Chapter 71 The Difficulty of the Shu Road (Part 5) "The subject can do it, but the ruler cannot..."
After the meeting in the Wenhua Hall concluded, all the ministers withdrew one after another. The Crown Prince remained seated at the head of the table, and only after the hall quieted down did he turn his head and whisper a few words to the eunuch, who immediately obeyed and left.
Yan Chao pressed his temples, then got up and walked outside. At this moment, Liang Lu suddenly asked, "Your Highness, Junior Chamberlain Shen wishes to see you."
"Is it urgent? If not, let's do it tomorrow." Yan Chao stepped onto the platform and immediately saw the Wenhua Gate.
Liang Lu replied, "Judging from Shen Shaozhan's tone, it seems he's still concerned about Governor Shen." Yan Chao simply said, "The authorities can't even investigate Shen Yue's matter properly; he should avoid suspicion."
Just as Yan Chao was about to step down the steps, a voice suddenly called out from behind, "Sixth Uncle, please wait!" She turned around and saw a young man in a dark blue round-necked robe rushing out from the right side door of the hall.
Though only ten years old and still quite childish, he stopped a few steps away from her, took a breath, bowed his head, and solemnly addressed her as "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Yan Chaoxian didn't ask him why, but just glanced at the back hall and asked, "School's over?"
Yan Fei blushed and shook his head, saying no: "But please allow me to rest for a quarter of an hour." Afraid that Yan Chao was about to leave, he quickly said: "Sixth Uncle, I have a favor to ask of you."
"you say."
"I heard that Fourth Uncle met with the Emperor today because Consort Li is seriously ill and he wanted to bring her to Prince Xin's residence to recuperate. But the Emperor wouldn't allow it, only allowing female physicians and imperial doctors to examine her. But many people say that Consort Li is already terminally ill... Sixth Uncle, could you please plead with the Emperor on her behalf, just to fulfill Fourth Uncle's filial piety?"
He secretly glanced up at Yan Chao's face, then quickly lowered his head again. He had known about the power struggle between the two palaces since he was a child, but because of his young age, he had never been involved. Now, however, he had rashly come to the Eastern Palace to ask for help from Prince Xin, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
After a long silence from Yan Chao, Yan Fei mustered his courage and advised again: "Sixth Uncle, in this matter, you are the only one in the entire palace who is most qualified to bring it up with the Emperor. To fulfill the mother-son relationship between Consort Li and Fourth Uncle is also to fulfill the brotherly relationship between you and Fourth Uncle, and to enhance His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation. It won't harm your interests at all. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"
Yan Chao listened to his seemingly logical arguments and chuckled lightly: "Beneficial without cost? What makes you think I can persuade His Majesty?"
Yan Chao corrected him: "It is a vassal king who can serve his mother's country."
Upon hearing this, Yan Fei was speechless and his legs went weak, causing him to kneel down in panic.
"Why are you kneeling all the time? Get up and speak properly," Yan Chao winked, signaling Liang Lu to help him up, but his words showed no sign of relenting. "Fei'er, I understand your intentions. But this matter has nothing to do with my relationship with Prince Xin, nor with any so-called reputation for virtue. Lady Li was already deposed for her crimes, and unless there is His Majesty's grace, no one would dare to release her without authorization. Moreover, His Majesty has already issued a decree, so no one else has any right to object."
Seeing Yan Fei's obvious disappointment, she softened her tone: "I will ask Consort Ning to take good care of her. You should go back and focus on your studies."
Having said that, he ignored Yan Fei's hesitation and turned to leave. Once outside and in his sedan chair, he caught a glimpse of the empty platform in front of the palace. A barely perceptible twitch appeared between Yan Chao's brows: This child has indeed grown up.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Yan Chao first went to the study, followed closely by Imperial Censor Huang Yi. Yan Chao waved away the palace servants and gestured for Huang Yi to excuse himself and take a seat. He then got straight to the point: "This imperial edict is very urgent. You will be setting off for southern Sichuan tomorrow. However, I have another matter here that I need to entrust to you to investigate."
She knew the Ganlu Tea incident was inextricably linked to the Cheng family of Yazhou in southern Sichuan, but she wasn't sure if it was related to the current rebellion. Southern Sichuan was a thousand miles from the capital, and only on-site investigation could clarify the matter. The censor Huang Yi had previously been rewarded for his meritorious service in river management and was later personally recommended by the Crown Prince. Yan Chao knew his deeds and trusted his character and abilities, which was why she was willing to entrust the task to him this time.
