Having said those words, Chen Fang left the matter there. Zhù Ying, as a Vice Chief of the Court of Foreign Affairs, had no channel to reach the Emperor’s side regardless. He told Zhù Ying because he felt that if she thought there was anything to be mindful of, she would give him a prompt; if there was nothing, then he would carry on as before.
Zhù Ying said: “Hold steady.”
Chen Fang said: “I was frightened at first — but it’s better now.”
And then neither of them spoke of it any further.
On the way they ran into several acquaintances, exchanged a few words each time, and Zhù Ying noticed she had not seen Xian Jing — likely summoned by Wang Yunhe to discuss something. She had no intention of seeking out Xian Jing for idle inquiries. The Emperor’s true condition would be apparent at the morning assembly tomorrow.
She calmly brought Chen Fang home for dinner.
The food at Zhù Manor was nothing special compared to elsewhere, but Chen Fang was more drawn to the atmosphere. Harmonious gatherings were plentiful, and households where older and younger members treated each other with brotherly warmth were not rare — but finding someone like Zhù Ying, a host seated at the head whose words carried almost no trace of lecturing, that was genuinely rare. The same content, when said by Zhù Ying, never came across as heavy with age and weariness. That kind of tone and manner was something many people simply did not possess.
Including his own family. His grandfather was a kindly and erudite elder, but always carried a certain quality of “prime ministerial bearing” — a flavor of the great halls of power. One could easily find oneself unwittingly transported into the Hall of State, experiencing the sensation of reporting directly to the chief minister.
In Zhù Ying’s presence, even when the conversation touched on the Emperor and court affairs and was clearly a form of guidance, she always carried the sharp edge of youth, speaking like a contemporary.
Chen Fang liked this. He of course respected his grandfather, but if the person guiding him could also be free of that sense of a mountain pressing down upon him, all the better.
Sitting down in Zhù Manor’s dining hall, with the food set out on the table, everyone talked about the day’s happenings. Zhù Lian mentioned that another person from the Zheng family school was about to enter government service — also through hereditary privilege: “He had said he intended to sit the examination, but for some reason it turned out this way.”
Zhù Ying said: “The examination is no easy thing. The difficulty of the test paper is almost beside the point — it is that the exam is not held every year that wears people down. With the Emperor unwell, it falls through the cracks. Those with another way out won’t wait forever.”
This was the sorrow of ordinary people — even the official imperial examinations, even the proper ones for presented scholars and classics scholars, were not held on a fixed annual schedule. There was not even any regularity to it. Tribute students had it slightly better, with local officials able to submit inquiries on their behalf. Ordinary people could only wait, waiting for the court to feel the impulse whenever it chose. Looking back — Zhù Ying’s timing upon arriving in the capital had not been bad at all. She had arrived just as the Emperor was moving to purge Gong Jie’s faction and replace people; those years had seen more frequent examinations. Noble sons had the path of hereditary privilege — even if sitting the examination was more prestigious, one could not afford to delay entering service on that account, and so the privilege was taken. When the quota for such privileges under a father or grandfather was exhausted, there was still the path of recommendation. To be recommended, one had to know the person recommending you — and those with the standing to recommend were by nature officials and nobility, whose social circle consisted overwhelmingly of others from the same background.
Wang Yunhe had once intended to change this situation somewhat. Then the Emperor had proceeded to live an extra twenty years, and there was nothing more to say.
Su Zhe said that the western tribes had not sent envoys this year, but merchants had still come and placed orders with them for compressed tea bricks: “This year, without a prefectural governor coming up to the capital, they can only attach shipments to Jiyuan Prefecture’s boats — it will be at least another two months even at best. Why did they send no envoys? Last year there were so many tributary missions — I was worried Father would suddenly be very busy again.”
Zhù Ying said: “It won’t be so busy this year. The situation now is different from last year. Before, the Eastern Palace had not yet been settled and the entire realm was watching closely. Now that the Crown Prince is established, they came last year and paid their respects, so this year there is no particular need to come again. An envoy’s journey this far is no easy undertaking.”
