Chapter 38: Weighing and Measuring, Opposing in Court

"What? Chen Mingyan sent the person to the Qianqing Palace!?"

Zhu Yijun said in astonishment.

Chen Mingyan was also the elder brother of Empress Dowager Chen; he and Chen Shanyan were the fourth and third eldest in the family, and both were Battalion Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Initially, a eunuch had come forward to accuse Feng Bao of harming Meng Chong, and the person had ended up in Zhu Xixiao's hands.

With the intention of testing Empress Dowager Chen, he had happened to give the person to Empress Dowager Chen's brother, Chen Shanyan.

As a result, Jiang Keqian had just run over to say that it was Chen Mingyan who had brought that eunuch to the Qianqing Palace.

What were these two brothers making a fuss about?

This instead left Zhu Yijun confused.

Jiang Keqian bowed and replied: "It is said that Chen Mingyan and Chen Shanyan confronted each other at the Guard Command for a while, and it seems they had a dispute."

"Afterward, Chen Mingyan went to Chen Hong's residence, scolded him, and then went straight to bring that eunuch to the Qianqing Palace."

Zhu Yijun frowned: "What did the two brothers argue about?"

Jiang Keqian recalled: "There was no one around at the time, and the colleagues didn't hear clearly."

"Only vaguely hearing a few sentences, Chen Mingyan said that their father was merely a student by origin, had obtained a seventh-rank official position, and now that they had been granted titles and enjoyed the Emperor's grace, they should keep the Sovereign and Father in their hearts."

"He also warned them not to get too deeply involved with people like Chen Hong."

He vividly imitated a few sentences.

Zhu Yijun's expression was strange; would such platitudes really be said during an argument?

He asked: "Where is he now?"

Jiang Keqian said exactly as it happened: "He handed the person to Zhang Hong and left."

"Before leaving, he said, 'As servants of the imperial family, how can the Embroidered Uniform Guard interfere? Everything is to be decided by the Holy Heart.'"

This made Zhu Yijun even less sure of what the strategy was.

This behavior looked more like Chen Hong acting on his own initiative, causing a rift between the two brothers.

However... shouldn't he have gone to ask Empress Dowager Chen for instructions? Why did they argue?

Jiang Keqian said cautiously: "Your Majesty, how should the person sent over be handled?"

Zhu Yijun was still thinking and waved his hand casually: "Let Zhang Hong hand him over to my mother; just say that my intention is to send him to guard my Imperial Father's tomb."

The struggle had already entered the next stage; this person was no longer important.

It was just a pity that he hadn't tested Empress Dowager Chen's attitude.

Jiang Keqian slowly retreated.

Before long, Zhu Xixiao hurried in from outside.

As soon as he arrived, he couldn't wait to speak.

Zhu Yijun raised his hand, stopping Zhu Xixiao's words, and let himself think quietly for a moment.

Zhu Xixiao was helpless and had to wait quietly.

After a long while, he heard the Emperor's voice: "Zhu Qing, you look flustered; what happened?"

Zhu Xixiao finally got the chance to speak and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, just at dusk, Feng Bao secretly left the palace!"

Zhu Yijun showed no reaction, just nodded, signaling him to continue.

Zhu Xixiao continued: "Feng Bao went to Lu Diaoyang's house in person, and there were two eunuchs who left the city on horseback heading toward Mount Tianshou!"

Mount Tianshou?

Zhu Yijun immediately reacted; this was to call Zhang Juzheng.

He muttered to himself: "It seems he's been forced into a corner by Gao Gong!"

This action certainly wasn't aimless; he had mostly likely sensed that Gao Gong was planning something.

If this was true, to be scared like this, it seemed Gao Gong's actions were not small.

Having said that, he looked up at Zhu Xixiao.

He asked: "Did the Senior Grand Secretary show even a trace of it?"

Gao Gong's calm appearance today would make any discerning person suspect whether he was truly disheartened or had a trump card left.

Especially with Zhu Yijun's foresight.

This Senior Grand Secretary hadn't obediently retired in history, and now, with his assistance in taking down Feng Bao's Eastern Depot, it was impossible for him to be defeated faster than in history.

So, what was Gao Gong planning?

Zhu Xixiao immediately knelt: "This minister is incompetent."

