Chapter 33: A Reminder Before the Empress Selection

Inside the Forbidden City, Zhu Youxiao sat in a wheelchair, gazing into the distance with an expressionless face.

Chen Hong stood silently behind him.

Without turning his head, Zhu Youxiao said softly, "Has the news been sent out?" At the same time, he raised a hand to pull at the blanket, covering himself more snugly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been sent out." Chen Hong dared not be negligent and answered hurriedly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded: "Who sent it out?"

"A minor attendant beside Eunuch Wang, named Zhao He." Chen Hong said quickly, "He wasn't told directly. He merely happened to overhear it while passing by, and he has already delivered the news outside the palace."

His Majesty did not continue speaking, clearly letting the matter rest there, which made Chen Hong breathe a sigh of relief. He truly could not fathom what his master was thinking.

Just moments ago, His Majesty had someone release a piece of news:

His Majesty wished to release Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, Zhang Xiude, and several others held in the Eastern Depot's prison. After release, these men would be handed over to the Three Judicial Offices for joint trial, but Gao Panlong had refused to agree, which angered His Majesty.

As for why Gao Panlong refused — because he had secretly colluded with Wei Zhongxian and become close friends, and Wei Zhongxian had promised to let Gao Panlong enter the Grand Secretariat, recreating the old affair of Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao.

His Majesty was angered by Gao Panlong's refusal of the Three Judicial Offices' joint trial, and so summoned Yang Lian. Yang Lian endorsed His Majesty's words and was willing to personally preside over the case, which greatly pleased the Emperor.

That was essentially the whole message — some of it true, and of course some of it false.

Even Chen Hong felt that His Majesty's rumor-mongering was too crude. But he dared not say so, and no one else dared say so either.

The one who released the news was a minor attendant beside Wang An, the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Wang An had always been on good terms with the Donglin Faction, so if trouble arose, the investigation would lead to that minor attendant.

As for that minor attendant — he had merely heard it from within the palace, and in the end the investigation would amount to nothing more than palace gossip.

Were palace rumors ever scarce? Not just within the palace — in the capital, in officialdom, were rumors ever scarce?

Every day, all sorts of people released all sorts of rumors for all sorts of purposes.

"This palace of mine!" Zhu Youxiao sighed softly, "It's a wall leaking wind from all four sides — nothing can be kept out."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao turned to Chen Hong and said, "That attendant who spread the news — what was his name again?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, his name is Zhao He." Chen Hong dared not be negligent and answered hurriedly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, then said, "Leaking matters of the inner palace — have him beaten to death!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Hong's heart and liver trembled — His Majesty meant to silence the witness. Once Zhao He died, there would be no one left to testify.

After a moment's thought, Zhu Youxiao called Chen Hong back: "Never mind — beating to death is too cruel. I am a benevolent sovereign. Entering the palace as a eunuch already left him mutilated; now that he must die, let him depart with dignity. Grant him white silk!"

"His Majesty is merciful." Chen Hong quickly acknowledged, then turned to go handle the matter. Though shocking, this was hardly a major affair — in the palace, how many people died every year?

Once Chen Hong had left with his men to handle the business, Zhu Youxiao sat in his wheelchair, chin propped on his hand, gazing into the distance.

This was one of the rare clear days of late, and the sunlight was pleasant. Zhu Youxiao, wrapped in his blanket, basked in the sun — quite comfortable.

"Your Majesty, Li Huan, who serves the Consort Dowager, has arrived." The eunuch Wei Chao walked up to Zhu Youxiao's side and said softly, afraid of disturbing His Majesty.

Eunuchs in the palace all served on rotation — basically, you went when your turn came; when it wasn't your turn, you did your own duties.

Now that Chen Hong had left, Wei Chao had come to take his place. He too was a famous eunuch.

In the Tianqi reign, Zhu Youxiao knew of only three eunuchs — the most famous being Wei Zhongxian, naturally.

Besides Wei Zhongxian, the other two were Wang An and Wei Chao. Wang An was the adoptive father of both Wei Chao and Wei Zhongxian — their godfather in the palace.

Wei Chao, meanwhile, was Wei Zhongxian's sworn brother, and also the one who had introduced Wei Zhongxian into the palace.

However, neither Wang An nor Wei Zhongxian ended up well. Wei Zhongxian especially — toward Wei Chao, he had not only stolen away his partner Madam Ke, but had also exiled Wei Chao to Fengyang.

But now Madam Ke was dead, and Zhu Youxiao didn't know whether this pair of sworn brothers would still fall out.

Li Huan — the eunuch attending Consort Dowager Zhuang. Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Have him come over!"

Before long, Li Huan walked in from outside. Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, he immediately knelt on the ground and saluted: "This servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

Waving a hand to signal Li Huan to rise, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Does the Consort Dowager have some matter?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Consort Dowager sent this servant to invite Your Majesty, saying she wishes to discuss the selection of the Empress with Your Majesty." Li Huan said hurriedly.

Zhu Youxiao was taken aback — selecting an Empress!

If Consort Dowager Zhuang hadn't reminded him, he truly would have forgotten about this matter.

But Zhu Youxiao also knew that this was Consort Dowager Zhuang asserting her position. Though she could not become Empress Dowager, ever since moving into Ciqing Palace, Consort Dowager Zhuang had already regarded herself as the Empress Dowager.

Selecting consorts for the Emperor was a major matter — if she could preside over it, her standing in the palace would naturally rise with the tide.

Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Go back and convey to the Consort Dowager that I will come over this evening, and will dine at her place."

"Yes." Li Huan acknowledged, then turned and withdrew.

As for the matter of selecting his own Empress, Zhu Youxiao actually paid little attention — because it had little to do with him, and his word didn't count for much anyway.

Many people participated in the selection of the Empress, but by the time it reached him to choose, few candidates remained, and the choices were few.

Besides, Zhu Youxiao had no mind for such matters right now — what he was focused on was the Donglin Faction.

The news had been sent out. Zhu Youxiao wanted to see what the Donglin Faction would do when rumors ran rampant outside.

Zhu Youxiao had also considered destroying the Donglin Faction, but he wouldn't do it the way Wei Zhongxian had — that approach was too crude, and the results were poor.

Moreover, the Donglin Faction was merely one school of thought — there were people behind them, and the waters ran deep here!

If you struck down the Donglin Faction, there was still the West Forest Faction — would you strike that down too? And what about the Qi, Zhe, and Chu factions? Strike them down as well? Or kill them all?

Such a task was far too difficult. A purge was certainly necessary, but it couldn't be done this way.

This time, what Zhu Youxiao wanted to see was how the Donglin Faction's people would act — especially at this moment.

Gao Panlong and Yang Lian — what choice will you make? I am truly curious!

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian has arrived." Wei Chao walked in again and said in a low voice.

Zhu Youxiao smiled — Wei Zhongxian really was quick to act, but it didn't matter.

Without turning around, he directly ordered, "Have him come over!"

Before long, Wei Zhongxian walked in from outside. Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, he prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowed, and said respectfully, "This servant pays respects to Your Majesty."