Chapter 447: Great and Small Interests
When Queen Wang was still alive, whenever Zhu Di lost his temper and took it out on princes, princesses, sons-in-law, and other nobles, she would often step in to mediate and gently persuade him, usually managing to reduce his fury by two or three degrees, turning severe punishments into lighter ones or simply ending things with a stern rebuke. But now that Queen Wang was gone, even if she were still alive, she would not dare to interfere in such major court affairs. As a result, everyone was terrified, even Zhu Zhanji felt a chill in his heart.
Yang Shiqi, who had always been honest and upright, now felt a sense of shared sorrow. Yet, since Fang Bin had little connection with him and he disdained his character, he adhered to the cautious and moderate approach typical of the bureaucracy. He merely advised the emperor in a bland tone to temper his anger rather than rashly intercede on Fang Bin’s behalf. Zhu Zhanji wanted to persuade Zhu Di to show mercy, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was sharply rebuked by the emperor. At that moment, Lu Feng and Yuan Fang also did not dare to step back—after all, the stakes were too high.
“Those who pretend to be righteous on the surface but are insatiably greedy in secret—once they die, accusations pour in like snowflakes, each with evidence. Who else can I trust? You, Yang Shiqi? Or Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, or Lu Zhen, Jian Yi?” Roaring loudly, Zhu Di shook off the two palace maids holding his arm and strode toward the exit. Stepping out of the main hall, he pointed at the empty space outside the Qianqing Gate and gritted his teeth. “Thunder and lightning from heaven—so many say it’s because of the move of the capital. These blind fools! If they hadn’t waited until someone died before raising trouble, they would have exposed Fang Bin’s crimes long ago. Why else would heaven send thunder and lightning as a warning? It’s all for their own selfish motives! Zhang Yue!”
Zhang Yue, unprepared for the emperor’s sudden appearance, quickly stepped aside to make way. Seeing the emperor turn around with a fierce gaze, he sighed inwardly, bowed, and spoke carefully, “Your Majesty, if thunder and lightning are a warning from heaven, it is not only for you or the officials but also for all the common people. It serves as a reminder for everyone to reflect on themselves, to avoid committing small evils and to not neglect small acts of kindness.”
Enough. After all, thunder and lightning were just ordinary natural phenomena in later generations—this wasn’t exactly lying with one’s eyes open.
Although Zhu Di had previously issued an edict urging honest advice, he hated it the most when others linked natural disasters to his own moral failures, which was why he sent many officials who dared to speak frankly to Jiaozhi. Now, since Zhang Yue said it was a warning to the people, Zhu Di’s expression softened slightly, but the matter of Fang Bin still stuck in his heart like a thorn, causing him great distress.
“You’ve been in the Ministry of War for over a year—don’t you know even the slightest bit about Fang Bin’s shady dealings?”
Noticing Zhu Di’s tone turn hostile again, Zhang Yue didn’t have time to think carefully and simply said frankly, “Your Majesty, I and Lord Fang are superior and subordinate. In the past, our interactions were purely for official business, with no close relationship. Even if there were rumors, presenting them rashly without evidence is no different from spreading false accusations. Moreover, as a mere official, I have no duty to investigate. I dare not assume the role of an investigator just because Your Majesty trusts me—it’s not within my responsibilities. To speak frankly, even if Lord Fang is guilty, executing him…”
“I’ve made up my mind about Fang Bin’s matter. You need not say more!”
Hearing Zhang Yue still refer to him as “Lord” and himself as “minister,” Zhu Di frowned sharply but ultimately only snapped at him. Though he was furious because the cabinet had just delivered a pile of complaints, seeing Zhang Yue reminded him of the report Zhang Qian had submitted earlier. He calmly ordered him to stand up, studied him for a moment, and then asked directly, “I’ve read your report. It’s more detailed and well-organized than the last one. It’s admirable that you could think things through at such a young age. But… the ink is still fresh, yet it’s not your handwriting!”
Due to the urgency that night, there was no time to draft and copy the report, so Zhang Yue had asked Du Wan, whose handwriting resembled his own, to do it. He didn’t expect the emperor to notice. After quick thinking, he bowed and said, “Your Majesty is perceptive. I dare not deceive you. That day, I truthfully reported that the sea transport plan couldn’t be implemented immediately. Your Majesty was displeased and ordered me to leave without asking further questions. So, that very night after returning, I drafted the report, and my wife copied it. It wasn’t until the fourth watch that I finished writing these over five thousand words.”
“You submitted the report on sea transport in April, yet you only wrote the follow-up that night?” Zhu Di raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly. “Could it be that knowing Du Zhen was imprisoned and facing rejection from me again, you rushed to finish this? To serve one’s ruler, one must be loyal and honest—is this how you view your duty as a subject?”
Although he knew Zhu Di had a fickle and irritable temper, being criticized for this at such a moment left Zhang Yue speechless, feeling somewhat resentful. He immediately straightened up and replied loudly, “Your Majesty, after submitting my memorial, I also intended to find time to fill in all the details. But with so many details, I had to consider them carefully. Moreover, since I serve in the Ministry of War, I must first complete my duties before addressing these matters, which is why I haven’t started writing yet. I did intend to complete it the night before last as a way to make up for it, but without thorough prior consideration, it would be impossible to finish it in one night. To serve one’s sovereign, one must be loyal and sincere. Since I began my official career, I have always strived to be loyal and sincere. Although I have my own selfish desires, they are not something I cannot confess.”
