Wherever the Chief Ministers were, they were always the center of attention — even at a princess’s wedding, many eyes were watching them. The departure of the two Chief Ministers immediately set off a wave of discussion. Many people arrived at the same answer as Liu Songnian and Zhù Ying — something had gone wrong.
Not many people had noticed the small eunuch’s arrival, but once he stood beside the two Chief Ministers, spoke with them, and then accompanied them as they left, many eyes fixed on him as well. The small eunuch was still young; his skill at playing a role was not yet polished, and the expression on his face gave rise to even more speculation. Among those present were people who recognized him.
Could it be the Emperor?
Princess Yongping’s heart lurched. Her daughter had only just married, and if now her father were to… Two people bonded to her by blood were both inside the forbidden palace at this moment…
What she could think of, others had already thought of long before. The princes and ministers, their minds turning quickly, were all considering how to leave early to probe the situation. On this very auspicious day, the Emperor had personally issued orders requiring everyone to come and drink wedding wine — yet midway through, a palace eunuch had summoned away both Chief Ministers! Even if some urgent matter had arisen, sending for one of them temporarily ought to have been sufficient to manage it. If it were a matter of the utmost gravity, more senior officials should be summoned as well.
Something was strange at every turn.
Unease rippled through everyone’s hearts — only the heedless young idlers continued in their laughter and play. Zhù Ying said to Liu Songnian: “The various princes are still at the table; the Crown Prince and his son are both in the palace. It can’t be too serious.”
Liu Songnian pursed his lips: “The trouble is not in the palace — it’s in the hearts of all these people. People’s hearts are uneasy now.”
Zhù Ying looked over; even the princes no longer appeared as composed as before. Prince Lu stood up: “Ah, I’ve had too much to drink, my head hurts.” With that, he made to excuse himself and go home.
Liu Songnian said to Zhù Ying: “I also need to go. You go find Zheng Seventh — tell him not to sit there stupidly. He’s the Governor of the Capital!”
Zhù Ying said: “Understood. And what about here?”
Liu Songnian smiled from the corner of his mouth: “If they want to seek their own destruction, why would you stop them?”
He left even faster than Wang Yunhe had; Shi Yin and the others had no time to see him off. Prince Lu also bid farewell to Princess Yongping and her husband. Luo Sheng and Princess Yongping had nothing to say to each other; both became anxious, and they haltingly bade Prince Lu farewell. Most officials rose to leave. Zhù Ying was about to look for Zheng Xi, but Zheng Xi had already said to Princess Yongping: “All these people are leaving together — I must go maintain some order.”
A perfectly balanced excuse.
Zhù Ying went and sat back down. Her table had no wine, so she took a pot of warm tea and slowly poured herself a cup, savoring it quietly.
Sheng Ying had already stood up, but seeing her come back and sit down, he paused and asked: “Why did you come back?”
Zhù Ying said: “I came to drink wedding wine.”
Sheng Ying shook his head.
Zhù Ying shook her head inwardly as well, and poured him a cup of wine: “Don’t worry. Have a drink. Where can you go? What can you do?”
At a moment like this, being neither inside the palace, the only word was “steady.” What was the point of rushing about? Sheng Ying reluctantly sat back down, picked up his wine cup, spilled half of it, then hurriedly poured the remaining half into his mouth.
Zhù Ying had only half-finished eating when the small eunuch invited her aside — Luo Sheng wanted her opinion. The two of them sat down in Luo Sheng’s small study. Luo Sheng said: “The Princess sent someone to gather news from the palace, and there’s been no word back even now. What is to be done? I don’t even know how the child is…”
Zhù Ying looked at Luo Sheng’s anxious expression and thought: I have a way, but you couldn’t do it.
What she said aloud was: “For now, no news is good news. The Chief Ministers have already entered the palace. You should trust in their abilities. And besides, the Crown Prince is holding the palace — what could go wrong?” It would be better still if you could have kept the princes here — but you’re not capable of that, I’m afraid.
Luo Sheng seemed to grasp at a lifeline: “Really?”
Zhù Ying said: “I believe there is no major problem.” Luo Sheng didn’t catch the implication of what she said — no major problem meant there was still some problem, only that someone could handle it and matters would not deteriorate. He felt reassured and let Zhù Ying eat her fill and drink before leaving.
