Though the threads of the entire affair had been untangled, who precisely was behind it still required further careful deliberation.
Unlike Yan Chengzhao, Pei Shaohuai had no authority to dispatch agents directly to investigate. All he could do was draw his inferences from what he himself had seen, heard, and knew — reasoning out who was most likely responsible.
On the paper before him, a few names in fresh ink were crossed out one by one, until only a single surname remained. Pei Shaohuai stared at that character, lost in thought. He felt an impulse to sigh, then decided the person was not worth the breath.
With a sharp tearing sound, Pei Shaohuai ripped the paper into strips and tossed them into a brazier, burning them to ash.
On his way home, as his carriage passed through a narrow alley behind the Yang family manor, Pei Shaohuai saw that all was quiet around him and had Chang Fan stop the carriage.
“Tell Madam I will be home a little later — she need not wait for me for dinner.”
“Understood, sir.”
Pei Shaohuai stepped into the alley and quickly arrived at the rear gate of the Yang family manor. Earlier, in the matter of the Illustrated Exemplars of Female Virtue, he had not wished to draw his wife’s family into it. Now that things had grown more complicated, he had no choice but to alert his father-in-law and ask for his assistance.
The old gatekeeper at the Yang family’s rear gate was somewhat surprised to see Pei Shaohuai arrive: “Son-in-law?”
“Not the main hall — the side courtyard.”
The old gatekeeper understood at once and led Pei Shaohuai to the small courtyard in the northwest corner of the Yang family manor.
A quarter of an hour later, Senior Official Yang arrived, his steps carrying a steady urgency.
“Boyuan.”
“Father-in-law.”
The two men spoke in confidence. Pei Shaohuai laid out the entire matter, from beginning to end, for Senior Official Yang. A man long seasoned in officialdom, having handled countless difficult cases in the Court of Judicial Review, Senior Official Yang was by nature a deeply composed individual — yet even he could not conceal his astonishment as he listened.
“It is fortunate this was discovered early. Otherwise, the court would be swept into yet another storm,” Senior Official Yang said with a sigh.
Pei Shaohuai agreed: “Father-in-law speaks the truth. Factional strife has already consumed a great deal of the court’s energy. If scheming and slander are added on top of it, then everyone at court will be living in fear, with no heart left to serve the people and the realm.”
This affair made plain that factional strife in Da Qing had grown ever more intense, reaching a point where it could no longer be left untreated.
Once such conduct became the common practice, it would be too late.
“This matter touches on the foundations of the imperial family and the legitimacy of the Son of Heaven’s rule. His Majesty will not let it pass,” Senior Official Yang said. He knew that his son-in-law had not come merely to deliver a warning — there was more to it. He asked: “Boyuan, you came here to discuss a plan of response, did you not?”
“Indeed, there is one matter I must trouble my father-in-law with.”
“Setting aside our bond as family by marriage, even simply in the service of the court — speak freely.”
Pei Shaohuai explained his purpose: “When His Majesty moves to deal with the Hexi Faction — a matter of great consequence — there will inevitably be considerable turbulence in the court. At such a time, all eyes will be fixed upon the Hexi Faction, and it will be easy to lose sight of what is happening close at hand. In that very moment of distraction, hidden snakes will emerge from their burrows, revealing themselves.”
Senior Official Yang was astonished again. Judging by his son-in-law’s words, what the Court of Judicial Review needed to watch was not the Hexi Faction, but someone else. He asked uneasily: “Boyuan — do you believe there is a hawk waiting behind the mantis?”
The situation was growing more complex still.
Pei Shaohuai nodded, and explained: “If this scheme against the Hexi Faction succeeds, then the Hexi Faction achieves its goal, and it will dominate the court unchallenged. But if it fails, that is a different matter entirely — someone else will benefit from the outcome. You and I, Father-in-law, are both onlookers. Naturally we must consider not only the scenario in which it succeeds, but also the scenario in which it fails.”
“Boyuan, who do you wish the Court of Judicial Review to keep watch on?” Senior Official Yang asked.
Pei Shaohuai pushed back his wide sleeve, dipped a finger in tea, and wrote a single character on the surface of the low table.
Father-in-law and son-in-law exchanged a look. In the silence between them, it seemed that much had been communicated nonetheless.
“Could it really be him?”
“It is only conjecture.”
Senior Official Yang gave his promise: “Boyuan, rest easy. The Court of Judicial Review will keep a close watch on his movements and the activity at his residence over this period.”
When the business was concluded, Senior Official Yang saw that the sky outside the window had darkened, and said: “Stay for dinner before you head back?”
