Back when the Late Emperor Zhaoqing hosted a banquet in the palace for his civil and military officials, Dian Chu happened to return victorious, and all the officials were there to celebrate!
Fa Yun offered Dian Chu a cup of wine, full of respect.
Unexpectedly, Dian Chu let out a cold snort and snapped, "A lowly eighth-rank official dares to toast me? Get lost!!"
Fa Yun was left feeling deeply humiliated and ashamed at the time, but Jia Tu stepped in and smoothed things over just in time, preventing the situation from escalating.
That was why, after Jia Tu's death, Fa Yun came to pay his respects alone, and later, when Jia Lingyun's appointment was put to a vote, he cast the sole vote in favor!
This was his way of repaying the kindness Jia Tu had shown him back then!
"This man certainly knows how to repay kindness. Second brother, look into him thoroughly. If he is truly reliable, I will put him in an important position!"
"Understood!!"
In the dead of night, a lone rider galloped across the distance and blocked the path of the Imperial Guard.
The guards raised their spears, instantly going on high alert.
"Who goes there?"
"Fa Yun, Junior Minister of the Ministry of War. I have an urgent matter to discuss with the Prime Minister!!"
Speak of the devil, Fa Yun had arrived. The three Jia brothers exchanged glances.
Jia Yi said coldly,
"Fa Yun intercepted our carriage. Could it be that he's here to suck up and curry favor just because our third brother promoted him?"
Jia Lingyun remained calm and collected, saying in a deep voice,
"If that really is the case, then I must have misjudged him!"
Jia Ruoxiang waved his hand at the Imperial Guard, signaling them to let him through.
The guards subjected Fa Yun to a thorough pat-down and inspection before finally opening a gap to let him in.
Fa Yun was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, and looking thoroughly disheveled.
"Greetings, Prime Minister!!"
"Get up. What is so urgent?"
Fa Yun raised his hands in a salute and asked,
"Prime Minister, how do your current achievements compare to those of your late father back in the day?"
From the look of him, Fa Yun was not here to flatter; he looked more like he was here to cross-examine!
Jia Lingyun kept his patience and replied,
"Back then, my father held the position of Prime Minister, and today I also hold the position of Prime Minister. They should be about the same!"
Fa Yun shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
"You are worlds apart! When your father was alive, all the officials submitted to him. He dared to hold a sword and force the Late Emperor to issue an imperial edict, keeping the eunuch Zhu Linhai, the Grand General Dian Chu, and the old Grand Preceptor Long Gu completely suppressed!"
"Today, the Prime Minister relies on iron-fisted methods to keep the officials in line and secure the position of Prime Minister, but the ministers' hearts do not submit; most of them are holding back and watching from the sidelines with ambiguous attitudes. On top of that, there are those three old foxes—Zhu Linhai, Dian Chu, and Long Gu—eyeing you like tigers watching their prey. If the Prime Minister cannot take it a step further, once the officials' fear and awe fade away, I fear the only thing left for you will be the infamous title of a rebellious subject and traitor!"
"Audacious!!"
Jia Yi rebuked angrily.
"Fa Yun, you just got a promotion and already you're getting full of yourself? Is 'rebellious subject and traitor' something you have the right to say?"
Fa Yun showed not a shred of fear, arguing his case with righteous conviction.
"Can the Prime Minister only listen to sycophantic flattery and bootlicking? Can he not bear to hear my words, which are bitter like medicine but capable of saving a life?"
Jia Lingyun felt that what Fa Yun was saying made a lot of sense.
After Cao Cao died, why did Cao Pi declare himself emperor? It was simply to surpass Cao Cao's achievements and stabilize the hearts of the people.
If his official rank was the same as his father's, how could he ever make the civil and military officials truly submit?
"Fa Yun, to go a step further—what is your intent? Could it be that you want me to declare myself... mmm-mm!!"
Before the word "Emperor" could leave his lips, Fa Yun hurriedly clapped a hand over Jia Lingyun's mouth.
"Prime Minister, watch your words! You are a supreme, loyal subject—of course you would never do such a thing. What this subordinate means is that the Prime Minister should go demand rewards from the Empress Dowager right now: request the Nine Bestowals, the privilege of having your name omitted from salutations during court audiences, the right to enter court without hurrying, and the right to ascend the throne wearing shoes and carrying a sword!!"
Jia Lingyun drew in a sharp breath.
