Held in the Lonely Castle Chapter 25

 Held in the Lonely Castle  

 Chapter 25

Translated by : DANMEI HEAVEN

  Wish

Connecting the dots, I couldn't help but sigh: "I originally thought that Xia Song's move was just to secretly align with Consort Zhang, aiming for the merit of supporting her ascension. I never imagined the reasons behind it were so complex."

"The deposition of an empress concerns the state; it has never been merely a royal family matter..." Mr. Zhang slowly unfolded the edict of deposition I had returned to him and asked, "Do you know why Empress Guo was deposed?"

I answered with the official court explanation: "Because she competed for favor with the imperial concubines."

Mr. Zhang shook his head: "That was just a minor trigger for the emperor's anger. According to our dynasty's precedent, if the emperor's decision involves the empress, he must first discuss it with the chief ministers. If the ministers disagree, the emperor cannot act arbitrarily."

For the first time, I realized that this oft-heard story of the empress's deposition had deeper layers: "So, you mean it was Prime Minister Lü..."

"Exactly. She offended the then Prime Minister Lü Yijian," Mr. Zhang continued recounting the past. "In the second year of Mingdao, after Empress Dowager Zhangxian passed away, having held court for eleven years, the current emperor finally took personal control of governance. He then discussed with Lü Yijian the removal of all the dowager's faction members. Lü Yijian helped him strategize and even drafted the list of officials to be dismissed. When the emperor returned to the palace, he mentioned this to Empress Guo. She retorted, 'Is Lü Yijian the only one who didn't side with the dowager? It's just that he was clever, adept at adapting, and knew how to please both the dowager and Your Majesty, which is why he remained unscathed.' Thus, the emperor decided to dismiss Lü Yijian as well. The next day, when the eunuch announced the list of dismissed officials in court, Lü Yijian was shocked to hear his own name but couldn't fathom the reason. He had connections with the eunuch Yan Wenying, who later revealed the truth. From then on, Lü Yijian held a grudge against Empress Guo. Just half a year later, the emperor reinstated him. Later, when the emperor complained to him about Empress Guo's jealousy over Consort Shang, Lü Yijian and Yan Wenying added fuel to the fire, leading to Empress Guo's deposition... Now, Xia Song's situation mirrors Lü Yijian's. With an empress sympathetic to the reformist ministers by the emperor's side, it's natural for him to worry. Moreover, given his collusion with Yang Huaimin, the latter might have slandered the empress in front of him... Additionally, I heard from a servant in the Bureau of Military Affairs that the day after the rebellion was quelled, officials there praised the empress for her calm and decisive command the previous night. Only Xia Song gave a dry laugh and said, 'The empress has the demeanor of Empress Dowager Zhangxian behind the curtain.'"

I grasped the implication: "He not only fears the empress's current influence but also worries she might emulate Empress Dowager Zhangxian, ruling behind the curtain and favoring the reformist ministers?"

Mr. Zhang looked at me and said, "Be cautious... The emperor is currently in good health."

Startled, I immediately lowered my head and fell silent.

Mr. Zhang added, "As for your earlier point about Xia Song secretly aligning with Consort Zhang, that's also a factor. Consort Zhang, through Mother Jia, has been courting Xia Song and Wang Zhi, showering them with gifts. Both Xia and Wang are inherently greedy and wary of the empress, so they naturally hit it off."

Reflecting on the events, I grew increasingly alarmed: "After the rebellion, Xia Song adamantly opposed having the Censorate investigate the case externally, and Yang Huaimin killed the last rebel to silence him... Perhaps even the killing of the first three rebels was under his orders... Could it be that this entire incident was orchestrated by Xia Song?"

"He had the motive," Mr. Zhang said. "Even the maid in the empress's quarters might have been seduced by the rebels under his instructions, to create grounds for implicating the empress... I think the empress realized she was being framed, which is why she insisted on executing Shuangyu. Otherwise, a woman easily swayed by temptation would have confessed anything under torture."

"So that's how it was..." The puzzle pieces fell into place, and I began to make sense of the tangled case.

Mr. Zhang sighed gloomily and added, "But this is just my speculation. There's no evidence to present to the emperor."

"His Majesty is wise. He saw through Ouyang Xiu's case clearly and surely wouldn't wrong the empress. Besides, officials like Prime Minister Chen would speak up for her..." I tried to comfort Mr. Zhang, but mentioning Chen Zhizhong brought another question to mind. "But why do you think Prime Minister Chen would definitely support the empress? As far as I know, he isn't part of the reformist faction."

"Of course, he opposes the reforms," Mr. Zhang replied. "But he despises Xia Song even more."

