All the ministers in the hall exchanged silent glances, never expecting him to speak so bluntly, and with a tone full of intent to reprimand the court officials on behalf of Meng Tinghui.
Outside, over a hundred minor officials still stood below the steps. The grand ceremony had not yet concluded; instead of descending the throne and returning to the West China Palace for a celebratory banquet, the emperor chose to discuss this matter in the Purple Star Hall—what kind of propriety was this?
Gu Qin frowned, glanced back at the steps outside the door, and quietly instructed an attendant to close the four vermilion doors of the great hall. Only then did he step forward and say, "If Your Majesty wishes to discuss the matter of Meng Tinghui, it would be better to return to the inner court tomorrow and summon the Chancellors of the Secretariat for a joint deliberation. There is no need to debate such an irrelevant triviality during today's grand ceremony."
Murmurs of agreement immediately rippled softly among the court officials.
Ying Gua gazed coolly at Gu Qin, his voice sharp: "Since Wang Yiwen dared to openly declare during the grand ceremony that I disregard court regulations and propriety, why should I not be able to deliberate on Meng Tinghui's matter here in court?"
The officials exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to respond. Even Gu Qin retreated back into the ranks. Everyone could hear the heavy sarcasm and reproach in the emperor's words, and their gazes involuntarily turned toward Wang Yiwen.
Wang Yiwen was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally said, "We certainly hold no personal resentment or hatred toward Meng Tinghui. However, Meng Tinghui constantly seeks to curry favor with Your Majesty, relies on his closeness to you to disregard propriety, and exploits Your Majesty's trust to repeatedly overstep his bounds. Rising to a fourth-rank official position in less than two years since joining the court has already drawn widespread criticism. Yet Your Majesty has only recently ascended the throne—how can you disregard the words of your important officials for such a sycophantic and disloyal person?"
A shadow crossed Ying Gua's eyes. "According to this reasoning, I keep petty men close and distance worthy ministers—I must be a foolish and ignorant ruler."
Wang Yiwen lifted his robes and knelt, bowing his head: "No one in the entire court holds such a view. Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, you served in the Hall of State Affairs for fifteen years. The retired emperor often entrusted you with decisions on state and military affairs. Even as crown prince, you were known for caring for the common people and rectifying official governance. For years, your resolute and discerning judgment has not diminished in the slightest compared to the retired emperor or Prince Ping. However, though Your Majesty is an enlightened ruler, you may inevitably favor exclusive appointments and keen but biased scrutiny. When sycophantic individuals seize such opportunities, the harm they cause is profound and unpredictable. Although sycophantic ministers like Meng Tinghui will inevitably be exposed and eliminated in the future, 'destroying a city to catch a fox, flooding a village to hunt a rat'—even with Your Majesty's talents, this is perilous."
Ying Gua raised an eyebrow. "'Destroying a city to catch a fox, flooding a village to hunt a rat'..." The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "Minister Wang truly lives up to his Hanlin origins—your words carry an air of refined nobility."
Wang Yiwen, who had previously entered the central administration as Academician Drafters with the title of Deputy Chief Administrator, paled at these words and immediately fell silent.
Ying Gua suddenly raised his voice: "Where is Imperial Academician Fang Huai?"
Fang Huai stepped forward from the back, bowing his head: "Your Majesty."
Ying Gua pointed at Wang Yiwen. "Tell him: who originally recommended Meng Tinghui to fill the vacancy of Admonishing Remonstrator of the Left in the Chancellery?"
Fang Huai's face also changed color. He stood rigidly for a long moment before saying, "It was I, together with Scholar Zhang Ren, who jointly recommended Meng Tinghui to fill the position of Left Remonstrating Official of the Chancellery."
Ying Gua fixed his gaze on Wang Yiwen and said coldly, "By your reasoning, Imperial Academicians Fang Huai and Zhang Ren are also unfit ministers—how dare they jointly recommend a sycophant to deceive me? If we are to condemn Meng Tinghui today, we must first demote Fang and Zhang."
A wave of astonishment swept through the officials of both systems in the hall, and all eyes turned toward them. Everyone knew that Fang Huai and Zhang Ren were pillars of the Hanlin Academy, backbone figures among the pure officials, who had long aligned themselves with Gu Qin. If they were demoted because of Meng Tinghui, what face would the senior officials of the Eastern Faction have left?Although Wang Yiwen held the prestigious position of Deputy Chief Administrator, he had long considered himself part of the pure scholarly elite of the Imperial Academy, with countless instances of offering veiled criticisms and remonstrations to the throne. Hearing this, he was greatly startled and stammered, "This... I, your subject..."
Fang Huai slowly lifted his robe and knelt, saying, "The person I recommended proved unworthy, causing Your Majesty to bear this accusation of partiality today. I dare not evade responsibility or defend myself, and await Your Majesty's judgment."
Ying Gua remained silent on the throne, his gaze sharp and clear as he watched Wang Yiwen.
After a long pause, Wang Yiwen finally spoke, his voice unsteady: "Academicians Fang and Zhang could not have known of Meng Tinghui's treacherous nature when they recommended him, and they absolutely cannot be held accountable for this. When Meng Tinghui participated in the trial of Wang Qi, Director of the Court of Imperial Stud, he was excessively harsh and cruel, employing illegal torture in the Censorate Prison to extract confessions, treating imperial officials as mere dirt and grass. He acted so recklessly only because he knew Your Majesty had long been displeased with Wang Qi. Yet Your Majesty repeatedly promoted him to Right Advisory Official and Hall of Scholarly Profundity Academician-in-Waiting—these were truly inappropriate appointments."
