Chapter 199: Stop Here?

The matter fermented extremely quickly.

In a mere five or six days, this affair swept through the Southeast and the North. Who is the Sage Kong? He is the ancestor of all scholars under Heaven; which generation of monarchs did not treat the Kong Family with the utmost courtesy? Now that it has blown up like this, it is not a good look for anyone.

Zhang Yunxiu, however, felt nothing about this; if they want to make a scene, let them keep making a scene. In any case, it is not his face that will be lost in the end.

It is the face of the old Kong Family that will be lost, the face of that bunch of dregs of the literati, those wolves in sheep's clothing.

This morning, Zhang Yunxiu paced his way to Zhang Juzheng's bedroom.

Yuqin pulled out a stool, signaled for Zhang Yunxiu to sit, then brewed a pot of tea and exited the room.

The father and son looked at each other; Zhang Yunxiu watched Zhang Juzheng, whose complexion was sallow but who had recovered some spirit.

His mood eased slightly.

Then, he poured out everything that had happened recently in one go.

After listening, Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly and warned, "The Kong Family has deep roots and a vast network; their supporters and old acquaintances are spread throughout the world. This time, first reforming the Imperial Examination, then striking at the Kong Family—each and every one of these is a matter that could shake the heavens."

"This child understands," Zhang Yunxiu nodded solemnly.

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes and leaned against the head of the bed to doze.

Zhang Yunxiu, by the bedside, did not understand the situation and felt it improper to disturb him, so he just sat by the bed and watched Zhang Juzheng quietly.

He saw that his skin was wrinkled and his face covered in spots; the sunlight filtering through the window hit them, revealing a strange color.

He was old; he was truly old.

A thought suddenly popped into Zhang Yunxiu's mind.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng suddenly opened his eyes, stared at Zhang Yunxiu, and said, "If you want to accomplish things, the one thing you must never harm is the Emperor's interests. You are doing this very well right now."

You know now? Zhang Yunxiu muttered to himself, barely nodding.

"That is enough, just remember this, just remember this." Exhaling a long, hot breath, Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes again, waved his hand weakly, and said, "Go down; as for the remaining matters, there are naturally people to handle them."

"Yes."

Retiring to his own study and sitting down, Zhang Yunxiu intended to write a letter to Han San to inform him of the situation in the capital.

Just as he picked up his brush to write, a series of "thump-thump-thump" footsteps came from outside, followed by Zhang Fu's voice: "Young Master, Eunuch Wei requests an audience."

At this juncture, Wei Qing had come to see him.

Zhang Yunxiu's heart skipped a beat; he guessed that something must have happened in the palace. So he hurriedly instructed Zhang Fu, "Go quickly and bring Eunuch Wei to the study."

Zhang Fu accepted the order and left, returning shortly with Wei Qing. After leading Wei Qing to a seat, Zhang Fu ordered someone to bring some pastries before hurriedly exiting the study.

The two were old friends, so they did not bother with pleasantries; Zhang Yunxiu asked directly, "Eunuch, coming here today, has something happened in the palace?"

Wei Qing nodded and simply spilled out what had happened today:

It is said that at the hour of the Dragon today, the Wanli Emperor was listening to him read memorials in the East Warm Pavilion; he had listened to three or four in a row, all pleading for the Kong Family.

Suddenly, the Wanli Emperor frowned, slapped the table, and cursed through gritted teeth, "These officials, is it possible there is nothing else in this world to do?"

"All day long it's how the Kong Family is this, how the Kong Family is that. I give them so much salary, is it just for them to tell me these things?!"

Seeing the Wanli Emperor angry, Wei Qing hurriedly put down the memorials, paced over to the Emperor, and followed his lead, saying, "Your Majesty, these outer officials, they don't think about sharing your worries day by day; they just stare at you all day long. If this continues, where will you have any freedom to speak of?" "Only we inner officials are truly looking out for your well-being with all our hearts."

As he spoke, Wei Qing's mouth drooped, and he forced two hot tears from his eyes.

"Enough, enough." The Wanli Emperor waved his hand impatiently and added, "Outer officials and inner officials are all officials. There are good people and bad people; one cannot distinguish good from bad based on whether they are inner or outer."

"Your Majesty is brilliant and martial, naturally able to distinguish the loyal from the treacherous. This old servant is a mere mortal, how could I be the same as Your Majesty?" Wei Qing immediately changed his expression, smiling with a fawning face.

"Hahaha, you old thing, all you know how to do all day is say nice things to make me happy." The Wanli Emperor was so amused he clapped his hands.

"This old servant speaks the truth."

Wei Qing replied with a smile, but suddenly a commotion came from outside the palace gate, followed by a shrill-voiced announcement that entered the great hall: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The Wanli Emperor hurriedly rose from his chair and stood to the side with his hands hanging down.

Wei Qing followed closely behind.

All eyes turned toward the entrance of the East Warm Pavilion.

Li Taihou walked into the small pavilion with a look of disdain for the world, swept her gaze slightly, and sat down on an embroidered couch of her own accord.

The eunuchs and palace maids first bowed respectfully, then the Wanli Emperor stepped forward, straightened his body, knelt on a bright yellow soft cushion, and called out respectfully, "Your son greets you, Mother."

Li Taihou nodded slightly, signaling for him to sit on the embroidered couch beside her.

Between the two embroidered couches sat a blue-and-white porcelain vase filled with roses.

Once the Wanli Emperor was seated, Li Taihou glanced at her son and asked, "Emperor, recently I have been feeling uneasy, always sensing that some major event is about to happen. Can you tell me what major event has actually happened in this world?"

"There is no major event," the Wanli Emperor replied.

"Liar!" Li Taihou suddenly knitted her brows and shouted sternly, "The outside is already full of rumors, saying you are about to take action against the descendants of the Sage. If this gets out, how will the people of the world view you?"

"How will future generations view you?"

"They can view me however they like; I am the Emperor, what can the Emperor not do?!" The Wanli Emperor's rebellious heart flared up, and he immediately muttered to his mother.

Stung by this, Li Taihou was taken aback.

For so many years, this was the first time her son had spoken to her this way.

She was so angry her phoenix eyes widened, but thinking of the important matter, she put her anger aside for the moment and cited historical precedents: "Who says the Emperor can do whatever he wants? Can you stop the mouths of the people of the world? Back then, the Shizong Emperor, your grandfather, doted on Daoists; there was a man named Hai Rui who carried a coffin to the Huangji Gate and cursed the Shizong Emperor."

"The Shizong Emperor was furious and wanted to kill Hai Rui, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Later, when your father ascended the throne, not only was Hai Rui innocent, but he was promoted three ranks and became a model for the scholars of the world."

"Tell me, can the Emperor still do whatever he wants?!"

Li Taihou spoke extremely quickly, and because it was mixed with anger, by the time she finished, two red flushes had already flown onto her plump, fair cheeks.

"Mother." The Wanli Emperor stood up and gently patted Li Taihou's back.

Li Taihou covered her chest, exhaled a few fragrant breaths, then looked up at her son and said, "Emperor, this matter should be kept small rather than large; leave the Imperial Examination matter to Mr. Zhang. But as for this Kong Family, let it end here."

"The Kong Family and the Imperial House share a common destiny; they must not be suppressed!"

(End of chapter)