Chapter 43: Spying for Openings, Acting Without Restraint

Zhu Yijun walked out of Cining Palace with a thoughtful expression.

His earlier display had finally calmed Empress Li—even, in a sense, exploiting her vulnerability to temporarily become her reliance.

He had also extracted the answer from her lips.

To his surprise, Empress Chen’s banishment to the Cold Palace had nothing to do with Empress Li.

In fact, according to Empress Li, she had never targeted her elder sister.

Under those circumstances, given his understanding of Empress Li, she would not have lied.

Then there must be another reason…

Perhaps he still needed to pry something out of Chen Mingyan.

Yesterday he had not understood the motive behind Chen Mingyan’s actions.

Now he recalled: it had clearly been a declaration of allegiance to him.

He hoped Chen Mingyan knew something—otherwise, without knowing Empress Chen’s intentions, he was too passive.

Even after eliminating them, he must persuade this stepmother—otherwise, without an edict jointly issued by the Emperor and both Imperial Palaces, he might not be able to remove Gao Gong.

It would be best to treat the root cause, to understand her true needs.

Even if he had to retreat a step, he needed to know her foundations, so he could decide whether to let her spend her final years in peace, reside in Changle Palace as the Tranquil Cinnabar Immortal, or succumb to grief and wither away in sorrow years later.

Lost in these thoughts, Zhu Yijun returned to Qianqing Palace.

…

After dinner, Zhu Yijun flipped through the archives left by the Embroidered Uniform Guard while patiently waiting for Chen Mingyan.

Zhu Xixiao had sent over every document related to Empress Chen.

The volumes were countless; he could not possibly finish reading them in a short while.

Zhang Hong held the lamp beside him when suddenly the Emperor spoke: “Zhang Daban, I heard that during the period when my mother, Empress Chen, was banished to the Cold Palace, Chen Hong and Feng Bao clashed fiercely?”

Accustomed to His Majesty’s habit of multitasking, Zhang Hong was always ready to respond.

He replied softly: “Your Majesty, it is true. I heard the two nearly came to blows in the Office of the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

Zhu Yijun froze. A Director of the Eastern Depot and the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial fighting? What kind of wuxia scene was this?

He asked curiously: “So little regard for decorum?”

Zhang Hong explained: “Deep-seated grudges.”

“Old resentments from the Prince of Yu’s household, and new enmities within the palace.”

“At the time, Chen Hong, seeking to please the late Emperor, presented beautiful women—but before they could even be seen by the late Emperor, Feng Bao, under the pretext that they were infected with plague, had them all executed by the Eastern Depot.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yijun suddenly recalled: everyone said Chen Hong and Meng Chong used beautiful women to please the late Emperor—what about Feng Bao?

He asked directly.

Zhang Hong hesitated, then spoke cautiously: “Eunuch Feng relies on Lady Li. Why would he present beautiful women and dilute his favor?”

The implication was clear: what if a beautiful woman bore a son?

The late Emperor already had two sons—both born to Empress Li.

It was a sure thing. Feng Bao was Empress Li’s man; why would he create unnecessary trouble?

As for Chen Hong, Meng Chong, and others… their patroness, the Empress, was clearly barren—so they had no such concerns.

Zhu Yijun nodded, understanding.

He continued: “But were Chen Hong and Feng Bao the only ones fighting? Was there…?”

He refrained from saying it outright, out of respect for his superior.

Zhang Hong paused, choosing his words carefully: “Your Majesty, palace struggles always depend on who stands behind the players—even if they don’t personally intervene, everyone keeps track.”

The subtle meaning: even if Empress Li did not directly act, Feng Bao was still her man.

No matter how low the fighting went, the blame always fell on those above.

Zhu Yijun sighed—he feared exactly this.

If it were merely about titles or power, he could negotiate.

But he feared hidden grudges or obsessions lay beneath.

As Zhu Yijun pondered, Jiang Keqian entered from outside.

“Your Majesty, Chen Mingyan requests an audience.”

Zhu Yijun snapped back to attention.

He nodded: “Let him in.”

As he spoke, he rose and stretched.

He gestured for Zhang Hong to gather the secret files on the desk.

