Chapter 141 The Golden Palace "How about this child calls you Uncle Jin after he's born..."
His words struck the court with a single, resounding thud, silencing all the officials.
Princess Yongle appeared to have given the court room for discussion, but in reality, she left the court with absolutely no way out.
It was precisely because Yu Fangyi and his son understood this that they sent their memorial directly to the cabinet via express courier.
This is a matter of utmost importance concerning the long-term survival of the Daewang dynasty; who dares to make this decision?
Emperor Chongming snorted coldly and said, "Have you lost your tongue? Ha, Grand Secretaries, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
The senior ministers exchanged glances, each seeing a look of helplessness in the other's eyes. Zheng Guanhe, whose beard now reached past his belly, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, regarding the reform... I believe... this matter needs to be negotiated again in the Golden Hall by Princess Yongle."
The water clock, intricately carved with cloud patterns and auspicious beasts, made a clear sound in the quiet hall. Amidst the ticking sound, Emperor Chongming pondered for a moment, then turned to the silent Sheng Honghai and asked, "Sheng Honghai, what do you say?"
Sheng Honghai, whose face never showed joy or anger, said, "Your Majesty, this servant believes that, as the Grand Secretary said, the specific details of the reform should be discussed in detail by inviting Princess Yongle back to court."
Emperor Chongming seemed tired and waved for them to leave, leaving only Sheng Honghai to continue serving.
The tea had cooled down. Emperor Chongming took a sip and said to Sheng Honghai, "None of the civil and military officials in the court can do anything to my daughter."
Sheng Honghai's fingers, which were pouring tea, paused slightly, almost imperceptibly. He glanced at Emperor Chongming and, sensing the underlying pride in his words, replied, "Princess Yongle is of imperial blood, no less than any man."
Emperor Chongming always spoke in a cryptic manner, making it difficult for people to discern his true thoughts. "She killed the Prince of Chu, seized military power, and commanded the three armies. If this were a chaotic era, she would surely become a powerful and ruthless figure. But the ancestral legacy cannot be destroyed in the hands of her own bloodline. She wants to reform the system, and I... cannot give in."
...From then on, the sandalwood was naturally nurtured by nature.
At this point, Emperor Chongming recalled the last words she had said to him after she was tortured in the imperial prison, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.
He wanted to be a wise ruler, and also a loving father to her.
"This servant dares to speak," Sheng Honghai said, his voice calm and undisturbed as he noticed the emperor's hesitation. "Your Majesty, leave the matter of refuting the princess to the officials. Whether we win or lose is up to fate."
Looking at Sheng Honghai's mature and composed demeanor, Emperor Chongming smiled and tapped him lightly twice, saying, "You, having served as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial for so many years, have become quite the expert."
Sheng Honghai bowed and left the main hall. The vermilion doors closed, and Jiang Lili immediately approached from outside and whispered, "Godfather, the war at the border has stopped, but I think the great battle in the court has only just begun."
The moonlight, like water, flowed gently across the bluestone slabs of the palace path. The trees on both sides of the path cast dappled shadows in the moonlight.
Sheng Honghai walked onto the palace path, with a blue-robed eunuch leading the way carrying a lantern. He waved to a young eunuch to place the lantern in his hands, saying, "You may leave."
"Godfather, let your son have a turn." Jiang Lili, with her keen sense of propriety, took the lantern and walked side by side with Sheng Honghai.
"The case of the woman who caused the disaster ten years ago shocked the court and the public, and its influence still lingers here. Feng Youming died, but her book 'Women's Education' has spread wider and deeper, and its influence over the past twenty years has been immeasurable." Sheng Honghai looked up at the starry sky, where countless stars were shining brightly. He turned to Jiang Lili and smiled, "Do you think she is really dead?"
Looking at Sheng Honghai's expression, Jiang Lili got goosebumps on her arms and said awkwardly, "Godfather, I don't understand."
Sheng Honghai said, "She never disappeared from the Dahuang Dynasty. They have a saying that is quite true: if you can't resort to public power, you must resort to violence. When the forces are gathered together, the one with the strongest gun is the boss."
Jiang Lili said, "Then Your Majesty..."
“His Majesty saw this long ago, and so did the Cabinet,” Sheng Honghai said after a moment of silence. “They are driven by the tide of history, and they cannot do anything about it. Reform is imperative.”
Jiang Lili then asked, "So what is the meaning of discussing this again in the Golden Hall?"
Sheng Honghai replied, "In negotiations, we should limit their room for maneuver to the greatest extent possible and seek their interests. If we really make the princess fair in everything, then it will be a failure in another sense."
