Chapter 8: Hosting the Poetry Gathering

Ning Chen understood clearly: political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Yet, at this moment, he possessed neither military authority nor much in the way of supporters. He was even kept under the constant surveillance of the Empress Dowager.

One must eat a meal one bite at a time, and approach tasks one step at a time. The first step to turning the tables during the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration was to completely subdue Fan Dayou and secure his full support—all while keeping the Empress Dowager entirely in the dark. This disaster relief effort was his only opportunity.

Though Fan Dayou was somewhat of a pedantic, stubborn scholar, he was a man of integrity, deeply devoted to the people. As a model and spiritual leader for countless scholars throughout the Great Ning, his reputation was well-established. Influential people in the world care about "face," especially the Imperial family. Even if the Empress Dowager wished to eliminate Fan Dayou, she could not simply kill him; instead, she had to collude with Zhao Siwen and others to frame him. Was this not all for the sake of that so-called "face"? To Ning Chen, this stubborn old scholar, whom everyone else dismissed, was his very lifeline.

As he pondered this, Xiao Anzi asked softly, "Your Majesty, where shall we go next?"

Ning Chen smiled. "To Fan Dayou’s house."

Xiao Anzi was startled. "Your Majesty, why go there? Didn’t we just see him this morning?"

Ning Chen flashed a mischievous grin and pouted. "I missed him. Is that not allowed?"

Watching this playful, adorable display, Xiao Anzi felt a moment of confusion. What kind of young master was he truly serving? Over this period, he had deeply sensed the profound depth of the young emperor’s mind; it was certainly not something a nine-year-old child could possess. In his view, few people in the world could compare. Faced with such a dire situation, this nine-year-old boy-emperor had not collapsed, but instead devised a series of meticulous plans. If the emperor had not explained them to him, he would never have guessed the boy's intentions. Perhaps even the Empress Dowager could not fathom the emperor’s thoughts. And yet, this emperor was such a cute child! Unconsciously, he became more convinced than ever that this young emperor would surely turn the tide. Moreover, he believed that in the near future, this emperor would change the entire Great Ning, if not the whole world.

By the time the carriage arrived at Fan Dayou’s humble home, it was nearly dinner time. Fan Dayou had not yet returned. When Xiao Anzi revealed their identities, Fan Dayou’s wife and children, who were in the middle of a meal, respectfully welcomed Ning Chen into their home. Seeing the radishes and cabbage on the table, the starving Ning Chen stood on no ceremony; he took a pair of chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

The couple stared at Ning Chen for a long time. They had long heard from Fan Dayou that this young emperor was a degenerate, incompetent fool. But seeing him now, how could such a pampered, extravagant emperor be so unpicky, so approachable, and so devoid of airs? Could this really be the useless young emperor from the rumors?

Just as they were stunned, Fan Dayou returned home with a grim face. Upon seeing Ning Chen, he was equally aghast. "Y-Your Majesty, why are you here?"

Ning Chen, while eating, gestured with his hand. "Come in and eat. I have important matters to discuss once we're done!"

Fan Dayou hesitated, then hurried his wife and children to the back room. "This old official is not hungry. Whatever instructions you have, Your Majesty, just speak them!" His tone was as dismissive and disgusted as before, filled with evident anger.

Xiao Anzi frowned. *As the Emperor guessed, this stubborn old scholar has started hating him again!*

Ning Chen only smiled. "What, couldn't get the loans?"

Fan Dayou froze, a flash of shock crossing his eyes, though he didn't ask how Ning Chen knew. Instead, he asked angrily, "Your Majesty, are you here to provide disaster relief, or to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday?"

He was truly furious. He had exhausted himself, selling his reputation to beg for donations, only to be turned away everywhere, raising a mere few tens of thousands of taels. Yet, he had heard a secret from others: the Emperor had gone to the Governor of Jingzhao, instructing him to have the wealthy citizens of the capital fund civilian celebrations for the Empress Dowager’s birthday! What angered him was not that people were unwilling to give for disaster relief, but that as soon as they heard it was for the Empress Dowager’s birthday—and that the Emperor himself had ordered it with the promise of future rewards—they scrambled to contribute. How could he not be enraged by such a contrast?