After explaining the general situation to Huang Yi, he stared in horror. Yan Chao took in his expression and said solemnly, "I'm telling you this not only so you can investigate, but also so you can be extra careful. To outsiders, you're already considered a member of the Crown Prince's faction. The Cheng family might be wary and take precautions against you. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will accompany you on this trip south, which should largely protect your safety, but you still need to be vigilant and cautious."
Huang Yisu replied in a low voice, "Yes."
"If it is found that Cheng is connected to both cases, you can consult with Vice Minister Ren when necessary to collect evidence. You just need to handle the situation carefully."
"Your subject understands."
There wasn't much else to say, just expressions of loyalty. Once Huang Yi had taken his leave, Yan Chao finally relaxed, leaning back and letting out a long sigh of relief, utterly exhausted.
"No need, I'm just a little tired," she yawned, stretched her legs, and said slowly, "I was examined by Physician Feng yesterday, so perhaps I haven't fully recovered yet. It's nothing serious. However, I've been changing the tea I drink these past few days. Has there been any news from Shi Xi?"
"Your Highness, the supply of that batch of poisoned tea from outside the palace has been unstable these days. The tea delivered to you is sometimes there and sometimes not, so Shi Xi was somewhat negligent and did not notice anything. After that night, Shi Xi was like a frightened bird, and all his secret operations and communications stopped. He himself dared not leave the East Palace again."
Yan Chao said "Oh".
“If he were still thinking about serving his master, he wouldn’t be so scared that he doesn’t even dare to leave the house. Shi Xi doesn’t dare to confess to me and is afraid that Prince Xin will kill him to silence him. Seeking protection in the East Palace is the best option for him right now. However, we do need to take precautions. In addition to having someone keep an eye on him, you should also privately inform the Director of the Imperial Kitchen to keep him away from specific matters.”
A torrential downpour failed to extinguish the blazing sun that followed, instead turning the world into a sweltering, oppressive oven. In such hot weather, it's easy for people to feel irritable and depressed.
Consort Ning fell ill after the rain. When Yan Chao went to visit her, Xu Shuying had already voluntarily taken care of her at Yongning Palace. The imperial physician said that the cold had come on too suddenly, like a landslide, and that she needed careful recuperation.
Yan Chao could not enter the inner room, but he was still worried and repeatedly instructed the imperial physician and the female physician to take good care of him.
Consort Ning was currently feverish and lying drowsily in bed. Hearing the noise outside, she knew it was the Crown Prince. Her breathing quickened, and she couldn't help but cough violently. After recovering, she said in a low voice, "Since the imperial physician has come to the palace, please take a look at Consort Li in Ganxi. She is also very ill..."
The voice was so low that only Shuying, who was nearby, could barely hear it. So she got up and repeated what was said. The imperial physician was somewhat taken aback and turned to ask the crown prince for his opinion. Seeing the crown prince nod, he bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Li's health had reached a critical point; even if Hua Tuo were alive, he would be powerless to save her. Further treatment would only prolong her life.
Yan Chao didn't have much affection for Li Shi, but there was no need for him to kick her when she was down. After Prince Xin's pleas to the Emperor were unsuccessful, he and his wife frequently visited the palace to check on her. This matter wasn't reported to Consort Ning, who, upon hearing of it, said nothing.
Among Prince Xin's lineage, the most conspicuous is the Li family, who are related to the emperor by marriage. Li Shih-huai is a cabinet minister with many protégés, and he has the confidence to support Prince Xin.
Every few days, reports were sent to the capital from Yazhou in southern Sichuan. They claimed that Yu Chufeng, the Pacification Commissioner of Tianquan, had a conflict with the local people, and that the county magistrate had mishandled the situation, leading to Chufeng and his men colluding with local bandits and even harming innocent civilians. Meanwhile, the nearby Yazhou Thousand-Household Commander and the Lizhou Pacification Commissioner's Office were suffering from internal strife, were passively resisting the enemy, and even aiding and abetting the evildoers.
The various conflicts had been accumulating for a long time. Although the scale of this sudden outbreak was not large, the impact was extremely bad, and even the Dorgon in the west was somewhat restless.
The newly appointed Sichuan General Commander was appointed to a critical mission. Although he promptly led his troops to suppress the rebels, he was burdened by concerns about the treacherous terrain and the complex situation of the incited local people. He was locked in a stalemate with the rebel army for many days until the imperial court issued an explicit order for him to launch an attack, thus missing many opportunities.
