Outside Shangyang Palace.
The eunuch on duty stopped Zhang Zhengyang and, standing atop the steps, looked down at him as he spoke.
"Lord Zhang, His Majesty has already retired. If you have business, submit a memorial in court tomorrow."
"I have an urgent matter to report. I beg Eunuch Xu to announce me."
Zhang Zhengyang looked toward the brightly lit palace. Music and dancing drifted to his ears, along with the occasional sounds of women chasing one another, playing, and laughing.
Eunuch Xu said, "This servant would not dare disturb His Majesty's rest. Lord Zhang should please return."
"Your subject begs to see Your Majesty!"
Zhang Zhengyang knelt prostrate outside the palace gates, tears streaming down his face as he pleaded mournfully again and again for an audience with the Emperor.
Thud, thud, thud. He kowtowed until blood seeped from his forehead.
A long while later.
There was no response from within the palace. Zhang Zhengyang's expression shifted from resolute to miserable and dejected. After three kneelings and nine kowtows, he struggled to his feet and departed.
"Your subject takes his leave!"
Inside the palace.
Forty or fifty exquisitely dressed palace maidens danced and frolicked in the hall. Yet Emperor Yongxing was nowhere to be seen upon the dragon throne at its front.
After Zhao Yuan ascended the throne, he declared the reign title Yongxing.
This year was still the eighteenth year of Hongchang; next year would be the first year of Yongxing.
Eunuch Xu hurried to a small pavilion behind the main hall. Entering, he knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, Chancellor Zhang has left the palace."
Emperor Yongxing reclined against a cushioned couch, attended on either side by more than twenty officials like stars surrounding the moon. All were high-ranking ministers clad in vermilion and purple. To his left sat Minister of War Liang Dong, and to his right, Minister of Appointments Xie Wei.
The two had once been Zhang Zhengyang's trusted confidants, but now they had thrown themselves under Emperor Yongxing's command.
A new emperor brought new ministers. The civil and military officials all saw matters clearly: Chancellor Zhang, whose power had once blotted out the sky, was bound to fall. They had to make plans early.
Emperor Yongxing asked, "Chancellor Zhang simply withdrew? Did he show any defiance?"
Eunuch Xu answered truthfully, "In reply to Your Majesty, Chancellor Zhang looked utterly despairing and voiced no grievance."
"Chancellor Zhang knows how to read the wind."
Emperor Yongxing waved Eunuch Xu away, then asked the eunuch waiting nearby, "De Fu, have you discovered who is spreading these rumors?"
Li Defu had originally been a palace eunuch in Prince Qin's Residence. He had attended Emperor Yongxing personally since the Emperor's childhood, and had now risen in a single leap to become Director of Ceremonial Affairs as well as commander of the Brocade Guard.
"In reply to Your Majesty, too many people saw what happened in the palace that night. A thorough investigation will take some time."
Emperor Yongxing said coldly, "What was wrong with entering the palace to quell the rebellion? I am asking who has been spreading rumors that I murdered my sixth brother!"
Ever since the imperial edict of enthronement had been issued, all manner of rumors had swept through Shenjing—accusations of usurpation, monstrous filial impiety, and the like. Faintly, they had begun to shake Emperor Yongxing's throne.
Li Defu dropped to his knees with a thump. "Your Majesty, this old servant deserves death! I still have not fully brought the Brocade Guard under control."
Emperor Yongxing frowned slightly. He dearly wished to summon someone to drag this useless fool out and beat him to death, but he had ascended the throne in haste and had too few capable people in his own circle.
The commander of the Brocade Guard was far too crucial and sensitive a post. Better to give it to a loyal incompetent than let an outsider meddle in it.
"Your Majesty, anyone with eyes knows this is false. Those people do not care whether it is true or false; they only seek to stain Your Majesty's name."
Xie Wei said, "Rather than investigate the rumor-mongers and let them lead us by the nose, it would be better to strike at the root. There are no more than those three who stand to benefit from these rumors!"
The late Emperor had six sons. The eldest legitimate son was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, while the Sixth Prince was dead. Only three remained qualified to replace Emperor Yongxing.
Emperor Yongxing nodded faintly, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes. He had still been soft-hearted when he killed his first brother. Killing more would come much more easily. If not for concern over his reputation, he would have already exterminated the three brothers' entire households, and the rumors in the capital would collapse without being attacked.
"A pack of skulking rats. Once I make peace with Great Yong and summon the armies of the various provinces back to the capital, I will wipe them all out!"
Emperor Yongxing looked at the Minister of War. "Is the Capital Garrison secure?"