Even more frustrating was that if the Emperor could mobilize the public for birthday celebrations, why could he not do so for disaster relief? At first, he thought the young emperor understood the corruption behind the relief efforts, which is why he had given such bizarre orders that morning. He had even begun to think the boy was a genius, a wise ruler! But now he was certain the Emperor’s heart was not in disaster relief; those earlier measures were just to ensure as little money as possible was spent on it! His true goal was clearly to please the Empress Dowager! He was rotting wood—utterly hopeless!

Unexpectedly, Ning Chen simply wiped his mouth with his sleeve and looked at Fan Dayou with wide, innocent eyes. "I never said I was here for disaster relief! I am merely here to supervise your efforts!"

Fan Dayou stood frozen, his face flushed with rage. Before he could speak, Ning Chen’s gaze turned sharp. "I know you are full of complaints, but I am not your trash can!"

"A trash can?" Fan Dayou blinked.

Ning Chen continued, "If I hear you complaining again, or see this attitude once more, get out immediately. I have no need of you for disaster relief!"

*There it is again, that same tactic!* Fan Dayou was speechless. He took a deep breath, using fifty years of discipline to calm himself. *Do not be angry, do not be angry. If I die of anger, the disaster victims will truly have no one to help them!*

Seeing this, Ning Chen returned to his innocent smile. "I came to you because there is a very important matter you must handle."

Fan Dayou retorted crossly, "What is it? Just say it, as long as you don't threaten to fire me again!"

Ning Chen smiled. "Organize a poetry gathering!"

"A poetry gathering?" Fan Dayou was stunned. With the disaster so severe, he still had the heart for poetry?

Ning Chen said slowly, "I want to hold a poetry competition to select the most outstanding scholars to present their works at the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration!"

Fan Dayou curled his lip. "If you want to host a poetry contest, do it yourself. This old official has no time and no heart for it!"

Ning Chen chuckled; this old man was as stubborn as an ox. "What if I told you that if you organize the poetry gathering well, I promise to secure another 100,000 taels of relief silver from the Empress Dowager for you?"

Fan Dayou’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Ning Chen said solemnly, "A ruler never breaks his word!"

Fan Dayou pondered for a moment. "Very well, I can organize it, but you must..."

Ning Chen interrupted, "You have no right to set conditions for me. If you want that 100,000 taels, you must invite your teacher, Master Kong, to serve as the chief judge and attend the Empress Dowager’s birthday!"

"My teacher? T-that is impossible! He has lived in seclusion for many years..." Fan Dayou stood frozen in place.

Ning Chen said coldly, "Master Kong—twice an imperial tutor, a titan of literature. If you invite him, I will not only find a way to get you the 100,000 taels, but I guarantee the disaster will be perfectly resolved!"

"I know you don't trust me, but I don't need your trust. I give you seven days. If you cannot bring Master Kong, get out!"

With that, Ning Chen waved to Xiao Anzi and walked out without a second glance at Fan Dayou, leaving the old man standing there in a daze. Looking at the young emperor’s departing back, he muttered, "Is this truly just a child?"

"He actually used the lives of thousands of victims to threaten me!"

"He is... he is simply a little devil..."

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Anzi looked at the guards following the carriage and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your Majesty, I understand why you didn't tell him your true intentions."

"But why make him invite the famous Sage of Literature, Master Kong? Isn't that intentionally making things difficult for him?"

Ning Chen replied softly, "If I don't make it difficult for him, how can I deceive the Empress Dowager?"

"More importantly, the real reason I called Fan Dayou my lifeline is that only he has the possibility of bringing Master Kong out of seclusion!"

"And Master Kong is the trump card I need to turn the tide!"