Chapter 99: I absolutely must release one of them for the Dragon Boat Festival?
After Grain Rain, winter wheat begins to flower and fill out.
The Empress and Consort Zhai Yu in the palace both became pregnant.
Xie Yuan ordered a general amnesty, with the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and Yong'an Prefecture submitting the amnesty list, and the Hanlin Academy responsible for drafting the amnesty edict.
As the saying goes, misfortune and fortune often go hand in hand. Just as the edict of amnesty was being drafted, Hengmiao's attack on Nanzhou suffered a setback, losing three warships at Qing'ai Bay and being forced back to shore by Liu Mo's Nanzhou army. Following this, the Imperial Censor Jiang Xiantang's dispatch of censors to Xiling resulted in nine out of twelve trips made.
The Censorate lost three censors, and they only managed to figure out roughly who was in charge of the rebellion.
During the Xuan Yuan era, when General Lu Renxi, stationed at Xiling, conspired with Prince Qi Xie Xuan to force the emperor to abdicate, Lu Renxi's younger sister was the Prince Qi's wife. Later, in order to win over Xun Xian, the leading civil official, Prince Qi took Xun's tenth daughter as a concubine, secretly agreeing with Xun Xian to make her empress after his ascension to the throne. Lu Renxi felt resentful and spared Xie Yuan's life during their battle. Therefore, although Lu Renxi was executed, Xie Yuan did not exterminate his entire clan.
The person who spearheaded this rebellion was Lu Renxi's cousin. Taking advantage of the widespread rumors that "the current emperor's ascension to the throne was illegitimate," he claimed to have the posthumous child of Prince Qi in his possession, and called this posthumous child, whose identity was unknown, the young master, who should ascend the throne and become emperor.
Chen Liangyu had moved the table and chairs to the row of wooden bars separating Zhao Xingli's cell, right next to it. On the table were the second official gazette and a stack of documents that was getting higher and higher.
Those official documents were all handwritten copies transcribed by the Hanlin Academy.
Chen Liangyu slipped the copied official document through the gap in the wooden fence and handed it to Zhao Xingli. "They've already copied it, why not make an extra copy and keep passing it back and forth? These Hanlin scholars are really lazy."
"Cough cough cough..."
Zhao Xingli's cold hadn't fully healed, so an extra layer of mattress was laid out in the cell. Although it was old and worn, and the edges of the mattress were covered with starch, it was better than nothing.
"Imperial Censor Zhao, can you please stop coughing?" Chen Liangyu held up one finger. "Since I came here, I haven't had a good night's sleep."
"Zhao was also unwilling."
Zhao Xingli glanced at the document, then slammed it shut. "What kind of 'young master' is this? Have these people who joined the rebellion lost their minds?"
You can believe that?
Chen Liangyu said, “When the Eldest Princess drafted the Records of Ten Thousand Officials, she bestowed land and official titles under the guise of rewarding merit. Since it was a reward based on merit, merits varied in magnitude. But who would think their own merits were less than others'? And who would sincerely accept that their reward was less than others'? These rebel leaders in Xiling were all those who joined the Emperor halfway through their uprising to serve him, taking advantage of the chaos. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he gave them sinecure positions and sent them to Xiling. They themselves knew that they would no longer be valued by the court, so they didn't distinguish whether the young master was real or not. Whoever could offer them high positions and generous salaries, they would follow.”
Zhao Xingli's rough hands gripped the corner of the official document, repeatedly kneading it between his fingertips, his face pale and ashen. "Three censors from the Censorate failed to return."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Xingli continued, “The war in the southern border is critical, and the eldest princess is also confined to Taihuang Temple. If we send troops to quell the rebellion, the national treasury will surely be unable to withstand the pressure. Teacher will definitely send people to Xiling to try to sow discord among the rebels from within. I am incompetent and imprisoned, unable to share your worries.”
When it was time for meals to be served in the prison, the food for Chen Liangyu and Zhao Xingli's cells was delivered separately by the jailers: two white steamed buns, a dish of vegetables, and occasionally some meat. Today, Zhao Xingli's bowl contained an extra pot of medicinal soup.
Chen Liangyu quipped, "Have you grown a conscience now?"
The jailer had tried everything—persuasion, threats, and bribes—to get a bowl of medicine from Zhao Xingli, but to no avail. Seeing that Zhao Xingli was truly on the verge of death, Chen Liangyu bargained with the jailer for a long time before finally getting a bowl of hot ginger tea, half a piece of ginger, and a tattered quilt.
Today, they actually brewed the medicine, filled it into a pot, and brought it over.
The jailer, unusually cheerful, said, "There's great joy in the palace! His Majesty has granted a general amnesty. If you two are pardoned, please don't hold a grudge against me. It's my duty to make a living in prison. If I'm not ruthless, those thugs won't take us jailers seriously."
