The carriage rumbled forward.
After entering the palace and traveling along a stretch of the imperial road, Qu Dubian alighted. He looked up and saw Emperor Chongzhao standing not far ahead.
The sky was quite dark. Dressed in black imperial robes, the Emperor stood at the end of the path with his hands behind his back, while attendants held lanterns for him.
His expression was obscured by the shadows, and it was impossible to tell how long he had been waiting.
Seeing the boy arrive, Emperor Chongzhao did not call out to him.
Fine, I get it. The Old Geezer is jealous. Qu Dubian sprinted over and threw himself into a hug. "Imperial Father!" He looked up, his eyes sparkling. "Did you miss me?"
Only then did Emperor Chongzhao speak, flicking his finger against the boy's forehead. "Unbecoming. Did you have fun playing at your grandfather's house?"
Qu Dubian replied, "It was great! The food was good, and the games were fun."
Emperor Chongzhao's brow began to knit together. "You didn't say anything like you disliked the little pillow your grandmother made for you, did you?" He remembered clearly how his youngest son had disdainfully kicked the medicinal pillow away that day.
Qu Dubian was speechless.
Wasn't that only because you were so suspicious of them back then? And now you have the nerve to ask?
He replied, "No, I didn't. I just didn't know them well before. I'm very well-mannered now."
Emperor Chongzhao nodded. "It is good that you didn't."
Qu Dubian followed him. As they stood at the entrance of Zichen Hall, he asked in confusion, "Am I not going to Shunning Palace? Concubine Xuan said she had prepared a room for me."
Emperor Chongzhao said, "Oh, the formal decree hasn't been issued yet. Besides, that place hasn't been fully tidied up. You should stay at Zichen Hall for a few more days."
Having said that, he looked down at his son's slightly messy topknot. "What? Are you unwilling?"
Qu Dubian asked, "Father, tell the truth. You just can't bear to let me move out, can you?"
Emperor Chongzhao replied, "I am the Emperor. Why would I be unable to let go?"
"Emperors are people too. You just can't bear to be without me. I'm so smart and cute, it's only natural that you'd miss me. It's not embarrassing to tell the truth."
Emperor Chongzhao's composure slipped, and he ground his teeth. "I am not 'unable to let go.'"
Qu Dubian snickered. "Oh~ hehe, someone's getting grumpy because I'm right."
"Qu Xiaoqi!"
"I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"
The child slipped over the high threshold like a loach, dodging Emperor Chongzhao's large reaching hand, and sprinted back into the sleeping quarters.
"You stand right there!"
Zichen Hall, which had been silent for seven days, was instantly infused with a burst of vitality.
Eunuch Yu flicked his horsetail whisk, a smile beaming on his face.
"Little Ye, you've worked hard accompanying the Seventh Prince these past few days."
Ye Xiaoyuan replied, "The Prince will be staying here for a few more days, so it is you who will be working hard."
"Hah," Eunuch Yu lowered his voice. "We can't wait for the little Prince to live here. You don't know, but before the Seventh Prince moved in, His Majesty rarely relaxed like this. Zichen Hall has never had the kind of laughter that makes everyone feel happy just by hearing it."
He pointed to their surroundings. "Knowing the little Prince was returning today, the palace servants cleaned this place early this morning without His Majesty or me even having to give an order."
They all delighted in this child who could bring such joy.
-
The next day.
The first court session of the year.
It was a Grand Assembly.
The Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice were responsible for presiding over the case of Zhang Shiming.
His Majesty had mentioned it during the New Year's banquet, so the focus of today's assembly was right here.
Everyone was in the mood to watch a spectacle. The first gossip of the year was starting with the Marquis of the Sword.
They were all betting on whether the Marquis of the Sword would actually be charged with a crime.
Emperor Chongzhao arrived early, glancing at the properly standing Xu Jin and the calm-faced Prince Ming.
Among all the court officials, only the two of them knew that Xu Jin had already surrendered his power and that they had reached a private agreement.
Today's court session was merely a performance by the two of them.
As Eunuch Yu announced the start of the session, the play officially began.
Emperor Chongzhao suddenly looked sorrowful. "I received a memorial from Marquis Xu yesterday. Marquis Xu, you are in your prime. How can you request to resign?"
The officials were stunned.
When did the Marquis of the Sword submit a resignation?
Xu Jin stepped forward, looking equally sorrowful. "Sigh. Your Majesty is benevolent, but this subject is old and can no longer shoulder the responsibility of guarding the northern border. It is better to retire and let someone more capable take the position."
The other officials who were not in the loop erupted.