"After the Senior Grand Secretary left the court, he closed his doors at home; besides Ge Shouli visiting, there was not a single movement."

"Whether it was his student Han Ji or his relative by marriage Cao Jin, they were all turned away."

Zhu Yijun tapped his fingers on the desk, lost in thought.

Previously, when Cao Daye impeached Gao Gong, although Gao Gong submitted a memorial for dismissal as per custom, he had openly colluded during the court session, and all the Nine Ministers, the Six Sections, and the censors had submitted memorials requesting Gao Gong to stay.

The momentum was so great that it caused fear both inside and outside the court.

Now, although Yang Bo and Lu Diaoyang were singing a counter-tune with him.

He wasn't truly without the power to fight back.

The Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Revenue, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, the Six Sections, and more than half of the Censorate were all his people.

If they all submitted memorials requesting Gao Gong to stay like last time, both he and the two palaces would have to be extremely cautious.

Yet now he was turning these students and old acquaintances away?

Zhu Yijun had told Zhu Xixiao to keep a closer eye on things, and he had been psychologically prepared for this.

But Gao Gong having no signs of collusion at all was instead even more hair-raising.

Zhu Yijun's expression was solemn; he had a premonition that the memorial for Gao Gong's retirement would not go through the vermilion approval smoothly.

He instructed Zhu Xixiao: "Zhu Qing, help out with the matter of Li Jin controlling the Eastern Depot."

The Eastern Depot had officials like the Thousand-Household in charge of punishment and the Hundred-Household in charge of punishment, all of whom were filled by Thousand-Households and Hundred-Households of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, known as "punishment-sticking officials."

If this backbone cooperated with the parachuted chief, it could allow the chief to take power several times faster.

The situation was complex; he had to master the inner court as soon as possible!

June 16th.

Zhu Yijun sat upright behind the imperial desk, and the court officials entered the ranks one after another.

Everything seemed as usual.

But soon someone discovered the disharmony.

The position at the head of the ranks was actually empty—Gao Gong had skipped the court session!

Gao Gong, who was at the center of the storm, had not used his status as Senior Grand Secretary to stir up trouble at the court session as everyone had expected.

Instead, he didn't even appear.

For a time, everyone whispered and discussed.

There was no lack of people guessing whether Gao Gong was truly waiting to retire.

Lu Diaoyang and Wang Guoguang looked at each other.

Liu Ziqiang and Han Ji were even more anxious, casting inquiring glances at Ge Shouli from time to time.

Zhang Siwei had also come today; he leaned over to Yang Bo and whispered a few words, both of them wearing expressions of shock and uncertainty.

After a moment, Zhang Siwei said with a thoughtful expression: "The Senior Grand Secretary said he has other matters to attend to, so I will discuss matters for the Ministry of Personnel today."

Gao Gong was the Minister of Personnel; it was reasonable for him to hand over the burden to Zhang Siwei, who was a Vice Minister.

It was just... Yang Bo had only betrayed and impeached Gao Gong yesterday; how big a heart did he have to let Zhang Siwei represent the Ministry of Personnel at the court session!

Let alone others, even Zhang Siwei himself couldn't understand it.

Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, didn't participate in these rights and wrongs, just asked with concern: "Court session, court session; today there isn't a single Grand Secretary, how can we draft the voting?"

He was anxious to discuss the summer flood of the Yellow River and only hoped that these people would stop making trouble and not delay proper business.

Luo Zun, a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel who came with Zhang Siwei, had also received instructions and replied: "The Senior Grand Secretary said that for all matters of the colleagues, as long as a result is discussed, he will naturally draft the voting."

This was even ignoring the timing of holding the voting power to unite the officials.

It made people even more puzzled.

At this time, a voice suddenly came from above the imperial steps: "Luo Qing, what important matter does the Senior Grand Secretary have that is even more important than the court session?"

Zhu Yijun didn't believe Gao Gong was waiting to retire.

Then what he was doing was even more worth caring about.

The Emperor asked abruptly, and the officials had different thoughts, but they all tacitly didn't stop him.

Not just the Emperor, this was also the question of the court officials, who were all waiting for Luo Zun's answer.

Facing the Emperor's question, Luo Zun replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, this minister also does not know."

Hearing this, the officials had different expressions.

