Chapter 41: The Masked Stage, Sudden Clarity

Imperial Censor Tang Lian was a jinshi of the Jiajing 41st year, never entered the Hanlin Academy, and was assigned to the provinces as magistrate of Baodi County.

During his tenure, he repaired the city walls and dredged the moats; for his defense of the city, he caught Gao Yi’s attention and was promoted to Director of the Ministry of Public Works, then appointed Imperial Censor.

This was the most typical patron-client relationship in officialdom.

Every time Gao Yi was impeached and, as per protocol, submitted his resignation, Tang Lian would join other disciples and old associates of Gao Yi in petitioning to retain the Grand Secretary.

Yet now, this very man knelt on the ground, wailing, trying to sever ties with Gao Yi!

He even dared say Gao Yi had lost his mind.

He was willing to become a fickle traitor, abandoning even his scholarly reputation!

Officials who had not yet read the memorial were utterly alarmed—what had Gao Yi written that even his closest allies abandoned him?

Zhu Yijun looked at Tang Lian: “Tang Lian, I summoned you all to deliberate, not to attack your colleagues.”

“The Grand Secretary is virtuous and esteemed, a minister left by my late father to assist in governance—how dare you belittle him so lightly!”

Though Gao Yi had indeed startled him.

But it had not driven him to irrationality.

This matter could be either minor or grave.

On the minor side, it was merely haste and poor deliberation.

On the grave side, it was treason.

If he rashly labeled it the latter, it would mean overturning the table entirely—how could he bear to let Zhu Xizhong raise the blade before the final moment?

This concerned the stability of the court; it must not be spoken of lightly.

Just like this reckless Tang Lian—if Gao Yi had lost his mind, what did that make the late emperor who entrusted him? What did it make the young emperor who relied on him?

Struggles have winners and losers, but if you label someone “lost his mind,” the situation risks spiraling out of control—unless he truly stationed five hundred axe-men in this side hall, Gao Yi could not be called “lost his mind.”

After the ceremonial officer rebuked and expelled Tang Lian, all officials had finished reading Gao Yi’s memorial.

During this time, the Minister of Justice, old and frail, collapsed from standing too long.

They rushed to aid him; his bodily reactions were fine, but his eyes would not open.

This further panicked Gao Yi’s partisans, leaving them flustered and helpless.

Zhu Yijun observed everything.

Was Gao Yi’s memorial truly this powerful? Naturally, it was.

The so-called “Five Urgent Reforms”—what were they?

Simply put, first, during court audiences, when each department submitted reports, the emperor himself would respond verbally, leaving the Directorate of Palace Affairs no role.

Second, after court sessions, the emperor would personally handle memorials, excluding both imperial consort palaces from involvement.

Third, all matters must be reported face-to-face. If the emperor was in the palace? For urgent or critical matters, ministers must be allowed to request immediate audience at any time, with no one permitted to obstruct them.

Fourth, the emperor’s edicts must be approved by the Grand Secretariat before implementation.

Fifth, edicts must not be withheld in the palace—if he stubbornly refused? Then the third provision was tailor-made: don’t blame him if you’re dragged from bed at midnight.

Any single one of these could spark a major uproar in court.

Especially when all five were submitted together.

It had forced Feng Bao and Zhu Yijun onto the same side—pressure was immense.

Zhu Yijun was tempted to agree partially.

For instance, abolishing the Directorate of Palace Affairs—perfect for removing Feng Bao; if he later became overwhelmed, he could always reinstate it.

But the rest… he could only shake his head.

The second provision seemed to empower the emperor, but forget not: the emperor is young, and the state is uncertain.

Once the Empress Dowager is excluded, leaving him alone to face the Grand Secretariat, things become dangerous.

The final three provisions made one suspect Gao Yi had lost his mind.

Without Grand Secretariat approval, edicts cannot leave the Forbidden City—so who is the emperor, you or me?

And you want to summon me at any hour? If I can be dragged from bed while sleeping, what’s the point of being emperor?

