Chapter 311: Indulging in Leisure, Deceiving the World for Fame

When a concubine in the inner palace became pregnant, the Emperor could no longer linger in the military camp.

Yet even so, Zhu Yijun waited until he had distributed all the silver rewards from the several large chests before waving farewell and departing calmly.

Only after leaving the imperial camp did he don a beaming smile, his steps swift as wind, hurrying back to the palace.

Clearly, the joy of this matter extended far beyond the Emperor himself.

On his way back to the palace, court officials repeatedly intercepted his carriage to offer congratulations, overwhelming him with their fervor.

Especially near the Great Ming Gate, where government offices clustered, someone had started it—officials from all ministries and bureaus surged forward, presenting scrolls of congratulatory memorials.

Shortly after, he encountered ministers returning from court, coming straight toward him.

The entire Thousand-Step Corridor became completely jammed.

With no alternative, Zhu Yijun left behind the Senior Eunuchs of the Office of Imperial Secretariat and the Secretaries of the Imperial Secretariat to collect the congratulatory memorials, while he forced a smile and exchanged a few words with Shen Shixing and the others leaving court, then slipped away toward the Western Garden.

Only after passing through the Meridian Gate did the commotion finally subside.

"This spectacle—I'm afraid someone will start wailing and crying out 'Zhu Kaka'! Everyone's acting more excited than if it were their own family having a child."

Zhu Yijun wiped sweat from his brow, recalling the earlier scene, unable to resist muttering under his breath.

Sun Long followed closely behind the Emperor; though he didn't understand the first half of the remark, he still stepped forward to offer congratulations: "This is all due to Your Majesty's heavenly virtue."

"Had the hearts of the court and the realm not turned toward Your Majesty, this servant fears he would never have witnessed such a scene in his lifetime."

It could be called flattery—or perhaps it was sincere.

The Empress Dowager kept Prince Lu at court to serve her, constantly disturbed by memorials from the Ministry of Rites; Prince Zheng's heir was personally summoned to the capital by the Emperor, yet still frequently intimidated by officials in private; and now, with a concubine pregnant and officials in such ecstatic delight—aren't these all results of the people's allegiance to the Emperor?

Zhu Yijun smiled.

He understood their thoughts well: an Emperor with an heir was not merely a family matter, but also a state matter.

The Emperor's fertility might not affect the length of his reign, but it would certainly determine the duration of his political life.

Now that Consort Wu was pregnant, it at least proved Zhu Yijun's fertility was intact.

The court officials were whispering about Consort Wu's unborn child, but in truth, they were rejoicing over the further consolidation of the New Faction's power—an Emperor aged seventeen years and four months, with proven fertility, would likely rule for at least two or three decades.

"When did Consort Wu become pregnant? What did the imperial physicians say?"

Worried that traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis might be unreliable, Zhu Yijun confirmed again.

Sun Long blurted out: "Consort Wu's last menstrual period was on the thirteenth of October; since then, she has had no period throughout the entire winter month. She consulted the imperial physicians in mid-month, and only today has the pulse become unmistakable."

Zhu Yijun listened carefully and nodded silently.

He had inseminated Consort Wu in late October.

If conception had occurred forty or fifty days ago, pulse diagnosis by traditional physicians would be relatively accurate.

"Reward the physician who diagnosed her with an additional ten taels of silver," Zhu Yijun instructed Sun Long. "Also, tell the Imperial Medical Bureau not to prescribe any tonic or fetal-stabilizing decoctions for Consort Wu."

All medicine carries some toxicity, especially untested remedies with unknown efficacy—and especially for a fetus.

It's best to avoid them entirely if possible.

Sun Long assumed the Emperor was merely suspicious and distrusted the Imperial Medical Bureau; he didn't think further.

He replied "Yes," then paused and asked: "Your Majesty, what about medicinal food?"

Zhu Yijun immediately shook his head: "Food supplementation is enough."

Sun Long silently noted it down.

Zhu Yijun trusted Sun Long completely.

Unlike eunuchs such as Zhang Hong and Li Jin, Sun Long had been thoroughly sinicized.

He was not only "well-read and skilled in calligraphy," but also "upright and self-disciplined."

During his earlier posting as Superintendent of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, he had rarely embezzled, earning excellent reputations among both scholars and commoners, even receiving the praise: "Calm, refined, efficient, yet never disturbing the people."

In moral and literary cultivation, he surpassed certain scholar-officials in sincerity and depth.