Yet Zhù Ying felt a small irritation. After returning home, she read for a while, and then slept. She did not go to find Zheng Xi to probe the situation, nor did she try to strain her ears for news from the palace.
There was a matter, but no major problem — she couldn’t insert herself into it; better to sleep.
……
Zhù Ying slept peacefully through the night, but many people in the palace could not close their eyes.
Including those in the Eastern Palace.
The little Luo girl had only just left her parents and arrived at her uncle’s family. This morning, before dawn, she had been shaken awake to be washed and dressed, and after the long series of rites — tiring enough for an adult, let alone her — by the time she was sent into the bridal chamber, she was utterly exhausted. Seeing her upper and lower eyelids drooping, her attendant whispered: “You can take a short nap; I’ll wake you when His Royal Highness comes.”
“That won’t do,” said the little girl, her voice carrying the soft sweetness of her age. “The rites are not yet complete, and this dress is difficult to take off and put on.”
“Don’t take it off. I’ll pile cushions behind you — just lean back and doze for a moment,” the attendant said.
The little girl’s frame hadn’t yet grown to full size; with several large cushions piled up, they nearly buried her. She leaned against them, her flower crown tilting to one side, and murmured indistinctly: “You must wake me.”
As she spoke, her eyelids met and she was asleep.
The attendants stood quietly to one side, waiting for the Prince of Qiyang to finish with things outside, come in, and complete the final rites — after which the young couple could separate and rest. The attendants were in good spirits, hoping the Prince would hurry over so everyone could finally rest! Though they would not consummate the marriage, tomorrow morning there would be an early rise to formally bow to the parents-in-law.
After waiting a while, voices could be heard outside. The attendants gently helped the little Luo girl sit up; another attendant tiptoed over to straighten her flower crown. The little girl murmured nasally: “Is it time to begin?”
The attendants rushed to do the final touch-ups to the little bride’s appearance. The Prince of Qiyang strode quickly in, but the attendants were surprised to find there was no master of ceremony. The matron of honor who had accompanied Princess Yongping out to be married and had now accompanied the little Princess Consort back to the palace stepped forward with complete composure, her expression grave: “Your Royal Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
The Prince of Qiyang gave a slight nod: “Imperial Grandfather has fallen ill.”
The matron’s expression changed at once. The Prince said: “Luo Yi.”
Luo Yi was still between dreaming and waking: “Hmm?”
The Prince took two more steps forward, stopping three feet from the bed, and said: “Luo Yi, come with me.”
The attendants hurriedly helped the little Princess Consort up and put her shoes on. The Prince of Qiyang extended his right hand: “Come, I’ll take you to see Imperial Grandfather.”
“Brother?”
The Prince said softly: “Imperial Grandfather has fallen ill. Let us go and see him.”
“Grandfather?”
The Prince of Qiyang nodded, took Luo Yi’s hand: “Don’t be afraid. Father and the Chief Ministers are all before the Emperor.”
“Alright,” said Luo Yi. Her heart was in a panic — even more so than when she had arrived at a strange place. Fortunately the person holding her hand was not a stranger — this husband of hers was a cousin she knew. He felt like something to hold on to, and she gripped his large hand tightly in return.
The Prince of Qiyang took her by the hand and walked a few steps, then noticed she was stumbling along. He held her flower crown with one hand, and with the other supported her behind the knees, lifting her sideways into his arms. Amid cries of astonishment, he strode out of the room. Once past the hall doors there was no need to walk on her own. The Prince of Qiyang carried his little bride onto a sedan chair, holding her flower crown with one hand while saying: “Don’t be afraid — it’s only a moment of dizziness, but we should go and attend to him.”
Luo Yi put a hand up to help steady the flower crown and asked: “Does my mother know? Has she come?”
The Prince said: “She is fine at home. Imperial Grandfather is not gravely ill — let us not worry her.”
The party arrived at the outer hall of the Emperor’s sleeping chambers. Lan De was anxiously waiting for them and came forward from a distance to meet them: “You’ve finally come!”
The Prince asked: “How is he?”
Lan De said in a low voice: “His Majesty has fainted.”
