Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 12 The Unfilial Son

"White mist is auspicious, and blue smoke is lucky?"

Yan Song, upon first seeing this so-called "prophecy that the Emperor received from a dream," also did not understand its meaning, so he tentatively asked a question.
"This... Eunuch Huang, I wonder what Master Tao's interpretation of this prophecy is?"

The "Tao Zhenren" mentioned by Yan Song was none other than Tao Zhongwen, an old Taoist priest who enjoyed the emperor's deep trust during the Jiajing reign.

Tao Zhongwen is now enjoying immense popularity, with his entire family and friends rising to prominence. Not only has he been appointed Minister of Rites and granted the title of Junior Guardian through his prayers for the sick and his blessings, but his wife, son, son-in-law, and grandson have also been granted titles and official positions. No one can rival his favor and influence.

However, this Minister of Rites is not the same as that Minister of Rites.

Only Yan Song held the real position of Minister of Rites, while Tao Zhongwen held only a nominal position, but enjoyed the same first-rank salary as the Minister of Rites.

This situation, where a single department has multiple nominal ministers, was extremely common in the Ming Dynasty; it was simply a way for the emperor to exceptionally improve the treatment of his trusted confidants.

That being said, everyone has their own area of ​​expertise.

Logically speaking, if the emperor really received some prophecy and needed someone to interpret it, he should have gone to Tao Zhongwen first. Even if he had to settle for second best, there were other sorcerers in the palace who could be used. It shouldn't have been his turn to write those worthless lyricists.

In other words, even if Huang Jin inquired privately in an attempt to guess the emperor's intentions, the same principle applies.

Moreover, since the Emperor ascended the throne, Huang Jin had risen from a study companion to the closest imperial eunuch. For twenty years, he had always been cautious and prudent, never interacting privately with court officials, and his relationship with the Emperor was merely a casual nodding acquaintance.

Today, Huang Jin suddenly called him aside in private and told him the truth about the prophecy the emperor had received in his dream. This was quite abrupt.

Therefore, in the blink of an eye, Yan Song had already realized that there was something fishy about this matter.

Tao Zhenren is unaware of this matter.

Huang Jin, who was already calculating without being caught off guard, easily noticed Yan Song's suspicion and simply smiled faintly.

"I see……"

Yan Song seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this, so this might not be any so-called proverb at all, but rather... an imperial edict that the emperor "unintentionally" revealed to him?
But what exactly is the purpose of this decree?

The Ministry of Rites was responsible for matters of rites and music, education, religion, ethnic affairs, and diplomacy. If the emperor issued any private decrees, they would generally fall within this scope.

In recent days, it seems that only... this palace examination has managed to alarm the Emperor?!

but……

Yan Song kept silently reciting the words on the piece of paper, deep in thought:
"White mist is an auspicious sign, and blue smoke is a lucky sign... White mist... Blue smoke... Could this be related to someone?"

"White fog... white fog... white fog... what is it?"

"Smoke rising...smoke rising...smoke rising...Yan Maoqing?!"

As he kept repeating it to himself, a name that had been mentioned countless times in his ears since yesterday suddenly squeezed into his mind.

Although the order is different, the pronunciation of each word matches.

Could the Emperor's decree be related to Yan Maoqing?
So, does "the one emitting blue smoke is auspicious" mean... a junior scholar?!
"Could it be that His Majesty is instructing me to use some means to select Yan Maoqing as a probationary official?"

The moment this thought came to mind, Yan Song subconsciously rejected it!
It shouldn’t be!

impossible?

Before today's announcement of the imperial examination, the emperor probably had no idea that such a person existed.

Even if this person manages to attract attention and finally catch the Emperor's eye after today's announcement of the imperial examination results, he will only incur the Emperor's displeasure and never have a chance to rise again. So why would he give me such instructions?

unless……

Yan Song couldn't help but think of Yan Maoqing's examination paper again. If the Emperor already knew the contents of Yan Maoqing's examination paper... then there seemed to be a sliver of a possibility.