“I cannot,” Pei Shaohuai replied. “Shiyue is waiting at home — it is better I return early.”
“How is Yue’er these days?”
“All is well — Father-in-law need not worry. Only the two little ones are sometimes restless and wake Shiyue in the middle of the night,” Pei Shaohuai replied.
“Be patient with her. In a few days, your mother-in-law and I will come and see Yue’er.”
The two parted ways. Outside the narrow alley behind the rear gate, the carriage was already waiting. Pei Shaohuai stepped in and departed under the cover of night.
……
Over those two or three days, Pei Shaohuai had not seen Yan Chengzhao again. He was likely kept busy investigating the seditious book affair.
The emperor appeared to be considerably affected by the matter as well — at one point he canceled a morning court session. Pei Shaohuai thought to himself: strip away the dragon robes and the emperor too was a man of flesh and blood. How could joy, anger, sorrow, and delight not touch his heart? Setting aside the emperor’s position, one could imagine: as a child, he had been disliked by his father because of his mother’s humble origins as a palace lady-in-waiting, and had been used as a tool by the Empress to secure her own position. Though a prince, he had been hemmed in at every turn within the palace and had no choice but to lean on others.
And if all that were not enough, now that he stood as the supreme ruler of all under heaven, old wounds were being dug up again and turned into fodder for another’s schemes.
Was there anyone, placed in such a position, who could say they truly felt nothing?
On this day, Pei Shaohuai received a summons and went in for an audience.
He had barely managed to offer his greetings before the emperor said: “Boyuan — it has been several days since you last came to the Imperial Study to see me… and you never even thought to come and help ease my worries.”
The emperor’s appearance was not exactly haggard, but he did seem somewhat listless and out of sorts.
Pei Shaohuai knew full well what lay behind the emperor’s low mood, yet feigned ignorance and asked: “I wonder what it is that troubles His Majesty?” He paused, then added: “If it is the matter of the seditious book, then under a realm at peace, what harm can malicious rumors do? In this minister’s view, it is a trifling matter, and I have not given it much thought.”
The emperor let out two exasperated coughs: “Boyuan, you dare make sport of me.”
“This minister would not dare — this minister is filled with trepidation.”
This brief exchange left the emperor visibly more at ease.
Head Eunuch Xiao seized the moment and once again brought forward a plate of Suzhou-style green bean cakes, reporting: “Your Majesty, Censor Pei the Younger happens to be here as well. Perhaps you would care to try another piece of these cakes?”
On the plate sat five or six pieces of green bean cake. One of them had only a small bite taken from it before being placed back on the plate.
“Very well,” the emperor said, picking up the half-eaten piece. He added: “Bring some over to Boyuan.”
He finished that piece and then reached for another. The emperor remarked: “It is truly not as enjoyable eating alone — sharing with Boyuan gives me an appetite.”
The emperor had Head Eunuch Xiao withdraw, and ruler and minister began to speak of matters of substance.
“Boyuan, in your view, how should I deal with the treasonous members of the Hexi Faction — and how should I handle Lou Yuxing?”
From the emperor’s words, Pei Shaohuai discerned two layers of meaning. First, the ones behind the seditious book scheme were treasonous members of the Hexi Faction — not Lou Yuxing himself. Yet as the head of the Hexi Faction, Lou Yuxing could not escape responsibility. Second, the emperor likely still retained some degree of feeling toward Lou Yuxing and the Hexi Faction — otherwise he would not have tolerated them for so many years.
Pei Shaohuai understood the emperor’s dilemma in handling the Hexi Faction: the emperor had, after all, been elevated with the Hexi Faction’s support. If he moved against them too decisively, it would inevitably give ministers cause to feel that “when the cunning hare is dead, the hunting dog is boiled” — and that would chill their hearts.
Yet the Hexi Faction’s years of reckless conduct and factional cronyism could not be left unpunished — if they were, no one could say what further disasters they might yet bring about.
The key was finding the right balance.
Pei Shaohuai replied: “The Record of Rites states: ‘When senior officials abide by the law, and junior officials are incorrupt, and offices are arranged in proper order, and ruler and ministers correct one another, the state is in good health.’ The Hexi Faction has appointed officials without order and holds itself above the law, standing crooked in its conduct. Those who have committed offenses should rightly face severe punishment — otherwise the court will have no true rule of law, and the people will have no peace.”
He continued: “Yet Mencius also says: ‘If the ruler treats his ministers as worthless dirt, his ministers will regard him as a bandit or an enemy.’ The Hexi Faction has its faults, but not every member deserves to be put to death. Among them are not a few diligent and capable officials, as well as those who joined the faction unwillingly. In this minister’s view, the punishment should not extend to those who bear no guilt.”
