novelAbuy Chapter 90 Yang Jian's Hidden Motives
Chapter 90 Yang Jian's Hidden Motives
Chapter 90 Yang Jian's Hidden Motives
Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) was a playful and mischievous man with a keen interest in unusual and ingenious things.
He saw that although the back garden of Baoci Palace was not large, it was lush with flowers and trees. The late-blooming osmanthus and daphne were in full bloom, with a delicate and elegant fragrance. He also saw that the eunuch Yang Chuo was skilled at pruning the flower branches, so he became interested.
He turned to Empress Dowager Xiang, who was sitting on the veranda watching them with a smile, and said, "Your Majesty, you have taken excellent care of this garden! These daphne plants are so gnarled and twisted, and their fragrance is especially strong. They are much better than those gardeners in my household. This servant's skills are quite good."
Empress Dowager Xiang smiled and said, "You have a sharp eye. Yang Jian is in charge of the flowers and trees in the back garden. He has some clever ideas and takes good care of these plants."
Zhao Ji seized the opportunity to speak.
"Your Majesty, as you know, the garden in my residence is very neglected. Everything we plant dies, and it's a waste of such a good place. I was just thinking of finding someone knowledgeable to fix it up."
"Or—why don't you lend Yang Jian to me for a few days? Let him go to my residence and give those clumsy gardeners some pointers, so that my garden can absorb some of the celestial aura from Your Majesty's place!"
When Empress Dowager Xiang heard this, she thought that Zhao Ji was just a child, wanting to take whatever was good to his own residence, and she didn't pay much attention to it.
He's just a eunuch who knows how to tend to flowers and plants; it's fine to borrow him for a few days, and it'll even make me look kind.
"Fine, if you like it, let him come to your residence to help out for a few days. Just make sure he brings it back to me when he's done using it, and he'll also take care of my flowers and plants."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Zhao Ji said with a beaming smile, quickly expressing his gratitude.
Zhao Mingcheng, standing to the side, felt a slight stirring in his heart; he had encountered another famous historical figure from the Northern Song Dynasty.
Yang Jian was a clever and cunning man who was good at understanding the intentions of his superiors and was also skilled at managing finances and accumulating wealth.
During the later years of Emperor Huizong's reign, Yang Jian, along with Liang Shicheng and Tong Guan, were powerful eunuchs. Although they ultimately met tragic ends, their abilities and scheming skills should not be underestimated.
The course of history has now been altered by his arrival, but this man is currently in the Empress Dowager's palace and has clearly gained some prestige because of his flower-growing skills.
If we can take this opportunity to establish contact with them —
Zhao Mingcheng remained expressionless, only bowing and thanking the Empress Dowager along with Zhao Ji, but his gaze lingered for a moment on Yang Jian, who was bowing and accepting the order.
Yang Jian was all smiles and respectful, but the occasional glimpse of his eyes revealed a shrewdness and keen observation.
This is a person with ambition, desire, and the ability to seize opportunities.
Zhao Mingcheng had made up his mind.
On the carriage back to Prince Duan's residence, Zhao Ji was still enthusiastically discussing the flowers in the Empress Dowager's palace, pondering how to have Yang Jian renovate his own garden.
Zhao Mingcheng listened with a smile, occasionally echoing a few words, but his mind was racing with calculations.
The next day, Yang Chuo packed a small bundle and, led by a young eunuch from Baoci Palace, arrived at the Prince Duan's residence.
The chief eunuch of the mansion, Liang Shicheng, had already received instructions from Emperor Huizong to personally receive them at the second gate.
Having spent many years immersed in the palace, Liang Shicheng possessed a keen eye for talent.
He saw that although Yang Jian was only on loan, he must have some ability to be allowed by the Empress Dowager to serve Prince Duan. In addition, Prince Duan seemed to value the garden quite a bit, so he treated Yang Jian with courtesy.
"You must be tired from your journey, Yang Gongfeng," Liang Shicheng said with a forced smile. "His Highness has instructed that the affairs of the garden be entirely entrusted to you. If you need any flowers, trees, or tools, just tell me. The gardeners in the manor are also at your disposal."
Yang Jian immediately bowed, adopting an extremely humble posture.
"You flatter me, Your Highness. I am merely here on the Empress Dowager's orders to do my utmost for Your Highness. How could I presume to entrust you with anything? Everything is at Your Highness's and Your Highness's command; I will do my utmost."
Liang Shicheng nodded and led him toward the back garden of the Prince's Mansion, speaking casually as they walked.
"Our prince is kind and gentle and treats his servants very well. Just do your job well and his prince will reward you. There are not many guests in the mansion now, but there is one, Zhao Mingcheng, the young master Zhao. He is the brother our prince values most and is closest to. He often visits the mansion."
His Highness listens to Young Master Zhao's words without question. You are a clever person; you should know who to favor in the manor.
These words, though brief, are perfectly clear.
Yang Jian felt a chill run down his spine, immediately recalling the composed and handsome young man who stood beside Prince Duan in the Empress Dowager's palace yesterday.
