In the side hall of Qianqing Palace.
When Zhu Yijun led Lü Diaoyang inside, he saw several people already gathered within.
Besides Empress Dowager Li and Zhu Xizhong, there was Empress Dowager Li's biological father, Li Wei.
The latter, of course, had been invited along "on the way" by Zhu Xizhong when entering the palace.
Seeing the emperor enter, everyone except Empress Dowager Li rose to offer their salutations.
Even the imperial father-in-law had to dutifully address him as His Majesty the Emperor.
Zhu Yijun slowed his pace, waiting until they finished their salutations before striding forward to support them both by their arms.
He chided gently, "Imperial Father-in-law, Duke of the Realm, both of you are Our benevolent elders. Why perform such elaborate ceremonies in private?"
Li Wei dared not accept the gesture of support, hurriedly stepping aside while offering a flurry of polite demurrals.
He came from humble origins, having spent half his life in Shanxi, and had only moved to the capital at the age of forty; his accent was exceedingly thick.
Zhu Yijun could barely understand what he was saying.
He simply kept smiling and nodding along.
Turning to Zhu Xizhong, he asked with curiosity, "How has the Duke of Chengguo found the leisure to visit the palace? Is Your Grace feeling any better?"
Back when the Duke of Chengguo's health was still robust, he had served as the court arbiter during court deliberations at Wenhua Hall.
Later, after falling severely ill and becoming unable to perform his duties, he rarely entered the palace.
Since Zhu Yijun had prompted him into the palace today, he naturally had to ask after him for courtesy's sake.
Afflicted with an array of age-related ailments, Zhu Xizhong spoke in a very deliberate, sluggish drawl: "It was originally the noblewomen of this subject's household who were to enter the palace to keep the Empress Dowager company.
"Yet perhaps owing to Your Majesty's accession to the throne and the Empress Dowager's elevation, this subject's health has improved over the past two days, so I accompanied them into the palace to express my gratitude to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."
Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly.
No wonder the late emperor had remarked that this Duke of Chengguo was sharp and quick-witted by nature.
Just the comforting, soothing way he spoke was beyond reproach.
Seeing her son arrive leading the Minister of Rites, Empress Dowager Li knew something was likely afoot.
She sighed and said to Li Wei, "Father, please return home for today. We can speak again in a couple of days when there is leisure."
Li Wei was about to bow and take his leave.
Zhu Yijun hurriedly cut in, "Since ascending the throne, We have not yet received Our Imperial Father-in-law's earnest guidance. Happening upon each other today presents the perfect opportunity to honor Our kinship.
"Why does the Imperial Father-in-law not first proceed to the outer hall to sample some tribute tea?
"After We have shared a few words with Imperial Mother, We shall come and brew tea for you."
He had instructed the Duke of Chengguo to bring the man into the palace with him precisely because he had a use for him.
How could he let him slip away so easily?
Li Wei's heart stirred, and he quickly looked toward Empress Dowager Li.
Status and standing ultimately depended on rank; though he was her father, his noble standing derived entirely from his daughter, meaning he had to obey her every word.
Only upon seeing Empress Dowager Li nod in assent did he hurriedly offer his thanks: "Your Majesty is benevolent, virtuous, and filial. This subject shall wait in the outer hall at once."
With that, he followed a eunuch toward the outer hall with utter deference.
Once Li Wei had departed, Zhu Yijun asked quietly, keeping his expression neutral, "Mother, the Imperial Father-in-law seems somewhat displeased?"
Empress Dowager Li said in annoyance, "Every time he sees me, all he knows is to ask for titles and rewards. I gave him a stern scolding."
With outsiders present, she could not say too much and merely touched upon the matter.
After shaking her head in resignation, she looked at her son and the accompanying Lü Diaoyang. "Why have the Emperor and Minister Lü broken off the court deliberation and sought me out together?"
It was still early in the day; by rights, the court deliberation had only just begun.
