Chapter 938

Standing on the white jade steps, Pan Yun swept her gaze across the court and asked directly: "Your Majesty, Sun Yuanzhen's plan to stabilize the refugees is progressing well—why has the imperial edict to build a harbor in Zhejiang yet to be issued?"

Zhu Qiyu, knowing no one was nearby, replied bluntly: "The Nanzhili Region also wants to build a harbor…"

Pan Yun frowned: "Isn't Suzhou already enough?"

"Suzhou is too far from the imperial birthplace. The ministers suggest opening another harbor in Huai'an Prefecture."

Pan Yun gave a sly smile and asked: "Has Your Majesty agreed?"

Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "I've been delaying it."

He looked troubled: "Those who proposed this are senior ministers—I cannot refuse them outright."

"It's the imperial clan, isn't it?"

Zhu Qiyu blinked: "How did the State Preceptor know?"

Pan Yun said: "Only ministers who specifically seek to flatter the imperial clan would agree. Anyone with half a brain would never open another harbor between Lingshanwei and Suzhou—especially in Huai'an Prefecture."

Zhu Qiyu: …

He thought carefully and realized it was true—ministers like Yu Qian and Cao Nai, known for their stubbornness, had outright opposed it.

Pan Yun said: "Your Majesty, you cut expenses even for your birthday, fearing to drain the state treasury and burden the people. Both Empress Dowagers and both Empresses have followed your lead, living frugally—yet the imperial clan now seeks to squander state funds on a harbor for their own private gain."

Pan Yun counted off on her fingers: "What does Huai'an Prefecture have? The Nanzhili Region's textiles and tea all come from Suzhou—they can ship everything through Suzhou's harbor. One province, two great harbors—who would send goods through Huai'an? Then you won't just lose customs revenue—you'll have to spend more money just to pay the harbor staff to do nothing."

Pan Yun recalled last year's imperial clan smuggling case, which ended with only two men beheaded and nothing more.

The main culprits never even showed their faces, let alone faced punishment—only a few months' salary was withheld and a few months' house arrest imposed, simply because the censors had reported it.

The embassy to Japan and the silver fleet nearly died at sea because they hired pirates to raid.

Pan Yun's anger surged; she turned twice on the spot and said to Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, when action is needed, act decisively—do not waver. Otherwise, you will follow your predecessor's path."

Zhu Qiyu frowned: "What do you mean? Why bring up my elder brother?"

"Let's not discuss Huai'an's harbor for now—let's talk about Zhejiang's harbor. Didn't you promise Sun Yuanzhen that if he could get the local gentry, landowners, and merchants to contribute land and money to settle the refugees, you would grant him the harbor?"

Zhu Qiyu paused, then nodded: "I did imply as much…"

Pan Yun nodded: "Then you admit it. Your Majesty, a ruler without trust is a state without trust. Even if Sun Yuanzhen is your subject, he will be disheartened—not just him, but all of Zhejiang's officials and people will lose faith. And if a ruler breaks his word, who will ever believe you again?"

Zhu Qiyu's expression grew solemn; after a moment, he said firmly: "I will issue the edict formally tomorrow."

Pan Yun felt a flicker of relief—this child was teachable, still salvageable. All her efforts to help him build his own power had not been in vain.

"Good, one matter settled. Now let's return to the second: Your Majesty, do you know how much it costs to build a harbor?" Pan Yun said. "Sun Yuanzhen promised me Zhejiang's harbor will use no corvée labor—meaning the provincial administration must pay, and may even request funds from the state treasury. So for Huai'an's harbor—will you draw from the treasury, or force corvée labor?"

Zhu Qiyu's heart lurched.

Seeing his expression, Pan Yun softened her tone: "Your Majesty, many dare not ask you these questions directly. I am a lone Daoist, and you trust me—so I dare speak."

Pan Yun said: "The treasury has no money. As for corvée labor—the labor hours needed to build a harbor won't be less than a hundred thousand. But what of materials? Will you seize them by force, or squeeze funds from elsewhere?"

"If Huai'an's harbor were truly essential and would generate revenue for the treasury, that would be one thing. But it's being built near the imperial birthplace—everyone knows this is for the benefit of the imperial clan. It won't earn the treasury a single coin; instead, it will cost the treasury annually to maintain. Your Majesty, in these hard times for Great Ming, when both Empress Dowagers must live frugally alongside you—will you really build such a harbor?"

Zhu Qiyu clenched his fists, his face dark.

Pan Yun spoke no further, bowed, and left.

The Emperor stood before the hall for a long while, until Cheng Jing quietly draped a cloak over his shoulders, snapping him back to awareness.

Zhu Qiyu tossed the cloak aside: "It's scorching hot—I'm not cold."

He strode off toward Kunninggong.

