Chapter 100 The Palace...
A light snow fell silently in the night, but before it could even touch the ground, it was swept away by the cold wind, leaving only the chill that permeated the daytime. The cold air carried sharp, icy blades that pierced through cuffs and collars, stinging the skin.
As dawn broke and the first light of day appeared, the eastern sunrise was still dim, the palace lights were still casting shadows, and the palace servants were already bustling about.
Yan Chao hadn't slept well last night, and when she woke up, her whole body ached. She wasn't fully awake until she finished washing up. After breakfast, she went to her study, picked out a few memorials, and instructed the eunuch accompanying her to take them with her.
Liang Lu followed beside her, noticing that her complexion was slightly poor, and couldn't help but worry: "Your Highness has been traveling a long and tiring journey, and even after returning to the East Palace, you are still extremely busy, without even having time to rest. You are also injured..."
Yan Chao straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and replied, "It's alright."
She was walking out when she suddenly stopped, a meaningful smile appearing on her face. Without turning her head, she pondered, "Guess how many people will be going to the Wenhua Hall today?"
Liang Lu bowed slightly and replied with her hands folded, "This servant has never understood matters of the court. If I were to guess, most of the important officials in the court would probably go..."
Hearing his hesitant and conservative words, Yan Chao shook his head and smiled lightly, without asking any further questions, and slowly stepped out the door.
The sedan chair departed from the Eastern Palace and proceeded at a leisurely pace towards the Wenhua Hall. After crossing the bridge, they entered the heart of the imperial court, where the number of officials coming and going gradually increased. Upon seeing the Eastern Palace's entourage, everyone immediately fell silent, composed themselves, and made way for them with proper respect.
Yan Chao entered the Wenhua Hall, and the officials who had been waiting outside also lined up and entered the hall. Nearly a hundred people gathered there, and the once empty hall was now crowded with people.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work. When the hall quieted down, an imposing aura arose from the ministers, and an invisible pressure immediately enveloped the entire hall, silently pressing down on the person at the head of the table.
Most of them were civil officials. Due to the Qi dynasty's tradition of valuing civil officials over military ones, they held a dominant position in court politics. Entering officialdom through the imperial examinations and spending decades navigating the bureaucratic landscape, they possessed knowledge, conviction, strategy, and worldly wisdom. Behind them was a vast group of civil officials, whose interests were deeply intertwined, with factions vying for power and mutual destruction. In the turbulent world of officialdom, it was difficult to distinguish between the pure and the corrupt, the loyal and the treacherous.
Now, faced with this issue, they have chosen to stand together in an extremely rare and tacit manner, united as one.
Yan Chao was still dressed in the crown prince's robes, composed and dignified, her demeanor impeccable, just as before. She stood at the head of the table, looking down at the crowd. Many courtiers had boldly raised their eyes to meet her gaze, but she glanced at them indifferently and remained silent for the time being.
Indeed, most of the key officials of the court were present. However, Chen Xiu was missing from the cabinet. She was slightly surprised, but remained calm.
The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat tense, heavy with a somber silence. Time seemed to stand still, and though it was only a moment, it felt like an eternity.
The resounding announcement brought the crowd back to reality. Perhaps it was because of Yan Chao's unchanged makeup, or perhaps it was the inherent authority of the title "Crown Prince," but many people, without time to think, instinctively knelt down in a panic.
Since ancient times, the crown prince has been considered the foundation of the nation. For everyone, the crown prince symbolizes the pinnacle of power, second only to the emperor.
Yang Ren, who remained calm and composed throughout, bowed unhurriedly, addressing the Prime Minister as "Your Highness, Long Live the Emperor." Seeing that even the Grand Secretary had done so, the others followed suit and bowed in unison.
Only a handful of people remained steadfast, standing out like cranes among chickens, extremely conspicuous in the crowd.
Yan Chao glanced at the three men who were on the verge of exchanging blows, not bothering to say anything more to them or even give them a chance to defend themselves. He decisively ordered, "For these three men who have violated the rules of the palace, each shall be given fifty strokes of the cane and imprisoned in the imperial prison."
Two of the three were censors. Impeaching, investigating, and remonstrating were the duties of censors, and speaking frankly and directly was a common occurrence. No official dared to offend them easily, and when they took a firm stance, even the emperor could not do anything about it.