Jiang Lili suddenly realized and said, "So, the negotiations in the Golden Palace may seem like the court officials reluctantly agreeing to the matter with room for discussion, but in reality, they want to take a step back and then take a few steps forward. Because they originally had no room to refuse."
Sheng Honghai remained noncommittal, then added, "The princess wanted to eliminate deep-seated problems, so she went all out, resorting to violence to control violence. Under absolute power, the court had no room to resist."
Jiang Lili said, "Godfather, what is His Majesty's attitude? His only legitimate daughter has committed such a rebellious act..."
Sheng Honghai said, “The emperor’s heart is like the sea. He may seem furious, but he is not. Of course, he does not agree with the reform, but the fact that he sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find Princess Yongle for many years and traveled thousands of miles to negotiate with Dahua for Princess Yongle proves that he is a good father.”
Jiang Lili asked, "If negotiations are to resume, why would Princess Yongle agree to go to the capital alone? The capital is surrounded by wolves; wouldn't that put her in a dangerous situation?"
Sheng Honghai said: "First, Princess Yongle is certain of Emperor Chongming's love for her and will not have any intention of killing her; second, if something happens to her, her capable subordinates will certainly not stand idly by, and the officials in the capital will not dare to let anything happen to her."
......
“We can’t agree to that. We’ll go to the capital and negotiate.” Meng Henabul handed the cooked white fungus porridge to Feng Tan and looked at her solemnly. “They are a bunch of foxes.”
Before being exiled by Emperor Chongming, Feng Tan had been flogged in court and whipped in prison. His journey had been too arduous, leaving a very bad impression on Menghe Nabul.
"Pfft!" Yu Ruxi couldn't hold back and laughed so hard she almost fell over. She patted Feng Tan on the shoulder and said, "Yongle, how come your Uncle Meng curses the whole family like that? Hahahaha!"
Feng Tan didn't understand what Yu Ruxi was laughing at, and said to Meng Henabul, "Uncle Meng, it's alright, they wouldn't dare to and wouldn't attack me."
Seeing that Meng Henabul still looked worried, Yu Ruxi smiled and said, "Uncle Meng, don't worry. If the people in the court are foxes, then your A'tan is the fox's ancestor. She will be fine!"
Shanqi lifted the curtain and came in, saying, "We can set off now."
Yu Ruxi was clearly in a much better mood than before, and said, "Let's go back to Dahuang!"
The continuous mountain range lies like a giant dragon, winding and undulating, with no end in sight. Along the border, ancient city walls stand majestically, their banners fluttering, like a giant steel dragon guarding the territory of Dahuang.
The city walls were fully equipped with defensive structures such as arrow towers and barbicans. As the Imperial Dragon Camp approached slowly with its flags flying, the guards shouted from afar, "Who goes there!"
No sooner had he finished shouting than the general guarding the city rushed up, punched the soldier on the head with his fist, and roared, "What are you shouting about!"
After saying this, he clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and bowed to Feng Tan and her entourage, saying, "Princess, you have been waiting for a long time! Open the city gates!"
The city gates opened with a rumble, revealing the clean, blue stone slabs inside. Feng Tan gazed at the ancient characters in front of the Dahuang City Tower before slowly riding his horse inside.
The journey back to Dahuang felt like an eternity.
The journey from the border of Taeyang to the Imperial Capital took more than ten days and involved arduous travel. By the time I returned to the Imperial Capital of Taeyang, it was already April.
April is the season of blooming flowers, and the capital city is as bustling and vibrant as ever. The gentle morning sunlight shines on the city walls, the golden glow contrasting with the vermilion walls, creating a solemn yet magnificent scene.
Shops lined both sides of the street, bustling with activity. The sounds of bargaining and hawking mingled together, creating a unique symphony of everyday life. Children crowded around the sugar figurine stall, their eyes glued to the lifelike figures, their mouths practically watering. A flower girl, carrying a basket, moved through the crowd, the vibrant blossoms releasing a fragrant aroma that drew admiring glances from passersby.
Not wanting to attract attention, Feng Tan left the Imperial Dragon Camp and traveled alone. Looking at the bustling street scene, she stopped at a wonton shop and ordered a bowl of wontons from the owner.
The wonton wrappers are so thin they're almost transparent, revealing glimpses of the tender pink meat filling inside, as if wrapped in a veil. The broth is crystal clear yet bursts with a rich, savory aroma, topped with a few paper-thin sheets of seaweed and a handful of golden dried shrimp, resembling a delicate ink painting.
Sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, casting patches of light and shadow on the ground. Feng Tan sat at the table, gently scooping up a wonton with a small spoon and savoring it slowly. Suddenly, a shadow loomed overhead. Feng Tan lifted her eyelashes, looked at the figure before her, and exclaimed in surprise, "Jin An?"
