"What? Chen Mingyan brought the man to Qianqing Palace!" Zhu Yijun was taken aback.
Chen Mingyan was also a brother of Empress Dowager Chen; among the sons at home, he and Chen Shanyan ranked fourth and third respectively. Both were chiliarchs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Earlier, a eunuch had come forward with an accusation that Feng Bao had killed Meng Chong, and the man had then ended up in Zhu Xixiao's hands.
With the intention of sounding out Empress Dowager Chen, he had the man handed to her brother, Chen Shanyan.
But just now Jiang Keqian had come running to say that Chen Mingyan had brought the eunuch to Qianqing Palace.
What were these two brothers playing at? This only left Zhu Yijun more baffled.
Jiang Keqian bowed and answered: "It is said that Chen Mingyan and Chen Shanyan faced off at the Justice Office for a while, and it seemed they quarreled."
"Afterward, Chen Mingyan went to Chen Hong's residence and gave him a dressing-down, then brought the eunuch straight to Qianqing Palace."
Zhu Yijun frowned: "What did the two brothers quarrel about?"
Jiang Keqian recalled: "There was no one nearby, and our colleagues did not catch it clearly."
"Only a few fragments were heard vaguely. Chen Mingyan said their father had been nothing but a mere Imperial Academy student, had obtained a substantive seventh-rank post, and now held a noble title, enjoying the emperor's grace to the full; he should keep the sovereign father in his heart."
"He also warned them not to get too deeply entangled with people like Chen Hong."
He mimicked a few of the lines with great relish.
Zhu Yijun's expression turned odd. Would people really use such high-sounding talk in a quarrel?
He asked: "Where is he now?"
Jiang Keqian told him exactly: "He handed the man over to Zhang Hong and left."
"Before leaving, he said that we are household slaves of the imperial family; what right does the Embroidered Uniform Guard have to meddle? Everything depends on His Majesty's judgment alone."
This made Zhu Yijun even more uncertain of their angle.
It looked as if Chen Hong had acted on his own authority and caused a rift between the brothers.
But... should they not have sought instructions from Empress Dowager Chen instead? Why then had they quarreled?
Jiang Keqian asked carefully: "Your Majesty, how should the man who was brought in be dealt with?"
Zhu Yijun was still thinking and waved dismissively: "Let Zhang Hong hand him to my mother the Empress Dowager. Tell her it is my wish to send him to guard my late father's tomb."
The struggle had entered a new stage, and this man no longer mattered.
It was only a pity that he had not sounded out Empress Dowager Chen's attitude.
Jiang Keqian slowly withdrew.
Before long, Zhu Xixiao hurried in from outside.
He had just arrived before the emperor and was about to speak impatiently.
Zhu Yijun raised a hand, cutting off Zhu Xixiao's words, and let himself think quietly for a moment.
Zhu Xixiao had no choice but to wait quietly.
After a long while, the emperor's voice came: "Minister Zhu, you look flustered. Has something happened?"
Zhu Xixiao finally got the chance to speak and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, just at dusk, Feng Bao secretly left the palace!"
Zhu Yijun gave no reaction, only nodded for him to continue.
Zhu Xixiao went on: "Feng Bao went in person to Lü Diaoyang's house, and two eunuchs left the city on horseback, galloping toward Mount Tianshou!"
Mount Tianshou? Zhu Yijun immediately understood: they were going to fetch Zhang Juzheng.
He muttered to himself: "It seems Gao Gong has driven them to desperation!"
This move was certainly not aimless; they must have sensed that Gao Gong was plotting something.
If that were true, to be frightened to this extent meant Gao Gong's moves were no small matter.
He looked up at Zhu Xixiao and asked: "Has the Senior Grand Secretary shown no sign at all?"
Gao Gong's calm demeanor today would make anyone with eyes suspect whether he was disheartened or still holding a trump card.
And Zhu Yijun had foreknowledge.
Historically, this Senior Grand Secretary had not retired obediently; and now, with his help, the Eastern Depot had been taken from Feng Bao, so there was no way Gao Gong could be defeated faster than he had been in history.
So what exactly was Gao Gong plotting?
Zhu Xixiao immediately knelt: "Your servant has failed."