However, Yan Chao immediately swung his staff at this tough nut, and the people in the hall, barely able to come to their senses, were finally shaken.
Several Imperial Guards had already stepped forward as ordered, while the remaining officials remained kneeling with their heads down. When they caught a glimpse of the Imperial Guards, they instinctively tried to move away. The three men, who had initially been full of righteous indignation, now looked around and finally began to panic.
No one answered.
He was filled with indignation. Looking around, he saw that everyone in the palace, dressed in crimson and purple robes, was prostrate at the foot of the steps. He couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation: "Does the great Qi Dynasty have no successors?"
Yet it remained unbelievable: why hadn't the emperor killed her, and why were all these officials kneeling before her?
However, he, a mere humble official, would never stoop to such a lowly position.
"...The esteemed officials in this hall are all pillars of the state, enjoying the emperor's favor and honors. They should fulfill their duties of loyalty to the emperor. Now, she is about to usurp power and plunge the empire into chaos! Do you intend to stand by and watch the fate of the Great Qi dynasty fall into her hands...?"
"Are all those in this hall greedy, treacherous, and sycophantic people? How can you face His Majesty and the people of the world? More than a hundred years have passed since the founding of the dynasty, have you forgotten the foundation laid by your ancestors? If the founding emperor were alive, he would be furious if he knew that the empire had fallen because of a woman..."
...
In his drunken rage, his words grew increasingly absurd, even the other officials found them unbearable to hear and couldn't help but glance at him furtively. His upright figure was finally brought down, and the Imperial Guards went to silence him and dragged him away.
A voice, filled with indignation and choked with sobs, could be faintly heard: "I want to see His Majesty..."
Yan Chao frowned as he listened to the commotion, then finally raised his hand and stepped down the stairs: "Let him go."
The Imperial Guards released their grip, keeping a close watch on him, not daring to let him run rampant. The official, now free, became dignified, his eyes sharp as he said solemnly, "...If you won't allow us to see His Majesty, do you intend to use the Emperor to command the world?"
Yan Chao stopped and, without answering him, asked first, "I still don't know what official position you hold."
The official paused for a moment, then replied in a deep voice, "Geng Tang, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel."
Yan Chao responded with an "Oh," and said, "I remember you. Last year, when the case of Bai Cunzhang's remnants was being investigated, you spoke out boldly and impeached many people." You were indeed a straightforward official who was not afraid of powerful figures.
Geng Tang's expression softened slightly, his heart filled with righteous indignation. He declared frankly, "I am an official of the Six Ministries, and impeachment and investigation are my duties. Upholding the integrity of the court and maintaining the orthodox tradition are also our inescapable responsibilities. This was true in the past, and it is true now! Even if you can silence Geng Tang today, you cannot silence the officials of the Six Ministries, nor can you silence the officials of the court, much less the people of the world!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a very soft sneer was heard.
"Impersonating a prince by claiming to be a woman and plotting to seize the throne, isn't that usurpation? Now that your identity has been exposed, your crime of deceiving the emperor is undeniable, yet you still dare to stand openly in this hall, receiving the worship of the subjects of my Great Qi!"
Yan Chao stepped forward, pressing him relentlessly: "Why wouldn't I dare? So what if I'm a woman? As long as His Majesty hasn't issued an edict to depose the Crown Prince, I am still the Crown Prince! As long as I sit in the Eastern Palace, I will not tolerate your slander and insolence!"
Geng Tang glared at her, his gaze sharp as a blade, fixed on her, a surge of anger coursing through his veins.
He then proudly straightened his official robes, turned and knelt in the direction of the Qianqing Palace, removed his official hat with both hands, and held it high: "The imperial daughter is causing chaos in the government, and the foundation of the country is in danger. Your subject Geng Tang will die today to remonstrate, so as to understand the Emperor's will and to warn your own heart!"
Having said that, he suddenly stood up and, with lightning speed, charged toward the vermilion pillar a few steps away, as if facing certain death. The hall immediately erupted in an uproar, with everyone looking up and exclaiming in surprise.
"Stop him!" Yan Chao shouted sharply.
The palace guards quickly surrounded him, and one of the eunuchs grabbed Geng Tang's sleeve with lightning speed. In his haste, he could only hold on tightly, but he couldn't get a firm grip and the piece of clothing slipped from his hand.