The students’ questions all received answers, and Chen Fang, listening from the side, could learn additional things from them. At home, his grandfather had taught him a great deal, but everyday knowledge like this — Chen Luan, able as he was, could not enumerate every such thing in detail. And if one were a guest at someone else’s home, it would be unusual for people to explain such matters in one’s presence. Zhù Ying’s home was different — this world-aunt seemed to answer anyone’s questions, and did not deliberately exclude him.
Zhù Ying was not concerned about Chen Fang. People around Chen Fang were mostly of similar backgrounds. The fact that Chen Fang got along in life was not entirely because others were giving face to Chen Luan — surely Chen Fang himself was also pleasant to be around.
After dinner, Chen Fang drifted back to his own home.
The following morning he rose early and went back into the palace for duty.
Outside the palace gates, Zhù Ying and Chen Fang ran into each other again; they exchanged a greeting and each went about their own business. Chen Fang was stopped by a captain of the Imperial Guard who asked with curiosity: “How do you know Vice Chief Zhù?”
Chen Fang had not yet learned all the names of his colleagues in the Guard — colleagues meaning officers, not counting the rank-and-file soldiers — but he still stopped: “And you are — ?”
The two exchanged names, and then the captain said: “Oh! So you’re from Chief Minister Chen’s household — no wonder, then.”
Chen Fang grew even more curious, and seeing there was still a brief moment to spare, asked: “What do you mean about my family?”
“You’re fellow townspeople — and though Vice Chief Zhù is pleasant to everyone, she is especially loyal and devoted to her own people.”
“Indeed — since arriving in the capital I have received much of Uncle’s care.”
The captain exchanged a few more words with him, and in those words there was a note of admiration. It was only then that Chen Fang learned Zhù Ying had specifically gone to help at Wen Yue’s household not long before. Who Wen Yue was, Chen Fang did not know, but apparently he was an old friend of Zhù Ying’s.
Chen Fang thought on this, and inwardly said to himself: There is a lesson in everything. It is precisely because of this that Grandfather and Father were willing to associate with her — she treats our family well because she treats everyone well. When forming connections, should one not form them with precisely this sort of person?
The Imperial Guard regarded Zhù Ying as a person of deep feeling and loyalty. Civil officials all felt she was reliable — grateful to superiors, generous to peers, attentive to subordinates. And most importantly she was capable, never burdening others with her shortcomings. What kind of person should one seek out? Precisely this kind.
As for enemies — if you made enemies with someone like this for no reason at all, was that not something to reflect on about yourself?
Chen Fang felt he too ought to conduct himself this way in dealings with others, and learned a little more.
……
Zhù Ying sensed that Chen Fang was drawn to her, but made no deliberate effort to cultivate that regard. Young people were like that — be deliberate about it, and the effect went the other way.
She arrived at the Court of Foreign Affairs early that morning and, upon seeing Luo Sheng already there, knew that the Emperor’s situation was not in a good way. He had been revived, but was no longer able to attend morning court.
When the three of them met, Luo Sheng said with a troubled expression: “His Majesty is unwell. Morning court today is cancelled.”
Shen Ying asked with genuine concern: “What is the situation now?”
Luo Sheng shook his head: “The Crown Prince and Prince Lu were kept back — the rest of us were all sent out. Oh — Chief Minister Liu is still at the Emperor’s side; Chief Ministers Wang and Shi have gone to handle official business. There will be no disruption to real affairs.”
Zhù Ying said: “The prefectural governors will soon be arriving in the capital.”
Luo Sheng said: “Is that so? Oh — well, the chief ministers are there, and we need not worry ourselves about that.”
Zhù Ying said: “There’s not much for us to worry about either. The Foreign Hostel is peaceful — few tributary missions have come this year. They came last year, and paid their respects to the Crown Prince as well, so this year there have been very few visitors.”
“Well, that does simplify things.” Luo Sheng let out a breath of relief. “Take care of things here — I’m heading home for a bit.”
Without anyone needing to prompt him now, Luo Sheng could think of calling his wife into the palace to attend at the Emperor’s sickbed, and could also see his daughter who was in the palace at the same time.
