Chapter 128: Dispute of Words

Lady Yu used her own life to secure a perfect opportunity for her benefactor Cao Jie, and at the same time won a three-day holiday for all the officials in the capital, high and low.

Indeed, the entire court was very grateful to Lady Yu, but basically only grateful that she had given everyone three days off.

That scoundrel Yang Qiu merely went to Zhangling early to show his face, then directly slacked off and ran home to play "entering the alley" with his beloved young wife; Gongsun Xun, who was not qualified to go to Zhangling, also went out early in the morning, then steeled himself and scurried all over Luoyang, just trying to buy a cat, so as to spare his rear residence from unrest... It was not that they did not know Cao Jie would come out, but amidst the imperial regalia and under the guard of the Imperial Guard, trying to arrest someone would be even harder than attempting to infiltrate the Northern Palace!

So, since even people like Yang Qiu and Gongsun Xun never imagined anything would happen, what could the hundred officials do? It was nothing more than those of sufficient rank having no choice but to make the trip to Zhangling, while those of insufficient rank simply called their friends and went about their own business.

And this was precisely Cao Jie's cunning. Aside from himself, who had long premeditated this, no one thought anything would happen. And more importantly, while the eunuchs were forced to gather together because they had to travel back and forth between Zhangling and the Northern Palace, the hundred officials, because of the holiday, had imperceptibly lost their ability to organize and act.

The weather was somewhat stifling. By the afternoon, as soon as the ceremony at Zhangling ended, the hundred officials immediately scattered in a hubbub, while the various Palace Attendants, Yellow Gates, along with the Imperial Guard, palace maids, and so on, all wearing mourning cloth, made their way back to the Northern Palace.

"Where are we going?" someone finally sensed something amiss just as they were about to reach the Xia City Gate. "Why return to the palace through the Xia Gate? Wouldn't going through the Gu Gate be closer? We came through the Gu Gate on our way here!"

"Is there really much difference between the Gu Gate and the Xia Gate?" a companion beside him answered somewhat impatiently. "It's so hot, and we've already walked more than half the way. Do you want to turn back?"

"No." This junior Yellow Gate wrapped in mourning cloth immediately shook his head in panic. "Have you forgotten? Attendant Wang's corpse is still hanging at the Xia Gate. I left the city once earlier this month and happened to go through the Xia Gate. I saw maggots constantly dropping from the corpse, and a pack of wild dogs licking beneath it. I've never dared to go that way since!"

The companion was also startled by these words, but ultimately still hurriedly shook his head: "Even so, it's hard to do anything about it. With so many people here, and many Attendants among them, when would it be our turn to speak? We'll just lower our heads and not look when the time comes."

"How about you and I request leave to go ahead, and just go straight home?" The first man was somewhat timid after all. "That place is too horrifying; going there once makes one unable to eat for three days..."

"Requesting leave is no problem." The companion nodded repeatedly. "Take me with you, let's avoid it together and go to your house for a drink."

However, to the two junior Yellow Gates' astonishment, when they tried to break away from the main group, they were publicly stopped by the Tiger Guard soldiers escorting the procession:

"Lord Cao has ordered that all matters be discussed after returning to the palace. No one is permitted to leave the procession midway!"

With these words, a commotion immediately spread. Soon, the Senior Palace Attendants and Senior Yellow Gates all learned of the news, and each and every one was both shocked and furious.

"Lord Cao, what is the meaning of this?!" Zhao Zhong was the first to step forward. "You are no longer the Grand Prolonger of Autumn and have already returned your tally and seal. You have no authority to command the Tiger Guard!"

