Chapter 89: Officials in Discussion

At the hour of Yin, one ke (3:00 AM), lights gradually flickered on in the various residences of the western district, as capital officials prepared for the morning court session.

The sedan chair of Wen Tiren, Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, was carried out from his residence. Through the sedan curtain, he surveyed the pitch-black road, yet the entire street held only the footsteps of the sedan bearers—an eerily profound silence.

The bloodstains on the various streets had long since been mostly cleaned away, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Go find out what happened tonight." Wen Tiren in the sedan spoke only this single sentence.

Before the Meridian Gate, more and more officials arriving for morning court gathered. While some waited for the palace gates to open, they buzzed with discussion about the events of the night.

"What exactly happened last night?"

"Seems like the Embroidered Uniform Guard was making arrests."

"What is that bastard Luo Yangxing trying to do now?"

Luo Yangxing: ""

Though these discussing officials were a considerable distance from Luo Yangxing, the early morning hour made the surroundings quite quiet—even across a great gap, one could faintly overhear the conversation.

Luo Yangxing's expression was extremely ugly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had carried out such a major operation, and he had been completely in the dark! Not only had he not known, but he was also being wrongly blamed for it by others?

It must be that Li Tingbiao—that Li Tingbiao who was usually so obedient and submissive to him—who would have thought he'd been played for a fool!

Luo Yangxing was furious. Being tricked by Li Tingbiao was one thing, but the main issue was that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had carried out such a major operation last night—so brazen, so flashy—and he hadn't been part of it!

Luo Yangxing felt as if he had missed out on hundreds of millions of taels of silver. His hatred for Li Tingbiao deepened, and he began scheming how to deal with him.

An official before the Meridian Gate called out in a low voice: "It's clear now. My household retainers just brought back word that the Crown Prince ordered the Yongwei Camp and the Embroidered Uniform Guard last night at the second watch to seize several Shanxi merchants, claiming they colluded with the enemy and betrayed the state."

"Weren't those merchants in the eastern district? Then what's going on with us here in the western district? Lord Yang and Lord Liu and the others have all disappeared—did they also collude with the enemy?"

"Word is they accepted bribes and were thrown into the Imperial Prison."

At the mention of the Imperial Prison, many officials fell silent, feeling an invisible pressure descend upon them.

"Will the Chief Grand Secretary not say something?"

Listening to the surrounding courtiers' discussions, Tang Shiji, the Left Chief Censor, spoke slowly, his tone concealing rage. Suddenly, with a harsh voice and stern expression, he said: "What does the Crown Prince think he is doing?"

Tang Shiji was furious. Last night, his steward had just stepped out to gather information when he was killed in the street by men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Tang Shiji's words were in no way concealed, and his voice was loud enough that every official before the Meridian Gate heard them. They were startled at first, then resumed whispering among themselves, though their sidelong glances kept drifting toward Wen Tiren, and their ears stood at attention, eager to hear how the Chief Grand Secretary would respond.

Wen Tiren half-closed his eyes, putting on an air of profound composure, and said: "At present, only His Majesty and the Crown Prince can command the Embroidered Uniform Guard. However, given His Majesty's character, he would never do such a thing."

Though his tone was calm, the meaning within his words was unmistakable—pointing directly at the Crown Prince.

Many officials turned in unison to look at Luo Yangxing, who stood apart by himself, their expressions of disgust unconcealed. This spymaster chief was more displeasing to the eye the longer one looked at him.

Luo Yangxing was deeply aggrieved inside. What does this have to do with me? My own gate was blockaded last night—I'm a victim here too, aren't I?

Tang Shiji said angrily: "The Crown Prince sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard last night to throw the entire capital into panic. Does he still have any regard for the court, for his sovereign father?"

The chief of the Censors had spoken, and some of the Censorate's remonstrating officials began delivering impassioned speeches of their own.

"The Founding Emperor treated the gentry with favor, yet the Crown Prince deals with wealthy merchants without the slightest restraint—truly excessive!"

