The crescent moon faded as the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, leaving the Hanlin Academy in tranquil silence.
Shortly after, the imperial attendant arrived to unlock the gates, and the scholars and imperial secretaries emerged one by one, all with weary expressions.
Fang Huai was the last to leave. He whispered a few words to the imperial attendant who was about to return to the palace with the imperial edict, then closed the door and walked toward the street.
In a dark corner of the street, a four-wheeled carriage was waiting. As he passed by, the curtain at the front of the carriage suddenly moved, and a soft voice called out from inside: “Official Fang.”
Fang Huai turned his head and recognized the person behind the curtain, and his expression stiffened. Frowning without a word, he continued walking forward, but after just two steps, someone blocked his path.
Huang Bo smiled and said, “If Master Meng can’t stop Scholar Fang, surely you wouldn’t refuse the Crown Prince’s favor?”
Fang Huai recognized him as the Crown Prince’s close attendant and was startled. He turned his head and asked, “How is it that Guard Huang is now by her side?”
Huang Bo invited him toward the carriage, saying, “By the Crown Prince’s order.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Huai’s expression darkened further. After a moment’s hesitation, he boarded the carriage but did not lower the curtain, merely asking, “Madam Meng has likely been waiting for some time. If you have a business, please speak directly.”
Meng Tinghui could hear the cold mockery in his address of “Madam Meng,” and she lowered her eyelashes, giving a small smile with a rather helpless tone: “I know Official Fang has heard many rumors and looks down on me now.” She pulled an object from her sleeve and said frankly, “But I’ve come today to discuss an important matter with you.”
Fang Huai’s expression remained indifferent as he took the item, slowly opened and examined it, then suddenly startled, “Is this true?”
She nodded without speaking, merely observing his expression.
Fang Huai frowned in deep thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his eyes to stare at her: “Wei Mingxian has concealed his mother’s death without reporting to the court. Since you already know this, you should report directly to the Crown Prince. Why specifically seek me out?”
Meng Tinghui said softly, “Reporting directly to the Crown Prince would indeed result in Wei Mingxian being stripped of his position, but it wouldn’t prevent others from recommending him for reinstatement in the future—there have been such precedents in previous reigns. However, if the Hanlin Academy first issues a clear condemnation, followed by a joint impeachment from the Censorate officials for his unfilial and deceptive conduct, it would thoroughly ruin his reputation both within the court and beyond. The entire empire would know his true character, and even if someone wished to exonerate and recommend him later, they would not dare to step forward for fear of court censure.”
Fang Huai clutched the paper tightly, his frown deepening.
She paused, then smiled slightly again. “Moreover, if he were dismissed by the Crown Prince because of my direct report, the upright officials of the Hanlin Academy would likely accuse the Crown Prince of rejecting worthy ministers while favoring sycophants. How could I bear to let the Crown Prince’s good name be tarnished thus?”
Fang Huai glanced at her and said coldly, “With officials like you in the Hanlin Academy, how can we speak of any reputation for integrity?”
Meng Tinghui was not angered but merely asked, “May I ask Official Fang, apart from receiving the Crown Prince’s favor and grace, what truly immoral acts have I committed?”
Fang Huai’s gaze was clear and sharp, his tone increasingly contemptuous: “Just considering how the Crown Prince has exceptionally granted you carriages and residences, and allowed you as a second-tier remonstrance official to participate in the investigation of Wang Qi’s case, is enough to demonstrate disregard for court regulations. I don’t know what methods you used to gain direct access to question Wang Qi in prison, but it must have been through secret communication with high officials and flattery of the Crown Prince to gain such an opportunity. Even your just-mentioned desire to destroy Wei Mingxian’s lifelong reputation shows how thin your virtue is—historically, worthy ministers have always been magnanimous, how could there be someone like you who deliberately schemes to suppress opponents? Furthermore, Minister Gu was previously impeached by Cao Jing for forming factions and disloyalty, resulting in his claiming illness and remaining at home for many days without attending to state affairs. Can you say this had nothing to do with you?! If you didn’t engage in sycophantic behavior, why would people spread such rumors about you?”
She looked up, her eyes bright with moisture, still smiling as she said, “Since Official Fang has spoken so bluntly, don’t blame me for acting like a petty person—now that you know about Wei Mingxian concealing his mother’s death if you ignore this matter due to your prejudice against me, I will report directly to the Crown Prince that Official Fang is also forming factions and deliberately sheltering an unfilial and disloyal official. Even if this fails to ruin Wei Mingxian’s reputation, it doesn’t matter. As you said earlier, the Crown Prince has exceptionally favored me and disregarded court regulations, so the Crown Prince will surely believe my report. At that time, Wei Mingxian’s dismissal would be inevitable, and as for Official Fang…”
Fang Huai’s expression showed both shock and anger as if he couldn’t believe she would say such things.
Her smile grew brighter, her voice softening: “By the way, Official Fang hasn’t forgotten that in less than three months, the Emperor will abdicate and the Crown Prince will ascend the throne, right?”
Fang Huai stared at her for a long while, his anger mounting, “Are you threatening me? I have served in court for over twenty years; even the Emperor and Prince Ping would not speak to me this way!”
Meng Tinghui shook her head, her tone extremely gentle: “Please calm your anger, Official Fang. How could I threaten you? I know Official Fang has always distinguished right from wrong. When you made an exception to recommend me for a position in the Chancellery, it was an act of cherishing talent and loyalty to the sovereign. Today, you surely won’t ignore Wei Mingxian’s matter, otherwise I wouldn’t have specifically come to find you.”
