Chapter 24: Plotting the Initiative

Zhao Ti heard this and tucked his sleeves behind his back: "Come with this prince to take a look."

He was not close with the Commandery Prince of Jiyin; he had only established his own Wang Fu for a year, and the other party was not of the Jin Sect either.

The Commandery Prince of Jiyin, Zhao Zongjing, was the son of Prince Xiang, Zhao Yunbi, and a cousin of Emperor Yingzong.

The other party held no small office—setting aside his princely title, he was also Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, holder of the honorary rank of Grand Preceptor Opening Offices, and Concurrent Superintendent of Works.

But his reputation within the imperial clan was not particularly good; besides sending people to infiltrate various households to entrap and extort money, there were plenty of other outrageous affairs.

In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, he had taken a concubine whom he liked dearly, and so he began to mock and ridicule his primary wife, the Commandery Princess. The primary wife was already nearly fifty—where would she still have the looks of a flower or the face of the moon? Later, whether from anger or some other reason, she died not long after.

After Zhao Zongjing buried the Commandery Princess, he wanted to elevate his favored concubine to primary wife, but according to the imperial clan's laws this was not permitted. A primary wife, being the Commandery Princess, could not be so simply installed; the palace had to bestow an additional title of honor. A concubine who had entered through the side door without any status, and who had no special merit, would not be granted a title by the palace.

So he racked his brains and came up with a scheme: first send this concubine outside and falsely claim she was a woman of respectable family, then perform the grand ceremony of three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts to take her as primary wife, bringing her back into the Wang Fu. That way she could be called primary wife, thus both bypassing the clan's statutes and evading the palace's scrutiny.

He acted on this plan and re-welcomed the concubine into the Wang Fu as primary wife. But there are no walls in this world that don't let wind through; the matter was discovered by the Censorate. Because Zhao Zongjing was Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, it was truly improper for him to lead the way in such illegal acts, so they memorialized to impeach him.

Emperor Shenzong felt the matter truly could not be justified, so he stripped him of his posts of Grand Preceptor Opening Offices and Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan; the concubine remained a concubine. But later, when Zhao Xu ascended the throne and changed the era name to Yuanyou, for some reason he restored all of his official posts.

Zhao Ti brought his men to the main hall of the Wang Fu. Upon entering, he saw an old man in a purple official robe, stout of build, reclining on a chair, hand resting on a teacup, looking about.

His Wang Fu was simple; after being granted this residence he had not decorated or repaired it, and many old things remained inside.

The old man, while looking about, showed a surprised expression. Seeing Zhao Ti enter, he slowly rose: "The Prince of Yan is usually very busy, I see."

Zhao Ti had previously seen this Zhao Zongjing several times during Emperor Shenzong's passing and at other grand ceremonies, but had never spoken with him. Now he gave a slight smile: "What brings the Commandery Prince of Jiyin here?"

The two men's clan branches were distant, and since each knew the other's purpose, there was no need to discuss kinship. Within the Court of the Imperial Clan, one was also not permitted to discuss kinship with the Director.

"What does the Prince of Yan mean?" Zhao Zongjing laughed: "This old man is not here on a clan visit, but comes on behalf of the Court of the Imperial Clan to inquire about a matter with the Prince of Yan."

Zhao Ti nodded: "What matter might that be?"

Zhao Zongjing did not answer immediately; he paced half a circle around the hall, then gazed at the four walls: "The Prince of Yan lives so plainly?"

"The Director of the Clan might as well say my place here is shabby and broken-down," Zhao Ti said with a faint smile: "No money, you see. In a year, the regular salary plus all the miscellaneous subsidies amounts to no more than a few thousand guan. At current rates, exchanged for silver, that's only two or three thousand taels—not even enough to buy a few Hequ horses."

Although the Song market did not circulate silver directly, many transactions at the official markets, horse trades, and military salaries used silver for payment.

The Song market had gold and silver shops that specialized in exchange; the Bureau of Treasury's Trade Office also had such duties.

"The Prince of Yan is crying poor here," Zhao Zongjing said with a dry chuckle: "Which prince doesn't have ways to make money? I've learned the Prince of Yan obtained quite a few fine things from the Prince of Duan—once sold, they'd likely be worth more than a few years of salary, wouldn't they!"

Zhao Ti thought briefly: "The Director of the Clan has come for this matter? Black and white on paper, signed and sealed—how can that be slandered?"

"That's not the case," Zhao Zongjing waved his hand: "The Prince of Duan accuses the Prince of Yan of breaking into his residence, scattering his guests, and threatening and intimidating him."

Zhao Ti said: "Nothing of the sort happened. The Prince of Duan is spreading rumors."

Zhao Zongjing said: "But the Prince of Duan has many witnesses on his side."

Zhao Ti gave a cold laugh: "I also have many witnesses here who can prove absolutely none of this happened—merely going to collect a medical bill."

Zhao Zongjing's expression darkened upon hearing this: "The Prince of Yan does not intend to admit it, then?"

Zhao Ti showed displeasure: "If something didn't happen, what is there to admit? Otherwise let's have a hearing in court. The Prince of Duan came to my Wang Fu's gate first to provoke and strike, wild and unrestrained—everything can be tallied together."

