Author’s note: The power and water outages are really inconvenient. These next few days will probably only have two updates. Once the heatwave passes here, things might get better, and I’ll make up for it then.
Grand Secretary Chang kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, still maintaining that impervious and upright appearance.
Elder Zhang’s eyes, however, rolled around in a circle before he collapsed to the ground drenched in cold sweat—despite all their precautions and vigilance, they never imagined that the secret letters, which had been completely silent and thought to have disappeared, would appear at this critical juncture. And they were delivered directly before the throne, leaving them no room to maneuver!
Now it was Xingfu’s turn to cry with tears and mucus streaming down his face. When all was said and done, no matter how great his power, he was still a mortal man, and no mortal was unafraid of death. Losing something after having possessed it was ten thousand times more painful than never having had it at all.
He shuffled forward on his knees before Emperor Jianzhang, kowtowing desperately. Before long, his head had been knocked completely red, with bloodstains seeping from his forehead.
Yet everyone knew that even if he knocked himself to death right here in this great hall, it would be utterly useless. Conspiring with enemies and betraying the country—Emperor Jianzhang’s most hated transgressions in life—Xingfu had committed them all. Now exposed before so many people, if Emperor Jianzhang spared him, wouldn’t he be telling everyone in the world that they were free to conspire with enemies and betray the country?
“Drag him down and hand him over to the Three Judicial Offices for joint trial.” Emperor Jianzhang let out a cold laugh. Though his expression still showed no great fluctuation, everyone could hear the fury in his words: “Interrogate him thoroughly for me, and be severe about it. Root out for me all these traitors who take my Great Zhou’s stipends and military pay yet commit acts of conspiring with enemies and betraying the country, and have them torn apart by five horses!”
A teardrop still hung at the corner of Cen Biliang’s eye. He never expected such a dramatic reversal. He had thought the matter was finished—that Xingfu would be fine and their Ministry of War would instead take the blame. Yet he hadn’t anticipated that Grand Secretary Chang still had such a card to play.
Xingfu tried to move forward to embrace Emperor Jianzhang’s legs but was kicked down the steps by the Emperor.
“I hate that I cannot dismember you and subject you to death by a thousand cuts!” Emperor Jianzhang suddenly flew into a rage, pointing at Xingfu and speaking these harsh words. Then he turned to look at the several Elders of the Cabinet: “The Tongzhou matter has its conclusion. The Cabinet should draft a regulation regarding merits and faults to submit. Although Yuan Hong was framed, he himself was indeed lax in his governance. Transfer him away from Zijing Pass. As for who should be sent to guard Zijing Pass, you should all recommend several candidates to me as well.”
Cen Biliang was about to speak again about Chen Xiang’s matter when Grand Secretary Chang, who had anticipated this, tugged at him. He couldn’t help but freeze in place.
In that moment of hesitation, Emperor Jianzhang had already turned to go toward the rear. When Cen looked toward Grand Secretary Chang, he saw that the Grand Secretary and the others had all risen from the ground.
The longer one mixed in official circles and the more seniority one gained, the less these old foxes would display their joy, anger, gains, or losses on their faces. Because the fortunes of official circles could change in an instant—no one knew whether someone who had fallen to rock bottom today might climb back up to a high position tomorrow. Therefore, everyone emphasized courtesy.
Grand Secretary Chang was especially skilled at this. Even toward Xingfu, who was certainly doomed to die, he showed no arrogance whatsoever. Instead, he sighed deeply and patted Cen Biliang on the shoulder.
At this point, the matter could be said to have essentially settled. Yet Cen Biliang harbored many questions. He quickened his steps to catch up with Grand Secretary Chang, his voice lowered so only the two of them could hear: “Had you prepared all along?”
Grand Secretary Chang glanced left and right, coughed while covering his hands, and shook his head at him, signaling not to speak further.
Speaking of this matter involved even more people. For instance, these secret letters that ultimately played a decisive role in condemning Xingfu to death had been given to him by Song Chengru, who appeared to have no connection whatsoever to this affair from beginning to end.
He thought he had already achieved the ability to pass through a myriad of flowers without a single leaf clinging to him, yet unexpectedly, someone had now surpassed the master—doing even better than him. He couldn’t help but turn to look deeply at Song Chengru.
Song Chengru happened to also be looking his way. He smiled and nodded at him, still maintaining that unassuming and unremarkable demeanor.
Cen Biliang naturally refused to be kept in the dark. After leaving the palace gates, he had his sedan bearers follow Grand Secretary Chang. Elder Chen was also full of confusion and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He wanted to follow along, but they were in-laws—some things that could be said to one party wouldn’t be said to himself. He reluctantly gave up.
After leaving the palace gates, Song Chengru saw Chen Xiang leading a contingent of Imperial Guards hurrying past from afar. He stood in place watching for a while before cupping his hands in farewell to Elder Du.
Elder Du was the last to enter the Cabinet among its members. In terms of both seniority and age, he was the youngest. His conduct was so soft it was like a ball of paste—deeply understanding the principle of muddling through disputes. Therefore, his relationships with all the Cabinet members were quite good. At this moment, he coughed a few times and, taking the opportunity of exchanging pleasantries in farewell, gently patted Song Chengru’s shoulder: “Brother Renzhi proceeds step by step with meticulous calculations—truly beyond what this foolish one can achieve!”
Song Chengru then realized he was referring to his own transfer from Minister of Revenue to Minister of Personnel, as well as his lightning-fast entry into the Cabinet. His heart stirred, and as he carefully recalled the circumstances surrounding him when he had handed over the letters to Grand Secretary Chang today, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
Elder Du immediately released the hand on his shoulder, smiling as he looked toward the direction where Chen Xiang had just led his men away: “This time, who knows how many more people will meet with misfortune. But no matter how many people suffer, Brother Renzhi, you stand so steadily—it seems certain now that you won’t be implicated.”
Speaking such words at the palace gates…
Song Chengru was quite familiar with the backgrounds of the Cabinet members. Thinking of how Elder Du had previously served as an instructor at the Imperial Academy, later promoted to Vice Director of the Imperial Academy, and was ordered to serve as lecturer to Prince Gong.
Emperor Jianzhang didn’t have many children. The Empress had two legitimate sons and one legitimate daughter—the Crown Prince, Prince Gong, and Princess Rongcheng respectively. Consort Xian bore Prince Duan, Consort Liang bore Prince Su and Prince Lu, and the other concubines had only borne princesses.
Having had enough of being controlled by his brothers, Emperor Jianzhang enfeoffed his princes to distant regions early on, only allowing them to enter the capital upon summons during festivals and holidays.
After Prince Gong went to his fiefdom in Hongdu, Elder Du rose steadily through the ranks into the Ministry of Rites, then accumulated seniority until he entered the Cabinet.
Prince Gong and the Crown Prince were full brothers. Logically speaking, since they both belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, Elder Du could also be considered half his own man. But the reality was not so—Prince Gong and the Crown Prince had not gotten along since childhood.
Song Chengru pondered the deeper meaning in his words, then considered that Elder Du had probably witnessed him exchanging the secret letters with Grand Secretary Chang today. His heart suddenly filled with an ominous premonition.
He had just slipped off Prince Duan’s chopping block—don’t let him turn around and become a sacrifice between Prince Gong and the Crown Prince…
“Fangping, your ability to steady the ship in such fierce winds and rushing waves truly makes me look at you with new respect.” Song Chengru steadied the turbulence within his heart, his face bearing just the right amount of sincerity: “Next year’s special examination—nine out of ten, you’ll be the chief examiner. The burden on your shoulders is not light!”