Greetings, Imperial Sister-in-Law

Huang Daozhou was not the only advocate of war among the court officials, but now that the emperor had lost his temper, none dared add fuel to the fire. Silence fell over their ranks.

Xue Guoguan, the second-ranking grand secretary, glanced at the memorial in his hand, then thought better of it and put it away. Best not to walk into the line of fire now. He could report it in a few days, or during deliberations at Wenhua Hall!

In such bitter cold, the officials also wanted to return home early to warm themselves. With no other major matters to discuss, court was soon dismissed. After bowing to the emperor, the officials outside the hall headed out through Huangji Gate in twos and threes.

Huang Daozhou gave a cold snort and strode past Yang Sichang toward the exit. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, Xue Guoguan shook his head. "Has His Majesty truly approved peace negotiations? I fear that in a few days, those Confucian officials will be kneeling outside the palace gates again!"

"The matter is settled. Even if they kneel until they die, they won't change it." Recalling His Majesty's attitude that day, Yang Sichang felt a little more confident about the peace negotiations. Turning, he asked, "Jiaxiang, you look troubled. Is something wrong?"

Jiaxiang was Xue Guoguan's courtesy name. Once court was dismissed, the grand secretaries generally addressed one another by their courtesy names in private.

Xue Guoguan squeezed the memorial inside his sleeve and said with a smile, "Nothing serious. A thief broke into my residence last night!"

"A thief? Did you lose anything? Have you reported it to Shuntian Prefecture?"

Xue Guoguan shook his head. "Some silver went missing, nothing important. Shuntian Prefecture has its hands full lately. I won't trouble them!"

"Probably the work of the refugees in the city again. Ah!" Yang Sichang thought little of it and turned the conversation toward the city's refugees. Xue Guoguan appeared to listen, but his heart was bleeding.

It wasn't just some silver I lost-it was a hundred thousand taels! I had a false wall specially built in my study and hid the silver inside. Who could have known my secret? And who would dare steal money from me?

Thank goodness I didn't hide all my silver in one place. Otherwise, would I have to live on the northwest wind this New Year?

Even with a hundred thousand taels of silver missing, he could not report it to Shuntian Prefecture.

If Shuntian Prefecture learns of it, His Majesty will know too. How am I supposed to explain where that silver came from? Then it won't just be silver I lose. It may well be my official position-and the lives of my entire household!

After court was dismissed, Zhu Youjian planned to go to Wenhua Hall to review memorials. He also needed to sort through his ideas for reform again and see which easier measures he could begin preparing in advance.

Halfway there, a young eunuch came running up. Wang Cheng'en hurriedly stopped him with a rebuke. "This is His Majesty's procession! Have you no care for your life, barging in like that?"

The young eunuch hastily knelt and kowtowed. Wang Cheng'en took a look at him, then turned to Zhu Youjian. "Your Majesty, he's from Ciqing Palace!"

"Ciqing Palace?" Zhu Youjian paused in surprise. "Does Empress Yi'an need something?"

Empress Yi'an was not Zhu Youjian's empress. She was the empress of his elder brother, the previous emperor, Zhu Youxiao, Emperor Xizong of Ming.

During Zhu Youxiao's reign, Wei Zhongxian and Ke Shi had worked together like a wolf and its accomplice, blotting out the sky with one hand. They had managed to destroy every one of Zhu Youxiao's children, and in the end sent the emperor himself to the Western Heaven.

As Zhu Youxiao lay dying, Ke Shi had even dreamed of having one of her own sons or nephews adopted into the imperial family, so that her wealth and glory could continue.

Fortunately, Zhang Yan was still in the palace. It was she who had advocated that the younger brother succeed the elder, ultimately ensuring that the throne of Great Ming passed smoothly to Zhu Youjian.

After ascending the throne, Zhu Youjian had treated this imperial sister-in-law with great respect and courtesy, personally coming to her palace gate every day before court to pay his respects.

Right, could Empress Yi'an be feeling uneasy because I haven't come to pay my respects these past few days?

In the palace, whether a woman belonged to the emperor or was his sister-in-law, without his affection or respect, she was always liable to be treated coldly by those servants who fawned on the powerful and trampled the lowly.

Now that I've recovered, I ought to pay her a visit!

With that thought, Zhu Youjian ordered the procession to Ciqing Palace. The young eunuch kneeling on the ground scrambled to his feet and followed timidly beside the imperial palanquin.

Ciqing Palace stood east of Huangji Gate and north of Wenhua Hall, so it was more or less on Zhu Youjian's way. Upon entering the Benevolent Celebration Gate, he saw Dongzhu, Empress Yi'an's senior palace maid, already waiting in the courtyard.

Zhu Youjian stepped down from the imperial palanquin and walked to the entrance of the main hall, where he bowed to Empress Yi'an according to protocol. A clear female voice came from within. "Your Majesty, please come in!"

Her voice chimed like spring water, yet was also like the first bite of chilled watermelon on a sweltering summer day. That voice alone set Zhu Youjian's heart fluttering. He suddenly remembered that Empress Yi'an, Zhang Yan, had been hailed as one of the five most beautiful empresses of antiquity.

Zhu Youjian stepped into the hall, where he could faintly make out a woman standing. "Greetings, imperial sister-in-law!"

Having spoken, Zhu Youjian straightened. As his eyes adjusted to the light inside, the woman's features suddenly became clear. One glance was enough to send his heart racing. He lowered his head, not daring to look again, as though even one more glance would be a desecration of Empress Yi'an.

What words could possibly describe her?

Zhu Youjian could think of none. Instead, the words recorded in the History of Ming surfaced in his mind: "Tall and graceful, full and well-proportioned; a face like Guanyin's, eyes like autumn ripples, a complexion like dawn clouds reflected on snow, or a lotus emerging from water; hair like spring clouds, eyes like autumn waters, lips like scarlet cherries, a nose like a hanging gallbladder, teeth white, delicate, and immaculate..."

Not enough. Nowhere near enough. The faces of several popular actresses flashed through Zhu Youjian's mind, and he inwardly shook his head. Not one could compare with Empress Yi'an. Even all of them put together couldn't match her!

Zhu Youjian marveled inwardly, but remained mindful of his present identity. After paying his respects, he sat down properly and asked, "I was unwell these past few days and failed to come to pay my respects. Please do not take offense, imperial sister-in-law!"