Zhu Yijun gave Zhang Jing a wink, signaling him to pass the word to let Jiang Keqian send out people to investigate.

Feng Bao, on the side, was even more direct, calling a eunuch to whisper a few words, obviously also concerned about what Gao Gong had gone to do.

"Everyone, the time is about right; let's discuss business first."

Ge Shouli suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention.

Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, was anxious about the Yellow River and echoed: "That's right, let's discuss business first."

Everyone followed suit and returned to their ranks.

Passing by Ge Shouli, they couldn't help but look twice.

Feng Bao couldn't figure out Gao Gong's strategy for a moment, but he couldn't do nothing—Empress Dowager Li was still waiting for the memorial of Gao Gong's retirement!

He took a step forward and asked Han Ji, the Minister of the Office of Transmission: "Minister Han, has the memorial for the Senior Grand Secretary's retirement been sent up? Don't lose it again."

Such government affairs that didn't involve the cooperation of various departments, just a simple retirement memorial, naturally didn't need to be discussed at the court session.

Therefore, they were all handed directly to the Office of Transmission, or bypassed the Office of Transmission to be handed directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial, and then presented to the Emperor.

Han Ji was prepared and replied very naturally: "The Senior Grand Secretary's memorial has already been sent to the Office of Transmission; after it is sorted and filed, it will be sent into the palace."

Memorials sent into the palace all had to be copied for the record so that various departments could inquire; this was a legitimate reason.

But Feng Bao couldn't wait: "Already at the Office of Transmission? I will send someone to fetch it right now!"

Without waiting for Han Ji to reply, he sent a eunuch to the Office of Transmission for the memorial.

He wanted to send it into the palace immediately and finish the process of vermilion approval!

This Gao Gong fellow must retire as soon as possible!

The eunuch was just about to walk out when Ge Shouli suddenly called him: "Wait a moment."

Everyone looked at him.

Ge Shouli took a memorial from his sleeve: "Chief Eunuch Feng, the Senior Grand Secretary asked me to present a memorial on his behalf; why not wait until after the court session and send it into the palace together."

Others mostly had thoughtful expressions, but Feng Bao immediately associated it with something.

He blocked Ge Shouli's excuse without a trace: "I don't lack this little bit of manpower."

The little eunuch received the hint and immediately headed straight for the Office of Transmission.

After Feng Bao said this, he gave Lu Diaoyang a wink.

Lu Diaoyang took over the conversation: "Hai Yushi-in-Chief Ge, what matter is this memorial discussing?"

He knew the content of the memorial clearly, but some things were said for others to hear.

Unfortunately, Ge Shouli naturally couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him.

Ge Shouli said expressionlessly: "I am only presenting it on his behalf; I have not read it."

"Since it is a court session, it will eventually be shown to everyone; Minister Lu, don't be anxious."

Saying this, he was about to hand the memorial to the officials beside him.

"Wait!"

Feng Bao suddenly stopped him, and Ge Shouli's movement stalled.

Waiting until all the officials looked at him, Feng Bao said: "I didn't know about this memorial of the Senior Grand Secretary beforehand."

The court session had an agenda; otherwise, how would the various departments know whom to send to the court session?

Now that a matter was suddenly inserted, it meant that this memorial was outside the agenda and not according to the rules.

Ge Shouli countered tit-for-tat: "This is a memorial from the Grand Secretariat."

The implication was that a memorial from the Grand Secretariat, which drafted its own voting, was just going through the motions at the court session; it was temporarily inserted, and there was nothing inappropriate about it.

Feng Bao nodded: "That is correct, but..."

"I didn't know about it beforehand, so naturally I couldn't tell His Majesty beforehand."

"Since His Majesty has come to listen to government, how can he be completely unaware?"

The Wenhua Hall suddenly went quiet.

Even Zhu Yijun couldn't help but look up at Feng Bao.

What do you mean you didn't know, so you didn't tell me?

It sounded as if you had told me about other things in advance.

However, Feng Bao's words were meant to pull him into the arena, right?

What exactly did this memorial say that made Feng Bao so wary, to the point that he didn't hesitate to let him come forward to take the heat?

And how was he so sure that he would definitely stand on his side?

Lu Diaoyang also suddenly echoed: "That is exactly so; Hai Yushi-in-Chief Ge should present the memorial to His Majesty for review first."

