Yang Ling was about to admit fault when Mo Zi intercepted him. “On the ship I couldn’t eat or sleep well. Fearing my disheveled appearance would prevent the palace gate guards from letting me in, I asked Minister Yang to accommodate me—I went back to change into official robes and eat something before coming to see you.”
The Emperor then laughed. “So it’s because I didn’t consider things thoroughly enough?”
“I wouldn’t dare say that.” Mo Zi answered thus. “If I say yes, Your Majesty’s good mood will be gone. If I say no, I become a disobedient girl.”
“You girl, with that mouth of yours, you’re truly formidable. Even I can’t argue with you. Forget it.” The Emperor changed the subject. “You’re so clever—do you know why I summoned you?”
Mo Zi answered, “By rights it should be to inquire about the Daqiu trip and the secret edict matter. However, Your Majesty only summoned Mo Zi alone, so it seems you have other questions.”
“Since you’ve mentioned the secret edict, then I’ll ask you—what did you all go to Daqiu for?” The Emperor’s face still smiled at this moment, but his eyes did not.
“To rescue the Yuling Crown Prince and the Second Prince.” Mo Zi observed carefully, secretly cautious.
“Then did you complete my edict?” The Emperor raised his eyebrows. “The Yuling Crown Prince died, the Second Prince was abducted by others, and in the end you only rescued your sister. I’ve discovered this trip was made especially for you.”
The Emperor seemed to already know about the Daqiu affair. Had he questioned Xiao Wei and Wei Jia during these two hours, or had someone else already reported to him? Mo Zi thought to herself that the Emperor summoning her to the palace had great significance. What was it?
Her expression remained calm and composed. “When the Yuling Crown Prince died, Mo Zi was present. He was killed by mistake by the Daqiu King’s guards. Mo Zi was outnumbered and unable to prevent it. As for Second Prince Chu Yu, he was abducted by Yuling forces. At that time, dozens of their ships surrounded us front and back—if we didn’t release Chu Yu, we would be the ones to die. The decision wasn’t made by me alone but through everyone’s consultation, and General Xiao also nodded in agreement. Your Majesty, Chu Yu promised he will surely repay your life-saving grace in the future. If there’s an opportunity, he also wishes to thank you in person. Mo Zi believes that for Yuling to restore their country, the road is long, their military strength insufficient, and their weapons imprecise. To contend with Daqiu, they must rely on Great Zhou’s power. That being the case, in circumstances where bringing Chu Yu directly back to Great Zhou was no longer feasible, doing them this favor also makes Great Zhou appear magnanimous and upright—unlike Daqiu’s wolf-like nature—and establishes a foundation of mutual trust for cooperation. Mo Zi didn’t return empty-handed either—I seized one Daqiu warship. Its excellent configuration and weaponry far surpass Great Zhou warships and were the key to Daqiu’s victories in their war against Yuling. If Great Zhou uses this to improve its own ships, given time, there will be no need to worry about Daqiu invasions.”
“I actually thought the ships you build, girl, far surpass Daqiu’s—after all, weren’t Daqiu’s ships built based on your ideas? Song Shi Mo Zi—your father Song Yulin, even I wanted to invite him to build ships for Great Zhou, yet who knew the father had the name but the daughter had the substance.” The Emperor snorted coldly. “Song Mo Zi, do you know your crime?”
Yang Ling was immediately alarmed and quickly looked at Mo Zi, but saw her expression unchanged.
Mo Zi had just guessed that the Emperor summoned her because he knew about that bit of the past. In any case, in the palace her life wasn’t in her control, so she wasn’t nervous either. She gathered her robe and unhurriedly knelt down. “Your Majesty, please forgive this crime.”
The Emperor didn’t let her rise. “What crime does the girl have? Tell me and let me hear.”
“Mo Zi concealed her own past. When meeting Your Majesty, I didn’t recite my family genealogy or recount my childhood anecdotes one by one. Therefore, this is the crime of deceiving the sovereign.” Mo Zi knelt with her upper body straight, her expression calm as still water.
