Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

In the eighteenth generation of Da Shao’s dynasty, the Emperor has been ruling with righteousness for twelve years.

In the Palace Court hall, a group of high ranking officials has a report of indictment charges for bribery against another official. They are still waiting for the final verdict from the Emperor who sat on the throne. Soon after, another group walked out of their stations and asked  for the pardon of the said official. They are pleading for his crimes to be absolved because the man has spent his entire life working for the better of the country. Even if he has no merit to credit him, still his efforts should be counted. What he had done in a moment of weakness, so they requested for the Emperor to have mercy and so on…

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In short, all of this happened because of the obese official. He is kneeling on the ground while the Ministers are debating whether to simply kick him or fry him in an oil pan.

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Standing at the last row, Li Qing’s head could not help but nod every time to everyone’s comment. He seems to agree to everyone, though no one really knows which of the party he was in favour.  He is nodding to ensure himself for any foolproof and in a way made him no commitment to anyone.

“Your Majesty, I’ m being framed by the villain” said the fat old man tearfully to plead his innocence.

The young Emperor quietly listened to each party’s pleading, the corner of his  lips raised and unhurriedly, started to speak, “Oh, which villain dares to provide conclusive evidence, fabricated charges and framed you? Let me hear the name and I will help your case.”

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The Emperor’s word has stopped his furiously noisy officials. Silence can only be heard in the halls. Not knowing His Majesty’s temper, may result to anyone being done as an official.

Li Qing was still nodding, but more frequently to the point that his head is closely dropping to the ground.

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The Emperor’s eyes quickly swept over his courtiers below, and stopped on top of Li Qing’s head.

“Li Qing.” The Emperor called.

Li Qing was still nodding, but did not reply.

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The closest official to Li Qing was De Gang Bai, who hastily pulling his top elbow, but there was still no sign of response, De Gang Bai was simply anxious that he rolled his eyes.

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‘This guy really have little nerves to just dozed off here.’

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“Rites a.s.sistant Minister Li Qing”, the Emperor patiently called him, his tone was gentle not showing his anger.

The officials sweats coldly, their faces were  blackening with one line of thought. “Where does Li Qing gets his courage, daring to fall asleep inside the Court Hall so often?” Clearly he doesn’t value his life.

Unfortunately, Li Qing was there for the last six years. The Emperor doesn’t find any reason to take his life or dismiss him from his duties. His Majesty was the one who appointed him an idle position neither promoting nor demoting him.

The Emperor slightly give a wink to his personal servant beside him. Wei Xiao Miao immediately walked down the hall to Li Qing and said, “Lord Li, His Majesty summons you.”

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De Gang Bai had elbowed him once more with more force, causing him to wobble, Wei Xiao Miao helped to steady him.

Li Qing was belated looked up, blinked his misty eyes that seems not getting enough sleep, his eyes did not catch a glimpse of the emperor who was looking down at him.

‘What?’

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“Li Qing” the Emperor then called out again.

Li Qing stood, respectfully replied: “I’m here, Sire.”

“What do you think?”

‘What is it that am I supposed to think?’, Li Qing blinked in confusion and looked ahead at the other officials which stood  at the middle of the Court Hall. He ambiguously replied, “As discussed Your Majesty Lord Huang had justified the case, Lord Wei Chen’s words are also agreeable, while Lord Chen…..”

In the end, the fat official kneeling down starts to sweat coldly as well.

“What way?” , the Emperor’s faint smile become curvier.

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The Officials thought that the Emperor was obviously intimidating Li Qing and cannot help gloating inside. They guessed that if the Emperor did not spare him again, then the Official would take his hat and His Majesty will order him to be dragged outside, give a few thrashes then be demoted.

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“Li Qing, the Emperor asked for your Excellency’s opinion on the bribery charges of buying official rank and discrimination against the citizens by Lord Chen.” Wei Xiao Miao reminded him and also taken the initiative to explain the Emperor’s question again.

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Li Qing understood the situation whilst he slept in the hall, hastily resorted to the old trick “sit on the fence” and reb.u.t.ted: “Your Majesty, the ancient quote, ‘If one does not encounter the situation before, then one should disregard one’s judgement.’ Therefore I am afraid to dare comment on Lord Chen’s case.”

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‘What he has said made no difference, he just uttered nonsense!”The officials all felt the same.

The Emperor was neither angry nor continued to intimidate him. He just smiled, looked away and returned with the other ministers to continue the meeting. Therefore, the officials thought that His Majesty must simply laugh at Li Qing and does not value his opinion.

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Li Qing did not seemed to be bothered by the situation and resumed sleeping which he perfected while standing but he decreased the number of his nod.

When describing Li Qing, he seems plain with average intelligence. He does not have many vices or virtues and his rank could be described as moderate.

Ironically, even though he is an average person, one cannot be promoted to any official rank. However, six years ago, he had blocked a sword meant for the Emperor and saved him. Thus, he was promoted from the fifth level of Service Ministry to the third level official in Rites Ministry, that’s why he was able to enter the Court Hall for Stately Meeting.

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Although he was severely injured because of the stab wound which nearly took his life, it still did not explain his att.i.tude. Usually, when one was given opportunity to enter the Main Court Hall, that person uses this chance to rise further in his career. He did not tried this path but instead made a habit of just sleeping and yawning. This of course set off many ambitious and young officials whose goal is to become  greater. They were jealous and with clenched teeth publicly scold him as a “gutter.”