Zhu Yijun looked at Lu Diaoyang: “Lu Qing, what is your view on the Grand Secretary’s memorial?”

He understood perfectly why Feng Bao had pushed him forward.

Gao Yi’s memorial must be crushed during the court deliberation!

Otherwise, once it reached the palace, the number of supporters submitting petitions would no longer be limited to these twenty-odd voices in court.

Provincial governors, administration commissioners—all had Gao Yi’s disciples and old associates.

If this truly erupted into chaos, it would no longer be simple to quietly dismiss the memorial.

Therefore, he must intervene personally and strangle it during the court deliberation.

This was likely one of the strategies Feng Bao and Lu Diaoyang had agreed upon yesterday.

He responded in kind, immediately asking Lu Diaoyang’s opinion.

Lu Diaoyang had prepared his response: “I respectfully disagree.”

“Your Majesty’s health has not yet fully recovered; you must not only study daily lectures but also attend court audiences, and after the mourning period ends, you must learn archery and military affairs.”

“The Grand Secretary insists on pushing you too hard—personal responses, handling memorials, constant audience with ministers—I deem this utterly unacceptable!”

His stance was clear.

The emperor is still young, still growing; burdening him with so much is impossible to manage.

Gao Yi’s memorial clearly had ulterior motives!

Zhu Yijun nodded, then turned to Wang Guoguang: “Wang Qing, what is your view?”

The order in which he called upon them was deliberate.

He first summoned all those who opposed, to exhaust them.

Regardless of herd mentality, if each one by one opposed, the hesitant ones would be crushed under psychological pressure alone.

Wang Guoguang bowed and replied: “I also disagree.”

“The phrase ‘After the emperor has reviewed, all memorials must be sent to the Grand Secretariat for draft proposals, and only after approval may they be issued’ is deeply inappropriate.”

“By imperial precedent, not every memorial requires the Grand Secretariat to draft proposals before issuance.”

“For instance, appointments within the inner court have never been subject to court deliberation—so why was Li Jin’s appointment as Director of the Eastern Depot not submitted to the Grand Secretariat for discussion?”

This statement defended the emperor while reminding him that real authority was being eroded.

He feared the young emperor might not grasp the implications.

Zhu Yijun smiled and turned to Feng Bao: “Feng Daban, Wang Qing’s point seems reasonable—what do you think?”

Feng Bao’s expression was blank: “Your Majesty, if the Grand Secretary no longer needs the Directorate of Palace Affairs to red-pen, why not petition directly for the imperial seal?”

This was a killing blow.

The Grand Secretariat wants drafting authority and veto power, demands the emperor’s edicts be approved by them—then why not just take the imperial seal outright?

Zhu Yijun did not respond, continuing to call upon each official: “Yang Qing, what is your view?”

Yang Bo hurriedly replied: “The emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s will is the Ministry of War’s will.”

That old fox.

Zhu Yijun asked none of Gao Yi’s disciples and old associates—leaving men like Ge Shouli, Han Ji, and Luo Zun standing aside.

Once he had forced every possible official to declare their stance, only Gao Yi’s faction remained.

Fortunately, they were nearly half.

Zhu Yijun bypassed certain individuals and spoke on his own: “Since half the court officials reject the Grand Secretary’s memorial, no further deliberation is needed.”

“Let the Grand Secretary return to revise and refine it.”

By the time he revised it, Gao Yi’s resignation memorial had already been red-penned.

Lu Diaoyang immediately bowed: “Your Majesty is wise!”

Wang Guoguang, Yang Bo, Zhang Siwei, and others followed suit, bowing to accept the imperial decree.

Zhu Heng and others, slightly delayed, quickly joined in.

At this moment, all eyes flickered toward Ge Shouli.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ge Shouli finally bowed and accepted the order.

The court collectively exhaled in relief.

Even Zhu Yijun and Feng Bao on the imperial dais exchanged a glance and let out a long breath.

Just as the two relaxed.

Suddenly.