Ying Gua chuckled lightly, the laughter filled with cold mockery, and said, "Meng Tinghui gained entry to the Censorate Prison to interrogate prisoners because Vice Censor-in-Chief Xue Peng granted permission." He then turned his gaze to the right side of the hall. "Minister Xue is present today as well—is what I say correct?"
Xue Peng, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty speaks truly. It was indeed I who initially permitted Meng Tinghui to enter the Censorate Prison alone to interrogate Wang Qi."
Ying Gua nodded slightly and turned back to Wang Yiwen. "According to this reasoning, Xue Peng must also be considered a minister who flatters his superior to curry favor—if he hadn't known of my long-standing displeasure with Wang Qi, why would he have allowed Meng Tinghui to enter the Censorate Prison alone? Following Minister Wang's logic, someone like Xue Peng certainly cannot oversee the Censorate, and the position of Vice Censor-in-Chief should be yielded to more worthy candidates."
Upon hearing this, Xue Peng also lifted his robe and knelt, joining Fang Huai and Wang Yiwen before the dragon throne. Frowning deeply, he said, "I have disgraced my position in overseeing the Censorate and failed to maintain its integrity. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Wang Yiwen knelt between the two, his body stiff with tension. "Your Majesty..." He never imagined his words would lead to such complications.
He had thought his attempt to demote Fang Huai and Zhang Ren was because they were members of the Eastern Faction, but he hadn't expected that even Xue Peng—an upright official who didn't align with any faction—would be unable to escape unscathed.
Ying Gua leaned on the armrest of his throne and turned to Gu Qin. "All the Chancellors of the Secretariat are present today. Let us publicly discuss how this matter should be handled."
Gu Qin, not daring to speak recklessly, bowed and said, "We shall first listen to Your Majesty's intentions before deliberating and presenting our memorials."
Ying Gua smiled faintly. "Very well." He stood up and addressed those below: "My repeated promotions of Meng Tinghui were indeed inappropriate. Today, I demote him to Attendant of the Celestial Literature Pavilion, temporarily assigned to the Hall of Historical Records to compile the Diary of Emperor's Activities."
All the ministers bowed and praised his sagacity.
But Ying Gua raised his hand to stop them, his eyes darkening as he continued, "Since Meng Tinghui is being demoted, we cannot avoid addressing the failures and misconduct of Fang Huai, Zhang Ren, and Xue Peng in their official duties. Demote Fang and Zhang to Academicians of the Imperial Academy. Xue Peng's talents are insufficient for the position of Director of the Archives—transfer him from Vice Censor-in-Chief to Drafter of Imperial Edicts."
The several men quickly kowtowed to express gratitude and accept their punishments.
Ying Gua's eyebrows twitched slightly as he added, "Minister Wang has long served in the central government and is unfamiliar with the livelihoods of the people in the outer counties. Today, during the grand ceremony, you and other Important Officials from the two bureaus repeatedly expressed reluctance to part with the Retired Emperor and Prince Ping. Considering your loyal sentiments, I grant you permission to accompany them to the western capital. You shall serve as the administrator of Suiyang while retaining your title of Deputy Chief Administrator. How does that sound?"Wang Yiwen felt a chill run down his spine. Though he knew this was his punishment for openly criticizing Meng Tinghui earlier that day, he had no words to defend himself. Lowering his head, he said, "I thank Your Majesty for your great mercy. I shall devote all my efforts to assisting the Grand Emperor and Prince Ping in the western capital of Suiyang."
The assembled important officials watched with growing dread. They understood that a new emperor naturally brought changes to the court, but none had expected the new sovereign to begin purging veteran ministers of the previous reign immediately upon ascending the throne.
Yet no one dared step forward to speak again.
Wang Yiwen had been the one to criticize Meng Tinghui's deep favor with the emperor. Though he had succeeded in having Meng Tinghui demoted, he had sacrificed his own political future along with those of Fang Huai, Zhang Ren, and Xue Peng. Without any argument to refute the emperor's decision, he ultimately had to face the dragon throne and proclaim, "Your Majesty is wise."
In this exchange, though Meng Tinghui had been demoted, she hadn't lost the emperor's trust. Instead, they had become sacrificial offerings for the new emperor to establish his authority upon ascending the throne.
Only now did they fully understand that the emperor was no longer the handsome youth who had first involved himself in political and military affairs eleven years ago, but had become a young ruler with ruthless methods and cunning statecraft.
Gu Qin bowed his head, his expression unreadable, and respectfully said, "The Secretariat has no objections and will respect Your Majesty's decree. An edict will be issued to the court and the realm in due course. Since the matter of Meng Tinghui has been resolved, we hope Your Majesty will soon descend from the throne and return to West China Palace to hold a banquet where all officials may offer their congratulations."
Ying Gua looked at Gu Qin and suddenly said, "Minister Gu has served the state and remained loyal to his sovereign for many years, truly the court's unparalleled wise minister. I hereby grant you the title of Councilor of Military and State Affairs, while you retain your positions as Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Director of the Chancellery."
