Rebuking the Son of Heaven

The rulers of the Luo Clan were feudal lords beyond the capital and members of the Dukes and Ministers within it.

The Grand Clan Head oversaw the affairs of all the Ji clans of the Zhou State and was responsible for every sacrifice.

Within the royal palace, Luo Cheng met the reigning Son of Heaven, Ji Nie, for the first time in his capacity as a royal minister.

Ji Nie was King Xuan's eldest legitimate son, and his mother was the legitimate daughter of the ruler of Qi State. Years ago, King Huang had boiled Duke Ai of Qi alive, earning the loathing of the feudal lords, and had ultimately died on Southern Mountain.

King Huang had left no sons. According to the order of succession prescribed by the lineage system, King Xuan had been named his heir and inherited the throne.

To mend relations with Qi State, King Xuan had married its ruler's legitimate daughter through the mediation of Luo State.

But Qi State's hatred of King Huang ran deep. It had demanded not only a condemnatory posthumous name, but also the removal of his royal title. The Marquis of Luo had prevented the latter.

In the end, King Huang had not been buried in the royal tombs. Instead, his corpse had been left exposed on the Heavenly Terrace.

This was intended to let Heaven punish him with wind, rain, snow, and lightning, to redeem the sins he had committed.

Luo Cheng also shared close family ties with Ji Nie. Queen Mother Qi Jiang was the elder sister of Luo Cheng's wife, making the current Luo Heir and the Son of Heaven Ji Nie first cousins.

Among the current lords and Dukes and Ministers of the Zhou State, probably only Ji Nie's own brothers could claim such close ties.

Over the past century and more, the Luo Clan's standing within the Royal Domain had slowly declined, falling from the undisputed foremost house among the Dukes and Ministers to merely one of the highest-ranking noble houses.

Although the Luo Clan was no longer irreplaceable within the Royal Domain, successive Sons of Heaven still could not afford to ignore Luo State.

For Luo State remained one of the most important Ji-ruled states in the east.

Jin, Song, Luo, and Qi, the Four States, had grown ever stronger over the past century. Luo State had pressed eastward until Wei State was forced to relocate, while the Marquis of Han and the Marquis of Xing to its north were both its vassals.

Marriage ties between Luo State and Qi State were no longer limited to their ruling houses. Their ministerial families also intermarried, making their alliance all but unbreakable.

Otherwise, after King Huang boiled Duke Ai of Qi alive, how could a few words of mediation from the Marquis of Luo have settled the matter so easily?

For this reason, the royal house had always treated the Marquis of Luo with due respect.

This was something of a family banquet. Queen Mother Qi Jiang, the Son of Heaven Ji Nie, and Queen Shen Jiang-the three most exalted members of the royal house-were all present, a sign of the importance they attached to Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng, in turn, had brought his wife Luo Jiang to the family banquet.

Graceful serving women danced while musicians sang splendid verses.

"O great king, may you forever enjoy the favor of Heaven's Mandate. May blessings, prosperity, wealth, and honor be yours for generation after generation. May you shine as brilliantly as the sun."

Beneath the sacred ceremonial music of bells, strings, and flutes, the five people harbored very different feelings.

Queen Shen Jiang in particular was unhappy. She was the Marquis Shen's daughter and now the queen, second in rank only to Queen Mother Qi Jiang, yet none of that brought her joy.

For Ji Nie did not like her. He had even banished the Crown Prince to Shen State.

Ji Nie favored his consort Bao Si more, and had even spoken privately of deposing Shen Jiang as queen.

This had filled her with a sense of danger.

If she lost her position as queen, her son would inevitably lose his position as Crown Prince.

When that happened, where in the vast Royal Domain would there be any place for them?

Her father was one of the Lords Outside the Royal Domain. He could not possibly raise a rebellion over these private rumors, so she needed to find a powerful ally within it.

Luo Cheng was her target!

And she was confident. The Luo Clan had always defended the lineage system, and successive Marquises of Luo had been renowned for upholding the Rites of Zhou.

She did not even need to do anything. Her son was the eldest legitimate son, so Luo Cheng would naturally defend his position.

But she was a wise woman. Just because Luo Cheng needed nothing from her did not mean she should truly do nothing. Appropriate gestures of goodwill were essential.