The eunuch Feng Bao had sent to retrieve Gao Yi’s resignation memorial rushed in from the side hall, face pale with panic.

Seeing this, Zhu Yijun’s heart sank.

He saw the eunuch whisper two sentences into Feng Bao’s ear.

Feng Bao’s face turned ashen: “What?!”

Then, disregarding protocol, he turned and descended the imperial steps.

Grabbing the young eunuch, he left the court through the side exit!

…

Feng Bao could leave, but Zhu Yijun could not so casually abandon the court.

He sat quietly until the deliberation ended.

This was no coup—why rush so desperately?

A ruler must maintain calm in moments of crisis—this is an essential quality.

The court session ended, and the ministers dispersed; Zhu Yijun only called out to Lu Diaoyang.

The two walked out of the Wenhua Hall, one behind the other.

Zhu Yijun asked first: “Lu Qing, don’t you have something to teach me?”

Lu Diaoyang evaded with tact: “If Your Majesty has doubts, I will speak without reservation.”

Zhu Yijun had no patience for his circumlocutions.

He waved his hand and asked directly: “What do you think of the Grand Secretary’s memorial?”

Lu Diaoyang hesitated: “Your Majesty, I already answered that in court...”

Zhu Yijun stopped walking and turned sharply around.

He fixed his gaze on Lu Diaoyang and spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “Lu Qing, this concerns matters of great weight—do not deceive me with empty words.”

Lu Diaoyang could not evade him any longer; he sighed helplessly: “If Your Majesty already knows, why force me to say it?”

This was clearly a complaint.

Lu Diaoyang truly feared saying the wrong thing again.

Zhu Yijun shook his head: “The Grand Secretary pressures me; the two other Grand Secretaries are absent—I can only trust you, Lu Qing.”

After speaking, he seemed suddenly weary.

Without waiting for Lu Diaoyang’s reply, he lifted his foot and continued walking.

Lu Diaoyang stared at the emperor’s helpless back, suddenly feeling lost.

He paused a moment, then clenched his teeth and hurried after him.

When he reached the emperor’s side, he whispered: “Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary’s move aims to abolish the Directorate of Palace Affairs, sever the two palaces, and even restrict Your Majesty!”

“This violates the duty of a minister—I cannot tolerate it!”

Zhu Yijun slowed his pace, waiting for Lu Diaoyang to catch up.

He turned his head to look at Lu Diaoyang and said, hollowly: “Lu Qing, why does the Grand Secretary treat me this way?”

Lu Diaoyang fell silent.

Between their question and answer, Zhang Hong ran up from afar.

When Zhang Hong arrived, he did not speak immediately.

He glanced at Lu Diaoyang, seeking Zhu Yijun’s permission with his eyes.

Zhu Yijun frowned: “Lu Qing is a trusted minister; what I hear, I hear from him—no need to conceal it. Report.”

Zhang Hong bowed and replied: “Your Majesty, something has happened at the Tongzheng Office.”

“Feng Da’s men went to retrieve the memorial, but the Tongzheng Office said it had already been taken by the Directorate of Palace Affairs.”

“The two sides quarreled over it.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun took a deep breath, suppressing any visible emotion.

He rubbed his temples, looking weary.

Lu Diaoyang could not hold back: “Didn’t Feng Da go? Did he get results?”

Zhang Hong glanced at the emperor; seeing no objection, he gained confidence.

He nodded at Lu Diaoyang and replied: “Feng Da returned to the Directorate of Palace Affairs precisely for this—he found out.”

“It was the attending eunuch of the inner court who took the memorial.”

Lu Diaoyang froze: “Where is the memorial?”

Zhu Yijun suddenly raised his hand, cutting off both of them.

His expression unreadable, he murmured: “The memorial... was delivered to Ciqing Palace, wasn’t it?”

Lu Diaoyang realized!

He was stunned!

He turned sharply to Zhang Hong, hoping for confirmation.

In Lu Diaoyang’s horrified gaze, Zhang Hong slowly nodded: “Yes—the attending eunuch delivered the memorial to Empress Dowager Chen.”

