"Tell me, Han Zhenyuan. Didn't my Ministry submit our appeal to your Ministry? But it went ignored for several days." Mu Mingde accused with a deep frown on his face. The other Ministers just watched the drama unfolding before them. Some sighed while others shook their heads. Han Zhenyuan let out a huff and replied, "Well, that's simply because you submitted your appeal too late. What else are you trying to say?"
The Emperor just watched the two men with grey hair on their heads argue before him. Mu Mingde walked a step closer to the other minister as he said, "Oh? Minister of Personnel, how then do you want us to complete the tasks? It's been taking forever with just a thousand workers."
"Then maybe you should just take your time with the job. Your Ministry submitted the appeal for two thousand workers when the royal decree only authorized one thousand. Nothing much can be done about this case." Han Zhenyuan answered indifferently and faced the emperor.
"Han Zhenyuan!!"
"Mu Mingde!!"
The Emperor's voice thundered in the room,"Enough. How dare you?!"
Everyone in the courtroom suddenly fell on their knees, including the two arguing ministers. No one dared offend the Emperor. He turned to the Minister of Personnel and asked, " Why can't this issue be resolved?"
Han Zhenyuan answered, "Your Majesty, there are no available workers right now. They're all on a project or two and I can't possibly remove them from the other projects. And the Minister of Works here submitted his appeal very late."
Mu Mingde had no comeback for that one. He simply gave a proud huff and turned his head away. The Emperor thought for a while, staring intently at both of them before finally deciding.
"Han Zhenyuan, search for five hundred more people who are willing to work and assign them under the Works Ministry and reward them properly in gold."
Han Zhenyuan simply bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Mu Mingde also bowed before Emperor Wang. Once again, the court was silent. Emperor Wang asked, "Is there anyone else?"
The Minister of Justice, Wei Shou'an came forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, this minister is here to give an account of the past three weeks."
The Emperor gave a slight nod as he rested against the throne with a composed expression.
The minister cleared his throat and began, "These past three weeks, the ministry has opened and reviewed a hundred and two criminal cases which were submitted across all provinces. About twenty two of them were cases of corruption among the local officials. Ten officials have been stripped off their positions and are waiting to be sentenced according to the law while others are awaiting further evidence on their cases.
"Local officials?!" A low voice came from the small crowd and a murmur swept faintly, everyone having his own opinion.
Koff! Koff! Koff! The Emperor's cough rang out loud and clear. The Eunuch, Su Ruohan passed him a clean, embroidered handkerchief which he quickly grabbed. The Ministers all chorused with courtesy, "May His Majesty live a thousand more years." The Emperor coughed a few more times, each cough harsher than the last. The ministers gave one another uneasy glances while some mildly shook their heads. By the time the Emperor calmed down, he took a look at the handkerchief and staring back at him were streaks of dark blood. The Chief Eunuch caught a glimpse of it and immediately called out, ,"Your Majesty, is that blood?" Turning towards the guards stationed at the doors, he instructed, "Guards! One of you call the Imperial Physician now."
"The imperial Physician?"
"What's going on?"
The ministers asked among themselves and once again, the court became noisy. The Chief Eunuch stepped forward and turned towards them, "By His Majesty's command, this court's session is postponed. All will return to their various residences this minute. All matters left unspoken today will be presented and discussed next meeting." The ministers all fell to their feets, "We obey His Majesty's command." The Eunuch led the Emperor away first as the ministers watched. Only after he left did the ministers begin to move out of court in silence.
........
The Kitchen building was a big one with a clean environment. As Zhang Li entered with the sleeves of her dress rolled up to her elbows, the smell of something delicious whiffed past her nose.
"Something sweet must be cooking right now." She thought loudly. Steam rose from the pots, fellow servant girls moved here and there with baskets and trays while some were chopping up some meats and vegetables. One of the first spotted her and asked, "You were the one who entered yesterday?"
Zhang Li turned to the owner of the voice and smiled. It was a young girl who looked just a few years older than her, maybe two or three with a very pale skin and few whip marks. She must have suffered a lot here. The girl spoke as she pointed to one of the work slabs, "Just chop some of the vegetables and check the boiling brother from time to time."
"Alright." Zhang Li responded and proceeded with the work. After some minutes, she heard a sharp voice from behind," Oh, my. Look who's here. It's the new girl."
Zhang Li glanced at the girl from head to toe. The servant girl stood some steps away with arms folded and an arrogant expression. She had a silver hairpin placed carefully on her head which didn't seem normal because slaves didn't have such luxury. Behind her were two other girls who equally had arrogant expressions but neither of them had a hairpin which gave Zhang Li a rough guess of their positions.
Resuming her chopping, she asked a question, not like she cared at all though, " And who might you be?"
The girl smirked and walked closer while playing with her light shawl, "Who might I be? I'll tell you now. I'm Wan Rong and- "
" Now Wan Rong, you tell me, why aren't you working? And who are those behind you? I thought everyone should be working or is it not?" Zhang Li asked as she continued chopping and a few of the girls chuckled. Wan Rong was silent for a while before laughing, " This is interesting. Why would I work? I'm not cut out for such activities meant for your kind."
Zhang Li dropped the knife and asked, "Oh? Then, why are you in that dress? Isn't that the dress for my kind?"
Another round of chuckles filled the kitchen and Wan Rong folded her fists. Zhang Li sighed dramatically and continued, "I'm just concerned for you. We shouldn't try to behave all high and mighty while we're in here, don't you think. You're still a slave girl, no double ways about it."
"What did you just say?" Wan Rong asked, ready to explode.