Luo Yi gave a small cry of fright, then covered her mouth. Lan De, hunching over, said: “My father saw that things looked bad, and sent word first to the Eastern Palace. He also sent people to notify the two Chief Ministers, but did not tell the princes. My father said His Majesty wanted the Prince’s wedding to be lively, and disturbing the mood would only earn His Majesty’s reproach afterward. So only the Chief Ministers were summoned to the palace.”
The corner of the Prince of Qiyang’s mouth twitched upward, then reflexively dropped down again. He asked: “Where is Grand General Ruan? What about the palace guard? Are the palace gates closed?”
Lan De was tongue-tied: “This… only… only the gates to His Majesty’s sleeping chambers have been closed.”
The Prince said: “Quickly summon Grand General Ruan to attend on the Emperor!”
“Yes!”
“Wait — who else in the palace knows of this matter?”
“My father told people not to let the news leak.”
The Prince of Qiyang thought: Better than nothing. He said to Luo Yi: “Luo Yi, let us go in.”
The young couple entered the chambers. The imperial physicians bustled about. The palace ladies and eunuchs waited anxiously for the outcome — the Emperor’s life was their own life. If the Emperor died, few of these people would survive. The imperial physicians who had treated him would be the first to go, and then several of the close attendants would surely have to follow in death. Everyone was desperately anxious.
The Prince of Qiyang saw the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort. The Crown Princess said: “Why did you bring Luo Yi too?” She stepped forward first to take Luo Yi’s hand. The Prince said quietly: “It is proper.”
Luo Yi called out several times at the bedside: “Grandfather.”
The Emperor lay still and silent. The Crown Princess drew her a little apart: “Stop calling — let the physicians examine him first.” The sweat on the physicians’ foreheads grew more profuse.
Before long, Grand General Ruan arrived. The group spoke in hushed voices. Lan Xing quietly described his own arrangements. Grand General Ruan said: “I will order the palace gates closed immediately!”
Before he had even gone, the Chief Ministers arrived, both old men running with their heads covered in sweat. Entering the outer hall, they opened their mouths: “Close the palace gates!” Following that, Wang Yunhe said: “Beyond that, do nothing more. Imperial Physicians — pour all effort into treating His Majesty!”
The Crown Prince was still in a daze. The Prince of Qiyang asked: “Is that all?”
Shi Kun said firmly: “That is all!” He and Wang Yunhe quickly divided responsibilities between themselves: the two would take turns standing guard, and in the Grand Council’s name they would issue orders to Zheng Xi, directing him to maintain order in the capital.
Wang Yunhe said: “From this moment, one of us must always be in the palace. The Crown Prince and the Prince of Qiyang must both remain in the palace!”
Shi Kun said: “Agreed!”
While they were still speaking, the Emperor slowly regained consciousness. Luo Yi was the first to notice; before the physicians could make their announcement, she cried out: “Grandfather!”
The Emperor’s eyes opened — or seemed to open; his hands grasped at the air a few times. Lan Xing stepped forward and helped him sit up. He carefully waved a hand before the Emperor’s face. The Emperor… could no longer see.
The Emperor’s heart stirred with anxiety. He called out “Lan Xing.” Lan Xing replied: “I am here!”
“Just now — I heard someone calling me.”
Luo Yi called out “Grandfather” again. The Prince of Qiyang brought her forward and squeezed through: “Imperial Grandfather, we are all here. Father and Mother are here too. Both Chief Ministers have come. Grand General Ruan is standing guard right before you.”
The Emperor gripped Lan Xing’s arm tightly and asked: “The Crown Prince? The Chief Ministers? What is the palace guard doing?”
The four people named stepped forward. The Emperor asked: “What is it like outside?”
Wang Yunhe said: “The change was sudden. We only just managed to rush to the palace. We presently request Your Majesty’s instructions…”
There was no faulting anyone for this. The first to discover the situation had been the Emperor’s personal attendant. Lan Xing had already done well — notifying the Crown Prince rather than the regional princes, then notifying the Chief Ministers, and doing his utmost to seal off the news. As for closing the palace gates and making further arrangements, one could hardly have expected that of Lan Xing. Anyone with a working brain had to know that two things needed to be guarded against: first, if the Emperor died, how to manage the situation; second, if the Emperor did not die, then what?
So Lan Xing could not have done too much — he had not dared to issue orders to Grand General Ruan. The most appropriate people to issue such orders were the Empress or the Empress Dowager, but both had died long ago.