Gu Qin suddenly looked up, his face showing astonishment. He remained stunned for a long moment before seeming to collect himself, immediately saying, "What virtue or ability do I possess to dare accept such honors? I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Court ministers were equally surprised that after demoting several members of the Eastern Faction, he would bestow such rewards upon Gu Qin.
Ying Gua chuckled softly. "Minister Gu, please do not decline out of modesty. As a veteran minister of two reigns who has assisted the Grand Emperor and Prince Ping for many years, through both war and peace, you have always been a loyal servant. Why should you not dare accept this title?"
Gu Qin bowed his head again and remained silent for a long time before finally saying in a hoarse voice, "I thank Your Majesty for your great mercy. I shall devote myself entirely to assisting Your Majesty's great enterprise."
The Yellow-robed Attendant waiting in the corner of the hall saw this and quietly went to have the four main doors reopened. Following protocol, he allowed the hundreds of minor officials waiting outside on the steps to bow and offer congratulations once more. Then he went to request the new emperor to descend from the throne and leave the palace. The assembled ministers and generals also descended the steps behind him, boarding carriages to return to West China Palace.
Outside, golden sunlight spread everywhere as the sun reached its zenith. The glazed tiles on the upturned eaves of the hall corners shone emerald bright, while the distant palace walls appeared hazy in the clear light. The azure sky held drifting clouds, sparrows chirped, and the summer breeze felt warm and gentle.
·
By evening, someone from the palace had arrived at the Meng residence bearing an imperial edict.
Although imperial physicians had already visited the residence, Meng Tinghui remained weak throughout her body, unable to rise from her bed. The edict-bearer seemed aware of her condition and had the Meng household servants set up a table to receive the imperial decree, not insisting that Meng Tinghui rise and kneel to receive it.
She was demoted to Attendant of the Celestial Literature Pavilion, temporarily assigned to the Hall of Historical Records to compile the Diary of Emperor's Activities.
Hearing this, for some reason, she felt a great weight lift from her heart, her entire body relaxing. The rapid promotions of recent days had long accumulated doubts and depression within her. Now, suddenly demoted, it felt somehow appropriate.
She also heard that during the accession ceremony, the emperor had actually closed the hall for court discussion, demoting four key ministers—Fang Huai, Zhang Ren, Xue Peng, and Wang Yiwen—while bestowing significant honors upon Gu Qin.Though she did not know exactly what had transpired during the day, she could guess it was related to her demotion. Piecing together fragments in her mind, she managed to form a rough understanding and let out another soft sigh.
Yet, weakened by illness, she lacked the energy to dwell on it. As night fell, she ate a little plain porridge prepared by the servants according to the Imperial Physician's instructions, then drew the bed curtains and sank into a deep sleep.
Some time deep into the night, lanterns suddenly illuminated the entire courtyard, and hurried footsteps of household servants echoed in her ears. The humid night air lingered, and after an indeterminate length of time, her door creaked softly as someone pushed it open.
Thinking it was a maid coming to wipe her down, she turned her head and asked, "What's happening outside? Why all this commotion?"
But no one answered.
Finding it strange, she raised her hand to lift the bed curtains for a clearer look, but the person beat her to it, drawing the curtains aside and reaching out to feel her forehead.
His face was silhouetted against the faint light from the window crack, making it hard to see clearly, yet she knew unmistakably that it was him. Startled, she exclaimed, "Your Majesty... Why has Your Majesty come here?"
"Hmm."
He responded in a low voice, not answering her question, but instead gently cupped her face and looked down, studying her intently.
The room was unlit, and the dim glow from the courtyard made the space between them feel intimately connected, as if their hearts and minds were intertwined.
She couldn't discern the expression in his eyes, but her heart grew unsettled. He was now the exalted ruler—how could he leave the palace so casually to visit her, as he had when he was still the Crown Prince? Moreover, the banquet at West China Palace was scheduled to last well into the night; by her reckoning, it shouldn't have ended yet. Why was he here instead of presiding over the festivities, receiving toasts and congratulations from his ministers and generals?
Noting that her fever had subsided considerably and her complexion was no longer as pale as it had been that morning, he sat down by the bed, his robes rustling, and took her hand. "I was worried about you," he said. "I came to see how you were."
Holding her hand like this, she lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and found herself at a loss for words.
Suddenly, he asked her, "Do you feel wronged?"
Knowing he was referring to her demotion and salary reduction, she shook her head and whispered, "How could your servant feel wronged?"
He gently massaged her fingertips. "Falling so ill and then receiving a demotion—I thought you might feel aggrieved."
She glanced at him silently, again unable to find a response.
Hearing his words, she realized her earlier assumptions had been correct. It seemed his demotion of four senior officials today had been carried out under the pretext of her situation. And all those previous incidents and promotions had likely been under his control all along, waiting for the day when senior ministers would voice opposition, allowing him to close the net with a single gesture.
Was he brilliantly cunning, or was she simply too naive?
She had thought he was pushing her repeatedly into the spotlight to clear obstacles for him, never realizing he had no need for her presumptuous assistance. His majesty was peerless, his mind far beyond her comprehension.