He continued to clarify for me: "When Xia Song was guarding the western frontier, His Majesty appointed Chen Zhizhong as the pacification commissioner of Shaanxi. But Chen and Xia clashed over strategies, eventually becoming sworn enemies, each submitting resignations to the court. Earlier, when His Majesty recalled Xia Song to the capital, he initially intended to appoint him as prime minister, alongside Chen Zhizhong. However, censors and remonstrators pointed out their long-standing feud, making joint governance impossible, so Xia was made head of the Bureau of Military Affairs instead. Therefore, if Xia Song plots to depose the empress, Chen Zhizhong will not stand idly by."

It then occurred to me that although Chen Zhizhong opposed the reforms, he was known for his integrity and self-restraint. His disdain for Xia Song wasn't surprising. I once heard the emperor praise Chen Zhizhong's loyalty in front of the princess, saying he never abused power for personal gain. When his son-in-law asked for an official post, Chen replied, "Official positions belong to the state, not to my private quarters. How can I hand them out to my relatives?" The emperor greatly admired this, which is why, despite repeated criticisms from remonstrators that Chen was unqualified to be prime minister, the emperor insisted on keeping him, telling the court, "Chen Zhizhong would never deceive me." If Chen advised him, the emperor would surely take it seriously.

Thinking of He Yan, I asked Mr. Zhang, "What about Censor He Yan? What grievance does he have with Xia Song?"

"He doesn't have a personal feud with Xia Song but is known for his integrity and outspokenness. He once defended Shi Jie," Mr. Zhang explained further. "Last year, Xia Song tried to frame Fu Bi by claiming that Shi Jie wasn't dead but had faked his death under Fu Bi's orders to secretly go to the Khitan and plot a rebellion, with Fu Bi as the inside man. He even suggested exhuming Shi Jie's coffin to verify. At the time, most censors dared not speak up, but He Yan vehemently defended Shi Jie before the emperor and condemned Xia Song's malicious intent... Given how he handled the Yang Huaimin case, I believe he sees the truth clearly, which is why I dared to pin my hopes on him."

"And Academician Zhang..." I pressed on.

Mr. Zhang chuckled, "Back when you were my student, you weren't this inquisitive." Seeing my embarrassed look, he dropped the jest and continued, "Zhang Fangping initially supported the reforms but wasn't deeply involved, which is why he escaped unscathed. He's also a potential supporter of the empress. If His Majesty decides to draft an edict—whether to depose the empress or elevate Consort Zhang—Zhang Fangping would surely remonstrate first."

After years, learning from Mr. Zhang again, I nodded repeatedly and couldn't resist asking, "What about Liang Shi? Why didn't he side with Xia Song's decision?"

Instead of answering directly, Mr. Zhang asked me, "Let me ask you this: I never instructed you to show the edict to Liang Shi. Why did you unfold it in front of him?"

I told him my reasoning: "I've heard that since the founding of our dynasty, the head and deputy of the Bureau of Military Affairs often clash. For instance, during Emperor Zhenzong's reign, Kou Zhun and Wang Sizong, Wang Qinruo and Ma Zhijie—all were at odds..."

Mr. Zhang nodded and said, "If you know this, why ask me?"

I was momentarily stunned, then exchanged a knowing smile with him. Our emperors have always emphasized checks and balances. To prevent chief ministers from monopolizing power, secondary positions in the two key government bodies are typically not given to their allies. Thus, the prime minister and vice prime minister, the head and deputy of the Bureau of Military Affairs, often belong to different factions.

The night's outcome didn't dampen our brief moment of levity. Soon, a eunuch from the Erying Pavilion came to inform Mr. Zhang: "Prime Minister Chen, Deputy Liang, and Censor He have just left the Erying Pavilion. It's late, and the palace gates are closed, so they'll stay overnight in the Hanlin Academy. Please record this at the Inner East Gate Office."

Mr. Zhang agreed and casually asked, "Will they need to lock the academy for drafting an edict?"

The eunuch replied, "No, they're just staying overnight, not drafting anything."

The next morning, Qiuhe came to see me, her eyes tearful and distant, though her lips held a faint smile.

"Huai Ji, I just went to the Funing Hall to see His Majesty..." she said. "He told me that he never actually intended to depose the empress."

Naturally, I was overjoyed by this clear answer, but I noticed Qiuhe's odd expression and was skeptical about how she had elicited the truth. So I asked, "How did you ask him? Why would he admit this outright?"

Qiuhe maintained her smile as best she could and slowly explained, "I reminded him of his past promise to fulfill my wish. He asked what it was, and I said, 'My wish is to see the empress remain by Your Majesty's side forever.'"

"Ah..." My feelings at that moment were indescribable. While I fully understood her kindness and believed she had made the right choice, I couldn't help but feel regret for her and Cui Bai. "What about your wish? Are you just giving up on your true wish like this?"

She shook her head, sorrowful. "Let's not talk about it... I need to think... Don't ask me anymore..."

