Chapter 88 Year...
As the year draws to a close, the weather turns cold and the vegetation withers. Winter in the capital is typically crisp and dry; a gust of wind has barely passed, and before the snow has even fallen, the air is already filled with a chill.
Under the emperor's nose, high-ranking officials and nobles abound, making a seventh-rank compiler seem exceptionally insignificant. Despite being a Hanlin scholar, young, promising, and with a bright future, in the intricate web of officialdom, power always rests on the shoulders of those in high positions, and fate is determined by those with power. Those with little experience and limited connections find it difficult to establish themselves.
Therefore, Cui Wenzao appeared very low-key, never trying to stand out or making mistakes. Anyone around him would say that he was "diligent, cautious, and of excellent character."
When Yan Chao stepped into the unremarkable house, Cui Wenzao, unaware of the situation, was waiting in the front hall.
He felt slightly uneasy when the guest visited under the name of "the Cui family of Jinling".
Before long, a person wearing a cloak and a veil entered gracefully. Because it was winter, no discernible features could be made from their figure. Cui Wenzao stared at the veil for a long time before tentatively speaking, "You are…"
Cui Wenzao was immediately horrified, his heart skipped a beat, and he opened his mouth incoherently, "Too..."
Suddenly remembering to bow, he was helped up before he could even bend down. Yan Chao interrupted him, "Please dismiss all irrelevant people, editor."
"Yes, yes, yes..." Cui Wenzao trembled as he told the others to leave. As the door creaked shut, he finally realized what was happening, and a chill ran down his spine.
Even though he was usually very cautious and composed, the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince at the door was still quite startling.
He calmly performed the greeting, but dared not rise, remaining prostrate on the ground, still trembling with fear and trepidation. He overheard the Crown Prince's voice as he sat down, and then heard her ask, "Is Compiler Cui from Luoyang?"
“Your Highness, I am indeed from Luoyang,” he paused, and seeing that the Crown Prince seemed to have no reaction, he mustered his courage and added, “...My ancestral home is in Nanjing.”
Yan Chao gave an "oh" and his indifferent gaze fell on him. His figure looked rather thin, but anyone who had gone through the imperial examinations to get to this point had already experienced some hardships and difficulties, and could be temporarily called a "dragon among men".
Many men of Cui Wenzao's age were probably still studying hard, determined to earn a name for themselves no matter what. Yan Chao couldn't help but think of his cousins from the Cui family in Jinling, who, although already in official positions, had futures vastly different from Cui Wenzao's.
She continued Cui Wenzao's words, her tone even becoming slightly gentler: "I know that they are of the same clan as my maternal uncle's family. However, the branch in Luoyang is somewhat distant, and we have little contact with each other."
Cui Wenzao felt a slight sense of relief and was about to speak when Yan Chao said, "I heard that your father was serving as a county magistrate in a local area and was nearly fifty years old when he had you. You are the second child in your family, but you were separated from your family since childhood and returned home when you were already a teenager. It must have been extremely difficult for you to get to where you are now, and it is truly remarkable that you have achieved such success. It is evident that you are intelligent and hardworking."
"Your Highness flatters me; I am unworthy of such praise." Though it was a compliment, Cui Wenzao felt increasingly uneasy. He secretly pondered the Crown Prince's intentions, fearing that he was not there with good intentions.
Yan Chao raised his eyes and glanced around the hall. The furnishings were all simple and unpretentious. Occasionally, one could see a few pieces of porcelain or calligraphy that could be considered treasures, but they were not ostentatious. They only made people feel that they could show the owner's taste.
She slowly rose, took a few steps forward, and seemed to sigh, "When I was young, I stayed temporarily at my maternal grandparents' house and was quite close to my elders and cousins. So even though we have been separated for more than ten years, I still remember them vividly. The first time I saw your face, it reminded me of the third branch of the Cui family. My third uncle's name was Cui Gan. Since you have been to the Cui family in Jinling, you should have met him. He had a son, I think, named Cui Jinglan, who looked four or five parts like you. It's a pity that he passed away two years ago, which is truly regrettable."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
When he heard that name, his face finally turned pale.
Although he knew he couldn't afford to lose his composure at this moment, the Crown Prince had clearly come prepared. His mind went blank for a moment, and he couldn't explain anything.
Yan Chao then asked bluntly, "What is your relationship with Cui Jinglan, and who is Cui Gan to you?"
"Your humble servant..."
"Think carefully before you answer." Yan Chao interrupted him, stopping three steps away and glancing at him. "Although the Cui family of Jinling is related to the emperor, I dare not use that to protect them from deceiving the emperor. You dare not either."
This is clearly a warning.