"By delivering this bowl of medicine, you could be considered disobeying an imperial decree."
"Look at what you're saying, to put it mildly, it's still considered disobeying an imperial order."
Zhao Xingli had already brought the medicine pot to his lips, but upon hearing the order to disobey, he hurriedly pushed the medicine pot away.
He stubbornly adhered to the fundamental principles of the relationship between ruler and subject, regarding "if the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject must die" as his guiding principle. From the day he heard Tan Xialing say that the emperor had decreed that he was not allowed to receive medical treatment, he had been waiting to die. That bowl of hot ginger tea was forced down his throat by the jailer after prying open his mouth. After the hot soup was gone, they stuffed pieces of ginger into his mouth, and he chewed on the ginger all night, barely managing to keep Zhao Xingli alive.
The jailer, seeing him push the medicine away, was very puzzled: "This?"
"He doesn't like to drink."
The jailer scratched the back of his head.
Who would want to drink bitter herbal medicine for treating illness?
"Your Excellency misunderstands. Without the Minister's permission, how could I dare to deliver this bowl of medicine to you?"
Chen Liangyu asked, "Did Tan Xialing send this medicine?"
"Our boss didn't say it explicitly, but that's the gist of it."
Chen Liangyu pondered for a moment, then knocked on the wooden fence. "Imperial Censor Zhao, congratulations."
"What is there to celebrate?"
"Congratulations on your release from prison and your return to the world."
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival.
There were many more carriages parked outside Chengtian Gate than usual. Today, the female relatives of Minister Yongdu entered the palace to celebrate the festival with the Empress and concubines. The Imperial Kitchen and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices prepared zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), realgar wine, and five-poison cakes to reward officials and their families.
Chen Luan, along with Cheng Lingdian, the Prefect of Yong'an, and Tan Xialing, the Minister of Justice, reviewed the proposed list of amnesty candidates in the Zhongshu Dutang (Secretariat). They then handed it over to the Hanlin Academy, which would present it to the Emperor for review before issuing the amnesty edict.
Chen Luan quickly scanned the list and, sure enough, Zhao Xingli's name was not among those granted amnesty.
In the past, the list of those granted amnesty was jointly drafted by the Three Departments and the Yong'an Prefecture. This time, the Emperor excluded the Censorate, leading to speculation that the Emperor feared the Censor-in-Chief might be biased and take the opportunity to get his favorite protégé out of prison. Moreover, Zhao Xingli had already offended the Ministers of Revenue and Works, so even if they knew he wasn't guilty, they dared not rashly add him to the list.
Cheng Lingdian handed the roster to a young official in the Secretariat and instructed him to send it to the Hanlin Academy for Grand Secretary Gu Heng to review.
Chen Luan glanced at the sun and thought that Yan Nian should be arriving in Yongdu soon.
He stopped the minor official, snatched the roster, and said to Cheng Lingdian and Tan Xialing, "My sister-in-law wrote to me a few days ago saying she's on her way back to Yongdu. I'm going to meet her soon, and I just happen to be passing by the Hanlin Academy, so I can stop by for a bit. Give it to me." He then bowed.
Cheng Lingdian and Tan Xialing returned his bow and then went their separate ways.
The Hanlin Academy was located within the Forbidden City of the Imperial Palace. The route from the Secretariat to the Hanlin Academy seemed inconvenient. Chen Luan, carrying the amnesty register, with half of it sticking out, was followed closely by a man on his way.
"Please wait, my lord."
Chen Luan turned around: "Your Excellency, Grand Chancellor."
It was Jiang Xiantang, the Imperial Censor.
Jiang Xiantang said, "My lord, may I have a word with you in private?"
The palace was in chaos today, filled with people dressed in official robes, gold belts, and imperial crowns. Even so, the two men's purple robes and gold belts still stood out in the crowd. Chen Luan followed Jiang Xiantang to a shady spot, where Jiang Xiantang looked quite troubled.
Having never asked anyone for a favor in his entire life, and unfamiliar with the procedures, Chen Luan had never even considered making a private visit. After waiting for many days at the Marquis's residence without Jiang Xiantang showing up, on the Dragon Boat Festival, in the Imperial Palace, a place full of the Emperor's spies, Jiang Xiantang abducted him in full view of everyone.
Chen Luan was practically fuming.
In such a short time, the Chongzheng Hall probably already knows about the secret plot between the Censor-in-Chief and the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in the palace.
Jiang Xiantang could not openly ask Chen Luan to include Zhao Xingli on the amnesty list, for fear of angering the emperor, so he killed him immediately.
So he said, "Oh, it's nothing. You can go now."
Chen Luan: "..."
He watched as Jiang Xiantang's face turned from pale to bright red, but the old man turned his back and didn't say a word.
