#83 - Direct lineage cultivation
Early in the morning, Xu Ming was practicing the Kaitian Fist.
Although he was no longer in the Blood Floating Pagoda, he had already developed the habit of waking up early.
“Scholar Xu is really disciplined.”
After Xu Ming finished a set of punches and washed his face, Wei Xun came to Xu Ming's courtyard.
“Eunuch Wei.” Xu Ming cupped his fist in salute.
“Scholar Xu, His Majesty summons you.”
“Please wait a moment, Eunuch Wei, I’ll take a cold shower and change clothes before meeting His Majesty.”
“Alright.”
After taking a shower, Wei Xun led Xu Ming towards the direction of the harem.
“Eunuch Wei, this... is the direction of the harem?”
“Yes.”
“This, is it not convenient…?” Xu Ming asked.
Wei Xun smiled: “If His Majesty summons Scholar Xu, then it is the greatest convenience. Scholar Xu, just follow me. Don’t keep His Majesty waiting.”
Xu Ming: “…”
Arriving at the harem, Xu Ming felt like he had entered another world. Flowers and plants, courtyards and pavilions, large lakes and artificial mountains filled the harem. Palace maids came and went, and besides the palace maids, there were eunuchs. It formed a sharp contrast with the solemnity of the front palace.
Xu Ming kept his eyes straight ahead, only looking at the road ahead, not daring to look around casually.
Otherwise, if he saw something he shouldn't see from some talented lady or concubine, it would be over.
“Your Majesty, Scholar Xu has arrived.” After an incense stick's worth of time, Wei Xun brought Xu Ming to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
“Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty, pays respects to the Empress.”
Xu Ming cupped his fist in salute.
Emperor Wu was having breakfast with a woman, with palace maids serving on the side.
The woman's palace dress was mainly deep red, embroidered with a golden phoenix pattern, poised to fly. The tassels on the palace dress seemed like a red glow flowing on the jade steps of the palace. Her hair was styled high, adorned with golden hairpins, showing her nobility.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, her features as perfect as if crafted by nature. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, revealing a bit of charm with a light touch, and her eyes were like autumn water, deep and bright, seeming to hide thousands of tenderness.
Her high and straight nose added a bit of three-dimensionality to her face, and her lips were like peach blossoms, appearing reserved and restrained when pursed, and as bright and moving as spring flowers when smiling.
Her fingers were slender as jade, and her nails were painted with a light pink, making her look even more gentle and charming.
Only the Empress of Wu Kingdom could have a phoenix embroidered on her palace dress.
Even in the military camp, Xu Ming had heard of the Empress of Wu Kingdom's reputation—Xiao Ke, the number one beauty of Wu Kingdom, who ranked 93rd on the Red Beauty List solely based on her status as a mortal without any body tempering.
“No need to be so polite, come, take a seat and eat.” Emperor Wu beckoned to Xu Ming.
“This…” Xu Ming looked a little at a loss.
Emperor Wu smiled: “What, do you suspect that I have poisoned the food and want to harm you? Do you want me to test the poison for you first?”
Xu Ming: “Your subject dares not, your subject is just a little flattered…”
“Haha, this is the harem, there are not so many formalities between ruler and subject here.” Xiao Ke smiled, her voice as clear as a silver bell, “Xu Ming, just come and eat.”
“Yes.”
Since the Emperor and Empress had both spoken, Xu Ming could only go to the table.
The palace maid serving on the side served Xu Ming a bowl of pearl and jade porridge.
“Xu Ming, you don’t know, you are very famous in the harem.” Emperor Wu said with a smile, “That poem you sent to Zhu Cici, almost every concubine and palace maid can recite it. They often feel sad about autumn because of it, even Ke'er is the same.”
“Your Majesty…” Xiao Ke娇嗔 cried out, “Your concubine is not an immortal who can stay young forever. Can't your concubine lament that her beauty is fading?”
→
“Alright, alright.” Emperor Wu was very fond of the Empress’s tone.
Xu Ming, who was on the side, could only maintain a smile and didn’t dare to say anything.
After finishing breakfast, Emperor Wu took Xu Ming to the Imperial Study.
Emperor Wu was reviewing the memorials, and Xu Ming stood beside him.
Emperor Wu would occasionally ask Xu Ming about his views on some policies, complaining about the petty thoughts and infighting of some officials.
Sometimes, Emperor Wu would look at the memorials, and as he looked, he would directly throw the memorials and scold loudly. At this time, Xu Ming would lower his head, and Wei Xun would persuade him, “Your Majesty, calm your anger.”
There was no early court today, but Emperor Wu didn’t take a vacation either. From morning to noon, Emperor Wu kept working, acting like a workaholic.
Emperor Wu’s reputation among the people was very good.
A person’s reputation among the people often cannot be faked.
And after Emperor Wu finished processing the memorials, he would show the memorials to Xu Ming, and then ask Xu Ming: “Do you think there is anything wrong with how I handled this?”
How could Xu Ming dare to directly say “You are wrong”, he could only first praise “Your Majesty is wise”, and then put forward his own views.
In fact, Emperor Wu was just asking casually.
But some of Xu Ming's views were very unique and interesting.
For smaller things, such as the season when the plague was prevalent, Xu Ming advocated drinking more hot water, boiling the water before drinking it, and high temperatures could kill the “source of the plague” to a certain extent.
For larger things, such as Xu Ming suggesting the establishment of state-owned enterprises to unify the management of grain, salt, and iron under the state.
Not to mention “drinking more hot water”.
Unifying the management of grain, salt, and iron under the state can indeed greatly enrich the national treasury, and when there is a famine, opening warehouses to provide disaster relief can also curb merchants from profiting from national disasters.
But the problem is, this touches the interests of too many people.
Now, Xiao Mo Chi’s single whip method is already being impeached and overwhelmed.
Now do this again…
Not easy, not easy…
Food must be eaten little by little. Eating too much in one meal will kill you.
At noon, the palace maids brought lunch into the Imperial Study, and Emperor Wu called Xu Ming to have lunch together. Xu Ming could not refuse.
After lunch, Emperor Wu continued to review the memorials, without even taking a nap.
“This Xiong Wentian, you should be familiar with him. He is the old man of Xiong Hai Zhi, Minister of the Ministry of War. He is not bad, loyal, but he is too rigid in doing things, and he looks down on civil officials. However, you cultivate both civil and military skills. In the future, you should get along better with him. He is worth making friends with.”
“This Huang Liu, the Attendant of the Ministry of Personnel, is a very annoying person. He is too careful in doing things, and even often splits hairs, but he will definitely do well what you give him to do, and there will be no mistakes.”
“This Chang Sanqian, the Left Prime Minister, is young and promising, but now he is also an old fox, his ability is okay, he is greedy for money and lustful, just do some superficial work.”
In the afternoon, when Emperor Wu was reviewing the memorials, he introduced the character traits of various officials to Xu Ming.
Xu Ming listened with trepidation.
Xu Ming glanced at Wei Xun.
Wei Xun just nodded with a smile.
At this time, Xu Ming was sure that Emperor Wu was not seeing him because he was a “celebrity”, but really wanted to reuse him and cultivate him as a direct descendant!
[There are many things that the protagonist can’t write about before the age of sixteen. It’s very uncomfortable to hold back. Let’s see if we can get the protagonist to the age of sixteen as soon as possible, which is the real start of life.]