Zhu Yijun did not answer immediately, first gesturing for a eunuch to bestow a seat upon Lü Diaoyang.
Only then did he heave a sigh and exclaim, "Mother! Calamity has struck!"
Lü Diaoyang had been closely observing the emperor's demeanor all the way here; hearing this now, he could only curl his lips in helpless wry amusement.
Empress Dowager Li, unaware of the act, revealed a flicker of alarm. "What has happened?"
Zhu Yijun said urgently, "Does Mother know of the grand Left Shun Gate Incident?
"Today, things bear the ominous air of a second Left Shun Gate!
"Just now during the court deliberation, several dozen policy critics impeached Companion Feng. Fearing turmoil across the realm, my heart is filled with immense dread."
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Li naturally could not sit still.
She had certainly heard of the Left Shun Gate Incident.
Over two hundred court ministers had prostrated themselves before the palace gates in lamentation, and Emperor Shizong, in order to suppress them, had been forced to dispatch the Embroidered Uniform Guard to beat more than ten men to death with staves.
Her son had only just ascended the throne; was he already facing such an ordeal?!
Zhu Yijun continued, "As for the various reasons and ancestral precedents cited by the policy critics, We do not understand them very well either, so We simply invited the Minister of Rites to explain them to Mother."
With that, he gestured toward Lü Diaoyang.
Unlike Gao Gong's partisans, Lü Diaoyang enjoyed a favorable impression in Empress Dowager Li's eyes.
Moreover, Feng Bao often spoke highly of him before the mother and son, making Lü Diaoyang someone Empress Dowager Li could more or less trust.
This was precisely why Zhu Yijun had brought Lü Diaoyang along.
Before Empress Dowager Li, a single word of persuasion from Lü Diaoyang carried more weight than a hundred memorials of impeachment from Gao Gong.
Being called upon, Lü Diaoyang naturally had to declare his position: "Whatever Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager may ask, this subject will answer holding nothing back."
Empress Dowager Li turned her gaze upon Lü Diaoyang.
She asked urgently, "Minister Lü, what on earth has happened?"
Zhu Yijun chimed in as well, "Lord Lü, explain it thoroughly to the Empress Dowager."
Then he sought permission from Empress Dowager Li: "Mother, Lord Lü already briefed me on the way here. I shall go keep Imperial Father-in-law company first."
Empress Dowager Li nodded.
Zhu Yijun rose and headed for the outer hall.
As he passed, he shot Zhu Xizhong a meaningful glance, signaling him to provide ample assist.
After the emperor departed, Lü Diaoyang sighed inwardly.
Offering a bow to Empress Dowager Li, he began to speak in a measured, even-handed tone, laying out the dispute in court and the origins of established dynastic precedents.
...
Li Wei waited in the outer hall with mounting impatience.
Swallowing mouthful after mouthful of tea, even though it was imperial tribute tea, was to him like casting pearls before swine.
He only hoped that when speaking with the emperor shortly, he could get a definitive answer regarding his ennoblement.
Now that his daughter held power, she scolded him at every turn, making her terribly difficult to deal with.
Surely this ten-year-old grandson of his would be much easier to talk to.
Just as he was pondering this, a voice drifted over from a distance.
"How are all of you so devoid of manners? Has no one poured tea for Our Imperial Father-in-law?"
Li Wei looked up and saw the young emperor walking in with a look of displeasure.
Only upon catching sight of him did the boy's anger turn to delight.
Without another word, Zhu Yijun took up the tea set, preparing to serve him tea personally.
Li Wei felt thoroughly gratified inside, yet he still had to offer polite demurs on the surface, reaching out to take the tea utensils. "I dare not, I dare not! This subject can do it myself."
Zhu Yijun firmly took over his teacup, poured a fresh cup, and waved for the attendants to withdraw.
He held up the cup and handed it to Li Wei. "Is Imperial Father-in-law accustomed to doing everything with your own hands because you are so used to living in frugality and hardship?