"Your Majesty! This subject objects!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"The Marquis of the Sword may retire, but Your Majesty, from which department will the successor be chosen?"
They immediately broke into an argument.
The faction supporting the Marquis's retirement and the faction opposing it each held their ground, arguing until they were red in the face.
They argued with genuine passion. Emperor Chongzhao waited calmly for them to finish before saying:
"Ah, I am also very loath to see him go. Marquis Xu, how about this? Since you say you are old and lack energy, I shall select another person to assist you, sharing the military power and the command of the border army."
"Seeing as this person will be a newcomer, I am not entirely at ease. At the same time, I shall dispatch Prince Ming and seven supervisors from the Eastern Depot to be stationed at the northern border to conduct oversight. What do you think?"
Seeing the spectacle turn toward himself, Prince Ming's eyes widened. "Imperial Brother, me???"
Emperor Chongzhao asked, "Do you have an objection?"
Prince Ming went silent.
Xu Jin bowed. "This subject has no objection."
In truth, the power over the northern border was being split into three. He held half the military power, the person promoted by the Emperor held the other half, and Prince Ming along with the accompanying Eastern Depot eunuchs represented the imperial family, responsible for supervision.
What was it his little grandson had said? A triangle is the most stable shape.
Emperor Chongzhao pondered. "In that case, there is only one final question. Which beloved official should I choose to follow the Marquis of the Sword to lead the army in the north?"
Without waiting for the officials to speak, he called out a name: "Xia Hong."
Xia Hong, who was standing toward the back of the middle row, was stunned. He then stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty."
Prince Ming looked back and realized this was the man he had seen at the New Year's banquet—a man of integrity with a resolute face, whose military rank was not particularly high.
Emperor Chongzhao declared loudly, "Are you willing to serve as my Third-Rank General of the North and accompany the Marquis of the Sword to the northern border?"
His rank was jumping upward, and he would hold half the military power of the north. This massive stroke of luck left Xia Hong looking dazed for a moment before he quickly steadied himself. He said in a deep voice, "This subject follows Your Majesty's arrangement and is willing to go to the northern border to guard the frontiers of our Great Zhou!"
"Good!"
Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand.
Eunuch Yu immediately carried a small tray and jogged over to Xia Hong. Upon it lay the other half of the tiger tally for the military.
It had clearly been prepared in advance!
At this point, what could the other officials not understand?
From start to finish, the smooth transition of power, the polite refusal, the re-offering, the "fine, you give up half," the "I'll pick someone to go with you"... it was a complete set of procedures.
Aside from Xia Hong, who seemed genuinely bewildered, the Emperor and the Marquis of the Sword had obviously planned this long ago!
Only they had been arguing like fools with genuine emotion.
Xia Hong lifted the half-tally from the tray with both hands. "I thank Your Majesty!"
Emperor Chongzhao said happily, "Very well, the matter is resolved. Marquis Xu, do not mention resignation again."
Xu Jin returned to his position. "Yes."
"Do any of you have other matters? If not, the court is adjourned!"
The Minister of Justice spoke up, "Your Majesty, wait a moment. This subject has a matter. Regarding whether Zhang Shiming is a northern assassin, my Ministry of Justice..."
“Hmm?” Emperor Chongzhao murmured. “Oh, there is no need to investigate that matter further. He was indeed a Northern Border assassin in disguise. As for where the real Zhang Shiming went, he likely met an unfortunate end at the very moment he was replaced by the assassin.”
“The Director of the Star-Gazing Department has suffered the loss of his beloved son. I understand his grief, so I shall not hold his transgression of seeking redress at the palace gates against him.”
Emperor Chongzhao added, “By the way, there is one more thing. You.”
The Minister of Justice blinked. “Me, Your Majesty?”
Emperor Chongzhao continued, “Marquis Xu holds you in high regard. In his memorial, he specifically requested that you go to the Northern Border. You, and the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, shall go together.”
A bolt from the blue!
The Minister of Justice’s vision went dark, and he felt as if he could barely draw breath.
He fell to his knees with a heavy thud. “I am the Minister of Justice! I know nothing of border affairs!”
The Supervising Secretary also hurriedly pleaded, “Neither do I, Your Majesty!”
Marquis Xu had relinquished his military power, which naturally pleased the Emperor. Generally, the Emperor would not refuse any of the Marquis's requests as long as they were not excessive.
Now, by specifically calling for these two from the Ministry of Justice to go to the Northern Border, the court officials could only conclude that it was because the Supervising Secretary had caused trouble for Xu Jin during the New Year's banquet, and the Minister had accepted Zhang Fanming's petition afterward. Xu Jin was clearly settling scores.
