"What are you doing here?"
Huu Quan doesn't know whether to laugh or cry as he watches Khac Tuan approach him slowly, pretending to be mysterious in a childish way. Who would have guessed, looking at him, that he is the First Grade mandarin of the Ministry of Rites? Moreover, these two Pham family members are the same in that they both ask Huu Quan the same question.
"I'm not sure. Thai Thuy asked me to join the early court this morning. I don't know what he's planning."
Khac Tuan opens his eyes widely, shakes his head, and sighs. This is the first time he hears someone call Thai Thuy's name directly. Nguyen Huu Van Quan is the only possible candidate.
"If it had been someone else, I would have scolded them. Who in the world dares to call the Emperor's name in the early court meeting."
Huu Quan shakes his head and laughs at Khac Tuan. Huu Quan would never have dared to call the Emperor by his name in the past. But, for some reason, Huu Quan can't make himself talk formally or refer to Thai Thuy as His Majesty. Perhaps Huu Quan and Thai Thuy's relationship is much stronger than before, so strong that Huu Quan is no longer concerned about Hoang Chinh's identity anymore.
Suddenly there's some noise and a bodyguard shouts:
"Make way for His Majesty!"
Huu Quan blinks once, watching Thai Thuy walk up to the throne, when the mandarins see him, they all bow down.
"Long live Your Majesty!" people exclaim on all sides.
Normally, when officiating to the Emperor, they must kneel and wish His Majesty a long life three times. However, the ritual appears to be less arduous than before. Needless to say, Huu Quan is also aware of who advocates for reducing time-consuming rituals.
Thai Thuy is said to have learned these things from Westerners. Huu Quan also believes that Western rituals are always less troublesome than Linh Nam rituals. Thai Thuy, perhaps, is not a fan of the cumbersome.
The court meeting is not worth hearing. It's all about small and pointless things. One district has one more case, while the other has one less. The colonial demands become unbearable as tax rent increases and decreases over time. Or, on occasion, there are commendable points that cannot be overlooked.
Thai Thuy doesn't seem to pay attention during the meeting. He yawns and yawns again, sitting up straight and lowering his back at times.
Huu Quan is taken back by Thai Thuy's yawning appearance and turns to Khac Tuan, asking:
"Did he never listen? He hardly ever read any paper."
"Your Majesty doesn't need to listen, after all, the decision is not made by him. A French official will assist him in resolving the problem." Khac Tuan answers.
Huu Quan nods to indicate that he understands, and Khac Tuan stops speaking, only occasionally looking at what Huu Quan is wearing around his neck.
Khac Tuan recognizes that necklace pendant.
That is the first Indochinese coin the French made. Thai Thuy loves that coin because it was the first thing Minh Dinh gave him as a father, not as an Emperor.
Minh Dinh is Thai Thuy's father, and he is constantly mocked for it. They assume Minh Dinh dislikes women because of his fancy dressing, and there must be something else going on behind the fact that Minh Dinh got Tu Cuc pregnant. After all, they only believe what they want to believe, so Thai Thuy is said to be not Minh Dinh's biological child.
No one dared to stand up to confirm this. Rumors are just rumors. However, based on what he saw, Khac Tuan imagined how wonderful it would be if his biological father could be like Thai Thuy's "adoptive father."
Minh Dinh continued to raise Thai Thuy as an Emperor, but when he realized his son had no interest in becoming an Emperor, he stopped forcing Thai Thuy.
Minh Dinh told him at the time:
"Don't worry about those buzzwords. Being the strongest or being yourself, you can only choose one."
The sun gradually rises to the horizon, and the court meeting is coming to an end. Huu Quan is still wondering when Thai Thuy will mention his case when Thai Thuy abruptly changes his position.
"I have heard everything you want to say. I'll think about it and work with the Governor General and the Resident Superieur to get back to you as soon as possible."
Thai Thuy continues after a brief pause.
"It's now your turn to listen to me."
Thai Thuy finishes by picking up the golden silk brocade on the table and opening it. Khac Tuan's mouth opens.
"What is he planning to do?"
Huu Quan turns to face Thai Thuy as well as Sir Pham. This old man should have predicted what the Emperor would say. Nonetheless, his expression is as surprised as his son's.
On one hand, a close friend of the Emperor, and on the other hand is the close one who advises the Emperor, and none of them know about a decree that His Majesty is about to announce. Huu Quan is certain that the decree is related to him.
"By the mandate of heaven, this Emperor decree hereby:
Due to the discovery of the plot to assassinate His Majesty last week, the Ministry of Justice Lai Kha Huynh committed a serious crime of treason, plotting to harm the Emperor, which cannot be tolerated. His Majesty has sentenced death and nine familial exterminations.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Van Quan has many advantages, especially since the position of the Ministry of Justice is still vacant. On one trip, he also saved the Emperor's life, accomplished many great things, is a capable person, and has a diploma from an elementary college in the West. His Majesty rewards Mr. Nguyen Huu Van Quan for becoming the First Grade of the Ministry of Justice, more caps and gowns, silk brocades, his mansion, and annual perks.
Signed and enacted by the Emperor."
Words explode like a bolt from the blue. Huu Quan panics, also Khac Tuan, and the court officials are also panicking. Sir Pham, on the other hand, is stunned, as if he has been slapped hard.