"To think that We ascended the imperial throne yet nearly forgot to repay Our mother's clan—it is truly Our fault."
The two engaged in another round of polite back-and-forth.
Zhu Yijun asked solicitously, "Was Imperial Father-in-law inquiring with Mother just now about your ennoblement?"
Qianqing Palace was now filled with his people; as long as the attendants had not been dismissed, nothing could be kept from him.
Li Wei hastily lifted his backside from the chair. "Your Majesty, this subject was not clamoring for a noble title..."
Zhu Yijun reached out and pressed him back down into his seat. "Imperial Father-in-law, you and We are of one flesh and blood. There is no need for such distance between us.
"Why use an ugly word like 'clamoring'? With Our accession to the imperial throne, bestowing hereditary favors upon Our mother's clan is only proper and natural."
Basking in such an attitude, Li Wei finally experienced what it felt like to be bathed in a warm spring breeze.
Plucking up his courage, he asked, "Then, Your Majesty, how does the matter currently stand?"
An ennoblement was guaranteed.
However, different noble ranks came with different stipends; it was precisely to sound out Empress Dowager Li on this that he had come.
Zhu Yijun poured himself a cup of tea and said leisurely, "A stipend of eight hundred shi..."
Hearing this figure, Li Wei's face immediately fell in disappointment.
Eight hundred shi was far too meager; ordinarily, an imperial father-in-law would receive at least a thousand shi.
Zhu Yijun continued, "...was what the Ministry of Rites proposed, but Mother rejected it, insisting it must be at least a thousand shi!"
Only then did Li Wei's expression brighten somewhat.
Emperor Shizong's father-in-law, the Count of Yutian, and even the Count of Deping who passed away a few days ago, had both received a thousand shi.
Yet the emperor shook his head again. "We did not agree."
Li Wei froze in astonishment.
Zhu Yijun went on, "How could a mere thousand shi reflect Our affection for Our kin?
"Imperial Father-in-law, once the site of Our late imperial father's mausoleum is settled, We shall have you and Zhu Xixiao oversee the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum. Once completed, your stipend will be increased by another two hundred shi!"
Li Wei's shock instantly gave way to jubilation, and he rose to prostrate himself in veneration.
This time, Zhu Yijun did not stop him.
...
In the side hall.
Lü Diaoyang was still answering Empress Dowager Li's doubts.
The origins of ancestral precedents.
The historical precedents of hidden perils, advantages, and drawbacks.
His explanations and analyses were incisive and profound, worthy of his stature as Minister of Rites.
Empress Dowager Li listened with equal attentiveness.
At first, she frequently glanced at Zhu Xizhong, presumably contemplating whether to emulate Emperor Shizong.
Yet as she listened, she grew increasingly silent.
From time to time, she addressed inquiries to Zhu Xizhong to verify the claims, but the answers she received only made her brow furrow deeper.
Suddenly, Empress Dowager Li interrupted Lü Diaoyang, asking in perplexity, "Minister Lü, is the Duke of Chengguo not also a holder of the Three Excellencies concurrently serving as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
"How does that conform to established precedent?"
Lü Diaoyang wished to explain, but because it touched upon the nobility, it was difficult to speak plainly.
Zhu Xizhong, however, said frankly, "Empress Dowager, in our dynasty, the Three Excellencies and Three Solitaries carry titles without substance.
"If an equivalence were to be drawn, it would be akin to having this subject lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard right into the Grand Secretariat to conduct business."
Lü Diaoyang could not help casting a few extra glances at the duke.
Such stark candor certainly made the underlying perils clear to Empress Dowager Li, but... it was hardly in keeping with the ways of officialdom, nor did it resemble Zhu Xizhong's usual style.
Having heard this, Empress Dowager Li remained silent for a long time before finally murmuring, "So, should I accede to the policy critics' request and strip Companion Feng of his command over the Eastern Depot?"