Cui Wenzao broke out in a cold sweat, his heart pounding as he watched the pair of jade boots land in front of him, his mind filled with the thought, "It's all over."
The exposure of one's identity not only means that years of hard study will be in vain, but also implicate a whole group of people in the clan.
He tried his best to calm himself down and compose himself, determined to take a gamble. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, I dare not deceive you. The Cui family of Luoyang is not my own family. My biological father is Cui Gan from Jinling, and Cui Jinglan is my elder brother."
Yan Chao's expression hardened, and he said sternly, "Cui Wenzao, how dare you!"
The emperor issued an edict forbidding the Cui family of Jinling from entering the capital, but Cui Gan dared to deceive the emperor and send Cui Wenzao to Luoyang!
This plan has clearly been in the works for years, with countless underhanded maneuvers. Once discovered, the Cui family will suffer a second major blow.
Cui Wenzao immediately crawled forward on his knees, prostrated himself under her robes, and cried out in anguish, "Please, Your Highness, protect me! My father did this because he did not want the Cui family to decline and perish, and he also hoped that you would have one more person to use in the court."
Fearing that the Crown Prince might be skeptical, he changed the subject: "When the Cui family left the capital, Your Highness was in the inner palace, so you probably didn't know the truth."
Yan Chao's expression suddenly darkened, but he still asked calmly, "What secret is it?"
Cui Wenzao said, "After Empress Wenhui passed away, the Earl of Anping was stripped of his title, and the Cui family line was not allowed to enter the capital. I heard my father talk about the strange things that happened when I was in Jinling. Because His Majesty intended to hide it, many people were silenced back then."
Yan Chao frowned, remained silent for a moment, and then said slowly, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Cui Wenzao thanked the emperor and stood up, his hands inside his sleeves already soaked with sweat. He felt a little more at ease, and when he spoke, he was a little flustered, but he tried his best to maintain his composure.
The cause was not much different from what Li Yanshu had said before, both starting with the younger sister of Empress Wenhui. However, apart from what Li Yanshu knew, there was an even more shocking inside story.
"...When the Empress's younger sister, Lady Cui, left the palace, she was already pregnant with the Emperor's child. No one knew this when she returned to her parents' home and temporarily stayed at the Cui family residence. When my late grandfather learned of the scandalous affair between the Empress and Lady Cui, he was enraged and punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall all night. Before she could even sit up properly, she miscarried. His Majesty only learned of this after Lady Cui was executed. However, because the matter was so disgraceful, His Majesty could not punish the Cui family for plotting to harm the Emperor's child, so he had to temporarily set the matter aside, though he had already harbored resentment for a long time..."
After that, the truth came to light. The Emperor and Empress Wenhui grew increasingly distant, and after Empress Wenhui's death, he could easily find a pretext to avenge the past.
Empress Cui was so proud. Even though she and the emperor had grown tired of each other, she still refused to lower herself. As empress, she believed she could shoulder the responsibility of being a model for the nation.
The emperor insisted on expelling her maternal family, making the Cui family of Jinling unable to hold their heads high again.
Yan Chao remained silent after hearing this. This was indeed a secret within the palace; many people were likely silenced back then, which explained why she couldn't find out.
After a long silence, she shook her head and gave a soft scoff. Even if she knew, so what? Lady Cui was already dead; the culprit was her father, the Emperor. What could she do?
"How many members of the Cui family know about these things?"
"Apart from this humble servant, only a few elders in the family have kept their mouths shut." Cui Wenzao glanced at the cold-faced Crown Prince, then lowered his head in a respectful manner.
The Cui family in Jinling was far more complex and had much stricter rules than those in Luoyang. He had been suppressed for over a decade, unable to fully display his talents no matter how outstanding he was, which was truly frustrating.
After his father told him about the plan, he went to Luoyang. His "old father," who had spent his entire life as an eighth-rank county magistrate, treated him very politely. Only then did he realize that power was indeed the most important thing in the world.
Therefore, he proceeded with extreme caution, not daring to make even the slightest mistake. He was still young, and plenty of opportunities awaited him.
Cui Wenzao glanced at the Crown Prince's expression, then quietly knelt down again, speaking earnestly: "Your Highness's great kindness is deeply appreciated by this humble subject, and I am willing to serve Your Highness even unto death."
His identity could only be kept secret by the Crown Prince. Only if the Crown Prince held this leverage over her would she have any more trust in him.
He was slightly excited; his earlier anxiety instantly turned into enthusiasm after he figured it out.
I really didn't expect this opportunity to come so quickly.
