Chapter 76 The Wind Rises Over the East Tower (Part Two) "Establishing an heir was not necessarily a bad thing back then..."
Lan Huaien personally went to the Eastern Palace to deliver the imperial decree, and at the same time secretly informed Yan Chao of the emperor's attitude toward Hu Zuoming.
The emperor's change in attitude was quite intriguing. Yan Chao's eyes darkened, and his tone was slightly sarcastic: "Your Majesty probably knows the answer, but I'm afraid that if things really escalate, it won't look good, and there will be no room for maneuver."
Lan Huaien understood, smiled and said nothing more, only reminding her: "His Majesty does not know how Your Highness is doing, you can pretend to be seriously ill when you go."
But if the emperor's mind is made up, how can he be changed by playing the victim and gaining sympathy?
As the Crown Prince's carriage passed through the Lingxing Gate, it encountered Princess Yongjia, accompanied by Princess Miaohua and Prince Changle. None of them were in sedan chairs; their accompanying carriages and servants followed behind. Princess Yongjia was speaking with Yan Fei, her face beaming with a gentle smile.
Princess Miaohua, with her sharp eyes, spotted the ceremonial guard outside the gate in the distance and whispered to the princess, "Mother, it seems to be the Crown Prince's uncle."
Princess Yongjia frowned and instructed her attendants to bow and make way. However, the carriage stopped as it approached, and a slightly weak greeting came from inside: "I didn't know Princess Yongjia was entering the palace today. How has my elder sister been lately?"
Princess Yongjia had only just learned of what had happened at the Eastern Palace. Upon hearing the Crown Prince's voice, she couldn't help but crane her neck to look, but the sedan curtain obscured her view. A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes as she said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am well. I heard that Your Highness is unwell; please take good care of yourself and be vigilant to prevent treacherous individuals from succeeding."
The second half of the sentence was truly harsh. Even Princess Miaohua paled, and secretly tugged at her mother's sleeve. Yan Fei, standing to the side, frowned and nervously watched the carriage.
However, Yan Chao never bothered to argue with Princess Yongjia: "Thank you for your guidance, elder sister."
Upon entering the Renshou Palace, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, Sun Shan, was there to greet the prince. He eagerly stepped forward and, along with another eunuch, offered to help the prince into the palace.
Yan Chao was unsure what Lan Huaien had said to the emperor, but he couldn't very well be carried in while he was sick and weak, so he waved his hand in refusal and was only allowed to walk by Sun Shan's side.
After passing the screen wall, they could clearly hear a furious outburst of shouting from the front hall. Sun Shan explained in a low voice, "It was a lowly servant who accidentally damaged the imperial ritual implements, and His Majesty is furious."
The commotion didn't stop until Yan Chao entered the hall. The young man was dragged out, blood streaming down his forehead. Passing the pine and crane longevity screen, one saw the emperor reclining on a chaise longevity chair with his eyes closed, a Taoist priest standing beside him. Eunuchs were hurriedly gathering up the broken porcelain shards and retreating.
"No need, please sit down."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
The emperor opened his eyes and looked the crown prince up and down. Yan Chao clearly noticed the emperor's scrutinizing gaze and stood still for a moment, not immediately taking a seat.
"I heard that a treacherous person in the Crown Prince's Palace tried to poison you. Is that serious?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince trembled and suddenly knelt down. His face was pale, his eyes were slightly red, and he choked back tears as he said, "Father, have pity on me! That villain poisoned me for three years. If I hadn't been lucky, I would have died from aconite and arsenic long ago!"
The emperor sat up in surprise and exclaimed, "There's aconite and arsenic too?"
"Yes, the Imperial Medical Academy has already determined the result."
The crown prince crawled forward on his knees and kowtowed at the emperor's feet with tears in his eyes. Although it was all an act for now, the thought of being kept in the dark for the past few years filled him with shock and resentment, and his fearful tears were genuine.
"As the Crown Prince, I fear that such matters would damage the royal family's reputation if they were to spread, so I ordered that private discussions be prohibited and dared not let too many people know," she said, slightly raising her head and trying to remain calm. "Your unfilial son has caused Father Emperor worry. The Imperial Hospital has already examined my pulse, and I am fine; I will recover as long as I rest and recuperate. But Father Emperor, your son is truly afraid!"
The emperor sighed deeply, "You've suffered." He then personally bent down to help her to her feet. Yan Chao didn't dare to rely entirely on the emperor's help to stand up, and instead stood up with trepidation, half-supported by him.
"Sit down."
