FDPBCT 10

Chapter 10

Kyoto Patrol Envoy? City Management? (Page 1/2)**

The next day, the father and daughter who had risen early to report for duty had not only not forgotten their ambitions from the night before—after a night of savoring their plans, their confidence had swelled to the point of overflowing.

Ye Qiong rode the donkey that had kicked her into amnesia, setting off with great vigor.

Before leaving, she turned back to remind her father to meet her at the top.

Prince Duan watched his daughter ride off toward the east side of the city on that gaudily decorated donkey, her fighting spirit high, and his eyelid twitched.

“If I remember correctly, that’s the donkey that kicked Qiong’er before, isn’t it?”

Steward Wang quickly explained, “Previously, Your Highness ordered this old servant to bring back the donkey that injured the princess and slaughter it to avenge her. But after the princess woke up, she insisted that this donkey and she were destined to be together. So now, this donkey has become the princess’s mount.”

“What kind of fate could she possibly have with a mad donkey?” Prince Duan couldn’t look at the donkey without recalling the sight of his daughter being carried back to the manor covered in blood.

“This donkey cannot stay. Who knows if it will go crazy again.”

Steward Wang hesitated before speaking. “But the princess said that the donkey must like her—otherwise, with so many people at the royal hunting grounds, why would it kick only her and no one else?”

Prince Duan truly could not comprehend his daughter’s thought process.

“So she decorated a donkey all gaudy and flashy? Does a donkey really need to wear gold when going out?”

His own sweat-blooded steed had never even worn gold around its neck.

Steward Wang said, “The princess said that gold is a symbol of wealth—one must not lose face when out in public.”

“That spendthrift!” After cursing, Prince Duan mounted his horse in a huff and headed toward the west side of the city.

—

At the palace, upon hearing that those two troublemakers from Prince Duan’s manor had finally dutifully reported for duty, the Emperor felt deeply gratified.

“It seems I should have given them some proper work to do long ago. That way they wouldn’t have had so much idle time to stir up all that nonsense lately!”

Eunuch Fu smiled and replied, “Your Majesty has always cherished the Prince Duan father and daughter, fearing that hard work might weary them—that’s why you were reluctant to assign them duties. Now that they are serving, it both tempers their abilities and helps curb their wild natures. Your Majesty’s thoughtful consideration is truly admirable.”

The Emperor took a sip of tea, his expression of satisfaction deepening, and his tone carried a hint of expectation.

“Let us hope those two scoundrels truly settle down, perform their duties quietly, and stop causing trouble. Then my efforts will not have been in vain.”

Eunuch Fu beamed and continued, “Your Majesty may rest assured. Yesterday, this old servant heard from the attendants at Prince Duan’s manor that the prince and princess had gathered at dinner to discuss how to be ambitious and make money. This morning, their momentum was full of grand aspirations!”

For some reason, upon hearing this, the Emperor felt a sudden unease in his chest, and his eyelids began twitching uncontrollably.

It should have been good news—so why did he feel so unsettled?

Well, if those two troublemakers had finally come to their senses about making money, at least it would save him, as Emperor, from having to subsidize them every few days.

—

On the streets of the capital, Ye Qiong trotted along on her little donkey, wandering for half the street before she began to feel that something wasn’t quite right.

She pulled on the donkey’s reins and turned to look at Cheng Qi, the Brocade Guard in his flying fish uniform, standing tall and straight beside her.

“By the way, what exactly are my daily duties as the Kyoto Patrol Envoy that His Majesty appointed me to?”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qi quickly recalled His Majesty’s instructions from yesterday and replied with a bow, “In response to Her Highness, His Majesty said that you only need to patrol the streets and alleys of the capital each day and maintain public order.”

“Patrol? Maintain order?” Ye Qiong frowned.

That sounded just like city management.

Oh well—city management it was. At least it was a proper-sounding position.

She slapped the donkey’s back, her face full of anticipation. “Then what about the subordinates His Majesty assigned me? And where’s my office?”

