Chapter 45

Ciqing Palace, just after midnight.

As the summer heat deepened, ice blocks were placed in every pavilion and hall to let the nobles sleep peacefully.

Chen Empress Dowager had never enjoyed such comforts in her other palace; now, rare as it was, she relished a cool summer night and went to bed early.

At this hour, the usual eunuchs and palace maids had long withdrawn.

Chen Empress Dowager, with her elegant neck and slender form, rested peacefully upon the bed.

Suddenly, an uneasy expression crept onto her face; her delicate brows slowly furrowed, as if haunted by a nightmare.

A sudden pang of dread jolted her awake.

Weary, she tugged the bell beside her bed, ready to summon a maid for water.

But after waiting, no maid came.

Instead, someone unexpected entered.

Chen Empress Dowager blurted out: “Mother, how are you here?”

Her eyes filled with suspicion as she watched her aging mother slowly step in from the outer chamber.

These past days, the Chen family had repeatedly sent messengers to contact her; she gave them not a shred of courtesy, rejecting them all.

Yet now her own mother had entered Ciqing Palace! How had she gotten in!?

Chen’s mother regarded her daughter with a complex expression.

But she offered no explanation, only sat gently on the edge of the bed and said: “You’ve grown much thinner.”

Chen Empress Dowager frowned, drew back, and called out: “Someone! Come!”

That cry brought no one.

Chen’s mother took her daughter’s hand and said tenderly: “Chen Suan was the one who brought me into the household—he still owes me this favor.”

“Come, let Mother dress you. We’ll go to the main hall—I have words for you.”

Chen Empress Dowager stared blankly at her mother.

She was no fool; the moment her cry went unanswered, she understood.

What favor from Chen Suan? The palace had countless others.

This was clearly a replay of the past.

Back then, when she was banished to the cold palace, the Chen family had sold her out exactly like this.

Now it was identical again… If she went to the main hall, what awaited her would surely be Li Shi and Li Jin, Feng Bao, and the rest.

Thinking of this, she gave a bitter, hollow laugh.

Seeing her mother move to dress her, she suddenly stilled her emotions, sat upright, and said firmly: “Bring me my ceremonial crown and robes!”

Chen’s mother fell silent, then after a long while, nodded.

The two regarded each other in silence, lingering for a long while before finally fetching the crown and robes and beginning to dress.

The Empress Dowager’s ceremonial attire was worn only for investiture, temple visits, or court assemblies; her demand for it now clearly marked this moment as extraordinary.

Chen Empress Dowager allowed her mother to fasten her ornaments, then took the imperial crown into her own hands.

Its circular frame was covered in jadeite, adorned with nine dragons and four phoenixes—unparalleled in majesty.

Once dressed, she lightly adjusted the twelve-tree floral ornament atop the crown and stepped forward first: “Let’s go. I wish to see who dares visit me in the dead of night.”

…

The main hall of Ciqing Palace.

Chen Empress Dowager met the second unexpected person of the night.

It was the Emperor!

After Chen’s mother withdrew, the vast hall held only the reigning Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Zhu Yijun glanced at the Empress Dowager’s ceremonial attire, gauging her state of mind.

Yet he maintained full ceremonial decorum: “Your servant, Emperor Jun, pays homage to Mother Empress.”

Chen Empress Dowager stared steadily at the Emperor, her expression dazed.

She had assumed Li Shi was waiting for her; she never imagined it would be this young sovereign she had once somewhat favored.

Her gaze, drawn back from the hall’s entrance, returned to the Emperor with confusion.

Had he come as a front for his birth mother?

Or had the inner palace fallen entirely under his control?

Chen Empress Dowager gave a slight nod and probed: “Your Majesty’s midnight visit violates propriety. What is your purpose?”

But the Emperor’s reply took her entirely by surprise.

Zhu Yijun knelt again, as if burdened by countless emotions: “I have come, Mother, to question you!”

Chen Empress Dowager said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Zhu Yijun went on: “Mother, Gao Gong has bullied the Directorate of Palace Affairs, coerced the sovereign, and oppressed my birth mother—surely he acted with your backing!”

“Now, in court, Gao Gong speaks with absolute authority, subordinates the sovereign, and makes my life unbearable—yet I cannot believe this is your doing!”

“I’ve gone days without sleep, tossing and turning through the nights—today, I could bear it no longer and must ask you:”

“Mother! Am I not your son?”

Zhu Yijun knew well the power of striking first, of shaping perception.

Even if he meant to pressure Chen Empress Dowager, he would never resort to brute force.