In the blink of an eye, a loud "bang" was heard, and the hall fell into a deathly silence, the atmosphere suddenly becoming heavy.
Hundreds of eyes stared at one spot. Countless eyes converged. His green robe lay to the ground, blood flowing freely. His official hat, which had fallen from his arms, was propped up by its wings and stood firmly back beside him.
The eunuchs nearby rushed forward to check on him, only to find Geng Tang's eyes wide open, his forehead a bloody mess, crimson blood streaming down his face—a gruesome sight. Yet, he was not yet dead; he even lowered his head, took a weak breath, and could still move his body, seemingly trying to get up.
A low murmur finally broke out among the court officials. No one had expected someone to risk their life to remonstrate today, and they were all at a loss. Someone realized that Geng Tang's actions were intended to lead to suicide again, and someone said in a low voice, "Summon the imperial physician."
Yan Chao stood at the front and said indifferently, "No need."
She ordered someone to hold Geng Tang down, glanced at his unfocused gaze, and reached out to the Imperial Guard beside her: "Shi Lun."
The Imperial Guard was taken aback at first, then understood, lowered his head, unfastened the sword from his waist, and tremblingly offered it up. Yan Chao took it with his left hand, gripped it firmly against his palm, and as he was about to move, he immediately felt his toes sink.
"Your Highness, you mustn't!"
Grand Secretary Yang finally realized what was happening and stepped forward: "Ministers who remonstrate to the death are loyal and righteous. Even if the monarch does not accept their advice, he should not punish them harshly, let alone execute them with his own hands. If officials are punished for their remonstrances, it will inevitably lead to the closure of channels of communication, which is already a great fault of the monarch. Where will Your Highness place all the scholars in the world with this action?"
Everyone chimed in, but they remained largely in a wait-and-see mode.
Yan Chao sneered, and without turning her head, asked in return, "Does the Grand Secretary think that I want to kill him because he spoke frankly?"
Before Yang Ren could answer, Yan Chao had already stepped forward with his sword. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, a flash of cold light appeared, and the blade swiftly plunged into Geng Tang's chest. The action was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Geng Tang shuddered, and the last breath he had been holding on to dissipated amidst the smell of blood.
The officials in the palace were horrified to see her kill so recklessly. Only when they came to their senses did they realize that even though this "illegitimate" crown prince was a woman, she had still returned from the battlefield. Those hands had personally slain a fierce Mongol prince.
The smell of blood awakened some lingering, painful memories.
Yan Chao sheathed the embroidered spring knife and handed it back to Shi Lun. He wiped his hands clean with a handkerchief and calmly instructed the palace servants to clean up the mess. Turning around, he noticed that Yang Ren's face was slightly stiff, so he said slowly, "I'm sorry to have startled the Grand Secretary."
Having finished speaking, he looked away and ordered the officials to rise. Wherever his gaze fell, some stood up, some remained kneeling; some hesitated to speak, while others were already impatient.
"Our dynasty's ancestral rule is that officials who speak out should not be executed, this..."
"During the 'Great Rites Controversy' in the reign of Emperor Shizong, weren't there many officials who were beaten to death for speaking out? It is the duty of censors and supervising officials to remonstrate with the emperor and impeach powerful and treacherous officials. If they use death as a pretext to slander the emperor, or use hearsay to praise or criticize others, is that fulfilling their duty? As officials who speak out, if they make mistakes, should they be allowed to act recklessly without punishment?"
Since the ancestral rules were to be mentioned, she subtly quoted the words of the Precious Teachings to refute them. However, she did not fully explain her words, intentionally provoking the crowd to speak out in indignation.
"...Emperor Shizong despised officials who dared to speak out and disregarded ancestral rules, which led to the deaths of outspoken ministers and the disheartening of upright officials. His faults were recorded in the Veritable Records to warn future generations. Does Your Highness intend to follow this absurd path?"
...
"The crimes of your subjects shall be investigated and punished by the Three Judicial Offices. Your Highness's arbitrary rewards and punishments disregard the law."
"Furthermore, when Emperor Shizong punished his ministers with caning, even if it was not severe, it was still the Embroidered Uniform Guard who carried out the punishment. Your Highness, with your noble status, should have shown some self-respect. How could you openly execute a minister in the Wenhua Hall!"