"I am not commanding them." Cao Jie pointed to the mourning cloth on his head and answered with an impassive expression. "It is merely that, as the most senior Attendant in the palace, I cannot help but remind them to maintain order... Today is Lady Yu's burial ceremony. Lady Yu was a consort of Zhangling, always of high virtue and esteemed. Her usual lack of airs in the palace was due to her kind nature. How can she be disregarded even as she is laid to rest? It is one thing for those outer court officials to look down on Lady Yu, but we, a bunch of eunuchs, are servants of the imperial house. Should servants also ignore their master? Attendant Zhao, forgive me, but I find your words somewhat incomprehensible."

Zhao Zhong did not retort, but instead nodded slightly with an expression of full agreement... This was not because Attendant Zhao was as timid as a dog, but because he suddenly realized: if Cao Jie, relying on his authority within the Tiger Guard, was planning some ruthless move like a mutiny or imprisonment at this moment, then forcefully sticking his neck out now would be nothing but seeking his own death. And if not, then as long as he endured for a short while, once they entered the Northern Palace, everything would naturally be safe, and he might even be able to use this incident to contend for the long-vacant position of Grand Prolonger of Autumn.

That being the case, it was only a short stretch of road; he might as well let the other have his way for now.

In fact, it was not just Zhao Zhong. Zhang Rang, Cheng Huang, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Duan Gui, and all the other core Attendants, as well as nearly all the Senior Yellow Gates and junior Yellow Gates, were all quite astute. One by one, they honestly shut their mouths and simply followed the main group as it advanced into the city... until the procession reached the front of Luoyang's Xia City Gate.

"Halt!" Cao Jie suddenly stopped, his face expressionless.

"Lord Cao has ordered, halt!" A Tiger Guard officer beside him immediately relayed the command, hand on his ceremonial blade. At his order, the hundred or so armored Tiger Guard soldiers, who had originally been merely serving as ceremonial guards, all halted with their weapons at the ready... At this, without the soldiers needing to say another word, the surrounding commoners immediately scattered in a hubbub, while people like Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, after exchanging a few glances, honestly brought the main group to a stop as well.

It was afternoon, and the sky grew increasingly oppressive. Hundreds of Imperial Guards, inner attendants, and palace maids wearing mourning stood stiffly under the scorching sun. Cao Jie, Cao Hanfeng, who had seized control of the situation, remained silent. He merely walked slowly to the base of the city gate, folded his sleeves, and raised his head to look at "Wang Fu" hanging from the gate tower.

To be honest, "Wang Fu" at this point no longer bore the slightest resemblance to a human form. He was merely a few chunks of rotting flesh and a desiccated skeleton with a bit of putrid meat still clinging to it... And no wonder: this former Senior Palace Attendant, who once held sway over the court, had first been beaten to death with clubs, then dismembered, and then hung here exposed to wind, sun, rain, and insects. It would be strange if he still looked human!

And just as Cao Jie was looking expressionlessly at his former partner, a sudden gust of wind brought a hint of coolness to many behind him, but also blew a shred of rotting flesh, carrying a bit of "meat juice," down to the ground. Cao Hanfeng looked down and saw several white, wriggling maggots quickly crawl out of the rotting flesh, a sight that made one even more sorrowful... Yet, what left him even more speechless was that several wild dogs, appearing from nowhere, came running over at this sight and began fighting over this chunk of rotting flesh right in front of him. After a bout of tearing and biting, the victor made off with the torn piece of meat, while the losers, unwilling to give up, could only lick the foul, stinking juices from the ground to satisfy their craving.

"Where are the Tiger Guard?!" Cao Hanfeng could endure it no longer at this sight and could not help but turn his head and shout.

"Lord Cao!" Several officers hurried forward.

"Beat that wild dog to death for me!" Cao Jie's voice and expression were harsh, his body trembling, clearly moved to violent anger.

"Yes!" The officers' scalps tingled with numbness, but ultimately they dared not think too much and immediately responded.

Then, without even calling for the soldiers behind them, the few of them directly drew their ceremonial blades and butchered the dog that had been licking the juices alive beside the city gate!