Fortunately, the initial battle was quickly won. The commander-in-chief, Yu Chufeng, was seriously wounded, and the rebel army was severely weakened. The subsequent complete suppression was imminent and would be over in no time. No one was surprised by this result; what they were concerned about was how the two imperial envoys would appease the rebels and handle the aftermath.
Shen Yue and other convicted officials were being escorted to the capital, and their crimes had already been listed and submitted to the emperor. At the same time, officials in the court also took action, and impeachment memorials poured into the cabinet like snowflakes.
Yan Chao noticed that the entire Shen family, including the Shen father and son, had not escaped unscathed. As the saying goes, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter," and Shen Yue's confidants also exposed and denounced others in order to protect themselves.
No surprise, this is perfectly normal. But she couldn't help but frown when she recalled someone impeaching Shen Wei for "flattering the Crown Prince and trying to please him."
Zhou Shaoyun bluntly stated, "Your Highness, you mustn't."
Chen Xiu shook his head: "It's no longer necessary."
The implications are obvious, and Chen Xiu knew the Crown Prince was perfectly clear-headed and not unaware of the situation, but rather felt a slight reluctance. The Crown Prince was, after all, still young.
Chen Xiu advised, “A subject may do it, but the ruler may not. However, if a subject speaks out at this time, there is still the suspicion of being partisan. As the crown prince, Your Highness cannot be biased. How can you easily defend a guilty subject? Once a person has been renounced, their name cannot be restored. Your Highness not only needs to maintain personal integrity, but also has the responsibility to set an example for the people. Your actions must be in accordance with the Emperor’s wishes and fulfill the expectations of the common people.”
Yan Chao nodded in agreement. Chen Xiu quoted Yu Zhining's advice to Crown Prince Chengqian in the "Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era," which was quite apt and intentionally meant to remind her. Yan Chao knew she had spoken out of turn and said no more.
Although the Shen family's property had not yet been raided, soldiers were stationed outside the house day and night, restricting their movement. Those with official positions were mostly taken away for questioning by the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Guard. The elderly, women, and children inside the house were filled with anxiety, and the servants were in chaos, seemingly on the verge of collapse.
The oldest woman in the family, Mrs. Shen, was already melancholic and prone to overthinking. Now that disaster had struck, she was overcome with grief and finally fell ill.
"Where's Tanze? When is he coming back...?"
The old lady keeps muttering like this all day long, in a daze.
Shen Wei had been taken away for several days. Before leaving, to reassure the old lady, she said she had privately pleaded with the Crown Prince to ensure the safety of the innocent elderly and children in the household. Indeed, those outside hadn't made things too difficult for the women of the inner quarters. But when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken; Shen Wei understood this, and so did the old lady.
The censor's crime was punished with three degrees of severity, and her son was beyond saving, but the old lady still longed for her grandson. She clung to a sliver of hope, so she held on to her fate.
Yan Chao almost blurted out, "He won't."
Lan Huaien secretly curled his lip: "I am not questioning Shen Wei's willpower and loyalty to you, nor am I questioning your trust in him. The punishments in the Imperial Prison cannot be withstood by one's willpower alone."
"I know."
Lan Huaien could hear the hoarseness in Yan Chao's voice, and knew she had taken his words to heart. But he had come today to seek a concrete decision, and just as he was about to speak, his arms suddenly felt empty.
The whisk she was carrying was taken away by Yan Chao. She held the vermilion yak tail, seemingly examining it and lost in thought.
He couldn't reach out and snatch it. Yan Chao casually plucked a few plain-colored stray hairs, picked up the wooden handle with his backhand, and threw it towards the corner of the wall. With a "thud," it landed steadily in the blue plum vase.
The handle is upright with a balanced center of gravity, and the whisk is spread out, just like a flower in bloom.
"Great aim!" Lan Huaien exclaimed.
It turns out they were playing pitch-pot, but that whisk was no small thing.
Yan Chao met his gaze and suddenly asked, "How many of the memorials submitted by the Cabinet has His Majesty read?"
“Recently, there have been many memorials and drafts sent to the Western Garden. Most of them are summarized and read to His Majesty by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. Only some important matters are reviewed by His Majesty personally.”
