Chapter 92 Position: The one who holds the highest position is not a sage ruler, but rather...
A blind old Taoist priest who ran a fortune-telling stall at Taihuang Temple accidentally fell off a cliff and died.
When Chen Liangyu descended the mountain, the sugar cake wrapped in oiled paper was no longer too hot to handle. At the fortune-telling stall, Xie Yuan ordered her to immediately return to the Central Secretariat to discuss with the Left Chancellor Xun Xian and the senior officials of the Six Ministries how to deal with Liang Qiuting, the King of Nanzhou.
As you walk along the mountain path, all you can hear is the rustling of the forest.
Chen Liangyu guessed that the people lying in ambush in the forest were imperial guards. When he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he indeed saw several familiar faces disguised as pilgrims wandering around the town at the foot of the mountain.
Coincidentally, one of those people was a junior officer of the Imperial Guard, who was planted by Chen Liangyu within the Imperial Guard. That person led her to a courtyard and handed her a group of people who were bound hand and foot. Several of them were wearing chainmail of the Changning Guard, while the others were Chen Liangyu's personal guards. Upon seeing her, they all lowered their heads with shame on their faces.
Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun did not leave many people to patrol at the foot of the mountain; they simply left a few people there as a matter of routine, so that they could meet them when they came down.
Right now, all the people who stayed behind are sitting in the courtyard, neatly bundled up in a row.
Chen Liangyu and the Imperial Guard captain exchanged a few words in the shadows.
How many Imperial Guards have arrived?
"About two hundred people."
Chen Liangyu asked, "When was it laid out?"
"The first group of people were waiting here on the day you were summoned back to Yongdu from the northern border. Dozens more arrived on the day Lord Zhao of the Censorate was imprisoned, and the rest appeared out of nowhere."
No wonder.
Chen Liangyu quickly analyzed the situation. Xie Yuan's sudden appearance at Taihuang Temple didn't seem to be a spur-of-the-moment decision. He knew Xie Wenjun would stay at Taihuang Temple every year between the Spring Equinox and Qingming Festival, but he didn't know Chen Liangyu would accompany her. Therefore, he initially didn't leave many people behind. Only after she and Xie Wenjun left did he send more people to guard the area around Taihuang Temple. Why were dozens more people suddenly added on the day Zhao Xingli was imprisoned? This is suspicious.
What urgently needs to be clarified is: what was Xie Yuan's intention in laying this thread for so long? Was it to seize the power of grain tax from Xie Wenjun, or did he have some other motive?
Xie Wenjun went to Taihuang Temple to pay respects to his mother, accompanied by eighty cavalrymen from Changning Guard, as was customary. Together with Chen Liangyu's personal guards, there were about a hundred men. These soldiers were extremely skilled in warfare, and even if the Imperial Guards had twice the number of soldiers, they would not have a chance of winning if they were to engage in combat.
Therefore, it is clear that Xie Yuan's goal was definitely not to engage in armed conflict with Xie Wenjun.
It was probably Xie Yuan's tentative test amidst his fear.
The agricultural and grain taxes were controlled by Xie Wenjun. If Chen Liangyu's military power were added to her power, Xie Wenjun would no longer be the imperial sister who worried about the country for Xie Yuan, but a powerful princess who could change the world of Da Lin at any time.
The secret edict of Emperor Xuanyuan, which was in Xie Wenjun's hands, was used to slander the truth and has already been changed hands once.
So, who will she replace next?
Xie Yuan was not afraid of Xie Wenjun's growing prestige among the court officials, nor did he care about her abusing power. When Xie Wenjun lived in the Eastern Palace with the late Crown Prince, she was taught by the late Crown Prince and the Crown Prince's tutor Zhang Diancheng. She was talented and insightful, but she was ultimately just a woman. No matter how capable she was, she could only serve as a minister to assist the emperor. If she were a prince, he would have to be wary of her.
He thought that even if Xie Wenjun had ambitions for power, he only had the Changning Guard under his command, so what big trouble could he cause? Therefore, he never regarded Xie Wenjun as a threat.
The closer Chen Liangyu got to Xie Wenjun, the more he felt that something was slipping out of his control.
He asked Chen Liangyu, "When did you become so close to Jiang Ning?"