"All Attendants and Yellow Gates, please step forward and speak!" Once the wild dog had been dismembered, Cao Jie stood beneath the corpse of Wang Fu, beside the pile of dog meat, his sleeves still folded, and looked back at the many inner officials behind him. "I have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I must speak today!"

In the faint breeze, the mourning cloth on Cao Jie's head fluttered. Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others could not help but look at each other... How could they not know that Cao Jie was about to stir up trouble?

But the situation before them simply did not allow them any choice. Not to mention the Tiger Guard at their side, even the many inner attendants behind them, after witnessing the scene just now, were all stirred up, suddenly filled with a sense of shared hatred... To be honest, if they did not step forward now, they would likely chill the hearts of who knows how many inner attendants behind them on the spot!

And so, with a single sentence from the former Grand Prolonger of Autumn, whether they were Senior Palace Attendants of the two-thousand-bushel rank, Senior Yellow Gates of the thousand-bushel rank, or junior Yellow Gates, they all now gathered forward, coming before Cao Jie and "Wang Fu."

"Gentlemen," Cao Jie stretched out a hand to point at the corpse of Wang Fu above his head, his face already streaming with tears, though no one knew when they had started. "For us inner eunuchs to bite and tear at each other, fighting for positions, is indeed a common affair. But, but..." At this point, Cao Jie was practically choking and unable to speak, but ultimately he suppressed his tears and pointed again at the pile of dog meat, saying, "But, no matter what, we should not fall to the state of being fought over by wild dogs eating maggots, should we?"

At these words, except for a few Attendants, the inner eunuchs before the Xia City Gate nearly all began whispering to each other. Many even wept aloud just like Cao Jie, their voices full of grief... If one added the mourning cloth they wore, someone who didn't know might truly think these people were mourning the deceased.

However, although the few Attendants at the front also showed some sorrow on their faces, they ultimately remained silent. Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, in particular, had cold expressions and repeatedly exchanged glances.

"Today I will speak frankly and openly!" Cao Jie wiped away his tears, then folded his sleeves again, his gaze fixed firmly on the several Attendants before him. "You gentlemen have so indulged that Yang Qiu merely because you wished to remove us old relics and seize the Attendant positions for yourselves... And now, Wang Fu, Yuan She, Feng Yu, Chunyu Deng, Zhang Feng have all already vacated their posts, and most of you have ascended to the positions as you wished. Of the many elderly Attendants of former days, I alone remain. And don't you all know me? I have always been old and frail. After a serious illness three years ago, I don't even know how many more years I can hold on before I must go below to the Nine Springs to serve Lady Yu—to serve the late Emperor. Could it be that you are still not satisfied and must utterly exterminate us all?!"

At these words, several newly promoted Attendants and many Senior Yellow Gates of the thousand-bushel rank looked at each other. And as a few among them, with mournful expressions, repeatedly protested that they would not dare, the rest of the crowd also chimed in one after another.

Yet, Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang at the forefront still stood sternly, showing no intention of wavering in the slightest.

"You two... Zhang and Zhao, you two." Cao Jie indeed turned his gaze upon these two men. "I know what you two are thinking. Everyone is seeking a position, but what you two seek is my position. That is why you are unwilling to reconcile with me, is it not?"

Zhang Rang could not help but let out a dry laugh, and Zhao Zhong also lowered his head in silence... Wasn't this stating the obvious? They were originally the men whose power and influence were second only to Cao Jie and Wang Fu. What they sought in this struggle was nothing other than the position of leader of the inner eunuchs.

"But you two," Cao Jie's face could not help but show a mournful expression. "Even if I, too, die without a burial place like Wang Fu, there is still only one position as leader of the inner attendants. Even if you two have a tacit understanding between you, when the time comes, how will you divide the power and responsibilities? If something goes wrong, will you each then call upon your friends and allies, summon forces from the outer court, and fight to the death? And when that happens, how many more companions in the palace will end up like Wang Fu?"