"After leaving court, the Senior Grand Secretary shut his doors at home. Apart from Ge Shouli's visit, he made no move at all."
"Whether it was his protégé Han Ji or his in-law Cao Jin, all were turned away at the door."
Zhu Yijun tapped the table with his knuckles and sank into thought.
Previously, when Cao Daye impeached Gao Gong, although Gao Gong submitted a memorial requesting dismissal according to precedent, he openly rallied support at the court deliberation, and the Nine Ministers, the Six Offices of Scrutiny, and the censors all submitted memorials asking to retain him.
The scale of it alarmed the court and the palace.
Now although Yang Bo and Lü Diaoyang were set against him, he was not truly without means to strike back.
The Ministry of Personnel, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Revenue, the chief minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Six Offices of Scrutiny, and more than half of the Censorate were his people.
If they all submitted memorials asking to retain Gao Gong as before, both he and the Two Palaces would have to act with extreme caution.
Yet now he turned these protégés and old associates away at the door?
Zhu Yijun had told Zhu Xixiao to watch closely because he had been prepared for this.
But Gao Gong showed not the slightest sign of rallying support, which made things even more chilling.
Zhu Yijun's face was grave. He had a premonition that Gao Gong's memorial for retirement would not receive the vermilion endorsement without difficulty.
He instructed Zhu Xixiao: "Minister Zhu, lend a hand in helping Li Jin take control of the Eastern Depot."
The Eastern Depot had subordinate officers, namely chiliarchs in charge of punishment and centurions in charge of judicial affairs, all filled by Embroidered Uniform Guard chiliarchs and centurions, and they were called attached penal officers.
If such a core backbone cooperated with a commander suddenly transferred in, it could speed up his consolidation of power several times over.
The situation was complex, and he had to take control of the inner court as soon as possible!
……
The sixteenth of the sixth month.
Zhu Yijun sat upright behind the imperial desk as the court officials gradually took their places.
Everything seemed normal.
But soon someone noticed something off.
The place at the head of the court ranks was empty—Gao Gong was absent from court!
Gao Gong, at the center of the storm, had not used his position as Senior Grand Secretary to stir up trouble at the court deliberation as everyone had expected.
Instead, he did not even appear.
For a moment, everyone whispered among themselves and discussed.
No few people speculated whether Gao Gong truly was waiting for retirement.
Lü Diaoyang and Wang Guoguang looked at each other.
Liu Ziqiang and Han Ji looked even more anxious, casting questioning glances toward Ge Shouli from time to time.
Today Zhang Siwei had also come. He leaned close to Yang Bo and whispered a few words; both wore expressions of shock and uncertainty.
After a moment, Zhang Siwei spoke with a thoughtful expression: "The Senior Grand Secretary says he must attend to other matters. I will handle the Ministry of Personnel's business at today's deliberation."
Gao Gong was Minister of Personnel. It was reasonable for him to drop the reins and let Vice Minister Zhang Siwei attend.
Yet Yang Bo had only yesterday turned coat and impeached Gao Gong; what nerve it took for Zhang Siwei to come speak for the Ministry of Personnel at the court deliberation!
Never mind others; even Zhang Siwei himself could not figure it out.
Minister of Works Zhu Heng had not involved himself in these affairs; he only asked with concern: "Court deliberation, court deliberation—with not a single Grand Secretary present today, how are we to draft the rescript?"
He was anxious to settle the Yellow River's summer flood season and only hoped these people would fight as they pleased without delaying the important business.
Supervising Secretary Luo Zun of the Personnel Scrutiny, who had come with Zhang Siwei and had also received instructions, replied: "The Senior Grand Secretary says that for all matters of the assembled colleagues, as long as a conclusion is reached in deliberation, he will draft the rescript himself."
He no longer cared even about seizing the power to draft rescripts to bind the ministers.
This made everyone even more puzzled.
At this moment, a voice came from above the imperial steps: "Secretary Luo, does the Senior Grand Secretary have some urgent matter more important than the court deliberation?"
Zhu Yijun did not believe Gao Gong was waiting to retire.
Then what he was doing was even more worth noticing.
The emperor's abrupt question made the hundred officials think various things, but by tacit agreement none stopped it.
It was not only the emperor's question but also the court officials'; all waited for Luo Zun's answer.