This inevitably meant gaps. News of the Emperor’s collapse had by now probably been clearly established in the minds of quite a number of people. Fortunately the Emperor had regained consciousness; it was no major problem. But things needed to be cleaned up. As Liu Songnian had said, the trouble was not inside the palace but outside — it was the hearts of people beyond the palace walls. In everyone’s minds, the Emperor had reached the time when something should go wrong; otherwise one rumor wouldn’t set off such baseless suspicion and restless stirring.
Wang Yunhe’s intent was to reassure people’s hearts. In any case, the Emperor was fine; the palace gates could be opened. Let things proceed normally. Outward tightness, inner ease.
The Emperor had temporarily lost his sight; after the initial panic, some clarity returned to him. He asked: “And how did you all enjoy the wedding wine?”
Wang Yunhe said: “Before we entered the palace, things were still very lively.”
The Emperor let out a cold laugh: “Tell Zheng Xi to keep a good watch over the capital. Whoever makes trouble in this moment — have him report them all to me!”
“Yes.”
“Who else is here?” the Emperor asked.
The Crown Prince and the others stepped forward to pay their respects. The Emperor seemed somewhat irritated: “Is there no one else?”
Lan Xing softly called out the names of all those present again. The Emperor said: “Summon Liu Songnian!”
“Yes.”
The Emperor issued several orders in succession. Wang Yunhe relaxed — His Majesty’s mind was clear.
Liu Songnian had left Princess Yongping’s estate early. Just as the Chief Ministers entered the palace through one door, he had been waiting just outside another. The moment the edict went out, he arrived within moments.
The Prince of Qiyang was astonished to find that upon hearing Liu Songnian enter the hall, the tension in the Emperor’s expression eased. He waved his hand in the air: “Come, over here.”
……
Liu Songnian strode forward quickly, took the Emperor’s hand, and pressed two fingers to the Emperor’s wrist, his expression grave.
A trace of a bitter smile rose on the Emperor’s face: “That is not urgent.”
Liu Songnian said: “What is more pressing than this?”
The Emperor said: “Appointing a new Chief Minister.”
Liu Songnian asked: “What?”
“You,” the Emperor said.
Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun exchanged glances. Neither had expected such an arrangement from the Emperor. Liu Songnian — the supreme literary authority in the realm — but in all these decades, no one had ever seen him engage in the practical work of governance! As for the Crown Prince, a smile appeared on his face. He loved literature and had long admired Liu Songnian. Only in the past had he not quite dared to seek his company — Liu Songnian’s dreadful temper was only marginally better when it came to the Emperor. Now that he had become Crown Prince, there were many vexing matters, and he hadn’t dared to act rashly. But now he was genuinely delighted for Liu Songnian.
Liu Songnian had never in the past cultivated relationships with the princes.
Liu Songnian said: “How could I serve as Chief Minister?”
The Emperor said: “It is you, and I have profound reasons!”
Wang Yunhe made meaningful eyes at Liu Songnian. Liu Songnian had no choice but to close his mouth, while inwardly thinking the Emperor had lost his mind.
The Emperor continued: “The morning court session tomorrow!”
The Crown Prince said: “Father is presently unwell — would it not be better to rest and recover?”
The Emperor snapped: “Nonsense! I am not dead yet! Do you want to cut me off from the outside world?”
The Crown Prince was struck speechless. His own father had gone blind; he suggested his father rest — where had he gone wrong?
The Prince of Qiyang said quietly to his little wife: “Luo Yi, are you tired?”
“Physician.”
The Prince of Qiyang’s childhood name was Physician. Hearing the Emperor call him, he quickly pressed forward: “Imperial Grandfather.”
The Emperor said: “I am quite well. So Luo Yi has come too. Today is your auspicious day — why is everyone here? Nothing is wrong with me.”
Luo Yi found, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, a great deal of sourness and grievance rising in her heart, and she finally burst into tears: “Grandfather.” She threw herself to the bedside. Her flower crown tilted to one side. The Prince of Qiyang steadied his little bride as the Emperor’s hand came to rest on his granddaughter’s slight shoulder: “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I am here, I am here.”
Luo Yi said: “I want to stay with Grandfather.”
