Chapter 595

Unknowingly, Emperor Chongzhen again turned the conversation to state affairs. To Wang Dou, he spoke words from the heart, even reflecting on his own more than ten years of governing experience, from his early boundless ambition, executing the eunuch faction and rectifying the court’s discipline, all the way to the present.

Only he did not understand: why was it that the more diligent he became, the more the state declined and fell into peril? Outside there were the eastern slaves, within there were roving bandits, starving people rose up everywhere across the land, and even his own uncle had died at the rebels’ hands.

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, until tears streamed down his face: “Disasters never cease, the land is parched for a thousand li, roving bandits are suppressed only to rise again and again, the common people devour one another, and I am at my wits’ end. Some ministers say this is fate, and I too believe it is fate, only… I truly cannot resign myself to it… cannot resign myself to it…”

As he wept in sorrow, Wang Dehua wailed loudly, knelt down, and said: “We slaves deserve death, unable to share His Majesty’s burdens.”

Wang Chengen also knelt, silently shedding tears. All the surrounding guards and eunuchs wept as well; for a moment the sound of weeping rose everywhere, and from the pavilion over there, the sound of sobbing could also be heard.

Wang Dou felt a pang of sorrow too. He sighed and said: “This subject beseeches Your Majesty not to blame yourself excessively. The great chaos in the realm is not Your Majesty’s fault.”

This Chongzhen Emperor — he was not much older than himself, yet because of excessive toil and worry, the hair at his temples was already graying in many places, his clothes were patched, and he stooped and hunched over, just like a little old man. Wang Dou could not help but feel pity in his heart.

It cannot be denied that Emperor Chongzhen had some flaws in his character and was also overly impatient. However, the current state of the Great Ming could not be blamed entirely on him. When he took over, it was already a rotten mess; the interest groups had already devoured this nation completely.

These various colossal interest groups are truly terrifying. Any action taken will provoke a backlash, and may even shake the very foundation of the state.

Only those inside the situation understand the difficulty of it. With every step taken, the sieges and pressure from all sides will crush a person until they cannot breathe, and finally grind the transgressor into a meat patty. It is just like the reforms of various states in later ages — did they change for the better, or did they change for the worse?

One hundred percent of the time, they changed for the worse, all the way until collapse. This is the helplessness of being inside the situation.

Even Wang Dou, standing outside the situation, still found every step arduous. This recent rumor storm was an example. One can imagine that such attacks will continue to come endlessly in the future. Every step forward he takes will cause rivers of blood to flow. To realize the ideals in his heart, who knows how many more people’s blood will have to be spilled in the future.

Moreover, Emperor Chongzhen was simply too unlucky. The most terrifying Little Ice Age happened to coincide with his reign, with natural disasters striking one after another without cease.

They were all great disasters of a kind seen only once in a hundred or a thousand years. Even in a later age with smooth circulation and convenient disaster relief, they would still leave the authorities scorched and unable to escape the consequences — let alone in an era of backward productivity, and at the tail end of a dynasty.

An emperor as diligent and as morally upright as Chongzhen is rare. He does not deserve the ending that history records for him.

He said: “As Your Majesty has said, you exhaust your mind and spirit for the nation. Looking across the dynasty, only the Exalted Emperor and Your Majesty have been the most diligent. Regarding state affairs, Your Majesty has no cause for shame and need not blame yourself excessively.”

Emperor Chongzhen regained his composure and said: “It is as you say, minister. Only I do not understand: why are state affairs like this?”

Wang Dou sighed: “The Great Ming is already rotten from top to bottom; its foundation is destroyed. It is like a gravely ill patient — one must not be impatient. Perhaps it is better to ease up slightly. The ancient sages also said: ‘Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish.’ The Great Ming’s national circumstances are such that one can only proceed slowly and plan carefully.”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded. Wang Dou’s words were pleasant to his ears and clearly explained, unlike certain ministers who, the moment they came up, would start scolding, and after scolding for half a day, you still wouldn’t know what they were scolding about, serving no other purpose than to make him fly into a rage.

At the same time, a thought stirred in his heart: Wang Dou was not only skilled in campaigning and battle, but his civil strategies for governing the state were also quite remarkable.

He sighed: “Though the words are so, with state affairs as they are, every time I think of them, I am always anxious beyond measure, only fearing that I have failed the rivers-and-mountains foundation passed down by our ancestors.”