Jin An sat opposite Feng Tan, grinning as he looked at him, and called out loudly, "Brother Tan!"
Years later, Jin An stared intently at Feng Tan. Her face hadn't changed, but her expression revealed a more profound and mature demeanor. Her hair was loosely tied up with a wooden hairpin, and she wore a light blue robe made of soft, comfortable material embroidered with delicate bamboo patterns.
He stared intently at Feng Tan's attire, his gaze unconsciously drifting to the slight bulge in her chest. He realized that Feng Tan was no longer binding her chest, and the next instant he realized he had offended her, his handsome face flushing red.
Feng Tan naturally noticed his gaze fixed on her chest and calmly said, "The whole court knows I am a woman, so whether I am bound or not doesn't matter. Therefore, I no longer need to restrain myself."
Jin An understood Feng Tan's meaning; she had always been a magnanimous person. His gaze then shifted to her lower abdomen. Rumors throughout the capital circulated that Princess Yongle was pregnant with the child of Emperor Xiao Yinshi of the Great Hua Dynasty.
Feng Tan took a sip of wonton soup, put down her chopsticks, patted her lower abdomen, raised an eyebrow at Jin An, and teased him, "How about this child calls you Uncle Jin after he's born?"
Jin An opened his mouth wide, wanting to make a sound but too shocked to speak, "You...you really..."
Feng Tan laughed and said, "Why take it seriously? Of course it's fake."
Jin An picked up the bottle in one breath and then put it down again, snorting coldly, "Still so fond of playing tricks on people! Humph, Tan-ge'er, let me tell you, I've been promoted! I'm now a fifth-rank official!"
Feng Tan asked, "Which government office do you work for?"
Jin An puffed out his chest, looking all smug. "Ahem, I'm now a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works, specifically in the Department of Construction and Maintenance."
"Congratulations on your promotion!" Feng Tan congratulated him, then looked at Jin An's casual attire and asked, "Didn't you go on duty today?"
Jin An said, "I'm on leave today. I heard you've returned to court recently, so I came to the street to wait for you. But I didn't see you in the caravan, so I knew you must have gone out on your own!"
After saying that, he realized the issue of Feng Tan's gender, touched his nose, and said, "No, no... calling him 'Brother Tan' sounds too natural..."
"It's alright," Feng Tan said with a smile.
Jin An looked at her, who seemed the same as before yet different, and said, "Life is like a game of chess. Tan-ge'er won this game beautifully, but those people in the court are not to be trifled with. I heard from my father that the Ministry of Rites alone wrote dozens of lengthy rebuttals against you..."
Feng Tan said, "In Jin'an, the way of war is the way of kingship."
......
"She holds considerable military power; do you think His Majesty can do anything to her?" Prince Jing asked rhetorically, sitting at his golden nanmu wood table.
The surface of the golden nanmu wood table is as smooth as jade, emitting a faint woody fragrance. Various precious ornaments are displayed on the table, including jade carvings, coral, agate, and more, each piece crystal clear.
Minister of Rites Gong Yibin's gaze fell on the jade snake ornament. The snake's body was coiled in a circle, its head slightly raised, its eyes bright and piercing. Its posture was lazy yet exuded endless threat. It did not need to speak or make any movements; its sinister aura alone was enough to send chills down one's spine.
Like King Jing, he appeared calm and composed in the power struggle, but in reality, his greed was no less than that of King Chu, and he even employed insidious and ruthless tactics. After King Chu's death, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue did not defect, but instead chose to remain without allies. King Jing knew this was Emperor Chongming's intention. Without anyone in the court to check and balance him, the ever-suspicious Emperor Chongming would not allow his family's power to become too great and threaten his imperial authority.
Gong Yibin, a veteran of officialdom, was well aware of this, and thus carefully responded to Prince Jing's mocking and annoyed words: "Princess Yongle's power was enough to overthrow a dynasty. She chose to return to court to reform the old system, possessing the ability to directly overthrow Emperor Chongming's regime, yet she only threatened Dahuang with the army without taking any real action... This shows that her heart is far less ruthless than Prince Chu's. She did not want the people to suffer; after all, she was just a woman..."
"Yibin, you're confused!" Prince Jing slammed his fist on the table, making a clattering sound. "She's different from Prince Chu, ultimately because their goals are different. Prince Chu wanted imperial power, so he rebelled. But Yongle wanted reform; he didn't need to rebel unless absolutely necessary. Holding an army powerful enough to shake imperial power is the greatest threat to the dynasty!"