Cao Jie's words were exceptionally blunt, but the blade hidden within them was utterly unavoidable. Zhang and Zhao were momentarily somewhat embarrassed, and the many inner attendants also began whispering to each other.

"Then what does Lord Cao think we two should do?" Seeing the looks in the surrounding inner attendants' eyes turning unfavorable, Zhao Zhong could only helplessly open his mouth and ask.

"My meaning is this: I, Cao Jie, am also a decrepit old man." Cao Jie spoke with a serious expression. "My wings have also been entirely clipped. So, can you not, considering that my handling of affairs in the past was at least fair, spare my life, and then allow me to calmly divide the power and responsibilities between you one by one? The military authority over the Tiger Guard and the Feathered Forest; the duties of the Grand Prolonger of Autumn; the responsibilities of the Yellow Gate Supervisor... Can we not discuss this amicably? Why must it come to this? As the saying goes, 'hold the ox's ear and divide the meat.' Can you two truly not allow me to remain as the nominal leader for another two or three years? What harm would that do to you?"

Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang could not help but exchange a glance. They were clearly somewhat tempted, but still did not express their stance.

"Do you two still not understand?" Cao Jie let out a long sigh and could not help but point again at his former comrade "Wang Fu" above his head, saying, "The reason I want to speak frankly with you here is truly because in our internal struggles, we should never have drawn in forces from the outer court! And my meaning today, Cao Jie, is also very simple: I can die at the hands of people like you, but I cannot die at the hands of someone like Yang Qiu... Yang Qiu is now so arrogant. May I ask, does Attendant Cheng still have even half the ability to control him again? That Gongsun Xun swaggers around Luoyang all day with his personal retainers, hunting down our kind like driving out dogs and hunting wild beasts. Attendant Zhao, can you truly control him? Do you trust them more than you trust your fellow inner attendants?"

Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang were speechless for a moment... because even without turning their heads, they could feel the stirring commotion behind them.

"You two!" Cao Jie suddenly shouted sternly. "Do you still not understand? If this continues, the power and responsibilities I spoke of will likely fall into the hands of outsiders one by one. When that time comes, what will we inner attendants still be fighting over? Even if we must engage in internal strife, we cannot ruin the greater situation for us inner attendants because of it!"

As soon as his voice fell, the junior Yellow Gates, Senior Yellow Gates, and Senior Palace Attendants all began to echo and persuade. Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong knew in their hearts that if they continued to waver, they would likely lose the hearts of everyone in the palace... When that time came, people like Bi Lan and Duan Gui might seize the opportunity to replace them.

With this thought, the two men no longer delayed. They immediately bowed deeply before that pile of dog meat, professing that they would not dare, and then, imitating Cao Jie's manner, shed a few tears for Wang Fu.

Thus, regardless of anything else, Cao Hanfeng used Wang Fu's corpse to play the victim, then stirred up nearly all the ranked eunuchs with his words, forcing Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others to half-reluctantly accept his reconciliation in public, and still temporarily regard him as their leader.

"May we ask Lord Cao to instruct us: how should we, your fellows, resolve this matter?" Having finally pacified the crowd of inner attendants behind them, several core Senior Palace Attendants immediately asked.

"I know full well how this matter started, so I have no intention of counterattacking or seeking revenge." Cao Jie spoke with a serious expression. "I merely wish to seek a peaceful retirement... Removing Yang Qiu as Colonel-Director of Retainers and Qiao Xuan as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, so that the outer court has no power to interfere in our affairs, will be sufficient!"

"In that case, we have even less to say." Zhao Zhong also breathed a sigh of relief. "Then let Lord Cao continue to serve as Grand Prolonger of Autumn, Bearer of the Tally, Regional Commander of the Feathered Forest and Tiger Guard, and oversee the Masters of Writing."

