Hearing this, Shen Zhili gave a cool smile and said, “Minister, you have loyal intentions toward the Crown Prince, so why have you become known as a stubborn man who forms factions and shelters his followers in others’ words? Leyan is indeed naturally foolish, but I dare ask the Minister for instruction.”
Gu Qin remained coldly silent, sitting down with his legs folded. After a while, he glanced at her again, frowning and sighing softly: “You still have a child’s mindset.”
She remained standing, refusing to retreat even a step.
He then put aside his book and asked her, “Have you heard about the grand weddings of the Emperor and Prince Ping in the twelfth year of Dali during the previous dynasty?”
Shen Zhili looked up, not understanding why he suddenly mentioned this and answered instinctively: “I naturally heard about it from my parents when I was young, and also read about it in the unofficial history my father wrote for amusement.”
Back then, Prince Ping was not yet Prince Ping, and the Emperor of that time was not the current Emperor.
Prince Ping was then the world-renowned Emperor of East Xi, whose spear and horse shook the iron walls of five nations, yet whose tender heart belonged only to the Emperor. In the twelfth year of Dali, he sent an envoy requesting to marry a princess from the Emperor’s clan as his consort, and Gu Qin was that very envoy sent by Prince Ping. Less than half a year later, the Emperor also held a grand wedding ceremony in the country, taking the then Imperial Physician of Hanlin and Palace Supervisor Ning Mo as Imperial Consort.
Although she had not personally witnessed the grand occasion, she could imagine that the successive weddings of the two emperors must have been a world-shaking event at that time.
Gu Qin observed her doubtful expression and continued, “Do you know, although the Emperor and Prince Ping both had grand weddings in the same year, Prince Ping personally issued an edict to send an envoy requesting a princess from the Emperor’s clan, while the Emperor was forced into marriage by the pressure of the court officials? Do you know that among those who led the officials in submitting memorials to pressure the Emperor to marry for the sake of the country was Liao Jun, known throughout the court as the worthy minister of the previous dynasty?”
Shen Zhili listened as he recounted these old matters without mentioning the current court situation, becoming increasingly puzzled. She frowned in deep thought for a long time before suddenly having a moment of clarity, seemingly grasping some thread of understanding.
He no longer looked at her, instead casting his gaze toward the distant view outside the window: “Prince Ping ascended the throne at fifteen and took personal control of the government at sixteen, making decisive military and political decisions by himself alone. During his more than ten years on the throne, no one in the court dared to go against his wishes. The Emperor, on the other hand, was assisted by the previous Emperor’s important ministers since ascending the throne at fourteen. Although the senior officials of the two departments, led by Minister Liao, helped her settle factional disputes and manage state affairs, wasn’t she constantly restrained by those old loyal ministers during the years before your father rose to power in the court?”
She gazed intently at him, “Minister…” Though her mouth was silent, her heart already understood his meaning.
Gu Qin twisted the corner of his mouth, his voice lowering: “What kind of person is the Crown Prince? How could he not know about the old matters of the two sovereigns? His understanding of imperial arts and factional political struggles is probably clearer than that of the current senior ministers in court!”
He paused, then continued: “I, Gu Qin, have been loyal to the sovereign all my life. Even when Prince Ping was willing to entrust his entire kingdom to the Emperor alone, I dared not harbor resentment, let alone now commit any disloyal acts toward the Crown Prince! Regarding the various rebellious actions of the Eastern Party, although I could handle them for the Crown Prince, how dare I do so? If I were to deal with the Eastern Party’s rebellion for the Crown Prince, then the world would know of Minister Gu’s worthiness, but not of the Crown Prince’s strategy. How could I repeat Minister Liao Jun’s past mistake with the Emperor?”
Shen Zhili pursed her lips and said softly: “So Minister would rather abandon the name of a worthy minister to create an opportunity for the Crown Prince to take control of the government? But Minister is not Liao Jun. Even if you help the Crown Prince manage court affairs now, you surely wouldn’t restrain the Crown Prince in national and military matters after his ascension as Liao did to the Emperor. Why must Minister subject himself to such unfairness?”