"Though the Crown Prince is young, the character he displays is far too cruel. In the past he killed the Duke of Cheng, killed Guang Shiheng, and even slaughtered over a thousand rioters in the town of Liangxiang. To be so cold-blooded at such a young age—if he becomes emperor in the future, I fear he will be another Hongwu Emperor or Yongle Emperor, killing without blinking an eye."

"And what can be done about it? His Majesty brings the Crown Prince to handle state affairs every day, and whenever he summons us, he always has the Crown Prince sit in to observe governance and learn. I hear His Majesty has even let him try his hand at reviewing memorials. At this rate, the only thing left is for him to take the throne as Regent!"

Many courtiers displayed looks of worry. A strong sovereign and weak ministers was hardly a good omen for them.

Some ministers, however, had active minds, already thinking of how to invite this Crown Prince on pleasure boat outings in the future.

Just as the officials were discussing, the morning drum atop the Meridian Gate sounded. After three rounds of drumming, the side gates on both flanks of the Meridian Gate opened, and guards and banner officers were arrayed before the gates, while the assembled officials lined up in order before the side gates.

The morning bell rang, the palace gates opened, and the hundred officials entered through the right side gate, while imperial relatives and nobles entered through the left side gate.

As for the central gate of the Meridian Gate, it was called the Imperial Way. In all of the Great Ming, only a handful of people could walk it—even the Crown Prince was not qualified to tread that path.

The Empress could walk it once at her wedding, and the top three in the triennial imperial examinations—the Zhuangyuan, Tanhua, and Bangyan—could also walk it once after their names were posted on the golden list and they entered the palace to meet the Emperor before returning. At all other times, only the Emperor himself could walk it.

At the morning court, Zhu Cilang faced the judgment of a host of remonstrating officials. The matter went roughly like this:

Remonstrating official: "The Crown Prince arbitrarily mobilized troops to make arrests, showing no regard for his sovereign!"

Zhu Cilang: "The Yongwei Camp was only responsible for sealing off the granaries of traitorous merchants who sold out the state—it made no arrests."

Remonstrating official: "The Crown Prince directed the Yongwei Camp to slaughter innocents wantonly!"

Zhu Cilang: "As the Son of Heaven's personal army, the Yongwei Camp is distinguished in combat and strict in discipline. Last night was merely legitimate defense; the claim of wantonly slaughtering innocents is pure fabrication."

Remonstrating official: "The Crown Prince sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arbitrarily seize officials and kill at will!"

Zhu Cilang: "The functions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were endowed by the Grand Progenitor, the Supreme Emperor, and it has the authority to arrest officials who have committed offenses."

Remonstrating official: "Those merchants—what crime did they commit to warrant their arrest?"

Zhu Cilang: "They betrayed the state and colluded with the enemy. The evidence is conclusive—witnesses and physical proof have already been delivered to the Ministry of Justice."

Yang Tinglin: "The Ministry of Justice has already filed the case. The traitorous merchants' betrayal of the state is rock-solid fact!"

Remonstrating official: "Your Highness's actions have thrown the capital into panic!"

Zhu Cilang: "An upright person does not fear a crooked shadow. If one has done no wrong in life, one need not fear ghosts knocking at the door at midnight. Those who are afraid clearly have something on their conscience."

Remonstrating official: ""

Other ministers: ""

At the morning court, Zhu Cilang and a group of remonstrating officials went back and forth in verbal sparring. It hardly had the style of Zhuge Liang debating the scholars of Wu—rather, it rather resembled a modern-day spokesperson fielding questions from reporters.

During this time, some officials who had secretly pledged allegiance to Zhu Cilang also began to chime in, trading barbs with the remonstrating officials. For a moment, the scene grew quite heated.

On the imperial throne, Chongzhen was rather composed this time, merely watching calmly as the courtiers tore into each other. He was waiting—waiting until the ministers had exhausted themselves, then he would counter stillness with stillness and settle the matter with a single stroke!

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