The Emperor smiled gently: “Foolish child, you shouldn’t be here today. Your grandfather is fine. Physician.”
The Prince of Qiyang murmured to his little wife: “If you want to keep Grandfather company, let’s go change our clothes first, all right? You’re not comfortable like this; this dress is too tiring.”
The Emperor listened to the two of them speak, and smiled faintly: “Go.” He then told the Crown Prince and the Chief Ministers they could all withdraw, keeping only Grand General Ruan and Liu Songnian.
The Crown Prince and the Chief Ministers had to withdraw. The Prince of Qiyang also led Luo Yi away. The Emperor said to Grand General Ruan: “Starting today, you must be especially vigilant! Outward tightness, inner ease — do not let them pass information between themselves. In the palace guard, particularly favor the trusted sons of old families.”
Grand General Ruan accepted his orders.
At last the Emperor kept only Liu Songnian.
Liu Songnian said: “You really should rest.”
“Ha! Do you believe that yourself?” the Emperor asked.
Liu Songnian said: “I believe it.”
The Emperor sighed: “Enough of these meaningless words. Twenty years ago when I summoned you to the capital, I intended that when my day came, you would be here to help the Crown Prince stabilize the situation.”
Liu Songnian said without ceremony: “The former Crown Prince had no need of me. And Your Majesty — please do not speak of eternal departures.”
The Emperor said: “I don’t want to either. I have no wish to meet the fate of Duke Huan of Qi! You must help me. Years ago when Prince An rebelled, you helped me. Once it was over you dusted off your sleeves and left without a trace of reluctance. This time you cannot leave again.”
“Your Majesty has already established a Crown Prince.”
“He is not as capable as I was; he cannot hold down his brothers! Wang Yunhe has the talent for governance, but in matters of the inner palace, he is too rigid and upright.”
“Only I am calculating and underhanded.”
The Emperor said quietly: “I trust you. In the hearts of others, there is the realm, there are ambitions, there is the grand unity of all under heaven, and there are clan interests. When they deal with the Emperor, it is ultimately for themselves. Only you — your nature is utterly pure. You will help me.”
Liu Songnian said quietly: “I am also unfit to serve as Chief Minister.”
“I say fit, then fit. Aside from you, the only ones I can trust are these palace eunuchs.”
“The Chief Ministers are perfectly fine.”
The Emperor gave a cold laugh: “They are fine for the realm — not necessarily for me. Starting tomorrow, the princes will take turns attending the Emperor in his illness.”
Liu Songnian said: “The Crown Prince is gentle and honest; he will not take extraordinary action.”
“His mind can’t think of it — but there are others who can. To be an Emperor and still wish to die peacefully? Impossible — which is precisely why one doesn’t want to die!”
Liu Songnian said: “There are few emperors who end their days in desolation.”
“That is because you are not me.”
Liu Songnian did not argue with the Emperor: “Very well. Rest properly.”
The Emperor said: “Understood.”
Liu Songnian said: “Have Lan Xing leave the palace. Let him stay at his family’s home for one night — until he knows what to say and what to do?”
Lan Xing stepped forward deferentially, rolled his eyes first toward the Emperor, then remembered the Emperor could no longer see. The Emperor said: “Why… oh! Lan Xing, go. Follow his instructions.”
Lan Xing carefully said: “If anyone asks, I’ll say: His Majesty is well.”
The Emperor said: “Record who asks you!”
“Yes.”
The Emperor closed his eyes. Whether they were open or closed, there was only darkness. He could no longer tell dream from waking. Those standing guard dared not grow careless. The Prince of Qiyang, once he had settled his little wife, came with the Crown Prince to keep watch outside. The two half-Chief-Ministers divided their duties: Shi Kun tonight, Wang Yunhe tomorrow; and if all went normally the day after, it would be Liu Songnian.
At dawn the next day, the small morning court convened. The princes and ministers saw the Emperor supported to the imperial throne by two eunuchs. Before they could take turns presenting memorials to probe the situation, the Emperor issued two edicts. The first was Liu Songnian’s appointment as Chief Minister, which he urged be carried out that very day. The second was an order to hasten arrangements for the Prince Chengyi’s wedding.
After the court session, the Crown Prince and Prince Lu were retained to attend the Emperor in his illness.