Only now did she understand why, when Fang Huai and Zhang Ren had recommended her for the Chancellery, he had disregarded his anger from the previous night and appointed her as both Proofreading Secretary and Tally and Seal Secretary. He must have been planning this all along.
And only now did she grasp why, that night when he knew she had gone to Liao Congkuan to secretly contact Vice Censor-in-Chief Xue Peng, he had neither reprimanded nor stopped her, and had even allowed her to act willfully and enter the Censorate Prison alone.He was merely waiting for her to repeatedly provoke the senior officials, then repeatedly promoting her official rank and salary, only to eventually demote her and reduce her stipend, attributing the fault of misguided favor and misplaced trust to the senior officials' erroneous recommendations and appointments. In the end, his reputation as a wise and discerning sovereign remained entirely untarnished.
She had underestimated him, and overestimated herself.
But among all the words he had spoken to her, how many were true and how many were false? Could she still distinguish them?
Seeing her remain silent, he released his grip, leaned down to embrace her, and said, "I told you, I treat you well because I want to."
She shifted with his movement, resting her head on his lap, and softly responded with an "Mm."
He brushed aside her long hair, his fingertips tracing her lips. Noticing her distracted expression, he suddenly spoke coldly, "But you don't believe me."
She lifted her lashes, slightly furrowing her brows.
He abruptly leaned in, lowering his head to kiss her, his hands slipping beneath her robes.
She dodged a few times, raising her hands to block him, and gasped lightly, "Your Majesty visiting your subject's residence late at night is already improper. If you go further with such actions, do you wish for your subject to die?"
He gripped her wrists, kissing her fiercely, his heated tongue sweeping across her lips before releasing her, his voice hoarse as he said, "Isn't it a bit late to say such things now?"
She struggled to suppress the desire he had stirred within her, watching him without a word.
He lifted her into his arms, holding her tightly without letting go. After a long while, he spoke again, "Are you resentful of me?"
Her chin rested on his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering, "Your subject holds no resentment toward Your Majesty. How could I resent you when I love you so dearly?"
"Truly?" His warm chest pressed against her heart.
She nodded, "Truly."
His grip loosened slightly as he held her against the headboard, tilting his head to kiss her hair.
She chuckled softly, tightening her embrace. "Your subject only regrets falling ill today and missing the sight of Your Majesty openly dismissing four Important Officials in the Purple Star Hall."
His gaze deepened, but he remained silent.
She continued, "Only today did your subject realize that Your Majesty has always intended to protect Minister Gu."
As soon as Cao Jing arrived at the Censorate, he submitted a memorial impeaching Gu Qin—this must have been done under His Majesty's directive. At that time, Wang Qi's case was about to be tried. By claiming illness and remaining at home, Gu Qin avoided the court's disputes; otherwise, those arrogant officials of the Eastern Faction would surely have dragged him in as their backing.
Holding her, he remained silent for a long time before saying, "Fang Huai, Zhang Ren, and Wang Yiwen have been closely aligned with Gu Qin for years. With all three dismissed by me today, the court officials will surely think Gu Qin has fallen out of my favor. There are many petty men in the court who seize opportunities and kick others when they're down. If I hadn't publicly honored Gu Qin today, troubles would likely have arisen tomorrow. Gu Qin has served the state and the court his entire life—he deserves a proper conclusion."
After a moment's thought, she said, "Your Majesty has considered everything so thoroughly. I wonder if Minister Gu will appreciate Your Majesty's gracious intent."
The corners of his lips lifted as he turned to kiss her again.
She adored his smile, always gazing at it transfixed whenever she saw it. Now, startled by his kiss, her thoughts drifted abruptly, and her arms around him trembled slightly.
He let her stare at him so foolishly, his eyes tracing her brows, eyes, nose, and lips. Seeing her dazed expression, he couldn't resist leaning close to her ear and whispering, "If you keep looking at me like this, I won't be able to hold back, even with your illness."She snapped back to attention, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After lowering her gaze for a long moment, she finally whispered softly, "Every time Your Majesty smiles, it feels as though you're drawing the very soul from my body."
Lazily leaning against her bed pillow, his large hand stroking her long hair, his eyes lightly closed with a relaxed expression, he remarked, "Your face wasn't so thin-skinned back during the Minor Proclamation Ceremony in the Hall of Preserved Harmony."
She murmured quietly, "At that time, I thought Your Majesty was deliberately mocking me, and I felt resentful in my heart."
He gave another low, soft chuckle but said nothing.
After nestling in his embrace for a long while, she suddenly looked up at him. "Academicians Fang Huai and Zhang Ren recommended me for the Chancellery back then, but now they've been demoted because of me. They must despise me to the core."
He opened his eyes, a slight frown forming between his brows.
She continued, "When I went to beg Lord Liao to have Lord Xue assist me in the Wang Qi case, Lord Xue ended up losing his position as Censor-in-chief. I'm afraid even Lord Liao must resent me now." She paused, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Your Majesty's thunderous methods—within half a day, you sidelined veteran officials, demoted minor ones, and made me appear even more irredeemable in the eyes of the court."
His expression stiffened slightly as he asked, "...Do you regret it?"
She curled deeper into his embrace and replied calmly, "Do I regret doing these things that draw everyone's scorn? Or do I regret loving a Your Majesty whose heart is so difficult to fathom?"
