All the ministers in the hall exchanged silent glances, not expecting him to speak so directly, with a tone that intended to reproach them on behalf of Meng Tinghui.

Outside, at the foot of the steps, still stood over a hundred minor officials. The ceremony was not complete, yet instead of descending to return to Western Splendor Palace for the celebratory banquet, he was discussing this matter in the Purple Glory Palace—what kind of protocol was this?

Gu Qin frowned, looking back at the steps outside the door, then quietly instructed an attendant to close the four vermilion doors of the great hall. Only then did he step forward and say: “If Your Majesty wishes to discuss the matter of Meng Tinghui, perhaps it would be better to return to the court tomorrow and summon the ministers of the Secretariat for joint deliberation. There is no need to debate such an irrelevant trifle during today’s ceremony.”

Voices of agreement immediately rose softly among the court officials.

He gazed coolly at Gu Qin, but his tone was harsh: “If Wang Yiwen can directly state at the grand ceremony that I disregard court protocols and principles, why can I not debate the matter of Meng Tinghui here?”

The officials looked at one another, not daring to respond. Even Gu Qin retreated to his place. All could hear the thick sarcasm in his words, and they couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward Wang Yiwen.

Wang Yiwen was at a loss for words. After a long moment, he said: “We ministers certainly have no resentment or private hatred toward Meng Tinghui. It’s just that Meng Tinghui seeks to please Your Majesty in everything, relying on her closeness to Your Majesty to disregard principles, depending on Your Majesty’s favor to repeatedly exceed protocols—reaching the fourth rank in less than two years of court service has already caused people throughout the realm to look askance. Yet Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne. How can you disregard the words of senior ministers because of such a sycophantic, disloyal person?”

His eyes darkened. “By this reasoning, a ruler who favors petty people and distances worthy ministers must be a benighted sovereign.”

Wang Yiwen lifted his robe and knelt, bowing his head and saying: “All the court officials have no such intention. Before ascending the throne, Your Majesty was in the Policy-Making Hall for fifteen years. The Emperor Emeritus often entrusted Your Majesty with many state and military decisions. Even while still the Crown Prince, Your Majesty showed compassion for the common people and improved official governance. For many years, your firmness and clarity have not been a fraction less than the Emperor Emeritus and the Prince of Ping. However, although Your Majesty is an enlightened ruler, you cannot avoid being fond of firmness and personal judgment, fond of biased investigation. Being exploited by sycophants can lead to deep and immeasurable harm. Although flatterers like Meng Tinghui will inevitably fail and be eliminated one day, ‘to burn down a city to catch a fox, or to flood the fields to catch a rat’—even with Your Majesty’s abilities, this would still be perilous.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Burning down a city to catch a fox, flooding the fields to catch a rat…” The corner of his mouth curved slightly. “Minister Wang truly deserves his background in the Hanlin Academy, showing such refined nobility.”

Wang Yiwen had originally been appointed from Hanlin Academy Scholar-in-Waiting to Participant in Determining Government Matters, entering the central government for service. Hearing these words now, his expression changed slightly. He fell silent.

Suddenly, he called out loudly: “Where is Hanlin Academy Scholar Fang Huai?”

Fang Huai stepped out from the back and bowed, saying: “Your Majesty.”

He raised his hand pointing at Wang Yiwen, “Tell him who initially recommended Meng Tinghui to fill the vacancy of Left Remonstrator in the Chancellery?”

Fang Huai’s expression also changed. After standing stiffly for a long while, he finally said: “It was I, along with Grand Scholar Zhang Ren, who jointly recommended Meng Tinghui to fill the position of Left Remonstrator in the Chancellery.”

He stared at Wang Yiwen and said coldly: “According to Your Excellency’s words, the two Hanlin Academy Scholars Fang Huai and Zhang Ren are also not good ministers. How dare they jointly recommend a sycophant to deceive my trust? If we were to judge Meng Tinghui’s crimes today, we must first demote these two men, Fang and Zhang.”

A wave of shock spread among the high ministers in the hall, all of them glancing sideways. Everyone knew that Fang Huai and Zhang Ren were pillars of the Hanlin Academy and the pure stream of officials, having been affiliated with Gu Qin for many years. If they were to be demoted now because of Meng Tinghui, what face would the senior ministers of the Eastern faction have left?

Although Wang Yiwen held the lofty position of Participant in Determining Government Matters, for many years he had considered himself part of the pure stream of Hanlin scholars, with countless instances of satirical remonstrance to the throne. Hearing this now, he was greatly shocked and began to stammer: “This… I, I…”

Fang Huai slowly lifted his robe and knelt, saying: “I recommended the wrong person, causing Your Majesty to bear this accusation of partiality today. I dare not evade blame or defend myself, but will accept Your Majesty’s disposition.”

