Chapter 115 (None)
As the sun sets in the west, it paints the windowpanes a deep crimson.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Shan has arrived." A'Ruo entered the room, secretly glancing at Jiang Ling, who was deep in thought, and cautiously greeted him.
After returning from the palace, Jiang Ling sat alone in a side room for the entire afternoon. Seeing that she looked normal, A'Ruo felt a little relieved and took out a tinderbox to light a lamp.
As the candles were lit one by one, Jiang Ling's eyes felt dry and uncomfortable. She lowered her eyes and adjusted them for a moment before saying, "Let him in."
Hearing Jiang Ling's hoarse voice, A'Ruo hurriedly picked up the teapot to pour tea. Touching the cold teapot, she quickly carried it out to replace it with warm tea.
Zhang Shan entered the room, sweating profusely. When A'Ruo returned with the tea, she poured him a cup as well. Zhang Shan quickly bowed and thanked her, but while A'Ruo was outwardly polite, she inwardly cursed him.
"You heartless bastards! Yuan Changsheng is gone, and they're practically throwing a big opera to celebrate. Look at their smugness, they're truly cunning and shifty-eyed!"
Zhang Shan had no idea what A'Ruo was thinking. After she left the room, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I checked, and Gouqi Shuilian was missing that day. There was no record of anyone on duty. Among them, Yuan Changsheng's confidant Yang Ying said he had an upset stomach and was resting in the duty room. Several people who were always with Yang Ying and obeyed his every command were also off duty that day. As Your Majesty instructed, I asked them who would go to offer incense to Yuan Changsheng. Yuan Changsheng's coffin will be sent out of the palace for burial tomorrow."
It rained that day. The guards knew the palace alleys by heart, and they also knew the guards' routes and the times they passed through. Helping the Song Palace official solve the problem of wolfberry and water lily was undoubtedly Yang Ying and his group's doing.
Jiang Ling, seeing the reproachful look on Zhang Shan's face, asked, "No one went?"
Zhang Shan slapped his thigh and enthusiastically flattered Jiang Ling: "Your Majesty is incredibly insightful and has made perfect plans! Yang Ying made an excuse about having to go on duty and simply couldn't find the time to go. When he has some time to rest later, he can ask for permission to leave the palace to offer incense and pay respects at the tomb. It's a good thing that Yuan Changsheng treated them so well before, but before they've even gone far and the tea has even cooled, these people have already turned their backs on him."
“They need to avoid suspicion,” Jiang Ling said.
Zhang Shan froze, his expression instantly changing. He said angrily, "Truly hateful! They still haven't given up their wicked intentions! Your Majesty, I'll go and tie them all up right now. I refuse to believe they dare to resist, even disobeying Your Majesty's decree!"
With Yuan Changsheng dead, the guards lost their leader and their morale plummeted. As the saying goes, a new emperor brings a new court, and no matter how loyal they are, they still have to consider their future situation.
Zhang Shan was eager to seize this opportunity to win over the guards. Jiang Ling disliked Zhang Shan's actions, and Yang Ying and the others' reaction was likely instigated by Consort Liu.
Yuan Changsheng's death was sudden, and Yang Ying and the others should have been aware of it. If they went to pay their respects, they would become part of the same camp, and might be wiped out in one fell swoop.
If they don't go, it will only make things more obvious, but the advantage is that Jiang Ling won't be able to find any fault with them.
"Be careful around them, and don't cause any trouble," Jiang Ling instructed. He added, "Yuan Changsheng and Song Gongzheng have both passed away, and the palace is probably in a state of panic. You must be vigilant at all times and not cause any disturbances."
Zhang Shan quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will only act according to Your Majesty's orders! This servant will go on patrol now and keep an eye on them to prevent them from gossiping."
Jiang Ling was in low spirits. She didn't want to talk to Zhang Shan, so she told him to leave and went to her bedroom.
Huang Liang walked in hurriedly, head down. Jiang Ling stopped and talked to Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang, who were playing under the eaves.
"Mother, I want to dine alone with A-Lang." Xiao Yunzan was sweating from playing, holding the bamboo dragonfly in one hand and tugging at Jiang Ling's sleeve with the other, acting coquettishly.
"Why do you want to dine with A-Lang?" Jiang Ling asked, amused, when he saw Xiao Yunlang looking at him expectantly.
“Father’s face looks like this…” Xiao Yunzan glanced quickly toward the bedroom, then put on a stern face and said, “A-Zan and A-Lang, you two play all day long. How many books have you read? Have you finished writing the characters? Mother, Father is very fierce, especially today. I need to avoid him.”