Facing the emperor's question, Luo Zun replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, I do not know either."
Hearing this, the officials' expressions varied.
Zhu Yijun signaled to Zhang Jing with his eyes, telling him to pass word so that Jiang Keqian could send men out to investigate.
Feng Bao nearby was even more direct: he summoned a eunuch and whispered a few words, clearly also concerned about what Gao Gong was doing.
"Everyone, it is about time. Let us begin the deliberation."
Ge Shouli suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention back.
Minister of Works Zhu Heng, anxious about the Yellow River, echoed: "Exactly. Let us deliberate first."
Everyone complied and returned to their places in the ranks.
As they passed Ge Shouli, they could not help but glance at him a few extra times.
Feng Bao could not figure out Gao Gong's approach for the moment, but he could not do nothing—Empress Dowager Li was still waiting for Gao Gong's memorial requesting retirement!
He stepped ahead and asked Han Ji, the Transmission Commissioner: "Commissioner Han, has the Senior Grand Secretary's retirement memorial been submitted yet? Do not lose it again."
This kind of matter, involving no coordination among the ministries and commissions and being merely a memorial requesting retirement, naturally did not require court deliberation.
Such memorials were therefore submitted directly to the Office of Transmission, or, bypassing the Office, directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial, and then presented for the emperor's attention.
Han Ji was prepared and answered naturally: "The Senior Grand Secretary's memorial has already arrived at the Office of Transmission. After it is sorted and filed, it will be sent into the palace."
Memorials sent into the palace were always copied and placed on record so that the ministries and commissions could consult them; this was a legitimate reason.
But Feng Bao could not wait: "Already at the Office of Transmission? I will send someone to fetch it at once!"
Without waiting for Han Ji to reply, he ordered a eunuch to go to the Office of Transmission and fetch the memorial.
He wanted it sent into the palace immediately and the vermilion endorsement completed!
That scoundrel Gao Gong must retire as soon as possible!
As the eunuch was about to leave, Ge Shouli suddenly called him back: "Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
Ge Shouli took a memorial from his sleeve: "Eunuch Feng, the Senior Grand Secretary asked me to present a memorial on his behalf. Why not wait until after the court deliberation and send it into the palace together?"
Most of the others looked thoughtful, but Feng Bao immediately made a connection.
He subtly parried Ge Shouli's excuse: "I am not short of men."
Taking the hint, the young eunuch headed straight for the Office of Transmission.
After saying this, Feng Bao gave Lü Diaoyang a look.
Lü Diaoyang took up the cue: "Censor-in-Chief Ge, what matter does this memorial discuss?"
He knew perfectly well what the memorial contained, but some words were meant for others to hear.
Unfortunately, Ge Shouli naturally could not be bothered to answer him.
Ge Shouli said expressionlessly: "I am merely presenting it on his behalf. I have not read it."
"Since this is a court deliberation, it will inevitably be shown to everyone. Minister Lü, do not be impatient."
With that, he moved to hand the memorial to the officials beside him.
"Wait!"
Feng Bao suddenly spoke to stop him, and Ge Shouli paused.
Only when all the officials looked at him did Feng Bao say: "I did not know about this memorial of the Senior Grand Secretary beforehand."
Court deliberations had an agenda; otherwise how would the ministries and commissions know whom to send to deliberate?
To suddenly insert a matter meant that this memorial was outside the agenda and against the rules.
Ge Shouli countered: "This is a Grand Secretariat memorial."
The implication was that a Grand Secretariat memorial was submitted and drafted by the Secretariat itself; the court deliberation was merely a formality, and it was not improper to insert it temporarily.
Feng Bao nodded: "That is true, but..."
"I did not know beforehand, so naturally I could not inform Your Majesty beforehand either."
"Since Your Majesty has come to hear the government's affairs, how can you remain in complete ignorance?"
Wenhua Hall suddenly fell silent.
Even Zhu Yijun could not help but look up at Feng Bao.
What kind of logic was that: "I did not know, so I did not tell you"?
As if he had informed the emperor in advance about everything else.
Still, was Feng Bao trying to pull him into the matter?
What on earth had this memorial said that made Feng Bao so wary, to the point of wanting the emperor to step in and take the heat?
And how could he be so certain that the emperor would stand on his side?
