Chapter 1060
The Retired Emperor Enters the Court
Chapter 1060 The Retired Emperor Enters the Court
The Imperial Palace in the capital
In front of the Meridian Gate,
The previously oppressive standoff has now melted away like ice and snow, revealing the first rays of sunlight.
The Prince of Jin, wrapped in a moon-white cloak, rode on his horse with a smile on his face, which was as refreshing as a spring breeze. His gentle bow also brought a touch of color to the ashen faces of the other princes.
King Zhou Changde of Zheng snorted coldly. This was the first time he had been so pressured by a junior. He calmed himself down and returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.
"Who do we have here? Nephew, you've been hiding for so long. You didn't even greet your uncle when you saw him. Anyone who didn't know better would think we're strangers."
Although the tone wasn't sarcastic, it was still unpleasant to hear. The other vassal kings, seemingly relieved, all let out a cold snort, unaware that this was nothing more than a trivial matter.
"Uncle, you are joking. We are all of imperial blood, how could we be estranged? If anyone is being estranged, it is you uncles who are not respecting etiquette. Since the court has its own laws, then what Marquis Luoyun said, that you can only enter the court if you produce an imperial edict, is reasonable."
They tried to persuade him with kind words and even threatened to produce an imperial edict. These tactics caused the princes' expressions to darken again.
“Nephew, look at you. The imperial court has its own laws, but our clan has its own rules. How can we return to the capital without paying our respects to the emperor?”
King Song chuckled, managing to smooth things over, but King Zhou Ding of Jin remained unmoved.
“Uncle, the imperial family has its own rules. When there is no court assembly, you can come freely without worry. But today’s grand court assembly is for civil and military officials to discuss important matters of state. How can you enter the court at will? Is that right?”
Seeing that the Prince of Jin was unmoved by reason, the Prince of Han was extremely angry and rebuked him;
"Stop talking nonsense, we're going in today, and nobody dares to stop us. Let's go!"
At a single command, over a thousand guards were about to set off to escort them.
Zhang Jinyu's eyes narrowed; it seemed there was something fishy going on. The more they wanted to enter, the less they could be allowed to. With a wave of his hand, the cavalry behind him had already formed ranks. Just at this critical moment, Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, his eyes flashed, and he led his troops to block the Meridian Gate.
"Your Highnesses, this is the Meridian Gate. How can you be so unruly? Since the court has its laws, it is best to follow them."
"Yes, Your Highnesses have come from afar. If you have nothing else to do, you might as well return to the Court of State Ceremonies and rest well. You can come to pay your respects after the Grand Court Assembly."
The Prince of Dongping spoke languidly, leading his troops to block the other side. Now, the other princes were caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and could only coldly watch the two figures before them.
"Very well, very well. I never expected that you two would dare to block my way here. I've certainly broadened my horizons."
King Zheng's face was already ashen; it couldn't be uglier. He hadn't expected this unexpected turn of events. Now, was he really going to produce an imperial edict?
"Your Highness, please don't overthink it."
Shui Rong clasped his hands in a salute, but the soldiers behind him didn't move at all, clearly indicating that it was just talk.
"Very well, since you want the imperial edict, I will produce it. The Emperor Emeritus has decreed that you all come to court to participate in the court assembly."
With his head held high, holding the bright yellow imperial edict, he waved it around right before everyone's eyes. Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, was taken aback, then dismounted, saluted, and walked over to take the edict. Unfolding it, he saw that it was indeed the seal of the Emperor Emeritus. It seemed to be the Emperor Emeritus's will.
At this moment, Prince Dongping, Mu Shi, also came over. Upon seeing the imperial seal on the edict, he was also taken aback. It seemed that today's court assembly was no ordinary event.
Now that the imperial decree had been issued, the two men had no choice but to comply. They waved their hands, clearing the way for the soldiers blocking their path. The princes, their faces lit up with joy, prepared to enter.
suddenly,
Zhang Jinyu shouted loudly.
"Wait a minute."
Just as everyone stopped in their tracks, Zhang Jinyu led his troops near the Meridian Gate and ordered Ning Bian to retrieve the imperial edict.
"You've been hiding everything from me, and now you're blocking us from entering. And now you've pulled out a yellow cloth—I haven't even seen it, how am I supposed to know if it's real or fake?"
"you,"
Prince Zheng's face flushed with anger. "A fake imperial edict? If you hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't have been able to produce it!" he thought. Ningbian handed the edict to Zhang Jinyu, who unfolded it and read it. It was indeed an edict from the Emperor Emeritus. He then showed the edict to Prince Jin beside him.
"Your Highness, is the seal genuine or fake?"