Pei Shaohuai had done nothing more than give voice to what the emperor had already been thinking.
The emperor paced back and forth in deliberation. Hearing Pei Shaohuai’s words, he seemed to have made up his mind, and murmured: “I understand.” Then he said: “Those who have committed offenses shall be punished; those who directed affairs from above shall be removed from their posts; the officials may remain, but the faction must be dissolved.”
……
In the rear garden of the Qianqing Palace, beneath an elm tree, the light of early summer had not yet grown oppressively hot. A chessboard spread out between them, a cool breeze moving through the air. Elder Statesman Lou and the emperor sat facing each other.
To play chess with the emperor, Lou Yuxing regarded as a mark of imperial favor. To discuss affairs of state over the chessboard, he regarded as a sign of trust. And so today, Lou Yuxing was in fine spirits.
“It has been some time since I last played chess with Your Majesty. I fear my game has grown somewhat rusty.”
“In the past when we played, Tutor Lou always let me win — and always did so without my noticing. Today, I ask that Tutor Lou play a genuinely earnest game with me.” The emperor’s tone came to rest on the words “genuinely earnest.”
With that, two fingers pressed down and a white piece landed on the board with a sharp click, making the first move.
“Your Majesty flatters me. I have never let Your Majesty win,” Lou Yuxing said with a smile.
The elm’s leaves were in full bloom. The emperor was in the middle years of his life, while Lou Yuxing was already white-haired.
By the midpoint of the game, sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell in dappled patches across the chessboard. The emperor lifted his gaze to watch the leaves drift and the light scatter into fragments, then spoke again: “Even now I remember it clearly — when I was eighteen, Tutor Lou said to me in the Eastern Pavilion: ‘The crown prince is established by birth order, not by preference or disfavor. Do not doubt yourself. Walk forward with resolve, and never retreat a single step. Give ground once, and you will give ground forever — and you will have no chance of reaching the front again.'”
He paused, weighted with feeling.
The emperor continued: “Tutor Lou’s words sustained me through many long years. Many times I considered giving up — taking up the carefree life of an idle prince. But thinking of Tutor Lou, I persisted.”
“Your Majesty has governed with diligence and Da Qing grows ever more prosperous. It was your destiny to be the Son of Heaven — in those years, this old servant merely followed the way of heaven, that is all.”
Perhaps because he had heard such words too many times, or for some other reason, Lou Yuxing seemed unable to perceive the deep current of feeling beneath the emperor’s words, and his response to what had been a warm and earnest remark came out stiff and clumsy.
Lou Yuxing placed another piece on the board and shifted the topic, beginning to discuss current affairs of the court with the emperor.
He said: “The Ministry of Revenue is essential to the court’s treasury as well as to the welfare of the people. The post of Minister of Revenue must not remain vacant for too long. Your Majesty ought to settle on a candidate soon. This old servant believes…”
Before he could finish, a sharp click cut him off as a piece landed on the board. The emperor smiled and said: “You said you would not let me win, yet Tutor Lou has given ground to me again.”
On the board, the white pieces had surrounded a large cluster of black — the outcome was decided.
“Shall this old servant play Your Majesty another round?”
“No.”
The warmth and openness in the emperor’s expression faded, replaced by something cooler. He asked: “Someone has said: ‘The Prince of Chu is of legitimate birth — he is whom heaven has chosen, and cannot be set aside. The eldest, being of concubine birth, is whom heaven has set aside, and cannot be elevated.’ What does Tutor Lou make of these words?”
Lou Yuxing’s expression changed sharply. He replied with immediate fury: “What treasonous words are these? Whoever has spoken them deserves to have nine generations of their family put to death.”
The emperor, however, showed no anger. He gestured for Head Eunuch Xiao to bring something forward.
Head Eunuch Xiao placed the printing block before Lou Yuxing. The emperor said: “The words you just heard come from this very block.”
Lou Yuxing reached out with trembling hands and began to read the reversed characters on the block. He had barely finished the first sentence when his face drained of color. Thinking of how the emperor had suddenly summoned him today for a game of chess, he said in grief and alarm: “Surely Your Majesty cannot believe that this minister…”
The emperor gave him his answer directly: “It was done by your Hexi disciples.” He casually picked up a white piece and said: “Tutor Lou, look at this piece — is it round, or is it flat?”
When he heard the word “flat,” Lou Yuxing could no longer hold the printing block. It slipped from his hands and fell to the ground with a heavy clatter.