Seeing that Yan Chao did not ask any further questions, Lan Huaien took it upon himself to add a few more words: "His Majesty still attaches great importance to the matter in southern Sichuan, but hearing too much about it inevitably makes him irritable, which is why he ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate thoroughly. Your Highness, you know the Commander Qiu Cong; he has an iron face and fears no one except His Majesty."
“I know,” Yan Chao frowned as she looked at him and repeated, “You don’t need to say anything more, I know what to do.”
.
In the Western Garden, at the Renshou Palace, the Emperor sat on a rosewood Luohan bed, reading memorials. The sandalwood incense from the censer wafted out, its rich fragrance overwhelming even the coolness of melting icebergs. Growing increasingly irritated, the Emperor tossed the memorials onto a small table.
The emperor reached for the backrest behind him, about to lean back, when a palace attendant announced that Qiu Cong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, requested an audience. The emperor remembered that he had been summoned, so he had no choice but to sit up again.
Qiu Cong gave a general report on the investigation of some officials in the court in recent days, focusing mainly on the cronies of the convicted officials from southern Sichuan in the capital.
"What about the Shen family?" the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, among the Shen family members who serve in the court, the crimes of the brothers Shen Yue and Shen Yan are particularly prominent. They have dozens of charges, including colluding with rebels, embezzlement, abuse of power, dereliction of duty, and corruption. The others may have different charges, but most of them have confessed." Qiu Cong presented the confession.
The confession was tossed back onto the tray. The Emperor twirled his fingers, slowly shifting his gaze to Qiu Cong: "Aren't the Three Judicial Offices investigating? The Crown Prince must know as well. What did he say?"
Qiu Cong hesitated for a moment before replying, "His Highness the Crown Prince is cautious and has ordered a thorough investigation. Once Shen Yue and the others are escorted back to the capital, they will all be sentenced according to the law."
The emperor grunted in acknowledgment and then asked, "Has the Shen family's property been confiscated?"
"Is this also an order from the Crown Prince?"
Qiu Cong was momentarily at a loss as to whether to accept the answer. Just as he was about to defend himself, he heard the emperor sneer, "It's tantamount to treason. What's the use of keeping him around?"
Qiu Cong quickly said he understood, and the emperor said, "That Shen Wei has really tarnished the reputation of the Eastern Palace. Let the Crown Prince investigate him again."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Qiu Cong took his leave.
The emperor yawned and turned halfway to lie on his side. The eunuch Hu Zuoming, who was serving nearby, silently moved to the bedside, knelt down, and began to massage the emperor. He was quite skilled with his hands and very observant in his duties. The emperor had already slept and was clearly awake now.
Hu Zuoming considered for a moment, then subtly increased the pressure on his hand by half, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Prince Xin came to pay his respects to you today and said he wanted to ask you to forgive the commoner Li."
The emperor kept his eyes closed, gave a soft "hmm," and said with a nasal tone, "She is ill and cannot move easily. Once she recovers, let her stay in Wan'an Palace again."
"Yes. This servant will go and deliver the imperial edict immediately. Empress Li and Prince Xin will surely be pleased to hear this." Hu Zuoming breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the emperor had finally relented.
The emperor sighed leisurely, "I haven't forgotten them, mother and son. I originally wanted to give Prince Xin a job, but seeing how heartbroken he is for his mother, I couldn't bear to ask him to do anything."
Hu Zuoming was slightly startled, his eyes darting around, and he naturally continued, "His Majesty's deep love for his son coincides with Prince Xin's filial piety. Prince Xin didn't see you today and was saying that because Consort Li was seriously ill, he had repeatedly requested an audience, which displeased His Majesty. He said that if he had the opportunity to share the burden of his sovereign and father, he would definitely go through fire and water to repay His Majesty."
"He also knows," the emperor snorted, squinting his eyes, "that the affairs in southern Sichuan have caused unrest in the capital. Even if the Crown Prince tries to rectify the situation, it will only result in impeachments by censors, investigations by the Three Departments, and reports from the Grand Secretariat. If there were no shady dealings involved, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. With Prince Xin not in court, it might be more convenient to have him handle some matters."
"Your Majesty is wise and insightful," Hu Zuoming flattered, then cautiously asked, "This servant is foolish and truly does not understand why Your Majesty still sent the Crown Prince to interrogate Shenwei."
The emperor had opened his eyes at some point, a sharp glint in them. At that moment, Lan Huai'en suddenly appeared from behind the screen. He bowed deeply but did not kneel, and simply reported, "Your Majesty, Master Wu is already waiting for you in Qingfu Hall."
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