Prince Jing's eyes sharpened. "Since my elder brother cannot produce a son, and with the Prince of Chu dead, the throne is practically mine. But then, out of nowhere, someone like Cheng Yaojin appears..."
"Empress!" King Jing's gaze turned venomous, making Gong Yibin tremble with fear. "Although our Great Huang Dynasty has never had a story of a female ruler, given Feng Qinghuang's rebellious nature, if she wants to successfully reform the system and continue it for future generations, she might very well choose this path."
Gong Yibin felt a chill run down his spine and said, "His Majesty will not agree."
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Jing sneered and said, "You will never understand my elder brother. In the past, he would naturally not have agreed. But Yongle studied hard for many years, passed the imperial examinations among a group of men, and solved several cold cases in office. In order to exonerate Feng Youming, she set up several traps to bring down Gao Yu. Now that she has returned from a pilgrimage with the army, do you think Feng Shi's opinion of her is still the same after she has done all these things?"
Gong Yibin had to admit, "She is better than most men in the world."
King Jing acknowledged this, adding, "Also, don't forget, she is His Majesty's only daughter."
He emphasized the word "only," and sighed to Gong Yibin, "Yibin, you are my most important confidant in the court. You should know that I have endured for many years, and I cannot let this opportunity to benefit her go unrewarded. I have an important task for you to handle now."
Gong Yibin said, "Your Highness, please speak."
Prince Jing stared at him, a sinister smile slowly spreading across his face. "The Ministry of Rites cannot tolerate her."
As one of the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Rites was responsible for the overall coordination of the imperial examinations nationwide, formulating relevant systems, rules, and procedures to ensure the orderly conduct of the examinations. This included the Imperial Academy (Guozijian) at the central level and schools at all levels in the provinces, and was responsible for developing school syllabi, curriculum designs, and admission standards to ensure that the education system met the country's talent cultivation needs.
It's important to understand that the imperial examinations were a crucial means of selecting officials for the Dahuang Dynasty, with the Ministry of Rites playing a central role. From setting the exam questions, organizing the exams, and supervising them, to grading and admitting candidates, everything was handled by the Ministry of Rites. The imperial examinations not only provided a path for those from humble backgrounds to rise in society but also ensured the quality and cultural level of the official corps. Officials selected through the imperial examinations generally possessed high levels of cultural literacy and governing abilities, providing talent support for the country's governance and development.
If Feng Tan wants to reform the system and allow women to serve as officials in the court, he will definitely start with this year's imperial examinations. And if he wants to interfere in the imperial examinations, he will definitely make a big fuss in the Ministry of Rites.
This is also why Prince Jing sent Gong Yibin, the Minister of Rites, to the Prince's residence for a secret meeting.
When Gong Yibin came out, it was already dark, and the faint light gradually disappeared through the clouds. As he left the vermilion gate of the Prince's Mansion, he saw an inconspicuous sedan chair parked in the shadows, and without thinking much of it, he hurriedly left.
The person in the sedan chair entered the palace under the cover of night. Prince Jing seemed to know she would come, as the tea in the hall was not removed. He simply lay down on the armchair covered with a thin velvet, looked up at Consort Su, who was dressed in plain clothes, and smiled, "Consort."
Consort Su looked at Prince Jing and said bluntly, "She came back to kill me."
Consort Su was a follower of the King of Chu, a fact King Jing had known for a long time. After the King of Chu's death, she surrendered to King Jing, seeking his protection. However, King Jing did not understand the meaning behind Consort Su's words and asked suspiciously, "What entanglement exists between her and you?"
Consort Su stated succinctly, "The King of Chu used me to kill Feng Sangrou."
Prince Jing narrowed his eyes and said, "Does Yongle know about this?"
“It wasn’t dealt with properly, and Shang Chunxiang escaped…” Consort Su clenched her handkerchief and said, “She must know.”
Prince Jing brushed aside the stem of the teacup, slowly uttered an "Oh," and said, "She is a person who will always seek revenge."
Seeing his indifferent expression, Consort Su felt a sense of sarcasm. She raised her hand and gestured for the eunuch behind her, dressed in a robe with python patterns, to hand over the case file hidden in his sleeve. Her fingers, stained with bright red nail polish, took the file. "The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War have served the Prince of Chu for many years. He holds all the leverage over me here. In exchange, I need you to do something for me."
King Jing looked at the old, yellowed document in her hand, concealing the lust in his eyes, and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Several rows of exquisite antique display shelves are placed on the side of the hall. The shelves are unique and ingenious in shape, using traditional mortise and tenon structure, with each part fitting together perfectly as a whole.
Consort Su walked up to it, pulled out one of the wooden blocks, and the display shelf collapsed with a crash, "falling apart."
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