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He did not care and ignored them, he just sighed: “So, why are you describing  a Court Official as a gutter? If the court is really a pit, then the Court Officials will be some sort of things inside it,”

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This statement spread out and caused many officials filled with anger. Thus they accused him of slandering the court and charged him ruining its reputation. Then they implored the Emperor to severely punish him.

The Emperor thereby specially summoned him to his Royal Office for questioning, asked him if he indeed said “The court is latrines and that the court official are muckworms?”

“Your Majesty, your servant dare not slander and mock the court officials, it is not I who said the court is a pit.” Li Qing face was blameless but neither showed expression of flattering.

If one looked at his words being used literally, then his answer was indeed true.

The Emperor did not mind, he just smiled and said, “Are you smart or stupid when you said it?”

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“Your Majesty is right and just.”Li Qing responded obediently with very sincere att.i.tude and humility.

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“Alright”, the Emperor decided not to pursue the matter further and personally recorded in the memorandum that “the speaker has no intention but the listener was misintended.”

These words were a cynical rebuff to those who had laid the charges and the what ‘so-called getting hold of evidence’ in “slander and ruining the court”, counts against them and further pursuance of the subject means for them to wear it. This kind of situation does not really resolve anything but concluded the saying “If the hat fits”.

They were not able laid on one single hair of Li Qing since the incident and he continued to go on with his merry way, living his easy and pleasurable official life.

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Since the Da Shao’s dynasty rule for eighteen generations, the nation is prosperous with little trouble over domestic issues, and good defence against foreigners that cause no fear for external invasion. Issues such as natural disaster, forces of event outside of their control; a corruption charge for bribery and oppression of the citizens caused by Official Chen was rare. Moreover, it’s not every day occurrence that a corrupt official kneels in the Court Hall. It’s a brand new topic for the people to discuss that the common routine report staged a court drama that’s why one cannot blame for Li Qing to be lost in Land of Morpheus.

The advantage of standing at the end row has allowed him to take a nap; all he has to do was not to fall down (sitting position) to sleep.

The main law of Da Shao for the Emperor was to oversee meetings everyday at the Court, this ensure the Officials from becoming lazy. Fortunately, each of the Emperors taken their responsibilities seriously with diligence and caring. Thus without exception had made Da Shao prosperous for many centuries which resulted for unshakable national power. Prosperous period means there was no need for heroes and as a result peaceful time had nurtured Li Qing to became unambitious official was not surprising.

Logically this humble officer should not enter the Emperor’s eyesight. However, they were unsure when the Emperor started to occasionally summon Li Qing to invite, whenever there is a feast or hunt. The two rarely speak to each other, nor shown any intimate behaviour, and sometimes the Emperor almost ignore his presence, as if he doesn’t exist.

Some sensitive officials were suspicious, others feel strange but could not find what was the exact problem. They did not understand why the emperor had this “spare” person beside him. Well if this person was from an old n.o.ble family or an elegant man like Scholar Lou Chu Yun, then there’s no need for an explanation. Li Qing was not from old n.o.ble family, at most his appearance could be described as fine placid, and compared to Lou Chu Yun(known as today “Pan An”) was far worse. Even Wei Xiao Miao was better looking than him.

‘Not able to figure it out; yeah, still not able to figure out’

The Sixth Duke, the most beloved brother of the Emperor was forthright to these officials unhesitatingly gullible question: “If one could able to read what are on the Emperor’s mind, then you might as well be the Emperor.”

“Your subordinate is frightened”; “your subordinate is frightened.”

Since then, the officials were not dare to made further speculation privately or otherwise on how the Emperor treated Li Qing. Anyway, from whatever point of views on Li Qing, he was harmless and un.o.bstructed so there’s no need to worry.

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Let’s return to the present. Inside the court hall, from the perceptive Emperor’s sight of Li Qing, although he no longer saw him nodding his head. Still the anxious man sometimes frown, bite his under lip to prevent from yawning and sometimes quietly rubbed his waist and legs seems. It seems to giveaway that fact and might not stand up any longer.

The Emperor decided to discuss the prevention of White River flood for another day, “Today we’ll stop here, the Royal Meeting ends.”

“Your servant, escort Your Majesty out.” The Emperor leaved precisely as the Courtiers echoes sound of custom for his exit.

‘…. could finally relax.’ Li Qing cannot wait and walked out the hall, his thoughts was how quickly return to his office and sleeping there again.

Only a few steps away when Wei Xiao Miao voiced was behind him: “Li Qing, please stay.”

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Li Qing frowned, really wants to pretend he did not hear and although he was unwilling to stop but still turned around, “Official Wei is there a problem?”

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“The emperor summoned you to His Royal Office.”

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“Now?”

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“Yes, please depart immediately, do not let His Majesty wait.”

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Li Qing face suffered gravely, he really want to say ‘Let me go to sleep first’,  but the Emperor had summoned him. He dare not delay his meeting, unless he was tired of living, so he followed Wei Xiao Miao towards the direction of the Royal Office.

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“Lord Wei, I really wanted to say thank you.” Li Qing offered his sincere thanks.

“Lord Li, please call me Little Miao, do not called Lord, it will be the ruin of me.”

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