Zhu Yijun gave further instructions on related matters.

As they walked and spoke, they soon arrived at the Western Garden.

"Are the two Empress Dowagers in the Qian Guang Hall?" Zhu Yijun asked casually.

Sun Long stepped forward quickly: "Your Majesty, the two Empress Dowagers are currently in the Qing Fu Hall, burning incense and praying with Consort Wu."

He then hurried ahead of the Emperor, turning sideways to lead the way.

…

In the Qing Fu Hall of the Western Garden.

The Qing Fu Hall was built during the Jiajing reign in the Western Garden, originally to enshrine the Daoist Patriarch for the Shizong Emperor.

After Shizong's death, most of it was demolished; during the Longqing reign, when Muzong favored the current Empress Dowager Li, it was slightly repaired and expanded to include the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

Now, it had become a dedicated place for concubines who rarely left the palace to pray to Daoist and Buddhist deities.

When Zhu Yijun arrived, the hall was filled with chanting and thick smoke.

Consort Wu knelt on a cushion before the Buddha statue, hands clasped.

Empress Dowager Li held a pure vase with a willow branch, sprinkling nectar upon Consort Wu's head.

Empress Dowager Chen was burning sutras before the True Warrior Emperor, bowing deeply.

The eunuchs and palace maids, seeing the Emperor enter, hurried to bow.

"Your Majesty."

"Ten Thousand Years."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand before his face, signaling everyone to rise while dispersing the incense smoke.

He stepped before the two Empress Dowagers, bowing respectfully to their backs: "Your son comes to pay his respects."

The two Empress Dowagers ignored him.

Only after Empress Dowager Chen completed her bow to the Daoist Patriarch did she turn to face the Emperor.

She smiled, reached out to help him rise, and nodded: "I am well."

Empress Dowager Li had finished sprinkling the nectar and set down the vase.

She walked to the Emperor and scolded: "I should be asking after Your Majesty's health—after such a serious assassination attempt, you didn't even return to the palace to tell your mother you were safe."

As she spoke, she began kneading the Emperor's arms: "How are you? Are you injured? Should I call the imperial physicians again?"

This display stirred a warmth in Zhu Yijun—Empress Dowager Li knew nothing of opportunistic reform; she only cared whether her son was physically well.

He gently held her hands, which were pinching him painfully, and said softly: "Mother, rest easy—Your son is unharmed."

Empress Dowager Li refused to relent: "No, you must summon the physicians."

"I heard when Wuzong fell into the river, he kept saying he was fine too…"

Zhu Yijun sighed—Wuzong had been coughing blood; how could this be the same?

But he didn't resist; he acquiesced readily: "Fine, fine—I'll summon the physicians tomorrow for a proper examination."

Only then did Empress Dowager Li release her grip.

At that moment, Consort Wu approached, bowing softly: "Your servant pays homage to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun turned to look.

Four years had passed, yet Wu's beauty remained unchanged—her brows like dark green mountains, her wrists like frost and snow.

When her eyes met his, they seemed to hold shimmering autumn waves, captivating soul and spirit.

Truly, he could never tire of looking at her.

It took Zhu Yijun a long moment to recover his composure.

He quickly extended both hands to gently support her: "You're pregnant—take it slow."

He might as well have said: don't make such a big bow, just nod slightly.

Empress Dowager Chen's smile didn't fade: "Your Majesty has been married over four years, and now the imperial heir is conceived—truly a great fortune for the nation."

"To ensure the child's safe birth, Your Majesty should also pay respects to the Buddha and the Daoist Patriarch."

Empress Dowager Li nodded in agreement, then turned and called for incense, personally placing it in the Emperor's hands.

Knowing full well that opposing his parents' traditions led to no good outcome, Zhu Yijun showed no resistance, took the incense promptly, and bowed reverently.

He murmured softly: "Ancient Buddha, High Emperor Taizu, True Warrior Emperor Chengzu, Flying Immortal Emperor Suzong…"

Prayed, offered incense, bowed.

Zhu Yijun performed the ritual for the two Empress Dowagers with smooth, meticulous indifference.

Only then did he turn and speak softly to Wu: "The hall is thick with smoke—Consort Wu, go outside for some fresh air."

Having spent years in the palace, Wu understood perfectly.

She knew the Emperor wished to speak privately with the Empress Dowagers; she bowed gracefully and withdrew silently.

