Chapter 114
The court officials discovered that spring had returned to the land overnight—the Emperor’s mood had improved.
His face was still expressionless, and he still sat cross-legged in his place, but the oppressive presence that had kept everyone from acting rashly had vanished.
His replies had returned to five words or fewer, and when the officials made minor mistakes in their dealings with him, the Emperor was able to tolerate them.
Life suddenly became much easier. The court officials all silently thanked the heavens.
Everyone was trying to guess what had put the Emperor in such a good mood.
At a time like this, the Emperor proposed pardoning the Xu family, restoring their title of Marquis of Pacifying the North, granting the succession to Xu Xian, and summoning the Xu family back to the capital immediately. The court officials did not wish to ruin the rare stretch of peace before them, so they kept their eyes straight ahead. Not a single person spoke out in opposition.
After court, word soon spread through the palace that, out of consideration for the Empress’s difficulties in managing the palace, Grand Empress Dowager Li was willing to take out her annual stipend to cover the Empress’s expenses.
Since the Emperor had ascended the throne, anyone with eyes could see how perfunctory he was toward Grand Empress Dowager Li. He did not even bother maintaining the appearance of filial respect.
Now that such news had emerged, the court officials were all shrewd enough not to step forward and praise Grand Empress Dowager Li’s virtue.
After returning to the rear hall for breakfast, the Emperor came back to the front hall with the Empress at his side.
It had been some time since the two of them had appeared together. Even though no one saw them speak, it was obvious that the Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood.
When the two parted beneath the corridor, the Empress left directly, while the Emperor watched until she entered the eastern gallery before returning to the western gallery.
The Emperor was truly attentive to this niece of his, the Empress. It could no longer be described merely as favor.
Minister Gu had sought the Empress’s help, and after the Emperor went back to have lunch, he returned and changed his mind, sparing Minister Gu.
As for the assignments of Prince Duan and Prince An, the Empress could clearly influence and alter the Emperor’s decisions.
The Emperor was rational to the point of coldness, yet it seemed that only before the Empress did he possess any warmth. Could it be that they had quarreled before, and the Emperor had been unable to do anything about the Empress, leaving him no choice but to vent his anger on the court officials?
But the Empress surely could not have been that bold, could she?
The late Emperor had been so mild-tempered, and even Consort Dowager Shu, with the Li family backing her, had never dared raise her voice at him.
The current Emperor had the worst temper of all the Zhao emperors. No matter how one thought about it, such a thing seemed impossible.
Still, his temper was far too unpredictable. If they could only find out the reason behind it, they might at least be able to take precautions.
Before long, Buyan came out of the western gallery and went to the eastern gallery. About fifteen minutes later, Buyan and Buyu, one of the Empress’s attendants, came out together. Buyu then left Yanhua Hall. Judging by his direction, he seemed to be heading for Luanju Palace.
Several grand secretaries came out after being summoned to the western gallery. Grand Secretary Yao stopped Buyan and asked, “Has the palace truly fallen into such straitened circumstances? Why does Grand Empress Dowager Li have to supplement the Empress’s expenses with her stipend? If word gets out, it will surely damage His Majesty’s dignity…”
Buyan’s eyes swept over the three grand secretaries standing nearby with their ears pricked up. He replied with a smile, “Isn’t it perfectly ordinary for an elder to give a younger family member some spending money? In an ordinary household, it happens all the time. Grand Empress Dowager Chen gave half of her personal savings as a dowry to our Empress, and she has already said that the other half will be used as a dowry for our little princess.
“Most of the late Emperor’s private treasury was given in filial tribute to Grand Empress Dowager Li. The small amount of her stipend she has taken out for our Empress’s pocket money is not even a fraction of a drop in the ocean to her. She is merely indulging a child and amusing herself. Who knows what black-hearted person could not stand to see others living in harmony and spread such a rumor?
“Besides, that money has not been spent elsewhere. Our Empress has assigned the entire Imperial Kitchen to Grand Empress Dowager Li so that she can run a private kitchen.
“Our Empress’s view is that it is only right and proper for the Zhao family’s wealth to be spent on members of the Zhao family. Surely there is no reason to give it to outsiders? That would make no sense anywhere, would it?”
Grand Secretary Yao chuckled. “That is indeed the case. I was mistaken.” He then beckoned to Grand Secretary Shen and the others and left Yanhua Hall.
Those passing through the courtyard, as well as the people listening from the open windows of the western side hall, now understood everything.
The Empress wanted people to know that it was not the Emperor who was being unfilial toward Grand Empress Dowager Li, but rather that Grand Empress Dowager Li herself had behaved improperly.
Grand Empress Dowager Chen, who was not even related to the Empress by blood, had given all her worldly possessions to the Empress and her daughter. Grand Empress Dowager Li, on the other hand, had merely contributed some of her stipend, yet she acted as though she had bestowed an earth-shattering favor.
