As though having foreseen this all along, Feng Bao stepped forward to receive him.
The assembled officials turned their heads in astonishment.
The newcomer was none other than Cao Xianyu, Eunuch Scribe of the Directorate of Ceremonial. He held two formal edicts from the Empress Dowager, yet he did not unfurl them to read.
Instead, his gaze settled on Zhang Xiao.
Fixed under that stare, Zhang Xiao shuddered involuntarily.
Cao Xianyu gave a mild smile and spoke: "Censor Zhang, Empress Dowager Li has an oral directive for you."
His manner of speaking was exceedingly polite, but anyone with discerning eyes could tell that Zhang Xiao was about to suffer.
Having steadied his nerves, Zhang Xiao bowed down with an air of magnanimity. "Your servant reverently listens."
Cao Xianyu withdrew his smile and pitched his voice into a high, thin register: "Zhang Xiao, Censor of the Guangxi Circuit! As I merely passed outside Zhongji Hall, I heard you howling before the imperial throne. Just what do you intend to do?!"
Having uttered that, Cao Xianyu lifted his eyelids and addressed the assembled court: "The Emperor has only just ascended the throne, and already someone dares bully us, a widow and her orphan! Are the protocol censors blind?
"Zhang Xiao, Censor of the Guangxi Circuit, has breached decorum before the throne and startled the young Emperor. He is to be escorted home at once to reflect on his transgressions, and fined one month's copper stipend."
Only after completing the sentence did he bow toward Cining Palace, indicating that the oral directive was concluded.
Once the oral decree had been recited, an eerie silence settled over the hall.
Zhang Xiao had mentally prepared himself for this; he was merely casting a stone to test the waters, a mere pawn advancing ahead of the chariot. The Senior Grand Secretary and the surveillance organs would certainly not shield him at this moment. He had to shoulder the blow himself; only then would rich rewards follow down the road.
Even so, knowing full well that this was a pledge of loyalty he had to surrender, cold sweat could not help beading on Zhang Xiao's forehead.
In the end, he was facing the direct fury of an Empress Dowager presiding over state affairs.
"Let us go, Censor Zhang."
A voice roused Zhang Xiao. He looked up to meet Feng Bao's genial expression.
Seeing that Zhang Xiao made no move, Feng Bao was in no hurry to press him, but asked instead, "Could it be that Censor Zhang still wishes to argue?"
He then looked back at the protocol censors, and then toward Gao Gong. "Gentlemen, surely none of you believe that Censor Zhang's conduct just now was free of imperial disrespect?"
Even if someone wished to shield him, none would dare openly call a deer a horse in broad daylight; that would invite a purge to clear evil from the sovereign's side.
Seeing Gao Gong remain silent and Left Censor-in-Chief Ge Shouli turn his head away, Feng Bao finally smiled.
Nodding toward Cao Xianyu, he signaled attendants to take Zhang Xiao by the arms on either side.
Zhang Xiao gave a cold snort. "This official can walk on his own!"
***
Zhang Xiao was expelled home—frog-marched out the Meridian Gate by the Jinwu Guard.
This could hardly be called a severe punishment.
After all, the dynasty had long maintained the precedent of opening speech channels and never criminalizing surveillance officials for speaking out.
Furthermore, with Gao Gong in such a dominant position, Empress Dowager Li could not simply use a pretext of imperial disrespect to severely punish a censor.
As for how retaliations would play out later, that would depend on each man's methods.
Handling Zhang Xiao had been an oral directive; anyone with eyes could see it was like swatting away a gnat—a mere side dish.
The two formal decrees that followed were the main event.
Cao Xianyu unrolled one of the edicts and read aloud: "As the former Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Meng Chong, has passed away, and Feng Bao has served long, faithfully, and diligently, Feng Bao shall temporarily assume the duties, soon to transition from acting to substantive appointment. Let the Grand Secretariat, the ministries, and all offices take note."
The civil and military officials dutifully listened to the eunuch finish reciting the edict, casting occasional sidelong glances toward Feng Bao.
Did the court officials not know how Meng Chong had died?
Now that the raw rice had already been cooked into porridge, they finally sent an order down to the Grand Secretariat to patch up the paperwork.
Shooting the arrow first before painting the target—only those castrated wretches would do such a thing without caring a whit about saving face.
Through the beaded imperial crown, Zhu Yijun also watched Feng Bao in silence.
This household companion of his was indeed experienced and shrewd, leaving not a drop of water unsealed. Upon receiving word that Gao Gong intended to cause trouble, Feng Bao had immediately known to request Empress Dowager Li's formal decree in advance, shoring up his vulnerability.