Secular customs dictated strict upbringing. Emperor Yuanming learned from his predecessor how fathers should treat their children. Jiang Ling tried to correct him, but he could never change. He rarely showed kindness to Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang, and the two brothers avoided him like the plague.
Emperor Yuanming lost his temper every few days, which Jiang Ling was used to. When she saw Huang Liang approaching, she said, "Alright, you two go back to your room for your meal."
Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang happily agreed and went back to their house while playing with their bamboo dragonflies. Huang Liang, covered in sweat, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, everything is settled. As soon as the city gates open tomorrow, we will send the coffin out for burial."
Jiang Ling nodded and said it was hard work. Huang Liang quickly replied that he didn't dare. He hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Your Majesty, the Palace Administration Department can't be left without someone. Has Your Majesty made any arrangements?"
The Palace Administration is now leaderless, something Jiang Ling had already considered. With Song Gongzheng gone, Emperor Yuanming's concern for her certainly wouldn't compare to that for the Palace Administration position.
Huang Liang asked this question specifically, implying that he wanted to take the opportunity to promote the palace maid he was on good terms with. Jiang Ling understood his intention, but she didn't respond.
The most important quality for a lady-in-waiting to serve in the Imperial Household Department is kindness, followed by intelligence. A kind person leading the department will ensure that those sent there suffer less. An intelligent person can protect themselves and secure their position.
Jiang Ling said, "The matter of the Palace Administration Department should be decided by His Majesty. You should go and rest for a while, and I will discuss it with His Majesty later."
Thinking of Emperor Yuanming's temper, Huang Liang dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly replied, "This servant is covered in sweat and may offend Your Majesty and the Emperor. I will go and wash myself first."
Upon entering the bedroom, Emperor Yuanming indeed leaned against the headboard with a dark expression. Seeing her enter alone, he said unhappily, "Where are those two little rascals, A-Zan and A-Lang?"
“They were making a lot of noise, so I let them eat on their own,” Jiang Ling said.
"A doting mother spoils her son. Their naughtiness is all because you spoil them." Emperor Yuanming snorted, scolding Jiang Ling, and then began to berate Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang.
"When I was their age, I had already read up to the Analects. They've only finished the Thousand Character Classic, and their calligraphy is just perfunctory. That brat A-Zan is especially disobedient; if you scold him for one sentence, he'll argue back with ten. He's really unruly!"
Jiang Ling listened calmly. She had long since given up arguing with Emperor Yuanming, and she would certainly not allow him to interfere in the education of Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang. After all, given Emperor Yuanming's own character and abilities, it would be an impossible task for him to even teach a normal person.
Emperor Yuanming, oblivious to the white foam hanging from his mouth, continued his incessant cursing. A eunuch brought food and hot water into the room, helping him wash his hands and face before eating, finally bringing him some temporary respite.
After dinner, Huang Liang came to take his turn, and together with the eunuch, helped him walk slowly around the bedroom. He had been lying down for several months, and his waist was almost as thick as a basket, yet he was still weak and powerless.
Huang Liang and the eunuch used all their strength to support him, their foreheads bulging with veins, as they moved forward shakily.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all afternoon!" Emperor Yuanming, still angry from before, immediately questioned Huang Liang upon seeing him.
"Your Majesty, this servant has gone to take care of some errands," Huang Liang said vaguely, glancing at Jiang Ling.
"When did I give you any orders?" Emperor Yuanming frowned and said angrily, "You audacious and treacherous servant, did you perhaps forge an imperial edict?"
"Your Majesty, I sent him on some errands," Jiang Ling quickly said, then winked at the eunuch Huang Liang to help Emperor Yuanming back to bed.
Emperor Yuanming glared at Jiang Ling and said in a deep voice, "Huang Liang is my personal attendant, yet you dare to order him around without informing me."
Jiang Ling remained silent until Huang Liang, the eunuch, had helped Emperor Yuanming lie down on the bed. He then waved for them to leave, sat down by the bedside, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to them.
"I won't eat!" Emperor Yuanming said irritably, pulling on his injured leg. "If I drink too much tea, I'll be getting up at night and causing trouble. And Huang Liang, where have you sent him this time?"
Jiang Ling put down his teacup and said, "I'll have a few private words with the Emperor and then dismiss Huang Liang and the others. At noon, Song Gongzheng of the Palace Administration passed away, and I've asked Huang Liang to handle the burial."
Emperor Yuanming froze, and said in disbelief, "How could a perfectly healthy person suddenly be gone?"