Chen Luan said, "I heard that Imperial Censor Zhao fell ill in prison and is on his deathbed."
Jiang Xiantang's face grew even more pained, and he couldn't stop sighing.
"I would like to trouble you, Marquis, to plead with His Majesty on my behalf. There have been many incidents in Xiling. Could you perhaps mention this to the Emperor, ordering him to go to Xiling to investigate all matters related to the rebels, so that he may atone for his crimes through meritorious service?"
"Why doesn't Your Excellency plead with the Emperor yourself?"
"Regarding the amnesty, His Majesty has bypassed the Censorate; you, Marquis, should know the purpose behind it."
Chen Luan said, "Does Your Excellency still remember the first case Zhao Xingli handled after being promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief?"
Jiang Xiantang swayed, feeling somewhat dizzy.
How could one forget that in the sixteenth year of the Xuanyuan era, Zhao Xingli was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief, and the first case he investigated was the Cangnan Chen clan's collusion with Yao Chongshan's relatives, who were then Minister of Works, to amass wealth, leading to the Cangnan famine that killed countless people. Numerous members of the Chen clan were beheaded.
The young man standing in front of him was also of the Chen family bloodline.
Knowing that his request for help was fruitless, Jiang Xiantang turned and walked away with a faltering gait.
"Your Excellency, please wait."
Jiang Xiantang stamped his foot and suddenly turned around.
Chen Luan said, "The court is in a deep predicament. I can put aside my personal grievances for now and am willing to plead with His Majesty on your behalf."
"Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Jiang Xiantang stood frozen in place, watching Chen Luan stride towards the palace, his body stiff and his limbs cold. It was a good thing that Chen Luan was willing to lend a helping hand, but bringing up the old matter again highlighted the enormous favor he owed the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion—a favor he could never repay on his own.
Chen Luan's ambition lay with the Censorate.
Jiang Xiantang sighed, thinking of his own youth when he was just like Zhao Xingli, a hothead who showed no mercy in his dealings with people.
As people age, their once firm beliefs gradually change.
He treated Zhao Xingli like his own son.
Without the emperor's permission, even a seemingly insignificant cold could be fatal. The very social dynamics he once scorned became his only bargaining chip to save Zhao Xingli's life.
Chen Luan happened to meet Hanlin Academician Gu Heng in the square in front of Chongzheng Hall, and handed him the list of those granted amnesty. He then prepared to leave the palace through Donghua Gate to pick up Yan Nian at the city gate.
Gu Heng opened the roster and glanced at it, then said, "My lord, His Majesty summons you. Please."
The court was closed for the day on Dragon Boat Festival, but Xie Yuan still stayed in Chongzheng Hall.
Memorials from all over the country piled up like mountains, and he reviewed them one after another, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead. Zheng Hechuan stood beside him, fanning himself with a cool jade fan.
Chen Luan entered the hall and knelt in worship.
Xie Yuan cut to the chase and asked succinctly, "What does Jiang Xiantang want with you?"
Chen Luan kowtowed and said, "Minister Jiang asked me to plead with Your Majesty on behalf of Zhao Xingli."
"You're quite honest."
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you."
Xie Yuan raised his hand and said, "Please take a seat." The eunuch quickly brought over a soft stool.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xie Yuan said, "I would like to hear how Marquis Xuanping will plead for Zhao Xingli. Is it possible that the disaster caused by the Xiling rebels is beyond Zhao Xingli's ability to resolve?"
Chen Luan said, "Of course."
Tell me about it.
"Liang Yu has gone to war to quell the rebellion, and the calamity of war will soon be over."
Xie Yuan said, "You mean, I absolutely must release one of them?"
Chen Luan said, "Releasing both will achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"How dare you!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Chen Luan knelt down, lifting his robe. "I have one more thing to say."
Xie Yuan snorted and leaned back on the dragon throne.
Chen Luan said, “There are military affairs in both the southern border and the western mountains. Agriculture, sericulture and grain taxes must be kept stable. Now the eldest princess is at Taihuang Temple to pray for the deceased Empress Huixian. The Ministry of Agriculture and Sericulture is without a leader. The position of Right Chancellor has been vacant for many years. I request Your Majesty to appoint a chancellor to share the burden of the Emperor.”
Xie Yuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, his facial features tense, his expression enigmatic.
He kept all his secrets hidden.
The agricultural and grain taxes were indeed a thorn in Xie Wenjun's side, and Chen Xingqian reminded him that it was time for Da Lin to appoint a prime minister. With the power over money and grain transferred to the Secretariat, Xie Wenjun would be nothing more than an empty shell, and there would be nothing to fear.
After a short while, Xie Yuan said, "You may leave now."
"Your subject takes his leave."
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