A single edict had rectified the procedure for appointing the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, establishing his substantive position.
Yet what mattered even more to Zhu Yijun was Feng Bao's profound understanding of and influence over Empress Dowager Li, which truly could not be underestimated.
Feng Bao had actually managed to have the edict proclaimed right during the accession court assembly, without waiting even a day.
Zhang Xiao, that insignificant front pawn, had barely poked his head out before Empress Dowager Li slapped him all the way back to his house.
Just how deep was Empress Dowager Li's trust in Feng Bao?!
"Senior Grand Secretary, please accept the edict," the eunuch urged.
Without Gao Gong making his stance known, no one dared step forward to accept the decree.
His disciple, Song Zhihan, Left Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel, cast repeated glances at Gao Gong. At a single nod from his patron, he would dare charge headlong into the fray.
For a moment, all eyes converged upon Gao Gong.
Zhu Yijun was no exception.
Gao Gong's eyes remained slightly closed. Only after a beat did he seem to come to his senses, uttering an "Ah," followed by: "Your ministers reverently receive the decree."
Feng Bao secretly thought it a pity.
In any case, his rear was already firmly seated in the chair; even if Gao Gong refused the decree, Meng Chong could not be brought back to life.
In truth, Feng Bao would have been delighted to see Gao Gong continue locking horns with Empress Dowager Li and defying an imperial decree.
Seeing that this edict had been delivered, Cao Xianyu unfurled the other one.
He chanted: "The new Emperor has ascended the throne, and we, a widow and her orphan, are unacquainted with the court officials. In accordance with precedent, all officials shall submit self-assessments detailing their successes and failures in office, to be presented for the Emperor's understanding."
The moment he finished reciting it, shock immediately surfaced across the faces of the court officials, and whispers broke out among them.
This boded ill!
The so-called "self-assessment of successes and failures" was not merely a matter of offering a routine work summary to the sovereign.
Rather, it was a polite euphemism for submitting one's resignation!
The dynasty had long upheld this precedent: upon the enthronement of a new emperor, all officials were expected to submit requests to retire. Whether they were kept or dismissed rested entirely on the emperor's whim.
It was effectively a step provided for the new sovereign to reshuffle the governing cabinet.
Yet a precedent was merely a precedent; had there been a tacit understanding between the sovereign and the court ministers, it would have been fine. But to use an edict to demand it was simply too impatient, was it not?
This was an overt warning to the assembled officials!
Coupled with the first edict, the message was plain: if you dare cause trouble for Feng Bao, do not blame me for approving your requests for retirement.
The officials looked at one another in dismay.
Even so, this decree had to be accepted. For a decree containing no concrete command, there was no ground to defy it.
A supervising secretary stepped forward to receive both edicts from Cao Xianyu's hands without a single superfluous word.
Cao Xianyu bowed and withdrew, as though he had never arrived.
Only the bizarre atmosphere lingering in the hall reminded the officials of what had just transpired.
***
Events from the court assembly soon began to ferment.
Gao Gong and Feng Bao launched into open, brazen combat.
First came the surveillance organs. In a span of just two days, several censors submitted memorials impeaching Feng Bao one after another.
They singled out his conduct prior to the Emperor's enthronement in particular.
First, Zhang Xiao led the charge, arguing: "Never before has an imperial command dismissed one and installed another in this manner; yet suddenly orders were handed down, all originating from Feng Bao, leaving your ministers looking at one another in shock and dismay." He pointed directly to the fact that Feng Bao had illegally taken office before Meng Chong's death.
Immediately, other censors followed suit, decrying Feng Bao: "The rebellious eunuch relies on power to terrorize, monopolizes authority to sow disorder in governance, deceives the sovereign, flouts the law, acts with utter lawlessness, grossly betrays imperial benevolence, and grievously violates ancestral ordinances."
A damning charge of usurping the imperial prerogatives and blinding the sovereign was slammed squarely into Feng Bao's face.
In the past, such memorials would never have made it past the Directorate of Ceremonial. But because of Zhang Xiao's brazen outburst before the throne, the news could not be suppressed at all.
Soon, a massive groundswell formed in the court.
The pigeonholing of these memorials only accelerated the collusion among the surveillance officials.
From a handful, their ranks swelled to more than a dozen.
Before long, they brought forward ancestral precedents, citing how in the tenth year of Hongwu under Emperor Taizu, a palace eunuch who had served for many years and relied on his seniority had meddled in state affairs.