Lü Diaoyang also suddenly echoed: "Exactly so. Censor-in-Chief Ge should present the memorial to Your Majesty for review first."
The officials' gazes moved back and forth between Ge Shouli and the imperial dais.
They were all shrewd people and realized the matter was not simple.
Gao Gong was now deeply mired in controversy, yet he was behaving contrary to his usual way.
Not only had he failed to rally the Nine Ministers and the speaking officials to submit memorials for his retention, but yesterday he had turned away all visits, whether from protégés or old associates.
And now this Censor-in-Chief, the only one who had entered Gao Gong's house, suddenly wanted to present some memorial on his behalf.
And that was not all: the Directorate's seal-holding eunuch seemed to know something and insisted on dragging the emperor into it.
The officials stared at them, wishing they could read the truth written on their faces.
Before Ge Shouli could respond, Feng Bao urgently shoved the eunuch beside him: "Go! Bring it up!"
Zhu Yijun also sensed something and leaned forward, trying to see clearly through the screen.
Ge Shouli said nothing and let the eunuch take the memorial from his hands.
The young eunuch held the memorial, head down, not daring to look at it.
Those who served in this capacity understood how dangerous the situation was; if they saw what they should not, they might lose their lives.
Feng Bao impatiently snatched the memorial from the young eunuch.
He naturally could not casually read the contents of a memorial, but in a single fleeting glance, the words "Memorial on the Five Urgent Matters of the New Administration" caught his eye.
Feng Bao took a deep breath and steadied his pounding heart.
Gao Gong had indeed openly submitted this memorial!
Although Feng Bao did not know what Gao Gong was relying on,
but this memorial had to be strangled at this court deliberation.
He had to force this memorial back down!
Feng Bao naturally was not qualified to stop this memorial, but... he looked at the emperor sitting behind the imperial desk, lost in thought.
If only the emperor looked at the memorial, he would not need to say another word!
Unless the emperor was so foolish as to fail to understand what it meant that "an imperial rescript cannot leave the Forbidden City without the Grand Secretariat's approval."
Feng Bao respectfully presented Gao Gong's memorial to the emperor: "Your Majesty, this is the Senior Grand Secretary's memorial."
The emperor reached out and took it.
The court officials outside exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Whatever their reasons, they tacitly remained silent and watched quietly as this unfolded.
Time passed slowly, leaving only the sound of the emperor turning the pages.
After a long while.
The screen on the imperial dais was slowly drawn aside.
This was the second time, and the officials had grown somewhat used to it.
And with Gao Gong absent, no one spoke up to block the emperor's view.
Feng Bao also watched quietly; at present, to crush Gao Gong, only the emperor could step forward.
Zhu Yijun's view widened.
He closed the memorial, expressionless, and asked Ge Shouli: "Minister Ge, have you read this memorial?"
The expressionless look at this point meant only that he no longer had the patience to manage his expression.
Ge Shouli was silent for a moment, then bowed and answered: "Your Majesty, I am merely presenting it on his behalf. I would not dare overstep."
Zhu Yijun nodded.
He said gently: "Old companion, let Minister Ge see it."
Feng Bao, eyes lowered and docile, cooperatively took the memorial and walked down from the dais.
He handed it to Ge Shouli.
Even the most foolish person could now realize the seriousness of the matter.
Some had already begun looking around, considering whether to pretend a sudden illness.
Ge Shouli was silent for a moment, then still took the memorial from Feng Bao's hand.
He read through it quietly.
At last he said: "Your Majesty, I have finished reading."
Zhu Yijun nodded: "Old companion, let the ministers see it too."
The memorial was passed from hand to hand among the ministers.
The Censor-in-Chief, the six ministers, the chief minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Office of Transmission, the vice ministers, the assistant censors-in-chief, the chancellor, the supervising secretaries...
As it was passed along, Wenhua Hall grew quieter and quieter.
From time to time, the sound of someone breathing heavily could be heard.
Drops of sweat soaked their inner garments.
An older chancellor could not stop his legs from trembling.
At last, someone could not bear the pressure.
Censor Tang Lian suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud and wailed: "Your Majesty, that Gao Gong is utterly mad! It has absolutely nothing to do with us!"
Chapter 38