Fa Yun had just handed him the complete starter kit for a rebellious traitor.
"Would that... be appropriate? Won't the people of the world think I'm trying to usurp Wei?"
Fa Yun chuckled softly.
"How the people of the world think is their business. If the Prime Minister is worried about public opinion, you should immediately seal away your official seal, hang up your hat, surrender yourself to be bound, and march to Càishìkǒu to slit your own throat. Only then will the people of the world have something nice to say about the Prime Minister!"
"What nice things would the people say about me?"
Fa Yun answered bluntly, full of righteousness.
"That you're a first-class idiot!!"
Jia Ruoxiang and Jia Yi's expressions shifted.
After witnessing their third brother slaughtering people without blinking in the grand hall today, Fa Yun was openly defying him like this—did he seriously have a death wish?
"Someone, drag Fa Yun away!"
"What an absolute madman, utter nonsense!!"
Jia Yi wanted to spare Fa Yun's life and intended to have the Imperial Guard escort him out safely, but then he heard Jia Lingyun burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha!!"
"Fa Yun, oh Fa Yun, you're good at everything, it's just that this mouth of yours is too vicious!"
"Lend me your horse; I am going into the palace to see the Empress Dowager right this instant!!"
Without a moment to lose, Jia Lingyun vaulted onto the horse, cracked his riding crop, and sped away.
The horse stumbled clumsily, leaving Jia Lingyun with a thoroughly numb backside!
"Hiss~~ Oh, what the fuck!!"
"This horse! What the hell?!"
"How the hell do you steer this thing?! I don't have a driver's license!"
"Whoa~~"
"Damn horse, shouting 'whoa' won't even make it stop!!"
"Disobedient... I'll beat you to death!!"
"Aaaaaargh!! Qingniao, save me!!!"
......
Fa Yun furrowed his brow slightly and asked in a low voice,
"My two lords, does the Prime Minister... actually know how to ride a horse?"
Jia Yi and Jia Ruoxiang exchanged blank stares.
"It seems... roughly... probably... as if... we've never actually seen Third Brother ride a horse before!!"
A look of concern flashed in Fa Yun's eyes, and he immediately moved to go rescue Jia Lingyun, only to be stopped by Jia Yi.
"No need to worry. With Senior Qingniao there, Third Brother will be safe and sound!"
.....
Outside the gates of the Imperial Palace.
Jia Lingyun was covered in dirt and grime, hurling curses at Qingniao.
"Big Sis, the next time you decide to kill a horse, could you please give me a warning so I can dodge out of the way? Look at my clothes!!"
Qingniao playfully poked out the tip of her delicate tongue.
"The situation was critical back then~ Next time, I'll definitely pay attention!"
The guards protecting the imperial palace were all men under Jia Lingyun's direct command, so they did not stop him when they saw him approach.
"Greetings, Prime Minister!"
"Where is the Empress Dowager? Go announce me at once—tell her I wish to see her!"
"Her Majesty is currently at Huaqing Pool, and she has already given orders that she will not receive any external officials today!!"
Jia Lingyun let out a cold snort. She wouldn't see him? Says who?
He wasn't going to coddle her!!
Jia Lingyun shoved the guards aside and, with Qingniao in tow, swaggered right past the front hall and into the inner palace.
While the front hall was guarded by the Imperial Guard, the inner palace was manned by eunuchs and palace maids from the Twelve Directorates.
Looking around, the surroundings were filled with rockeries, groves, lakes, and pavilions.
Jia Lingyun lacked the bold audacity of his father Jia Tu, who had dared to seize the emperor's women. As an external minister, trespassing into the inner palace was a capital offense, so once he stepped inside, Jia Lingyun found himself moving with extreme caution!!
Qingniao guided him smoothly through the visible sentries and hidden guards, and before long, they arrived outside Huaqing Pool.
Huaqing Pool was a grand palace surrounded by a wall three zhang high. The only arched entrance was guarded by palace maids and eunuchs.
A troubled expression crossed Jia Lingyun's face.
"Qingniao, should we just turn back the way we came?"
Qingniao knitted her pretty eyebrows.
"Why? Weren't you in a ten-alarm rush? Now that we're here, you're not in a hurry anymore? Did the fire go out?"
"Can't you see we can't get into Huaqing Pool!"
Qingniao curled her lips in dismissal.
"It's just a little fence. What's so hard about that?!"