Seizing the moral high ground was essential.

Humans were masters of self-deception.

If she were not made to feel morally in the wrong, her psyche would violently recoil—“I am pure, why does everyone persecute me?”

Should she become emotionally overwhelmed and, seeing all hope lost, dash her head against the hall’s pillar, Zhu Yijun would be covered in mud—even if innocent, he’d be blamed.

Once entangled in such a scandal, it would be a lifelong political stain.

Censors, unofficial histories, conspiracies—like flies—they would swarm beneath his seat.

If Chen Empress Dowager died here tonight, no matter who was truly responsible, the world would blame him.

At that point, not only would his grip on power be shaken, but even Gao Gong would seize this opening to make a final, desperate lunge.

Even the entire literati class, the court officials, would cast a massive question mark over this Emperor.

Under such conditions, progress would not be impossible—but it would be twice as hard.

Thus, this was his sole concern tonight.

He must gently pressure Chen Empress Dowager—absolutely no room for tragedy.

Dressed in her ceremonial robes, Chen Empress Dowager moved forward with serene grace.

She studied the Emperor from head to toe.

A fine son, truly a fine son.

Without her noticing, he had amassed such overwhelming power.

She had thought he came for Li Shi; now she realized she had underestimated this Holy Monarch.

Chen Empress Dowager’s face was expressionless: “Of course you are my son.”

“Precisely because you are my son, I have taken it upon myself to oversee state affairs, to rely on veteran ministers—you are still young, overthinking.”

She knew well he had come with backing—Ciqing Palace’s inside and out were surely his men.

But she would not admit fault.

Worst case, a length of white silk—she had waited three years in the cold palace already.

It could not get worse.

Yet Zhu Yijun had no interest in her pretense.

He tore away all disguise and, looking at her with pain, said: “I know the two courts are at odds; your actions have cause.”

“But… what fault is mine?”

He lifted his head stubbornly, meeting her gaze directly: “My birth mother is a mother; my legal mother is also a mother.”

“Now, this conflict between the two courts is tearing me apart inside!”

“I wish to honor you, Mother, and let both of you enjoy full dignity.”

“Mother, if there is even the slightest chance, please do not force me into the sin of filial impiety.”

“My heart is sincere—please understand!”

This argument was beyond reproach.

The Emperor had always been filial—regularly paying respects, sharing fine gifts with her, and often seeking her counsel on scholarship, proving he was truly kind and dutiful.

She had felt only slight guilt when facing him.

But… that was before. Now that he had broken into Ciqing Palace at night, and still played the victim, he was grossly underestimating her.

She met his gaze squarely and spoke sharply: “You broke into Ciqing Palace at night—just to put on this performance?”

Had he truly been so obedient, he would never have secretly seized control of the inner palace.

Nor would he have stormed her bedchamber, leaving her unable to summon even a single attendant.

Zhu Yijun shook his head, voice trembling: “Mother has her vigilance; I have my grievances. Had there been any other way, I would never have broken in at night.”

“I know you plan to brand me as unfilial, to depose me.”

“Had Gao Gong not secretly threatened to install my four-year-old obedient younger brother as emperor, why would I have panicked so much as to offend you?”

"If not for Gao Arong’s secret coercion today, threatening to place my four-year-old obedient younger brother on the throne, why would I have been so panicked as to be disrespectful to Your Majesty?"

This took her utterly off guard; she asked instinctively: “The Grand Secretary said he would depose you!?”

This remark caught her off guard; she asked involuntarily, “The Grand Secretary wants to depose you!?”

She didn’t even know about this herself.

Seeing he had thrown off the rhythm, Zhu Yijun pressed his advantage.

He lifted his head, his expression stubborn: “Why must Mother ask such a question? Without your approval, Gao Gong would never have spoken these words!”

Zhu Yijun could never allow this Empress Dowager to portray herself as a perfect victim—only he was worthy of that role.

Empress Dowager Chen fell silent.

Though she and Gao Gong shared some tacit understanding, their ultimate goals were different.

She herself cared little for state and realm.

What Gao Gong thought was none of her concern; at best, they merely exchanged favors.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Chen finally sighed and helped her son to his feet.

She turned her head awkwardly and added, “I didn’t mean it that way.”

Deposing the Emperor was shocking, but she truly didn’t care.

She paid no mind to grand strategy or the realm.

All she wanted was to settle the accounts she owed; as for the rest, she had no heart left for needless chaos.

Empress Dowager Chen glanced toward the palace gates, where silence reigned, then continued: “Perhaps I’ve spoken too late—should His Majesty be preparing to kill me over this?”