Queen Mother Qi Jiang had not seen her younger sister for a long time and was now chatting warmly with her. Of everyone present, she was the most delighted that Luo Cheng had come to the Royal Domain.

For she regarded Luo Cheng as truly one of her own, far closer to her than any of the Son of Heaven Ji Nie's current favorites.

The royal house had struggled in recent years. Queen Mother Qi Jiang pinned her hopes on Luo Cheng to accomplish the grand reforms the previous Marquis of Luo had left unfinished.

"My husband, my sister thinks very highly of you. It seems this journey to the Royal Domain may finally fulfill your long-held wish."

Luo Jiang gazed at her husband with tenderness in her eyes. She had always known that the men of the Luo Clan revered the Sage King as a god and hoped to bring about the Restoration of the Zhou State.

If her sister, exalted as the Queen Mother, was now willing to grant her husband more power, the Restoration of the Zhou State would surely become easier.

As for her husband's ability, she had never doubted it. Since they married in their teens, nothing had ever proved too difficult for him.

Luo Cheng gently clasped his wife's hand and said with a soft laugh, "The Queen Mother's favor alone is not enough. The Son of Heaven has already come of age. Without the authority of a regent, there is little the Queen Mother can do."

Luo Cheng's gaze fell on the Son of Heaven Ji Nie. He could sense that this monarch, no longer a youth, did indeed dislike him.

The Son of Heaven Ji Nie truly did dislike Luo Cheng, for the same reason Queen Shen Jiang valued him: Luo Cheng defended the lineage system and placed great importance on the Rites of Zhou.

He believed the Rites of Zhou constrained him. As sovereign, he ought to reign supreme, rather than having to consider so many things even when dealing with a subject.

Every Marquis of Luo had served as Grand Clan Head. When Luo Lin was alive, he had taught Ji Nie rites and music. Ji Nie had been unruly, so Luo Lin had naturally treated him sternly.

Now, whenever he saw Luo Cheng's rigid propriety, he thought of Luo Lin. Naturally, he disliked such a minister.

At this thought, Ji Nie decided to show off a clever maneuver.

"Marquis of Luo, you belong to a powerful branch of the Ji Imperial Clan.

"You have come from the distant east to Haojing to assist me. According to ritual propriety, I ought to grant you the exalted position of one of the Three Dukes.

"But two of those positions have already been bestowed upon my maternal grandfather, the Duke of Qi, and my father-in-law, the Duke of Shen.

"Although neither serves within the Royal Domain, how could I strip them of their ducal offices?

"That would violate ritual propriety."

The moment Ji Nie opened his mouth, Luo Cheng knew what he intended. Irritation stirred in his heart, but he answered with a genial smile. "Your Majesty, I wholeheartedly agree. The Duke of Qi and the Duke of Shen are both your elders. Honoring them with exalted positions is precisely what the Rites of Zhou advocate.

"As Grand Clan Head, I shall certainly spread word of your benevolence throughout the Ji clans."

Luo Cheng privately thought that, after these words, even if Ji Nie had harbored some ill intent, he would at least rein it in.

But he did not know that the terrifying thing about a fool was that he simply could not understand anything said indirectly.

So, upon hearing Luo Cheng's words, Ji Nie not only continued, but inwardly mocked Luo Cheng for having no idea what he was about to say.

"In the late King Xuan's reign, Duke Wu of Guo courageously shouldered his duties. All the Dukes and Ministers and nobles praised him as another great chief minister after Duke Wen.

"After Duke Wu passed away, I appointed his eldest legitimate son, Guo Shifu, to inherit his position among the Three Dukes.

"Guo Shifu is diligent in governing, noble in character, and indifferent to fame and profit. He is truly my Duke Wen of Luo.

"How could I bear to strip him of his exalted position?

"All the ministerial posts in the ministers' office are already filled, and none of those offices would be worthy of your status.

"I hope you will take charge of the Grand Historians' Office. Only with the state's historical records in your hands, Marquis of Luo, can I rest easy."

Luo Cheng's hand paused as he raised his cup. His face remained utterly expressionless, but a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes.

