Chapter 9: Discussion

There are no secrets within the Western Garden. Before half a day had passed, news of the Emperor’s sudden and furious rage had spread throughout the upper echelons of the Beijing, stirring up countless suspicions. 

Since the founding of the dynasty, the court has been rife with turbulence; the former Emperor Jianwen left on a cloud of white, the previous Emperor Wuzong dissolved like water, and the current Emperor Qingmiao nearly combusted in flames. With such precedents, it is hard not to feel uneasy.

However, the Emperor soon issued a decree, appointing Yan Fenyi to oversee all matters related to the tribute from the Kingdom of Goryeo. The wording of the decree was as usual, and the palace servants who carried it showed no sign of concern. The faint suspicions naturally dissipated.

As the Emperor’s closest sycophant, Yan Fenyi, of course, shared a tacit understanding with the ruler, instantly grasping the situation. 

That very day, he gathered the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue to discuss the proper arrangements for receiving the Goryeo envoys. After much deliberation, they finally settled on a plan. 

The next day, an eunuch from the Western Garden came to check on the progress.

This was usually a mere formality, but when the eunuch looked over the documents, he shook his head repeatedly and then read aloud the Emperor’s words:

“The Ministry of Rites has been instructed to handle this matter, but how can it be this extravagant? 

I only have eight sets of clothes throughout the year—changed for dry cleaning and washed as necessary. Do they not think of the people who have nothing? A sage rules with the heart of the people. The Ministry of Rites should follow my example. How can they be so presumptuous and wasteful? Frugality nurtures virtue—be careful!”

Yan Fenyi was struck by this reprimand and began to sweat, bowing deeply and apologizing profusely. But after apologizing, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of doubt. In his efforts to please the Emperor and handle matters well, he had indeed added some extra touches to the reception arrangements. 

Yet, surely it hadn’t reached the point of “extravagance and waste,” had it?

He could only slip a silver note into the eunuch’s hand, asking for guidance.

The eunuch glanced around and finally spoke softly: “The Emperor is very concerned about the Goryeo tribute; he asks about it two or three times a day.”

Yan Fenyi quickly probed: “What does the Emperor mean?”

The eunuch replied quietly: “The Emperor said plainly, why is the Ministry of Rites acting on its own? Why not follow the established rules set during the reign of Emperor Gaozu?”

With that, the eunuch gave a bow and quickly left, leaving Yan Fenyi standing there, stunned. He stood there in confusion for a moment, feeling utterly crushed, almost speechless.

—The rules of Emperor Gaozu? Emperor Gaozu, who was so miserly that he only gave first-rank officials ten taels of silver per month as salary? If they followed his rules, the Ministry of Rites’ budget would barely be enough to buy a bucket of slop for the Goryeo envoys!

Damn it, don’t forget that Gaozu, who lived like a beggar, also drank pearl-white jade soup, right?

With this thought, Yan Fenyi’s chest churned, his nostrils flared, and two hot streams of blood poured from his nose.
·
In just one day, the Emperor’s subtle attitude toward the Goryeo envoys had quickly spread to the ears of those who were in the know. 

The foreign states were irrelevant, and ordinary people merely saw it as a source of amusement. However, for the reform-minded officials, who were eagerly eyeing the position of the Prime Minister, this news was undoubtedly a stroke of fortune—a chance to turn the tables!

Less than half an hour after the eunuch’s announcement, Xu Ge Lao, a disciple of Xu Shaohu, quietly visited his master to deliver the crucial news:

“I’ve confirmed it—Yan Fenyi was indeed reprimanded by the Emperor, though not by name, but his face was thoroughly humiliated!” Zhou Zhicheng was quite excited. “Yan’s faction has flattered the Emperor with their extravagant ceremonies, and Yan has held the Ministry of Rites for over a decade. This is the perfect opportunity to strike at them!”

Xu Shaohu, though, was not as quick to react. He had taken half a pill of the golden elixir yesterday, drafted a report, and submitted it to the Emperor. 

Despite being cautious, the elixir had caused him to visit the restroom multiple times, and he now felt weak and unfit for political maneuvering. He turned instead to his aide, Gao Gaoxuan.

“Suqing, what do you think?”