"But how exactly should we proceed?" Zhang Rang also interjected. "My thought is that since we are, for once, in agreement today, we should take advantage of the time when the outer court is all on leave to make a swift decision. We absolutely must not give them any chance to react!"

"That is only natural." Cao Jie answered frankly. "I already have a plan. Right now, while we have the chance, no inner attendant is permitted to go home, nor are we to disperse. We shall directly put on our mourning and enter the Northern Palace to weep and petition His Majesty!"

The assembled Attendants roared their assent. Even Lord Cheng Huang, Cheng Huang, the adoptive father of Yang Qiu's young wife, now ignored the looks of those around him and repeatedly shouted his agreement. Even Lu Qiang, the Senior Palace Attendant known for his uprightness, nodded slightly at this moment.

Thus, having reached a consensus, the assembled inner attendants set off once more. They passed through the Xia Gate, headed straight for the Northern Palace, and proceeded all the way to outside the Dragon Wash Garden where the Son of Heaven resided. Only then did they kneel, their cries of grief shaking the heavens.

As it happened, the Son of Heaven was at that moment amusing himself in the Zhuolong Garden… Several palace attendants had dressed a few pet dogs in specially made miniature official robes and placed official hats on their heads, letting them roam about freely. This sort of behavior, which might be extremely common in later ages, was extraordinarily novel at this time, and so the Son of Heaven was amused to the point he could hardly close his mouth.

Yet just at that moment, a chorus of wailing suddenly arose from outside, and then a eunuch came flying in to report that virtually every ranked inner official in the palace was kneeling and weeping outside the garden, begging for an audience with His Majesty.

At this, the Son of Heaven was instantly shocked and alarmed. Paying no more heed to the dog show, he hurried out to meet them. And no sooner had he stepped out of the Zhuolong Garden than he saw Cao Jie at the head — indeed, practically every ranked inner attendant was gathered there, every one of them bareheaded and barefoot, dressed in mourning hemp, their wailing unceasing.

Now, the reigning Son of Heaven might have had ten thousand flaws, but he was by no means an imbecile. So when he saw Cao Jie being pushed to the very front by all the inner attendants, he more or less guessed the whole story… But then, what of it? In the end, he lived within the palace, and these inner attendants were by his side day and night, as dear to him as his own kin. Before, when they had wanted the Regular Palace Attendant posts, they had spurred him to appoint Yang Qiu, to convict Wang Fu, and to purge Cao Jie. Now that they had made peace among themselves, he would simply let Cao Jie off.

Moreover, when the Son of Heaven steeled himself and went straight up to them, he suddenly caught sight of the white hair on the back of Cao Jie’s head, nearly the same color as the mourning cloth, and his heart could not help but soften. “Cao Qing, why go to such lengths? You originally had the merit of supporting my enthronement. When I dismissed you from the post of Grand Prolonger of Autumn and confiscated your staff of authority, it was in fact to protect you, to let you evade the sharp edge of the storm… Now that you have returned to the palace today, I shall simply restore to you the post of Grand Prolonger of Autumn, along with the authority and responsibility to command the Feathered Forest and Fierce Tiger armies.”

“Your Majesty…” Cao Jie could not hold back the tears streaming down his face. “This old slave is overwhelmed with gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace. But, but…”

“What else is there?” the Son of Heaven asked kindly.

“Your Majesty, there is only one matter — that Yang Qiu has gone somewhat too far.” Cao Jie prostrated himself on the ground and hurriedly described the gruesome state of Wang Fu’s corpse. “Wang Fu’s crimes were grave; we have nothing to say about that. But for Yang Qiu to not only kill the man but also dismember the corpse and display it to the public — that is utterly without restraint… This man was already widely acknowledged as a violent and cruel person, originally destined to be punished by the court. It was only by some slight merit in suppressing mountain bandits at Jiujiang back then that he narrowly escaped disaster. How can such a man be allowed to serve as Colonel Director of Retainers and continue to poison the whole of Luoyang?”