Chen Liangyu replied, "Empress Huixian and my mother were once close friends. When the Empress was dying, the princess was still young. The Empress called me to her side and entrusted me to take good care of the princess. I have come to Taihuang Temple for two reasons: first, to fulfill Empress Huixian's dying wish, and second, to pay my respects to my deceased mother and her friend."
Empress Huixian passed away during a spring hunt in the seventeenth year of the Xuanyuan era. The palace maids who had served her were reassigned by the Six Bureaus of the palace. Some were sent to serve elsewhere, while others were released and allowed to leave the palace. The reassignment of palace maids and eunuchs can be found in the registers. It was not difficult to find out who had served Empress Huixian that year. A simple question to the palace maids from that time would confirm that what Chen Liangyu said was true.
Hearing what she said, it's only human nature.
That would be fine, but I'm afraid there might be other things going on.
Fortunately, when Xie Yuan ordered Chen Liangyu to return to the palace for a meeting, she immediately obeyed and went down the mountain without showing any reluctance.
Chen Liangyu felt a pang of regret that she hadn't been able to personally place the sweet cakes on Xie Wenjun's dining table to wait for her to wake up. What worried her even more was that Xie Wenjun was probably still asleep and unaware that Xie Yuan was at Taihuang Temple. Since Xie Yuan had followed her out of the temple, the area around Yongning Palace was likely now filled with Xie Yuan's men.
Chen Liangyu handed the sugar cake to Daiqing, gave her a few words of advice and told Bu Ping'er and Lin Yin to return to the Marquis's residence after they woke up, and then turned and walked down the mountain path.
Upon reaching this point, Chen Liangyu finally looked up and glanced at the mountain temple halfway up the mountain. Just then, the morning bell rang, seemingly coming from afar.
It's Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Chen Liangyu swung his sword and cut the ropes binding the group of people, then led his men away.
Before we even left the town, a woodcutter came running towards us, pulling a cart piled high with firewood, sweating profusely and shouting, "Make way, make way!"
The wooden cart was loaded with firewood, overflowing on both sides and blocking most of the road. Passersby quickly moved aside to avoid being scratched by the protruding dry branches.
Chen Liangyu pulled his horse to the side of the road.
A cart carrying firewood brushed past her, and the branches almost snagged the hem of Chen Liangyu's clothes.
A person was curled up behind the woodpile, looking like a corpse, with a rope tied around their waist twice and secured to a wooden stake at the back of the cart.
The blood-stained Bagua banner stung Chen Liangyu's eyes.
The attendant immediately stopped the woodcutter, asking, "What's going on with the people in the cart?"
The woodcutter was short and stocky with dark skin. Upon seeing the official in his robes, he assumed he was in trouble and hurriedly explained, "I didn't kill him, I didn't kill him. This old Taoist priest was blind and couldn't see, yet he insisted on going up the mountain. Today he fell off the mountain and died. When I went up the mountain to chop wood and found him, he was already dead. I felt sorry for him because he had no children, so I brought him back, thinking I'd wrap him in a straw mat and bury him so he wouldn't be eaten by wolves in the mountains."
Chen Liangyu dismounted, glanced at the old Taoist's injuries, and touched his ribs and limbs. His body was covered in bruises, and many bones in his limbs were broken. It was undoubtedly a fatal fall from a height.
At first glance, it makes sense that the blind old Taoist priest accidentally fell off the cliff. He couldn't see, and one misstep would mean his death. But this old Taoist priest was clearly pretending to be blind. He had been wandering around Taihuang Temple Mountain for many years, and this morning he had offended Xie Yuan by saying something taboo. He died at noon, making it hard to believe that the old Taoist priest's death was an accident.
She also believed that Xie Yuan would not be so petty.
It's hard to say whether it wasn't one of the imperial guards who followed Xie Yuan this morning who did it. In the past two years, Xie Yuan has become increasingly wary of anyone mentioning Emperor Xuanyuan and Princess Roujia's dementia in front of him. As the emperor, he wouldn't allow his officials to get involved in such dirty work personally; in fact, he doesn't even need to give orders, as others will rush to remove anything that might be unsightly.
The Imperial Guard's sergeant was resting at a tea stall not far away when he saw the commotion and hurried over with two of his men. "General, should we investigate the cause of death?"