The Emperor was amused by her words. “You speak of deceiving the sovereign, yet I hear defiance. Kneeling yet like a cliff pine, full of pride. Get up.”
Mo Zi rose. “Your Majesty, though Mo Zi was once a Daqiu person, this was due to my father—I had no power to choose. Father was a palace craftsman. From childhood, Mo Zi was influenced by what I saw and heard, and became extremely interested in woodworking, later specializing in shipbuilding. Though Daqiu warships used my ideas, they stole them—I never permitted it. Because my father and brother entered and left the palace, Mo Zi came to know the current Daqiu King. I don’t deny I once liked him, but Daqiu’s warlike ambitions ran counter to my wishes, ultimately leading to our break. Daqiu sent my father and brother to Yuling as inside agents. Mo Zi didn’t know at that time, but was glad to leave Daqiu, and for three years after that never drew a single ship diagram. This past—I won’t deny it, but I also won’t publicize it to the outside world. Who doesn’t have secrets in their heart? Your Majesty, you never asked Mo Zi about it, so naturally I wouldn’t voluntarily speak of it. To call it deceiving the sovereign is actually somewhat unjust.”
Yang Ling listened with cold sweat streaming down, secretly lamenting. He thought, just confess your crime—why say it’s unjust?
“Who doesn’t have secrets in their heart?” The Emperor repeated this phrase. “You’re right. These people around me all have secrets in their hearts. As long as they don’t speak, I’ll never know. But you—at least when I asked, you answered truthfully. However—”
Mo Zi’s expression showed no fear.
“Even if I don’t pursue it, the civil and military officials of the full court will pursue it. Once Daqiu exposes your identity and insists on getting you back as their king’s queen, you won’t be able to stay out of it.” Was the Emperor a gentle person?
“Mo Zi understands.” Now, what should the next step be?
“Mo Zi, receive the edict. Yang Ling, you record this.” The Emperor spoke.
Mo Zi knelt again.
“Female Official Song, effective immediately, is relieved of her authority to move between the Grand Director of Shipbuilding and the Ship Office, and stripped of her salary. Her official rank and title of Grand Master Craftsman are temporarily retained. Without my edict, she may not leave the capital. When leaving her residence, Qianniu Guards must accompany her. If she violates this edict, she will be severely punished without exception.” House arrest.
Though Mo Zi had been mentally prepared for this, it came so quickly that she was caught off guard.
“Your Majesty, Mo Zi has one matter to request.” She received the edict and dispensed with the thanks.
“I’m not taking your life—what are you requesting?” Gentle temperament, but born to the imperial family, human life counted as nothing in their eyes, let alone mere house arrest.
“Mo Zi requests Your Majesty maintain the current team at the Ship Office and shipyard. Acting Director Qi Xiubo is learned and talented, upright in character, and experienced. Acting Manager Qiu Buzheng, though a late bloomer, has superb skills and is also very worthy of important use. As long as these two are there, Your Majesty need have no worries about shipbuilding matters.” Mo Zi addressed the matter, not the person.
The Emperor looked at her carefully. “I’ve stripped you of your official authority, yet not only do you not resent it, you even think of me. Girl, rest assured—in the future, if the officials make things difficult for you, I’ll do my best to protect you. For now, this is just an expedient measure to keep you away from controversy. Because of Prince Li’s matter, I’ve already issued an edict summoning the three princes and the generals to the capital. Even if the border knows about your situation, they can’t spread it for the time being.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” This time Mo Zi gave thanks.
“Minister Yang, don’t announce this edict externally for now—keep it in the Central Secretariat. If anyone asks, just say Female Official Song is overly fatigued and I’m temporarily letting her rest. The Ship Office and shipyard remain unchanged.” The Emperor then commanded Yang Ling.
Yang Ling assented.
When Mo Zi left the palace, the Emperor dispatched twenty Qianniu Guards, led by two chief and deputy commanders named Xu Yang and Geng Wo, who followed closely behind her carriage.
Two people went in, twenty-four people came out. Zan Jin, who was driving the carriage, blinked.
Mo Zi said nothing and went straight home. Yuan Cheng had already gone out again, so she simply slept for most of the day, resting smoothly to relieve the tension of these past days.