Yan Chao remained noncommittal, saying ambiguously, "There's no rush. You still need experience. You are paid by the emperor, so you should be loyal to him. Focusing on your duties is the most important thing."
Cui Wenzao immediately realized that he might be being too attentive and arouse the prince's suspicion. He quickly replied solemnly, "Your Majesty's instructions will be remembered."
As Yan Chao left the Cui residence, a wind picked up outside. He adjusted his cloak, turned back to look at Cui Wenzao, who was respectfully seeing him off at the steps, and nodded slightly: "Editor, please stay."
Before he could reply, she added, "In terms of kinship, I should call you cousin."
Cui Wenzao bowed deeply, saying he dared not accept such a gesture.
.
In the east wing of the Wenhua Hall, following the usual etiquette for lectures in the Eastern Palace, today Grand Secretary Yang Ren will be lecturing to the Crown Prince. Not far from the east wing is the rear hall, which the Emperor specially set aside for the Prince of Changle. Its regulations are much simpler than those for the Crown Prince, but all were carefully selected by the Emperor.
Yan Fei had just been released by his masters to rest for a while, but he went straight to the east wing and peeked inside through the window. But as soon as his eyes peeked in, he met Yan Chao's gaze.
The man above was engrossed in his speech.
His face paled, and he quickly covered his mouth, afraid to make a sound. But Yan Chao ignored him, seemingly letting him run wild. So he breathed a sigh of relief, standing outside the window without intending to leave, listening curiously.
"...I have already explained the meaning of the first eight characters of Master Xishan's transmission of knowledge. I wonder how Your Highness understands it?"
When Yan Fei heard the teacher ask the question, her heart skipped a beat. She glanced nervously at Yan Chao, but seeing that she remained calm, she couldn't help but feel hopeful again.
Yan Chao pondered for a moment, then calmly rose, performed the teacher's salute, and replied, "Master, Master Xishan distinguishes between the human heart and the heart of the Way based on selfish desires and moral principles. When selfish desires arise, the human heart is difficult to control, hence it is dangerous; when moral principles change, the heart of the Way is not easily broadened, hence it is subtle. To avoid the dangers of the human heart and seek the subtlety of the heart of the Way, one should restrain and uphold it to deal with all changes."
Yang Ren nodded: "Master Hui'an said: 'One who is aware of reason is the mind of the Way, and one who is aware of desire is the mind of the heart. The mind must not be improper for even a moment. If the mind is not proper, then virtue will not be clear.' Zhen Xishan is in line with this, and even said that human desire is the mind of the heart, and heavenly principle is the mind of the Way. To overcome selfishness and return to heavenly principle is benevolence."
"There is one thing the student doesn't understand."
"Please speak." Yang Ren put down the scroll and listened attentively.
"The Zhu and Zhen schools sought the way of the human heart and the way of the Dao heart, emphasizing that the human heart must be extinguished while the Dao heart endures. But what is the meaning of the word 'human heart'? For kings, nobles, generals, and common people, the desires for sound, color, smell, and taste are merely human nature, and it is probably difficult to completely abandon them. Should we also restrain them with the way of the sages?"
Yang Ren stroked his beard and shook his head: "The text that Your Highness and I discussed is the foundation of an emperor's learning. For a ruler, the human heart is the heart of benevolence and virtue. As I said before, the heart is the foundation of a ruler. When the ruler's heart is upright, the country is well-governed. This is what is meant by the ruler being the foundation of the nation's prosperity. As for the subjects, officials are loyal and impartial, and commoners are engaged in farming and livelihood. Each has its own place and its own path. Naturally, there are many who seek the Way among them. It is gratifying that subjects know propriety and righteousness. However, among the many who seek the Way, how many truly govern their hearts, and how many are disturbed? Only when a ruler governs with his hands clasped and restrains himself with the Way of the Sages can he become a model for the world."
The crown prince seemed to be thinking about something, and after a moment of contemplation, he replied, "This student understands."
Yang Ren continued, “If the superiors do ten parts, the subordinates may not be able to imitate eight parts. Not to mention that the more lax the superiors are, the more lazy the subordinates will become, and then gradually from a few to many, it will become a trend. The so-called example of the superiors is only to achieve the middle, and the example of the middle is to achieve the inferior. This principle does not contradict the doctrine of the mean, but it is like holding a torch in the dark, the light of a single torch is not enough to make a difference.”
Holding a torch in the dark, its solitary light barely illuminates the darkness.
After listening, Yan Chao stared intently at Yang Ren. She remained silent, as did the heavens and earth; only the gentle breeze whispered in her ears. With each breath, she could hear the dim lights outside the city walls of a certain year, and the lush vegetation along the winding ancient road.