They then quoted Emperor Taizu's sacred words: "The calamities of the Han and Tang dynasties, though blamed upon eunuchs, were in truth brought about by the excessive favor and trust of the rulers... Though this eunuch has served Us for long, We must not condone it. He must be resolutely dismissed, so as to warn future generations."
If even Emperor Taizu would not tolerate eunuchs meddling in politics, did Consort Li and the Emperor now intend to violate ancestral precepts?
They further admonished the Two Palaces and the Emperor to show greater deference to the ancestors' painstaking intentions.
Empress Dowager Li had no choice but to issue an order in the name of the Two Palaces and the Emperor, commanding Feng Bao to present a self-assessment of his faults and retain his post as Seal-Holding Eunuch on probation to observe his future conduct.
This was nothing more than helping a friend under the guise of light scolding—a formal warning that carried no real sting.
Meanwhile, Feng Bao displayed the full ruthless mettle of an Eastern Depot commander.
From some unknown source, he obtained evidence of Zhang Xiao's corruption and dereliction of duty.
Without waiting for the competent authorities to intervene, he led men directly to raid Zhang Xiao's estate.
Armed with an imperial palace directive, he had Zhang Xiao bound and paraded through the streets on horseback, dumping him right before the gates of the Censorate and stripping him of his official status down to a commoner.
Afterward, brandishing Zhang Xiao's supposed confession, he began dragging in other officials.
Several of Gao Gong's disciples in particular were subjected to relentless harassment.
With matters reaching this juncture, the confrontation escalated once more.
Memorials impeaching Feng Bao drifted into the inner palace like snowflakes.
They spanned allegations of stealing imperial treasures and calligraphy, embezzling tribute goods, accepting bribes, secretly withholding memorials, and severing communication between the inner and outer courts.
They even dragged out Feng Bao's dirty laundry from his early days serving in Prince Yu's Estate.
They demanded not only Feng Bao's dismissal, but an immediate imperial inquiry to safeguard the dynastic altars.
***
On the thirteenth day of the sixth month, during the Wei hour.
The summer heat intensified, and the sun turned scorching.
It beat down not only on the Forbidden City, but on the political landscape as well.
"What? A eunuch came forward to accuse Feng Bao of murdering Meng Chong?"
Zhu Yijun, who had been examining congratulatory memorials one by one, looked up in surprise at Zhu Xixiao.
Zhu Xixiao weighed his words before answering, "It is Meng Chong's former godson. After Meng Chong died, he was sheltered by Chen Hong.
"Now, it is unclear whether he is acting under someone's direction or simply seized upon this opportunity to avenge Meng Chong."
Ever since Zhu Yijun's accession, Zhu Xixiao had personally guarded Qianqing Palace.
When it came to major affairs beyond Jiang Keqian's clearance, Zhu Xixiao delivered the reports himself.
Hearing the name Chen Hong, Zhu Yijun suddenly recalled the man.
A senior eunuch from Prince Yu's Estate who had once served as Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he too had apparently been ousted by Feng Bao.
If Zhu Yijun remembered correctly... he seemed to belong to Empress Dowager Chen's camp?
Was this Chen Hong's own idea, or Empress Dowager Chen's intention?
Keeping his expression unchanged, Zhu Yijun asked, "Where did he lodge the accusation? With the Ministry of Justice, or the Censorate?"
This determined whether it was being treated as a criminal prosecution or an official impeachment.
Though criminal cases were typically handled by the Ministry of Justice, since this involved high-ranking officials, the Censorate was generally more effective. In any case, both were Gao Gong's territory.
Zhu Xixiao wore a strange look. "He came forward to our Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Zhu Yijun was taken aback. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Zhu Xixiao then explained the situation.
It turned out the eunuch had originally planned to lodge his accusation at the Censorate, but Eastern Depot agents had caught wind of it and launched a manhunt. The eunuch could not even make it past the palace gates.
With nowhere to run, he had no choice but to rush to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to cry grievance and seek asylum, dragging the Guard into the fray in the process.
Having heard this, Zhu Yijun asked with interest, "Then what does the Duke of Chengguo intend to do?"
Zhu Xizhong was probably furious.
With the inner and outer courts at each other's throats, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had taken a stray bullet for no reason; the duke was likely agonizing over how to handle this hot potato.
Zhu Xixiao bowed his head. "Your servant came here precisely to ask for Your Majesty's instructions.
"Should we send him to the Censorate, or release him back into the palace...?"
This was an inquiry into whether to support Feng Bao or Gao Gong.
Having already placed their bets, there was no reason to be half-hearted, especially for nobles who held little real clout.
It boiled down to a single principle: as long as the Emperor remained dependable, they would do whatever the Emperor commanded.