He felt her warm, shallow breath against the side of his neck, and his heart stirred abruptly.
Without waiting for his response, she suddenly said, "Your Majesty... could you hold me tighter?"
Slowly, he embraced her more tightly—tighter, then tighter still—so tight it felt as though he were pressing her into his very bones and blood, until his ribs ached faintly from the pressure.
She let out a contented sigh. "I don't regret it." After a pause, she added, "I don't regret anything, no matter what. I won't regret it, no matter how long it's been."
Suddenly, he found it hard to breathe.
How deeply, how profoundly must this woman in his arms love him, to say these words to him again and again, time after time?
In this world, aside from her, where could he ever find another woman who cared nothing for glory or disgrace, asked for nothing in return, and devoted her heart so completely?
The child from ten years ago was merely one among thousands whose lives he had spared, but the woman now—she was clearly a vermilion seal imprinted permanently upon his heart, impossible to erase.
He closed his eyes briefly. The body beneath his palm was soft and warm. Her goodness was something only he could understand, and how fortunate he was to have been loved so wholeheartedly by her for so long.
After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice, enunciating each word clearly, "I will not let you regret it either."
She made no sound, nor did she move, as if she had already fallen asleep.
He waited a moment before calling to her, "Meng Tinghui."
She responded vaguely, then bent her knee, hooking it over his leg in a comfortable posture.
He reached up to stroke her face, trying to rouse her, his voice hesitant. "Before leaving the palace, I summoned the Imperial Physician for questioning. Liu Degang said you had eaten something improper."
Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and after a long moment, she lifted her gaze to look at him, whispering softly, "...Yesterday, that commoner from Fei County who previously submitted a petition at the Grievance Drum Institute came to my residence to see me. He brought some local snacks as a token of gratitude. The common folk are simple and sincere—it was hard to refuse his earnest offer, so I ate them."
His expression darkened, his voice turning cold. "How do you know there was nothing wrong with that food? How could you carelessly eat something given by someone you don't even know!"She furrowed her brow. "The issue likely arose from the long journey and intense heat. I am not as noble as Your Majesty's imperial person—why should I refrain from eating whatever is available?"
He pinched her chin and stared at her. "Last year at the mounted archery ceremony, weren't you thrown from the horse badly enough? How can you be sure no one at court wishes to harm you again?"
She choked back a retort, taking a long moment before frowning. "So Your Majesty already knew about that incident."
He glared at her coldly, his expression growing increasingly displeased. "What, did you expect to keep it hidden from me forever? Wei Mingxian is truly a treacherous official who defied his superiors. Merely demoting him and sending him back to his hometown for Mourning Leave was letting him off too lightly. You knew about this yet failed to report it to me—do you not understand the gravity of the situation?"
She silently lowered her gaze, shamelessly leaned in to kiss the corner of his lips, then buried her face against his chest and gently nuzzled, murmuring softly, "Your Majesty, your subject is still unwell..."
His body stiffened, not expecting her to act so "unruly" again, yet her demeanor left him unable to vent his frustration. He immediately pressed her head against his chest, preventing her from moving further.
The summer night was humid and warm, and the space within the bed curtains felt even more stiflingly hot.
She obediently nestled there without moving, closing her eyes and breathing lightly. Half-asleep, she murmured again, "...Since Your Majesty has already come to visit your subject, shouldn’t you return to the palace soon?"
He remained silent, only reaching out to pull down the sheer bed curtains.
The curtains drifted down, separating the inside of the bed from the outside, allowing hazy light to filter through as the scattered floral patterns swayed faintly.
Before long, she fell into a deep sleep, her face as pure and innocent as a child unaware of worldly affairs, her body softly molded into his embrace, pressed tightly against his heart as if inseparable.
Gazing at her sleeping face, he gently took her hand from his shoulder and held it in his palm, not letting go for a long time.
Outside the courtyard, the lanterns and candles still burned brightly, yet no one dared to knock and disturb them.
The summer grass grew tall and slender, insects chirped noisily, the moonlight hung high in the sky, and sparse stars hid from view...
The room remained uniquely tranquil and peaceful.
·
The new emperor spent his first night after ascending the throne at the Meng residence.
Only a few of the emperor’s close attendants and the servants of the Meng household knew of this, yet none dared to speak of it. Although the palace staff knew the emperor had left the palace and not returned, they were unaware of where he had stayed for the night. Court officials, though suspicious upon hearing rumors, dared not openly inquire in court out of fear of the new emperor’s lingering authority from his accession day. Thus, the matter was quietly dropped and never mentioned again.
A month later, the retired emperor and Prince Ping departed the capital, returning to the old western capital of Suiyang.
The new emperor issued an edict, dispatching two thousand Imperial Army troops from the capital region to escort them, and ordered the Inner Palace Departments to send capable officials to accompany the retired emperor and Prince Ping back to the old palace to serve.
Another half-month later, a decree was issued granting a general amnesty, halving taxes across all regions, and announcing an extra imperial examination to select filial and righteous individuals from various routes to come to the capital for scholarly evaluation, with the capable eligible to enter court service.
With the new sovereign’s new policies, the entire nation celebrated. Amid this flourishing and prosperous time, a sudden message from the north shook the court in the capital.
·
Not long after nightfall, the lanterns in the historical archives of the Zhaowen Pavilion were still lit.