He remained silent on the throne, his gaze clear and cold, looking at Wang Yiwen.

After struggling for a long while, Wang Yiwen finally spoke, his voice unsteady: “When the two scholars Fang and Zhang recommended Meng Tinghui, they did not yet understand her treacherous nature, and must not be blamed for this. When Meng Tinghui participated in the investigation of Director Wang Qi from the Court of Imperial Stables, she was harsh and cruel, abusing private punishment in the prison to force confessions, and treating court officials like mud and grass. This was only because she knew Your Majesty had long been displeased with Wang Qi, which is why she committed such excessive acts. Yet Your Majesty promoted her to Right Remonstrance Counselor and Longtu Pavilion Direct Scholar, which was truly an inappropriate command.”

He smiled lightly, a smile full of cold mockery, saying: “The reason Meng Tinghui was able to enter the prison to interrogate the accused was because Chief Censor Xue Peng approved it.” Saying this, he turned his gaze toward the right side of the hall. “Minister Xue is also present today. Is what I say correct?”

Xue Peng’s forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat. He stepped out from the ranks and said: “Your Majesty’s words are correct. It was indeed I who initially permitted Meng Tinghui to enter the prison alone to interrogate Wang Qi.”

He nodded slightly, turning to Wang Yiwen and saying: “In that case, Xue Peng is also a minister who seeks to flatter the throne—if he did not know that I had long been displeased with Wang Qi, how would he have allowed Meng Tinghui to enter the prison alone? According to Minister Wang’s logic, it seems that people like Xue Peng must not lead the Censorate, and the position of Chief Censor should also be yielded to someone more worthy.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Peng also lifted his robe and knelt, joining Wang Yiwen and Fang Huai in a row below the dragon throne, frowning and saying: “This humble minister has failed in overseeing the Censorate and has not maintained a clean reputation. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Wang Yiwen knelt between the two of them, his body extremely rigid. “Your Majesty…” He had never expected that his one statement would bring out all these matters.

He had thought that the Emperor was taking the opportunity to demote Fang Huai and Zhang Ren because they were ministers of the Eastern faction, but unexpectedly, even Xue Peng, a neutral and upright minister not affiliated with either faction, could not protect himself.

He supported himself on the armrest of the throne, turning his head to look at Gu Qin, and said: “Today all the ministers of the Secretariat are present, so let us publicly discuss how this matter should be handled.”

By this point, Gu Qin dared not say much, only bowing and saying: “We ministers will first hear Your Majesty’s intention, then discuss and present a memorial.”

He curved his lips slightly. “Very good.” With that, he stood up and addressed them: “My repeated promotion of Meng Tinghui was indeed inappropriate. Now she is demoted to Attendant of the Tianzhang Pavilion, temporarily entering the History Academy to compile the Imperial Diaries.”

Hearing this, all the ministers knelt and praised his wisdom.

But he raised his arm to stop them and continued: “Having demoted Meng Tinghui, we cannot fail to investigate the dereliction of duty of the three ministers Fang Huai, Zhang, and Xue Peng. Fang and Zhang are demoted to Hanlin Reader-in-Waiting Scholars. Xue Peng’s talents are insufficient for the Lantai Prefect; he is transferred from Chief Censor to Drafter of Proclamations.”

Hearing this, the men bowed their heads, accepting their punishments with gratitude.

His brow moved slightly as he continued: “Minister Wang has long resided in the central government and is unfamiliar with the lives of common people in the outer counties. Today, during the grand ceremony, he also spoke with the senior ministers about not abandoning the Emperor Emeritus and the Prince of Ping. I understand your loyal heart, so I will allow you to follow them in retirement to the Western capital, serving as a Participant in Determining Government Matters in charge of Suiyang. How is that?”

Wang Yiwen felt his back grow cold, knowing he was being expelled from the central government because he had opposed the throne today by satirizing Meng Tinghui. But he had nothing to say, only lowering his head and replying: “I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness. I will certainly do my utmost to assist the Emperor Emeritus and the Prince of Ping in the western capital of Suiyang.”

The other senior ministers who witnessed this all felt waves of chills. Although they knew that each emperor would have his ministers, they had never expected that the new emperor, immediately upon ascending the throne, would publicly demote the old ministers of the previous reign.

Yet not one person dared to step out and speak.