Zhang Hong swiftly collected them, hugged them to his chest, and slipped out silently.

…

Chen Mingyan followed Jiang Keqian step by step.

He tried to strike up a friendly conversation with this fellow Embroidered Uniform Guard officer—but received only silence in return.

His fear grew even greater.

Today’s events inside and outside the palace were officially left unmentioned, as if by mutual agreement.

But anyone with sufficient status understood the magnitude of the implications.

The Emperor likely now harbored ill will toward the Chen family.

“Commandant Chen, His Majesty is inside. You may enter directly.”

Jiang Keqian’s voice broke Chen Mingyan’s thoughts.

Chen Mingyan thanked him and turned to enter.

Before entering the hall, his entire body had been thoroughly searched—even his standard Embroidered Uniform Guard boots had been replaced, showing utter distrust.

Walking through the spacious, nearly empty hall, Chen Mingyan felt profoundly uneasy.

Only when he drew near did he see a young Emperor seated behind the imperial desk.

He glanced briefly, then dared not look again.

Chen Mingyan hurried forward: “Commandant Chen Mingyan of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays homage to Your Majesty!”

Zhu Yijun looked up at the commandant.

He slowly set down the manuscript in his hand and asked, puzzled: “Commandant Chen, your family is preparing rebellion—why do you still kneel in such profound reverence?”

Chen Mingyan’s heart skipped a beat.

Ignoring his nearly stopped breath, he cried out in protest: “Your Majesty! My Chen family has received boundless imperial grace—we tread as if on thin ice, never daring to overstep!”

“Why would Your Majesty say such a thing!”

Zhu Yijun shook his head, uninterested: “Oh… Commandant Chen still hopes to soothe me, preparing a thunderous strike.”

Chen Mingyan could bear no more pressure—he finally spoke plainly: “Your Majesty! The Chen family knew nothing of the Empress’s actions! I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”

Since he had dropped the pretense, Zhu Yijun ceased his pressure.

He asked directly: “You, sir, are of one family—sharing fortune and misfortune. How can one sentence erase that bond?”

Empress Li holds the upper hand now—why not cling to her leg? Why instead offer me your flirtation?

Chen Mingyan spoke dryly: “The Empress cannot bear children—but my Chen family is still prosperous.”

The words were brutally direct.

He saw clearly: no matter how much honor Empress Chen enjoyed, the Chen family would ultimately suffer.

His current declaration was for self-preservation.

Zhu Yijun internally accepted this reasoning, yet still clicked his tongue: “So it’s just betting on both sides.”

He waited, but Chen Mingyan did not speak again.

He looked curiously at the man kneeling below.

Suddenly, Chen Mingyan slammed three hard kowtows on the floor.

He declared firmly: “Your Majesty’s suspicion is justified—I have no defense.”

“I am willing to lay bare my heart and liver, spill my brain and marrow, to atone for my crimes!”

“If Your Majesty’s grace deems my humble service sufficient to atone, I beg only that when you execute my entire Chen family, you spare the lives of my immediate household.”

“If my humble service is insufficient to atone, then my Chen family has brought its own doom!”

“I, Chen Mingyan, harbor no resentment!”

Zhu Yijun fell silent.

He felt a pang of disappointment.

He had hoped this younger brother of Empress Chen had come bearing a trump card.

Even a simple exchange of interests, a bargaining chip?

But after laying everything bare, he was utterly empty-handed.

Whether or not he was betting on both sides no longer mattered much.

Zhu Yijun sighed: “Rise.”

“First, tell me—what did you mean by your declaration to me yesterday? If you sensed something, why didn’t you speak sooner?”

Chen Mingyan remained kneeling.

He recounted plainly: “I noticed Chen Hong repeatedly acting under Empress Chen’s name, conducting affairs outside.”

“I merely wished to keep him in check, so he wouldn’t bring disaster upon my Chen family.”

“My declaration to Your Majesty was simply to draw a clear line between myself and men like Chen Hong.”

"As for the Empress Dowager... I truly did not anticipate this."

Zhu Yijun frowned.

If you know nothing, what good are you? Do you think I need just one Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander?

He pressed: "Did not anticipate? That doesn’t sound like family."