Meng Tinghui was in the midst of putting away her ink and books when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside. Frowning in confusion as to why anyone would be running recklessly in the Forbidden Palace grounds at night, she set down what she was holding and quickly stepped out.
As she exited, she ran into a Junior Palace Attendant who had long served the emperor, rushing swiftly toward the northern Watchtower gate of the imperial city. Upon seeing her, he merely gave a hurried bow without even addressing her as "Minister Meng" before continuing his urgent dash along the corridor.
Meng Tinghui’s frown deepened as she called after him, "Eunuch Yue, wait!" When the man turned back, she approached and asked, "Why such haste? Has something happened to His Majesty?"
The Junior Palace Attendant surnamed Yue wiped his sweat and shook his head, "His Majesty is safe and well! This humble one is following orders to summon the Chief Administrators and the Chiefs and Vice Chiefs of the Privy Council to the palace!"
Hearing "His Majesty is safe and well," she initially relaxed, but upon hearing the rest, her heart tightened again. She quickly asked, "It’s already late at night. What matter is so urgent that it requires summoning all the Important Officials of the two bureaus to the palace at once?"The Junior Palace Attendant glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby, then leaned in and said, "This matter shouldn't be spoken of carelessly, but I dare not hide anything from Lord Meng—the Willow Banner Camp in the Chaoan North Circuit has mutinied!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Tinghui was greatly shocked. Stunned for a moment, she trembled and asked, "How could this happen so suddenly?" After a moment's thought, she added, "Even so, this should be publicly debated at the morning court tomorrow. Summoning the Important Officials of the two councils into the palace now will only cause unnecessary panic!"
The Junior Palace Attendant pressed his lips together, his eyes darting into the distance, and whispered in an almost inaudible voice, "After the Willow Banner Camp mutinied, Lord Shen, the Prefect of Qing Province, was sent by Dong Yicheng, the Pacification Commissioner of the Chaoan North Circuit, to appease the rebels, but the mutinous troops have detained him and refuse to release him. There has been no news of whether he is alive or dead!"
Hearing this clearly, her legs suddenly weakened, and she nearly stumbled.
The mutiny of a camp of Imperial Army soldiers was already a shocking event, but who could have expected the rebels to be so audacious as to detain a provincial prefect—and one who was the Emperor's most trusted official at that!
Her lips trembled. After steadying herself for a moment, she asked again, "Where is His Majesty now?"
The Junior Palace Attendant replied, "His Majesty is in the Eastern Warmth Chamber of the Hall of Profound Thought. Minister Tian of the Imperial Guards, who came to report this matter, had not been dismissed from the hall before I left."
Meng Tinghui pursed her lips, understanding the implication in the attendant's words. She feared that the Emperor was in a towering rage at this moment, and Tian Fu, the Minister of the Imperial Guards, would undoubtedly bear the brunt of his fury, likely facing a severe reprimand.
The Junior Palace Attendant dared not delay further. He bowed to her and hurried away.
She stood still, gazing into the distance. The palace corridors stretched windingly, strewn with fallen leaves. Sighing softly, she lowered her eyes, returned to extinguish the candles and close the door, then strode quickly toward the Hall of Profound Thought.
The autumn was harsh, and the wind after nightfall cut to the bone with its cold.
Outside the Hall of Profound Thought stood two rows of palace attendants and maids, their faces filled with apprehension. Clearly, they had been harshly dismissed from inside and were now stuck outside, unable to advance or retreat, everyone feeling deeply awkward.
Meng Tinghui casually asked one of them, "Is Minister Tian of the Imperial Guards still inside?"
The palace attendant shook his head and whispered, "His Majesty ordered Minister Tian to return to the Privy Council to explain the matter to Lords Fang and Jiang, and then return with both of them to the hall."
Frowning at this, she said, "I wish to see His Majesty. Please announce me."
The attendant hesitated for a long moment before replying, "If Lord Meng wishes to see His Majesty, you may enter the hall directly for an audience…"
Knowing that everyone here feared being caught in the crossfire of the Emperor's wrath, Meng Tinghui said no more. Lifting her skirts, she ascended the steps and, without knocking or announcing herself, pushed open the hall doors and walked in.
Below the desk, memorials lay scattered across the floor. Among them, military reports with vermilion endorsements stood out starkly, their corners startling to the eye.
She closed the door behind her and looked up. There sat Ying Gua, leaning sideways with his arms braced, long legs crossed atop the desk, his neck slightly arched, eyes lightly closed, and the jade hairpin removed from his hair. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed.
Were it not for the scattered memorials bearing witness to the rage that had just filled the room, she would never have detected any trace of anger on his face.
Suddenly, she recalled the first time they had met alone in the great hall. He had worn the same indolent, unrestrained demeanor, and in an instant, her heart had raced wildly. Little did she expect that now, having ascended to the throne, he would still appear in such a state.Perhaps because he hadn't expected anyone to enter without announcement at this hour, he had allowed himself such relaxation, openly revealing a side unknown to his subjects. Court officials all knew that since his ascension to the throne, he often spent nights in the Hall of Profound Thought, making the bedchamber of West China Palace merely an empty shell. She could especially imagine how exhausted he must have been these past days, and seeing his current weariness made her heart ache in sympathy.