Such a thing is not entirely impossible. Perhaps one of the examiners has already privately reported it to the emperor, or perhaps a patrol officer during the palace examination happened to see it and it could reach the emperor's ears.

Oh, and there's also Duke Guo Xun of Yiguo.

Since Guo Xun was able to send someone to win over Yan Maoqing last night, it is not impossible that he privately recommended this person to the Emperor.

Given the above premises, let's think about it more carefully.

The name Yan Maoqing could be a reason for the emperor to value him!
According to Yan Song, the current emperor also attaches great importance to the names of his officials.

There was once an official named Wu Peng. Just because "Peng" was the name of a mythical bird, the emperor considered it an overstepping of authority. He was forced to change his name and was demoted to a local county magistrate, implying that the Ministry of Personnel would never promote him to a position in the capital.

Six years ago, during the imperial examination, there was a tribute student surnamed "Ai". He had already been selected as the third-ranked scholar by the emperor, but after the sealed document was opened, the emperor thought that the surname was inauspicious and directly instructed the examiner to demote him from the first rank to the third rank.

Yan Maoqing's name happens to be a homophone of the phrase "making green smoke".

If the emperor's "prophecy" is as he suspects, then he has clearly taken note of this.

Since Huang Jin came to convey this "prophecy" to him, he probably wasn't completely unaware of it...

Thinking this, Yan Song finally raised his head, but then deliberately hesitated and pondered:
"Eunuch Huang, in my humble opinion, the 'one who raises white mist' and the 'one who raises Yan Maoqing'... no, no, the 'one who emits blue smoke' may refer to two auspicious omens that are about to appear in the world. If such omens are fulfilled in the future, it will be a sign that the current emperor is benevolent and virtuous, so the world is well-governed and the people are harmonious, their will is peaceful and their spirit is upright. Then the transformation of heaven and earth will be refined and the beauty of all things will arise, which is in line with the principle of the interaction between heaven and man."

As expected of the Imperial Phrases Writer favored by His Majesty, I humbly admit defeat!

Upon hearing this, Huang Jin sighed inwardly.

Most importantly, Yan Song seemingly made a slip of the tongue but actually tested the waters by saying the three words "Yan Maoqing," which shows that the other party has understood the emperor's decree. In this way, Huang Jin can be considered to have completed his master's task.

Huang Jin immediately bowed to Yan Song and said with a beaming smile:

"After hearing Minister Yan's explanation, I am truly enlightened. Thank you so much, Minister Yan, for clearing up my confusion!"

"Not at all, Eunuch Huang, you flatter me."

"I have important matters to attend to today and it is really inconvenient for me to stay any longer. I will thank Minister Yan with wine another time when I have more time. I will take my leave now."

"Please take care, Eunuch Huang."

Watching Huang Jin's retreating figure, Yan Song bowed slightly in farewell, having already obtained the answer he sought.

There's no mistake!

The Emperor wanted him to use some means to select Yan Maoqing as a probationary official in the imperial academy selection process.

Now that things have come to this, no matter what the emperor is thinking, he can only obey the imperial decree and carry it out in his own name.

Otherwise, he would be inferior to Xia Yan in governing, managing officials, and reputation. If he could not understand the emperor's will and could not share the emperor's burdens, what would he rely on to contend with Xia Yan?

only……

Yan Song couldn't help but recall the incident last night when Yan Shifan expelled Yan Maoqing from the Yuzhang Guild Hall.

Both he and Yan Shifan clearly misjudged Yan Maoqing, a relatively unknown newly appointed scholar.

How could he be considered an ant?
How could an ant so easily climb up to the Duke of Yi, and even receive such favor from the Emperor?
Hopefully, Yan Maoqing isn't a petty person; it's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost...

Enough said. When we get back, we must give Yan Shifan a good beating to teach this good-for-nothing son who only knows how to cause trouble a lesson. Otherwise, the Yan family will be ruined by him one day!
(End of this chapter)