Yan Chao then sat down, and Sun Shan immediately handed him a handkerchief. Yan Chao took it, and only then did he realize that there was a Taoist priest standing in the hall. He wiped away his tears and said embarrassedly, "Your subject has lost his composure."
The emperor coughed lightly and said to the Taoist priest, "Master, you are proficient in the five arts of fortune-telling. Why don't you also take the Crown Prince's pulse?"
At first glance, it sounds like "martial arts," but it's not. Taoism uses techniques for self-defense and cultivates profound skills. The five arts are mountain, medicine, destiny, physiognomy, and divination. Among them, medicine refers to Taoist medicine, which mainly treats and saves lives through alchemy, acupuncture, and herbal prescriptions. ①
Yan Chao didn't know any of this, but just the thought of "taking her pulse" made her heart sink.
Lan Huaien served tea to the emperor and whispered, "Your Majesty, why make things difficult for Master Zhang? Even the best doctors in the Imperial Medical Academy have been studying him for several days."
But the emperor had not summoned the imperial physicians for a long time. He chuckled and said, "With such skilled physicians serving him, how could the prince's poisoning go undetected for years? It's clear that their medical skills are lacking!"
Yan Chao kept his eyes down and didn't reply. He only spoke when the Taoist priest was about to come over: "Since you are a true master serving by Father Emperor's side, you must have extraordinary abilities. True master comes from the common people and has extensive knowledge. Perhaps you have unique insights."
The Taoist priest bowed deeply to her before raising his hand high. Yan Chao reached out her hand, but a layer of inner clothing remained on her wrist. The Taoist priest skillfully took her pulse, but after a short while, her arm recoiled as if pricked by a needle, and his expression became one of surprise and uncertainty.
The emperor asked, "What's wrong?"
The Taoist priest didn't dare to look up. He composed himself and replied, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My arm suddenly went numb. I was truly abrupt!"
She turned and apologized to the Crown Prince, then switched hands to take his pulse. The hall was utterly silent, save for the dripping of the water clock, creating an eerie atmosphere. Yan Chao lowered her head, staring intently at the Taoist priest, and sure enough, his breathing became increasingly erratic. After about four or five breaths, she suddenly asked, "How is he?"
The Taoist priest hurriedly moved his hand away, turned around and knelt down before the emperor, kowtowing and saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please forgive me. My medical skills are not good enough to diagnose His Highness the Crown Prince."
The emperor frowned: "Is the Crown Prince's illness incurable?"
"No, no!" the Taoist priest quickly shook his head.
"You've been by my side for so long. Even if you really can't cure difficult and complicated diseases, you shouldn't be so flustered as to not be able to diagnose the pulse. Tell me first, and I and the Crown Prince will listen."
"This humble Taoist obeys the decree," the Taoist priest said, flustered and frantic, desperately recalling the pulse, and carefully describing the situation truthfully. "His Highness the Crown Prince's pulse is full in the lower abdomen, and the pulses in both feet are stronger than those in the cun position. The cun pulse is strong while the chi pulse is weak, and the right pulse is large while the yang pulse is weak. Yin and yang are out of balance, and qi and blood are not in harmony. But I do not know what poison the Crown Prince has been poisoned with, which has caused such damage to his precious body. Fortunately, the Imperial Medical Academy has top-notch doctors who can treat and recuperate His Highness. I believe he will recover safely."②
The emperor's expression was somber and complex.
Yan Chao said gently, "The Master's insight is indeed unique. None of the imperial physicians who have examined your pulse have said the same thing."
The Taoist priest felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles: "This lowly man is unlearned and speaks nonsense, presumptuously discussing Your Highness's noble status. This is a capital offense!"
His unspoken fear made Yan Chao particularly alert. She lowered her eyes and bowed to the emperor.
"The True Man serves the Emperor, fulfilling his duty to protect His Majesty's health and well-being. He possesses the talent to prolong life and is deeply favored by the Emperor. How could he belittle himself like this? Wouldn't that be a disservice to His Majesty's trust? The True Man is a believer in Taoism and should cherish his Taoist heart."
Such earnest words left the Taoist priest speechless. After a long pause, he could only stammer, "This humble Taoist has failed Your Majesty's expectations and is truly ashamed. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
The emperor grabbed a pillow and threw it to his side, then leaned back with a sullen face and beckoned, "Sun Shan, escort Master Zhang out."
The hall remained silent for a long time.
Lan Huaien noticed the emperor rubbing his knees unintentionally, so he quietly ordered someone to bring a thin blanket. Just as he was about to cover the emperor's legs, the emperor helped him sit up again, took the blanket himself, and casually instructed, "Go and move the crown prince's chair closer."
