Early in the morning, Xu Ming was practicing the Heaven-Opening Fist.
Although he was no longer part of the Blood Asura Battalion, the habit of waking early had been ingrained in him.
"Xu Juren is certainly self-disciplined," came a voice as Xu Ming finished his set and washed his face. It was Wei Xun, standing in the courtyard.
"Eunuch Wei," Xu Ming greeted with a cupped fist.
"Xu Juren, His Majesty has summoned you."
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Wei. I'll take a quick bath and change into fresh clothes before meeting the emperor."
"Very well."
After a bath, Wei Xun led Xu Ming toward the Inner Palace.
"Eunuch Wei, isn't this the way to the Inner Palace?" Xu Ming asked.
"Yes, it is."
"Isn't that... a bit inappropriate?" Xu Ming hesitated.
Wei Xun chuckled. "If His Majesty calls for you, that makes it the most appropriate. Just follow me, Xu Juren, and don't keep the emperor waiting."
Xu Ming: "..."
As they entered the Inner Palace, Xu Ming felt as if he had stepped into another world. The place was filled with lush gardens, pavilions, artificial lakes, and rockeries. Palace maids bustled about, and apart from them, only eunuchs could be seen. It was a stark contrast to the austere and solemn atmosphere of the Outer Palace.
Xu Ming kept his gaze straight ahead, careful not to glance around randomly. He didn't want to accidentally see something—or someone—he shouldn't and invite trouble.
"Your Majesty, Xu Juren has arrived," Wei Xun announced after an incense stick's worth of time as they reached the Hall of Cultivated Tranquility.
"Your subject greets His Majesty and Her Majesty, the Empress," Xu Ming said with a cupped fist.
The emperor was having breakfast with a woman, palace maids serving them silently.
The woman wore a deep red palace dress embroidered with a golden phoenix, its wings poised as if ready to take flight. The tassels on her gown shimmered like a crimson sunset flowing across the jade steps of the palace. Her hair was styled in an elaborate updo adorned with gold pins, exuding an air of unparalleled elegance.
Her features were exquisite, as though crafted by the hands of heaven itself. Her brows were like distant mountains, her gaze soft yet alluring, and her eyes sparkled like autumn waters, brimming with hidden tenderness.
Her high nose bridge added depth to her face, while her lips, as delicate as peach blossoms, carried an air of reserved charm. When she smiled, it was like spring flowers blooming, radiant and captivating.
Her slender fingers, fair as jade, were adorned with a light pink polish, enhancing her graceful demeanor.
Only the Empress of Wu, adorned with a phoenix on her robes, could possess such magnificence.
Even in the army, Xu Ming had heard of the Empress's fame—Xiao Ke, hailed as the most beautiful woman in Wu. Despite being an ordinary mortal with no tempered physique, she ranked 93rd on the Beauty Ranking.
"No need for such formality. Come, take a seat and eat," the emperor called out to Xu Ming.
"This..." Xu Ming hesitated, unsure of what to do.
The emperor chuckled. "What's the matter? Do you suspect that I've poisoned the food and intend to harm you? Shall I test it for you first?"
"Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare. I'm simply overwhelmed by the honor," Xu Ming replied, looking slightly flustered.
"Haha, this is the Inner Palace. There's no need for such strict decorum here," Xiao Ke said with a soft smile, her voice as melodious as silver bells. "Xu Ming, come and eat."
"Yes."
Since both the emperor and empress had spoken, Xu Ming had no choice but to sit at the table.
A palace maid served him a bowl of pearl and jade congee.
"Xu Ming, you may not know this, but you're quite famous in the Inner Palace," the emperor said with a laugh. "That poem you gave to Zhu Cici back then—almost every concubine and maid here knows it by heart. They often recite it and lament the passage of autumn, even Ke'er."
"Your Majesty..." Xiao Ke chided softly, her tone tinged with playfulness. "I'm not some immortal who can remain forever youthful. Am I not allowed to feel a little wistful about my fading beauty?"
"Fine, fine," the emperor replied indulgently, his tone filled with affection for the empress.
Xu Ming, seated at the side, maintained a polite smile, careful not to interject.
After breakfast, the emperor took Xu Ming to the imperial study.
While the emperor reviewed memorials, Xu Ming stood quietly by his side.
The Emperor occasionally asked Xu Ming's opinion on certain policies, vented about the petty schemes and infighting among officials, or even directly criticized them.
Sometimes, while reading a memorial, the Emperor would lose his temper, throw the document onto the ground, and curse loudly. At such moments, Xu Ming would bow his head in silence while Wei Xun gently coaxed, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
Although there was no morning court session today, the Emperor didn't take a break. From dawn until noon, he worked tirelessly, resembling a workaholic.
The Emperor's reputation among the common people was stellar, and such a reputation was often not something that could be fabricated.
After finishing a memorial, the Emperor would hand it to Xu Ming and ask, "Do you think there's anything wrong with how I've handled this?"
Xu Ming, not daring to say outright, "Your decision is flawed," would always start with, "Your Majesty is wise," before carefully presenting his own opinion.
The Emperor wasn't overly serious about these discussions—he was merely curious. However, Xu Ming's insights were often unique and thought-provoking.
For example, on a smaller scale, Xu Ming suggested promoting the habit of drinking boiled water during plague seasons. He explained that high temperatures could kill the "source of the plague."
On a larger scale, he proposed establishing state-owned enterprises to nationalize the management of grain, salt, and iron.
The latter idea, though potentially bolstering state coffers significantly and curbing famine profiteering during crises, was fraught with complications. It would infringe upon the interests of far too many people.
Even now, Xiao Mo Chi's "Single Whip Law" was facing relentless impeachment—pursuing such a policy would only stir up more trouble. Change needed to be incremental; trying to swallow too much at once would lead to disaster.
At noon, palace maids served lunch in the imperial study. The Emperor invited Xu Ming to dine with him, and Xu Ming, unable to refuse, reluctantly joined.
After lunch, the Emperor resumed reviewing memorials without taking even a short rest.
"This Xiong Wentian—you must be familiar with him. He's the father of Xiong Haizhi and serves as the Minister of War. He's loyal and steadfast, but far too rigid in his approach and disdainful of civil officials. However, you, with your dual expertise in both civil and military fields, will likely find it easier to work with him. He's someone worth forging a strong connection with."
"This Huang Liu, the Attendant of the Secretariat, is an extremely meticulous and annoying person. He overthinks everything and often gets caught up in trivial details. That said, any task you assign to him will be completed flawlessly, without a single error."
"And this Chang Sanqian, the Left Chancellor—once a promising youth, he's now a seasoned bureaucrat. His abilities are passable, but he's greedy and lecherous. A bit of surface-level courtesy will suffice to keep him in check."
In the afternoon, as the Emperor continued reviewing memorials, he casually provided Xu Ming with a detailed overview of various officials' personalities and traits.
Xu Ming listened with trepidation, occasionally stealing glances at Wei Xun.
Wei Xun merely smiled and nodded in reassurance.
It was then that Xu Ming truly realized: the Emperor hadn't summoned him because of his fame as a "celebrity." The Emperor genuinely intended to groom him as a trusted confidant and a core member of his inner circle!