Chapter 883

He is a new noble; Zhu Mian is...

Chen Huai's eyebrows twitched; he held his breath, chest tight, unable to exhale for a long while.

Zhu Mian is a scion of the old nobility.

Zhu Mian's father, Marquis Zhu Rong, served under Prince of Qinning Mu Ying in the campaign against Yunnan, and under Duke of Ying Zhang Fu in the campaign against Jiaozhi, accompanying Emperors Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, and Hongxi.

Because his father served under Mu Ying and Zhang Fu, he has always maintained good relations with the Mu family of Yunnan and the Duke of Ying's household in Jingcheng; moreover, he is one of the few capable men among the old nobility, has long guarded the frontier, and wields great prestige within the old noble circle.

The Duke of Ying is clearly trying to secure support from both old and new nobles for Kuang Ye's military reforms.

But why make him stay in Datong as Kuang Ye's deputy?

Zhu Mian once served as Commander of Datong; Guo Deng succeeded him. Shouldn't it be better to keep Zhu Mian in Datong after Guo Deng's death? Chen Huai's heart pounded—could they be planning to make an example of him, keeping him as the chicken to scare the monkeys?

Although I did commit offenses, I have already been punished; can they really dredge up old sins?

Once a convict has served his sentence, his guilt is expiated; how can they drag him back to prison whenever they feel like it?

Chen Huai suddenly felt staying in Datong was no blessing; he frowned at the group of resentful generals: "Stop this. Kuang my lord is perfectly suited to be Commander of Datong; even serving as his deputy is an honor. I still hope to return to the capital like you all."

The generals:...

They looked at him with envy, jealousy, and disdain.

All of us here are officials who accompanied the imperial carriage—civil or military, all are criminals under sentence.

Haven't you noticed that Prince Cheng has promoted Yu Qian, Shi Heng, and others? Our generation of veteran ministers has already slipped from the first tier to the second. But that's not the hardest part.

The harder part is that after returning to the capital, responsibility must be apportioned.

Wang Zhen is naturally the primary culprit, but he is dead; the Emperor...

Even if not the Empress Dowager, would Prince Cheng allow the late Emperor to bear such a heavy guilt?

Moreover, the Emperor truly died, and died in enemy hands, captured and humiliated before death...

Merely imagining how history will record this incident makes their scalps tingle.

Those who died in battle still have the name of loyalty and righteousness; we who live may drag our families into ruin.

With the appointments of Kuang Ye and Chen Huai confirmed, their futures are clear: though demoted, they have at least preserved themselves and their families.

Our futures, however, remain uncertain.

But the most perilous of all is Yang Hong.

"Prince Cheng intends to retain Yang Hong; Yang Jun died in battle, Yang Hong has earned great merit, so Yang Jun's crimes will not taint the Yang family—merits and faults cancel out," Liang Cheng whispered: "Prince Cheng is benevolent; if he can show leniency to Yang Hong, surely he won't be too harsh on us?"

"The key here is not Prince Cheng, but the Empress Dowager."

Everyone fell silent.

Empress Dowager Sun has always been gentle; aside from criticism over the deposition of Empress Hu, whether during Emperor Xuanzong's reign or the Emperor's, she never openly interfered in state affairs.

She appears reasonable, kind, and virtuous.

But from her edict naming Prince Cheng emperor while demanding the late Emperor's eldest son be named crown prince, it is clear she is not as magnanimous and generous as she seems.

Even if the Emperor had a son, the heir would be a child;

a child on the throne suggests a weak ruler and powerful ministers;

and for the Emperor to abdicate as Retired Emperor while the new Emperor ascends, yet names the Retired Emperor's eldest son as crown prince—isn't that planting the seed of national chaos? In truth, Empress Dowager Sun cannot bear to relinquish her lineage's power.

To her, Zhu Qizhen is her own son, while Zhu Qiyu is a son without blood ties;

but to court officials and the realm, both Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu are sons of Emperor Xuanzong, both legitimate heirs of the imperial house.

Court ministers murmured privately: "In the emergency, we acted on expediency; to quickly stabilize the court and proclaim the Emperor's edict to the realm to mobilize troops and defend the frontier, Yu my lord agreed to Empress Dowager Sun's demand. At the time, no one had time to consider the future—none expected..."

None expected the Emperor would be murdered so soon.

The promise made to Empress Dowager Sun is voided since the late Emperor had no heir; now that Prince Cheng has returned to the capital, he can ascend the throne with full legitimacy.

He was entrusted in crisis, personally led troops to Datong for reinforcement, and truly halted the Oirat army beyond Datong's walls; now that the Oirat forces have retreated, this campaign is effectively over.

He has earned merit before ascending the throne; his imperial position will be secure, no less stable than Zhu Qizhen's, who ascended with the late Emperor's edict.

The Empress Dowager has lost her son and her power—who knows what she might do?

The Emperor died before Prince Cheng arrived at the frontier; this has nothing to do with him, but we who accompanied the imperial carriage will not fare well.

Someone couldn't help muttering: "Why did Yang Jun die?"

If he hadn't died, Yang Hong and his son would have been the first targets; someone standing between us and the Empress Dowager's wrath is better than all of us kneeling before her together.

Morale was unsettled, the army restless; Pan Yun was the first to sense it. After reciting the Daoist scriptures to Zhu Qiyu, she stepped out just as Yu Qian finished his duties and was leaving.

She passed by him and said: "People say that when full and warm, one thinks of lust; when hungry and cold, one turns to theft. But in my view, we can add another: in peace, selfishness flourishes."

Yu Qian pondered, turned his steps, and went to find Zhu Qiyu, advising him to issue an edict to soothe those who accompanied the imperial carriage.

"This campaign ended in disaster for many reasons; they are naturally guilty, but we must not overlook the truth—we must identify the causes, correct our mistakes, yet proceed with leniency; too strict a hand may stir unrest."

Zhu Qiyu nodded repeatedly: "I share this sentiment."

He smiled: "They all say you, Yu Aiqing, are strict and unyielding, but I see you are quite lenient too—they misunderstand you."

Yu Qian fell silent for a moment, then urged: "Your Highness, I know Pan Yun rendered great service to the state, but she is still a Daoist Priest; governance relies on civil and military ministers, not excessive dependence on Buddhist or Daoist figures. You have been too close to Pan Yun lately."

Zhu Qiyu was slightly surprised, frowned: "Why are you suddenly speaking ill of Daoist Pan? She has always praised you to me—when Cao Nai committed grave errors and had to be removed from the cabinet, she even advised me to appoint you to the cabinet, calling you a pillar of the state."

Yu Qian did not feel pleased; he said: "Whether I enter the cabinet is your Highness's and the court's decision—how can I take advice from a Daoist Priest?"

Zhu Qiyu pursed his lips, paused a moment, then said: "Yu Aiqing, I trust you deeply, so I may tell you in advance: I have decided to appoint Pan Yun as National Teacher, to be proclaimed to the realm upon my ascension."

Yu Qian:... Why tell me in advance? Don't you just want me to object? Yu Qian finally understood why, these past days, whenever court or military affairs were discussed, Pan Yun was always present.

Previously, when proposing Chen Huai as Commander of Datong, Prince Cheng gave no opposition—yet after a private chat with Pan Yun, he appointed Kuang Ye instead.

Though Kuang Ye is indeed more suitable than Chen Huai, still... Prince Cheng's obedience to Pan Yun unsettles Yu Qian.