The Emperor had come this far; he certainly wasn’t here to complain to her.

Perhaps he merely sought peace of mind, speaking a few kind words before acting.

But Zhu Yijun did not accept this guess; instead, he looked at Empress Dowager Chen with disbelief: “Mother sees me this way?”

He suddenly seemed hollowed out: “I longed to speak with Mother face to face, but I was always barred from Ciqing Palace.”

“Now, to see you even once, I was forced to resort to this desperate measure.”

He whispered: “I know why Mother relies on Gao Gong.”

“You resent being the Empress Consort yet bearing no child of your own; you resent that my late father moved you to another palace...”

He had not finished speaking.

Empress Dowager Chen suddenly lost composure; she whirled around, fixing the Emperor with a piercing stare: “Who do you think caused it?!”

The Emperor knew nothing—how dare he try to persuade her?

If all matters of state could be settled by words alone, why did the Great Ming maintain so many armies?

To her surprise, Zhu Yijun nodded: “I naturally know.”

“Not only do I know—I’ve brought the mastermind behind it all for you.”

Empress Dowager Chen fell silent.

She stared at the Emperor, stunned: “Brought... brought him?”

Zhu Yijun stepped forward and supported Empress Dowager Chen: “I’ll take you to see him.”

Empress Dowager Chen pressed her lips together and allowed the Emperor to lead her to the screen.

In her mind, Li Shi would turn from behind it at any moment and sneer at her.

But again, she was wrong—the Emperor shoved the screen aside, revealing a corpse!

It was Feng Bao!

The Emperor cried out in fury: “Feng Bao betrayed the throne and corrupted the state—his crimes are heinous!”

“During Jiajing’s reign, he used the Eastern Depot to carry out treacherous deeds; I believe the deaths of several of my late father’s children are tied to him!”

“During Longqing’s reign, he flattered and offered him wolfish drugs, hastening my father’s early death!”

“Now, he is rumored to have sown discord between the two palaces, causing strife in the inner court—he deserves nothing less than death!”

“I have personally executed this villain—to uphold the law and avenge you, Mother!”

Some things cannot be untangled.

The best solution is not to untangle them at all.

If there is someone who can be killed, kill them quickly—give the surface a resolution, and that’s enough.

If one insists on digging deeper... then one truly is ungrateful.

Empress Dowager Chen’s gaze never left Feng Bao’s body.

She seemed startled, yet also strangely satisfied.

She stared blankly at Feng Bao’s corpse.

Just as Zhu Yijun thought the matter was settled and the Empress Dowager would take the offered escape route—

He heard her murmur: “You’ve never lived outside the palace; you’ve seen little. Do you know—if a commoner is bitten by a dog, does he chase the dog, or go after its master?”

This was a direct insult.

Zhu Yijun sighed.

He didn’t want to know, nor did he need to know, who in the inner palace had done these sordid deeds.

That was why he never intended to extract anything from Chen Hong.

But based on his guess, it was unlikely Li Empress Dowager had ordered it.

Yet many things are beyond human will.

As Empress Dowager Chen said, a dog is still a dog—the debt must be settled with its master.

What could he do? He couldn’t drag Li Empress Dowager here to satisfy her rage.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to please her completely—so long as she didn’t become so extreme as to kill herself in the hall, it was enough.

Zhu Yijun spoke: “Mother’s rebuke is just.”

“All faults under heaven lie with me.”

“Feng Bao, a servant who betrayed his master—this is the master’s fault.”

“All blame must fall upon my late father!”

He turned his face toward Empress Dowager Chen and continued: “But a son does not speak of his father’s faults. Since my father has passed, this debt must now rest upon me, his son.”

“Mother may strike or punish—let me bear it in your stead.”

Empress Dowager Chen sneered: “What a filial son you are...”

Her scornful words were about to leave her lips—

When suddenly a cry filled with emotion rang out: “Mother!”

Zhu Yijun dropped to his knees and performed the full filial reverence.

He spoke sincerely: “I know Mother once resented me—I may be filial, but I am not your own flesh.”

“But please, Mother, do not scorn my sincere heart!”

“Whether as stepmother or birthmother, I have always regarded you as my closest kin—with not the slightest difference in treatment!”

“If you doubt it—I am willing to tear out my heart and liver and present them to you!”

With that—

Zhu Yijun suddenly acted.

He tore open his upper garment, exposing his bare chest.

He then drew the bloodied dagger from Feng Bao’s body, wrapped it in a scrap of cloth, and held it out with both hands before Empress Dowager Chen.