The officials' gazes wandered back and forth between Ge Shouli and the imperial steps.

They were all shrewd, and they also realized that things were not simple.

Now Gao Gong was deep in controversy, but he was the opposite of his usual self.

Not only did he not collude with the Nine Ministers and censors to submit memorials to keep him, but even the visits from his students and old acquaintances yesterday were all turned away.

This Hai Yushi-in-Chief, the only one who had entered Gao Gong's house, suddenly wanted to present some memorial on his behalf.

That was fine, but this Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial seemed to know something and insisted on letting the Emperor intervene.

The officials wished they could see flowers on these people's faces.

Ge Shouli hadn't expressed his stance yet.

Feng Bao hurriedly pushed the eunuch beside him: "Go! Take it up!"

Zhu Yijun also realized something and leaned forward, wanting to see clearly through the screen.

Ge Shouli said nothing, letting the eunuch take the memorial from his hand.

The little eunuch held the memorial in his hand, burying his head, not daring to look more.

Those who did this job all understood that the current situation was dangerous; if they saw something they shouldn't, they might lose their lives.

Feng Bao impatiently snatched the memorial from the little eunuch's hand.

He naturally couldn't just flip through the content of the memorial, but with just a glance, the words "Memorial on the Five Urgent Matters of the New Policy" came into view.

Feng Bao took a deep breath, suppressing his heart that was about to jump out.

Gao Gong had truly submitted this memorial openly!

Although Feng Bao didn't know what Gao Gong's reliance was.

But... this memorial had to be strangled at this court session.

He had to press this memorial back!

Feng Bao naturally didn't have the qualifications to block this memorial, but... he looked at the side, at the Emperor sitting behind the imperial desk in thought.

As long as the Emperor took one look at the memorial, he wouldn't need to say another word!

Unless the Emperor was stupid enough not to understand what "imperial edicts must be agreed upon by the Grand Secretariat before they can leave the Forbidden City" meant.

Feng Bao respectfully presented Gao Gong's memorial to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, this is the Senior Grand Secretary's memorial."

The Emperor reached out and took it.

The court officials outside exchanged glances, their expressions strange.

Regardless of their considerations, they all tacitly didn't speak, quietly watching this scene unfold.

Time passed slowly, leaving only the sound of the Emperor flipping the pages.

After a long time.

The screen on the imperial steps was slowly pulled away.

This was already the second time, and the officials were somewhat used to it.

Plus, with Gao Gong absent, no one spoke to block the Emperor.

Feng Bao also watched quietly; right now, to press Gao Gong to death, only the Emperor could come forward.

Zhu Yijun's field of vision widened.

He closed the memorial, expressionless, and asked Ge Shouli: "Ge Qing, have you read this memorial?"

The expressionlessness at this time only meant that he no longer had the heart for expression management.

Ge Shouli was silent for a moment, then bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, I am only presenting it on his behalf; I dare not overstep."

Zhu Yijun nodded.

He said gently: "Chief Eunuch, let Ge Qing see it."

Feng Bao was low-browed and pleasing to the eye, very cooperatively taking the memorial and walking down the imperial steps.

He handed the memorial to Ge Shouli.

At this time, even the stupidest person could realize the seriousness of the matter.

Some people had already started looking around, considering whether to suddenly fall ill.

Ge Shouli was silent for a moment, then took the memorial from Feng Bao's hand.

He just flipped through it quietly like this.

Finally: "Your Majesty, I have finished reading."

Zhu Yijun nodded: "Chief Eunuch, let all the ministers see it."

The memorial was passed from hand to hand among the ministers.

Hai Yushi-in-Chief, Ministers of the Six Ministries, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Office of Transmission, Vice Ministers, Assistant Censors-in-Chief, Libationers, Supervising Secretaries...

As they read one by one, the Wenhua Hall became increasingly quiet.

From time to time, one could hear the sound of someone breathing heavily.

Drops of sweat soaked their inner garments.

A slightly older Libationer couldn't help but have his legs tremble.

Finally, someone couldn't bear the pressure.

Hai Yushi Tang Lian suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, wailing: "Your Majesty, that Gao Gong is insane! It has absolutely nothing to do with us ministers!" ===== CHAPTER 39 =====