Zhu Yijun nodded.

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

The clouds parted, the truth emerged.

Now it all made sense.

Though late by half a step, he finally understood what Gao Gong relied upon—and what his scheme truly was.

No wonder.

No wonder Gao Gong dared submit the memorial “Five Urgent Matters for New Policies.”

No wonder he was so close to Chen Hong—when Gao Gong impeached Feng Bao, Chen Hong secretly passed his memorial.

No wonder Gao Gong dared openly block the imperial edicts of Lady Li.

No wonder he promised Wang Chonggu a seat in the Grand Secretariat and showed no regard for the emperor’s education.

No wonder he had noticed the estrangement between the two palaces.

No wonder, after his reincarnation, his first visit to Empress Chen ended in a closed door.

All of them—actors, every one.

He suddenly understood why, historically, Lady Li had acted so paradoxically.

If she feared Gao Gong’s dominance and wished to remove him, why then allow Zhang Juzheng—who wielded even greater power—to become head of the Ministry of Personnel, the emperor’s tutor, and a Duke?

She expelled Gao Gong, yet appointed Zhang Juzheng as Chief Grand Secretary, granted him control of the Ministry of Personnel, made him the emperor’s tutor, and bestowed upon him the title of Pillar of State.

This was merely Gao Gong’s upgraded version—why then could she tolerate it?

Even if Feng Bao spoke well of him, she should have remained wary.

The root was here...

He suddenly connected it: after Gao Gong’s dismissal, Zhang Juzheng’s first act was to grant both palaces identical honorific titles, erasing the last vestige of Empress Dowager Li’s weakness and placing her on equal footing with Empress Dowager Chen.

He suddenly understood why Feng Bao, despite bullying the Wanli Emperor so severely—earning the emperor’s bitter judgment that he was “a traitor who deceived the throne and corrupted the state”—was never executed, but merely exiled to Nanzhili by Lady Li’s protection.

Zhu Yijun had forgotten these details.

Now, as he recalled them, they came flooding back.

He even remembered that before Gao Gong’s dismissal, this very memorial—whose contents he could not recall—had been approved.

The phrase “Within four days, came the reply: ‘We have read your memorial; it greatly aids the new policies, manifesting loyalty and sincerity. All proposals are approved.’” hovered before his eyes, refusing to fade.

Who approved it?

Neither the emperor nor Empress Dowager Li would have approved it—there was no other possibility.

Zhu Yijun finally saw clearly.

The fog of history, half-lifted.

The official records, concealing and falsifying.

They had truly hidden a great surprise from him.

Once everything clicked, he suddenly smiled—who said this Chief Grand Secretary lacked scheming?

Zhu Yijun turned to Lu Diaoyang: “Lu Qing, why not go to the Ministry of Rites? If I’m right, the Grand Secretary should be there this morning.”

Lu Diaoyang was still dazed.

Hearing this, he looked up, bewildered: “Your Majesty’s meaning...?”

Zhu Yijun shook his head, saying nothing.

He simply stood by the roadside, waiting quietly.

Not long after,

Jiang Keqian appeared in the distance, running toward them.

Zhu Yijun said to Lu Diaoyang: “Lu Qing, let us make a wager: if the Grand Secretary was indeed at the Ministry of Rites this morning, you shall enter the Grand Secretariat and assist me in implementing the new policies—what do you say?”

Lu Diaoyang’s mind reeled at these words.

He was about to reply, but the emperor gave him no chance—he walked straight toward Jiang Keqian.

Lu Diaoyang’s mind still buzzed; he followed instinctively.

As he drew near, he heard the emperor say: “Is it about the Grand Secretary?”

Jiang Keqian could only gasp for breath, then hurriedly replied: “The Grand Secretary was at the Ministry of Rites this morning—he settled the honorific titles for the two palaces!”

Lu Diaoyang’s heart trembled!

Coupled with the earlier incident of the memorial’s removal, he finally understood its meaning!