After all, they are kin—could they truly disregard the lives of people like you?

Chen Mingyan straightened up and explained with a complex expression: "Your Majesty, do you know that Empress Chen was moved to a separate palace in the third year of Longqing?"

Zhu Yijun nodded.

Chen Mingyan looked embarrassed: "The late Emperor once intended to depose her!"

Zhu Yijun’s face remained expressionless.

He understood what Chen Mingyan meant.

Being moved to a separate palace was precisely the treatment reserved for a deposed Empress—Emperor Shizong’s deposed Empress Zhang had been 'deposed and confined to a separate palace.'

The late Emperor drove the Chen clan into a separate palace just three years after ascending the throne; once public outcry subsided and the timing was right, he would have deposed her—unfortunately, the late Emperor died too soon.

This meant that for the past two and a half years, Empress Chen had lived in constant dread of being deposed.

Thus, for those of her family who had defended the late Emperor and quelled the censors’ criticisms, resentment must have filled their hearts.

Zhu Yijun sighed slowly and asked: "Then, in your view, what does my mother, Empress Chen, want?"

Power and status seem unlikely—could it be vengeance?

But the late Emperor is already gone; surely she wouldn’t harbor hatred toward him and secretly desecrate his corpse to vent her anger?

Anyone with even a modicum of sanity wouldn’t go that far.

Chen Mingyan paused, weighed his words carefully, afraid of saying the wrong thing: "Your Majesty, do you know that my wife is the daughter of the Marquis of Deping?"

Zhu Yijun nodded.

The Marquis of Deping was the late imperial father-in-law who had died just days before His Majesty’s accession—he was the father of the late Emperor’s first wife.

In other words, Chen Mingyan is the late Emperor’s brother-in-law.

Chen Mingyan continued: "Thus, I occasionally hear court rumors, especially those concerning heirs."

After this preamble, Chen Mingyan finally reached the crux: "In the forty-first year of Jiajing, both Empresses were pregnant; the following year, Empress Li gave birth to Your Majesty, while Empress Chen did not bear a child."

Zhu Yijun leapt to his feet!

He stared intently at Chen Mingyan: "You mean..."

Chen Mingyan knelt in apology but would not yield: "My sister is naturally suspicious and became even more reclusive after failing to bear children—it is only natural that..."

"Enough!"

A cold rebuke.

Zhu Yijun abruptly cut off Chen Mingyan.

His expression shifted between dark and pale.

He finally realized why Empress Chen harbored such deep resentment—and why she was willing to risk so much by allying with Gao Gong.

All this mess—infertility, being moved to a separate palace—was almost certainly blamed on Empress Li!

Could she possibly have entertained thoughts of killing the mother to secure the son...

It’s insane.

He spoke stiffly: "Have your mother come to the palace tomorrow. Spend these days visiting Empress Chen."

"Also, make contact with Chen Hong. When the time is right, I will have Jiang Keqian seek you out."

Chen Mingyan paused briefly, then softly replied, "Yes."

Then, seeing no further sound from above, he bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Only when he had left the hall did silence descend.

June 17.

Gao Gong stood once again at the head of the court assembly.

Liu Ziqiang, the Minister of Justice who had collapsed from exhaustion yesterday, did not attend.

Though he claimed full recovery, Gao Gong kindly advised him to rest a few more days.

Present was the Vice Minister of Justice, Cao Jin, also Gao Gong’s in-law.

Likewise, the censor Tang Lian, who had called Gao Gong insane yesterday, was absent today, claiming illness.

He merely said he had accidentally contracted a mental disorder and needed to recuperate.

Aside from these two, all other court officials proceeded as usual.

As if nothing had happened, they once again gathered under Gao Gong’s banner.

After the assembly began, Gao Gong submitted again the "Memorial on Five Urgent Reforms."

He claimed that, after review by His Majesty and colleagues, minor revisions had been made—adjustments to punctuation and synonym substitutions.

He then openly presented it to the assembled ministers for deliberation, and respectfully submitted it to the Emperor for his personal review.

Lu Diaoyang, Feng Bao, and Wang Guoguang remained silent.

Even the imperial dais was quiet today.