When eating breakfast the next day, Yuan Cheng had already learned of the Emperor’s edict from Yang Ling. Like her, he was neither angry nor agitated. “Though it’s not announced externally, the officials of the Six Ministries who should know all know. Because there’s also an edict regarding Yang Qiao, most people think it’s just a return to normalcy. Your matter of no longer moving about hasn’t caused much of a stir, but there are quite a few complaints about the Ship Office and shipyard remaining unchanged.”
“There’s also an edict regarding Yang Qiao?” Mo Zi didn’t know.
“Yes. Vice Minister Yang submitted a memorial saying that since he’s already resigned and returned to his hometown, his daughter has reached marriageable age, and he hopes to enjoy more family happiness before then. But Yang Qiao is a court official and can’t leave the capital at will, so he requested the Emperor show consideration and rescind Yang Qiao’s position at the Ministry of Rites so she can return to her hometown. The Emperor granted it.” He smiled watching her appetite was extraordinarily good as she asked for another bowl of congee, knowing she’d slept through dinner.
Mo Zi heard more surprising news. “Vice Minister Yang resigned and returned to his hometown? He’s not even fifty yet.” The age when an official career was just entering its golden period.
“I heard it’s an old ailment with his legs and feet. The northern weather is cold and difficult for recuperation.” This was the official story. Mo Zi was already deeply versed in the ways of officialdom—that is, toward everything dressed in ordinary clothes but actually extraordinary, she held an attitude of first suspecting, then verifying, thereby eliminating suspicion. “Yuan Cheng, did you have a hand in this?”
“Indirectly.” Yuan Cheng admitted. “Yang Ling wants to follow me.”
With just this one sentence, everything was clear. Yang Ling wanted to follow Yuan Cheng, and Yuan Cheng wanted to help Jin Yin restore Yuling. How the relationship between Yuling and Great Zhou would be was still unknown. Therefore, the Yang family must first withdraw from Great Zhou’s court to prepare for extracting themselves at any time in the future.
Suddenly, Mo Zi thought of Yang Qiao. “I want to go see Qiao.”
“Go ahead. In any case, you’re idle now. Visiting relatives and friends everywhere—it’s a good time for it.” Yuan Cheng picked up some food for her with his chopsticks. “However, Miss Yang is currently staying at the Jiang residence. You can also see Bai Shi.”
She was ashamed to admit she’d been on the water too long and was out of touch with things on shore. “Why is Yang Qiao staying at Jiang Tao’s house?”
“Yang Ling sold the Yang mansion back to the Ministry of Finance. Miss Yang can only stay there temporarily.” Seeing her good appetite, he also ate more.
“He really left thoroughly.” Mo Zi sighed. “But what about Wei Jia and Yang Qiao?”
Yuan Cheng said nothing.
When he didn’t speak, she didn’t ask again. Because there was no need to ask again. Whether it could become a beautiful tale no longer depended only on mutual affection. There were family choices and also one’s own considerations. And she should be glad that at least Yuan Cheng and she had chosen the same path.
After learning about the Yang family’s matter, when going to Bai He’s house, Mo Zi’s mood was somewhat heavy. But when she walked into the courtyard and saw Yang Qiao laughing as she made flower tea with Bai He, she relaxed.
As soon as Bai He saw Mo Zi, she immediately ran over and looked her up and down. “Mo Zi, you can’t run ships anymore. That beautiful face is thin and dark again—who will dare marry you in the future?”
“Don’t worry, this young lady already has someone.” It was also time to bring some things out in the open, or there might be no more chances.
Bai He got excited. “Who? Who is it?”
Yang Qiao had stayed on the same ship with Mo Zi and Yuan Cheng and had a good idea. Seeing Mo Zi was generous about it, she knew it could be spoken of. “Sister Bai, let me tell you—it’s Central Secretariat Gentleman Yuan Cheng, Minister Yuan. No, wait—I heard from my brother he was promoted. He’s not only the head of the Central Secretariat but also the Minister in Charge of Prince Li’s treason case, now third rank.”