It turned out that the man was the "Young Master Zhao" mentioned by the official Liang, the most favored person by Prince Duan's side.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir! I understand, I understand," Yang Jian replied repeatedly, firmly engraving the name "Young Master Zhao" in his heart.
In the days that followed, Yang Jian stayed at the Prince Duan's residence, where he was in charge of managing the back garden.
He is indeed quite skilled, with a knack for understanding the habits of flowers and plants, pruning and shaping, and transplanting.
In just a few days, the garden, which was originally a bit messy, was tidied up and put into good order. Things that needed to be trimmed were trimmed, and things that needed to be replanted were replanted. Several small scenic spots were also designed according to local conditions.
Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) inspected the items several times and was very satisfied, rewarding them with some silver and cloth.
As Liang Shicheng had predicted, Zhao Mingcheng frequently visited the residence.
Sometimes he would discuss books and paintings with Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), or play football. Other times he would stroll alone in the garden and contemplate.
Every time he saw Yang Jian busy in the garden, he would stop and watch for a while, occasionally asking a question or two about the varieties and habits of the flowers and plants. His attitude was peaceful, without any airs of a noble guest or a member of the elite.
Once, Zhao Mingcheng pointed to the crabapple tree that Yang Jian had just pruned and asked a question.
"Master Yang, if we prune this crabapple tree now, will it bloom well next year?"
Yang Jian quickly put down the flower shears and replied respectfully.
"In reply to your question, young master, the flower buds of the Malus spectabilis mostly grow at the tips of the current year's branches. At this time, in late autumn, it is advisable to prune old, weak, and diseased branches appropriately to improve ventilation and light penetration, accumulate nutrients, and the flower buds will be fuller and denser next spring. Just make sure the cuts are smooth to prevent pests and diseases from entering."
Zhao Mingcheng carefully examined the pruned branches and nodded in approval.
"As expected of Yang Gongfeng, your incision was clean and precise, and the bud placement was excellent. It seems that the Empress Dowager was right to entrust the Baoci Palace Garden to you."
As he spoke, Zhao Mingcheng took out a small ingot of silver from his sleeve, weighing about five or six taels, and handed it over, saying, "You've worked hard these past few days. Take this as an offering and have some tea."
Yang Jian was taken aback. He served in the palace and his monthly allowance was limited. The occasional rewards he received were just some small copper coins or snacks. He had never seen a distinguished guest in the mansion casually give him five or six taels of silver as a reward.
Moreover, the young master Zhao was very polite and praised his skills, which made him appreciate the respect more than money.
His heart warmed instantly, and he quickly accepted it with both hands, bowing deeply.
"This servant thanks Young Master Zhao for the reward! It is my honor that my humble skill has caught your eye. I would gladly die for you if you ever need my help!"
Although Yang Jian's words were somewhat exaggerated, his gratitude was genuine.
Zhao Mingcheng smiled slightly and helped him up: "You flatter me by saying so. Just do your job well."
Having said that, he turned and left.
After that, Zhao Mingcheng would occasionally "bump into" Yang Jian in the garden, sometimes asking about the flowers and plants, sometimes chatting about trivial matters in the palace—
Of course, the questions were asked very skillfully, often starting with, "How is Your Majesty the Empress Dowager's health lately?"
How are the prized peonies at Baoci Palace blooming this year?
Such trivial words, and each time they left, they would always leave some reward money, sometimes silver, sometimes some exquisite but not very valuable trinkets.
Yang Jian had lived in the deep palace for a long time. Although he was somewhat clever and good at flattery, he was ultimately just a low-ranking eunuch in charge of flowers and trees. He had no powerful backing and had no chance of getting ahead.
Now, working at Prince Duan's residence, not only is the job easy and he has gained the prince's favor, but it is also rare to find that this young master Zhao, who is clearly the prince's confidant and has a promising future, is so approachable, respects his skills, and often provides him with practical benefits.
This gave him a feeling of relief after a long drought, and his goodwill towards Zhao Mingcheng grew day by day. He felt that although this young master Zhao was young, he was calm, magnanimous, and kind to others, and was a benefactor worth relying on.
The groundwork for the relationship has been laid.
On this day, a light autumn rain fell. Zhao Mingcheng watched the rain alone in the pavilion in the garden. Yang Jian, holding an umbrella, brought a pot of freshly pruned marigolds to decorate the pavilion.
Zhao Mingcheng asked him to sit down and poured him a cup of hot tea, pushing it towards him.
"Has Yang been serving in the Empress Dowager's palace for quite some time now?" Zhao Mingcheng asked casually.
"Replying to Young Master, I have been in the palace for sixteen years, and I have been serving the flowers and plants in Baoci Palace for seven or eight years," Yang Jian replied carefully, holding the warm teacup, feeling a warm glow in his heart.
"Seven or eight years—that's not easy." Zhao Mingcheng nodded, his tone gentle.