"Your Majesty, rest assured! This subject entered the Capital Garrison alone and berated the Sun Family for knowing only how to drink the soldiers' blood while disregarding imperial grace. I stripped them of their authority on the spot. Several troublesome military commanders were beheaded, and no one else dared raise objections. The Capital Garrison's military power is entirely in our hands."
Liang Dong said proudly, "To prevent the Sun Family from rising again like dead ashes rekindling, I also scattered the Capital Garrison's officers and soldiers, transferring them to posts in other offices throughout Shenjing. It is now foolproof."
Emperor Yongxing praised him, "Lord Liang is truly a pillar of the court."
The Capital Garrison had been Emperor Yongxing's sole concern. Even if the other ghosts and demons rebelled, they could not breach the palace defended to the death by the Imperial Guards.
Now that Emperor Yongxing had proclaimed his accession to the realm and gained recognition from the various provinces of the Fengyang Kingdom, if the rebels could not swiftly storm the palace, the armies coming to rescue the throne would surely reduce them to ashes.
At this moment.
A voice entered the pavilion.
"Your Majesty, an assassin has been captured."
Emperor Yongxing snorted. "Bring him in."
A white-robed monk entered, his face aged and his frame gaunt.
The old monk carried a man in night clothes in one hand. With a flick of his wrist, he threw him onto the floor. He did not kneel before Emperor Yongxing, but reported directly, "This man goes by the jianghu nickname Touching the Sky and is highly skilled in qinggong. I heard he was recruited by Prince Chu's Residence some days ago."
Emperor Yongxing said, "A mere country bumpkin dares call himself Heaven? Send him to the Imperial Prison for interrogation. Investigate his nine clans, then send them all to the northern frontier for military exile!"
"As commanded."
With several crackling snaps, the monk broke the man's limbs. Then, swift as a ghost, he vanished without a trace.
Emperor Yongxing looked at the kneeling Li Defu and praised him, "You handled this well. Though jianghu people cannot grace the grand stage, they can guard against petty scoundrels spying upon the inner palace."
Li Defu let out a breath of relief and flattered him, "Your Majesty, this old servant dare not claim credit. Those righteous martial experts heard they could serve Your Majesty, and every one of them rushed to join the Brocade Guard."
Emperor Yongxing said happily, "It seems the people have already given their hearts to me!"
The two ministers stroked their beards and smiled, while the officials on either side clapped their hands and sang his praises.
"His Majesty bears Heaven's mandate; may he live long and prosper eternally!"
Emperor Yongxing's heart settled completely.
"Then we shall proceed according to the plan. I will play the fatuous ruler for a few days first. Once those jumping clowns leap out, I will sweep them all up in one net."
The northwestern corner of the imperial palace.
A remote, desolate, nameless palace.
When the eunuch on watch saw Zhang Zhengyang arrive, not only did he not stop him, he bowed respectfully.
"Chancellor, His Highness has been awaiting you for some time."
Only a single candle burned in the hall, casting dim and ghostly light. The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Xian paced back and forth, his face full of anxiety.
Zhang Zhengyang entered and said, "Your Highness, when great matters arise, you must steady your heart and calm your breath!"
"Father-in-law does not know."
Zhao Xian's expression was bitter. "The palace eunuchs have passed word that my younger brother has won over the Ministers of War and Appointments. He holds the Capital Garrison's military authority and control over official appointments and dismissals. His throne is growing ever more secure."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "Liang Dong is an old pedant who fights battles on paper, while Xie Wei is a fence-sitter who bends with the wind. These two useless men are not worth your concern."
Zhao Xian asked doubtfully, "Were these two not capable ministers of the realm personally promoted by Father-in-law?"
Zhang Zhengyang was old and weak. Not long ago, he had wept and kowtowed at Shangyang Palace, exhausting most of his strength. He found a round stool and sat down.
"If I had truly promoted capable ministers, the late Emperor would likely have replaced me as Chief Minister long ago. When you ascend the throne one day, remember this well: never allow only one voice at court. Even when one voice is wrong, there must be another!"
Zhao Xian bowed. "I shall respectfully follow Father-in-law's instruction."
"If you truly listened to me, you should never have associated with the Li family in the first place. How would you have fallen into such a state otherwise?"
Zhang Zhengyang knew this son-in-law of his possessed only middling talent, with little ability or wisdom of his own. Yet he had insisted on trying to maneuver things, turning a game already won into a headwind so fierce it threatened to overturn everything.
Had his daughter not pleaded with him, and had there not been his grandson, Zhang Zhengyang would certainly have followed the late Emperor's final edict.
After holding the Chief Minister's power for twenty years and weathering countless storms and struggles, Zhang Zhengyang was confident he could send the other three regents to the Imperial Prison.
Not even the Emperor's own mother would be spared!