Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 381 - 217 Alchemy

Back then, when Liang Zhirui was the Grand Secretary, Xia Qing was the Vice Minister.

The power of the Grand Secretary was the greatest, overseeing the Cabinet’s state affairs, especially holding the authority to draft policies, which the Vice Minister dared not challenge. Drafting authority meant formulating major policies, then submitting them for the Holy Emperor’s approval.

If you don’t enter the Hanlin Academy, you can’t enter the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a place that every civil servant aspires to; it’s the center of power.

"Teacher, what is your conflict with today’s Chief Minister Xia? If you tell me, it will help me understand better."

Gu Chengyu certainly needed to understand the details thoroughly so that if anyone really came after him, he could find ways to respond.

Liang Zhirui pondered for a while before saying, "It’s not limited to one thing; differences in political views are common. However, the most unbearable for me was that before, the Emperor’s health had been poor, but there was never any major problem."

He looked at the distant green mountains out the window, sighed softly, and continued, "Then a treacherous minister introduced an alchemist to the Emperor, claiming that sincere alchemy and taking elixirs could grant immortality."

As he spoke, his tone was urgent and heavy.

Gu Chengyu was quite surprised. He had always thought the Emperor’s poor health was due to handling endless affairs and nearing sixty years of age, but it turned out there were many things unknown to the common man.

"Did the Emperor actually become obsessed with alchemy and take the elixirs himself? Where did that alchemist come from?"

Liang Zhirui nodded, "That I don’t know; their origins are very mysterious. According to Xia Qing, he was originally a hermit sage, already over a hundred years old. I saw him once outside the Imperial Study Room, wearing a Daoist robe, with white hair and a youthful face, agile."

Gu Chengyu felt it absurd, not to mention the fiction of immortality—the mysterious origins of the alchemist, and yet the Emperor was willing to believe?

Speaking of immortality, Gu Chengyu remembered the previous life, the obsession Emperor Qin Shi Huang had with the elixir of immortality.

Having become the supreme ruler, perhaps even at death, they can’t bear to part with the throne, pursuing immortality to continue enjoying glory and wealth; it should be the dream of every Emperor.

This seems easy to understand, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, they won’t give up.

"If the Emperor is engaging in alchemy, who normally handles the court affairs?" Gu Chengyu didn’t think the Emperor had so much leisure time.

Ancient Emperors, if they were focusing on governance, would surely expend a lot of energy. Alchemy isn’t a short-term practice. Years spent on alchemy consumes much energy and time, hence research is definitely involved.

"During my tenure, it was handled by Ministers from the Cabinet. After my review, it was presented to the Emperor. Now, it should be Xia Qing managing it; when the Emperor isn’t engaged in alchemy, he approves the submitted memos. After my resignation, court dynamics changed quite a bit, and officials were frequently reassigned. The factions are intricately complex."

Gu Chengyu furrowed his brow. So, when the Emperor was practicing alchemy, it was the Chief Minister Xia managing state affairs? He had heard some things about the court in the Capital, that there were many officials from the Southern Faction; when the Emperor was absent, the court became dominated by him?

"Are there officials in court who can counter Xia Qing?"

Gu Chengyu contemplated for a moment and still believed that as an emperor, it was unlikely to entrust authority solely to one person; there should be checks and balances for him to comfortably engage in alchemy.

Liang Zhirui nodded with some satisfaction; his disciple had always been very astute about court matters. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Of course not, Minister of Revenue Shen Shikang doesn’t follow him. Xia Qing was a well-known talent from Jiangnan back then, famous in his youth, with a wealthy family. His ancestors were once honored as a Second Rank Official; although later generations didn’t have high official ranks, they were still an official family in Jiangnan. Numerous courtiers indeed opposed him, but who could blame the Emperor for favoring him?"

"Which faction does Xia Qing support?"

Gu Chengyu first temporarily dismissed the Second Prince’s faction because Shen Shikang was related to the Second Prince, and they didn’t get along. However, these things couldn’t be taken at face value; some people are naturally adept politicians, deeply concealed!

Liang Zhirui shook his head, "On the surface, he seems not to align closely with any faction. There appears to be some friction with most of them. He is narrow-minded and extremely greedy, having amassed quite a bit of Silver over the years, especially in the canal transport. It’s rumored that his kin acted like tyrants locally, quite arrogant."

Gu Chengyu lowered his head in thought, then said, "Since his actions are so erratic, why hasn’t anyone gathered evidence of his crimes and submitted a denunciation against him?"

According to the teacher’s statements, Xia Qing acted so ostentatiously. Surely some courtiers couldn’t stand it; those officials wouldn’t let it slide, right? They should submit against him.

"He was cautious in earlier years, leaving no evidence; even if someone submits against him, the Emperor is skeptical and often keeps it confidential. After becoming the Chief Minister, those memos pass through his hands first; can he allow damaging documents to be submitted? If somehow a loophole gets it through, he always finds a way to eliminate the Emperor’s doubts."

Gu Chengyu finally understood the extent of Xia Qing’s favor; his current power was nearly monopolistic. Nevertheless, the Emperor isn’t foolish; this is merely surface-level. Digging deeper would require him entering the court and gradually discovering.

"He wants to be a Pure Minister? Given his usual conduct, that’s unlikely."

The Emperor’s health had been declining; Xia Qing couldn’t possibly not be preparing for the future. One reign brings its ministers, and when a new Emperor ascends, he might be the first target; would he sit idly?

"Possibly maneuvering secretly; his schemes are profound, and in those days, I couldn’t catch onto anything or discern his true intent."

"If there are covert operations, how could you possibly know? Xia Qing’s flamboyance might actually be his protective cloak! If he were flawless, even the Emperor might be wary!"

These matters were still distant for Gu Chengyu; even if he entered officialdom, he was just a minor official in the Hanlin Academy—those Second Rank officials wouldn’t pay him any attention.

"Oh?" Liang Zhirui glanced at Gu Chengyu in surprise, then nodded, "That’s possible!"

Liang Zhirui hadn’t thought in those terms before; now he felt Gu Chengyu’s words were quite sensible.

"This is just the student’s casual conjecture. Until I encounter the person, it is best not to make rash judgments."

In fact, Gu Chengyu had more questions. Was Xia Qing hoarding Silver not exactly evidence of his allegiance? No, perhaps he favored none and wanted to stake a bigger claim?

Gu Chengyu chatted idly with Liang Zhirui for a few more minutes before the latter left for the Prefecture School. Gu Chengyu then went to the back courtyard to pay respects to his teacher’s wife.

"You came early today; have you had breakfast?" Mrs. Ning asked with a smile.

"I’ve already eaten. Has teacher’s wife had hers?" Gu Chengyu saluted and sat on a nearby armchair.

Yao Mengxian arrived outside the Main Room; the maid who lifted the curtain immediately came forward to salute.

"Greetings, Miss!"

Yao Mengxian felt somewhat surprised; could there be guests inside? Otherwise, the maid would have performed the salute at the door and then informed inside.

"Has the grandmother risen?"

"The matriarch has already risen, but there is a guest inside."

The maid was also in a dilemma; generally, when an outsider male arrives, female members should avoid. But she was merely a maid; she had to wait for her master’s instructions.