“You two are so intimate—when can we drink at your wedding feast?” someone shouted from outside.
Mo Zi’s hand trembled and she nearly spilled the soup. “Are there people in the outer room?”
“Just Elder Li, Zhang Zhen, Wei An, and the others. There was quite a bit of noise last night—when we talked, we grew loud.” Yuan Cheng’s eyes couldn’t hide his amusement. “Just now you mentioned bird calls.”
Mo Zi gave an embarrassed laugh and gulped down the soup. “Drank too much alcohol—headache and ringing in the ears. This soup is really fresh.”
“That’s why I wanted you to sleep a bit more.” Yuan Cheng took the bowl away. “I thought of suggesting you return to your room if you found it noisy, but I had selfish motives, so I kept you here.”
“What selfish motives?” Too much alcohol not only gave her a headache but also made her brain foggy.
“The selfish motive of being able to see you with just a turn of my head.” Yuan Cheng went out.
The beaded curtain swayed, sunlight transforming into countless needle-points of light. Her eyes were dazzled while sweetness surged in her heart. Incredible—just seeing him brought satisfaction; she needed to seek nothing more. Yet clearly, their feelings for each other had never reached earth-shattering heights. So unassuming, so unspectacular, yet so comfortable. Even if surrounded by perilous walls and cliffs, even if standing above raging waves, as long as he was there, she could be at ease.
Lying down, she found she had no more desire to sleep and heard clearly what they were discussing outside.
“This Prince Li clearly has a guilty conscience. Hanging himself in suicide is just an act to draw the Emperor’s sympathy.” Zhang Zhen snorted twice.
“Prince Li chose a good time—the middle of the night when guards are drowsy and half-asleep. But if he quietly hanged himself, why would it alarm people? Clearly he didn’t actually want to end it all.” Li Yan said.
“The three princes entered the capital just a few days ago, and Sir only left the palace last night. For Prince Li to pull this stunt now—you could say the timing, location, and people align perfectly.” Wei An also believed there was more to this matter.
Hearing that Prince Li had attempted suicide, Mo Zi could no longer lie still. She quietly walked to the main room and chose a corner seat.
“Today His Majesty will certainly receive many memorials pleading for Prince Li. Plus with my special pardon setting a precedent, Prince Li returning home under house arrest will most likely be permitted.” Yuan Cheng’s gaze lightly swept over Mo Zi.
“Then we’ve been busy for nothing?” Mo Zi complained somewhat.
“I believe, however, that the other side’s traces will become increasingly frequent. Regarding the Crown Prince’s matter, though some wish to negotiate peace with Daqiu, I’m afraid His Majesty is unwilling. Other matters might be negotiable, but having killed a nation’s heir apparent—how can there be peace talks? Since there can be no peace, there can only be war. Daqiu has been prepared early on, while the Great Zhou has been holding onto false hopes. Once fighting breaks out, the war situation may not favor the Great Zhou. If the borders fall into chaos and internal turmoil occurs—what do you think will happen?” Yuan Cheng’s perspective was always far-reaching.
“No matter how well this person hides, the time to act has arrived. To act naturally means revealing traces.” Li Yan nodded in agreement. “Sir has certainly predicted correctly again.”
“If the Great Zhou’s internal strife didn’t involve Sir’s family’s wrongful case, we really should be happy to see it succeed.” Zhang Zhen showed quite a regretful expression.
“Why?” Mo Zi asked.
“Both the Great Zhou and Daqiu are strong nations. If they fight, Daqiu will certainly have to withdraw forces stationed in Yuling and deploy them fully for battle. In this way, the Second Prince’s troops would have an opportunity to seize cities—even just a small area could serve as a foothold. Then this battle could continue fighting, and the longer it’s fought, the higher the possibility of restoring the nation. Yuling has many waterways. Daqiu has good ships, but their naval combat skills are far less flexible and adept than Yuling soldiers. This weakness can be exploited for offensive and defensive warfare.” Zhang Zhen was both civil and martial.
“The true culprit who destroyed my Yuan family actually no longer needs to be sought.”