Zhu Yijun continued browsing the congratulatory memorials, smiling faintly at the reply.
Compared to civil officials with their fierce egos, the nobility was far more sensible.
Since he showed such an attitude, Zhu Yijun did not hesitate to offer guidance: "Neither. Go make arrangements so that Chen Shanyan 'happens' to take over the matter, and see how he handles it."
Chen Shanyan was Empress Dowager Chen's elder brother and a Chiliarch in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Handing it to him was equivalent to informing Empress Dowager Chen.
It was a move as gentle as spring rain, leaving no trace behind.
Zhu Xixiao froze, blurting out, "Is Your Majesty not...?"
Zhu Yijun closed the memorial, his face devoid of emotion. "Not what?"
Zhu Xixiao hastily clamped his mouth shut.
According to his brother's deductions, this wise sovereign ought to be intent on rooting out Feng Bao. Instead of kicking Feng Bao while he was down and sending the witness to the Censorate, why arrange for an unrelated party to take over?
Yet these were mere speculations; they could not be voiced aloud.
Otherwise, the crime of guessing the sovereign's mind would be inescapable.
He faltered, unable to speak.
Seeing this, Zhu Yijun shook his head and sighed. "Minister Zhu, the Analects state: 'Only the highest in wisdom and the lowest in folly never change.'
"If you cannot emulate the Duke of Chengguo, you might as well learn from Jiang Keqian."
He had arranged this solely because he had just realized that he had previously overlooked Empress Dowager Chen's stance.
As the primary empress, she had always been like an invisible person, to the point that everyone disregarded her.
Now that an opportunity had presented itself to test her waters, how could he pass it up?
He wanted to see whether Chen Hong was acting on his own or carrying out Empress Dowager Chen's will.
Naturally, these considerations could not be revealed to outsiders.
Poor Zhu Xixiao lacked both the intellect to divine the imperial will and the temperament to bury his head in unquestioning obedience, remaining caught uncomfortably in between.
Considering that they were, after all, his angel investors, Zhu Yijun offered this rare warning.
Zhu Xixiao did not comprehend what the sovereign meant, but he knew it was no compliment, and his mind turned to chaos.
He hurriedly knelt to confess: "Your servant acknowledges his transgression!"
Zhu Yijun had no intention of pursuing it; whether Zhu Xixiao took it to heart was his own affair.
He waved a hand. "Go."
Covered in cold sweat, Zhu Xixiao withdrew with a heavy heart.
Zhu Yijun glanced up, then looked back down to resume reading the congratulatory memorials.
Though congratulatory memorials were largely devoid of substance, one could still discern whether they had been written with genuine care.
Those who showed sincerity might not necessarily be loyal, but those who did not even bother with an attitude were destined to be sidelined.
Zhu Yijun could gauge their character simply by scanning their contents.
For instance, Gao Yi's memorial was exceptionally heartfelt and moving, and Zhu Xizhong's had also been drafted with care.
Zhang Juzheng's memorial was brilliantly written, yet clearly lacked genuine feeling.
As for Gao Gong, it went without saying—utterly perfunctory.
Besides these, there were several hundred other memorials.
Having spent the past two days reviewing them whenever he had a spare moment, he had only gotten through half.
"Yu Youding?" Zhu Yijun picked up another volume and skimmed it. Well, the flattery was nicely executed.
He opened another. "Chen Dong? He holds such high expectations for me?"
"Shen Shixing... Hah, this fellow does not sound like a man of thirty; he sounds fifty."
Zhu Yijun went through them one by one, categorizing each person in his mind.
"Wang Xijue? Even the memorials from Southern Zhili have arrived?"
"Secretary in the Nanjing Ministry of Justice, Li Zhi?!"
Zhu Yijun felt a surge of energy. He silently set this memorial aside as a mental bookmark.
There was no rush now; this man would only be useful after the Classics Colloquium commenced—the Ming Dynasty needed a Confucianism of its own.
At this thought, he began compiling a mental register of figures to look after in the future:
The Taizhou School, Li Zhi, Cheng Dawei, Hai Rui, Qi Jiguang, Lv Kun...
Just then, Zhang Hong stepped inside with quiet footsteps.
Seeing the Emperor browsing the memorials, he called softly, "Lord of Ten Thousand Years."
Zhu Yijun looked up at Zhang Hong.
Taking the initiative, he asked, "Have all the congratulatory memorials been collected?"
Zhang Hong had originally intended to report on another matter, but swallowed his words and replied, "Lord of Ten Thousand Years, they were all submitted yesterday."
Zhu Yijun frowned. "What about Zhu Houwan, Prince of Zheng?"