Shen Ying and Zhù Ying had no objection.
Zhù Ying now had two sources of information — Chen Fang was one, Yongping Princess was another. In the days that followed, she learned only that the Emperor’s condition was fluctuating, but on the whole steadily deteriorating.
The princes and princesses all went to attend at the sickbed. Some were sent away; some were allowed to remain. Yongping Princess stayed on alongside the Crown Prince and Prince Lu.
The Imperial Physicians Office was frantic to the point of exhaustion. At first it was the senior physicians who were busy — they devised remedy after remedy and consulted every medical text available until the books were nearly worn through. When medicines proved useless, even the Arcane Invocations physicians were deployed, sending their practitioners and students in to pray and perform rituals. Spoken plainly: they danced and chanted.
When Zhù Ying heard Chen Fang mention the Arcane Invocations physicians, she felt a sudden pang of something. What a pity — had she known such a livelihood existed when she was young, she might not have opened a tea stall but instead set her sights on coming up to the capital to study this art. People from remote villages fell short of city folk not only in the path of scholarship — even the prospects for performing ritual ceremonies were inferior to theirs…
Zhù Ying said to Chen Fang: “Be more careful than ever in these coming days. At a time like this, if something goes wrong, it tends to go very wrong. We should see each other every day and exchange news. If I don’t receive word from you, I’ll know something has happened. Watch out for yourself. Keep safe — I’ll be here on the outside. Since Chief Minister Liu is at the Emperor’s side, just watch what he does.”
Chen Fang asked: “Not the Crown Prince or the Qiyang Prince?”
“Those two are Buddhas — their finger points a direction, and you figure it out yourself. But when it comes to a crisis and a workable plan is needed, look to Chief Minister Liu. He is there by the Emperor’s specific intent — don’t think of him as merely a man of letters.”
“Understood.”
The Emperor’s illness dragged on for another month. During this time only one morning court session was held. All government affairs were overseen by the chief ministers and simultaneously reported to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince’s main occupation was still attending at the sickbed, competing with Prince Lu in filial piety at their father’s bedside — neither willing to yield an inch to the other — and even the Qiyang Prince was stubbornly planted beside the Emperor. There was no time for anything else.
Free from the interference of the Emperor and his sons, government affairs actually flowed somewhat more smoothly for a time. Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun could finally breathe. When handling business, they no longer needed to devote so much thought to the “mother-in-law” above them. Shi Kun and Wang Yunhe had already worked through the Emperor’s posthumous arrangements in private. Constructing the imperial mausoleum was something Shi Kun had experience with and had already drafted a mental plan. For the new emperor’s enthronement, Wang Yunhe had also been quietly reviewing the relevant ceremonies and protocols.
Liu Songnian had simply taken up residence in the palace outright and stopped going home! Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun could then return home each evening, convene small meetings with their officials, and come back to the palace the next morning to synchronize with Liu Songnian. It was only Liu Songnian who could settle into the palace indefinitely without the Emperor taking issue.
So it went until the end of the tenth month, when the provincial governors began arriving one after another in the capital. In previous years, most of them would receive an audience with the Emperor — some more thorough, some briefer. This year, upon arriving in the capital, they heard the news of the Emperor’s grave illness and every one of them fell into a state of agitation. Chen Meng fared somewhat better, as he had his son in the Emperor’s close service, and so those who were on familiar terms with him also managed to remain relatively composed.
The Governor of Lu arrived that very day at Shi Kun’s home — not by leaving a card and queuing up, but by sitting and waiting until he had actually seen Shi Kun in person.
Zhù Ying also received several calling cards, though none were urgent — the Governor of Lu, for instance, had merely sent a card suggesting a meeting in a few days.
Zhù Ying looked over the dates, then summoned Su Zhe and the others: “All of you — over the next few days, be on full alert. Keep watch on the people coming in from outside.” She pulled out a map, divided the capital into several zones, and assigned each of them to a zone to gather information. She also sent Zhù Qingjun to find Old Ma and ask him to keep an eye on any news from the capital’s troublemakers.