As soon as Yuan Cheng said this, Li Yan showed a gratified expression and continued, “Sir speaks correctly. In the future, whoever uses sinister schemes and plots to try to replace the current Emperor—that person is Sir’s enemy. A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years. As long as we know who the opponent is, with Sir’s capabilities, how could there be no opportunity to make him pay blood for blood?”
“Elder Li understands me.” Yuan Cheng smiled indifferently. “Perhaps I won’t even need to act—the Great Zhou Emperor will avenge me, if my enemy’s actions fail. In any case, looking at the current situation, there’s no need to obsess over it temporarily. Moreover, I’ve already waited so many years—I don’t mind waiting a bit longer.”
“If you’re not seeking revenge and not managing affairs, then what are we still staying here for?” Mo Zi was somewhat expectant.
“Still that word—wait.” Yuan Cheng replied.
This so-called waiting didn’t mean doing nothing. They had to gather intelligence, grasp movements, and while obediently playing the role of suspect, prepare their own escape route.
Sure enough, several days later, the Emperor, pressured from all sides, conceded a step. He removed Prince Li from the imperial prison, but didn’t release him home under house arrest. Instead, he assigned him a place within the palace, allowing limited family members to accompany him.
House arrest also had specific details. Prince Li’s house arrest was genuine—all people inside couldn’t go out, food was delivered by designated personnel, and any visitors required the Emperor’s permission. Yuan Cheng’s house arrest had much leniency. Apart from Yuan Cheng absolutely not being able to leave the residence, other people in the residence could come and go after inspection by the Qianniu Guard, limited to once per day. Guests were still received as usual, and afterward the Qianniu Guard would report to the Emperor. Mo Zi was most special. She was a female official—before the charge of conspiracy was pinned on her, the Qianniu Guard couldn’t prevent her from coming and going.
Later, someone submitted a memorial about this matter impeaching Mo Zi, saying she knew nothing of propriety and shame. She had her own Official Song Residence but didn’t live there, instead living with Yuan Cheng in the same residence, completely avoiding no suspicion—this compromised a woman’s virtue. They demanded His Majesty strip her of office and investigate whether she participated in the assassination.
Before Mo Zi could write another plain-language memorial, someone already spoke on her behalf.
Xiao family’s second son submitted a memorial: Mo Zi was originally Yuan Cheng’s chief steward and had lived in the Yuan residence from early on. That His Majesty could know and recognize Mo Zi, and subsequently employ her, was done with clear knowledge of these circumstances. In the assassination case, Mo Zi alone vouched for Yuan Cheng—her heart was open and honest, her behavior upright and aboveboard. To pursue the matter of living in the same residence now is utterly unreasonable. A man and woman living in the same residence doesn’t necessarily imply impropriety. Those who make an issue of this—do they have no maidservants in their homes? If they do, have all those women also lost their virtue? Mo Zi, whom His Majesty favored and appointed as a female official, is already no less capable than grown men. Her actions cannot be judged by the standards of ordinary young ladies. She and Yuan Cheng originally had the grace of master and servant. When her former master encountered difficulty, she feared no gossip and dared to advance and retreat together with him—this is an act of loyalty and righteousness.
Xiao Wei’s memorial was also read by Liu Ning at the court assembly, causing an uproar among the officials.
Immediately, Mo Zi’s detractor, the Director of the Ship Bureau, led his former subordinates to direct their attacks toward Xiao Wei’s viewpoint, saying that Yuan Cheng’s suspicion as mastermind in assassinating His Majesty remained uncleared. Mo Zi’s vouching also made her a conspirator—how could one speak of loyalty and righteousness?
After the Director’s side submitted their memorial, Yang Ling here rebutted again, saying whether Yuan Cheng was guilty remained without conclusion. Judging solely from Mo Zi’s actions, why couldn’t the term “loyalty and righteousness” be used? Was Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period loyal and righteous? He would rather betray all under heaven than have all under heaven betray him, yet he greatly rewarded and valued Guan Yunchang’s loyalty and righteousness. Was Guan Yunchang loyal and righteous? To enemies, he was a killing god; to Liu Bei, he was a brother. Who dares say Guan Yunchang wasn’t loyal and righteous? Furthermore, even thieves have their code. Among bandits, there’s no shortage of loyal and righteous men.
