When the Son of Heaven was pleased, kind words naturally followed.
Now that the emperor was delighted, Wang Cheng studied his expression and knew full well that this was the moment.
Besides, Wang Cheng was an old hand in the palace.
He knew how to gauge the urgency of human affairs and read the depths beneath a person's words and expression.
Thus, when he spoke, he struck precisely the right measure.
"You are quite right, Imperial Grandfather.
In all my years in the palace, this old servant has seen writings by many gifted men.
But someone like Director Wei, whose verse accounts for everything both within the lines and beyond them-I truly have never seen his like before."
He paused briefly, weighing his words, as though waiting for the emperor's lingering delight to settle a little further, before continuing at an unhurried pace.
"Still, speaking of him, yesterday at the Grand Secretariat,
there was a matter concerning Director Wei. A draft response was prepared and sent in to the Directorate of Ceremonial."
First he congratulated the emperor on his delight, then introduced the Cabinet Council deliberations, and only then seized his opening.
The old servant was not offering honeyed words and flattering looks. He was wrapping an important matter in the emperor's good mood and quietly serving it up.
Whether to receive it or act upon it remained entirely the emperor's decision.
And so, whether Wei Nisheng's matter could move forward hinged upon this very overture.
Sure enough, Emperor Jing of Zhou's gaze had still been fixed on that "Yong Yu Le."
At these words, he raised his eyelids slightly.
"Hmm? Wasn't yesterday's Cabinet Council discussion about the Suzhou silver?"
Wang Cheng advanced half a step, still bowed, and answered in a subdued voice.
"It was originally about