I can recognize the characters in the imperial edict, but this seal is rather strange. Whether it's an official seal or a private seal, they are either rounded or square. I've never seen a seal with this Taoist yin-yang design before.
Little did they know that after examining it carefully, the Prince of Jin nodded.
"My lord, that is indeed true. The seal used by the retired emperor is different from ordinary official seals. It is based on the Taoist principles of Yin and Yang, so very few people know about it. It is quite unexpected that several of my uncles have the retired emperor's decree."
Prince Jin hadn't expected that the message was conveyed by the Emperor Emeritus, and he didn't know if his father was aware of it.
"So they came prepared, or rather, with a purpose. It seems today's court assembly is not simple."
Zhang Jinyu murmured something, then handed the imperial edict to Ning Bian, instructing him to return it.
"In that case, Your Highness, let's go inside."
"Listen to the Marquis, I suppose Father Emperor must already know that we've been delayed here for so long,"
Prince Jin nodded, dismounted, and entered through the Meridian Gate with Marquis Luoyun. He didn't say a word when passing by several princes, which angered them so much that they gritted their teeth and were filled with resentment.
“That’s outrageous!”
Inside the Qianqing Palace,
Emperor Wu, Zhou Shihong, had arrived at the palace early. He paused briefly before the dragon throne, then turned and sat down, his gaze sharp as he looked at the kneeling eunuchs of the inner court.
"You mean, my brothers, the princes, have also come?"
"Your Majesty, the princes have all arrived, but they were blocked by Marquis Luoyun and Prince Jin with their personal guards, and almost came to blows. In addition, Prince Beijing and Prince Dongping also intervened in the end, but the princes produced the imperial edict of the retired emperor, and were then able to enter the Meridian Gate. The civil and military officials are already waiting outside the hall."
The old eunuch spoke quickly, recounting the events, but the mention of Chang Le Palace still sent shivers down his spine. The Empress touched her wrist, waved her hand to dismiss him, and looked at Dai Quan beside her, asking a question.
"The palace gates of Chang Le Palace were opened last night, probably to deliver this imperial edict."
His tone was indifferent. Dai Quan couldn't help but sigh; it was ultimately his own oversight.
"Your Majesty, the imperial edict should have been sent out yesterday, but the palace gates were wide open. Perhaps there is another reason. The people I sent over did not report anything in detail. It seems that the princes had a plan in mind. Fortunately, Marquis Luoyun is there to stop them."
Neither denying nor admitting it, the opening of the palace gates might also be a smokescreen.
"You old fool, you overlooked something. It seems today's court assembly is not simple. The rewards for the three armies will be announced immediately after all the civil and military officials have entered the court."
Since things have changed, we can no longer follow the old practice of reading out the imperial edict and seizing the initiative.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant understands."
"Make a fuss."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Dai Quan responded several times, then gave Xiao Yunzi a wink. Immediately, shouts of encouragement echoed from inside the Qianqing Hall.
"Boom! All civil and military officials, enter the palace for court!"
"Boom! All civil and military officials, enter the palace for court!"
"Boom! All civil and military officials, enter the palace for court!"
One announcement after another was made from the front of the palace gates, spreading towards the front courtyard.
The civil and military officials, who had been waiting for a long time, ascended the jade steps one by one and entered the hall. Several princes hurried to their destination and arrived as well, but unfortunately, they had already gone inside, so they could only follow behind the procession and stand in the column of military officials.
Zhang Jinyu and the others, however, remained unhurried. After everyone had entered, the line of military officials was already full. So, Zhang Jinyu followed the line of civil officials, standing at the back with Prince Jin. Thus, Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, and Prince Dong Ping, Mu Shi, had to each pull their two princes to stand in the empty seats behind the civil officials.
After everyone had stood still, they all knelt down and shouted in unison.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the Emperor."
"Everyone is safe."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After expressing their gratitude, the civil and military officials rose. Emperor Zhou Shihong glanced around the hall and, sure enough, saw his elder brothers at the very back, with Marquis Luo Yun and his group standing opposite them. Good, they kept an eye on each other. He then gave Dai Quan a meaningful look.
Upon seeing this, Dai Quan immediately strode forward.
The imperial edict was taken out and read aloud.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims:
I, by the mandate of Heaven, have come to rule the world. I have been diligent day and night in seeking out virtuous and capable men to bring peace to the people. Marquis Luoyun possesses both virtue and talent, has fulfilled his duties to the utmost, and has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion in the south of the capital. His loyalty and bravery are commendable, and his diligence is exemplary. Therefore, I hereby confer upon Marquis Luoyun the title of Marquis, grant him the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and bestow upon him the title of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall. I hereby bestow upon him special honors to recognize his merits.