Gao Gaoxuan, as the guardian of King Yu, was always cautious. After a moment of thought, he replied: “Yan’s faction is a plague on the nation and must be removed. 

But from the Emperor’s words, it doesn’t seem that he intends to harshly reprimand Yan Fenyi. It might not be the right time to act.”

While this made sense, Zhou Zhicheng was not content. His talents and experience were nowhere near those of the reformers, but he had managed to climb to his current position thanks to his family connections and Xu Shaohu’s patronage. 

Recently, he had heard that Xu Shaohu was paying special attention to a scholar named Zhang Taiyue and considering him as a disciple. This sparked a sense of crisis within Zhou, who was eager to seize any opportunity to prove himself and secure his standing.

He argued: “But these so-called ‘corrupt officials’ only rise to power by flattering Yan Fenyi. Why should we be afraid?”

At these words, Gao Gaoxuan remained indifferent, but Xu Shaohu’s face darkened. Since the discussions in the Western Garden, although the overall political situation hadn’t changed, the power balance within the cabinet had subtly shifted. 

Previously, there was no hierarchy beneath the Prime Minister, but now the Emperor’s decrees were being sent to Yan Fenyi first and to Xu Shaohu second. 

Yan Fenyi also had an additional silver seal from the Qingliang Hall, allowing him to enter at any time without prior notice. Such a move undeniably increased his power.

Zhou Zhicheng was right—Yan Fenyi had indeed earned these rewards through his sycophantic behavior, but didn’t Xu Shaohu want to be rewarded as well? Unfortunately, natural talent was something one couldn’t change. Yan Fenyi had a constitution that made him immune to the effects of the golden elixir, while Xu Shaohu, who could barely handle a half-dose, was no match for him. 

Hearing Zhou Zhicheng’s remark about “flattering and rising to power” was truly a blow to his pride.

Considering the sensitive situation, Xu Shaohu made a swift decision:

“Let’s speak freely then. Zhicheng, you may go on.”

This was a tacit approval, and Zhou Zhicheng’s face lit up with excitement:

“Master, listen to my plan. Yan’s Dang has caused great harm to the nation, and they cannot be allowed to hold onto power. I suggest we take advantage of the Emperor’s decree and directly ruin the Goryeo tribute! A quick resolution is better than prolonged suffering. 

The more public the scandal, the greater the opportunity to dismantle Yan Fenyi’s faction!”

He spoke in a sharp and forceful tone, with righteous indignation. Listening nearby, Gao Gaoxuan slightly squinted his eyes: Who lost face because of the mess with the Goryeo tribute mission? Who’s heart was shaken? Using such methods to fight is clearly crossing the line.

But Xu Ge Lao remained silent. He only spoke faintly:

“Then how should we handle this matter?”

Zhou Zhicheng was very excited.

“Master Gao, this is not difficult. The Ministry of Rites already has our people in it. As long as we subtly criticize the Goryeo people in the reception documents, the matter will definitely fail, and it won’t trace back to us. 

I went to the Honglu Temple and checked the records; it turns out the succession of the Goryeo throne was also quite chaotic and not something that should be shared with outsiders…”

Xu Shaohu and Gao Gaoxuan furrowed their brows at the same time. You can talk about Goryeo, but what do you mean by “also quite chaotic” with that “also”?

Zhou Zhicheng, unaware of their thoughts, continued to boast enthusiastically:

“For example, the current King of Goryeo’s father, King Hyojo, took the throne under quite suspicious circumstances. He most likely seized it from the previous king, King Jingzong, and even now, there are lingering effects from palace coups. 

King Jingzong was quite knowledgeable in literature. If we subtly use a couple of his poems in the documents, the Goryeo emissaries will certainly not tolerate it and will likely turn hostile.”

Xu Shaohu’s expression softened: “So there’s such a background. I wonder who this Goryeo King Jingzong is?”

The Goryeo court was full of intrigue, palace coups were as common as cows, and there was an old custom of close relatives marrying within the nobility. Zhou Zhicheng rolled his eyes for a long while, barely managing to sort it out.

“Hyojo’s father was King Jingzong’s paternal half-brother, and they also had a marriage alliance. So, in a way, Jingzong should call Hyojo ‘uncle’…”

His voice gradually faded as he had to lower his head to avoid two suddenly cold, sharp glares.