That was not all. No one knew how much wealth Grand Empress Dowager Li had in her hands. The Empress was likely wary that she might commit the betrayal of aiding outsiders and give it all to the Li family. This was a warning to her.
The Empress was truly mischievous. She had simply taken the entire Imperial Kitchen and placed it under Grand Empress Dowager Li’s control. She would rather let the people in Fuan Palace eat and spend lavishly than allow a single coin to flow into the Li family’s hands.
***
In Luanju Palace, Empress Dowager Xu wept so hard that she was reduced to tears. It was as though she meant to cry out all the suffering and restraint she had endured over the past twenty years in a single outpouring.
Consort Dowager Shu did not try to persuade her. She merely kept handing her clean handkerchiefs.
At last, Empress Dowager Xu stopped on her own and sniffed. “I ought to go and thank His Majesty for this, but I’m truly afraid to face him. Should I ask the Empress to speak on my behalf? It is such a great favor, and I’m afraid I won’t express my gratitude properly.”
Consort Dowager Shu felt the same way. “Forget us—even the court officials are all afraid of the Emperor. Your eyes are so swollen that you shouldn’t go out today anyway. Once they look better this afternoon, we can go to Funing Palace and ask the Empress what she thinks.”
“I wonder how many nephews and nieces I have now. All these years, Songqing was afraid of implicating me and never sent me even a letter. I don’t even know how to begin making preparations.” Empress Dowager Xu could not calm herself at all.
“Even if the edict of pardon is sent by express courier, it will take quite some time. Then the family will need to make arrangements and set out. It will take at least two months to reach Yingcheng. With that much time—and with me helping you—I guarantee everything will be prepared properly.”
Hearing Consort Dowager Shu speak in such an unhurried manner, Empress Dowager Xu slowly began to feel steadier.
Consort Dowager Shu pulled her over and began writing out a list with her. As long as she had something to occupy her, Empress Dowager Xu would not run about like a headless fly.
A palace attendant entered and announced, “Eunuch Buyu has arrived.”
“Invite him in at once,” Empress Dowager Xu ordered.
Buyu entered and saluted the two women. Empress Dowager Xu motioned for him to sit.
“I would not dare go against Your Highness’s wishes.” Buyu smiled broadly as he perched on the edge of the chair.
Before Empress Dowager Xu could ask anything, he began speaking on his own. “Our Empress sent me to tell Your Highness that General Xu married after arriving in the northern territories. He now has a son and a daughter. Your Highness’s eldest nephew and eldest niece have both already married. You may set your mind at ease. Our Empress has already discussed it with His Majesty. When the time comes, every member of the Xu family will return—no one will be left behind. The residence our Empress selected and requested as a grant will be more than large enough for the entire family.”
The matter she had longed for day and night had been revealed to her just like that. Empress Dowager Xu burst into tears of joy. “How should I thank the Empress…”
Consort Dowager Shu, who was looking at the matter more clearly as an outsider, tugged at Empress Dowager Xu. “We haven’t even clarified the important part yet. Don’t start crying again.”
Empress Dowager Xu stared blankly at her. “What haven’t we clarified?”
Consort Dowager Shu ignored her and instead asked Buyu, “Was it the Empress who requested that His Majesty pardon the Xu family?”
Empress Dowager Xu was startled. Then she realized it too. With the Emperor’s temperament, how could he have suddenly thought of pardoning the Xu family for no reason?
“His Majesty already knew about General Xu’s circumstances in the northern territories,” Buyu answered honestly. “His Majesty was still considering the matter. When our Empress asked him to grant the pardon, His Majesty simply agreed.”
Buyu actually found it a little hard to understand what Her Majesty was doing. His Majesty had clearly intended to do her a favor, and she had taken all the credit upon herself. In any case, His Majesty would not expose her, so Empress Dowager Xu would think only of her kindness.
By saying everything outright and letting Empress Dowager Xu know that His Majesty had already been considering pardoning the Xu family, Her Majesty had made it clear that she had merely asked about it on their behalf. That made the favor worth far less.
“No, His Majesty’s thoughts are difficult to fathom.” Consort Dowager Shu looked at Buyu. “Had your mistress already been thinking of helping the Empress Dowager, and His Majesty saw through it?”
Buyu exclaimed in surprise, “It’s as though Your Highness had been there and seen it for yourself. That is exactly what happened. It’s just that Her Majesty didn’t want to claim the credit and refused to let me say anything.”
“How could I have been so foolish?” Empress Dowager Xu thumped herself once. “The Empress is always helping people without saying a word. Last time, she was the one who pleaded with His Majesty so that we could move to Luanju Palace. And this time, too. How could I ever repay all she has done for us?”