Ying Gua heard the sound of the palace doors opening and closing, suddenly opening his eyes to look over.
His brows remained sharp as ever, his eyes gleaming brightly, his gaze sweeping directly toward her face.
She met his gaze and said softly, "Your Majesty." Then she walked forward in small steps, bent down to pick up the scattered memorials and petitions from the floor, stacked them one by one, and placed them back on the table before him.
His posture remained unchanged, his expression equally unaltered. He watched her intently for a long moment before closing his eyes again, remaining silent throughout.
Yet the more composed his expression appeared, the more she understood the turbulent storm raging within him.
Having ascended the throne for less than half a year, such a grave rebellion had occurred in the northern frontier circuit. This was not only a disregard for his imperial authority but also a challenge to his tolerance. Given his strong character, the mutiny of an Imperial Army battalion occupying cities and killing generals constituted an unforgivable crime. Had the rebels not taken Shen Zhishu hostage, he would have likely ordered troops to suppress them long ago.
Shen Zhishu had grown up with him since childhood, studying together in the same hall during his years as crown prince. Later, through the Imperial Academy and official service until his appointment as prefect of Qing Province, Shen had been his most trusted confidant. Now, having gone to Chaoan North Circuit as prefect of Qing Province following his wishes, only to encounter such misfortune—
What must he be feeling inside?
She stood beside the table, watching his handsome yet emotionless face. After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Your Majesty, Lord Shen is blessed with fortune. He will surely return safely from this ordeal."
Upon hearing this, he slightly raised an eyebrow, his expression growing even darker, still keeping his eyes closed without uttering a word.
She gently stood on her toes, reached out to straighten his disheveled robe, and added, "If Your Majesty feels troubled, you may speak with your servant. Keeping it bottled up will only make it worse."
He pressed her hand against his chest.
A long silence ensued.
The warm flames of the palace lamps flickered, thin trails of smoke curling and dissipating. Her hand ached from his tight grip, yet she remained calmly standing, not speaking another word from beginning to end.
She knew he had never been one for many words, but the more silent he remained, the more her heart ached for him. She wished he could be as unrestrained as her, saying whatever he wanted and doing whatever he pleased, but how could that be possible? He was the one person in the world who should have no restraints, yet he was also the one with the most constraints in the world.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the hall. This time, a palace attendant came to announce in a soft voice: "Your Majesty, the officials from the Secretariat and Privy Council have arrived."
He slowly released her hand, opened his eyes, and said, "Admit them." Drawing his legs together and straightening his robe, he sat upright, his face assuming a solemn expression.
The previous weary demeanor vanished instantly.
The vermilion doors swung open with a crash as a procession of officials in purple robes with jade ornaments filed into the hall, lining up before the throne and speaking in unison: "Your Majesty."She stepped back a few paces and quietly glanced over, seeing that the arrivals were Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Gu Qin, Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Xu Ting, Left Assistant Zhou Bi, Right Assistant Wang Yuande, Deputy Chief Administrators Ye Shi and Wu Qing, Chief of the Privy Council Fang Kai, Vice Chief of the Privy Council He Dan, Co-administrator of the Privy Council Jiang Ping, along with Minister of the Imperial Guards Tian Fu and Bureau Director of the Ministry of War's Bureau of Operations Chen Yuan—eleven men in total, standing in two full rows that made the hall suddenly appear cramped and narrow.
When she had heard the Junior Palace Attendant say earlier that the Emperor had summoned important officials from the two councils to discuss matters, she never imagined it would be these eleven key ministers from the Secretariat, Privy Council, Ministry of War, and Imperial Guards. Her heart sank, realizing that her coming here had been an impulsive and rash act, and she immediately wanted to request permission to withdraw from the hall.
The row of important officials had also noticed her presence, exchanging uneasy glances with visibly uncomfortable expressions.
Meng Tinghui, being quite perceptive, lowered her head and said, "I am here by imperial decree to compile the Diary of Emperor's Activities. I came to the hall just now to request His Majesty to add annotations to several statements from yesterday. I dare not disturb the Chief Administrators' discussion of state affairs any further and beg your permission to take my leave." As she spoke, she performed a grand salute upward and began to retreat, intending to depart.
"No need," Ying Gua spoke up. Seeing her stand still, he then cast his gaze toward Gu Qin's side and said coldly, "Are you all aware of the situation now?"
Tian Fu hurried forward and said, "We only had time to inform the gentlemen of the Privy Council just now; the Chief Administrators of the Secretariat are not yet aware of the details." Noticing Meng Tinghui standing to the side, he hesitated in his words for a moment before continuing, briefly explaining to everyone the cause and current state of the mutiny at the Willow Banner Camp.
