The carriage continued forward.
After entering the palace and traveling along a section of the palace path, Qu Dubian got out of the carriage. Looking up, he saw Emperor Chongzhao not far ahead.
It was already quite dark. The Emperor wore his regular black imperial attire, standing with his hands behind his back at the end of the palace path, with palace attendants holding lanterns behind him.
His expression wasn’t visible, and it was unclear how long he had been waiting.
Seeing Qu Dubian arrive, the Emperor didn’t call out.
Alright, I get it, the old man is jealous, thought Qu Dubian as he ran over and hugged him: “Father Emperor!” Looking up with bright eyes, he asked, “Did you miss me?”
Only then did Emperor Chongzhao speak, flicking his forehead with a finger, “That’s improper. Did you enjoy your time at your maternal grandparents’ home?”
Qu Dubian: “Yes, the food was good, and I had fun.”
Emperor Chongzhao’s brows knotted, “You didn’t say anything about disliking the small pillow your grandmother made for you, did you?” He remembered clearly how his little son had kicked away the medicinal pillow with disdain that day.
Qu Dubian: “…”
That was only because you were suspicious of them! Now you have the nerve to ask about it?
He said: “No, I didn’t. Before, I just didn’t know them. I’m very polite.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “That’s good.”
Qu Dubian walked with him, and when they stood at the entrance of the Zichen Palace, he asked with confusion: “Aren’t I going to Shunning Palace? Concubine Xuan said she prepared a room for me.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “Oh, there’s no official edict yet. Besides, they haven’t finished preparing over there. You’ll stay in the Zichen Palace for a few more days.”
After saying this, he looked down at his little son’s slightly messy bun, “What? Are you unwilling?”
Qu Dubian: “Father, honestly, are you reluctant to let me move out?”
Emperor Chongzhao: “I am the Emperor. How could I be reluctant?”
“Emperors are people too. You just don’t want to part with me. I’m so clever and cute, it’s normal for you to be attached to me. Being honest isn’t embarrassing.”
Emperor Chongzhao couldn’t maintain his composure and gritted his teeth: “I am not reluctant.”
Qu Dubian chuckled secretly: “Oh~ Hehe, you’re angry because you’re embarrassed.”
“Qu Xiaoqi!”
“I’m not listening, I’m not listening, I’m not listening!”
The child darted over the threshold like a loach, dodging the Emperor’s reaching hand, and ran back to the sleeping chambers.
“You stop right there!”
The Zichen Palace, which had been quiet for seven days, was instantly infused with vitality.
Head Eunuch Yu swished his whisk, smiling.
“Xiaoyuan Gonggong, thank you for accompanying the Seventh Prince these past few days.”
Ye Xiaoyuan said: “The prince will still stay here for a few days, so you’ll have your work cut out for you as well.”
“Ah,” Head Eunuch Yu lowered his voice, “We actually hope the young prince stays here. You probably don’t know, but before the Seventh Prince moved in, His Majesty rarely relaxed like this. When has the Zichen Palace ever had such joyful laughter that makes people happy just hearing it?”
He pointed around, “Today, knowing the young prince was returning, the palace servants cleaned this area early, without any orders from His Majesty or myself.”
They all welcomed this child who brought happiness.
–
The next day.
The first court session of the new year.
It was also a grand court assembly.
The Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice were responsible for handling Zhang Shiming’s case.
Since His Majesty had mentioned it during the New Year’s banquet, this was the focus of today’s grand court assembly.
Everyone had a sense of anticipation, eager for the first drama of the new year, starting with the Sword-Holding Marquis.
They were all betting on whether the Sword-Holding Marquis would be punished.
Emperor Chongzhao arrived early, glancing at Xu Jin who stood properly in his place, and at the calm-faced Prince Ming.
Among all the court officials, only these two knew that Xu Jin had already handed over his power, and they had reached an agreement privately.
Today’s court session was merely a show put on by the two of them.
With Head Eunuch Yu’s announcement of “Court is in session,” the stage play officially began.
Emperor Chongzhao suddenly expressed grief: “Yesterday, We received a memorial from Marquis Xu. Marquis Xu, you are in your prime years, how can you request to resign?”
The court officials: “???”
They didn’t know the Sword-Holding Marquis had requested to resign!
Xu Jin stepped forward, equally sorrowful: “Ah, Your Majesty is merciful, but this subject has grown old and can no longer bear the responsibility of guarding the northern border. It’s time to step aside for someone more capable.”
The other officials who were unaware of the inside story erupted.
“Your Majesty! This subject objects!”
“Your Majesty, please reconsider.”