“What about me? Jin’er, Prince Duan—who among them has not benefited from her kindness?” Consort Dowager Shu took Empress Dowager Xu’s hand. “We’ll repay her slowly. If we can’t repay her ourselves, then we’ll have the younger generations of our families continue to do so.”
Empress Dowager Xu nodded firmly. “When Songqing and the others arrive, I must explain everything to him in detail.”
Buyu had walked a long way from Luanju Palace, yet he was still mulling things over. He now vaguely understood: it was precisely because Her Majesty treated people with such genuine sincerity that so many were willing to draw close to her and stand on her side whenever anything happened.
Fortunately, he had not acted on his own initiative. Otherwise, he would only have made things worse while trying to help.
Turning a corner, he came upon two people huddled together, gossiping. Whatever they were discussing must have been interesting, for they had not even heard his deliberately heavy footsteps.
Buyu barked, “Why aren’t you working? Hiding here to shirk your duties? Which bureau are you from?”
“Reporting to you, Eunuch, we’re from the Directorate of Palace Maintenance. We’ve just finished cleaning this place and were about to return,” the two men answered nervously.
“What were you just talking about?” Since he had heard that they had finished their work, Buyu did not pursue the matter further.
The two exchanged glances. Then one of them boldly stepped forward. “We were just talking about what happened in Fu’an Palace. Yesterday, Eunuch Qi released most of the people from the palace. Now, only Eunuch Xing and Kong Bao remain of the old staff. Eunuch Cao brought over a whole group from the kitchens and took the opportunity to fill all the vacancies with them. But those people don’t listen to Eunuch Xing at all, so Fu’an Palace is in complete chaos. They say that whenever Grand Empress Dowager Li asks for something, Eunuch Cao goes over and starts lecturing her—saying that someone of her age shouldn’t use this, or that she must avoid that…”
Buyu was delighted. He pulled out a handful of coins and stuffed them into the two men’s hands. “Well said. Take this and buy yourselves some fruit.”
***
It took only a few days for the court officials to notice that the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner had begun making major moves.
First, it dispatched personnel to every province, establishing a Commercial Tax Office in each one. Each office was headed by a director and staffed by six clerks, who would be responsible for collecting the commercial taxes from every prefecture, department, and county under that province.
Next, the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner opened a school at the former imperial residence. In addition to teaching mathematics, it divided all the miscellaneous administrative duties involved in the various government offices into separate subjects for instruction.
The Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner posted a public notice declaring that it would continue establishing Commercial Tax Offices in the prefectures and counties below. Anyone who graduated from the school and passed the examinations would be hired by the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner. The salary would be twenty taels of silver in the first year and thirty taels from the second year onward. Thereafter, an examination would be held once every three years, and promotions would follow the Great Ying system.
This was the recruitment of proper government clerks. Even clerks who did nothing but menial work sometimes earned less than twenty taels a year!
Once the notice went up, it caused an enormous stir throughout Yingcheng.
The common people had never even dared dream that they might become clerks in the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner simply by completing their studies.
After all, even the menial clerks in the various government offices could not be taken on just by anyone. Their families generally had to possess some means and pay silver to secure them the position.
Thus, despite the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner imposing all sorts of strict requirements for admission, applicants still streamed endlessly to the former imperial residence to register.
Families whose applications were accepted embraced one another and cheered. Those who had failed to register were not discouraged. After learning that the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner would continue admitting students after each class graduated, they declared full of ambition that they would go home and study, and would certainly get in next time.
At the Jiang residence, Jiang Zhian returned from the government office, and the family of four gathered for dinner.
Afterward, they sat around the central room chatting. Jiang Shi glanced at his parents, summoned his courage, and said, “Father, Mother, I don’t want to take the vacancy examination in a few days.”
Jiang Zhian and Madam Gu both exclaimed, “The questions this time will all concern practical affairs. Your uncle-in-law even said you were certain to pass. If you don’t take it, how are we supposed to explain it to the Dong family? What has gotten into you now?”
Jiang Shi did not back down. “Geng Dayou said the Office of the Commercial Tax Commissioner is short of staff. Commissioner Song is handling everything alone and is exhausted. He is Her Majesty’s most capable subordinate—he absolutely cannot collapse. I want to go and help shoulder some of the burden.”
“Is it because you want to help Her Majesty?” Jiang Zhian and Madam Gu’s expressions softened at the same time. “If Her Majesty needs you, then what else is there to say? Go ahead.”
Jiang Zhian added, “But you must explain the matter properly to the Dong family.”
Jiang Shi’s face flushed, and he said quietly, “I’ve already told her. She supports me.”
There was no need to ask who “she” was. It was Young Madam Dong. Jiang Zhian and Madam Gu were both deeply pleased. Their son and daughter-in-law discussed matters and supported each other. Their life together would surely be harmonious.
Here you go [kiss]