“Oh,” the Son of Heaven said, looking at the sea of weeping inner attendants before him, and understood at once. “I understand. Since that is the case, I shall simply transfer him elsewhere.”

“Your Majesty’s sagely wisdom is unsurpassed!” Not only Cao Jie, but the entire host of inner attendants voiced their gratitude in near unison.

“There is one more matter.” Once the inner attendants had finished expressing their thanks, Zhao Zhong suddenly raised his head, his face also bearing a mournful expression. “Your Majesty, back then Qiao Xuan volunteered to be Prefect of the Masters of Writing, saying he would purge the realm of disorder. Yet now, the realm’s order has clearly been overcorrected… Had Qiao Xuan not enforced such relentless severity in the Secretariat, Yang Qiu would never have grown so rampant. Moreover, Colonel Director of Retainers is a vital post, and edicts must first pass through the Secretariat…”

“That is true…” The Son of Heaven nodded slightly. “Then does Attendant Zhao have any candidate in mind to replace Qiao Qing in overseeing the Secretariat’s affairs?”

“Is the right man not right before our eyes?” Zhao Zhong immediately pointed at Cao Jie. “Lord Cao is utterly loyal, and he managed the court’s administration for over ten years without disorder. To have him supervise the Secretariat is precisely fitting for the post!”

The Son of Heaven nodded slightly. “Then let it be so. I shall draft an edict at once appointing Cao Qing as concurrent Prefect of the Masters of Writing. Then, all of you, see which seat among the Nine Ministers is vacant, and draft an edict through the Secretariat to appoint Yang Qiu there… Now rise, quickly! The palace cannot go a single day without all of you!”

Only then did the assembled inner attendants turn their tears to laughter.

Now, Yang Qiu had returned early from Consort Yu’s funeral. Seeing that the weather was warm, and with his recent success having made him thoroughly pleased with himself, he inevitably let himself go a little… He first drove all the servants out of the rear courtyard, then brought his most beloved concubine there, taking their pleasure under the open sky with the earth as their bed.

Truly, as the Book of Songs says:

In the wilds, a dead deer; white grass wraps it.

A maiden full of spring thoughts; a fine gentleman entices her.

In the grove, low shrubs; in the wilds, a dead deer.

Bound up in pure white grass; a maiden like jade.

Slowly, gently,

Do not touch my apron,

Do not make the dog bark.

However, just as Yang Qiu’s great dog stood proudly erect, preparing to let out a vigorous bark, suddenly chaos erupted outside — it seemed as if someone had once again come to confiscate his property at this critical moment!

This time was unlike the past; Yang Qiu flew into a towering rage, ready to teach the intruder a lesson… But when he threw on a robe and reached the front courtyard, he was stunned to discover that the visitors were a Gentleman of the Secretariat and a Junior Yellow Gate Attendant, and they were bearing a tally of authority — it was an imperial edict from the Son of Heaven!

Yang Fangzheng was momentarily bewildered, but since it was an imperial edict, he could only kneel and receive the decree. Yet no sooner had he listened than he realized — the edict was actually to dismiss him, Yang Qiu, from the post of Colonel Director of Retainers and reassign him as Commandant of the Guards.

At this moment, Yang Qiu, who had just been at the pinnacle of his life, understood all too well — he had been counterattacked by Cao Jie in a single move!

To be honest, though the edict dismissed him from the post of Colonel Director of Retainers, it still left him room, appointing him as one of the Nine Ministers. Cao Jie’s intent to reconcile through this was greater than any posture of counterattack. So, for an ordinary person, perhaps that would have been the end of it.

But how to put it? Yang Qiu was no ordinary person. This was a man who, in his youth, had gathered a crowd and killed someone merely because that person had insulted his mother a few times. A temperament so fierce was truly rare!

And say what you will, though Yang Fangzheng had the conduct of a cruel official, he was also of standard scholar-official background, and he had his own ideals and aspirations.