This poor relative was not the main concern; the crucial point was his precious son, whom Zhu Yijun had great plans for.
Hearing the question, Zhang Hong hesitated. "Lord of Ten Thousand Years, the Prince of Zheng incurred the displeasure of Emperor Shizong in earlier years. After his title was stripped, he has remained rather reclusive..."
"Reclusive" meant he disliked interacting with people, and those he avoided naturally included the Emperor—or rather, the Emperor in particular.
Zhu Yijun understood immediately, pausing in thought. "He still harbors resentment to this day? Did my late imperial father not restore his princely title?"
Zhang Hong dared not answer that, lest he be accused of sowing discord within the imperial clan.
Everything remained unspoken.
Zhu Yijun waved a hand. "Very well, I understand. We shall speak of it later. What brings you here, Companion?"
Zhang Hong lowered his eyes and said meekly, "Lord of Ten Thousand Years, Grand Secretary Gao is taking his rest leave this afternoon. He requested that Your Majesty review your lessons diligently over the coming days."
Zhu Yijun nodded without replying.
With Gao Yi on leave and Zhang Juzheng departing Beijing tomorrow morning to survey the imperial mausoleum, the Grand Secretariat would finally be left under Gao Gong's sole discretion; the intensity of the struggle would likely escalate once more.
Zhang Hong continued, "Furthermore, those two surveillance officials intend to impeach Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei tomorrow. They ask whether to present the memorial directly to Your Majesty or submit it through normal channels."
This was no mere matter of formality.
If they truly bypassed the Grand Secretariat to submit the memorial straight to the throne, it would signify that court officials already recognized the new Emperor's authority to handle administrative affairs.
In other words, it was a signal endorsing the young Emperor's personal rule.
Once such a precedent was set, a bloody storm would instantly erupt across the court.
Zhu Yijun shook his head. They were far from that stage; now was not the time.
He said, "Submitting it during court deliberation will suffice."
There was no need to cause complications.
Nor was there any need to create too massive a stir; it was enough to tie the hands of Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei, forcing them to submit defensive memorials and leaving them too occupied to mind other matters.
Zhang Hong acknowledged the order, then added cautiously, "Lord of Ten Thousand Years, there is one more matter. At this very moment, a censor is kneeling outside the Meridian Gate to present a memorial."
Zhu Yijun froze, then caught on instantly. "Kneeling to present a memorial? Impeaching Feng Bao?"
Zhang Hong nodded. "It is Zhang Shouyue, Censor of the Guangdong Circuit. He states..."
He paused, recalling and mimicking the censor's mannerisms: "'By dynastic precedent, surveillance officials are not punished for their speech, yet he has now suffered private vendetta and malice.
"'A mere eunuch, relying on the power of the Eastern Depot, bound a censor and paraded him through the streets on horseback! How utterly preposterous!
"'Furthermore, how can the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial concurrently hold the post of the Eastern Depot?
"'This violates ancestral ordinances and marks the beginning of calamity.'"
Zhang Hong captured the manner and gestures with remarkable accuracy, as though possessed by the censor himself.
After listening, Zhu Yijun stood up and paced back and forth.
This struck directly at Feng Bao's fatal vulnerability.
In the past, Feng Bao's position had been ambiguous, so it was overlooked.
Now that a formal edict had been issued, Feng Bao's concurrent command of the Eastern Depot presented a glaring problem.
No matter how formidable Empress Dowager Li was, she might not be able to withstand the civil officials uniting under the towering mantle of "ancestral ordinances."
So-called ancestral ordinances, no matter how bizarre or absurd they seemed, exerted tangible, visceral pressure that no one could ignore so long as they embodied a collective will.
It was just like the ridiculous public opinion crises Zhu Yijun had managed in his previous life—one could not even manage a wry smile; even when one was entirely in the right, one still had to pinch one's nose and release an official apology first.
As a Senior Grand Secretary of many years, Gao Gong's moves were never simple.
He had likely anticipated this development and lay in wait here, which explained why he had accepted the edicts so readily in the hall earlier.
None of these seasoned elders was to be trifled with.
It seemed Zhu Yijun's daily efforts over the past few days advising Empress Dowager Li—urging that for the sake of court stability, they should not summarily dismiss the Senior Grand Secretary unless absolutely necessary, but rather let him posture for a few days until he requested retirement himself—had not been in vain.
Yet... now that Gao Gong had gone this far, the Emperor could not sit idly by either.
With a sweep of his sleeve, Zhu Yijun declared, "Come, accompany me to pay respects to Mother Empress. We shall discuss the details on the way!"
Chapter 30