Chen Liangyu covered the old Taoist priest's face with the Bagua Banner.
Regardless of whether the facts are as she suspects, investigating the cause of death will only anger the emperor. Whatever the result, this investigation will only mean questioning Xie Yuan, and will only cost Xiao Qi another life.
Chen Liangyu said, "No need."
She took out a few taels of silver and placed them on the woodcutter's cart, saying, "Buy a coffin and give the person a proper burial."
The woodcutter accepted the loose silver and replied, "I will certainly do as you say."
Chen Liangyu felt a sharp pain in his chest. He held onto the stern post to catch his breath before straightening up, mounting his horse, and preparing to leave the small town at the foot of Taihuang Temple Mountain.
The woodcutter set up his cart, sighed deeply, and with a little effort, the wheels began to wobble forward again. He lamented, "Many people toil their whole lives, and in the end, all they ask for is a peaceful rest in the earth."
After returning to the palace, Chen Liangyu went to the Zhongshu Dutang (Imperial Secretariat) to drink tea with Xun Xian and the old ministers of the Six Ministries for half a day. They did not reach a conclusion on the handling of Liang Qiuting, the King of Nanzhou. As long as the military reports from Hengmiao in the southern border did not reach Yongdu, they would not know the situation in Nanzhou. No matter how much they discussed, they would still be in the dark and making wild guesses.
Chen Liangyu forced himself to sit for half a day, drinking most of a pot of invigorating tea. He nodded and said "good" to everyone who said anything. Only when the officials finished their duties did he ride back to his residence.
There were more people in the streets and alleys around the Xuanping Marquis's residence. Chen Liangyu knew that they were people sent by the palace to keep an eye on her.
The jade lion rushed to the gate of the Marquis's mansion, but before its feet even touched the ground, it learned that Chen Huai'an had entered the palace.
The obvious explanation for this was the Empress Dowager's decree.
Chen Liangyu sighed with sarcasm in her heart. Since she had already gone this far, why did she need to use the Empress Dowager's name again?
It's time to light the lamps.
Bu Ping'er and Lin Yin also returned to the Marquis's residence. Because they had been drinking and hungover at the Imperial Temple, Xie Yuan demoted them both by one rank and ordered Chen Liangyu to strictly discipline his subordinates. The monks of the Imperial Temple were also punished for violating the precept against drinking, receiving ten strokes of the cane as a form of punishment.
At this moment, the steward of the sub-prefecture hurriedly arrived at Liangyuan, "General, the Marquis has ordered me to invite you to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the old Marquis, the old lady, and the eldest son."
"I'll go."
The ancestral hall in the backyard of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence was brightly lit with candles, and the memorial tablets were neatly arranged.
The flame in the incense burner seemed to flicker gently in the dim light, sending plumes of white smoke descending. Chen Luan, holding a feather duster, stood before the memorial tablet, carefully brushing away the ash around the incense burner.
Chen Luan, who usually had a good temper, showed unusual emotion today, especially after his trip to the Six Ministries, his face became even more gloomy.
He said, “After you left the manor, an imperial edict came from the palace to bring An’er into the palace. It was said to be to select a companion for Princess Roujia. Princess Roujia can’t even speak a complete sentence, so what kind of companion are you looking for? Besides, An’er is only a few years old. She can only read the classics and historical essays and has a rudimentary understanding of them. How can she serve as a companion for the princess?”
After saying that, he flicked his sleeve, his tone clearly revealing his displeasure.
In the past, when the palace selected a princess's study companion, the Ministry of Rites would begin preparations three months in advance. After a preliminary selection, a policy test, and an arts test, the Empress would then select a group of young girls from among the daughters of officials and famous families who were of the right age, had dignified appearance, upright character, and were excellent in all six arts to enter the palace and serve the princess.
Chen Luan said, “I asked the Ministry of Rites, and there has never been any decree to select a princess to serve as a tutor. Even if there were to be a selection, the daughters of officials would have to apply voluntarily first, and then they would be selected. Does the Emperor think he can just forcibly take his daughters into the palace? What kind of logic is that? It’s nothing more than a way to restrain you and the northern border.”