Cheng Qi’s face showed a trace of bewilderment. “In response to Her Highness, His Majesty… did not mention assigning personnel or an office.”

—

*(This chapter is not finished; please click the next page to continue reading.)*

If he remembered correctly, the Kyoto Patrol Envoy was just a nominal, made-up position His Majesty had created on a whim, with the sole purpose of giving the two masters of Prince Duan’s manor something to do.

Ye Qiong gritted her teeth. “So His Majesty wants me to wander around the streets alone with no one under me?”

Cheng Qi puffed out his chest with confidence.

“His Majesty specially sent this subordinate to protect Her Highness.”

Hearing this, Ye Qiong looked him up and down, then glanced at the maidservants and guards she had brought with her.

Tsk!

As expected of guards who protected the Emperor—they did look much more spirited than the manor’s guards.

She’d have to go to the palace again later to poach a few more Brocade Guards.

“Cheng Qi, when you go back later, ask your fellow Brocade Guards if any of them would be willing to join me.”

“This princess will lead them to greatness. Before long, our reputation will surpass even the Brocade Guard.”

The deference on Cheng Qi’s face nearly cracked. Inside, he was groaning in misery.

Back then, His Majesty had ordered Commander Pei to select someone from the Brocade Guard to follow the princess.

No one in the entire guard unit was willing to wade into this mess.

But he’d been unlucky—lost at drawing lots, lost in combat drills, and was forced into serving the princess.

And now the princess wanted him to drag a few more colleagues into this—that was harder than reaching the heavens!

Suppressing his bitterness, he bowed and replied, “Your Highness, His Majesty personally assigned only this subordinate to accompany you. If you need more personnel, it would be better to petition His Majesty separately. This subordinate… truly cannot impose upon my colleagues.”

Ye Qiong pictured herself going to the palace to ask the Emperor for people and getting an earful in return.

She shook her head vigorously. Forget it—fewer people was fine. She’d find suitable candidates later and trick them into joining.

The pressing matter now was to get an office.

She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

City management—broadly speaking, wasn’t that just overseeing the entire capital?

It wasn’t much different from the Capital Prefecture.

Ye Qiong made a decision on the spot.

“Let’s go—let’s take a stroll around the Capital Prefecture.”

The group made their way in grand fashion to the gates of the Capital Prefecture.

But Ye Qiong’s attention wasn’t on the Capital Prefecture—it was on the mansion next door.

The property was spacious, conveniently located right next to the Capital Prefecture—an excellent spot.

She raised her hand and pointed at it, instructing Ruyi, “Go ask who owns that mansion and whether they’re willing to sell it.”

Ruyi wondered if she’d heard wrong. “Princess, you want to buy a mansion?”

Ye Qiong nodded. “Yes—from now on, we’ll conduct our business here. We’ll renovate the place, make it more imposing than the Capital Prefecture, and let the entire capital know about the name of our Kyoto Patrol Office.”

Ruyi swallowed hard. “Princess, buying a mansion like this… the manor’s treasury likely cannot support such an expense.”

Ye Qiong gave her a sidelong glance. “We’re handling official business for the court—why would I use my own money? Naturally, the palace will reimburse us. Put all expenses on His Majesty’s account.”

“But…” Ruyi looked troubled. “Princess, even if we put it on His Majesty’s account, someone would still have to dare to go to the palace to ask for the money.”

“Good point!” Ye Qiong thought for a moment and turned to Cheng Qi. “Who manages the treasury now?”

Cheng Qi replied, “The Ministry of Revenue.”

Ye Qiong nodded. “Then put it on the Minister of Revenue’s account!”

Jixiang looked at her princess with admiration. “That’s right, Princess—you’re so clever! We’re working for the court, so the treasury should foot the bill. The treasury is managed by the Minister of Revenue, so it only makes sense to put it on his account!”

Seeing that Jixiang understood her meaning, Ye Qiong gave the order. “I noticed there’s a light yellow paper pasted on the door—probably a rental notice. Go ask whose property it is. If the owner is willing to sell, buy it and charge it to the Minister of Revenue’s account.”