On the tenth day of the fourth month, during the grand court assembly.
Zhu Bowen rode his horse on the way to the court, his expression unprecedentedly solemn. He had not slept all night due to the message Zhi Er had someone deliver to him yesterday evening.
The news that something had happened in the imperial palace was truly shocking.
"Lord Zhu."
Zhu Bowen turned around and saw Duke Anguo, cupping his hands in greeting. "Duke Anguo."
Because of their previous interactions and now with his grandson being close to Zhu Bowen's granddaughter, Duke Anguo didn't treat him as an outsider. Moving closer, he said in a low voice, "I heard the eldest young lady has returned."
"Yes, she's back. They say she was so exhausted she fell asleep before finishing her words."
Thinking of the rumors spread by certain people, Duke Anguo could only shake his head and sigh. "Those who know understand what really happened. You should comfort her properly - most people remember her kindness."
"Though it may upset her, she won't change her principles because of those rumors." Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent him that message yesterday. Zhu Bowen glanced back seemingly casually, then leaned closer to Duke Anguo and whispered, "The Emperor hasn't been seen for several days. Yesterday, the Sixth Prince brought silver and requested an audience but couldn't see him, nor were there any instructions."
Duke Anguo frowned. "No audience, no message?"
"Exactly. I sense something is wrong. If the Emperor still doesn't appear in today's court assembly, could you arrange for some people to dispute with me about the silver's allocation? It's fine if the debate gets heated. Ultimately, we'll petition the Emperor for a decision and see if he appears."
Duke Anguo's heart skipped a beat. "You suspect... but he might be recuperating, given his health condition..."
"Yesterday, neither the Sixth Prince nor the Seven Constellation Bureau managed to see him through their respective channels. What's more, the Seven Constellation Bureau wasn't even permitted to enter the palace."
"Not even the Seven Constellation Bureau?"
"That's right."
Duke Anguo realized the seriousness of the situation. Who was the Seven Constellation Bureau? They had the right of direct petition to the Emperor, with their office located within the palace itself. If even they couldn't see him...
The two men exchanged glances, and Duke Anguo nodded in agreement.
At mao hour (5-7 am), the palace gates slowly opened. Zhu Bowen and Duke Anguo exchanged meaningful looks, both feeling heavy-hearted.
Entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials arranged themselves according to rank. The Emperor had not yet arrived, and the ministers spoke in hushed tones, with the most common topic being whether the Emperor would attend court today.
After waiting for some time, there was finally movement. Just as Zhu Bowen felt a surge of joy and prepared to kneel and hail the Emperor, his peripheral vision caught sight of Chief Eunuch Chang, who had been frequently accompanying the Emperor recently.
"By the Emperor's decree, all ministers shall deliberate court affairs independently. After the court discussion, submit the results in memorial form."
Little Six clenched his fists. He instinctively glanced at his third and fourth imperial brothers, seeing them both frowning. After some thought, he ultimately didn't approach to inquire, as he didn't trust these two.
Meanwhile, everyone's eyes fell on Duke Dingguo and Duke Lu, the highest-ranking officials present. Duke Dingguo cleared his throat lightly and said, "Ministers with matters to report may speak first for discussion."
"Yes."
After someone initiated the discussion with two relatively uncontroversial matters, Zhu Bowen stepped forward. "What this old official wishes to discuss is the silver brought back from Jin Yang by the Seven Constellation Bureau yesterday. Previously, His Majesty decreed that military provisions must not be delayed. With the national treasury already strained and under significant pressure, this silver should by all means be allocated to the national treasury.""Minister Zhu, your statement is mistaken." He Lianjie, Minister of Works, stepped forward. "His Majesty had previously ordered this humble official to prepare for the canal excavation and promised that the funds would be allocated to the Ministry of Works. With Lord Zhu saying this, should our ministry proceed or not?"
Chen Yuanqing, Minister of War, also stepped out. "The Chao Li Tribe is currently advancing aggressively. His Majesty once summoned this humble official privately, ordering the creation of new weapons for our soldiers - this also requires substantial funds. Who will take responsibility if this matter is delayed?"
"..."
Many coveted these funds, and even those not previously aligned with Duke Anguo jumped out hoping to get a share. But after all the arguing, the Ministry of Revenue ultimately had more legitimate claim.
Then someone said: "This humble official believes we should first apprehend Hua Zhi. She is the daughter of a criminal yet interfered in Jin Yang affairs. May I ask who granted her such authority?"
The noisy hall fell silent. Zhu Bowen coldly stared at the speaker. "May I ask Minister Liu, what consequences resulted from my granddaughter's involvement in this matter?"
"Regardless of the consequences, Hua Zhi overstepped her bounds - that is the fact."
"Oh? According to Minister Liu, my granddaughter should have stood by idly, letting Jin Yang descend into chaos, allowing its silver to flow out, leaving the people in constant fear?"
Minister Liu couldn't possibly agree to this, only saying: "Jin Yang has its own officials who should manage such matters."
"When has Jin Yang ever lacked officials? Yet the Chao Li Tribe has used it as their stronghold these years, appropriating the city's wealth for themselves, turning Jin Yang nearly into a gambling city. All of you have been in officialdom for years - dare you claim Jin Yang's officials are clean? Let me ask you this: if you were in Jin Yang, could you have done better than Hua Zhi? Could you have shown more courage and determination than her? If she hadn't intervened and Jin Yang fell into chaos, wouldn't you then accuse her of failing to act when she could? Minister Liu, where were you when she was risking her life against the Chao Li people? Where were you when she was planning day and night for Jin Yang? You simply flap your lips and want to charge her with crimes - what crimes has she committed? How do you account for her hardships? How do you account for her loyalty to Daqing?"
Days of accumulated anger poured out through these questions. Zhu Bowen wasn't finished. "Hua Zhi isn't qualified to attend court - you could accuse her of ten thousand wrongs and she has no place to defend herself. But Minister Liu, does your conscience not trouble you? Your granddaughter enjoys wealth and privilege in prosperous Beijing, never stepping beyond her inner chambers, surrounded by servants, wanting for nothing. Meanwhile, my granddaughter must withstand the blows of the Chao Li people outside. Who is she protecting? Does she not know how to live well, that she must willingly suffer like this? Even if the Hua family has fallen, my Zhu family remains. My Zhu family can still provide her with servants and everything she desires!"
"I can too." Another voice spoke up - it was Little Six, his chin raised, both proud and angry. "She's my master. I can also provide her with servants and everything she wants!"
That's right, everyone then remembered that Hua Zhi was the master to whom the Sixth Prince had served tea and bowed in formal acknowledgment. Minister Liu was now attacking a royal tutor, who could no longer be considered purely a commoner.
Moreover, everyone present understood the rights and wrongs of this matter. If truly judged, this matter wasn't wrong but meritorious. Only those from opposing factions could forcibly pin charges on Hua Zhi.Minister Liu glanced sideways at the Fourth Prince, wanting to retreat but finding no graceful exit, so he could only continue arguing: "Yet it remains true that Hua Zhi has violated Daqing's laws!"
Zhu Bowen shook his sleeves lightly. "Since that is the case, let us request His Majesty's judgment. Does anyone else have matters to discuss?"
Some shook their heads while others remained silent. Zhu Bowen swept his robe and knelt facing north. "I beg Chief Eunuch Chang to announce us. This old official requests an audience with the Emperor."
The Ministers of Works and War both knelt in unison. "We beg Chief Eunuch Chang to announce us. Your servants request an audience with the Emperor."
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