Gu Qin glanced at her, “Childish!” He tapped his finger on the edge of the desk and said, “Let me ask you, why is the Crown Prince so close to your father?”
She raised her eyebrows slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “Because my father is the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, and the Crown Prince has lived with him since childhood.”
Gu Qin shook his head and said calmly: “It’s because your father stopped involving himself in court affairs after becoming the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. If your father still exercised his power as a Participant in Determining Governmental Matters today, the Crown Prince would never be so close to him!”
Shen Zhili’s face showed surprise as she looked at him.
Gu Qin continued: “What do rulers throughout history fear most, and what are they most skilled at? You see the Crown Prince being quite harsh toward the Eastern Party officials now because the Eastern Party has become too powerful in recent years, and I am highly praised by the court for my integrity. If the Western Party were powerful now, the Crown Prince would surely find fault with Fang Kai’s service—the art of balance for an emperor, the Crown Prince understands it very well. Do you think that my claiming illness and staying at home, not participating in government affairs, is merely to establish authority and reputation for the Crown Prince? I am also considering myself! If I were to settle factional disputes and manage state affairs for the Crown Prince, if my reputation as a worthy minister spread far and wide, and if the two parties no longer engaged in political struggle, what would the Crown Prince use to check and balance me, and how would he continue to trust me? Imperial balance and the rise and fall of both parties cannot be determined by a single event or moment—just think about the Chao’an monk and nun case that shocked the world eleven years ago. How arrogant was the Western Party then, and how many of the implicated officials were close to Fang Kai? Did the Crown Prince show any leniency? And now, how close is the Crown Prince to Fang Kai? Who could have imagined that back then?”
Shen Zhili’s expression changed several times, leaving her speechless.
Gu Qin looked at her, his gaze carrying a sense of both affection and rebuke for a younger generation: “If you think the Crown Prince doesn’t want the two parties in court to compete endlessly, then you’re gravely mistaken. If there’s anyone in court who most wants to see the two parties locked in perpetual struggle, that person must undoubtedly be the Crown Prince!”
Her throat tightened repeatedly. She had never expected Gu Qin to speak so directly about his thoughts, nor had she anticipated what he would say. She suddenly felt she had been rash and impulsive to visit him and question his claimed illness. She bit her lip for a while before changing the subject: “Does the Minister know about Meng Tinghui’s promotion to Right Grand Remonstrator and Direct Scholar of the Longtu Pavilion?”
Gu Qin slowly nodded.
Seeing no particular reaction from him, Shen Zhili found it somewhat strange and asked again: “Many in court say the Crown Prince’s decision is inappropriate. Doesn’t the Minister wish to submit a memorial advising the Crown Prince to reconsider? After all, this has caused Meng Tinghui’s reputation in the capital to plummet completely…”
Gu Qin stared at her, interrupting: “Although the Crown Prince’s actions are sometimes unrestrained and wild, his nature is cautious and thoughtful. He would not disregard court regulations to such an extent merely for the sake of a woman.”
She lowered her gaze in thought, “Then why?”
Gu Qin’s expression darkened, and after a long time, he said in a low voice: “How would I know the Crown Prince’s intentions?”
Shen Zhili spoke no more, turning to retrieve the vermilion food box and placing it on his desk. She opened it for him to see, smiling slightly, “Seeing that Minister has not left his residence for a long time, Leyan specially prepared a few dishes. I fear they have all gone cold by now.”
He looked at the food box, his gaze lingering for a long time before finally picking up the chopsticks and tasting a bite. “It’s not cold,” he said quietly.
Her heart stirred lightly as she lowered her eyebrows and bowed her head.
Outside in the courtyard, peach blossom petals brushed against the window. A springtime heart, half an inch of restraint—the room filled with fragrance and deep emotions, yet no one understood.
As evening fell, the sounds of birds in the palace grew sparse, with a few strands of red clouds entwining the corners of the palace halls, soft yet transparent.
