Chapter 108: Incognito Inspection

The ministers looked at one another in dismay. The Emperor had spoken plainly and clearly at court, not even giving them a chance to offer suggestions, and was already set to issue the decree to the realm—it seemed the matter was settled.

Next, some among the ministers argued on principle, hoping to win a few concessions from the Chongzhen Emperor so that everyone might have an easier time of it.

But to their surprise, this benighted sovereign refused to reason with them at all—he could not even be bothered to say a few more words. Kicking the ball to Wang Cheng'en and the other eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he dusted off his hands and retreated to the Warm Chamber.

Wang Cheng'en followed suit, letting out a strange, mocking snort, saying that this Commander still had business to attend to in the Eastern Depot—and kicked the ball on to the feet of the remaining ceremonial eunuchs.

The ministers had no recourse and nursed their anger, but looking at the Depot and Guard officers standing all around, they lost even the desire to curse aloud, and hurriedly filed out of the great hall with anxious expressions.

"Disaster is upon us now..." Walking down the steps, a remonstrance official wiped the sweat from his brow and muttered as he went, as if the state itself were already on the verge of collapse.

"Indeed." Wu Sheng, Senior Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, nodded as well. "Is His Majesty not afraid that those ruffians will take a feather for a command and file false accusations to frame all you gentlemen?"

"Pah!" Hearing this, another official sneered with disdain. "What you say—this be... His Majesty is too busy being lovey-dovey with the Empress to care about the rest of us."

"See that?" He glanced at the newly appointed Minister of Works Feng Quan ahead of him, who looked as if he were basking in a spring breeze, and secretly spat, saying with a face full of revulsion:

"This Feng Quan—it was all thoroughly investigated in earlier years. He was a diehard member of Wei Zhongxian's clique. Who could have imagined he'd be summoned back now? And as a Minister of one of the Six Ministries! But let's not say more—the walls have ears."

"Senior Compiler Wu, if you're willing, we could gather at my humble home tonight. I'll have my wife prepare some wine and dishes, and we can vent our pent-up frustrations together—what do you say?"

Hearing this, Wu Sheng looked terrified and shook his head repeatedly, saying:

"Minister Li, in ordinary times, I would not hesitate to visit your home or even treat you to opera. But these are troubled times... better not!"

Each minister harbored his own thoughts—some full of complaints, some seething with indignation, while others were cowed by the fearsome reputation of the Depot and Guard and dared not cross the line again. Most now chose their words carefully, and no one would publicly utter anything that could be seized upon to destroy them.

"Why does that man look so familiar?" Suddenly, as a middle-aged man was led in by a eunuch up ahead, many began to murmur among themselves.

"Th-this-this." Xu Shiqi, Minister of Justice, widened his eyes and said with utter disbelief: "Isn't that Chen Qiyu? How did he come back?"

Hearing that name, everyone was greatly startled—especially the censors Sun Peng and Fu Yongchun, who had impeached Chen Qiyu back in the day, and Gu Guobao, Supervising Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs. None of them dared meet his gaze.

"Even Chen Qiyu, who was sent to the frontier as a soldier, has been recalled?"

Every move the ministers made after court was thoroughly reported by the Depot and Guard officers around them. Back in the Warm Chamber, the Chongzhen Emperor had long since turned his mind to other matters, and upon hearing the report, only let out a cold laugh.

"These people have learned to be much more cautious. Keep watching them for me—if anyone speaks treasonous words, report to me at once! Have Chen Qiyu come in."

Chen Qiyu had now shed his prison garb and shackles, and changed into a relatively respectable white robe. Though his eyes still gleamed with sharp light, he could not hide the haggardness wrought by the suffering of recent years.

The Chongzhen Emperor felt a pang of sympathy, and waved for him to sit, while a eunuch helped him into a light purple silk robe. Walking as he spoke, he said:

"Come, take a stroll with me."

Since transmigrating here, the Chongzhen Emperor had stayed within the palace the whole time. At first glance it was splendid and magnificent, but no matter how gorgeous a place, staying in it too long grows tiresome.

The imperial palace was a birdcage. The Chongzhen Emperor had long felt ill at ease, and had always harbored the thought of pulling off an incognito inspection tour like Kangxi the pockmarked—besides, it wouldn't affect affairs of state anyway.

In his previous life, the Chongzhen Emperor had been someone who could never sit still. After transmigrating, he was daily vexed by the trivial trifles the civil officials reported up—though in truth, the civil officials would never report any major matters concerning themselves, for fear of courting death.

If he wanted to handle any major affair, none of the court officials would ever tip him off—he had to discover such things himself and then deal with them one by one. So whether he approved the memorials or not made little difference; any decree was just a matter of a single sentence.

This time, the Chongzhen Emperor was simply going out for a casual stroll, with no intention of solving any problems—mainly with the idea of clearing his head. Since Chen Qiyu had just returned, they could talk as they walked. Staying cooped up in the Warm Chamber was truly stifling.

Chen Qiyu could not fathom why the Emperor had summoned him back. Though he guessed he might be given an important post again, he dared not count on it. Hearing these words, he did not presume to ask questions, and could only lower his head and follow the Chongzhen Emperor out of the palace to wander the streets.

This time the Chongzhen Emperor had only two companions—besides Chen Qiyu, there was Fang Zhenghua. It was said this damned eunuch had formidable martial arts, and was the prototype for the androgynous Invincible East in the television dramas. Having him along put this sovereign's mind at ease!

Out on the streets, the Chongzhen Emperor finally felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. At this moment, he was just like an ordinary commoner.

The streets were full of passersby of every description—merchants and caravans leading horses, curly-haired men of indeterminate ethnicity leading camels. No one stopped to give him a second glance.

Both sides of the road were lined with shops of every kind and size, with stalls set up in the street displaying a dazzling array of jewelry and handicrafts. Hawkers shouted themselves hoarse doing business, and quite a few women clutched jewelry they fancied while haggling with the vendors.

Every so often there appeared inns, taverns, and teahouses, with waiters standing at their doors, all tanned dark as could be, calling out in booming voices as they worked hard to beckon passersby inside to spend their money.

Reaching the door of an inn, the Chongzhen Emperor stepped inside.

The waiter had worked here for years and naturally had a good eye. Seeing the purple silk robe on the Chongzhen Emperor, he knew the man's status was no ordinary matter, and hastily put on a smile to welcome the three inside, turning his head to shout:

"Boss! Distinguished guests have arrived!"

The boss cast a glance over and also hurried out with a smile. By then the waiter had already deftly cleared a table by the window and seated the Chongzhen Emperor and his party of three.

The boss came forward to personally serve tea, asking with a smile: "You gentlemen look unfamiliar—are you merchants newly arrived in the capital?"

The Chongzhen Emperor exchanged a glance with Chen Qiyu, let out a little exclamation of approval, and said:

"You, boss, have a sharp eye. We're from Tongzhou, in the jewelry trade. We're strangers in the capital, so we'll have to rely on you to look after us."

Hearing this, the boss hastily waved his hands. "Having you gentlemen grace my humble establishment is the greatest joy this shop could ask for—how dare I speak of looking after you."

Fang Zhenghua glanced at the cloth shop across the street, and while pouring tea, asked with seeming casualness:

"Boss, I see a sign hanging across the street. Why don't you have one here, and many other shops on this street don't have one either—what's the meaning of that?"

The boss didn't think much of it, ordered the waiter to bring out wine and dishes, and sat down, saying with a bitter expression:

"Haven't you gentlemen noticed that the prices on these few streets are much higher than on the other streets?"