Zhao Zongjing's face twitched, and he forced out a thin smile: "A court hearing is quite unnecessary. The two princely brothers are of honored status, and this is a small clan matter, not involving outsiders—why go to court?"

Zhao Ti said nothing, sat down on a chair to the side, frowning.

"However..." Zhao Zongjing continued: "Even if the matter of threats and intimidation has witnesses on both sides, the Prince of Yan did indeed break into the Prince of Duan's residence, didn't he? The Prince of Duan didn't enter the Prince of Yan's Wang Fu."

Zhao Ti raised his eyelids: "So what?"

"It violates the law to one degree or another. But since you're both of the imperial clan, the sentence is light. If you were common folk, the offense would be much greater!"

"Then what would the sentence be?" Zhao Ti said mockingly: "An elder brother going to his younger brother's residence—what could that even be judged as?"

"Heh heh, Prince of Yan..." Zhao Zongjing shook his head: "As I said, since you're both of the imperial clan, the sentence is light. There can be a fine, there can be confinement, or there can also be... exemption from punishment, just a warning."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes: "Exemption from punishment?"

This Zhao Zongjing coming in person was surely nothing more than to extort money. Since there could be a fine, confinement, or exemption from punishment, the power of judgment naturally rested with him. He wanted Zhao Ti to spend money to avert disaster—what a well-played scheme!

"If it's a fine, this prince has no money," Zhao Ti shook his head: "Then let it be exemption from punishment."

Zhao Zongjing was stunned, then gave a light cough: "Prince of Yan, if you can't even pay a fine, then exemption from punishment is even less likely..."

Zhao Ti said: "How so?"

Zhao Zongjing said: "The fine is not small, but as for exemption from punishment, it doesn't require that much..."

Zhao Ti blinked: "Director of the Clan, this prince is poor, unlike the other princes who each have their own income streams. Now I'm up to my ears in debt, with not a single coin to my name."

Zhao Zongjing's expression turned somewhat ugly upon hearing this: "Why must the Prince of Yan be like this? Aren't those ten-odd items from the Prince of Duan assets?"

Zhao Ti sighed: "All taken to pay debts. If the Director of the Clan doesn't believe it, go look for them yourself."

"Since the Prince of Yan insists on this excuse, then don't blame me for disregarding clan sentiment in passing judgment," Zhao Zongjing said, the smile gone from his face, his expression cold.

"There's no fine. If not, Director of the Clan, look around and see whatever you fancy—have someone carry it off."

"That won't be necessary. Since the Prince of Yan is obstinately unyielding, I can only rule confinement!"

"Confinement..." Zhao Ti reached for a folding fan, shook it: "Three to five days this prince can endure; ten days or half a month this prince has also endured. What else can you do?"

"You—Prince of Yan, you are far too arrogant!" Zhao Zongjing said angrily: "By law, confinement can be up to three months. Since you show no remorse at all, then half a year it is!"

Zhao Ti glanced at him: "Half a year?"

"Half a year!"

Zhao Ti muttered to himself: "This prince will just take a few concubines, enjoy music and pleasure every day—half a year will pass in the blink of an..."

"Then one year it is!" Zhao Zongjing's face was red and his neck thick; he had truly been angered enough by the other party.

"One year?" Zhao Ti's expression immediately changed drastically: "Really that long? How many years does a person have? Director of the Clan..."

Watching Zhao Ti's expression, Zhao Zongjing could not help feeling pleased within: "Prince of Yan, this Director sentences you to one year of confinement within your Wang Fu, not to go out. Once you go out, I will certainly impeach you in court, and punish you according to clan law. Wait to receive the Court of the Imperial Clan's judgment!" Having said this, he lifted his steps and walked out the door.

Watching Zhao Zongjing walk away, the corner of Zhao Ti's mouth turned up—this was exactly the result he had wanted.

From the time he went to the Prince of Duan's residence, he had already schemed this matter out.

The Great Song's laws forbade imperial clan members from leaving the capital without order. When Emperor Shenzong's Yuanfeng reforms relaxed this rule, distant clans could go to reside in places like the Western Capital Luoyang, but the Jin Sect still could not leave the capital region without authorization.

He wanted to go to Wuliang Mountain in Dali, and would inevitably have to sneak out. But royal ceremonies and the annual grand court assemblies all required attendance—one could not simply vanish. Only confinement within the Wang Fu would allow him to avoid these, and one year's time was already sufficient.

Moments later, Bai Zhan entered, holding a carp-shaped sealed letter: "Your Highness, a message from the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower."

Zhao Ti took it, opened it, glanced at it, and said, "Tell Shang Qi to completely resolve the matters of the Fierce Tiger Gang and Miss Qingyi's Society tonight; this Prince will go in person."

Bai Zhan nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

Zhao Ti pondered for a few breaths, rose, and walked out of the hall; at this moment, the sky grew gloomy, heavy with dark clouds, as if wind and rain were about to arrive.

After sweeping away these two gangs, eight-tenths of the underground territory of Dongjing would belong to the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, allowing him to depart for Wuliang Mountain in Dali with peace of mind.