Xie Yanfang walked leisurely into the court hall, first glancing at Deng Yi standing at the front, then looking toward the back.
Officials were standing in order, whispering to each other, creating some commotion in the hall.
“Vice Censor Xie,” an official beside him said in a low voice with hands clasped, “after missing a few days, don’t you notice there are fewer people attending court?”
Xie Yanfang said, “There are indeed a few less.” Then he smiled. “But there are also a few more.”
As they spoke, two more officials entered—one civil official, one military officer. One was thin and weak, the other a rough fellow. They seemed quite unremarkable, but the commotion in the hall immediately ceased. The officials’ expressions became indifferent, even disdainful, but all stared at these two men.
One was Guard Division Commissioner Ding Chui, the other was the former Hanlin Academy compiler, now Guard Division Vice Commissioner Zhu Yong.
“This is absurd. How are they qualified to attend court?”
“What Guard Division? Just hanging a title lets them attend court?”
The surrounding comments were as piercing as the stares, but Ding Dachui was ignorant, fearless, and unconcerned. Zhu Yong had a firm will and even smiled as he greeted officials beside him.
Seeing him greet them, the nearby officials couldn’t very well curse him to his face—one doesn’t strike a smiling person.
Some turned their heads away, refusing to look at him. Others couldn’t help but let their gaze linger on the python-patterned belt at Zhu Yong’s waist. No matter what, this Guard Division, this Zhu Yong—they were now the Empress’s right and left hands. Even the Grand Tutor couldn’t interfere. They could arrest whoever they said, and whoever they declared guilty would have their home raided.
Better not to offend them, to avoid retaliation.
So a few officials forced smiles at Zhu Yong.
This scene didn’t escape others’ notice. An official at the front gave Xie Yanfang a quiet smile. “Commissioner Ding rarely attends court—he sits at the Guard Division raiding homes. His attendance today means more officials are about to face misfortune.”
He glanced toward where Deng Yi stood.
“The Grand Tutor will be distressed again. There are fewer and fewer people.”
Deng Yi controlled the Ministry of Revenue from top to bottom with his people. The officials on Xie Yanfang’s side were happy to watch the spectacle.
“Vice Censor, you were right. We’ll observe quietly. At times like this, whoever jumps around the most gets hit hardest by the Empress.”
Although everyone was also dissatisfied with the Empress acting this way—an Empress interfering in politics had always been a great taboo for the nation—Xie Yanfang said this was currently a good thing.
“Compared to us, the Empress is most qualified to stop the Grand Tutor from monopolizing power with his single hand.”
Now it seemed to be exactly so.
Once the Empress dealt with the Grand Tutor’s autocracy, the Emperor would be able to rule personally in a few years. Then they could deal with the Empress, and the realm would be clear and bright.
If not for the music announcing the Emperor’s ascension to court, these officials would have wanted to applaud and cheer.
The Emperor and Empress entered the hall hand in hand. The officials set aside their various thoughts and bowed. “Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!”
As expected, as soon as court began, even before the Grand Tutor could speak, Ding Dachui stepped forward. “This minister has a memorial to present.”
He addressed the Empress directly, not even glancing at the Grand Tutor.
Chu Zhao said, “Please speak.”
“The Ministry of Revenue’s investigation into the Xiangzhou summer floods is nearly complete,” Ding Dachui said. “All the leads have been sorted out. This minister requests to patrol Xiangzhou and make arrests.”
As expected, many more people were about to face misfortune. The officials in the hall exchanged glances. Some gloated, others looked angry. Just because you say you’ve investigated thoroughly, that’s that? Whatever you say goes?
“Good that the leads are clear,” the Empress’s voice came from above. “The Xiangzhou matter is of great importance. Besides investigating corrupt criminals, we must also improve the dikes and channels. Therefore, Grand Tutor, please arrange for relevant departments to coordinate with the Guard Division in investigating this case.”
The officials in the hall were stunned. Had they heard wrong?
The Empress said quite a bit today?
Shouldn’t she just say “approved” and be done with it? Why mention the Grand Tutor? And request his coordination?
The officials’ gazes involuntarily turned toward Deng Yi.
It didn’t matter how much the Empress said—the Grand Tutor wouldn’t respond anyway.
Deng Yi’s expression was wooden. “The Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Justice will assist.”
The hall fell silent, just as when the Empress spoke with no one responding.
After a moment of stagnation, officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Justice came to their senses and hurriedly stepped forward. “This minister accepts the command.”
The Empress added, “Lord Zhu, I must trouble you to go to Xiangzhou again with the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Personnel.”