Wang Dou said: “The Exalted Emperor rendered the grace of re-founding China. This subject believes that he will surely protect his descendants and grant Your Majesty peace and joy!”

Emperor Chongzhen did not quite understand Wang Dou’s meaning, but he could still perceive that Wang Dou was loyal to the nation and also wished him peace and joy.

He found Wang Dou more and more agreeable. After pondering for a long while, he finally cast a glance at Wang Dehua.

Wang Dehua gritted his teeth and came over as if he were about to be beheaded. His plump, round body shifted over beside Wang Dou, and he said with a beaming smile: “Marquis Yongning, please step aside for a word.”

Wang Dou was somewhat puzzled: “Eunuch Wang, what is the matter?”

After begging the Emperor’s pardon, he followed Wang Dehua a few steps away. The two stopped. Wang Dehua seemed to want to speak but then hesitated, as if finding it difficult to broach the subject.

Seeing him hem and haw, looking as if it were hard to speak, Wang Dou was quite curious. He swept his gaze around and saw that Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be paying close attention to this side, but when he saw Wang Dou looking, he turned away as if nothing were the matter. From the pavilion opposite, similarly concerned gazes were cast over.

Finally, Wang Dehua said with a beaming smile: “Does Marquis Yongning know Princess Kunxing? What is your impression of her?”

Wang Dou said: “Of course. This Marquis has met her several times. The Princess is of national beauty and heavenly fragrance, perfect in both character and appearance.”

Wang Dehua’s smile blossomed across his face. He lowered his voice: “Marquis Yongning is both loyal and righteous, matchlessly brave. The Princess admires you greatly.”

Wang Dou stared at Wang Dehua for a long time. The message contained within was too shocking. Fortunately, he finally understood. He said in astonishment: “The Princess’s generous regard fills this humble subject with boundless gratitude. But how can a body of golden branch and jade leaf become a concubine? Would the rites and laws of the imperial clan permit it?”

Wang Dehua’s smile instantly froze. He said awkwardly: “She certainly cannot be a concubine. Could Marquis Yongning think of a way to marry the Princess as his principal wife?”

Displeasure rose in Wang Dou’s heart. He shook his head and sighed: “The Princess’s generous regard fills this humble subject with grateful tears. However, a wife who has shared one’s hardships must not be cast aside.”

Wang Dou’s tone was calm, but his expression was resolute. Wang Dehua was even more embarrassed and stammered: “Indeed… this Chen Shimei role cannot be played, cannot be played…”

The two returned to where they had been. When Emperor Chongzhen saw Wang Dehua’s expression, he already understood Wang Dou’s intent. His expression shifted from anticipation to boundless disappointment.

When he met Wang Dou’s gaze again, his face instantly flushed red, then turned to a dark red. Finally, his expression became wooden. He raised his cup to Wang Dou, but for a long while could not utter a complete sentence: “Minister… I…”

The atmosphere in the pavilion felt as if it were suffocating. The various guards and eunuchs did not dare to breathe loudly. Only the sound of the cold wind sweeping past the flowers and trees remained.

…

Wang Dou departed under the guidance of a eunuch. Empress Zhou descended from the pavilion, walking gracefully and delicately to stand before Emperor Chongzhen.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen’s face was still ashen. Seeing Empress Zhou approach, he glared at her with extreme anger: “This was all your rotten idea. In front of my minister, I have lost all face. From now on, never mention this person before me again.”

Empress Zhou sighed: “This Wang Dou, with his civil and military talents, was originally a good match for Zhu’er, and could have been a strong support for the imperial clan. It is a pity that he already has a wife!”

She had seen the scene below clearly from the pavilion. That Wang Dou, dressed in a python robe and wearing a three-peaked hat, was majestic and imposing in every gesture. The more she saw, the more satisfied she became. His words advising the Emperor had even spoken directly to her heart.

She sighed repeatedly: “What a pity… Still, this Wang Dou, unwilling to divorce his wife and remarry, clearly shows he values loyalty and affection, and is not one to cling to the powerful. Ah, what virtue or ability does that Xie Xiuniang possess, to have such a husband? It must be fortune she cultivated in a past life.”

Emperor Chongzhen grew even angrier: “This matter is not to be mentioned again. It is as if my imperial princess cannot find a husband. Where is my face? Where is the imperial family’s face?”