The father and son stood a step apart. Yan Chao unconsciously straightened his back, looking at the emperor as if awaiting orders.
The emperor smiled slightly: "Why be so nervous?"
He then reached out and took a document from the high table and handed it to her. He gave Lan Huaien a wink, and all the palace servants in the hall quietly withdrew.
This is a memorial submitted by the emperor, and judging from its content, it is nothing more than a routine remonstrance, mentioning the matter of Prince Xin's enfeoffment. Remonstrances are commonplace, and according to custom, they are usually read and returned; even the Crown Prince might not personally review such memorials. However, there are no traces of the Grand Secretariat's drafting or the Directorate of Ceremonial's approval on the memorial, clearly indicating that the emperor had other ideas.
Upon closer inspection, the signature reads: Xu Zhen, Censor of the Censorate.
"What does Your Highness think should be done with this memorial?"
Yan Chao was unsure of the emperor's intentions, and tentatively replied, "Your Majesty, I believe that the advice in the memorial is sincere and earnest, and every word is for the emperor's sake. Even if there are some harsh or excessive words, a gentle reminder is sufficient, and there is no need to be overly critical."
"So, according to you, memorials are approved, but remonstrances can be ignored?"
"Your Majesty is wise; wood becomes straight when guided by a plumb line, and a ruler becomes virtuous when heeds advice."③
The emperor narrowed his eyes and sneered, "You're just avoiding the issue because you're afraid to tell the truth."
The emperor extended his hand, and Yan Chao presented the memorial.
"When Consort Li was seriously ill, I originally planned to let Prince Xin leave the capital and go to his fiefdom after Prince Xin and Prince Shouning had seen Consort Li off on her final journey."
"Your Highness, you must also be eagerly awaiting this day. As long as Prince Xin is still in the capital, as long as he is still by my side, you will never have peace of mind."
The emperor's tone was cold, so familiar that it made Yan Chao's scalp tighten subconsciously, as if he had returned to the atmosphere of the Qianqing Palace, his words carrying the implication of a slap in the face. However, the emperor had indeed aged considerably, his sternness lacking in strength, and tinged with a helpless sluggishness.
Meeting the Emperor's stern gaze, Yan Chao lowered his head slightly, speaking calmly and slowly, "Three years ago, I offended Your Majesty by behaving improperly before the Emperor in this matter, and I have already received your admonition, Father. I dare not disobey you again. My unease stems from my concern that Your Majesty will be criticized by the court officials. Moreover, my fourth brother is behaving lawfully in the capital, serving Father faithfully and dutifully. The royal family is harmonious, setting a good example for the world. How could I possibly be dissatisfied with this?"
The emperor chuckled, "I'm tired of hearing that kind of talk." He raised his chin, gesturing for Lan Huai'en to bring the box from the antique shelf under the window.
“A minister once privately told me that he hoped I would not favor Prince Xin too much, lest the crown prince become uneasy and the foundation of the country be shaken. How ridiculous!”
“But Yan Chao, have you forgotten that I didn’t necessarily have to make you the emperor back then?”
Yan Fei. The rightful heir apparent.
Yan Chao felt a chill run through her body, her limbs stiffened and she couldn't move for a long time, but her back was already soaked with sweat. She moved her lips and forced herself to speak: "Everything I have is a gift from Father Emperor. I dare not harbor any resentment. I can only be vigilant day and night to repay the Emperor's kindness."
Such a nonchalant reply made the emperor seem like he had wasted his breath. His anger had nowhere to go; his face was ashen, and he glared at her for a long time before finally uttering two words: "Kneel down."
Lan Huaien held the box, his gaze darkening. He couldn't plead for her, and looked at Yan Chao with worry, her face pale.
Yan Chao knelt down silently. The Emperor's purpose in summoning her today was roughly clear, but he had not yet spoken of it explicitly, nor even given a hint.
The emperor intended to negotiate unequal terms with her. She was unwilling to lower herself too much, but she also didn't have the right to challenge the emperor's authority. At the same time, she couldn't anger the emperor; if the situation spiraled out of control, she would suffer a greater loss.
"What did you order Imperial Censor Huang Yi to investigate in Yazhou?"
The first sentence was a question. The emperor was still keeping an eye on southern Sichuan. Yan Chao's heart skipped a beat. He composed himself and replied, "Your Majesty, after investigating the case of the traitor's accomplices and the loss of tribute, some officials recently reported that the tea-horse trade in the six provinces of Tianquan was in chaos. Therefore, I ordered them to secretly investigate the Tea Tax Bureau to find out the details."