Then, Vice Minister of Justice Cao Jin, Grand Censor Ge Shouli, and others stepped forward to endorse it.

Seeing support had reached a majority, Gao Gong drafted the approval.

Throughout, Lu Diaoyang and others were never given a chance to speak.

Yesterday, the Emperor had rejected the memorial on grounds of insufficient support.

Today, Gao Gong approved it on grounds of majority agreement.

Back and forth, the wind had shifted from east to west.

The wavering court officials once again sang praises, declaring these five measures the beginning of sweeping away decay and renewing the realm.

Then, Tongzheng Office’s Han Ji replied to Feng Bao: the Grand Secretary’s resignation memorial had been retained by the Two Empress Dowagers and the Emperor.

Gao Gong sighed deeply, claiming old age and frailty made him unfit for duty, and again petitioned the court for resignation.

Court officials collectively pleaded with him to stay.

Tongzheng Office’s Han Ji and Right Vice Director He Yongqing submitted memorials from provincial governors and commanders—such as Wang Daoqin, Provincial Governor of Huguang, and Yin Zhengmao, Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi—pleading for Gao Gong to remain.

Additionally, 86 officials—including Assistant Minister of Personnel Mu Wenxi and Cheng Wen, Director of Personnel Xu Fuyuan, censors Li Chunpu, Du Huazhong, Hu Jun, Desheng, Shixuan, Liu Ruiru, Zhang Ji, and Left and Right Censors Tu Menggui, Yang Rong, Zhou Yun, Zhang Bo—jointly petitioned to retain Gao Gong.

Other officials—including Right Vice Director of Tongzheng Office He Yongqing and Han Ji, Left Deputy Chief of the Dalisi Liu Siwen and Right Deputy Chief Song Liangzuo, Deputy Heads of the Temple of Heaven Liu Bo and Chen Xianjian, Deputy Heads of the Imperial Horse Bureau Dong Yao Feng, Chen Lianfang, and Li Youzi, and Deputy Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture Liu Yaohui—urged that with a young sovereign and uncertain state, the Grand Secretary must not retire for the sake of his health.

Further, twenty-six officials from Nanzhili—including Minister of Works Chen Shaoru, Minister of Rites Qin Minglei, and Head of the Imperial Academy Wan Hao—echoed their support from afar.

The momentum was immense.

The Emperor personally replied with heartfelt entreaties to retain Grand Secretary Gao Gong.

Gao Gong could not refuse, and reluctantly remained in office.

Afterwards,

An earthquake struck Ningxia; Grand Secretary Gao Gong requested disaster relief, and the Emperor approved.

Prince Heng, Zaihuan, died; the Ministry of Rites submitted a posthumous title, Zhuang, and the Emperor approved.

Grand Secretary Gao Gong requested that Minister of Works Zhu Heng oversee river works and imperial tomb construction; the Emperor approved.

Grand Secretary Gao Gong requested that Censor Zhou Yude of Jiangxi Circuit oversee salt revenues in the Two Huai regions and manage river affairs; the Emperor approved.

Feng Bao of the Directorate of Ceremonial stood silently on the imperial dais, saying nothing, like a transparent man.

The court assembly was halfway through.

Chen Hong entered the Wenhua Palace with Empress Chen’s reply to the memorial.

It was an approval of the Ministry of Rites’ proposed honorific title.

Gao Gong did not ask the Directorate of Ceremonial; he directly reported to the Emperor and requested His Majesty’s personal pronouncement.

The Emperor readily agreed.

He said:

In accordance with ancient precedent, Emperor Xianzong honored his empress dowager as Empress Dowager Ciyi and his birth mother, Imperial Noble Consort, as Empress Dowager.

The current situation is identical; therefore, honor the Emperor’s stepmother, the Empress Dowager, as Empress Dowager Rensheng.

Honor the Emperor’s birth mother, Empress Dowager, as Empress Dowager.

The court assembly ended.

Gao Gong bowed with his tablet, crying out, "Holy Emperor, Wise Monarch!"—the ministers echoed him in a mountainous roar.

The Emperor earnestly encouraged them, bestowing loquats upon the ministers, lecturers, and all officials of third rank and above.