Clinging to his last hope, he asked: “What honorific titles were decided for the two palaces?!”

Jiang Keqian was a man of action.

He could not memorize such details, so he copied them onto slips of paper for record.

Now asked, he pulled a slip from his sleeve and presented it.

Lu Diaoyang glanced at the emperor, who merely waved his hand dismissively.

Only then did he cautiously take it.

He scanned it once, then whispered in shock: “Honorific titles for the two palaces: according to ancient precedent, Emperor Xianzong honored his empress dowager as Empress Dowager Ciyi and his birth mother, imperial consort, as Empress Dowager.”

“Today’s case is identical; thus, we honor Your Majesty’s empress dowager as Empress Dowager Rensheng.”

“We honor Your Majesty’s birth mother, empress dowager, as... Empress Dowager.”

As he finished reading, he staggered two steps, his hands suddenly limp, letting the slip fall to the ground.

Zhang Hong, sharp-eyed, rushed to support Lu Diaoyang.

Lü Diaoyang snapped back to reality, looked at the Emperor, and said hoarsely, “I shall return immediately to the Ministry of Rites! Stop the memorial from being submitted!”

Zhu Yijun nodded: “Zhang Daban, see Lü Qing off.”

He watched Lü Diaoyang walk away.

Slowly, he bent down and picked up the slip of paper.

He knew full well that Lü Diaoyang’s return now was too late.

Gao Arong had forced them to respond during the court deliberation with his urgent five-point memorial.

He did so to rush to the Ministry of Rites’ assembly while Lü Diaoyang was absent, and to confer with the Vice Minister and the Sacrificial Master on the honorific titles for the two imperial mothers.

Then, taking advantage of the fact that he alone was on duty in the Grand Secretariat, he would approve the draft edicts.

The memorial likely had already been delivered to Empress Chen’s side.

Don’t think it’s merely a difference of two characters.

This is rank, this is righteousness, this is the mandate of office.

Two characters—this alone determines superiority or inferiority!

If these two characters are settled, the Empress Dowager will have no chance to resist the Noble Empress Dowager.

With Empress Chen’s backing, Gao Arong is virtually a replica of Lady Li and Zhang Juzheng.

And even more so! Even Zhang Juzheng still had to watch Feng Bao’s face!

If Gao Arong truly transfers the power of the Directorate of Ceremonial to the Grand Secretariat, and uses Empress Chen to exercise imperial authority,

Everyone will be crushed beneath Gao Arong’s weight.

Zhu Yijun even suspected whether his own status was some kind of innate suppressed holy body.

An underage Emperor, if he stumbles even slightly, risks being branded as unfilial.

His own mother is one thing—but a foster mother not aligned with him? What can he use to contend with Gao Arong?

Gao Arong!

What a masterstroke, Gao Arong!

Truly, heroes across the land flow like fish crossing a river!

Zhu Yijun tucked the paper into his robe, noting this lesson—the half-hidden, half-revealed history had finally bitten him.

He looked at Jiang Keqian: “Go, tell Chen Mingyan to come to Qianqing Palace tonight.”

“I shall go see the future ‘Noble Empress Dowager’ first.”

Gao Arong’s subtle maneuver had indeed startled him.

But he had not forgotten that history ultimately dismissed Gao Arong.

This round is not over!

Note 1: On the Dingmao day of the sixth month of the sixth year of Longqing, Grand Secretary Gao Arong submitted his urgent five-point reform agenda... Four days later, it was reported: “I have read your memorial; it greatly aids the new policies, clearly demonstrating loyalty and devotion. All proposals shall be approved as drafted.” —《Veritable Records of the Ming Shenzong》

Note 2: On the first day of the seventh month of the sixth year of Longqing, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng stated: “The Ministry of Rites has deliberated on the honorific titles for the two imperial mothers... The grace and virtue of the Holy Mother Empress and the Holy Mother Noble Imperial Consort are equally exalted; how could their honors differ?” —《Veritable Records of the Ming Shenzong》

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(End of Chapter)