Willow Banner County is located 180 li east of Qing Province. Due to its proximity to the northern border, Imperial Army troops have been stationed there for decades. Although these Imperial Army soldiers do not usually go on patrols or expeditions, their military provisions have always been more generous than those of other camps. Since the mutual market between the two countries was established last year, Chaoan North Circuit Fiscal Commissioner Wendi, citing the pacification of the northern border, intended to reduce the idle grain and silver allocations for the Willow Banner Camp. Unexpectedly, the Willow Banner Imperial Guards, long accustomed to arrogance and fierceness, rebelled upon hearing of the proposal before the order even arrived, protesting against Wendi's plan. The county magistrate of Willow Banner County, Gao Hai, imprisoned and caned the leading junior officer to death, which immediately incited resentment and anger among the camp's officers and soldiers. They rose in mutiny, killed Magistrate Gao Hai, beheaded him, mounted his head on a wooden pole, and shot arrows at it day and night. Upon learning of the mutiny, Chaoan North Circuit Pacification Commissioner Dong Yicheng did not dare to report it to the court. Instead, he urgently ordered Qing Province Prefect Shen Zhishu to take grain and silver to Willow Banner County to pacify the rebellious Imperial Army, promising not to reduce their provisions in the slightest. However, as soon as Shen Zhishu approached the county town, he was captured and detained by the mutinous soldiers. They declared that, knowing rebellion was a grave crime, they did not trust Dong Yicheng's promise of non-punishment and demanded an imperial decree pardoning them all before they would release Shen Zhishu and lay down their weapons to surrender.
After Tian Fu finished speaking, the faces of Gu Qin and the others changed dramatically, but they remained speechless.
She stood silently to the side, her heart racing with fear as she listened. Although she knew that the Imperial Army stationed long-term at the northern border endured hardships, she never expected these garrison soldiers to be so arrogant, fierce, and ruthless, completely disregarding the law, daring to kill a county magistrate at will. With Shen Zhishu now held captive by the mutinous soldiers in the camp, it was no exaggeration to say his life hung by a thread.
Ying Gua glanced at the expressions of those present and declared, "Issue an edict: demote Pacification Commissioner Dong Yicheng and temporarily assign him as Prefect of Chongzhou. Elevate Qing Province to Qingzhou Prefecture and move the Chaoan North Circuit Pacification Commission from Chongzhou Prefecture to Qingzhou Prefecture. If Shen Zhishu survives this, he shall be appointed Prefect of Qingzhou Prefecture. The position of Pacification Commissioner will remain vacant pending further discussion."The ministers were once again taken aback. They had expected him to first discuss how to deal with the rebel army and secure Shen Zhishu's release, but instead, he expressionlessly issued orders to elevate the prefecture and relocate the military command.
Gu Qin frowned and stepped forward first, saying, "Your Majesty has profound considerations, but at present, Shen Zhishu is in the rebel camp. We must first devise a foolproof plan to ensure his safety."
The veteran officials all knew that Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Shen Wuchen had only this one son, and Lady Shen cherished him dearly. If anything were to happen to Shen Zhishu this time, how could the Emperor face this important official who had served the state and the sovereign for decades across two reigns?
Ying Gua looked at Gu Qin, his face still expressionless, and said, "I will personally write an Imperial Edict. Select an important official from the court to carry it to Liuqi County and proclaim the decree of amnesty. Additionally, dispatch ten thousand troops from the Qing Province camp to accompany them to the outskirts of Liuqi County. If the rebels surrender their weapons, their crimes will be pardoned, and they will be stripped of their military status to become civilians. If the rebels refuse to submit, they will be entirely purged within the city, executed and buried in mass graves."
Gu Qin was stunned into silence. After a long moment, he turned to look at the several ministers beside him, who were equally bewildered and at a loss.
No one had expected him to be so ruthless.
If this proposal were followed, and the rebels refused to surrender, once the Imperial Army attacked the camp to purge it, Shen Zhishu would surely be killed by the rebels in the camp.
Meng Tinghui felt a chill run down her spine. Recalling his demeanor when he was alone in the hall earlier and comparing it to his heartless, cold expression now, her heart suddenly ached, and she remained rigid for a long time.
...After all, she still did not truly know him.
Ying Gua then turned to Fang Kai and said, "Minister Fang, you have been well-versed in military affairs for many years. If we mobilize troops from the Qing Province camp, who should take command?"
Fang Kai was momentarily distracted and only snapped back to attention when someone beside him discreetly urged him. He looked up, frowned, and replied, "Your Majesty, I believe Touring Carriage General Song Zhirui from the Qing Province camp should take command."
Ying Gua nodded slightly, gazing at the hall full of important officials. After a long pause, he asked, "Who in the court can carry my Imperial Edict to Chaoan North Circuit?"
Everyone remained silent.
They all knew that only an important official of at least the second rank or higher could stabilize the military morale of the circuit, and the rebels would not trust anyone less than a highly esteemed official of the Emperor. But which of the second-rank officials in the court would be willing to risk their lives to proclaim the decree of amnesty before the rebels? And how could the court allow a second-rank official to take such a risk? For a moment, they felt trapped between a rock and a hard place, unable to decide.
Several of them exchanged glances, their expressions complex and hesitant.
Xu Ting looked up at the members of the Privy Council. In his peripheral vision, he suddenly caught sight of Meng Tinghui standing in a corner. His gaze paused, then brightened.
Tian Fu, noticing his expression, also looked over. Upon seeing Meng Tinghui, he was first stunned, then his face revealed a look of understanding.
The others, seeing the two of them looking in that direction, also turned to look. After seeing clearly, they subtly exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the throne.
Meng Tinghui could not miss the meaning in their expressions. Her eyes darkened, and before anyone could speak, she stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I, Meng Tinghui, am willing to carry Your Majesty's Imperial Edict and go before the rebels in Chaoan North Circuit to proclaim the decree of amnesty."
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