“The Sword-Holding Marquis can step down, but Your Majesty, from which department should we select a replacement?”
They immediately erupted into argument.
Those who supported the Sword-Holding Marquis stepping down and those who opposed it each held their ground, arguing until their faces turned red and necks bulged.
They argued with genuine emotion while Emperor Chongzhao calmly waited for them to finish, then said:
“Ah, I am also quite reluctant to let you go. Marquis Xu, how about this: since you say you’re old and lack energy, I will select another person to assist you, sharing military authority with you and the command of border troops.”
“Given that this person is new, I am not entirely confident, so I will also dispatch Prince Ming, along with seven supervisors from the Eastern Depot, to station in the northern border for supervision. How does that sound?”
Finding himself suddenly part of the drama, Prince Ming widened his eyes: “Royal Brother, me???”
Emperor Chongzhao: “Do you have objections?”
Prince Ming: “…”
Xu Jin cupped his hands: “This subject has no objections.”
In reality, the power over the northern border was simply being divided into three parts. He would hold half the military authority, the person promoted by His Majesty would hold the other half, and Prince Ming with the accompanying Eastern Depot eunuchs would represent the royal family, responsible for supervision.
What was that phrase his little grandson used? A triangle is the most stable shape.
Emperor Chongzhao pondered: “If that’s the case, then only one question remains: which beloved official should I select to follow the Sword-Holding Marquis to the northern border to command troops?”
Without waiting for the court officials to speak, he named someone: “Xia Hong.”
Standing in the middle-rear position, Xia Hong was startled, then stepped forward and cupped his hands: “Your Majesty.”
Prince Ming turned to look and found that this was indeed the person he had seen at the New Year’s banquet—upright, with a resolute face, wearing a military uniform of not particularly high rank.
Emperor Chongzhao announced in a clear voice: “Are you willing to serve as My third-rank Northern Pacification General, accompanying the Sword-Holding Marquis to the northern border?”
With a leap in rank and half the military authority of the northern border—an enormous windfall—Xia Hong’s expression was stunned for a moment before he quickly composed himself and said solemnly: “This subject follows Your Majesty’s arrangement and is willing to go to the northern border to guard the Da Zhou frontier!”
“Good!”
Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand.
Head Eunuch Yu immediately carried a small tray, running to Xia Hong. On it was clearly the other half of the military tally.
It had obviously been prepared in advance!
Now the other officials understood everything.
From beginning to end, the smooth process of transferring power, polite refusal, then partial transfer, “Well, you can transfer half,” “I’ll select someone else to go with you…”—the entire procedure.
Except for Xia Hong, who seemed genuinely confused, His Majesty and the Sword-Holding Marquis had clearly arranged everything beforehand!
Only they, like fools, had been genuinely emotional.
Xia Hong took the half military tally from the tray with both hands: “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Chongzhao said happily: “Good, the matter is settled. Sword-Holding Marquis, please do not mention resignation again.”
Xu Jin returned to his position: “Yes.”
“Do any of you beloved officials have other matters? If not, the court is dismissed!”
The Minister of Justice: “Your Majesty, please wait. This subject has one matter. Regarding whether Zhang Shiming was a northern border assassin, our Ministry of Justice…”
“Hmm?” Emperor Chongzhao said, “Oh, there’s no need to investigate this further. He was indeed impersonating a northern border assassin. As for where the real Zhang Shiming went, he presumably died unfortunately when he was replaced by the northern border assassin.”
“The Head of the Astrology Bureauau has painfully lost his beloved son. I understand and will not pursue his error of seeking justice at the palace gate.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “There’s one more thing. You.”
Minister of Justice: “This subject?”
Emperor Chongzhao: “Marquis Xu values you highly. In his memorial, he specifically named you to go to the northern border. You, and the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, go together.”
Like a thunderbolt from the blue!
The Minister of Justice’s vision darkened, feeling he could hardly breathe.
He fell to his knees with a thud: “This subject is the Minister of Justice and knows nothing about border affairs!”
The Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice also hurriedly said: “This subject as well!”
With the Sword-Holding Marquis relinquishing power, His Majesty was already pleased. Generally, whatever request he made, as long as it wasn’t excessive, His Majesty wouldn’t refuse.
Now that he had specifically named two officials from the Ministry of Justice to go to the northern border, the court officials could only assume it was because the Supervising Secretary had caused trouble for Xu Jin at the New Year’s banquet, and after the banquet had accepted Zhang Fanming’s petition for justice, earning Xu Jin’s resentment.