Cheng Jing hurried after him: "Your Majesty, the night is deep and dew is heavy—please wear it."

Zhu Qiyu told Empress Wang of his troubles: "I know this is wrong, but since my ascension, I've never granted favors to the imperial clan—indeed, I've done the opposite. Now several old princes have jointly petitioned. If I reject them again, I fear…"

Empress Wang had not considered this before; now she too grew troubled.

She thought a moment, then whispered: "If Empress Dowager Sun were to speak on this matter, it might be settled."

Zhu Qiyu looked even more pained: "Empress Dowager Sun has devoted herself entirely to the Dao. She rarely sees even me. To move her would be nearly impossible."

Empress Wang bit her lip and whispered: "Shall I pay my respects to Empress Dowager Sun tomorrow?"

Zhu Qiyu nodded immediately.

Since Zhu Qiyu's ascension, he had elevated his biological mother, Consort Wu, to Empress Dowager—but dared not let her reside in Cining Palace, leaving her in his former quarters.

She still received the status of Empress Dowager.

With two Empress Dowagers, they were distinguished by surname: Empress Dowager Sun, residing in the Xigong, sometimes called the Western Empress Dowager;

Empress Dowager Wu, whose palace lay to the east, sometimes called the Eastern Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Wu was weak-willed and content with the status quo—hence she raised a son like Zhu Qiyu.

She had been thrilled for two days after becoming Empress Dowager, but soon realized her life was no different from when she was a Consort, and retreated back into her palace, motionless.

Wu family members had visited several times, hinting at their desires—but before Empress Dowager Wu could ask the Emperor for offices for her uncles and cousins, Empress Wang had reminded her how difficult the Emperor's position was, how many watched him for fairness…

Between son and brother, the son was always more important. So Empress Dowager Wu never asked Zhu Qiyu for anything—and eventually, she refused even to see her family.

Empress Dowager Wu had no interest in power—so in the harem, Empress Dowager Sun remained supreme.

Even though Empress Wang now managed palace affairs, the harem still belonged to Empress Dowager Sun.

Nothing in court or harem escaped her notice.

She shut herself away—not because she was unaware, but because she chose not to interfere.

So when Empress Wang came to pay respects, Empress Dowager Sun knew exactly why.

She ignored her, continuing to chant the sutras with closed eyes, then bowed thrice to the ground before rising, supported by her maid, expressionless: "No one visits the Three Jewels without a purpose."

"This morning, the Emperor issued an edict ordering Ningbo Prefecture in Zhejiang to build a harbor for trade," the maid whispered. "The Grand Secretariat has already approved it—messengers have been dispatched to Zhejiang."

"How swift. They're afraid someone will block it, so they want to make it official before anyone can interfere."

"The imperial princes remaining in the capital heard the news and rushed to court—right now, they're weeping in the inner hall, mourning the founding emperor."

Empress Dowager Sun laughed—a sound of mockery, perhaps of resentment: "He thinks being Emperor is so easy? My son had the rightful claim, yet still had to appease the imperial clan, dare not go too far. He, on the other hand—only half a year on the throne, and he's repeatedly humiliated the imperial clan, winning favor with those so-called pure officials, gaining a good reputation. But this realm still bears the Zhu surname. To chase a reputation, he ignores the imperial clan's interests—and even tramples his brother's legacy. Does he think he'll be rewarded for this?"

"Indeed. He appointed a State Preceptor, believed in sorcerers—and now there's not a single voice of opposition. Instead, everyone praises him, while speaking of the late Emperor… Two days ago, I overheard two civil officials whispering that the late Emperor's posthumous name 'Ying' was actually the Emperor's doing—he used his brother's name to abolish the practice of forced burial, otherwise…"

Empress Dowager Sun's expression changed; she slammed her palm hard on the table, making the oil lamp flicker and then crash down with a sharp crack, flames instantly flaring up and startling the lady-in-waiting.

But Empress Dowager Sun stared motionless at the rising flames, her face terrifyingly grim.

This was her deepest pain—especially as Zhu Qiyu's hold on the throne grew firmer, her own son was crushed even harder.

They were brothers, only a year apart; when the elder dies and the younger succeeds, people inevitably compare them.

Only last year, his merits were not yet apparent, but after the new year, as Zhu Qiyu's policies took effect and the imperial court reformed its bureaucracy, the new emperor's prestige rose—he was humble and open to counsel, so court officials' loyalty and praise grew ever stronger, while the late emperor was dragged out and trampled again and again.

Some even whispered privately that if Emperor Xiaozhang had named the Crown Prince as Zhu Qiyu instead of the late emperor, the calamity of last year might never have happened.

Empress Dowager Sun was so enraged she went without dinner all night.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived and is waiting outside with Lady Wang. What shall we do…?"