More importantly, how could Yang Qiu not understand that the post of Colonel Director of Retainers was the very best position from which to purge the court of its dregs? And if he lost this post this time, the eunuchs would never again give him the chance to hold it!

With this thought, Yang Qiu did not accept the edict. Instead, he rose proudly and demanded, “How could the Secretariat issue such an edict?”

The Junior Yellow Gate Attendant stammered, too afraid to speak, while the Gentleman of the Secretariat, who had only come along because he was on duty, answered helplessly, “To be honest, this afternoon the Northern Palace first sent an edict dismissing Lord Qiao from the post of Prefect of the Masters of Writing, replacing him with Lord Cao… with Lord Cao as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and only then issued this edict!”

“Did Lord Qiao not know to object?” Yang Qiu demanded indignantly. “If he had only delayed a little, it would not have come to this!”

“Lord Qiao…”

“Qiao Xuan has failed me!” Yang Qiu grew even more resentful. “No — Qiao Xuan has betrayed me!”

The Gentleman of the Secretariat sighed. “Be that as it may, this edict has now been passed by both the palace and the Secretariat as a formal decree. I must ask Lord Yang…”

“You may return!” Yang Qiu’s expression changed at once. “I shall enter the palace immediately to seek an audience with His Majesty!”

Now, Yang Qiu’s fearsome reputation at present was truly formidable. The Gentleman of the Secretariat was left speechless, and the Junior Yellow Gate Attendant dared not obstruct him — and so they actually escorted him toward the Northern Palace.

In fact, not only this Junior Yellow Gate Attendant — by dusk, in a certain hall of the Northern Palace, Cao Jie, holding that undelivered imperial edict and looking down at Yang Qiu, who was prostrate on the steps yet still glaring fixedly at him, could not help but feel a chill.

And so, after a long standoff, Cao Jie — freshly minted Grand Prolonger of Autumn, Bearer of the Staff Commanding the Feathered Forest and Fierce Tiger Armies, and concurrent Prefect of the Masters of Writing — finally and cautiously urged, “Why does the Commandant of the Guards not accept the imperial edict?”

Yang Qiu glared furiously, but then looked past him toward the Son of Heaven seated behind the screen on the dais, and burst out indignantly, “Your Majesty, your subject has something to say!”

Perhaps because they had just seen Wang Fu’s gruesome state that afternoon, the hall full of inner attendants actually shivered in unison at the sound of his roar.

Then, without even waiting for the Son of Heaven above to respond, Yang Qiu prostrated himself on the ground and declared loudly, “Your subject has always known himself — I know I have never been a gentleman of virtue, nor do I imagine my conduct will ever be praised. In the end, I am nothing more than Your Majesty’s hawk, hound, claw, and fang! And since I am a claw and fang, I should not shun ill repute or slander, but should purge the court for Your Majesty!”

At this point, Yang Qiu suddenly raised his head. His expression was agitated, his face flushed, and his voice grew somewhat hoarse. “Before, your subject executed Wang Fu and Duan Wei for Your Majesty, and drove out Yuan She, Feng Yu, and Chunyu Deng… But what were these men? Mere petty wretches, like foxes — not enough to display Your Majesty’s authority to the world! I only beg Your Majesty to grant your subject one more month — just one month — and your subject will surely sweep away those jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards for Your Majesty!”

At the final words — “jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards” — Yang Qiu was already staring straight at Cao Jie before him.

Cao Jie, chilled to the bone by that glare, dared not look back at the Son of Heaven behind him. He could only hurriedly hold up the edict and shout, “Commandant of the Guards, accept the edict at once!”

“Your Majesty!” Yang Qiu prostrated himself on the ground, knocking his head repeatedly, then once more shouted loudly toward the Son of Heaven behind the screen.