In front of the Eastern Palace, a small eunuch hurried down the steps, his face full of smiles: “The people from the Inner Ministry just came to inquire about the regulations for the abdication ceremony, and then the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau came to measure the Crown Prince for his ceremonial robes. They have only just left, which is why Madam Meng has been kept waiting for so long.”
Hearing this, Meng Tinghui turned around, her eyes filled with a smile, and handed over two memorials. “Please trouble you to present these to the Crown Prince. I won’t disturb him by entering the hall.”
However, the small eunuch stepped aside, “The Crown Prince has decreed that Meng Tinghui is to have an audience.”
She couldn’t help but be slightly startled.
She had originally drafted a detailed account of Wang Qi’s case as he had ordered and came to present it to him. Although it wasn’t necessary to deliver it personally, she had specifically come to the Eastern Palace because she wanted to see him. When she heard he was busy with ceremonial matters, she truly didn’t wish to occupy his already limited rest time. However, as she was about to leave, she hadn’t expected him to decree that she should have an audience.
She had no choice but to retrieve the memorials and follow the small eunuch up the steps into the hall.
Upon entering, she immediately saw a vermilion wooden clothes rack in the hall, on which were neatly laid out the dark blue ceremonial robe, knee covers, middle garment, sash, binding silk, jade sword, dragon belt, red shoes… each item elaborately patterned and adorned with gold and pearls, giving one a dazzling sensation.
This made her truly and deeply feel that he was going to ascend the throne as Emperor.
“Meng Tinghui.”
A level voice called from the throne.
Only then did she compose herself, looking up to see him gazing steadily at her. She hurriedly approached and said, “Your Highness.”
Although her tone was steady, waves surged in her heart, remembering that night in the dark corner of the market street when he called her name three times, each word penetrating to the bone and heart, enough to make her lose her composure.
Since that night, this was the first time they had been alone together.
Her face slowly reddened.
Hearing no response from him, she stepped forward again, took out a memorial, and presented it: “This is the memorial Your Highness ordered this subject to draft.” Then she took out another one and said, “This is this subject’s memorial thanking you for the honor but declining the position.”
Ying Gua propped his arm on the table, his gaze profound: “Do you think my promotion of you is not enough, that you wish to decline the position?”
She bit her lip but still couldn’t help smiling, “Your Highness jests.” Looking up and meeting his gaze, her heart trembled slightly again, and she said softly, “Has Your Highness not heard the rumors in the capital? This subject has made only a tiny contribution, how could I accept such a promotion?”
He did not take her memorial but said, “What I have bestowed upon you, how dare you not accept?”
She was speechless, unable to refute his somewhat domineering words. Yet hearing them filled her heart with admiration. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she looked at the ceremonial robes on the wooden rack and changed the subject: “Have all the regulations for the Emperor’s abdication and Your Highness’s enthronement ceremony been decided?”
He nodded, rose from his seat, walked to the rack, and casually picked up the jade sword, raising an eyebrow and saying, “Just cumbersome rituals, that’s all.”
She followed him over and asked with a smile, “May I ask who has been appointed as the herald official for Your Highness’s enthronement ceremony?”
Since the founding of the dynasty, there has been no precedent for abdication. This time, with both the Emperor’s abdication and the Crown Prince’s enthronement ceremonies being held together, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were extremely cautious, expending all their energy in recent days to plan the various ceremonial protocols, fearing any mistakes.
The protocols for the palace attendants, hall attendants, ministers, and civil and military officials had all been decided, but only the position of herald official for the Crown Prince’s enthronement ceremony remained undetermined.
By convention, this position should be filled by a close eunuch of the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince had never been close to eunuchs, so he rejected the Ministry of Rites’ proposal, saying he would appoint someone himself. But even so, the person chosen should be a trusted minister close to the Crown Prince. Looking throughout the court, apart from Shen Zhishu, no one could be called the Crown Prince’s confidant, but he was currently in Qingzhou and unable to serve as the herald official for the ceremony.
The gold and pearls on the rack glittered. His fingers picked up the dragon belt as he said calmly: “You.”