"Fool!" Empress Dowager Sun said, closing her eyes. "Don't let them in. Tell them to leave!"

The lady-in-waiting bowed and went out to dismiss both empresses.

Lady Wang frowned slightly, displeased.

Empress Qian, gentle and submissive, tugged Lady Wang's hand, bid farewell to the lady-in-waiting, and led her out of the Xigong, whispering: "The Empress Dowager has been unwell lately and avoids visitors—don't take it personally."

Lady Wang quickly replied: "How could I dare? I only worry for her—she locks herself away all day. What if she falls ill from boredom?"

At this moment, Lady Wang genuinely believed Empress Dowager Sun was confined by grief over the late emperor.

"It's been half a year already. The Empress Dowager should please take care of her health," Lady Wang earnestly suggested. "Why not invite several Ladies and Young Ladies from the Sun family into the palace? Just to keep her company and lift her spirits."

Empress Qian was somewhat moved.

But then Lady Wang realized: Empress Dowager Sun wasn't grieving the late emperor—she was furious at him, and she simply disliked Lady Wang and didn't want to see her.

Lady Wang was no Empress Qian. Empress Qian was gentle; even if someone harmed her, she barely minded. But Lady Wang's nature was weak when faced with weakness, and fiercer still when faced with strength.

Thus, since her marriage, her bond with the emperor was strong, yet they occasionally quarreled—and every time, it was the emperor who sulked like a stubborn child.

If not for Pan Yun's Yellow Talisman binding him, and if Zhu Qiyu's temperament weren't so soft, the couple would have fought countless times already.

When Lady Wang sensed Empress Dowager Sun's malice, she refused to tolerate it. She returned straight to the Kunninggong and that night told Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, the former Empress Hu was unjustly deposed, and the Grand Empress Dowager deeply pitied her. Now she rests at Jin Shan under the title 'Xuanmiao Xianshi Jingci.' Future generations will surely speak ill of your father. I know many elderly princes in the imperial clan harbor grievances over this. Why not restore Empress Hu's title now? She was your lawful mother—this would be our duty as children and daughters-in-law to honor her filial piety."

Zhu Qiyu's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.

He stared at his wife, eyes gleaming with determination, and swallowed hard. "But—but Empress Dowager Sun is still alive."

Lady Wang shot him a glare. "And what of it? When the Grand Empress Dowager was alive, even after Xuanmiao Xianshi Jingci was deposed, she still sat above Empress Dowager Sun at every court banquet."

Zhu Qiyu's heart pounded. This was a direct provocation against Empress Dowager Sun—he had never done anything like this before.

Zhu Qiyu did not want to do it.

Seeing his timidity, Lady Wang pinched the flesh on his waist. "What are you afraid of? Go ask the State Preceptor to cast a divination—say it's the Grand Empress Dowager's wish."

Zhu Qiyu yelped in pain, clutching his waist. "Why should I summon the State Preceptor for no reason?"

"Say you had a dream. Tonight, have a dream," Lady Wang thought for a moment. "Yes—say you dreamed of your father. He regretted it."

Lady Wang snorted, swung her legs off the bed, and stood beside it, hands on her hips. "This was your father's injustice. Empress Hu was deposed without fault. Didn't your father himself later regret it? I've heard the ladies-in-waiting say—it's recorded in the Daily Records. It's true, no lie."

Zhu Qiyu muttered: "Even if he regretted it, he never reversed the decision. Clearly, he had no intention of restoring her."

"If it's a mistake, it must be corrected. I'm asking you to pretend you dreamed of your father to ask the State Preceptor—that's already me backing down. Frankly, to right the wrong, you should just do it outright. No need for all these excuses."

Zhu Qiyu covered his head. "Are you trying to make the court even more chaotic?"

Lady Wang, hands on her hips, glared at him. "Just say it—will you do it or not? If you won't, I'll go to the State Preceptor myself tomorrow."

Zhu Qiyu quickly stopped her. "I'll ask a few ministers and the State Preceptor tomorrow."

After much coaxing, Lady Wang reluctantly agreed.

Zhu Qiyu exhaled deeply, cautiously watching her. "What did Empress Dowager Sun do to you?"

Lady Wang asked him: "Are those imperial princes still crying in the inner palace today?"

"Yes," Zhu Qiyu sighed. "They're crying again—today they went to your brother's palace, saying that if your brother were still alive, the imperial clan would never suffer such humiliation."

Lady Wang sneered. "I suspect Empress Dowager Sun had a hand in this."

"Huh?"

Lady Wang said: "Just do it tomorrow. I'll summon the old princesses and duchesses into the palace to help you shoulder the burden."

Zhu Qiyu exhaled in relief, gazing at Lady Wang with deep affection. "Only my Empress truly cares for me."