time Li Hong Yuan had the matters taken care of one by one, concisely and comprehensively, directly getting to the key point, clear-cut and decisive, his work efficiency also exceptionally high, the people that originally were still thinking of greatly showing off, unconsciously broke out in cold sweat. Li Hong Yuan also never once got angry, his tone even the same from beginning to end, but it still made people hold their breaths, not daring to breathe loudly.
Ruan Rui Zhong and Luo Pei Shan glanced at one another, their eyes both filled with astonishment. Even though they’d long witnessed Li Hong Yuan’s abilities before, thinking about it now, he had truly held back a lot. Was this like a new emperor? No, Le Cheng Emperor had been the emperor for nearly thirty years, yet still unable to compare with him.
Li Hong Yuan was just a natural born ruler!
The matters that they originally thought would need a very long time to sort through, Li Hong Yuan just spent half a day.
Just, the area by the imperial desk was also quite messy. Those useless salutation memorandums, Li Hong Yuan just glanced at a few lines before throwing out, “In the future, the memorandums from the regional officials that are purely salutations, no need to pass up. Memorandums that are unable to get to the main point in three lines, all send back. For the various matters use different colors for the memorandum cover to categorize. All in all, for all the memorandums, prior to opening, one will just know what the contents will be about, and after opening, the contents need to be simplified and precise. If the memorandum gets returned three times, immediately demote by three ranks. And if it even ends up delaying matters, then add one more to the offense, and certainly will be punished severely.”
“Yes, your Majesty.” Ruan Rui Zhong deferentially responded.
He hasn’t even ascended the throne, yet he was already lighting a fire under them. But, after witnessing Li Hong Yuan’s abilities, no one dared to utter a sound. If not careful, that memorandum might just land on their heads. It was better to think about how to draft the rules, having the matter implemented.
Despite having them stunned, Li Hong Yuan ultimately held back a little, at least letting these officials relax a little.
“At present, we’re currently lacking manpower. Three head ministers of the six ministries are missing, and there’s also other vacant positions. You all should have an understanding inside. After the ascension ceremony, have it handled through court recommendation. Also, additionally set up an imperial exam, and prepare to have the imperial exam divided out from the Ministry of Appointments and given to the Ministry of Rites. You all need to be prepared.”
Once these words came out, it raised quite a bit of ruckus. This was clearly reducing the Ministry of Appointments’ power. Someone faintly looked towards Luo Pei Shan, vaguely guessing inside, was the new emperor already guarding against the in-law family from growing in power?
Luo Pei Shan was actually very calm and composed. Previously, when Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan were still in Jiangnan, Li Hong Yuan had presided over an imperial exam. At the time, Li Hong Yuan had already mentioned some plans with him, although he didn’t know that this matter was actually Jing Wan’s idea. That’s why, these things, he’d long considered. The Ministry of Appointments’ power was indeed a bit big, causing the six ministries to be severely imbalanced. From a long-term perspective, this wasn’t a good thing.
(T/N: Historically, the imperial exam was under the Ministry of Rites’ jurisdiction.)
That’s why, if Luo Pei Shan knew what they were thinking, then he would certainly tell them, you all truly thought too much.
After taking care of these matters, Li Hong Yuan had them all dismissed. The time was tight. That’s why, for the ascension ceremony, to just have the Ministry of Rites handling, it clearly wasn’t feasible, and at present, the Head Minister or Rites was gone, so probably still need to have Luo Pei Shan come lead.
Just, shortly after, someone finally recalled in hindsight, the second of the second lunar month seemingly was Jin Wangfei’s birthday. That’s why, for his Majesty to have the date selected on this day, it was for this purpose? Even though it was somewhat unbelievable, but there was a faint voice in their heart that kept telling them that this was precisely the truth.
Li Hong Yuan went to look at Kunyi Palace, ordering someone to make some more adjustments. Afterwards, everyone faintly sensed that the new emperor seemingly was preparing to permanently reside in Kunyi Palace. After all, the ins and outs of the palace had all been touched, yet only the bed chambers that originally belonged to the emperor, he didn’t set foot in at all. Even though right now, Le Cheng Emperor was still inside, but since there was a new emperor, he certainly will need to be moved out.
Solely based on Li Hong Yuan’s conduct previously, no one would believe that he was a filial one and won’t force Le Cheng Emperor to do anything.
This entire day, Le Cheng Emperor was just waiting on Li Hong Yuan to come, yet Li Hong Yuan seemingly had him forgotten. And the matters in the palace, under Li Hong Yuan’s tacit approval, actually all passed on into his ears.
He originally had the intention of clinging to the place and not leaving. After all, would Li Hong Yuan even have him killed? Not being filial was one thing, but committing regicide and patricide was just on a completely different level. Based on Li Hong Yuan’s actions these days, Le Cheng Emperor didn’t believe that he really didn’t care about his reputation. Yet, while he was prepared to ‘go all out’, his fist, in the end, didn’t even land on cotton. Le Cheng Emperor got ruthlessly angered again.
Li Hong Yuan at this time returned to Jin Qinwang Manor again.
When Jing Wan saw him, she didn’t say anything, smilingly embracing his neck. It was outside of expectation but within reason.
Chatting about the matters outside, for the most part, can be considered the usual routine between them.
“……….That’s why, Ah Yuan, you simply didn’t pay him any attention? Then, where do you plan on moving him to?” Actually, Jing Wan knew, in her husband’s heart, he really wanted to commit regicide, but some things, in this lifetime, ultimately didn’t happen. Moreover, living wasn’t necessarily just better than death. Some times, rather than living, it was better to just die cleanly.
“Isn’t there an imperial residence in Mount Xiang? Let him go there.”
Mount Xiang’s imperial residence wasn’t far from the capital, but it has been worn down by years of neglect, and throughout the entire imperial residence, there weren’t that many servants. That place was also just a tiny bit better than the cold palace. Jing Wan thought that he would let him move to Cian Palace that was originally for the empress dowager.
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Li Hong Yuan is already so efficient that the officials didn’t get to show off, lol. His changes are so reasonable that everyone’s work efficiency will just increase and he’ll get to spend less time on governmental affairs and more time on his wife! Can’t wait until they learn that he’s only going to reside in the Kunyi Palace because won’t have any harem candidates.
Thanks for the chapter! 😀