A burning desire welled up within her, ready to burst forth. She turned her head, and the pale sky was faintly tinged with a warm hue.
The child stood by the window, his bright black eyes clear and pure, gazing quietly at her.
She exhaled and said, "Thank you for your explanation, sir. I understand now."
Yang Ren nodded slightly and picked up the scroll: "Then let's begin..."
"Your Highness, Grand Secretary Yang, something has happened at the Grand Secretariat!" Suddenly, a eunuch rushed to the door and reported anxiously.
Liang Lu, who was standing to the side, was too late to stop him. His expression changed, and he stepped forward to reprimand him for his rudeness.
The lecture was interrupted, and the Crown Prince and the other lecturers looked displeased. Yan Chao's heart skipped a beat. Seeing that the eunuch had been subdued, he asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
The eunuch finally showed fear and replied tremblingly, "Master Lan is fighting with all the lords!"
Yan Chao's lips twitched. What conflict existed between him and the cabinet ministers? They even came to blows.
Yang Ren stared in disbelief, frozen in place: "...Fight...Fight?"
.
The fighting among the officials sparked public outrage, with the crowd clamoring for an audience with the emperor. The crown prince offered some words of advice, but failed to quell their anger, so he simply let them cause a scene before the emperor.
After hearing the reason for the matter, the emperor looked at the large crowd in front of him and became increasingly irritated.
He reached out and gently rubbed his temples, frowning, his head throbbing: "I've been in this Western Garden for almost half a year now. I haven't neglected my duties, have I? The court has been stable all along, hasn't it? The Western Garden is quiet, and I'm comfortable living here. Isn't it simpler than the Qianqing Palace? You used to often advise me to be diligent and frugal, so why are you so insistent on making me go back now?"
The tone sounded rather helpless, with a hint of impatience.
Several official hats appeared, their wings occasionally bumping together. The people exchanged glances, then knelt down in unison.
"Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, is of immeasurable worth. You should reside in the Qianqing Palace, the main hall of the inner court. Although the Leopard Chamber is quiet, it is remote and simple. It can be used as a place to escape the summer heat, but now that winter has arrived, it is not advisable to stay there for long!"
The voices of agreement immediately rose up.
"If Your Majesty is unwell, you should return to the palace to summon the imperial physicians for treatment and rest. Do not listen to the slanderous words of sorcerers and take any elixirs; such things are harmful to the body..."
Suddenly a deep voice broke through: "Your Majesty has been absent from court for more than a month. During this time, the emperor has been far from his ministers, and the ministers have not seen the court, causing the court ceremony to be neglected for too long and their senses to be closed. If this continues, the emperor will become incompetent and the government will be in chaos, and the country will cease to exist!"
"...Your Majesty has abandoned the Imperial Palace and resided in the Leopard Chamber, distanced yourself from Confucian scholars and befriended your favorites, abolished the lectures on the classics, cut off the offerings to the ancestral temples, kept memorials in the palace and unable to convey the sentiments of the people, and made it difficult to carefully manage the titles and ranks of redundant officials...Your Majesty should reflect on these things."
"The bureaucracy in the court is riddled with problems, and officials have submitted memorials to the throne, yet Your Majesty has been slow to make a decision..."
"Your Majesty should summon the Nine Ministers and the Censors to discuss the gains and losses in person. It's not too late to turn to the enemy when you see a rabbit!"
"We, your humble servants, are utterly loyal and offer our frank advice today for the sake of the ruler and the country. We only hope that Your Majesty will listen to and believe us!"
"His Majesty……"
...
"...Now, Lan Huai'en, the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, is causing chaos in the government and acting arrogantly in public. Today, he even beat up the court officials in front of them. He has not only failed to fulfill his duty as an inner court official, but also disregarded the dignity of the emperor. Such despicable behavior must be severely punished, otherwise it will be difficult to win the hearts of the people!"
"Yes! Those officials were also injured!"
"Furthermore, after His Highness the Crown Prince arrived, Lan Huai'en's manner of bowing was lax, and he even spoke rudely, showing disrespect to his superior. How can someone who does not distinguish between rank and status be qualified to be a close attendant of the Emperor?"
"I urge that Lan Huaien be executed to uphold justice!"
"I second that proposal!"
"I second that opinion!"
...
"His Majesty!"
"His Majesty……"
...
The crowd spoke with force and shouts, their passion rising and falling. They had forgotten all about official decorum, spitting as they spoke, their fingers almost poking Lan Huaien's eyes.
The emperor sat with a gloomy face, but only closed his eyes and remained silent, as if he could not hear the advice.