The moment her words fell, Zhu Xizhong immediately followed up: "This humble subject can also arrest all several dozen of these policy critics and throw them into prison for the Empress Dowager!
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard stands ready to follow the Empress Dowager's command at any moment!"
Lü Diaoyang's heart skipped a beat!
What was the matter with Zhu Xizhong?!
He hurriedly remonstrated, "Absolutely not!"
Empress Dowager Li gave Lü Diaoyang a speechless look. Did he really think she was foolish enough to do that?
She could tell Zhu Xizhong was admonishing her through reverse psychology.
And yet...
In her heart, Empress Dowager Li remained defiant, even anxious.
The emperor had just ascended the throne, leaving only an orphaned child and a widowed mother. If the court ministers were not thinking of assisting them, that was one thing, but they were actually banding together to impeach the palace eunuch she relied upon.
How could she feel at ease?
Not to mention, it was not merely Gao Gong and his faction; even Lü Diaoyang, whom Feng Bao routinely praised, had not uttered a single word in his defense.
Even the nobility had offered no helping hand.
This was truly an isolated minister!
Forcing her to strip Feng Bao of his post now—was that not severing her own arm?
Seeing Lü Diaoyang's reaction, she suddenly felt inclined to test him. "'Absolutely not'?
"Then does Minister Lü believe I should strip Feng Bao of his post?
"I wonder if Minister Lü has a suitable candidate in mind to take over the Eastern Depot?"
Lü Diaoyang felt a bitter taste in his mouth; these words were undoubtedly laced with suspicion.
He had suffered far too many disadvantages on this trip.
Just as he was about to answer, he saw Zhu Xizhong slowly rise out of the corner of his eye. "Empress Dowager, this humble subject actually has someone to recommend."
...
In the outer hall.
Zhu Yijun was already deep in an animated conversation with Li Wei.
Wearing a gentle smile, he listened quietly as Li Wei recounted anecdotes of Empress Dowager Li's mischievous youth.
Li Wei spoke with animated delight: "In the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, in order to escape the Gengxu Incident, I brought the Empress Dowager into the capital—"
Zhu Yijun chimed in at just the right moment, "Then how did Mother come to enter Prince Yu's Estate?"
This was designed to steer the conversation where he wanted.
Li Wei took a hearty gulp of tea and wiped his mouth, saying, "Ha! Coming to the capital to avoid calamity back then, I naturally had a plan!
"Your Majesty may not know, but the reason I chose the capital back then was that someone was there to look after us.
"My clan nephew, Li Jin, was serving in the palace at the time as an attendant eunuch in the Directorate of Imperial Horses.
"The Empress Dowager's entry into Prince Yu's Estate back then was arranged entirely through his connections."
The Directorate of Imperial Horses was one of the Twelve Directorates of the inner court; although worlds apart from the Directorate of Ceremonial, it controlled guard battalions and possessed substantial standing.
With Prince Yu being a contender for the throne back then, not just anyone could enter his household.
As an attendant eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses, Li Jin happened to carry just enough weight.
Zhu Yijun feigned surprise: "Mother never mentioned this benefactor to Us, nor has she ever promoted anyone named Li Jin."
He was asking questions to which he already knew the answers.
Li Wei said resignedly, "Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager feared causing unexpected trouble.
"With the reputation of imperial in-laws at stake, how could promotions be handed out lightly? Policy critics love impeaching that sort of thing above all else.
"If she had alienated the late emperor, the losses would have far outweighed the gains."
Though Empress Dowager Li had previously served as a model of virtue in the rear palace, in reality she had never dared overstep her bounds in the slightest.
Empress Dowager Chen's family had been ennobled in the first year of Longqing, while he, the biological father-in-law, could only watch with envious eyes.
This was a long-term play for stability, biding their time until the new emperor took the throne.
Naturally, now that the time had finally arrived, he dared enter the palace to solicit a noble title from Empress Dowager Li.
Zhu Yijun frowned, feigning annoyance: "This is Imperial Father-in-law's fault as well. Why did you not tell Us earlier?