Prince Bei Jing and Prince Dong Ping are both exemplary princes of the realm, upright and benevolent, dedicated to serving the country day and night without rest. They are hereby granted the title of Earl of Dai Shen, with Prince Bei Jing appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Grand General of Xihe Commandery, and concurrently serving in the Imperial Study. Prince Dong Ping is appointed Grand General of Runan Commandery, temporarily overseeing the commanderies south of the capital, and concurrently serving in the Imperial Study. It is hoped that they will further cultivate their loyalty and contribute to the flourishing of the nation. The three princes are exceptionally gifted, gentle, frugal, and diligent in their studies. They are hereby granted a reward of a thousand gold pieces, in the hope that they will cultivate their virtues, pursue their studies diligently, and become pillars of the state in the future.
You should all understand my intentions and not fail my expectations. This is my decree.
Before the civil and military officials could react, the rewards were already being bestowed. This move caught many ministers off guard, and many civil officials were eager to participate. However, the senior cabinet ministers at the front remained calm and unmoved.
Zhang Jinyu and the others reacted quickly, stepping forward and kneeling on one knee in obeisance.
"Your subject, Zhang Jinyu, thanks Your Majesty,"
"Your subject Shui Rong thanks Your Majesty,"
Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, and Prince Dong Ping, Mu Shi, followed closely behind, along with the three princes, leaving everyone puzzled as to why the princes were standing at the very back.
"Alright, rise. These are the initial rewards. We also need to cooperate with the Ministry of Revenue to settle the soldiers properly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The group kowtowed again before standing up. For some reason, after Zhang Jinyu stood up, he glanced at the princes. Prince Zhou Lingguang of Han couldn't help but step forward and said.
"Your Majesty, your younger brother wishes to file a complaint against Marquis Luoyun for his arrogance, chaos in the capital, and disrespect towards the imperial family."
"Your Majesty, I also wish to file a complaint against Marquis Luoyun. He has disregarded the law and privately mobilized soldiers, which is extremely disrespectful to Your Majesty."
King Zhou Jiansheng of Song let out a wail and wept bitterly. He knelt on the ground, his grief overwhelming. This act drew frequent glances from the civil and military officials; it was truly a rare and unusual sight.
Now that they'd thrown out the pretense of civility, Zhang Jinyu wasn't about to give them any face. He stood directly beside the two men, cupped his fists in greeting, and said...
"Your Majesty, I also have a complaint against several princes. They are arrogant and lawless, gathering troops to block the official road and attacking the Prince of Jin's carriage. This is tantamount to treason. I have also heard a children's rhyme in the capital: 'When the princes return to the capital, the people will suffer. If they enter the court, they will change the world.' I believe that these princes have committed treason. I request Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
"You, you, Marquis Luo Yun, how dare you!"
King Zheng's expression changed, and he angrily rebuked,
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luoyun's act of massacring the city south of the capital has offended Heaven and shaken the foundation of the Great Wu. There are even folk songs in the capital that say, 'The sun shines brightly, the red sun revolves, Marquis Yun massacres the city, a great calamity for the world,' which clearly refers to Marquis Luoyun."
Before King Zheng could finish speaking, he heard the Empress Wu's rebuke coming from the dragon throne.
"Alright, how can a dignified prince of the imperial clan act like a commoner? Your affairs can be discussed later. Now that the civil unrest in the south of the capital has been quelled, I wonder how my beloved ministers plan to deal with the various prefectures in the south of the capital."
It was clearly a delaying tactic, and all the civil and military officials were well aware of this. However, with the princes making such a fuss, it seemed unlikely that the court proceedings would proceed smoothly.
Gu Yichen remained unmoved. The Ministry of Revenue had run out of money. As the saying goes, even a clever cook cannot make a meal without rice. The counties south of the capital could only be abandoned. Shen Zhongxin understood this as well and stepped forward to bow.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the officials and soldiers of our Great Wu Dynasty, in suppressing the empire, are acting in accordance with Heaven's will. Many cities in the southern prefectures have been burned down, and the area south of the capital is also suffering from water shortages, with vast stretches of barren land. It would be better to maintain the status quo, consolidate the largest prefecture in the Western River region, strengthen its defenses, and make up for the court's deficit."
"Your Majesty, I second that proposal."
"I also second my opinion."
Gu Yichen's northern faction of officials all stood up in agreement, while the officials of the other six ministries stood by and watched. The nobles, already basking in their rewards and enjoying their wealth, naturally remained silent. Only a few princes reluctantly retreated, exchanging glances and feeling that this year was unlucky for them.