Fang Huai’s expression remained stiff, his gaze toward her quite complex. Finally, he gave a low snort, swept his sleeves, and descended from the carriage, striding away without looking back.
Her gaze followed his retreating figure until he turned off the imperial street, and then she withdrew it, her face suddenly showing fatigue. She said softly to Huang Bo, who was standing by the carriage, “Let’s go back.”
Huang Bo nimbly jumped up, took the reins, and reached back to lower the curtain for her.
Meng Tinghui held the curtain, gently raising her eyebrows, and asked him with a smile, “Guard Huang, since you just heard Scholar Fang call me a treacherous sycophant, why are you still so kind to me?”
Huang Bo raised an eyebrow, “This humble servant’s heart belongs only to His Highness the Crown Prince. I can see that Madam Meng is truly loyal to His Highness, so why should I treat Madam Meng poorly because of others’ words?”
Her eyes suddenly moistened, and she responded with a smile, saying nothing more.
In late April of the twenty-fifth year of Qiande, the three judicial ministries finally concluded in Wang Qi’s case. Deputy Minister of Justice Liu Ruofei refused to declare him innocent, while Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Pan Congyun and Chief Censor Xue Pan, based on the confession Meng Tinghui obtained during her prison interrogation, determined several charges including insubordination, deception of the emperor, disregard for temple regulations, and allowing officials to harm the people. They requested that Wang Qi be demoted and banished to Cang Prefecture, which the Crown Prince approved.
Wang Qi received the imperial edict to leave the capital, but after being released from prison, he submitted a petition requesting an investigation into Meng Tinghui’s use of excessive punishment. Rumors suddenly spread throughout the court that Meng Tinghui, Left Remonstrator of the Chancellery, had not only exceeded her authority in questioning him but had also disregarded prison regulations by subjecting an appointed official to torture. The court officials requested that the Crown Prince reduce her rank and salary, but the Crown Prince dismissed their request due to lack of evidence in Wang Qi’s claim.
In early May, Hanlin Scholar Fang Huai submitted a memorial stating that Wei Mingxian, Deputy Minister of the Imperial Stables, had concealed his mother’s death without reporting to the court, which was an unfilial and deceptive act. The Hanlin Academy’s request for his condemnation surged like a tide, causing people throughout the empire to look askance at him. Afterward, Court Censor Cao Jing impeached Wei Mingxian for great disrespect as an official and refused to return home for mourning, requesting that he be stripped of office and imprisoned for questioning. Upon hearing this, the censors of the Censorate collectively signed and submitted a memorial. The Crown Prince immediately summoned high officials from the two departments to discuss the matter in court, then stripped Wei Mingxian of all his positions and ordered him to return home for mourning and observe the mourning period.
Ten days later, the Crown Prince promoted Meng Tinghui to Right Grand Remonstrator and Direct Scholar of the Longtu Pavilion, with the salary of a fourth-rank official, for her timely memorial in Wang Qi’s case and her meritorious service in prison investigations. The entire court was shocked upon hearing this. Some submitted memorials advising that the Crown Prince’s edict was hasty and begging him to rescind his order, but all were rejected by the Crown Prince.
Since May, rumors had been flying in the capital, with people in every street and alley discussing Meng Tinghui’s promotion to Right Grand Remonstrator and Direct Scholar of the Longtu Pavilion. Her reputation for flattering superiors and ruthlessness spread throughout the city, and people were astonished at how she had risen to the fourth rank in less than two years of service.
Even the usually quiet front of the Meng residence gradually became bustling.
Meng Tinghui was now the Crown Prince’s most favored official. Those young scholars who had recently entered government service and were eager for a smooth career path—who among them would dare not to curry favor with her?
In just two months, the Emperor’s abdication ceremony would be held, and people throughout the court were speculating that once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Meng Tinghui’s power would become even greater. Although she was only a fourth-rank Grand Remonstrator, her status could match that of any Participant in Determining Governmental Matters. Regardless of the extent of the Crown Prince’s favor toward her, just considering that Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Gu Qin had claimed illness and remained at home since the three ministries’ joint investigation of Wang Qi’s case, never returning to court to manage affairs, it was clear that the Eastern Party had suffered no small blow due to the matters of Wang Qi and Wei Mingxian. Even Gu Qin, who was accustomed to remonstrating with the Crown Prince, had not appeared to say a word against Meng Tinghui.
In the southern part of the city, fallen flowers carpeted the roads, while the Gu residence was filled with fragrance.
Once again, the peach blossoms were in bloom.
The hall door was lightly knocked twice. “Minister, Master Shen has arrived.”
Before the person inside could respond, the door was pushed open, and Shen Zhili slowly walked in, placing the vermilion food box she was carrying on a low table by the door. She said to the person sitting at the desk inside, “Minister, you have no illness at all. How much longer do you intend to stay at home?”
Gu Qin looked up, threw down the book in his hand, and looked at her with a slightly stern expression. “How can you say I’m not ill?”
Shen Zhili closed the door and frowned, “Minister, what exactly are you calculating in your mind? Why not tell Leyan?”
He also frowned, his tone carrying a reproachful meaning: “Stop this nonsense.”
Her long eyelashes suddenly fell, “If the Minister doesn’t explain clearly, Leyan won’t leave today.”
Seeing her stubborn appearance, Gu Qin couldn’t help but stand up, wanting to scold her severely to make her leave, but ultimately could not bring himself to do so. After standing silently for a long time, he finally frowned and said in a low voice, “If you had half your father’s talent and insight into political matters, you wouldn’t be asking me this question!”