"Is this clan uncle still serving in the Directorate of Imperial Horses?"
Although scolded, Li Wei felt as thrilled as if he had swallowed an elixir of immortality—only someone truly close would speak to him like that.
He answered eagerly without reservation: "Yes, he is still serving as a brush-wielding eunuch in the Directorate of Imperial Horses."
The Directorate of Imperial Horses was structured similarly, with a seal-holding eunuch at the helm and several brush-wielding eunuchs as deputies, occupying a far from lowly position.
Zhu Yijun shook his head. "How could We be ungrateful? Taking advantage of this round of hereditary honors, We shall reward this clan uncle as well!"
Li Wei beamed from ear to ear; treating even a distant clan uncle with such generosity made the emperor's warmth toward his maternal kin all the more evident.
As the imperial father-in-law, his finest days were yet to come.
Li Wei asked offhandedly, "Does Your Majesty intend to appoint that fellow seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses?"
After all, he was a eunuch and could not receive a noble title.
And a brush-wielding eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses was second only to the seal-holding eunuch.
If the emperor were to promote Li Jin, it could only be from brush-wielding to seal-holding eunuch.
Yet... was the seal-holder not Feng Bao at present?
Zhu Yijun blinked. "Seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses?
"Commander of the Eastern Depot!"
...
"You are suggesting Li Jin take charge of the Eastern Depot?" Empress Dowager Li looked at Zhu Xizhong in surprise.
Zhu Xizhong nodded.
Empress Dowager Li turned the thought over carefully, gradually discerning the wisdom within, and could not help casting a few appreciative glances at Zhu Xizhong.
No wonder people said the hereditary nobility would always be loyal watchdogs.
The outer court showed no regard for her dignity, launching impeaching assaults against the senior eunuch by her side; if she simply yielded, both her pride and practical power would be forfeit—and with the emperor still young, it was awkward to discuss such matters with him.
Zhu Xizhong's proposal resolved the dilemma flawlessly.
Even if she yielded ground in appearance, she suffered not the slightest loss in actual substance!
Transferring the Eastern Depot from a trusted confidant into the hands of a kinsman—was that not merely passing something from the left hand to the right?
At this thought, the resistance in her heart melted away.
She nodded slowly, then suddenly paused, turning to Lü Diaoyang. "Minister Lü, does this conform to ancestral precedent?"
Lü Diaoyang was taken aback, pondering the implications along those lines.
In truth, the Eastern Depot ideally should not be in the hands of imperial in-laws either.
Yet this kinship could hardly be considered close, and the man was not an outer court official; Chen Hong, as Empress Dowager Chen's domestic servant, had also served as seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
If he were to object on those grounds and the Empress Dowager responded by asking why Chen Hong had been permissible while Li Jin was not, he would be placed in an even greater bind.
Thinking this through, Lü Diaoyang had no choice but to confirm, "It does not violate dynastic precedent."
Empress Dowager Li finally nodded in satisfaction.
...
Empress Dowager Li and Li Wei departed together.
Before leaving, both seemed in rather high spirits, carrying the relief of having resolved a major vexation.
Li Wei in particular regretted only that he had not entered the palace sooner.
Not only had the emperor promised him a stipend of one thousand two hundred shi and pledged future wealth and honors, but he had also hinted that Li Wei could send men to inspect the southeast, where he could establish a merchant guild next year to engage in maritime trade.
He truly was a wonderful grandson.
Zhu Yijun escorted Lü Diaoyang outside the hall in person, gripping his hand with earnest warmth: "Regarding the Senior Grand Secretary's matter, We shall have to trouble Lord Lü."
Lü Diaoyang fled as though making a desperate escape.
Zhu Yijun let out a chuckle as he watched his retreating back.
Only then did he turn back to Zhu Xizhong, saying with genuine emotion, "The Duke of the Realm is indeed a true pillar of the dynastic altars."
Chapter 35