The Xuan Emperor looked at Ning Chen. "From the moment this emperor decided to put you over the spring examination, this emperor expected the great gate-clans would not behave."

"And the Inspectorate. So long as the Inspectorate exists it is a sharp sword hanging over that crowd's heads, and only that keeps them from doing exactly as they please."

"So you will still run the spring examination. This emperor believes in Geng Jing's loyalty, and this emperor will not strip him of his post over this business."

"Every man in the court, civil and military, has his own small designs... This emperor may be emperor, but he is no god, and there are times when he cannot help being kept in the dark. So this emperor needs men he can trust to keep watch on them for him."

"A man's heart is behind his belly, and trusting one man completely takes a long time to test out... So this emperor will not touch Geng Jing. Do you understand?" (TL Note: 人心隔肚皮 — "a man's heart is behind his belly," meaning you cannot see into another man however close you stand to him.)

Ning Chen nodded slightly.

Being emperor was no easy thing. One man governing the whole realm could not cover every side of it.

He had to guard against one set of men seizing power and usurping the throne, and against being kept in the dark and played with by his ministers... So bringing up a loyal man was not easy at all.

Ning Chen thought of Qianlong of the Qing, who asked on one of his southern tours how much an egg cost. When he was told five coppers each, he was nearly out of his mind with rage... because the Household Office had been billing him ten taels an egg, and twenty-six taels an egg when the price was highest. (TL Note: 乾隆 Qianlong, an emperor of the Qing dynasty, who reigned in the eighteenth century. The story of the eggs is a Chinese byword for how far a court will cheat the man at the top…