He did not care that Ji Nie was using official appointments to suppress him. This was merely an attempt to score a verbal victory and would have little effect on what he intended to do next.

But Guo Shifu was treacherous and perverse, adept at flattery and greedy for profit-a thoroughly worthless minister.

Yet Ji Nie had actually compared him to Duke Wen of Luo.

This was an ancestor second only to the founding Sage King in the Luo Clan.

Ji Nie might not understand it himself, but because of Ji Zhao's existence, the Luo Clan was extraordinarily sensitive about the reputation of its ancestors.

What he had said today was therefore something Luo Cheng could not tolerate!

The moment Ji Nie uttered Duke Wen of Luo's name, Queen Mother Qi Jiang and Queen Shen Jiang sensed trouble.

Qi State had intermarried with Luo State for generations. They understood very well how deeply Luo State revered its ancestors and knew Ji Nie had crossed a forbidden line.

"My husband."

Luo Jiang clasped Luo Cheng's hand with some anxiety. From the taut flesh and bulging veins on its back, she knew he would never swallow this insult.

Sure enough, Luo Cheng gently squeezed her hand in return, then released it and rose to his full height.

As though there were not the slightest anger in his heart, he retained that flawless, elegant bearing, his manners so impeccable that no one could find fault with them. He bowed to Ji Nie and said, "Your Majesty, a former king once said that sages and worthies should be treated with the same reverence as one's own father.

"My ancestor, Duke Wen of Luo, was a great minister in the reign of King Zhao, Xi. For his lifetime of achievements and his ability to order heaven and earth, King Zhao granted him the posthumous name 'Wen.' After the Sage King, he alone received such an honor.

"Though I was displeased when you compared Duke Wu of Guo to him, Duke Wu of Guo possessed an illustrious reputation and rendered great service to the Zhou State, so I said no more.

"But Guo Shifu is a flatterer who brings calamity upon his sovereign, a man who buzzes like a fly and skulks like a dog in pursuit of petty gain.

"My ancestor was a flawless piece of Fine Jade. Guo Shifu is mere rubble, found everywhere by the roadside."

"Duke Wen of Luo was like the radiant Bright Moon. Guo Shifu is no more than a shallow pool in the wilderness. To be fortunate enough to reflect Duke Wen's image is already a blessing bestowed upon him by Heaven.

"I fall far short of my ancestor Duke Wen, yet even I would not willingly live beneath the same blue sky as such a man. How much less would Duke Wen?

"Your Majesty, comparing someone like Guo Shifu to Duke Wen insults a meritorious minister. Is this the conduct of a sage king?

"How sacred are the words you speak?

"Every sentence will be inscribed in the histories. I implore Your Majesty to speak with care!"

Although the Queen Mother had sensed trouble, she had never imagined the Marquis of Luo would be so unyielding.

Suddenly, she remembered that the previous Marquis of Luo had been the same, as had those earlier marquises she had never met but knew from stories.

Ji Nie was stunned. He had never imagined Luo Cheng would all but point at his nose and berate him.

A flatterer who brings calamity upon his sovereign, a man who buzzes like a fly and skulks like a dog in pursuit of petty gain.

On the surface, these words described Guo Shifu. In truth, they said: You are the one being flattered, yet you sit there praising him. What a laughingstock.

A sage king?

You are nothing but a muddleheaded tyrant!

Once Ji Nie recovered, he sprang from his seat, pointed at Luo Cheng, and shouted furiously, "Luo Cheng, I am the Son of Heaven! How dare you be so insolent!"

Luo Cheng stood tall and utterly fearless, declaring in a ringing voice, "Your Majesty!

"I am the Grand Clan Head of the Ji clans and a minister of the Zhou State. Remonstrating with the Son of Heaven and upholding the proper conduct of the head of our great ancestral clan are my duties.

"Rooting out treacherous flatterers and upholding the Way of the King are ancestral injunctions handed down by the Sage King.

"Am I to abandon the rules of my ancestors?"

Ji Nie was so enraged by Luo Cheng that his nose nearly twisted out of shape. With a sharp rasp, he drew his sword and pointed it at Luo Cheng, roaring, "Outrageous! Outrageous! Do you think I dare not kill you?"