Zhu Yong quickly stepped out of line. “This minister accepts the command.”
The Empress said no more. Several officials returned to their positions.
Deng Yi’s voice rang out again. “Ministry of Rites, has the gift list for Prince Zhenguo been prepared?”
The Ministry of Rites official was slightly slow to react before stepping forward to confirm it had.
“Read it aloud. Everyone will review it together,” Deng Yi said.
The Ministry of Rites official was somewhat flustered, taking out the gift list that had been prepared long ago to read it before the court.
The Ministry of Rites Vice Minister’s mellow voice rose and fell, echoing through the hall. The officials in the hall seemed to hear it yet not hear it, their minds still dwelling on the earlier exchange between the Empress and Grand Tutor.
Compared to the list the Ministry of Rites Vice Minister was reading, the exchange between the Empress and Grand Tutor was so brief it could almost be ignored.
But its significance was enormous.
The Empress had taken the initiative to have the Guard Division coordinate with the Grand Tutor, no longer acting tyrannically alone.
And the Grand Tutor had actually responded to the Empress’s words. Didn’t this mean the Grand Tutor had accepted the Empress interfering in politics?
This was a major change!
……
……
After court adjourned, discussions were everywhere. The Grand Tutor’s residence had countless officials visiting, and even the newly established Guard Division, which sat right next to the Ministry of Justice and had always been deserted, had quite a few officials tentatively entering.
Naturally, the Censorate also had a constant stream of visitors.
However, everyone came up empty. Xie Yanfang had gone straight home after court.
“The Third Young Master doesn’t seem concerned. It seems he knew already.”
“Since the Third Young Master knows, this matter is nothing. Everyone needn’t be too nervous.”
Having failed to see him, people actually felt relieved and dispersed.
……
……
“What is really going on?”
Xie Yanfang could avoid the officials by returning home, but he couldn’t avoid Seventh Master Xie.
Seventh Master Xie had taken leave and not attended court. Upon hearing the news, he was about to rush out when he ran into Xie Yanfang returning.
“This matter,” Xie Yanfang had just stepped inside when he stopped and said, “I also don’t know.”
Seventh Master Xie’s expression grew more serious. “Even you don’t know?”
Xie Yanfang said, “Seventh Uncle, I’m not a deity. How could I know everything?” He took the cloth from a maid to wipe himself and let them remove his official robes.
“But didn’t you say the Empress is like you?” Seventh Master Xie frowned, somewhat complaining. “How she thinks—how could you not know?”
This statement was strangely pleasing to hear. Xie Yanfang immediately smiled. “Fine, then let me think it through carefully.”
He then went straight to sit on a cushion by the window without putting on an outer robe, striking a pose as if deeply contemplating.
Seventh Master Xie had watched him grow up and had been teased by him from childhood to adulthood. He wouldn’t fall for it now. He said helplessly, “Third Lang, stop fooling around. This is no small matter.”
This truly wasn’t a small matter. Xie Yanfang looked at the chess board on the table.
“Last night the Empress went to see Deng Yi,” Steward Cai said as he came in to pour tea, addressing Seventh Master Xie. “It seems the two reached an agreement and decided to each take a step back.”
Seventh Master Xie said angrily, “If they each take a step back, that’s them taking a step forward together, and we’ll have no path left.” He asked again, “What exactly did they say? They were obviously at each other’s throats—how did they suddenly reconcile?”
Steward Cai shook his head. “We don’t know. As you know, Seventh Master, although we can glimpse movements in the palace, the Grand Tutor controls the outer city guards, and the Empress herself holds the Dragon Might Army guarding the inner palace. We still have no way to get close to their immediate vicinity.”
When the two spoke behind closed doors, outsiders absolutely couldn’t listen in.
“Yanfang shouldn’t have returned the inner palace guard token to Little Yu,” Seventh Master Xie said irritably.
Xie Yanfang, who had been studying the chess board, heard his name mentioned and came back to attention. “What shouldn’t be taken can’t be taken. Taking it would only cause trouble. As for what the Empress and Grand Tutor said, not knowing doesn’t matter.”
Seventh Master Xie said, “How can it not matter?”
Xie Yanfang didn’t follow his usual teasing but shook his head, then nodded. “It does matter.” He sighed. “Miss Zhao is still too kindhearted.”
He swept one hand across his sleeve and picked up a brush with the other.
“Kindness is a good quality, but to be a good empress, to split mountains and part seas—how can one not be ruthless and cruel?”
“Then let me help you cut away this kindness.”