By this time, Zhu Zhanji and the others had already left the main hall. Seeing Zhang Yue still able to speak to Zhu Di so boldly, they were all surprised. Although Yang Shiqi was relieved that Du Zhen had gotten such a good son-in-law, he was still worried. Seeing Zhu Di’s increasingly terrifying gaze, Zhang Yue decided to go all in and bowed again.
“To cultivate oneself, manage one’s family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world—governing the state and bringing peace to the world represents selflessness, while cultivating oneself and managing one’s family represents selfishness. My abilities are merely ordinary. Without the care of my elders and the guidance of my teachers, I would not have reached where I am today. Therefore, when I had the chance to meet the late Duke of Rongguo at Qixia Temple, I asked him how to ensure that my parents and family live long lives. The Duke was speechless, for lifespan is determined by fate. My only wish in this life is for peace in the world, so that families can live in tranquility. That is my lifelong aspiration!”
Normally, ministers in front of Zhu Di would always claim to be selfless, but Zhang Yue spoke of selfishness so confidently that not only was Zhu Di taken aback, but everyone else was also anxious. Zhu Zhanji remembered that when he first met Zhang Yue, he had been just as straightforward and unpretentious, which seemed more endearing than those who always pretended to be selfless. Worryingly, he glanced at Zhu Di just as he was about to interject, but Yang Shiqi quietly reached out and pushed him aside.
Yang Shiji was well-known for supporting humble scholars, but he had few close friends among the court officials; his closest confidants were only the Shen Du brothers from the Hanlin Academy and Du Zhen. At this moment, after pushing aside Zhu Zhanji, he waved his hand to signal patience. Seeing this, Zhang Qian became even more sure of his plans and chose to remain silent. Yuan Fang, who was standing at the back, did not notice these subtle gestures; he was filled with anger, wondering how many spies there might be around him, only to end up being manipulated and forcing Fang Bin to his death, thereby causing all these troubles—a truly humiliating situation.
Zhu Di was already angry, but hearing these words made him laugh in frustration. “You, Zhang Yue, are the first to show such selfishness in front of me! Very well, I’ll give you a chance. Here is my crown prince and my cabinet ministers—explain everything in detail so that everyone can see your sense of duty beyond selfishness.”
Upon hearing this, everyone around relaxed. Zhang Yue had already prepared for the worst outcome, so his fear had long vanished. He hadn’t expected Fang Bin to die suddenly; nor had he anticipated that the censors would use Fang Bin’s death to accuse him of various misdeeds, revealing all his past faults to the emperor. He also hadn’t expected the emperor to become so enraged that he would order the exhumation of the body and even blame a whole group of people. He wasn’t a prophet—how could he predict such a series of events? The fact that Zhu Di had temporarily calmed his fury was already the best outcome, so he took a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, in the past, you never dismissed my humble suggestions. You listened to my repeated advice to open maritime trade, and I had carefully considered the idea of sea transportation. However, rushing to implement one thing after another was too hasty. Moreover, if the benefits of opening maritime trade weren’t made clear, transporting grain by sea might seem like a waste of resources. Since we’re using sea routes to transport grain, we don’t need to recruit people from the civilian population. There are already military households along the coast who are familiar with maritime conditions, along with boatmen and craftsmen from various regions…”
Although this was at the entrance of the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, not during regular court sessions, and with the chilling autumn wind blowing, those present saw the emperor’s anger gradually subside, feeling greatly relieved. Zhu Zhanji had studied state affairs, but now he paid no attention to them, merely listening briefly, while Yang Shiqi paid much closer attention. After all, during the previous attempt to lift the maritime ban, Zhang Yue had been sent to the south by the emperor, putting him in a precarious position—apparently out of the emperor’s desire to exercise absolute authority. After listening from start to finish this time, he felt that the plan was more thorough and feasible than before, and he nodded in approval.
Indeed, having spent over a year in the Ministry of War, he was far different from his inexperienced self back then.
The question-and-answer session lasted well over an hour before finally coming to an end. Yet Zhu Di still did not say whether it was approved or not, and instead ordered Zhang Qian to take the people away. Watching them leave through the Qianqing Gate, he then instructed Lu Feng and Yuan Fang to handle the necessary matters. When Lu Feng timidly asked whether the bodies should indeed be executed, he snorted coldly, “Am I the kind of person who changes his mind constantly?”
After sending away Yang Shiqi as well as all the maids and eunuchs, he calmly said to Zhu Zhanji beside him, “What you said back then was correct—Zhang Yue is indeed an honest and capable man. The plan is sound, but I cannot keep following his suggestions over and over. His intentions are good, but he’s too young. Zhang Qian, Lu Feng, and Yuan Fang are not gossips, and the people in this Qianqing Palace surely wouldn’t dare speak nonsense. Take that plan back and show it to your father; do not let it leak out.”