Six Ministries of the dynasty include Rites, Administration, Public Works, Justices, Military Affairs, and Finance. Each ministry is in charge of a different problem. Each Ministry has a main subordinate who reports to His Majesty and is given the title of First Grade. The Ministry of Rites is in charge of education and culture; the Ministry of Administration is in charge of official selection; the Ministry of Public Works is in charge of craft and construction; the Ministry of Military Affairs is in charge of the army; the Ministry of Finance is in charge of taxation and civil status. The Ministry of Justice is in charge of the law and adjudication.
"Will you receive this, Huu Quan?" Hoang Chinh inquires.
Huu Quan suddenly remembers that he isn't the only one here to look at him in that way. Huu Quan kneels and bows down quickly to Hoang Chinh.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Then Huu Quan stands up, takes a step forward, and grabs the golden brocade that is obediently resting in Hoang Chinh's slender palm.
"Please excuse my objection, Your Majesty."
Huu Quan hears the sentence from none other than the Prime Minister. He takes the decree without hesitation, does the ritual, and then moves out of the way.
"What is the reason?" Hoang Chinh inquires.
"Huu Quan comes from a criminal family and has never graduated from high school. A First Grade mandarin always requires a high school diploma or higher. If Your Majesty does this, I'm afraid you're a little biased."
The First Grade mandarin needs a high school diploma is merely an excuse, the main reason remains the word "criminal". The entire royal yard exclaims. How can you hold the position of First Class when your family is imprisoned and your status is not clean?
"Oh, you're right." Hoang Chinh sits back down on the wood collapsed, and crosses his legs "That is something I have considered. The Ministry of Rites Pham Khac Tuan takes orders."
Khac Tuan, who is standing on one side, kneels and says "Yes Your Majesty."
"I order you to universalize high school knowledge for the Ministry of Justice Nguyen Huu Van Quan within a year. Every Western month, a report on the teaching results is required. The Resident Superieur has approved this. The degree is awarded after one year. Can you pull it off?"
Khac Tuan has no reason to object, on the contrary, he feels relieved and happy.
"Yes, I can."
"The court meeting ends if there's nothing else to do." Hoang Chinh waves his hand.
There's no longer loud noise from below. At the same time, the mandarins remain silent. Hoang Chinh laughs silently, clasps his hands behind his back, and enters back the great hall.
"The Ministry of Rites, you accompany me inside." Hoang Chinh gives the order.
Khac Tuan strictly follows the rituals, then goes inside with Thai Thuy. The bodyguard exclaims:
"Dismiss."
…
"Aren't you afraid of contrary opinions?"
Khac Tuan complains. Apart from Minh Dinh, the only person capable of appointing mandarins openly, without going through the Ministry of Administration or discussing them with anyone, can only be Hoang Chinh. No matter what people suspected, except for his own son, no one else dared to do what Minh Dinh did.
Thai Thuy laughs and says:
"The puppet Emperor and the eldest son of the criminal family have already dissented, so what's the point of adding a word or two?"
"I'm so done with you two." Khac Tuan says "Didn't you tell Huu Quan before?"
"No, he'll say no if he knows." Thai Thuy replies "It's fine like this."
Khac Tuan sighs, unsure what else to say to Thai Thuy, but he is right. Huu Quan doesn't like being given power so quickly. He prefers to go up on his own and create everything himself. Huu Quan's refusal would have been almost certain if it hadn't been for this unexpected turn of events.
"I've already seen it." Khac Tuan speaks.
Thai Thuy is struggling to keep up with Khac Tuan's story.
"See what?" He asks.
"You gave Huu Quan the first Indochinese coin." Khac Tuan explains. "He slings it around his neck."
Thai Thuy's heart is as warm as a sun shining in when he hears this. He brings the gift Thai Thuy gave him, and he keeps the strap close to his heart. Huu Quan must treasure it greatly.
"But I thought you kept the coin carefully." Khac Tuan questions "Why is there such a large hole?"
"It was the bullet. If I hadn't given him the coin that day, Huu Quan might have died from that bullet." Thai Thuy states.
Khac Tuan gives a nod. Thai Thuy said that he would only give the coin to the person he believes understands him the best because the coin was also given to him by someone who understood him very well. But that coin now belongs to Huu Quan. Thai Thuy appears to be charmed by a man like Huu Quan. Thai Thuy, on the other hand, will realize that he must mature to assume power because only power can help him protect Huu Quan.
A guard makes his way from the outside, holding a tray of papers from the mandarins. Thai Thuy opens. At the very top is a brand-new sheet that has not been read during the morning court meeting.
The paper's title is "Petition to oppose the Ministry of Justice."
Thai Thuy laughs and hands the paper to Khac Tuan to read. Khac Tuan's handsome face wrinkled, especially when he sees those familiar cursive letters.
The Prime Minister established the petition, but he was also the first person to sign it, as if concerned that his handwriting was not legible. Then come the signatures of a few more Second and Third Grade mandarins.
"Didn't he like Huu Quan a lot?" Khac Tuan is surprised. "He praised Huu Quan as well, why is he objecting now?"
Thai Thuy understands why. But he refuses to tell Khac Tuan. Thai Thuy simply shrugs and smiles, saying:
"How do I know, if you ask me, I know whom to ask?"