"I intend to donate five thousand taels to the Ministry of Works to build a Temple of the Lady in Zhuozhou, to pray for the safety of Consort Wu's unborn child."

"Mother, last year, the censor Zhao Canlu petitioned the court against exactly this, arguing that spending silver to build temples for Buddhist prayers was sheer nonsense—when northern barbarians and southern rebels ravage the land, taxes are unpaid, rivers are silted, and families sell their wives and children—what prayer can truly avert disaster? You left me utterly embarrassed. In my view, better to do less than more—let's repair bridges and roads instead. The bridges over Hu Liang River and beyond the northern pass are long neglected…"

"... But the sacrificial rites are still premature. I've merely ordered Imperial Son-in-Law Xu Congcheng to pray at the Altar of Heaven and Earth."

"Consort Wu finds it inconvenient to remain near Your Mother—move her to the Su Yu Palace…"

As Consort Wu slowly stepped outside, the voices within grew fainter.

She paused at the hall's entrance, standing still for a moment.

Only when a eunuch came to drape her cloak did she snap back to awareness, descended the steps, and silently gazed at the snowscape.

Snowscapes were universally admired, breathtakingly beautiful.

Soon, she became lost in thought.

She did not know how long she had stood there.

"What are you looking at?"

A voice sounded at her ear, and Consort Wu suddenly came to her senses.

Only then did she notice the doors of Qingfu Palace stood wide open, and the imperial processions of both palaces had vanished.

Only the Emperor stood beside her, gazing in the direction of her stare.

She instinctively moved to bow.

But the Emperor seized her by the waist.

"I just told you, Sister, take your time."

Zhu Yijun steadied Consort Wu's waist and whispered: "Your mother and the Empress Dowager have just agreed with me—you will henceforth reside in Suyu Palace and need no longer attend upon me."

"For now, come with me back to Wanshou Palace until Suyu Palace is ready."

Consort Wu's eyelashes trembled slightly: "Green woods and dense groves drown in dew; still, the Son of Heaven's rain and dew nourish all. This is Your Majesty's boundless grace—I am truly unworthy to receive it."

"Besides, serving the Empress Dowager is not without merit—it saves much trouble."

Hearing this, Zhu Yijun smiled faintly.

He called to a court attendant and took Consort Wu's hand, strolling slowly toward Wanshou Palace: "No need to feel unworthy—sentiment is sentiment, grace is grace. The former you alone must feel; the latter must be seen by others."

"If I did not reward you, outsiders would gossip."

"And I shall also grant rewards to your parents."

At these words, a visible softness bloomed on Consort Wu's face.

The Emperor's tongue, at any time, was impossible to resist. They walked very slowly; Consort Wu leaned against him: "Your Majesty, I am not using retreat as advance—I am simply overwhelmed by sudden grace, afraid that I might forget myself and lose Your Majesty's favor."

At this, Zhu Yijun realized something.

He frowned and asked: "Has someone in your family done something wrong?"

Consort Wu fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Complex emotions flickered across her refined face—truly pitiful to behold.

Seeing her this way, Zhu Yijun sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, the Marquis of Wuqing had long been dragging his feet; his resistance to such matters had grown considerably.

Zhu Yijun showed no harshness, still asking gently: "Tell me, Sister."

Consort Wu pressed her lips together: "Last month, my monthly flow did not come. Besides summoning the Imperial Physician to feel my pulse, I confided in my mother."

"But when my father heard, he went home and told everyone I must be carrying the Imperial seed."

Zhu Yijun wrapped his arm around Consort Wu's shoulders and listened in silence.

"The other day, my mother came to court and told me that lately our household has been flooded with visitors—people bringing land, silver, one after another."

"Even the Duke of Yansheng came to pay respects, transferring fourteen thousand three hundred mu of land in Shuntian Prefecture under our family's name."

As she spoke, Consort Wu carefully watched the Emperor's expression.

Zhu Yijun, well-traveled and well-informed, showed no anger on his face.

He merely revealed a rare flicker of surprise: "The Kong family owns land in Shuntian Prefecture!?"

He knew the Kong family seized land.

For years, Prince De had sent envoys to the capital to complain that Kong Shangxian had seized nine thousand mu of the princely estate and refused to return it.

In the fourth year of Wanli, Prince Lu also submitted a memorial accusing Kong Shangxian of inciting powerful local gentry to seize farmland in Qufu, Yuncheng, and Yanggu.