As for the culprit, Lan Huaien, he remained indifferent despite being condemned by everyone. A smile was on his face from beginning to end as he disdainfully swept over the group of old men who wished they could tear him to pieces, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally glancing at the Crown Prince standing to the side.
Yan Chao's expression was unreadable, and she remained silent from beginning to end. She had read part of the memorials submitted by the assembled officials, and they contained roughly the same points, repeatedly and eloquently expounding on the rites of the sages.
Of the items that Lan Huaien had secretly withheld, Yan Chao did not send anyone to retrieve them, though he was generally aware of their contents, which were likely aimed at him personally.
The voices of the crowd gradually came together.
The specific objectives were only twofold: first, for the emperor to return to the Qianqing Palace; and second, to deal with Lan Huaien.
She tilted her head slightly and saw the emperor's pale hand resting on the table, visibly swollen. Consort Ming said the emperor's weakened health was largely due to those elixirs.
"Enough!"
The emperor finally lost his temper, slammed his fist on the table, and roared in fury: "I am the Son of Heaven, do I need you to tell me where I want to live? You keep saying you are sharing my burdens, but my health has deteriorated a lot in the past two years. Only in the last six months have I been living in the West Garden, quietly recuperating and devoutly practicing Taoism and taking elixirs, which has slightly improved my condition. And yet you come to disturb me!"
That final shout sent a chill down Yan Chao's spine, and he immediately bowed and replied, "Your subject is here."
The emperor's cold gaze pierced her: "What have you been doing?"
Yan Chao knew that the emperor would definitely cause her trouble today, but she couldn't help feeling apprehensive as the moment approached. The emperor would never be satisfied with her answer, but she had to speak.
Just as he was about to kneel, he suddenly heard the emperor shout, "Stand up! The dignified crown prince kneels like a servant all the time!"
She was slightly taken aback, but she did as she was told, lifting her knees to steady herself. Then she heard the emperor change his tone: "Lan Huaien is a eunuch I've always used. If he has any disloyal intentions, I will be the first to not spare him! There's no need for you to rush to convict him!"
After saying this, he turned to the eunuchs in the hall and ordered, "Go and bring up those memorials!"
The hall was silent for a moment, the silence filled with the emperor's anger and oppressive aura, making it almost impossible for everyone to breathe.
However, among the kneeling officials, there were still a few who kept their heads down but refused to admit defeat, showing a strong determination to remonstrate to the very end.
The memorial was brought over, and the emperor opened it, but only looked at the signature.
"Wu Shiyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites!"
"Your subject is here." The voice was loud, firm, and steady.
"Did you write the memorial?"
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
The emperor interrupted him, coldly uttering a single word: "Dismissed!"
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites had anticipated this outcome. He straightened up, performed a proper salute to the emperor, and left the palace with the eunuch without uttering a word.
Then came the same sound of pages opening, and a series of names were read out.
"Wang Zheng, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, is dismissed."
“Chen Yingzhen, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was dismissed.”
“Zhang Chenggao, a reader in the Hanlin Academy, is dismissed.”
The last one is: "Minister of War Cai Yan, demoted!"
Taking advantage of today's events, the emperor punished several officials in succession. When even a high-ranking official of the second rank was implicated, everyone finally became alarmed. Someone, unable to kneel any longer, risked his life to speak out: "Your Majesty, such hasty demotion..."
"You," the emperor pointed at the figure, "sixty strokes of the cane, go!"
Yan Chao raised his eyes, his hand clenched tightly in his sleeve to suppress his fear, and said immediately, "Father, please reconsider."
The emperor's eyes were cold and ruthless; he didn't even look at him: "Kneel down!"
Yan Chao immediately knelt down calmly.
"Say one more word, and I'll beat you too."
Author's Note:
① The lecture passage is taken from Zhen Dexiu's explanation of "the human heart is perilous and the Dao heart is subtle" in "The Great Learning: The Foundation of Learning for Emperors" in the Southern Song Dynasty. The original text is "The so-called private matters of form and qi... when they are put into use, they are called the middle way. They are not two separate things." The dialogue between Yang Ren and Yan Chao is the author's rudimentary understanding. Please forgive any errors.
P.S.: These are my personal opinions, and I've tried to keep them within the historical context of this article, so my values may differ from today's. Please don't argue. (Rational discussion and learning are welcome, but I don't think there will be any... I guess.)
②Xishan was the pen name of Zhen Dexiu, and Hui'an was the pen name of Zhu Xi.
③ Holding a torch in the dark, the light of a single candle is not enough to illuminate the way forward: This is derived from a chat log with a friend, Mr. Li (nickname), who shared his original words: "In the dark, lighting only one candle is not enough to illuminate the way forward."
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