For a time, over how to use the term “loyalty and righteousness,” a major court debate erupted. Whether Mo Zi should stay in the Yuan residence was forgotten by all. Moreover, starting from Mo Zi’s plain-language memorial using concrete examples to compare with today’s case, Xiao Wei and Yang Ling followed with evidence-based arguments, forming a new memorial format. Later generations called it the Mo-Bai Secretariat Style, which succeeded the Cheng-Ming Former Style and became equally renowned.
As for Yuan Cheng’s case, it was originally fabricated from nothing, and Yuan Qiao-niang had exhausted her tricks. She thought that as long as she testified to Yuan Cheng’s kinship relationship with her, the Emperor would certainly have Yuan Cheng executed just as his father had done years ago. She hadn’t expected this Emperor to insist on seeing conclusive evidence. But she had no conclusive evidence. Yuan Cheng was so careful that she couldn’t obtain even a single sheet of his writing, so she couldn’t forge correspondence. Though this case had reached a stalemate, the Loyal Imperial faction, due to Yuan Cheng’s withdrawal from court, had again seized the dominant force. The Mourning Observance faction was suppressed, and quite a few officials who had served two reigns were forced to retire, replaced by people from the Loyal Imperial faction.
Originally, three of the Six Ministry Directors from the Mourning Observance faction departed. Under the operation of the new Minister of Works, major personnel changes occurred at the Ship Bureau. Qi Xiu and Zheng Wen had their authority hollowed out. Before long, Qi Xiu angrily resigned from office, and Zheng Wen applied for transfer elsewhere. The people Mo Zi had originally valued left the Ship Bureau one after another. Only Yang Buzheng, bearing tremendous pressure, gritted his teeth and persisted.
However, on this day, Yang Buzheng came to visit. He told Mo Zi he had memorialized His Majesty to go to the Yunzhou Shipyard. His Majesty had already granted permission—he would depart tomorrow.
After seeing him off, Mo Zi asked Yuan Cheng, “Initially, I requested His Majesty to give important positions to Qi Xiu and the other two, and His Majesty clearly agreed. Why has the Ship Bureau reverted to its old ways?”
Yuan Cheng said, “The new Minister of Works, Guo Tai, is Noble Consort Hui’s maternal uncle. Noble Consort Hui is already pregnant. With the mother’s status elevated through her son, His Majesty, for her sake, will also provide more conveniences. Moreover, His Majesty still trusts Guo Tai relatively well. It’s merely personnel adjustments at the Ship Bureau, and the officials Guo Tai employed all have considerable qualifications—on the surface, they appear quite suitable candidates. Guo Tai’s cleverness lies in not reemploying those original people. When a new official takes office, naturally he must install his own people. His Majesty knows this and considers it proper.”
“Then does His Majesty not trust the people I recommended?” Mo Zi asked indignantly.
“It’s not distrust, but the principle that when people leave, tea cools. If the Emperor insisted on using your people, Guo Tai would always remain guarded, the Ship Bureau would suffer cold treatment, which would then affect shipyards everywhere. Now, who knows when fighting might break out? The Emperor allowing Guo Tai to deploy troops and generals is simply to let him focus on his work. Moreover, such changes were within expectations. I’ve said before—the Great Zhou Emperor is too mild. Regarding those officials of the Loyal Imperial faction, he’d rather believe they’re truly loyal than suspect their real purposes.” Yuan Cheng understood this Emperor.
“But regarding your matter, he’s been very insistent. I also see he disapproves of factional cliques forming for private gain.” Mo Zi didn’t want to speak ill.
“The Emperor was my father’s student and frequently visited the Yuan family—we truly have deep feelings. That he values me is mostly because he believes in my father’s and grandfather’s character. But he’s not entirely without suspicion either. The day I was brought into the palace, when Qiao-niang pointed at me and said I gave the orders, his expression changed instantly—both furious and with killing intent.” It was only because he firmly denied it and Yuan Qiao-niang appeared insane that the Emperor calmed down.
Mo Zi sighed. “Emperors are truly frightening. Even people with mild temperaments become accustomed to taking lives.”
Suddenly, Ming Nian came running in anxiously.
“People from the palace have arrived!”