And the censor Xu Sansheng reported that the Kong family and local gentry had clashed over land in Zouxian, resulting in seven retainers and wandering knights killed.

As County Magistrate of Zouxian, Kong Shangxian perverted justice, abused his office, imprisoned his enemies, and seized their land.

Because of all this, the Shandong Provincial Governor Wang Xilie had, against all opposition, petitioned to remove the Kong family's hereditary post as County Magistrate of Zouxian and assign county affairs to the Vice Prefect of Yanzhou, leaving the magistrate only in charge of the grove and temple.

Because of this, even though Wang Xilie died in office, exhausted from duty, he was still slandered beyond recognition in Shandong.

Zhu Yijun had long wanted to cut down these demons of the Kong family.

Topple the Kong family's shop, rescue Confucius—there was no more legitimate moment than this land survey.

Indeed, the Kong family was the very centerpiece of this land survey.

He had merely thought the Kong family's lawlessness was confined to Shandong.

He had not expected they had extended their land grabs all the way to Shuntian Prefecture!

So the land supposedly registered under the name of Chongzhen's father-in-law, later distributed by Li Zicheng to tenant farmers, had belonged to the Kong family all along!

Consort Wu answered cautiously: "Your Majesty, I am not fully aware of other districts in Shuntian Prefecture—the Duke of Yansheng entrusted only fourteen thousand three hundred mu in Wuqing County to my father."

"I beg Your Majesty's pardon!"

Zhu Yijun snorted through his nose.

The Marquis of Huaiyou had been beaten to death in the county yamen for seizing just a thousand mu—he must have felt terribly wronged.

No wonder Liu Shiyan defended Shi Guangzu.

Truly, a dwarf beside a giant.

Seeing Consort Wu's anxious gaze upon him, Zhu Yijun shook off his thoughts: "I understand. The fact that you told me this proves we are one flesh, closer than your natal family—I would never blame you."

"Do not worry, Sister. I have my own plan for this."

The Emperor stroked Consort Wu's head, speaking softly.

Yet his face turned slightly, casting a glance toward Sun Long behind him.

Sun Long, who accompanied them, understood the Emperor's narrowed eyes and silently withdrew.

…

Night fell.

In Wanshou Palace, lanterns blazed brightly.

Zhu Yijun still bent over his desk, writing furiously.

After several days among the capital garrisons, many memorials had piled up.

Even from after lunch until nightfall, the pile of memorials on his desk remained as high as a small hill.

Grand Secretary Shen Shixing, having completed his three-year term, was granted a hereditary title for one son.

Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang was promoted to Senior Guardian of the Crown Prince.

Posthumously, the late Minister of Rites and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary Ma Ziqiang was granted the title of Grand Preceptor, and a memorial arch was ordered built in his honor.

Approved: Eunuch Zhang Cheng of the Imperial Stable Supervision requested that the Ministry of Horse Transport select three thousand gelded horses for training and guard duty.

Granted to Prince of Shanyin Zhu Junzha: one set each of the Four Books and Five Classics with commentaries; his academy was named Le Shan. Granted to Prince of the Blood Zhu Yunhua: one set each of the Algebra Collection and Elements of Geometry; his iron-smelting furnace was named An Shan.

Granted funeral rites and burial to the late Pacifying Commander of Bozhou, Yang Lie, as requested by his son Yang Yinglong.

Ordered: Marquis Zhu Shitai, stationed at the Longjiang Shipyard, to oversee the Ministry of Works and the Grand Canal Administration in testing ocean-going vessels.

All these matters were beyond the Cabinet's authority and required the Emperor's personal review.

As he reviewed each item, time flew by.

Hm?

Zhu Yijun was reading a memorial and unconsciously uttered a sound of confusion.

He looked at Zhang Hong, who held the lamp, and asked: "Is Prince Lu preparing to leave the palace and take up his residence?"

Zhang Hong kept his eyes lowered: "It was mentioned the other day; the memorial was likely finalized today."

Zhu Yijun paused his writing.

After a moment, he sighed: "Did Mother agree?"

He did not mind his younger brother staying longer at the Imperial Academy—he was no Jianwen, no Dai Zong, and this obedient younger brother had no claim to the "candlelight and axe sound" conspiracy.

But his ministers were all eager to serve him, and he could not be obstinate on such matters.

Zhang Hong nodded: "After learning Consort Wu was with child, the Empress Dowager approved."