"The Empress Dowager is benevolent and virtuous. It is a blessing to serve by her side. Your Highness is also extremely filial to the Empress Dowager and often thinks of her. We, as her subjects and sons, should always keep in mind the Empress Dowager's good health and happiness."
Yang Jian, being extremely quick-witted, immediately understood the implied meaning and hurriedly replied.
"What you say is true, young master! Your Highness is so filial, I have heard about it in the palace. The Empress Dowager also often thinks of Your Highness, saying that although Your Highness is not her biological son, he is more considerate than many biological sons."
Zhao Mingcheng smiled, his fingers gently stroking the rim of the warm teacup. His voice was lower, but clearer.
"The Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent. It is the Prince's blessing to win her favor, and it is also our good fortune. However, since the Empress Dowager has been living in the deep palace for so long, if those who serve her could also be more discerning in their understanding of the Empress Dowager's wishes and speak well of the Prince, letting the Empress Dowager know that the Prince is not only filial but also benevolent and wise, able to share the Emperor's burdens and serve the country—that would be the icing on the cake."
Zhao Mingcheng raised his eyes and looked calmly at Yang Jian.
"Yang Gongfeng is a clever man who often stays close to the Empress Dowager. Sometimes, a casual remark he makes can have an unexpected effect. Your Highness is kind and will not forget those who have made contributions."
Yang Jian's heart pounded.
Young Master Zhao's words couldn't be clearer!
Young Master Zhao wanted him to speak highly of Prince Duan in front of the Empress Dowager, praising the prince's benevolence, filial piety, and talent!
This is clearly a tremendous opportunity being presented to them!
If we can handle this matter well and win the favor of Prince Duan and Prince Zhao, we will have no worries about getting ahead in the future.
Compared to being an unknown gardener forever in Baoci Palace, this is simply a shortcut to heaven!
He suppressed his excitement, put down his teacup, rose from his seat, bowed, and spoke with a suppressed tremor and determination.
"Young Master's guidance has enlightened me! I have witnessed His Highness's benevolence, filial piety, and wisdom firsthand in the palace, and I deeply admire him. Upon returning to Bao Ci Palace, I will certainly keep his teachings in mind and speak highly of His Highness's filial virtues to Her Majesty. However—"
Yang Jian hesitated for a moment, "This servant is of low status and my words carry little weight, I'm afraid—"
Zhao Mingcheng, knowing his concerns, cut him off.
"It's not about whether your words carry weight or not, but about timing and appropriateness. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is wise and will make her own judgment. You only need to do your duty, tend to the flowers and plants, and make Her Majesty feel comfortable. When Her Majesty asks about the Prince's residence or talks about the Prince, you can naturally mention how His Highness cares for Her Majesty, how loving he is to his brothers, and how diligent and ambitious he is. Besides that—"
Zhao Mingcheng paused, his voice becoming even softer.
"In the future, if there are any new or unusual events in the palace, especially those related to the ladies and princes, if it is convenient for you, when you come to the Prince's residence to report on the condition of the flowers and trees in the garden, you can also mention it to Minister Liang or me. Your Highness cares about the Empress Dowager and the elders in the palace. Knowing this will allow us to serve you more thoroughly."
This was a clear request for Yang Jian to relay messages from the palace.
Yang Jian understood perfectly; this was both a pledge of loyalty and a demonstration of his worth.
Without further hesitation, he bowed deeply.
"This servant understands! I will certainly not fail the young master's trust! I will keep in mind the Empress Dowager's good health and all matters in the palace. Every time I come to the mansion to take care of the flowers and trees, I will inform either Master Liang or the young master."
"it is good."
A satisfied smile appeared on Zhao Mingcheng's face. He then took out a slightly larger silver ingot and placed it on the stone table.
"The journey is arduous; these can serve as payment for your travel expenses and tea. Yang Gongfeng is a wise man; he knows what to say and what not to say."
This matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. There's no need to mention it to His Highness, lest he think we're making a mountain out of a molehill. All you need to do is make the Empress Dowager like His Highness even more; that will be a great achievement.”
"Yes! This servant will remember your instructions, young master! I would never dare to utter a word!"
Yang Jian accepted the silver with both hands, feeling a burning sensation in his palms, yet his heart was filled with an unprecedented clarity and excitement.
From then on, Yang Jian became Zhao Mingcheng's first secret fulcrum for infiltrating the inner palace and spying on the inner palace's movements.
Under the guise of regularly visiting the Prince Duan's residence to "tend the garden," he revealed information about the Bao Ci Palace and other palace affairs within his reach.
The occasional snippets of conversation overheard about the Emperor's illness and the princes' condition were cleverly relayed to Liang Shicheng or Zhao Mingcheng.
Yang Jian did not forget Zhao Mingcheng's instructions. In front of Empress Dowager Xiang, he mentioned Duan Wang Zhao Ji's various "filial acts" and "refined interests" more and more "naturally," which subtly further consolidated Zhao Ji's good impression in Empress Dowager Xiang's heart.
Zhao Mingcheng is paving a smoother and more secure path to the throne for Zhao Ji than in history.
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