"It's nothing shameful, why investigate secretly?"
"Your Majesty is wise. During the reign of the late Emperor, the tea prohibition was relaxed due to the pacification of the barbarians, which led to the rampant private tea trade and many accumulated problems. This time, the court had already specifically assigned officials to rectify the tea law. However, with the rebellion just quelled, the people of southern Sichuan and the barbarians are still unsettled and the market is sluggish. If the prohibition is too strict, it may harm the tea farmers. Therefore, Huang Yi was ordered to conduct a secret investigation in order to inspect and correct the abuses and seek a solution to govern the barbarians and bring peace to the people."
"It's not wrong to be thorough in your considerations. However, since someone is needed specifically for inspecting tea, and Huang Yi's primary duty is as an imperial censor, the court could simply issue an edict directly. Why go through all this trouble? If the Crown Prince issues an edict, how are the officials below supposed to interpret it?"
Yan Chao kowtowed: "Your subject knows his mistake."
The emperor remained unmoved, seemingly ignoring Lan Huaien's words. He folded the secret letter in his hand and casually asked, "How is the investigation of Hu Zuoming going?"
Lan Huaien bowed and apologized: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent; he hasn't finished vomiting yet."
How much did you vomit?
"Your Majesty, he admitted to smuggling counterfeit tea into the capital with the wealthy merchant Cheng from Yazhou, and also admitted that he knew the tea was poisoned. But he refused to say why he wanted to poison His Highness the Crown Prince."
"I remember that the Cheng family was the mastermind behind the case of the missing tribute from southern Sichuan."
"That's right. The Cheng family was also found guilty of dozens of crimes, including impersonating others to take the imperial examinations, accepting bribes, and seizing farmland. Their entire family has been executed."
"The Crown Prince should also know about this matter."
Yan Chao said yes, and then said, "Because the Cheng family is related to Grand Secretary Li by marriage, Grand Secretary Li submitted a memorial the other day to impeach himself, saying that he was deceived by others and failed to restrain his relatives, which allowed the Cheng family to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the village."
The emperor raised his eyes and gestured for Lan Huaien to help the crown prince to his feet.
After she stood up, the emperor asked, "I have also seen that memorial. What do you think should be done?"
"Your subject believes that Grand Secretary Li is an upright and honest official with a long-standing reputation for integrity. Although he has impeached himself and requested retirement, he should be treated with leniency and respect."
"Don't you suspect that he really is colluding with the Cheng family?"
"To doubt the pillars of the nation because of a mere unscrupulous merchant would hurt the feelings of an old minister."
The emperor ignored her words, reached out and slammed the box shut, then turned to look at her: "Unfounded suspicion is certainly inappropriate, but if he has deceived the emperor and committed heinous crimes, to show leniency would be to condone unhealthy practices."
“Father is right.”
The Emperor nodded, shifted his posture, and secretly rubbed the base of his thumb and forefinger with his clasped hands. After a long pause, he said, "I plan to have Prince Xin enfeoffed in Daning. Since Prince Ning died without an heir, his residence is still readily available, which is convenient. We should start preparations now, and he should be able to leave the capital around this autumn, or at the latest this winter. What do you think?"
Yan Chao was slightly surprised. She had expected the emperor to agree, but she was surprised that he would arrange it so hastily. She thought the emperor would at least choose a good place from the Central Plains or Shandong.
"Da Ning and Suzhou are both located in the northern border region, which I also think is very suitable. As for the timing, I leave it to Father Emperor to decide." She brought up the Prince of Su, who had been almost forgotten, and was too lazy to be polite with the emperor anymore.
“Then it’s settled,” the emperor said, truly exhausted. His facial muscles were relaxed. He glanced at Yan Chao and said wearily, “You’ve also worked hard. The affairs of the court are handled by me and the cabinet. You don’t need to always be so busy. Rest more and take good care of your health.”
Yan Chao thanked the emperor for his kindness, bowed, and took his leave.
Author's Note: [Note]
① The "Five Arts" of Taoism, the information is from Baidu Encyclopedia.
②The pulse diagnosis is based on Baidu Encyclopedia and is only for the sake of the plot; actual pulse diagnosis varies from person to person. The pulse diagnosis described by the Taoist priest is a classic characteristic of a woman's pulse.
③ "Wood becomes straight when cut with a plumb line, and a ruler becomes wise when he heeds advice": This comes from the Book of Documents, Shang Shu, Shuo Ming Shang. It means that wood becomes straight when cut with a plumb line, and a ruler becomes wise when he heeds advice.
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