Chapter 1614

Weichi Chong said in a low voice: "Among all virtues, filial piety comes first. This old subject's return from Bei Jiang this time is mainly for the Grand Empress Dowager's funeral; the original intention of resigning office was also to keep vigil for the Grand Empress Dowager, but since the Emperor said the Bei Jiang war is urgent, this old subject can only give up fulfilling filial duty at the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb and hurry back to Bei Jiang." Weichi Chong's mind is made up; whether it's Xue Lingjun or Xue Daoming, he will try not to offend them easily, nor will he readily help them.

Xue Daoming's face showed no trace of a smile; he said coldly: "Grand Marshal, you came to Yongdu this time merely to fulfill filial duty?"

Weichi Chong said: "The Grand Empress Dowager's kindness to me is En ru shan; although I traveled day and night, I was still a step late and failed to see her last face—truly I am ashamed before her."

Xue Daoming said: "In consideration of your filial heart, I specially permit you to go guard before the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb."

Weichi Chong's heart couldn't help but startle: Is Xue Daoming really preparing to approve my request to resign? According to reason, it shouldn't be like this—the black barbarians merely halted their invasion of Bei Jiang; they won't just cease hostilities and stop fighting, and it's not yet the time when the birds are gone and the bows stored. Is Xue Daoming provoked by my attitude, or is he deliberately echoing my words to provoke Xue Lingjun's side? However, Xue Daoming didn't make his meaning too clear—he neither said he agreed to my request to resign, nor said how long I should keep vigil at the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb.

Since he didn't speak, Weichi Chong naturally didn't dare to ask further; he respectfully kowtowed and said: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Xue Daoming also didn't say more, flicked his sleeve and said: "You may withdraw now!"

The news that Weichi Chong had been permitted to go keep vigil before Empress Dowager Jiang's tomb spread quickly through court and countryside; what surprised Xue Daoming was that the first to come inquire about this was his maternal uncle, Minister of Personnel Dong Bingtai. Since the Empress Dowager's funeral, Dong Bingtai had claimed illness and stayed home resting; everyone saw he was looking for an excuse to distance himself as much as possible from the Emperor, lest Li Chen Zhou misconstrue their relationship and retaliate—in fact, after Li Chen Zhou and Grand Princess Xue Lingjun joined forces to control Da Yong's power, many officials did the same. Yet Xue Daoming felt most chilled by his maternal uncle's conduct, for the Dong family's present status owed entirely to the Empress Dowager's favor; over the years she had exhausted herself in the palace, trying to please the former emperor, all to secure herself the Da Yong throne, and thus to make the Dong family's position in Da Yong stable, enjoying wealth and honor generation after generation. While the Empress Dowager was alive, the Dong family enjoyed all the benefits she brought them, but after her death they refused to share the boat with him, to weather the storm together—how could Xue Daoming not feel anguished?

Although he already felt aversion toward Dong Bingtai in his heart, Xue Daoming still received him in the inner palace, choosing to meet Dong Bingtai in his own bedchamber—first, because the setting is relatively secluded; second, to show his favor toward this maternal uncle, even though Dong Bingtai was unwilling to devote himself wholeheartedly to him. His attitude toward him remained unchanged.

After Dong Bingtai finished his salutations, he got straight to the point: "I heard the Emperor ordered Weichi Chong to go keep vigil before the Grand Empress Dowager; is this true?"

Xue Daoming nodded and said: "That's correct; it is true. Weichi Chong came all the way from Bei Jiang. His purpose was simply to fulfill filial duty before the Grand Empress Dowager, but he was delayed en route and missed the chance to see her last face. He therefore asked me to let him keep vigil for three years before the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb to fulfill his filial heart; I, considering his sincere effort, and also because he was originally the Grand Empress Dowager's adopted son—keeping vigil at her tomb being natural—agreed to give him this opportunity."

Dong Bingtai, hearing this, could not help but become agitated; he clasped his hands and offered counsel: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impermissible!"

"Why not? Do you think Weichi Chong's status is unsuitable for keeping vigil at the tomb?"

Dong Bingtai said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, Bei Jiang cannot do without Weichi Chong—not even for three months, let alone three years; although the Bei Jiang war has entered winter lull, that is only temporary; once the ice and snow melt, the black barbarian cavalry will surely return in force, and moreover, Yonglan Pass has already fallen into their hands; they hold the advantage of Yonglan Pass, and even during the winter lull they continuously dispatch troops from the interior, awaiting the spring battle. Your Majesty, at this critical moment, granting Weichi Chong leave to keep vigil is tantamount to abolishing your own martial prowess—this is absolutely impermissible!"

Xue Daoming coldly stared at Dong Bingtai and said: "Maternal uncle, your words are mistaken; what does 'abolishing one's martial prowess' mean? Could it be that Da Yong has no one else usable besides Weichi Chong?"

Dong Bingtai said: "Your Majesty, I don't mean that; it's merely that Grand Marshal Weichi Chong has fought the black barbarians for many years, accumulating countless combat experiences, and he enjoys high prestige among the Bei Jiang troops; to change commanders before the war ends is not a wise move."