Instead, Luo Cheng's expression grew calm. "The late King Huang boiled Duke Ai of Qi alive. The late King Xuan unjustly killed his minister Duke Du without cause, and also killed the Minister of Works and Duke Zhu.

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. What would you not dare do?

"Will Your Majesty kill me now?

"It seems I shall become the first of the nine Marquises of Luo to die in the Son of Heaven's palace."

Neither King Huang nor King Xuan, whom Luo Cheng had mentioned, had come to a good end.

The matter of Duke Ai of Qi in particular made even Queen Mother Qi Jiang look uncomfortable. He had been her ancestor.

As for Ji Nie, his expression froze at once.

Queen Mother Qi Jiang hurriedly caught Ji Nie's sleeve and urged, "My royal son, the Marquis of Luo is a great minister of the Zhou State. You must not treat him so discourteously.

"When the late king deemed you inauspicious, it was Marquis Luo Lin who pleaded with him. Only then were you spared abandonment.

"You are sovereign and minister, bound by mutual respect. It is only because of Guo Shifu that this dispute has arisen.

"In my view, we need only have Guo Shifu apologize to the Marquis of Luo, and sovereign and minister can be reconciled."

The sword trembled slightly in Ji Nie's hand. Foolish as he was, the cautionary mirror of past ruin was not far away. He knew there were certain feudal lords he could not kill.

When King Huang boiled Duke Ai of Qi alive, the feudal lords' hearts had turned cold. In the end, the lords within the Royal Domain had driven him into Southern Mountain to fend for himself, and not a single person had gone to save him.

When King Xuan had brought about the Restoration of the Zhou State and his prestige was at its height, he had unjustly killed his minister Duke Du. Duke Du's son had fled to Jin State, where the Marquis of Jin sheltered him, and King Xuan had pursued the matter no further.

He had learned from King Huang's example.

Even the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Jin could not be killed at whim, much less the Marquis of Luo!

Among the states of All Xia, the Marquis of Luo held a unique position. There had been far too many miraculous occurrences surrounding this family.

There were even faint rumors that the Sage King was still watching over the Luo Clan!

In a certain sense, the Luo Clan represented the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven. Moreover, the reputation built by nine generations of Marquises of Luo loyally serving the King was simply too great.

If he dared kill Luo Cheng in the palace today, the feudal lords would rise against him tomorrow. The fate of King Li and King Huang would become his own.

So he lost his nerve.

At this point, Queen Shen Jiang also came over to persuade Ji Nie, saying gently, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Luo is loyal at heart. His words came from indignation. We are all kin of the Ji clans. Let us leave the matter here."

Even as she counseled Ji Nie, her bright eyes remained fixed on the refined and courteous Luo Cheng, brimming with delighted surprise. As I thought, only a man like the Marquis of Luo can stand behind the Crown Prince.

Luo Cheng's actions made Queen Shen Jiang value him even more. How many great ministers could stand firm against the Son of Heaven and rebuke him to his face?

Luo Cheng had not intended to clash with Ji Nie so soon. But their brief interaction that evening had left him deeply disappointed. Ji Nie was worse even than King Xuan in the muddleheaded latter stage of his reign. Nothing about him resembled a worthy sovereign.

Ji Nie's face shifted from livid to dark. He flung down his sword, gave a cold snort, and left the chamber.

As though nothing had happened, Luo Cheng calmly bowed to Qi Jiang and Shen Jiang. "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, since the king has left, it would be improper for me to remain. I shall return to my residence."

Qi Jiang said apologetically, "Marquis of Luo, please do not take today's incident to heart. My royal son has merely been led astray by Guo Shifu for the moment. I believe that with a loyal and capable minister such as you, the king can surely become a wise ruler."

Luo Cheng bowed again. "Your faith in me, Queen Mother, truly leaves me feeling unworthy.

"My ancestral injunction is to serve the King with utmost loyalty. Even without a word from you or the queen, I would continue to remonstrate with the Son of Heaven."

"Then we are sorry for the trouble, Marquis of Luo."

Queen Mother Qi Jiang and Queen Shen Jiang returned Luo Cheng's bow.

Luo Cheng and his wife left the royal palace.

A banquet that ended in discord...