Emperor Chongzhao’s voice was calm and steady. “Enough. It is no great matter. You are just going to the border to take a look; it is not as if you will never return. Marquis Xu needs you there to preach the laws of our Great Zhou.”
The Minister of Justice said agitatedly, “Your Majesty, if I go, who will be able to shoulder the responsibilities of the Minister’s office? The two Vice Ministers lack sufficient experience...”
“I have already considered that. Where is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?”
Master Xi, also known as Xi Shiqiu, immediately stepped forward upon hearing this. “I am here.”
Emperor Chongzhao said, “You shall take over the post of Minister of Justice. Once the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is familiar with the court's affairs, you will officially move to the Ministry of Justice.”
A direct promotion from a third-rank official to a second-rank grand official.
Master Xi naturally had no reason to refuse. “I obey your command.”
Xu Jin glanced coldly at the Minister of Justice and the Supervising Secretary.
The note from the Xie family had mentioned that when Noble Lady Chu poisoned the Seventh Prince, it was very likely an attempt to save her brother from prison. Therefore, the person behind her—the one who instigated or encouraged her—must have been someone who could influence the Ministry of Justice.
Noble Lady Chu had died without revealing the mastermind; perhaps she didn't even know who it was herself.
Without concrete evidence, Xu Jin couldn't be certain of the truth.
Noble Consort Lan was in the inner palace, and as an external official, he couldn't touch her. He could only ask Concubine Xuan to keep an eye on things.
However, he could take this opportunity to eliminate everyone in the court who might pose a threat to his young grandson or his wife.
He was leaving, fine. But these people had to leave as well.
He wouldn't kill them, but the border was always in need of laborers.
-
As the Director of the Star-Gazing Department, Zhang Fanming did not have the right to attend the morning court session. He could only sit in his wheelchair in front of the Court of Judicial Review, waiting for the final verdict on his son's death.
The grand assembly lasted a long time.
It wasn't until nearly noon, when the ministers were dizzy with hunger, that the session finally ended.
Master Xi bought a cup of milk tea and returned to the office after court. Zhang Fanming immediately wheeled himself forward to meet him. “Master Xi! Master Xi, may I ask how the court went? My son...”
Master Xi said, “As of today, I am no longer the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”
Zhang Fanming's face twitched. “What? Did you lose your position, Master?”
“Oh, no. I was promoted.”
Zhang Fanming: “...”
“Then what about my son's matter? What was said at the assembly?”
Master Xi was silent for a moment. “The military power has been divided. Master Zhang, you should accept your grief.”
In an instant, Zhang Fanming's expression turned ashen.
He understood completely. There would be no justice for his son's death.
Master Xi entered the office.
From the moment Xu Jin relinquished his military power, from the moment the Emperor and Xu Jin began playing their coordinated roles in the assembly, Zhang Shiming was destined to be nothing more than a "fake" replaced by a Northern Border assassin.
In the struggle and transfer of power, Zhang Shiming's death was merely a punching bag for venting frustration, the consequence of bearing Xu Jin's resentment.
Even the original Minister of Justice and the Supervising Secretary were handed over by the Emperor under the guise of "preaching the law," without even a mention of when they might return.
To the Emperor, the balance of military power at the border outweighed everything else. At this moment, Xu Jin calling their names was no different from the King of Hell marking them for death.
Beneath the crashing waves, the disappearance of one or two ants would never make the helmsman look back.
-
West Warm Pavilion.
Xia Hong stood respectfully before the imperial desk.
Emperor Chongzhao asked, “Do you know why I chose you?”
Xia Hong replied, “I do not, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Chongzhao said, “I noticed you long ago. In Jizhou, you showed your talent for leading troops. You rose steadily through the ranks and finally came before me this year.”
“I do not wish for the border to become anyone's private domain. Of course, I also do not wish for internal strife. You rose from the local ranks and have no ties to court factions. You have no backing, which is excellent. That is the real reason I chose you.”
Xia Hong said, “I thank Your Majesty for your appreciation.”
Emperor Chongzhao appreciated his straightforward, no-nonsense attitude. “Remain neutral and guard the border. This is my advice to you.”
“I shall grant you a residence in the capital. I give you half a month to bring your wife and children from Jizhou to the capital. I will look after them for you. With me here, no one will dare bully them.”
Xia Hong paused for a moment. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
After their conversation, Xia Hong left the West Warm Pavilion.
He glanced back once.
The Emperor was bringing his family to the capital—was it more for care or for surveillance?
The waters of the capital were deep. With just one step, he had already entered a dark and murky whirlpool.