Zhu Yijun gave Zhang Hong a quiet sidelong glance.

This was chronological, but not necessarily causal.

The fact that Zhang Hong could say this meant the Director of the Office of Ceremonial had likely pushed hard for it.

Zhu Yijun knew this well but said nothing, merely lifting his brush to lightly mark the memorial: "Have the Ministry of Works select a site for the Prince's residence."

Zhang Hong hesitated: "Your Majesty, will the palace pay for it?"

"Yesterday, the Empress Dowager went to the Ministry of Revenue seeking two hundred thousand taels for Prince Lu's residence and Princess Shouyang's wedding, but the Ministry refused."

Princess Shouyang, the Emperor's third sister Zhu Yaoe, will turn sixteen next year—she is nearing marriageable age.

Both the Prince's residence and the Princess's wedding are costly expenditures.

Zhu Yijun blinked: "Isn't there still one million nine hundred thousand taels in the palace treasury?"

Zhang Hong fell silent.

After a moment, he ventured cautiously: "Your Majesty, in Longqing sixth year, the palace treasury held three million seven hundred thousand taels…"

Eight years of net outflow: one million eight hundred thousand taels…

Zhu Yijun scratched his neck.

After a moment, he waved his hand: "For Liu Shiyan's treason case, do not let outsiders divide the confiscated property—use it to fund these two projects."

Zhang Hong finally exhaled deeply.

"And for Princess Shouyang's wedding, Grand Eunuch, have the Ministry of Rites begin selecting a suitable Imperial Son-in-Law tomorrow."

The Emperor added.

This was only natural—Zhang Hong bowed respectfully in assent.

At that moment,

A commotion arose outside the hall.

Zhang Hong apologized and withdrew.

Zhu Yijun paid no mind and continued reviewing the memorials.

Not long after, Zhang Hong led Jiang Keqian back.

"Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun did not look up, asking: "Have the facts been clarified?"

Jiang Keqian spoke without hesitation: "Confirmed. What Lady Wu claimed is true."

Zhu Yijun lifted his head and paused his vermilion brush.

Jiang Keqian paused, then added: "Moreover, besides Lady Wu's family, the Kong clan also approached the Empress's family, transferring thirty thousand mu of prime land in Shuntian Prefecture—partly as a deposit, partly as a gift—to the Liu family."

"This is Kong Chengde's confession."

Saying this, he pulled a stack of documents from his sleeve.

Besides fingerprints and seals, there were faint traces of blood, revealing the physical torment Kong Chengde had endured.

Zhang Hong stepped forward and took the confession, respectfully presenting it before the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun sat in silence, studying it for a moment, but did not take it.

"Ah."

Zhu Yijun sighed softly.

No wonder they say: "A foot has its shortness, an inch its length."

Zhu Yijun, who had no concept at all of palace rivalries, now finally understood what "caught off guard" meant.

He asked Jiang Keqian quietly: "Does Lady Wu know the Empress's family received the land?"

Jiang Keqian hesitated, then replied with uncertain tone: "Perhaps she does not know, but according to Kong Chengde's confession, the two families must have suspected something of each other."

Zhu Yijun slowly nodded, having grasped the situation, and no longer dwelled on palace affairs.

"What of the Yan and Meng families?"

The sage's lineages were generally not permitted to enter the capital at will.

Even if they wished to come for official business, they required imperial approval.

This year, all three families came to the capital at the Ministry of Rites' request—"The time for the imperial inspection approaches; the Duke of Yansheng Kong Shangxian, the Five Classics Doctor Yan Sishen, Meng Yanpu, and five elder members of the Kong clan, two each from the Yan and Meng clans, shall all be summoned by imperial transport to the capital."

Jiang Keqian nodded: "Details are unclear."

"But according to Kong Chengde, the Yan and Meng families also hold some land in Shuntian Prefecture—though not much."

Zhu Yijun clicked his tongue.

No wonder land surveying has always lacked public support?

These magnates draped in the guise of the sage's lineages, leading land consolidation—how could they possibly support land surveying?

Zhu Yijun turned to Zhang Hong: "Where is He Xinyin now?"

He's been left idle long enough; it's time to see him.

Zhang Hong thought a moment, then answered: "He's still under interrogation in Shuntian Prefecture. Does Your Majesty wish to summon him?"

Zhu Yijun pondered, then nodded: "Let him come to court tomorrow to present himself."

(End of Chapter)