This sudden act threw Empress Dowager Chen into panic.

The Emperor stood motionless, facing death without fear—Empress Dowager Chen was stunned into silence.

Only Zhu Xizhong, outside the hall, held his breath, watching.

He knew the dagger in the Emperor’s hand was a blunt, bladeless weapon arranged in advance.

Though it could not wound, even a graze or bump would be his, Zhu Xizhong’s, crime!

Even though the Emperor had ordered him to enter only if the Empress Dowager moved,

He had already resolved: if she showed any sign of picking up the dagger, he would rush in and pin her down.

Time seemed to freeze.

Feng Bao’s blood still dripped from the dagger.

It intensified the solemn atmosphere to its peak.

The Emperor, bare-chested, was testing the Empress Dowager’s limits.

This act, like something from the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, had truly thrown the parties involved into disarray.

This was not simple self-pity.

This was the Emperor demonstrating in action to the Empress Dowager:

Either compromise and yield—or face open conflict.

There was no third option.

Whatever Empress Dowager Chen had planned—whether targeting the Chen family, retaliating against Li Empress Dowager, or simply tasting power—tonight, she must pass through the Emperor’s trial.

Escalating conflict was also a negotiation tactic.

Zhu Yijun lowered his head, waiting for Empress Dowager Chen’s decision.

This choice would not decide his fate—but hers.

Whether she believed him or chose to accept this exit, he would never trouble her again.

Conversely, if she refused this exit, he had no other choice but to let her waste away in grief.

At the same time, he was squeezing her options.

Thus, she could only choose between compromise or killing her son—quietly eliminating the possibility of suicide as revenge.

Time passed slowly.

Empress Dowager Chen took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She had witnessed the former emperor’s greed and lust, the heartless man who banished his lawful wife.

Now, seeing this emperor, who risked his own life to reconcile the two palaces, she felt it was a marvel.

The emperor had shown her, through action, that if she still wished to support Gao Gong and disrupt the inner palace, she would have to step over his corpse.

What a filial son indeed—forcing her this way.

How dare he?

Betting on her soft heart, that she hadn’t yet gone mad?

Or was his filial devotion genuine and pure?

Or… if she so much as moved, would he instantly shoot her through the heart with an arrow from a hundred paces?

One son, one mother, one kneeling, one standing—the scene nearly froze.

No one moved.

Zhu Yijun was patient; Empress Dowager Chen stared blankly, while Zhu Xixiao outside was the most anxious of all.

Finally.

Zhu Yijun heard Empress Dowager Chen’s voice.

“To force me, Your Majesty has certainly gone to great lengths.”

Zhu Yijun looked up and saw Empress Dowager Chen, eyes shut tight in pain.

She turned away and waved her hand, signaling the emperor to discard the dagger.

Zhu Yijun tossed it carelessly outward, letting Zhu Xixiao pick it up, then turned back and said: “My schemes are all for the sake of this family.”

“Please, Mother, do not be angry. From now on, I shall surely serve and honor Your Majesty.”

The performance had gone far enough.

No faces were torn, everyone had a way to save face—no need to obstruct the real business.

Of course, for now, Empress Dowager Chen should not receive outsiders; wait until the situation stabilizes, then properly honor her.

Empress Dowager Chen seemed drained of all strength, weary: “Where are Chen Hong and the others?”

Zhu Yijun did not avoid the question: “All of them have earned death—I have already executed them all!”

The debt of the former emperor’s excessive use of tiger-and-wolf medicine, which led to his early death, should rightly be charged to Chen Hong.

Killing a few eunuchs who brought death upon themselves—could that not be a good thing, clearing away old grudges?

Empress Dowager Chen grew even weaker.

She wanted to rebuke the emperor, yet understood: such a threat to imperial authority, with the power to overturn the table, had spared her life—that was mercy enough; to speak of a few eunuchs was absurd.

But they had been her servants for years; Empress Dowager Chen felt a sharp pang in her heart.

Her face bleak, she waved her hand: “No need to keep attendants. Do whatever you wish, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Yijun did not respond.

She appeared resigned to life or death—he could not simply abandon her.

He spoke softly: “Mother, wait a moment.”

Saying this, Zhu Yijun stepped out.

Empress Dowager Chen sank into self-pity, saying nothing.

Not long after, the emperor’s voice sounded again: “Mother, look.”

Empress Dowager Chen turned her head and saw Zhang Hong cradling a girl of over one year old.

