Volume Two: The Great and the Small Chapter Forty-two: When It Rains, It Pours

Inside the Ministry of Rites.

Perhaps because the weather was gradually warming after the Dragon Boat Festival, Gu Yunxiao’s forehead kept breaking out in sweat, which no matter how often he wiped with a cloth, never fully disappeared.

Yet despite this, he could not sit still. He paced back and forth in the side hall, occasionally walking to the door to peer outside anxiously. “Why hasn’t the Vice Minister summoned me yet...”

After waiting for more than half an hour, with the sun nearly at its zenith, a clerk finally appeared before the hall. “Lord Gu, the Vice Minister requests your presence.”

Only then did Gu Yunxiao steady himself, wiping the oil and sweat from his face before following the clerk to the Vice Minister Wu Yipeng’s private office.

Upon arrival, he dared not show any impatience or irritation; instead, he respectfully bowed and greeted, “Your servant, Deputy Director Gu Yunxiao of the Ministry of Rites, pays respects to the Vice Minister.”

“Ah, Deputy Gu has arrived? Come in and speak,” Wu Yipeng said with his usual friendly smile, his tone warm and still respectful, addressing Gu as “Deputy Director,” a common courtesy to elevate the rank of subordinates.

In official circles, it was customary to address deputies by a title one rank higher. For example, a deputy section chief or deputy department head would often be called just section chief or department head. Gu Yunxiao’s rank of deputy director was similarly often referred to as director.

Seeing this, Gu Yunxiao’s heart eased considerably. It seemed the Vice Minister’s attitude toward him remained unchanged, making it easier to bring up his concerns.

When Wu Yipeng asked the reason for his visit, Gu Yunxiao did not hold back. “Your servant comes to implore the Vice Minister to intervene on behalf of our Music Bureau.”

“Oh? Has your bureau once again fallen under attack?”

“You are unaware, my lord. Those scoundrels have grown ever more brazen. Previously, they used all sorts of tactics to seize business from the government-run brothels under our Music Bureau. Now they have colluded with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to slander these establishments, claiming that there are abducted girls there—girls who are underage...”

At this point, Gu Yunxiao poured out all his grievances accumulated over the past days without noticing the Vice Minister’s changing expression.

“This is clearly a conspiracy between those brothel merchants and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to ruin our establishments, even targeting the Music Bureau itself. If this continues, they will become more reckless, planting more false charges on us.

“Vice Minister, your servant is at a loss and has no choice but to seek your help. I humbly beg you...”

He raised his eyes pleadingly, only to find Wu Yipeng’s face darkening with a stern glare, eyes piercing like sharp spikes, causing a chill to run through Gu Yunxiao’s heart and leaving him unable to continue.

“Why did you stop speaking?” Wu Yipeng asked softly.

But this time, Gu Yunxiao heard the underlying fury in his voice. He trembled and could only manage two words: “My lord...”

“Do you truly believe you are being targeted and falsely accused?” Wu Yipeng pressed on. “Look up and answer me!”

Gu Yunxiao dared not disobey, hesitantly meeting his gaze before quickly lowering his eyes again. “Your servant, your servant...”

“Answer honestly: are the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s findings in those brothels genuine, or are they fabrications?”

“Your lordship, please judge. In recent years, only a few, like Qian Ning and Jiang Bin, were prosecuted. But the Music Bureau oversees more than a dozen establishments and requires many women. Not all the officials’ families involved are of exceptional beauty, so... so...”

“So you resorted to unscrupulous means, buying women you shouldn’t have?”

This time Gu Yunxiao could not deny or excuse himself, simply nodding slightly. Then Wu Yipeng slammed his palm on the desk. “You have incredible audacity! Who authorized you to flagrantly break the law?

“You commit such deeds and still have the nerve to come before me crying for help—do you intend to drag me down with you?”

The Vice Minister’s mask fell away. His face flushed red with anger as he shouted, “Do you know you are not a profit-driven merchant but an official appointed by the court? Do you know the Music Bureau is not some shameless brothel but an official branch under the Ministry of Rites of the Great Ming? Look at what you have done!

“Do you understand the damage your actions bring to the Ministry and the court? And now when trouble arises, you dare claim innocence?”

Gu Yunxiao was overwhelmed by the scolding and collapsed to his knees, sweating profusely until his official robes were soaked.

Fear and panic rendered him speechless.

Of course, he had no defense—because the facts were true. He could not openly admit that the Music Bureau’s actions were to generate revenue for the Ministry.

After a lengthy reprimand, Wu Yipeng finally calmed somewhat and grunted, “I ask you again: how much of the evidence the Embroidered Uniform Guard seized is real?”

“Indeed, they found several individuals, but some matters remain unclear. And it can all be pinned on the heads of the brothel managers, who acted without the Music Bureau’s knowledge.” To save himself, Gu Yunxiao had no choice but to say this.

“Very well. Handle it accordingly. If those managers cannot bear the blame, you know what must be done. Also, keep your mouth shut. The Embroidered Uniform Guard isn’t as fearsome as before and can’t do much to you now.”

“Your servant understands, my lord.”

Unexpectedly, his plea for help had led to this outcome, leaving him feeling utterly helpless and fearful.

“Rest assured, as long as they cannot produce further conclusive evidence, the worst you’ll face is demotion or reassignment...” Wu Yipeng soothed him further.

Some blame must fall on this subordinate, but the entire Ministry of Rites cannot be implicated, especially at such a sensitive time.

Just as Gu Yunxiao agreed despondently, unsure if he should take his leave, someone hurried in.

Without even glancing at the kneeling Gu Yunxiao, the newcomer approached the desk and handed a document to Wu Yipeng in a low voice: “Vice Minister, the palace has made a decision and submitted a draft to the cabinet. I’m afraid…”

Upon glancing at the document, Wu Yipeng’s expression darkened further, his body trembling slightly.

Yet he maintained his composure and said gravely, “You may withdraw. As long as there is no solid evidence, at most this is a case of negligence. The Ministry of Rites will protect you.”

“Your servant understands.” Gu Yunxiao bowed once more and then retreated, his mind a blur.

Inside, Wu Yipeng’s brow furrowed deeply. “When it rains, it pours. The Ministry of Rites is truly plagued by ill fortune. It seems we must choose to minimize our losses.”