She herself received a calling card from Zheng Xi — a summons to meet at his residence.
……
Zhù Ying arrived at the Zheng household, where a faint tension had come over the air. The servants still greeted her as they always had, but everyone’s steps were lighter and quieter. Those who would usually walk a short way in her company now dared not leave their posts.
Reaching the hall, she found not only Zheng Xi and Zheng Yi, but also the recently arrived Jiang Zhi and others, and even Wen Yue — who should have been at home observing his mourning period — was there.
They sat, exchanged pleasantries, and offered words of comfort to Wen Yue. Zheng Xi then gestured toward Jiang Zhi and the others who had come in from their postings: “Tonight is first of all a welcoming banquet for them, and also a rare gathering — let’s talk properly.”
This evening’s welcoming banquet had no music or entertainments — only a group of people seated in a circle. Zhù Ying no longer needed to sit at the far end of the table, but Wen Yue and the others still made way for her with great insistence. Zheng Yi and Zheng Chuan pulled her over to Zheng Xi’s immediate right, with Zheng Yi across from her, Zheng Chuan diagonally opposite, and Jiang Zhi in the seat below.
Zheng Xi also said: “Everyone sit down — so we can talk.”
When everyone had settled, the wine was barely touched. Zheng Xi raised the matter of the Emperor’s health, and then said: “I know that people inside and outside the court have lost their composure. You cannot allow yourselves to do the same.”
Everyone said yes.
Zheng Yi said: “Easier said than done — are we simply to watch? I can see that certain people are not going to stay quiet.”
Zheng Xi said: “Naturally. The Capital Prefecture has already tightened its watch on certain critical locations.”
Wen Yue said: “What is infuriating is that there is no reliable person inside the palace.”
Everyone lamented this. Zhù Ying said: “What is there to fear?”
Zheng Xi asked: “You have a plan?”
Zhù Ying asked: “You are acting in accordance with law and propriety, to uphold and support the Eastern Palace — is that correct?”
“That goes without saying!”
Zhù Ying said: “Then it is simple. No matter how many schemes are in play, as long as the Crown Prince is not the one committing treason, we need attend to nothing else — only hold the palace secure. Once the succession is formally established, what is there to fear? Chief Minister Liu is living right inside the palace.”
Zheng Xi glanced at Zhù Ying.
The story of Liu Songnian’s past had first been told to Zhù Ying by Zheng Xi himself, though briefly. Zhù Ying explained: “The day of the wedding at Yongping Princess’s residence, the Emperor suddenly took ill. He said to me: go and find the Lord of the Capital, maintain order in the city. From that I knew he was not simply a man who could write — there is a reliable person inside the palace.”
Zheng Yi said: “Then what role remains for us?”
Zhù Ying said: “We make sure the chief ministers know there is a role for us.”
Zheng Xi smiled: “Indeed. When you return, all of you must attend strictly to your duties. Do not associate with any of the princes. And you should reassure your colleagues and close acquaintances — let them not put themselves in jeopardy. We will simply follow the Emperor’s and the Crown Prince’s instructions.”
Everyone agreed again.
Zheng Xi raised his cup; everyone ate together. Siding with the Crown Prince — everyone felt reassured. Even though the princes were not without strength, the Crown Prince held the rightful name — safety lay there.
After dinner, the group discussed matters further, agreeing that no matter what occurred, they must not panic. If any of the men from outside the capital had already departed, they were not to be counted on. Those still present must, at the first opportunity, assist in maintaining order. At the same time, if the officials were to gather en masse, everyone must make a strong show of support for the Eastern Palace and press for the Crown Prince’s swift enthronement.
At the same time, Zheng Xi assigned Zhù Ying a task — to go and speak with Wang Yunhe, to make their position clear. Zheng Xi had made other arrangements elsewhere; Zhù Ying need not concern herself with those.
If matters did not go smoothly and someone sought to exploit the chaos for their own ends, they would stand firmly with the Eastern Palace. Zheng Xi would mobilize the Capital Prefecture’s constables, and every household’s servants would need to be ready. Although Wen Yue was at home observing mourning, if there were a change in circumstances, he would need to don his armor, and the moment word reached him he was to go find his contacts in the Imperial Guard and rally to defend the throne.
