Chapter 358: Chapter 358

Zheng Fan had been to the palace in Yanjing before. That time, he had followed Eunuch Wei Zhonghe for quite some time.

In fact, the palace of Yan State was not large. Although the previous emperor had once expanded it due to his greed and vanity, Ji Runhao, after ascending the throne, dramatically transformed its use.

Ji Runhao was not an emperor who enjoyed indulgences. He disliked palaces, grandiose buildings, and gardens; even his daily imperial meals were rather simple.

As for women, to quote what Ji Chengjue once said to Zheng Fan, his father, the Emperor, was likely not a man fond of women, because he was always ruthless, even towards his own wives.

This was a cruel emperor. Ji Chengjue, never having seen a "machine," would likely have described his father as a heartless one if he had.

He showed no personal preference for his concubines in the harem. His selection of empresses and concubines was based entirely on their family backgrounds. To Ji Runhao, women were merely political tools and instruments for continuing the imperial line.

Most emperors had "romantic affairs" rumored among the common folk, who found such tales entertaining. Ji Runhao, however, had none; he had no interest in such matters. He had even had the families of two of his own women exterminated.

After meeting Zheng Fan, he had mused, Even if I don’t care about my own son, how could that boy not care in his heart?

And this was not mere talk.

Tian Wujing had exterminated his own family, and the Third Prince was merely a tool for Tian Wujing to vent his resentment. Ji Runhao had sanctioned this arrangement and still regarded Zheng Fan, the "executor" of this tool, with appreciation.

The melodramatic trope of the "heartless emperor" often appears in romance dramas, but with Ji Runhao, there was no hint of such affectation.

At this moment, in a pavilion in the imperial garden—the very same one where Zheng Fan and the Earl of North Border had once roasted lamb legs—snow was falling outside.

Ji Runhao sat inside the pavilion. Across from him sat an old man in a padded jacket, and between them was a chessboard, the game nearing its end.

The Yan region was bitterly cold. Even though Tiancheng was not the northernmost part of Yan, its winters were still harsh. This winter, however, so many people were suffering that many seemed to have forgotten the weather’s torment.

Inside the pavilion, a middle-aged man with a long beard knelt, his eyes shut as if asleep. Behind him, a young eunuch also knelt, ready to serve tea.

Wei Zhonghe, who was usually inseparable from Ji Runhao, was not present.

The white-haired old man playing chess with the Yan Emperor was Ning Fangsheng, the Minister of Rites for Yan State, his face already showing a few age spots.

"Heh, I’ve lost," Ji Runhao said, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

Minister Ning Fangsheng cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Your Majesty’s chess skill has indeed improved."

He was an emotionless emperor, a ruthless emperor, yet also one who was surprisingly easy to get along with. When playing chess with him, one did not need to intentionally lose or try to curry favor.

"You’re too kind, Elder Ning," Ji Runhao replied. "It’s been quite some time since I last touched a chessboard." This update ıs available on ⓝovelFire.net

With that, the Yan Emperor glanced at the middle-aged man kneeling beside him. The man was slumped over, eyes closed, his lips moving slightly with each breath. If one listened closely, faint snores could be heard.

Although snow was falling outside, the pavilion’s sides were draped with silk fabric, and woolen carpets covered the floor. Three charcoal braziers inside made it quite warm.

The middle-aged man started, opened his eyes, and then grumbled with some dissatisfaction, "Your Majesty, I had only just managed to fall asleep."

This middle-aged man was none other than Zhao Jiulang, the Prime Minister of the Great Yan court.

"You have had a trying time these past few days." The Yan Emperor did not seem to mind his minister’s attitude.

"Suffering itself isn’t so bad. What’s truly frightening is wanting to endure hardship but having no opportunity to do so. Forgive my jest, Your Majesty, but these days, though my body feels like it’s about to fall apart from exhaustion, my heart is truly content."

"Enough with the pleasantries."

"Your Majesty, you know I never offer you mere pleasantries."

"Alright, alright." Ji Runhao waved his hand dismissively, then turned to the Minister of Rites. "Elder Ning, if I recall correctly, you once passed the imperial examination in Qian State?"

Minister Ning stroked his beard and nodded. "You are too kind, Your Majesty. I was indeed somewhat unruly in my youth."

Qian State implemented an imperial examination system. The rank of Juren, obtained through it, was equivalent to passing a provincial examination. Yan people were permitted to participate in the imperial examinations in Qian State.

This tradition began a hundred years ago after the first Earl of North Border defeated the Qian State’s army. He then forcibly relocated the original Qian inhabitants of the Northern Three Prefectures into Yan. Later, after the war between the two states concluded, Qian State likely wished to propagate its "Kingly Virtues" or expand its influence through cultural assimilation. Consequently, they permitted the descendants from the original Northern Three Prefectures to take the imperial examinations in Qian.

This tradition continued and gradually extended to all Yan scholars, regardless of their ancestral origin, allowing them to participate in the Qian examinations.

It could be said that the people of Qian State were skilled in many areas, with the notable exception of military prowess. Conversely, successive generations of Yan Emperors maintained an open attitude towards this practice. One side dared to accept candidates for its examinations, and the other dared to allow its people to take them.

As for the matter of talent drain, it certainly occurred, but some would always return.