She turned and walked away lightly, her spirit seemingly absent. At the door, as if remembering something, she hesitated and looked back. "Later, His Majesty asked me to relay a message to Mr. Zhang. I'm not sure if I should mention it."

"Oh? What was it?" I asked.

"He said, 'Tell Zhang Maoze that he has worked hard these past days.'" Qiuhe repeated, then added, "When he said this, his expression was calm—not angry, but not smiling either."

Now I finally understood why the emperor disliked Mr. Zhang. After much hesitation, I relayed Qiuhe's message to him. Mr. Zhang remained utterly composed, showing none of the fear one might expect upon receiving a royal warning. He simply replied calmly, "Thank His Majesty."

Seeing my surprise, he smiled slightly. "Do you think I'm shameless for not kneeling to apologize?"

I couldn't answer, only shaking my head. I deeply admired his composure. Anyone else, hearing such words from the emperor, would surely fear for their position in the palace.

After a long silence, he suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Do you know how Empress Guo died?"

"From illness," I said, then added the rumors I'd heard. "Some say Yan Wenying poisoned her."

Mr. Zhang shook his head. "She was buried alive."

This was perhaps the most shocking revelation I'd heard in days. For a moment, I was speechless, staring blankly at Mr. Zhang.

"The deposition of Empress Guo was initially an impulsive act by the emperor, and he later regretted it," Mr. Zhang told me. "Once, while touring the rear garden, he saw Empress Guo's old palanquin and was overcome with nostalgia. He composed a poem and sent a eunuch to deliver it to her at Yaohua Palace. Empress Guo responded with a poem of her own, filled with sorrow. Touched, the emperor sent another messenger, promising to summon her back to the palace. Lü Yijian and Yan Wenying, upon hearing this, were terrified, fearing her retaliation. Around that time, Empress Guo caught a slight cold. Yan Wenying brought imperial physicians to treat her, but her condition inexplicably worsened. Within days, Yan Wenying declared her beyond cure, and Empress Guo passed away."

I'd heard similar accounts before and asked, "Didn't people in the palace say Yan Wenying poisoned her medicine?"

"He did poison her, but with a slow-acting drug that only aggravated her illness without killing her immediately," Mr. Zhang said. "Perhaps he feared that a faster poison would leave obvious traces. At the time, the emperor was at the southern suburbs for a ritual and was about to return. Yan Wenying, afraid the emperor would visit Empress Guo upon his return, had her forcibly placed in a coffin while she was still alive."

Imagining Empress Guo's suffering sent chills down my spine. I changed the subject. "How did you learn of this?"

Mr. Zhang replied, "At the time, I was working in the Imperial Pharmacy. One day, I was sent to deliver medicine to Empress Guo, but when I arrived, I found a coffin in the courtyard, with eunuchs and maids weeping before it. Yan Wenying, wiping tears, came to tell me Empress Guo had died the previous night. Sensing my doubt, he ordered the coffin opened for my inspection. Of course, by then, her body had been arranged to appear as if she were peacefully asleep, though her brows were furrowed in pain. My gaze inadvertently fell on the lifted coffin lid, where I noticed scratch marks... I grew suspicious and, under the pretext that the valuable medicine couldn't be returned, suggested placing it in the coffin as a burial offering. While doing so, I discreetly lifted her sleeve and saw her fingers were bruised and broken, as if she had struggled desperately inside the coffin..."

"Stop," I interrupted, unable to bear the horror of the scene.

Mr. Zhang fell silent. After a pause, I asked, "After seeing Empress Guo's body and fingers, weren't you targeted by Yan Wenying?"

"I suspect he intended to, but soon found himself in trouble," Mr. Zhang said. "Though he claimed Empress Guo died of illness, rumors of poisoning spread in the palace and court. A remonstrator requested the emperor investigate her death, but the emperor, though grieving, declined, only ordering her burial with empress rites. Yan Wenying had once loudly scolded physicians during the emperor's temple rituals. Seizing on this, the remonstrator impeached him, leading to his exile from the capital. Soon after, Yan Wenying died in the south."

"Did you ever tell the emperor about this?" I asked.

"No. Since he chose not to pursue it, I saw no need to interfere. He had his reasons, which we need not speculate on," Mr. Zhang replied, then looked toward the empress's quarters with solemn eyes. "But ever since, whenever I see that edict of deposition, I remind myself: such a thing must never happen to our current empress."

"So," he continued, turning back to me, "enduring some cold looks is nothing. As long as I remain in the palace and draw breath, I will do what I must."

I wanted to ask if he wasn't afraid of angering the emperor and being expelled from the palace, but I held back. Reflecting further, I realized that over the years, despite the emperor's dislike, he had tolerated Mr. Zhang's presence. Perhaps there was an unspoken understanding between them.

(To be continued)