Chapter 136: True Feelings Revealed in Crisis

Zhou Mian was executed, while Liang Qian was demoted to a commoner.
This grand case finally came to an end before the imperial examinations of the Wuxu year. The common people didn’t fully understand the power struggles in the court but were keen on watching executions. When the once high-ranking official, tied up and pale, was pushed onto the execution platform, many lamented why another important figure had been pardoned. As the head was severed and blood gushed from the neck, the crowd gasped in shock, yet many faces showed excitement and joy.

Zhang Yue had originally gone to visit Du Zhen but unexpectedly witnessed the execution by the executioner along the way. Though separated from the bloody scene by layers of crowds and unable to see clearly the brutality of the killing, at the moment of beheading, everything fell silent, and the sound of the blade cutting through the neck reached his ears clearly. He thought he would at least shiver, but as he led Lian Hu and Peng Shisan around, he simply took a deep breath.

Yet Lian Hu muttered beside him, “That’s an execution! We have to watch it closely!”
Lian Sheng agreed, “It’s at least a sixth-rank official—something rare to see. We’re tired of all those criminals and thieves; otherwise, why would so many people gather?”
“What’s there to see in an execution? When the young master makes it into the top three and parades through the streets, that’s when it gets really exciting!” Peng Shisan interrupted them irritably. “Whether it’s a northern or southern campaign, I’ll kill ten or eight people someday—what’s so special about that?”
“Well, who can compare to Uncle Peng? You’re the great hero in the storytellers’ tales; we’re just ordinary people!”

Hearing the three companions bicker, Zhang Yue could only shake his head. Meanwhile, passersby were discussing how much the executioner received from the prisoner’s relatives, how the bodies were handled, and even how the blood of noble people was more valuable than that of ordinary convicts, leading to a shortage of medicine.

Thinking of how close Liang Qian had been to the same fate, Zhang Yue finally felt relieved. Although Zhang Fu was a high-ranking duke, he knew his place well. Since he hadn’t yet taken office as commander of the five armies, he stayed out of court politics. So, despite being Zhang Fu’s relative, he knew nothing about the struggles and power plays behind this execution and pardon.

Du Zhen’s residence in Yangshu Alley was quite secluded. Zhang Yue had visited here several times before, and there were hardly any passersby on the roads. But this time, he found something different. As he turned into the alley, he saw several carriages parked there. One of them, a green-curtained carriage with a plain lion’s-head emblem, was clearly Yang Rong’s vehicle, while the others were all plain black carriages that appeared rather simple.

It wasn’t until he entered the Du family’s home that he learned Du Wan had arrived in Beijing that day, and Lady Qiu had returned to her hometown in eastern Zhejiang to take care of the family’s lands and affairs. The carriages outside, aside from Yang Rong’s, were all carrying luggage. It was obvious that the Du family planned to move completely from Nanjing to Beijing. Zhang Yue followed Mingdi to the study. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Yang Rong smiling at him.

“You came just in time for the Yuan Festival. Come, hurry up and congratulate your teacher!”

Zhang Yue was taken aback by these words. Coming to his senses, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, then asked, “If Scholar Xiao Yang says so, does it mean my teacher is about to get promoted?”

“Of course he’s getting promoted!”

Yang Rong was beaming with joy. Seeing that Du Zhen still had an indifferent expression, he helplessly shook his head. “That’s my teacher—when others get promoted, they’re always beaming with joy, but he remains calm and composed. The emperor really loves his temperament! But just as he moved his family from Nanjing, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Shandong. It’s a bit puzzling.”

Governor of Shandong! Zhang Yue was suddenly shocked. From a sixth-rank Hanlin Academician to a second-rank governor—this was an extremely rapid promotion. Seeing that Du Zhen’s expression remained unchanged, showing little joy, he quickly offered his congratulations and then asked with a smile, “It’s good that my teacher has been promoted, but with such a quick rise, won’t people gossip?”

“What gossip? The emperor once said there are countless incompetent officials in various provinces. Now he plans to select officials from among ordinary people. If ordinary people can become high-ranking officials, then Yi Shan, who is already a successful candidate and a Hanlin Academician trusted by the emperor, what’s a mere governor compared to that?”

Saying this, Yang Rong smiled proudly, patted Zhang Yue’s shoulder lightly, and nodded at Du Zhen. “Shandong is a wealthy region by the sea. If you serve there for three years, you’ll return as a solid second-rank official in one of the six ministries. Even I couldn’t hope for such an opportunity. The emperor truly sees something special in you.”