Zheng Xi concluded: “I imagine it will not come to this. With the Crown Prince inside the palace, everything should proceed smoothly. Keep your focus on your official duties.”
Everyone received a dose of reassurance. Zhù Ying left the Zheng household and turned to Wang Yunhe’s home.
……
Wang Yunhe had been extraordinarily busy of late — one governor after another to see. A phrase kept flashing through his mind: these feudal lords are thoroughly rotten.
The rather unlucky part was that all the rotten ones were now in the capital!
When the Emperor was in good health, they came vying for advantages for their territories, displaying their achievements, and bargaining for their own interests. Now with the Emperor ill, each had his own allegiances. The Eastern Palace had been undecided for years — who knew how many people had privately thrown in their lot with one prince or another?
The reigning Crown Prince simply lacked sufficient authority. Even if the Crown Prince were enthroned, this person would be unable to fully command the realm. When the Son of Heaven was weak, it meant the imperial center easily lost its grip, and the feudal lords would not miss the opportunity to do something about it — the lighter offenses would be extortion and self-indulgence; what the heavier ones might be, no one could say. Such was human nature. Those who were willing to “carry on as before and do their work” were already considered decent people.
All of this required the chief ministers to manage and keep in check, one by one.
What Wang Yunhe most wished to do right now was get through these people’s evaluations as quickly as possible, and once each one was done, kick them out the door — send every single one of them back to their regions, leave them no time in the capital to form factions and create chaos. First ensure a peaceful transfer of the throne, and then deal with these officials afterward.
Anyone could see it — the Emperor was going to be difficult to bring back to health.
The physicians of the Imperial Physicians Office had already begun writing their wills. The ritual practitioners were no different — and absolutely useless. How many more days the Emperor could live, no one had any way of knowing. Wang Yunhe had some rudimentary understanding of medicine — no, even without any medical knowledge, one could look at the Emperor’s face, dark and overcast with not a sliver of hope, and understand.
And then Zhù Ying had to choose this very moment to arrive. Wang Yunhe said: “Something has started — this is the flag tied to the top of the pole, and when it starts flying, the wind has come.”
The servant nearby — also a familiar face — said carefully: “Doesn’t the Chief Minister always say Vice Chief Zhù is a perceptive person?”
“Show her in.”
Zhù Ying entered the study. Wang Yunhe pointed to a chair.
Zhù Ying began: “Given the situation at the palace and in the capital, I would not dare come and disturb the Chief Minister without reason.”
“What is it?”
Zhù Ying said: “I have just come from Lord Zheng the Capital Prefect’s residence. He asked me to convey a message — he will strictly uphold his duty as a minister and act in accordance with law and the proper rites. He hopes the Chief Minister will understand his heart in this.”
“This is as it ought to be — why make a special declaration of it?” Wang Yunhe’s heart, in truth, was now at ease. At a time of transition, those willing to cooperate and do their work normally were already counted as the good people.
Zhù Ying said without ceremony: “Without powerful ministers in support, the Crown Prince may well find his orders unable to leave the Eastern Palace. Even with that support, if that person cannot stand firm himself, it will only weaken the court’s authority. Right now is precisely the time when a powerful minister’s declaration carries the most weight — is that not so?” The Crown Prince’s prestige being what it was — well. A person like Wang Yunhe was surely already beginning to worry.
“Why does he not say this to me himself?”
Zhù Ying smiled: “He likely would like to. But if those words were spoken by him directly to you, they would probably be taken as ‘a disloyal minister seeking to seize power.’ And yet — think about it — it really is precisely that reasoning, isn’t it?”
“Are you one of Zheng Xi’s people?”
“I am not anyone’s person!” Zhù Ying said with genuine firmness. “The Capital Prefect has given me guidance and opportunity — but that is only how we came to walk the same road together. The road itself, everyone walks themselves. Even a father and his sons, or brothers among themselves, cannot all share one mind. It is the same between the Chief Minister and me — there is a degree of connection, and from there it is a matter of how things unfold. I will support the Eastern Palace. Since we are of the same mind, this stretch of road is one we walk together still.”