Zhu Yijun spoke gently: “This is the sixth daughter of the late emperor, born to Imperial Concubine Wang—Zhu Yaoe. She is now one year and nine months old.”

“After Imperial Concubine Wang died in childbirth, she has been raised by Imperial Concubine Qin.”

“Now that Your Majesty has taken her rightful place as Empress of the Inner Palace, mother of all under heaven, she should naturally be entrusted to you.”

Empress Dowager Chen slowly walked forward, gazing at the infant in Zhang Hong’s arms.

She reached out and gently patted her twice.

Then turned to face the emperor squarely.

This young emperor—she could no longer tell how much was feigned, how much was real.

In fact, she was beginning to fear her own son—this mastery of human hearts was not human at all.

Was he afraid she would take her own life and damage his throne?

Or was he simply moved by her loneliness, seeking to give her a daughter to care for?

She reached out and took Zhu Yaoe, asking absently: “Your Majesty, what is your true purpose tonight?”

Zhu Yijun met her gaze, respectfully: “Mother, truly, I came for no other reason—to resolve your heart’s knot.”

“Yet now that I am here, I recall one matter: the rewards at tomorrow’s Xuanzhimen ceremony had some errors, and I must revise the edict.”

“It only lacks your name added.”

Empress Dowager Chen suddenly understood: “You mean to dismiss Gao Gong!?”

She knew perfectly well what she had done.

Precisely because she supported Gao Gong, he had been able to suppress both inner and outer factions.

Only a few days passed, and the emperor broke into Ciqing Palace—surely, that was why.

But Zhu Yijun shook his head: “Grand Secretary Gao has served three reigns, is revered for virtue and merit—how could I dismiss him?”

His tone was deep, inscrutable: “I shall reward him handsomely.”

Empress Dowager Chen was startled, yet did not press further.

For such matters now, she had lost all interest.

She nodded vaguely: “Give me the edict.”

That meant she agreed to add her name.

Zhu Yijun stood still, motionless.

After a pause, he slowly said: “No need to trouble Mother… I have already sent someone to fetch the imperial seals.”

Empress Dowager Chen fell silent.

The two remained wordless for a long while.

Finally, Zhu Yijun respectfully took his leave: “Mother, I shall take my leave now.”

Empress Dowager Chen merely held Zhu Yaoe, saying nothing.

When the emperor had withdrawn, she glanced at his back, and let out a bitter laugh.

Laughing, she suddenly began to cry.

…

Zhu Yijun tilted his head, listening to the sounds within the hall.

Hearing faint, intermittent sobs, he finally relaxed.

Crying was good—it released emotion, and she would not easily take her own life.

As he walked out, he felt a quiet reflection: this was likely his last time pretending such youth before the two palaces.

Now, Zhang Juzheng shared his understanding.

Empress Li could only rely on him.

Gao Yi regarded him as his true sovereign.

The imperial lecturers saw him as a genius.

After tomorrow, when he drives out Gao Gong and reorganizes the Grand Secretariat,

He will be, in the eyes of the two palaces, court ministers, nobles, and eunuchs, the true and rightful Son of Heaven!

The Emperor is the Emperor!

Zhu Xixiao silently followed behind the emperor, suddenly noticing the emperor unconsciously rubbing his abdomen, then, finding nothing there, clasped his hands behind his back and walked calmly, composed.

This posture made him strangely feel the emperor’s aura had sharply changed.

He no longer seemed a youthful sovereign—but a ruler who had held supreme power for years!

Still puzzling, he suddenly heard the emperor speak to him: “Zhu Qing, clean up before you leave.”

Zhu Xixiao’s thoughts halted abruptly; he bowed and replied, “Yes,” then withdrew.

Zhu Yijun then instructed Zhang Hong: “Go, find two cats and send them to Mother. Also, have more women from the Chen family visit her often.”

Zhang Hong hurriedly replied: “I shall arrange it tomorrow.”

As Zhu Yijun walked out, he seemed to recall something: “For now, you personally attend to my mother. She has no one to serve her—she will be easily bullied.”

“If you need more staff, ask Li Jin.”

Zhang Hong understood the implication: “I shall ensure the Empress Dowager suffers no indignity, and no one disturbs her peace.”

Zhu Yijun nodded.

As soon as he stepped out of Ciqing Palace, he saw Jiang Keqian waiting outside, holding the edict.

Zhu Yijun took it, glanced at it briefly—it already bore the imperial and both palace seals—and returned it to Jiang Keqian.

He ordered: “Let’s go, rest now.”

He looked up at the fading white rainbow, murmuring: “Tomorrow will be busy indeed.”