Jiang Ling sighed and said, "The weather is hot and the winter is cold, both are hard to bear, and my body can't take it."
Having received Jiang Ling's ambiguous answer, Emperor Yuanming did not press further, saying, "Even if she doesn't die, I will not let her go. Those two palace maids who disappeared from the Palace Administration Office were either murdered to silence them and thrown into Kunning Palace, or they committed suicide out of fear of punishment; they are dead and there is no way to verify it. Regardless of the reason, she cannot escape responsibility. If you still take it seriously, have Huang Liang collect her body and throw it into a mass grave to settle the matter!"
"His Majesty is always kind and generous. He is unforgiving when he is angry, but after a while, when his anger subsides, he will soften his heart."
Jiang Ling spoke softly, but Emperor Yuanming scoffed at her words. He thought she was too soft-hearted; she was just a palace maid, not worth his sympathy as emperor!
He has an iron-fisted approach, but those around him must be kind-hearted to put his mind at ease.
Jiang Ling pinched his nose and praised Emperor Yuanming, "I thought it was hot, so I went to pack up early to avoid making Your Majesty worry."
Emperor Yuanming generously said, "Alright, I will grant your request and will not pursue the matter further."
Jiang Ling gave a dry, forced thank you, feeling a sense of desolation in his heart, finding it truly ridiculous and laughable.
From Yuan Changsheng to Song Gongzheng, their deaths were like a gentle breeze to Emperor Yuanming, leaving no ripples.
"Since the Palace Attendant is gone, I think we should just abolish him altogether," Jiang Ling said casually, raising his price on the spot.
Emperor Yuanming frowned and said with displeasure, "Look at you, you're talking nonsense again. Without the Palace Administration Office to keep things in check, the arrogance of the palace servants has been emboldened, and there will be chaos in the future."
Jiang Ling already knew that Emperor Yuanming wouldn't agree, so she seized the opportunity to reveal her true thoughts, saying, "Your Majesty's reprimand is correct; I was thinking too simply. Let's discuss the selection later. We can ask Qin Shanggong and the others for recommendations, and Your Majesty can make the final decision. However, there are indeed too many people in the palace, and with so many people, disputes are inevitable. Why not simply release some people out of the palace so they can reunite with their families? Your Majesty loves his people like his own children, and they will be grateful to you."
Emperor Yuanming lowered his eyes in deep thought. Seeing this, Jiang Ling took a drastic measure: "Your Majesty, the expenses in the palace are too high. Releasing some people out will save a lot of money and grain."
"Does the Emperor lack such a small amount of money and grain?" Emperor Yuanming glanced at Jiang Ling, but then raised his chin and said, "I couldn't bear to see them separated from their families, so I released a group of them out of the palace so they could return home and reunite with their loved ones."
Jiang Ling had other plans; the number of palace maids and eunuchs in the palace had to be limited. Now was not the time for drastic measures, so he said, "Tomorrow morning I will have all the palaces in the Six Departments spread the message: anyone who wants to leave the palace must not be stopped by anyone. Those from the same place can travel home together. The court will provide the funds and provisions, and the inns will provide the escorts. It won't cost much silver; Your Majesty might as well go all the way."
Emperor Yuanming said impatiently, "Since you brought it up, go and make the arrangements. It's a trivial matter; I have no time to deal with it."
Jiang Ling said yes. Emperor Yuanming lifted his eyelids to look at her and said, "You should also pay attention to your words and deeds. Recently, there have been more and more memorials impeaching you in the court. Look," he gestured with his lip toward the box on the low table, "several new memorials impeaching you have been added today."
"Who is slandering me again?" Jiang Ling saw that Prime Minister Zheng had presented all the memorials impeaching her to the Emperor as she had instructed. She lifted her skirt and stormed over, picking up the memorials and flipping through them. "I'll find them and make them explain themselves clearly!"
Emperor Yuanming laughed out loud, "You are truly ignorant and incompetent. That's not what it means to explain clearly. If someone impeaches you, you should write a memorial to defend yourself against the false accusation."
“I haven’t had much schooling, and I don’t know anything about distinguishing false accusations,” Jiang Ling said confidently, pulling out the memorial impeaching her and noting down the names of the officials.
Given her current prestige and power, any official who dares to impeach her is either a truly upright and unyielding pedant or someone with ulterior motives.
Consort Liu's wings are being broken bit by bit. Jiang Ling has not made a move against her so far, waiting for her to come to him on her own.
The memorials impeaching her did not begin today. It seems that Consort Liu had already taken action.
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Ling's eyes. Since that's the case, she didn't need to be polite!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