The one who had spoken out to criticize Meng Tinghui’s deep favor was Wang Yiwen. Although he had succeeded in causing Meng Tinghui to be demoted, he had sacrificed his career along with those of Fang, Zhang, and Xue. With no words to argue and no statements to refute, in the end, he still had to face the throne, bowing and praising His Majesty’s wisdom.

In this episode, although Meng Tinghui had been demoted, she had not lost the Emperor’s…

But they had become the sacrificial victims of the new emperor’s show of might on his accession.

Only now did they fully understand that the Emperor was no longer the handsome youth from eleven years ago who had just begun to engage in political and military affairs. He had become a young emperor with ruthless methods and a calculating mind.

Gu Qin lowered his head, his expression unreadable, only respectfully saying: “The Secretariat has no objection and all respect Your Majesty’s decree. We will issue an edict to inform the court and the realm without delay. Now that the matter of Meng Tinghui has been settled, we hope Your Majesty will soon descend and return to Western Splendor Palace to hold a banquet to receive the congratulations of all officials.”

He looked at Gu Qin and suddenly said: “Minister Gu has served the state and been loyal to the throne for many years, truly the most steadfast worthy minister at court. Now you are appointed as Director of Military and State Affairs while retaining the positions of Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Vice Director of the Chancellery.”

Gu Qin suddenly raised his head, his expression astonished. After being stunned for a long time, he seemed to react, saying directly: “What virtue or ability do I have to dare accept such an appointment? I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!”

The court officials were also surprised, not expecting that after demoting several people from the Eastern faction, he would then bestow such an honor on Gu Qin.

He laughed softly. “Minister Gu, do not be modest. You have been a senior minister through two reigns, assisting the Emperor Emeritus and the Prince of Ping for many years. Whether in times of war or peace, you have always been a loyal minister. What reason is there not to accept this appointment?”

Gu Qin lowered his head again, silent for a long time, and finally said hoarsely: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness. I will certainly serve with all my heart to assist Your Majesty’s great enterprise.”

The yellow-robed attendant waiting in the corner of the hall took small steps forward to order people to reopen the four hall doors. Following protocol, he allowed the hundred or so minor officials who had been waiting at the foot of the steps outside the hall to bow again in congratulation, then requested the new emperor to descend and leave the palace. The ministers and officers also descended the steps behind him, mounting sedans to return to Western Splendor Palace.

Brilliant sunlight fell everywhere outside. The sun was high in the sky, the glazed tiles on the corner eaves of the hall gleaming with emerald brightness. The distant palace walls were also clear, the azure sky filled with soft clouds, birds chirping, and the summer breeze warm and gentle.

In the evening, someone from the palace came to the residence bearing an edict to announce the Emperor’s decree.

Although imperial physicians had already come to examine her, Meng Tinghui still felt weak all over, unable to rise from her bed. The person bearing the edict seemed to be aware of her condition and ordered the servants of the Meng residence to set up a table for the edict, not forcing Meng Tinghui to rise and kneel to receive it.

Demoted to Attendant of the Tianzhang Pavilion, temporarily entering the History Academy to compile the Imperial Diaries.

Hearing this, for some reason, her heart felt greatly relieved, her entire body relaxing. The series of promotions over so many days had long caused her heart to accumulate anxiety. Now, suddenly being demoted, she felt it was only natural.

She also heard that the Emperor had closed the hall for debate during the coronation ceremony, demoting four important ministers—Fang Huai, Zhang Ren, Xue Peng, and Wang Yiwen—while bestowing heavy honors on Gu Qin.

Although she did not know exactly what had happened during the day, she could guess it was related to her demotion. Piecing things together in her mind, she could imagine the general situation, and she sighed lightly.

However, being ill, she had no strength to think much more. When it grew dark, after eating a little of the clear porridge that the servants had prepared according to the imperial physician’s instructions, she lowered the bed curtains and fell into a deep sleep.

Sometime after nightfall, suddenly a courtyard full of candles was lit outside, and she heard the hurried, panicked footsteps of the household servants. The night air was humid and hot. After an unknown period, her door was pushed open, making a small creaking sound.

She thought it was a maid coming to wipe her body, so she turned her head and asked: “What’s happening outside? Why such a commotion?”

But no one answered her.

She felt something was amiss and raised her hand to lift the bed curtain to see clearly, but the person beat her to it, lifting the curtain first and reaching in to feel her forehead.

His face was backlit by the thin light coming through the window crack, not visible, but she knew plainly that he had come. Startled, she exclaimed: “Your Majesty… why has Your Majesty come here?”

“Hmm.”

He responded with a low sound, without answering her question.