"To execute an advisor in front of all the officials is not only an attempt to suppress dissent, but also an insult to all scholars and officials in the land!"
"...I second that! If word gets out about what happened today, how can the officials and scholars of the court not feel disheartened? Where is the court now? How can the world submit to it!"
"Geng Tang remonstrated with His Majesty to the death, but Your Highness not only failed to convey his advice to His Majesty's ears, but also abused your power and committed this absurd act. His Majesty is unwell, but Your Highness not only does not care about His Majesty's health, but also fails to share the burden of the Emperor and Father, instead indulging in the abuse of power and putting the Emperor and Father in an unjust position. Is this what a subject should do?"
"...For a subject to fail in his duty to oversee the country, he is disloyal; for a son to fail in his duty to serve his parents, he is unfilial."
...
"His Majesty has not issued an imperial edict to depose the Crown Prince, so we dare not be negligent or disrespectful and still respect His Highness as the Crown Prince. However, His Highness is still the heir apparent, so how dare he compare himself to Emperor Shizong?"
...
Yan Chao stood calmly at the head of the table, surrounded by a barrage of questions, each one firm, loud, and resounding, each word meant to nail her to the rack of unforgivable sins.
Hearing the barrage of accusations from the crowd, she was not annoyed. Instead, she lowered her gaze and secretly plotted to steer the situation in the direction she desired.
Although the crowd below was very large, upon closer inspection, it was clear that they had become somewhat restrained.
The officials knew perfectly well why Geng Tang had died, but they were not about to admit defeat easily. They were determined to seek justice for Geng Tang and turn the tide for the court's remonstrating officials.
That's enough.
No matter how thorough and nitpicky their usual impeachments are, they can only focus on one thing at a time, and trying to do both will inevitably lead to bias.
Knowing that she shouldn't delay any longer, she gave a wink to the eunuch beside her and shouted "Silence!" The hall fell silent instantly.
Yan Chao glanced at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Disrespecting the foundation of the state and disobeying the imperial edict is the first crime; being arrogant and disrespectful to the crown prince is the second crime; criticizing officials and showing contempt for the court is the third crime. Geng Tang's crimes are more than three. If he is punished and sentenced, death is not enough to atone for his crimes. Are you all indignant about this? Do you also have any ulterior motives?"
This was a serious accusation, and despite having a thousand things to say, the ministers could only reply, "We dare not."
Having said that, she stepped down the stairs and passed through the crowd, intending to leave the main hall. The eunuchs and imperial guards followed closely behind her, dispersing the slow-moving officials who blocked her way. Apart from the rustling footsteps, there was no other sound in the hall.
Her words were forceful and carried a strong sense of coercion.
As soon as he stepped out of the main hall, a commotion arose behind him. Yan Chao ignored it and ordered the Imperial Guards to surround the Wenhua Hall. They can come to ask for the order when they have finished arguing. No one is allowed to leave during this time.
She knew that the current predicament couldn't be resolved through verbal arguments, and she absolutely couldn't succumb to public opinion in the academic community. Situations like this would likely occur more frequently in the future.
The first clash after returning to the capital resulted in a drop of blood, the stench of which stirred up quite a storm, and many undercurrents were already brewing. Between the rise and fall of the executioner's blade, the fierce head of the enemy soldier from beyond the Great Wall was still vivid in his mind's eye, and before him stood the chest of the courtiers in the palace, their hearts filled with fervent passion.
And it seemed that ever since she emerged from seclusion, she had suddenly lost her fear of the harsh winter. Everyone around her was colder than the winter itself; even she was like a gust of wind in this icy wasteland.
Therefore, she proceeded cautiously yet had no choice but to take risks. She remembered that the emperor had once praised her for her strict adherence to rules, but this time, there were no rules to follow and no regulations to abide by.
.
When the news from Wenhua Hall spread, even Lan Huaien was shocked. His Eastern Depot had never dared to be this arrogant, which showed that Yan Chao was truly determined to rule with an iron fist.
He could roughly imagine how those officials would look when they were provoked, and he couldn't help but feel worried for Yan Chao, fearing that she was too eager for quick success and that things would backfire.
She rushed to the Eastern Palace, only to find it surrounded by a group of officials, creating a very oppressive atmosphere. Lan Huaien used the excuse that the Emperor had summoned her to rescue her.