Xue Daoming suddenly turned his gaze toward Dong Bingtai, his eyes dark and cold, making Dong Bingtai's heart tremble; in his memory, this nephew had never looked at him with such eyes. Dong Bingtai, having served as an official for many years, and because of the special relationship between the Dong family and the imperial family, he understood court affairs inside and out very well; this palace coup was certainly not as simple as a few deaths on the surface; although the Da Yong imperial authority appeared to remain in the hands of the Xue family, behind the scenes it had already been controlled by Li Chen Zhou; Xue Daoming's anxiety and unwillingness had long been evident to him, and as Xue Daoming's maternal uncle by blood, how could he not feel distressed over his nephew's plight? Yet reality is cruel: Li Chen Zhou and Xue Lingjun have joined forces strongly, and within Da Yong there is currently no one who can stand against the two of them.

Xue Daoming squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth: "Am I not wise enough?"

Dong Bingtai secretly sighed at the difficulty of gauging imperial authority; that remark just now was insufficiently considered, and he inadvertently offended the emperor who had only recently ascended the throne. He plunged to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, even if I had the courage of heaven, I would not dare to blame you; I have spoken rashly and disrespectfully, please punish me."

Xue Daoming gave a hollow cold laugh and said: "Why need you fear? You are my maternal uncle; even if you have any slip of the tongue, I, remembering the Empress Dowager's favor, will not truly punish you."

Dong Bingtai felt his heart leap with fright; Xue Daoming's obvious displeasure toward him made his forehead break out in cold sweat.

Xue Daoming looked down at Dong Bingtai, deliberately letting him kneel for a while before saying lightly: "Get up; there's no reason for an uncle to make his nephew kowtow."

Dong Bingtai said: "Here there is only ruler and subject."

Xue Daoming, however, sighed and said: "Ruler and subject? Perhaps in all of Da Yong, only you regard me as a sovereign." He waved his hand, and the resentment that had built up in his heart over the past days lessened somewhat.

Only then did Dong Bingtai dare to rise, standing carefully at his side, not daring to speak recklessly no matter what.

Xue Daoming said: "Da Yong has many troops and generals; it's not that only Weichi Chong is a commander. He came under the banner of mourning, yet as Da Yong's Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces and the Grand Empress Dowager's adopted son, he actually doesn't worry for me; upon seeing me, his first proposal was to resign—this is simply making things difficult for me! Does he think I truly have no one usable? Does he think I cannot manage without him?" He paused, then turned to Dong Bingtai and said: "What's even more infuriating is that, after returning, the first person he went to see was the Grand Princess!"

Dong Bingtai finally understood why Xue Daoming was so furious; it seems today's anger is not entirely directed at him. He said softly: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger; after this upheaval, in fact both civil and military officials in the court are mostly panic-stricken, and Weichi Chong is no exception—I see he has no gall to defy you; his reason for first visiting the Grand Princess should be to ascertain the situation in Huangcheng, after all he is the Grand Empress Dowager's adopted son and the Grand Princess's sworn brother; it is only natural to see her first."

Xue Daoming said nothing, silently gazing at Dong Bingtai, waiting for his further words.

Dong Bingtai, however, feeling somewhat guilty, glanced around.

Xue Daoming said: "You need not fear; before your arrival I had already sent all palace personnel away—I trust none of them."

Dong Bingtai relaxed a little, lowering his voice: "Your Majesty, the present situation still requires careful planning before action; one must never act on impulse."

Xue Daoming said: "Are you asking me to endure? How long must I endure? To watch villains step by step seize Da Yong's realm, should I stand by with folded arms? Should I live like you, suppressing my resentment and merely scraping by in this world?"

Dong Bingtai's old face flushed; he sighed: "Their plot to seize Da Yong's throne was not a day's work; this is certainly not as simple as it appears on the surface; what happened that night in Cien Garden was clearly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes, following a prearranged plan step by step to draw everyone into the scheme; while Your Majesty personally witnessed everything that occurred inside Cien Garden, do you know what happened outside?"

Xue Daoming's eyes lit up; since that night's palace coup, Dong Bingtai had never before opened up to him about his inner thoughts, but now it seems this maternal uncle of his must have some hidden anguish.

Dong Bingtai said: "Your Majesty, I know full well what you have in mind; the Dong family has enjoyed imperial grace for generations—even if we were to lay down our lives for the Emperor, what would there be to regret? Yet the circumstances compel us: if we act before the moment is ripe, not only will we fail to turn the tide, we will instead startle the enemy and possibly lose everything; my death is of little consequence, but we must not jeopardize the Emperor's grand ambitions. Your Majesty, you contend not for mere righteousness, but for the realm and ancestral altars left by the former emperors, for Da Yong's thousand-year great undertaking; in the face of the larger situation, any private grudges and hatred must be set aside, and enduring humiliation while bearing burdens is certainly not passive submission. Given the present circumstances, the harder you press, the more likely you are to alert them, and even to engender hostility toward Your Majesty."

Xue Daoming, full of indignation, said: "What do I have to fear? Even if I die, I will not submit meekly to being manipulated like a puppet by that treacherous Li Chen Zhou!"

Dong Bingtai, eyes brimming with hot tears, knelt again before Xue Daoming: "Your Majesty, have you considered what would happen to Da Yong's realm if you met with some mishap? Who would inherit the century-long foundation painstakingly built by the former emperors?" (To be continued~^~)