Then the court dismissed.

Ministry of Rites Office.

Lu Diaoyang sat behind his desk, staring blankly.

Indeed, his cultivation was still too shallow.

He could not match Zhang Juzheng’s wisdom.

He could not fathom the Emperor’s cunning.

He could not rival Gao Gong’s tactics.

Now, all the New Faction’s efforts had been ruined.

Gao Gong had not only failed to retire peacefully—he now held even greater control over the court.

If Zhang Juzheng returns, he won’t know how to face him.

“Minister Lu, the Chief Councilor asks you to come.”

The sudden voice startled Lu Diaoyang.

He looked up sharply: “Chief Councilor?”

The official nodded.

Lu Diaoyang rose slowly, placed his court cap squarely on his head, and stepped out the door.

He had expected to go to the Grand Secretariat hall.

But as soon as he stepped out, he saw Gao Yi standing by a nearby pond, hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the clear sky.

Lu Diaoyang slowed his steps and walked to Gao Yi’s side.

He raised his head as well, following Gao Yi’s gaze upward.

He said: “Chief Councilor, even when gazing far, you should look down—watch your step, or you might step into the pond.”

Gao Yi knew Lu Diaoyang had arrived.

He made no extra motion, only spoke: “Heqing, whenever I see these wild geese, my spirit soars.”

“These geese fly across ten thousand li of clear sky—they have no thought to look down at this tiny pond below.”

Lu Diaoyang shook his head: “I fear the Chief Councilor will fall into the pond and startle all the fish.”

Gao Yi smiled: “Come, walk with me.”

They had been walking one behind the other, but Lu Diaoyang quickened half a step to walk shoulder to shoulder.

Gao Yi didn’t mind; he continued: “Yan Jidao once wrote: ‘Wild geese in the clouds, fish in the water.’”

“The geese and the fish—one in heaven, one on earth—how can I possibly attend to both?”

Lu Diaoyang shook his head: “Wild geese fly far, but light cannot reach them; fish and dragons leap, stirring ripples on the water.”

The two exchanged veiled allusions, neither yielding.

Seeing Lu Diaoyang remained resolute,

Gao Yi nodded approvingly: “I know your resolve—it cannot be shaken.”

Gao Yi turned his face toward Lu Diaoyang: “Heqing, would you like to enter the Grand Secretariat?”

Lu Diaoyang was startled.

Zhang Juzheng wanting him to join the Grand Secretariat was expected.

The Emperor’s attempt to recruit him yesterday was also reasonable.

But why had Gao Yi suddenly wanted him to join too!?

They were still preparing to face off!

Lu Diaoyang asked instinctively: “Does the Chief Councilor still have room for me?”

Gao Yi smiled broadly: “I can tolerate the Jin Faction—Wang Chonggu will still enter the Grand Secretariat, let alone you?”

“As for the New Policies, I raised the banner before Zhang Juzheng ever did.”

Lu Diaoyang fell silent.

He had already prepared to retire—yet now… Gao Yi’s magnanimity truly moved him.

He voiced his admiration without concealment: “I thought the Chief Councilor meant to purge dissent and monopolize state affairs.”

Gao Yi shook his head: “I’ve done all this so that people like you and me can act freely and implement the New Policies.”

Lu Diaoyang had nothing more to say.

They walked in silence, moving forward together.

Gao Yi did not press him; he waited quietly.

They walked nearly half an hour; the sun gradually slanted westward.

At that moment, Gao Yi glanced around with ease, then spotted Zhang Hong’s figure.

After a moment’s thought, he called out: “Zhang Dang, where are you going?”

Zhang Hong, seeing Gao Yi and Lu Diaoyang, quickly bowed: “Chief Councilor, Minister Lu.”

“His Majesty and the Two Palaces have issued an edict.”

“Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng and others, returning from Tian Shou Mountain, are ordered to construct the late Emperor’s mausoleum at Da Yu Mountain, and are granted twenty taels of silver as reward.”

Lu Diaoyang blurted out: “Grand Secretary Zhang has returned!?”

Note 1: The officials in this chapter who supported Gao Yi were all dismissed immediately after Gao Yi’s removal.

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(End of Chapter)