Wang Yunhe nodded: “Take care of yourself.”
“Yes.”
Wang Yunhe relaxed his expression and said: “He is still reasonably clear-headed, and you have not disappointed expectations.”
Zhù Ying smiled, her brow arching upward, and then asked out of the blue: “Why not keep all the princes detained inside the palace? Stripped of their entourages, what could any one of them accomplish inside the palace? Confine them there until the transition passes safely and then release them — would that not be fine?”
Wang Yunhe let out a sigh: “Old Liu raised this suggestion. But whenever the Emperor showed signs of recovery, he would release them again. There was no keeping them indefinitely.”
“Chief Minister Liu and the Emperor — ?”
Wang Yunhe said: “The Emperor saved his life when they were young.”
“Ah — that makes sense. Everything falls into place.”
“What has fallen into place for you?”
“Chief Minister Liu’s temperament — when he was young, he must have been even more…” prone to saying whatever he pleased, enough to need a prince to come to his rescue. That was entirely consistent with his consistent manner throughout.
Wang Yunhe smiled: “Do not raise this in his presence.”
Zhù Ying said: “Of course.”
……
People engaged in exactly such behind-the-scenes consultations were beyond counting. And yet the Emperor then managed to improve for a few days, even holding one morning audience during that time. He then issued an order: all regional officials whose evaluations had already been completed were to return to their jurisdictions immediately.
Willing or not, they had no choice but to pack their things and set off in the cold wind, turning back with reluctant step after reluctant step.
The princes watched and felt a shadow of gloom fall over them.
The Emperor had barely begun to improve when the princes were allowed to go home again. Prince Lu rushed back to his residence and immediately summoned his advisors and key men. Among them was his wife’s brother — this one should by all rights have been exiled, yet here he was, still hidden inside Prince Lu’s residence.
Duan Ying asked first: “Your Highness is in such a hurry — can it be something at the Emperor’s side?”
Prince Lu’s expression was dark. He shook his head: “It is not.”
“Then what is it?”
“We cannot wait any longer! Father’s illness has had me shut up at his bedside.”
Duan Ying said: “Is that not a fine thing? Whoever is before the Emperor holds the advantage.”
“A fat lot of good it did!” Prince Lu said. “Prince Zhao was there too! What could I accomplish? “
“Then your intention is — ?”
“Make our move!” Prince Lu said. “A few days ago, he looked like he was not going to last, and he entrusted me to Prince Zhao’s care! Ha! To Prince Zhao’s care! Now I understand perfectly — he was using me to keep Prince Zhao in check, to make Prince Zhao afraid to act rashly. He never intended for me to be Crown Prince. He deceived me! Deceived me for twenty years!”
Duan Ying asked quietly: “What do you wish to do, Your Highness?”
“Father is now unable to move about freely. At the Winter Solstice, he will have Prince Zhao substitute for him at the suburban sacrifices to Heaven!” Prince Lu’s smile turned savage. “Let him conduct the sacrifice! We split our forces in two directions! Get in touch with Zhou You — when the time comes, have him act from within the palace, protecting Father. As for Prince Zhao…” He let out a short, harsh laugh. “He is plotting to usurp the throne. I cut down a traitor — is that not entirely justified?”
Prince Lu’s plan was brutally simple. Zhou You was one of the “sons of old families” who enjoyed the Emperor’s deep trust — the last person the Emperor would ever suspect of colluding with Prince Lu. Beyond that, Prince Lu had associates among the “wandering swordsmen” and outlaws of the capital — precisely suited to assassinate the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s security on an outing would necessarily be less rigorous than the Emperor’s, and less tight than it would be within the palace. Once the Crown Prince was killed outside, those inside the palace would seize control of the Emperor. Then using the Emperor’s name, an edict would be issued declaring that the Crown Prince had plotted treason, naming Prince Lu as Crown Prince, and commanding the Emperor’s abdication.
Done in one stroke!