“Commandant of the Guards, accept the edict at once!” Cao Jie also hastened to shout sternly, contending with him at the foot of the steps. “Do you mean to defy the imperial decree?”

“Your Majesty!” Yang Qiu again kowtowed rapidly and violently, and when he raised his head, his forehead was already covered in blood.

Yet behind the screen, there was still no word. And Cao Jie could not help but grow emboldened:

“Commandant of the Guards, accept the edict at once! Do you… do you mean to defy the imperial decree?!”

Yang Qiu remained silent, simply letting the blood trickle down from his forehead as he stared with bloodshot eyes toward the screen. A moment later, the screen suddenly stirred — someone had indeed come out. It was the Regular Palace Attendant Zhang Rang! And once out, the latter even directly snatched the edict from Cao Jie’s hands, which both overjoyed Yang Fangzheng and momentarily threw Cao Jie into panic.

But after snatching the edict, Zhang Rang actually took another step forward, nearly pressing right up against Yang Qiu’s bloodstained head, and extended the edict:

“Does the Commandant of the Guards mean to defy the imperial decree?”

Yang Qiu’s expression changed instantly. He simply stared silently at the edict so close at hand.

“Commandant of the Guards…”

This time, before Zhang Rang’s words had even finished, the edict was snatched away by Yang Qiu. And though the latter had seized the edict in a moment of fury, he was immediately overcome with helplessness and could only bow in prostration:

“Your subject, Commandant of the Guards Yang Qiu, reverently accepts the decree!”

————I am the dripping dividing line————

"At that time, when the Consort Yu of Emperor Shun was buried, the hundred officials returned from the funeral. Cao Jie saw the corpse of Fu exposed by the roadside, and with deep feeling wiped away tears, saying: 'We Cao can devour each other, but how is it fitting to let dogs lick his juices?' He spoke to the Regular Attendants, saying that for now they should all stay together and not pass by their homes. Jie went straight into the imperial secretariat and told the Emperor: 'Yang Qiu was formerly a cruel and violent official. Previously the Three Offices memorialized that he should be dismissed from office, but because of minor merit at Jiujiang, he was again promoted and employed. A man with transgressions delights in reckless actions; it is not fitting to let him remain in the Sili Colonel post to gallop with poison and cruelty.' The Emperor then transferred Qiu to be Commandant of the Guards. At that time, Qiu had gone out to pay respects at the imperial tombs. Jie ordered the Prefect of the Masters of Writing to summon and appoint him, not permitting a moment's delay. Qiu was summoned urgently and therefore sought an audience with the Emperor. Kowtowing, he said: 'Your servant has no pure and lofty conduct, yet has undeservedly received the office of hawk and hound. Though previously I brought to justice and executed Wang Fu and Duan Jiong, it was merely picking off foxes, not enough to proclaim to all under Heaven. I beg Your Majesty to grant your servant one month, and I shall surely make the jackals, wolves, owls, and hawks each submit to their punishment.' He kowtowed until blood flowed. Those in the hall shouted at him: 'Does the Commandant of the Guards dare defy the imperial edict?' Only after this was repeated several times did he accept the appointment." — Book of the Later Han, Biographies of Cruel Officials

PS: Thanks to book friends Mountain Partridge and Four-Eyed Birdman for the tips.

Everyone has been asking about my health. Thank you all for your concern. I should be largely fine now, but it truly frightened me at the time. Low potassium is not just aching limbs; what was more terrifying was that faint sense of utter weakness — for a moment I nearly couldn't stand up. Fortunately, according to the doctor, it wasn't caused by any disease, just a temporary electrolyte imbalance... Actually, that previous time I took leave probably wasn't a cold either, but low potassium, just not as severe. These past few days have simply been the same illness all along.

Alright, so starting today, things are back to normal. I'll try my best to restore the rhythm, and I hope for your understanding.

Also, there's a book friend group: 684558115. Everyone can join.

(End of Chapter)