Emperor Chongzhao’s voice was gentle: “Come now, it’s not a big matter. It’s just going to the border to have a look; it’s not like you won’t return. Marquis Xu needs you to go to the border to teach the laws of our Da Zhou.”
The Minister of Justice said excitedly: “Your Majesty, if this subject goes, who can fill the position of Minister? The two Deputy Ministers lack experience…”
“I have thought of this. Where is the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review?”
Xi Fushi, also known as Xi Shiqiu, immediately stepped forward upon hearing this: “This subject is here.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “You shall take the position of Minister of Justice. Once the Deputy Chief Justice becomes familiar with the affairs of the Court of Judicial Review, you will assume your post at the Ministry of Justice.”
A direct promotion from third rank to second rank senior official.
Xi Shiqiu naturally had no reason to refuse: “This subject obeys the imperial edict.”
Xu Jin glanced at the Minister of Justice and the Supervising Secretary.
The note from the Xie family had mentioned it.
When Noble Lady Chu poisoned the Seventh Prince, it was very likely to save her imprisoned brother, so the person behind her, or rather the person who instigated her, must have been able to interfere with the Ministry of Justice.
Noble Lady Chu had never revealed who was behind her, even until her death. Perhaps she herself didn’t know.
Without concrete evidence, Xu Jin couldn’t be certain whether it was true.
Noble Consort Lan was in the inner palace, and as an outside official, he couldn’t touch her. He could only ask Concubine Xuan to help keep watch.
But he could use this opportunity to remove all those in the court who might pose a threat to his little grandson and wife.
He would leave, fine, but these people would have to leave too.
He wouldn’t kill them, but the border always needed people to work.
–
As the Head of the Astrology Bureauau, Zhang Fanming didn’t have the right to attend court. He could only sit in his wheelchair in front of the Court of Judicial Review, waiting for the grand court assembly to make a final ruling on his son’s death.
The grand court assembly lasted a long time.
It wasn’t until nearly noon, when the officials were dizzy with hunger, that court was dismissed.
Xi Shiqiu bought a cup of milk tea and returned to his office after court. Zhang Fanming immediately went up to him: “Official Xi! Official Xi, may I ask how the court proceedings went? My son…”
Xi Shiqiu said: “From today, I am no longer the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review.”
Zhang Fanming’s face twitched, “What? Have you lost your position, sir?”
“Oh, no, I’ve been promoted.”
Zhang Fanming: “…”
“Then what about my son’s case? What was said at the court assembly?”
Xi Shiqiu was silent for a moment: “The military authority has been divided. Head Zhang, you should try to find peace in your grief.”
Zhang Fanming’s expression instantly turned ashen.
He completely understood that for his son’s death, there was nowhere left to seek justice.
Xi Shiqiu entered his office.
From the moment Xu Jin relinquished power, from the moment His Majesty and Xu Jin began their coordinated performance at the grand court assembly, Zhang Shiming was destined to be nothing more than a fake replaced by a northern border assassin.
In the struggle and transfer of power, Zhang Shiming’s death was a punching bag for venting anger, the result of bearing Xu Jin’s hatred.
Along with the original Minister of Justice and Supervising Secretary, His Majesty gave them away under the pretext of spreading legal codes, without even mentioning when they would return.
The balance of military power at the border was, in His Majesty’s eyes, more important than anything else. Xu Jin naming them at this time was no different from the King of Hell calling their names.
Under the great waves, the disappearance of one or two ants would not catch the helmsman’s attention.
–
Western Warm Chamber.
Xia Hong stood respectfully before the imperial desk.
Emperor Chongzhao: “Do you know why I chose you?”
Xia Hong: “This subject does not know.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “I noticed you early on. When you were in Ji Prefecture, you already showed talent in leading troops, rising steadily, and this year you came before me.”
“At the border, I don’t want it to become anyone’s one-man show. Of course, I also don’t want internal disputes. You’ve risen from the local ranks, untainted by court factions, with no one backing you. This is good. This is why I chose you.”
Xia Hong: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s recognition.”
Emperor Chongzhao appreciated his formal attitude. “Maintain neutrality and guard the border. This is my advice to you.”
“I grant you a residence in the capital and give you half a month to bring your wife and children from Ji Prefecture to the capital. I will watch over them. With me here, no one will bully them.”
Xia Hong paused, then said, “Yes.”
After this earnest conversation between ruler and subject, Xia Hong left the Western Warm Chamber.
He looked back.
Was His Majesty’s invitation for his family to come to the capital more for protection or for surveillance?
The waters of the capital ran deep. As soon as he set foot in it, he had already stepped into a dark vortex.
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