Although it was indeed a great thing for a teacher to rise quickly through the ranks, and what Yang Rong said didn’t seem wrong at all, Zhang Yue still found this appointment rather strange. There seemed to be some thought lingering in his mind, but he couldn’t recall it for the time being. Once Yang Rong happily took his leave and there were no outsiders left in the study, he immediately said, “Sir, although Shandong is a prosperous region, and you have been promoted this time, if you go there for three years, the court situation…”
“The fact that you can see these things shows that your vision and knowledge have improved greatly.” Du Zhen didn’t show any joy at this moment; instead, he frowned. “Shandong is close to Beijing and was originally a prosperous area. But after the emperor ascended the throne, he ordered the reconstruction of the canals, conscripting over a hundred thousand laborers from Shandong. The people resent the heavy corvée duties, and the region has always been unstable. Moreover, the Han King is also there now. The successive officials in Shandong have been mediocre people with ordinary abilities, which is why the emperor suddenly decided to appoint me as the governor. His original intention was probably to give me some experience in serving in other regions so that I could take a position in one of the six ministries after returning. But this assignment to Shandong is truly unpredictable.”
Although the governor is a high-ranking official of the second rank, he can only return to the capital once every three years, and all reports must be sent by written documents. The longer one is away from the center of power, the less favor one receives naturally. Besides, within a province, apart from the governor’s office, there are also the judicial office in charge of criminal law and the military command office in charge of military affairs. Although the governor holds a high rank, he has no direct subordinate relationship with these other offices. Thus, the arduous duties of a governor are naturally much harder than those of a leisurely scholar in the Hanlin Academy.
Putting together what Du Zhen said and what he himself had thought, Zhang Yue’s face immediately turned pale. “Then, sir, do you still plan to go to Shandong?”
“If the emperor bestows this honor upon me, I dare not refuse. Since I have entered officialdom, I must face difficulties even if they are daunting. Besides…” Du Zhen pondered for a moment before finally sighing. “Six years ago, I appeared before Shen Minwang. I ultimately have to return to the court. Rather than doing nothing here, it’s better to go to the countryside to pacify the people there and make up for my past regrets. Even in a dangerous situation, someone has to go. I don’t believe that after traveling across the country for so many years, I would really fail just in a small place like Shandong!”
Knowing there are tigers in the mountain yet still heading there, Zhang Yue thought that even if he were in such a situation, he might not be able to remain calm. He couldn’t help but feel admiration for Du Zhen. He opened his mouth to say something, but unexpectedly, Du Zhen suddenly placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“Your wife and Wan’er have been separated from me for many years. Normally, I should bring them along this time, but since the situation over there isn’t clear yet, I plan to have them stay in Beijing. Your wife has always admired your composure, so please take good care of her. If anything happens, I’ll send someone to inform you, so as not to worry them as women.”

This was his way of entrusting him with the task. Zhang Yue felt warmth in his heart at that moment and agreed without hesitation. He wanted to ask more about Shandong, but Du Zhen refused to discuss it further and instead shifted the topic to the upcoming imperial examination, giving detailed instructions before giving one last set of orders.

“The essays in this examination rely on fate—once you align with the examiners’ fate, you’re likely to pass. The same goes for the final palace examination. Since the emperor has already seen you, you have an advantage over others. Don’t try to make a sensational impression; just remember these eight words: ‘Aim not for success, but for avoiding mistakes.’ Remember, our Great Ming is different from the Tang and Song dynasties—showing off talent is useless.”

Zhang Yue was nodding when he suddenly spotted faint figures outside. Surprised that someone dared eavesdrop, he heard Du Zhen shout loudly beside him, “Who’s there outside?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the curtain was lifted, and Mo Yu rushed in. After entering, he bowed deeply, glanced at Zhang Yue, and then smiled, “Master, I overheard you talking to the third young master outside, so I didn’t dare come in rashly. Lady Liang is here in person, saying she wants to thank you for interceding on Lord Liang’s behalf. The eldest miss is currently meeting her in the flower hall and asked me to check if you’d like to see her, or if she should comfort Lord Liang first.”

“Let her come in,” Du Zhen said, frowning slightly before ordering, “Liang Yongzhi has just been released from prison. The Liang family spent all their wealth trying to get him out. Now that he’s just an ordinary man, it’s likely… Tell her to instruct the steward to give Lady Liang some necessary clothes and items, but no silver. Understood?”

Only then did Zhang Yue realize that it was Du Zhen who had interceded to save Liang Qian, which surprised him greatly. Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, was known for his capriciousness and suspicion, especially regarding the crown prince. That’s why no one dared to intercede or advise during Liang Qian’s months in prison—yet it was his teacher who stepped in this time?

“Teacher, I never expected it to be you who interceded for Lord Liang.”

“I intercede for Liang Yongzhi out of a sense of justice, not out of personal favor.” Du Zhen smiled gently, then spoke firmly to Zhang Yue, “Those with unyielding integrity are those I admire the most in life. Though I lack such resolve and would not dare to speak out openly, I can at least try to intercede indirectly from time to time. It’s fortunate that the Emperor still values Liang Yongzhi’s talents; otherwise, even if I were eloquent, it would be in vain.”