"Yes, what Minister Shen said makes sense. The people in the south of the capital are in turmoil, causing havoc in the region. But things are not going as we wish. The south of the capital is suffering from a severe drought, with the land barren for thousands of miles. There is really no land to cultivate. In that case, let's do as Minister Shen said. The Ministry of Revenue should keep a close eye on things."
These decisions had all been made in advance by the cabinet; it was merely a formality. The Empress did not ask any further questions, deciding everything with a single word.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey the decree."
Shen Zhongxin accepted the order without hesitation, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect.
Just at this time,
Just as Yang Zhuo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was about to present the memorial, a group of eunuchs arrived from outside the Qianqing Hall. Xia Shouzhong stood in front of the hall gate and shouted,
"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived."
Everyone, who had been preoccupied with matters in Jingnan, suddenly fell silent. Why was the Emperor Emeritus here? At the palace gate, two eunuchs were seen supporting the Emperor Emeritus, Zhou Shengzhuo, as they slowly entered the hall.
The entire line of military meritorious princes knelt in obeisance.
"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to the Retired Emperor,"
"Your subject greets the Retired Emperor,"
Excitement was palpable in their voices and expressions, yet the civil officials remained almost completely still. Even Zhang Jinyu and the Prince of Jin did not turn around. The Prince of Beijing and the Prince of Dongping hesitated, but ultimately did not move either. One knelt, the other stood, clearly separated. However, the Empress's face darkened.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he glared fiercely at Dai Quan. Dai Quan, pale-faced and in turmoil, wondered why the Emperor Emeritus had left the palace.
"Rise. I have only recently emerged from my cultivation retreat and am not bound by such formalities. However, I have heard that today, all civil and military officials have entered the palace, and the civil unrest has been quelled. It should be a joyous occasion, so I came to take a look."
As he spoke, he moved slowly to the center of the hall, at which point the Empress had no choice but to stand up.
"Your son greets the Emperor Emeritus."
"Yes, Your Majesty, you speak, and I will add a seat here to listen."
Immediately, Xia Shouzhong brought out a chair from somewhere and placed it at the head of the throne on the east side. After it was placed, the retired emperor sat down there, lost in thought.
The Empress narrowed her eyes, her mind alert, but things had come to this point, and she could only deal with whatever came her way.
"Yang Zhuo, what do you have to say?"
When questioned, Vice Minister Yang stopped in his tracks, composed himself, and then began to speak.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"Report from Jiangnan, urgent dispatch from 600 li away!"
Before he could finish speaking, a member of the Imperial Guard rushed into the hall, carrying a red envelope—clearly an urgent document. This interruption left Yang Zhuo in a precarious situation.
"Dai Quan, bring it here,"
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
The court assembly today was full of twists and turns, and it seemed extremely strange.
Dai Quan arrived at the foot of the hall, took the envelope, and carefully examined it. The seal was untouched. He then presented it to the Empress. When she held it in her hand, she noticed its considerable weight. Looking at the signature, she saw it was from Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County in Jinling. A thought crossed her mind, but she did not open the envelope.
"My lords, this urgent document in my hand is from Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County in Nanjing. He is the deputy judge in the two cases in Nanjing. The document he is presenting should be the case files. Song Zhen, you are the Minister of Justice. You are to decipher this document."
One account says that Song Zhen, the Minister of Justice and the magistrate of Chunyang County in Jinling, was startled. The memorials from Jiangnan kept coming one after another, and the two major cases in Jinling involved a wide range of people. How could he not know about them? In particular, the Imperial Household Department had used the Jiangbei jade mine to transport jade northward, which was almost common knowledge. It involved the retired emperor. How could he dare to talk nonsense? The most important thing was...
This county magistrate spoke some extremely bold words, but the Emperor's eyes were fixed on him, so how could he dare to disobey? He could only stagger out of the queue and clasp his hands in greeting.
"Your Majesty, this old minister's eyesight is failing. Yesterday, I was busy organizing the documents in the ministry, which was exhausting and left me feeling weak and unable to see clearly. I beg Your Majesty to have someone else read them."
Such blatant evasion coming from the Minister of Justice surprised many. Grand Secretary Li Chonghou suddenly opened his eyes and glanced at the Emperor Emeritus. So, was the Emperor Emeritus here for the Jiangnan case, or for the sake of the princes?
"Ha, the dignified Minister of Justice, you also need to sort out the ministry's files? Your old eyes are failing you. Well, what a fine old eyes. Does that mean the entire Ministry of Justice is like you, having to sort out files and exhausting your mind?"
The Empress chuckled lightly, a mocking expression on her face. Truly, her eyesight was failing; the Minister of Justice was utterly useless. Just then, a man behind Song Zhen straightened up and stepped forward.
"Your subject, Chang Zuo, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is willing to open the letter and read it aloud!"
(End of this chapter)