He asked Empress Zhou: “Where is Zhu’er? Have her come to see me. I must instruct her that from this day forward, the name Wang Dou is never again to pass her lips.”

Empress Zhou sighed: “When we descended the pavilion just now, she had already slipped away secretly. It seems she has gone after that Wang Dou.”

Emperor Chongzhen roared: “Eating from the family bowl while overturning it! She angers me to death! Find the Princess immediately and confine her to her quarters!”

…

Wang Dou was being led out by Wang Chengen. Walking beside Wang Dou, Wang Chengen kept a gloomy face and said nothing the entire way.

The young eunuch Wang Desheng, following behind Wang Chengen, sighed repeatedly along the way, feeling extremely sorry for Wang Dou.

Walking along the path, Wang Dou was also silently reflecting on the earlier scene. After his refusal, the relationship between himself and the Emperor, which had just slightly eased, had turned tense again. But could he possibly divorce Xie Xiuniang to marry the Princess?

He understood perfectly well that the answer was: impossible!

It had been impossible back then with Ji Junjiao, and it was equally impossible now with Princess Zhu Weizhao.

They walked a while longer and turned onto a small path. Faintly, a cold fragrance greeted their nostrils — it came from over a dozen red plum trees by the artificial rocks, their blossoms like rouge. At this moment, Wang Chengen suddenly stopped and said in surprise: “Is that Princess Kunxing?”

The sky was slightly dim. Only then did Wang Dou, deep in thought, notice that beside a red plum tree stood a young girl wearing a sable fur coat, looking at him timidly. Beside her, two palace maids were nervously glancing around. Who else could it be but Zhu Weizhao?

He stepped forward and saluted: “I pay my respects to Princess Kunxing.”

Zhu Weizhao returned the salute somewhat shyly, then looked toward Wang Chengen and pleaded: “Eunuch Wang, may Zhu’er exchange a few words with Marquis Yongning?”

Wang Chengen in fact regarded Zhu Weizhao as his own daughter, and his affection for her was no less than that of Emperor Chongzhen.

He sighed and said in a low voice: “Be quick.”

Then, taking the young eunuch Wang Desheng with him, he quickly hid to one side, vanishing to who knows where.

Once Wang Chengen left, Zhu Meichuo nervously fingered the hem of her robe and said softly, "Marquis of Yongning..."

Wang Dou looked at her. Her makeup was understated and elegant, her bearing graceful and lithe; she already possessed considerable charm. He sighed inwardly. She was only a girl in the bloom of youth — in a later age, she would be like a gentle, lovely girl next door — yet she had grown up deep within the palace.

She was full of curiosity and longing for everything beyond the walls, but her birth denied her the chance to enjoy such happiness. Born in an age of peace and prosperity, she could have lived in wealth and honor; born in the twilight of a dynasty, she was destined to see her kingdom fall and her family destroyed, her life a tragedy, fading away in sorrow.

"Marquis of Yongning, that matter... with my father the Emperor and my mother the Empress... please do not take it to heart..."

"They are only burdened with worry for the realm... Every time I, Chuor, go to see Father, his brow is always furrowed, and it pains my heart so. I want to do something for Father, but I do not know how..."

"I only wish... that the affairs of state would slowly improve... so Father need not worry. Every time word of the Marquis of Yongning's victories arrives, Chuor is so very happy..."

As she spoke, tears from Princess Kunxing came streaming down, glistening and translucent in the slowly darkening sky.

Wang Dou sighed and said gently, "Rest assured, with the protection of the Exalted Emperor, His Majesty will be all right."

Princess Kunxing raised her head, surprised and overjoyed: "Does the Marquis of Yongning mean that even if the realm's affairs grow worse, he will still protect my father the Emperor?"

Wang Dou said, "I will."

Princess Kunxing thought for a moment, then asked further, "Will you protect my mother the Empress?"

Wang Dou said, "I will."

Finally, Zhu Meichuo's cheeks flushed crimson, and her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper: "Will you protect me?"

Wang Dou said, "I will."

Zhu Meichuo's face reddened even more, as if brushed with a layer of rouge, her heart pounding like a startled deer. Then her tears came streaming down again. Choking with emotion, she said, "Marquis of Yongning, take care of yourself. Every day in the palace, Chuor will beg the Buddha for his protection and silently pray for the Marquis of Yongning."

She gazed at Wang Dou for a moment, then covered her face and fled. Her graceful figure flashed past the red plum blossoms and vanished from sight.