Several plump, round-headed koi swam leisurely through the crystal-clear waters of Lotus Lake.
Prince Ning, Zhao Liang, whose graying hair and beard still could not conceal his leonine, tigerish bearing, pinched up some fish food and scattered it into Lotus Lake, stirring a sweep of ripples.
Zheng Shiquan, an adviser at Prince Ning's Residence dressed in a blue scholar's robe, entered the Waterside Pavilion quietly with his back bowed. Cupping his hands, he said softly, "Your Highness, Geng Jingzhong made a move against Yang Tiansheng of the Bright Cult. He failed!"
Prince Ning continued feeding the fish and rebuked him softly without turning around. "A worthless dog who botches everything and ruins even more."
Zheng Shiquan kept his head lowered and his back bowed, his expression growing still more deferential.
Prince Ning asked casually, "Any news from Capital City?"
After a moment's thought, Zheng Shiquan replied, "Wang Jiangling, the former provincial administration commissioner of Jiangxi, has been appointed Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue and granted the additional title of Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion."
Receiving the title of Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion meant joining the Grand Secretariat.
Prince Ning paused in the act of pinching up fish food and turned to confirm, "The same Wang Jiangling who implemented the 'Single Whip Law' in Jiangxi?"
Zheng Shiquan answered with utmost respect, "Yes, Your Highness. That very man!"
Prince Ning resumed scattering fish food. Only after a long while did he say, "Li Gong is fifty-eight this year, isn't he?"
Those in power all shared the same failing: they refused to speak plainly, forcing their subordinates to guess and puzzle out their meaning.
Every last one was a riddle-speaker, as though something were seriously wrong with them...
Having served Prince Ning for many years, Zheng Shiquan understood this