Over the years, Yan Nian and Yan Baizhang supervised the construction of irrigation canals along the Zhudong Tianqian River, Chen Liangyu guarded the borders of the three northern prefectures, Chen Luan managed all affairs of the Marquis's residence, and Chen Huai'an was also raised by him.
Chen Luan glanced at the sky outside the ancestral hall, estimated the time, and said, "At this hour, An'er should be learning palace rules from the palace's female tutors. She's still so young, and she can barely finish her daily homework, yet she has to go to the palace to learn those elaborate rituals."
Chen Huai'an was the type of person who spent his days wandering around and his nights mending pants. If he wanted to do anything serious, he would only think about his studies after he had eaten and drunk his fill, played with crickets, and fought birds.
He is intelligent but not diligent.
Back when Chen Liangyu studied with her elder brother and sister-in-law, through the coldest and hottest days of winter, they would diligently study until their books were worn out before going to the training ground to practice weapons and engage in real combat. This child has not inherited even a fraction of the diligence and hard work of her parents and aunt.
Chen Luan spoiled her and never disciplined her. If she stayed up too late, he would coax her to sleep and do her homework for her.
Chen Liangyu had a long talk with Chen Luan about this, earnestly admonishing him that this was wrong. The effect was minimal; it merely shifted from blatant to clandestine actions.
Chen Luan had his own explanation for this: "I would rather An'er be more mediocre and playful. As long as you, my sister-in-law, and I are around, we can protect her from all worries. She won't have to bear such a heavy burden like you."
"Second brother, no one can protect her for a lifetime, neither you nor I can, and neither can my sister-in-law."
Chen Liangyu had a dispute with Chen Luan over Chen Huai'an's studies.
She said, "The Chen family's daughter should have her sights set on the Qilian Mountains. She is of military lineage, how can she be content to be a caged bird with a girl's rouge box?" If the emperor hadn't wanted to keep her in Yongdu, she would have taken Chen Huai'an to the military camp long ago.
Things took an abrupt turn when Xie Yuan suddenly issued an imperial edict to summon Chen Huai'an to the palace. Needless to say, this meant that he had begun to suspect Chen Liangyu.
Chen Luan could no longer bring himself to say such things.
Chen Luan suddenly asked Chen Liangyu, "Do you think he can still sit firmly on that dragon throne?"
Chen Liangyu paused, but didn't show much surprise. "What does Second Brother think?"
Chen Luan continued, “Disasters, refugees, and rebellions broke out among the people. The Princess disregarded her own safety and personally inspected the fields to suppress the rebellions. She remeasured the cultivated land of the entire country, drew up the fish-scale map, and calculated the grain tax. Only then did she order Xun Shutai of the Ministry of Revenue and Sheng Yu’an of the Ministry of Agriculture to compile a new land tax law. However, the current emperor was wary that the Princess would have even greater prestige in the court once the new tax law was promulgated, so he suppressed the proposal in the Hanlin Academy and it has not been implemented for a long time.”
"The Imperial Observatory's single sentence, 'A guest star appears in the south,' threw him into a state of turmoil. In order to build the temporary palace, he turned a blind eye to the Ministry of Revenue's embezzlement of grain taxes and the Ministry of Works' private hiring of artisans, which was detrimental to the country and the people. He suspected this person and that person every day. Zhao Xingli was merely remonstrating as an imperial censor, and he was dismissed and imprisoned. The eldest princess worked hard to solve the national treasury problem for the farmers and mulberry fields. You led troops to guard the border, but in the end, didn't you only make him more suspicious?"
“Since ascending the throne, his obsession with the legitimacy of his throne has placed above the well-being of the people and the nation. How can such an emperor bring blessings to the people? How can he make the nation strong?”
"Sooner or later, he will do something that will be irreparable for the court and the people because of this worry."
Chen Liangyu said, "You and I, brother and sister, have never discussed our stances."
"Let's talk about it today."
"Second brother, please speak."
Chen Luan said, “In today’s court, only a sage ruler with absolute authority can deter the officials, ensure that government orders are implemented without hindrance, and save the people from suffering. Unfortunately, the one who occupies the highest position is not a sage ruler; and those who have the qualities of a sage ruler find it difficult to hold the throne.”
Chen Liangyu said, "Is this Second Brother's stance?"
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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