Halfway there, another eunuch from the imperial court came to report that the emperor had fainted and the imperial physician had gone to treat him. Yan Chao nodded, instructed the palace servants to hurry, and then turned to Lan Huaien to ask, "What exactly did His Majesty say?"
Lan Huaien leaned closer and whispered, "He intends to depose the crown prince... but he is powerless to do so at the moment, since the imperial seal is still in His Highness's hands."
Yan Chaohe closed his eyes and pondered, "Your Majesty's illness requires quiet rest. No one is allowed to disturb you in the near future. Unless you request to see the Emperor, send someone to inform me first. Also, there is no need to report any news from outside to Your Majesty, so as not to disturb your health."
"Yes, Your Majesty understands."
.
The emperor awoke from an endless nightmare. The bright yellow curtains before him made his head throb. He felt inexplicably agitated and suddenly reached out and grabbed at them haphazardly.
The person outside must have heard the commotion, because they tiptoed closer, lifted the curtain, and called out, "Your Majesty." The emperor coughed and turned his head slightly, only to see Yan Chao standing by the bedside with a bowl of medicine in his hand. His face immediately turned extremely pale.
This time, they didn't even bother with deposing the crown prince; they just wanted her dead. Yan Chao frowned, blew on the medicine in the bowl, and said softly, "Father, please calm down. Anger harms the body. Isn't this what you taught me? Those with disloyal intentions should be executed. If someone said to your face that you are unworthy to be emperor and wanted to depose the emperor and install another, what would you do?"
The emperor gritted his teeth: "I am not you! I would never allow a woman to inherit the Yan family's empire!"
"Your subject's surname is also Yan."
"You're a jinx!"
Yan Chao finally raised his eyes and said quietly, "For twenty years, you have been holding a grudge against the Imperial Observatory's nonsense."
"My only regret is that I was blind back then and didn't strangle you!"
"But I am still sitting in the Crown Prince's seat. As for the astrological divination of the Imperial Observatory, I debunked this heresy twenty years ago. What happens in the future is not up to you."
She handed the medicine bowl to the eunuch and bowed slightly to the emperor: "I also want to thank Father for his many years of guidance and for being willing to entrust me with military power."
She never intended to return empty-handed when she was forced to leave Beijing.
The emperor was furious. He gasped for breath, utterly exhausted. He finally calmed down, but his spirits waned, and his gaze towards her became weak: "...The crown prince is a woman, inevitably threatening the stability of the empire. You have observed politics for many years, learning step by step how to stabilize the court and bring peace to the people. Yan Chao, if you have any conscience, you shouldn't...you shouldn't..."
Yan Chao found it utterly ridiculous: "So, I'm just going to hand over all this and sit here and wait to die? When you betrayed my mother, listened to slander and let the Empress Dowager smother your own daughter to death, and treated your children cruelly, why didn't you ask yourself if you had any conscience?"
As she emerged from the West Warm Pavilion, the biting chill made her shiver. Lan Huai'en, who had been waiting in the corridor, greeted her with his whisk tucked into his sleeve, just as Yan Chao asked, "His Majesty has only just woken up, why aren't you here serving him?"
“His Majesty is talking to you inside,” he said, gesturing with his chin and shrugging his shoulders as he spoke the truth. “His Majesty is probably tired of looking at me and wants to find someone else to serve him personally.” He then added in a low voice, “Your Highness, rest assured, I can keep an eye on people. I will not repeat the mistake I made last time.”
Yan Chao glanced at his face, her eyes softening, but she said nothing. She blew on her hand and walked down the steps. Lan Huaien watched her retreating figure, feeling an emptiness in his heart.
He had no idea how heartless and cold-blooded his prince had been in front of his father just moments before. He had come out alone, and in the vast, cold world, he was the only villain in sight.
Author's Note: ① In the "Eliminating Slanderers" chapter of the "Precious Instructions of Emperor Taizu of Ming," an imperial censor spoke of Tao An's subtle faults. Emperor Taizu said, "I have always known An. How could An have done such a thing? And how did you know?" The censor replied, "I heard it on the road." Emperor Taizu said, "Is an imperial censor merely taking what is said on the road to praise or criticize people? Is this how he fulfills his duty?" He ordered the officials of the Secretariat to dismiss the censor.
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