Chapter 575: Full Blessings and a Stream of Visitors

Since the three main halls were destroyed by lightning, fire restrictions inside and outside the palace became much stricter than before. The Ministry of Works worked tirelessly to find fire-prevention methods from ancient texts. Even in the Qianqing Palace, where the emperor lived, eunuchs and servants were extremely cautious when lighting lamps or burning incense, refusing to be the slightest bit careless. Water wheels equipped with springs were prepared everywhere to extinguish fires immediately in case of another lightning strike.

In the evening, the maids responsible for lighting the lamps carefully lit four candlesticks in the East Warm Pavilion as per protocol, then quietly withdrew. The eunuchs and servants standing around kept their eyes fixed straight ahead, none daring to glance at the person kneeling below. Though that person had been kneeling for half an hour, as long as the emperor had not given a verdict, he remained a high-ranking eunuch of the Imperial Horse Supervision Department. Yet maintaining that bowed posture was an immense torment. Liu Yongcheng, though old, was in excellent physical condition, but he was already drenched in sweat, and his hands, supporting his body, began to tremble uncontrollably.

*Slam!*
After a loud slap on the desk, his nearly numb nerves jolted suddenly, and his heart leaped into his throat. Finally, a cold voice came from above: “You accompanied me on the northern campaign, yet you still sent messages to the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao, urging them not to delay in welcoming me. Have you overstepped your bounds as an eunuch of the Imperial Horse Supervision Department? You are in charge of the imperial guards, not their servants!”

“Your Majesty, I acknowledge my fault! I was merely worried… I never had any ulterior motives.”

“If not for your years of service with me, and for saving the Crown Prince on the battlefield last time… Hmph!” Zhu Di slammed the armrest angrily, recalling the letter Lu Feng had given him. His tone became even more merciless. “If it weren’t for Lu Feng sending the Jinyiwei to investigate Mongolian spies and intercepting your men along with the letters, would you have admitted it? Since these letters contained nothing but advice and reminders, I’ll spare you this time. Go and reflect carefully. Fill the vacancies in the imperial guards by drawing from the Armory Department—these are the most crucial troops, and not a single person may be missing!”

Hearing this, Liu Yongcheng knew he had passed this ordeal. He couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, though he still maintained an expression of fear and gratitude. After bowing repeatedly, seeing that Zhu Di had nothing else to say, he respectfully took his leave. Only outside the Qianqing Palace did he lift his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

He couldn’t believe he had actually owed Lu Feng a favor this time; it still felt utterly bizarre to him. When those trusted subordinates mentioned that rumors said the Jinyiwei had intercepted a letter, he immediately understood that Lu Feng wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity, and there was no chance of survival this time. Yet, when he saw that letter in front of the emperor just now, he, who had originally planned to go all out, was stunned. The handwriting was identical to his own, but the content was completely different from his previous letter, and there was even another letter addressed to Prince Zhao—it was simply unbelievable.

“Eunuch Liu.”

Hearing this voice, Liu Yongcheng quickly snapped back to reality. Seeing Lu Feng in a bright red robe approaching with a half-smile, he immediately put on a friendly expression. Having spent so many years in the palace, he now understood that Lu Feng was likely aiming to ally himself with the Eastern Palace just like him. Going to such lengths to intercept letters was probably to seize leverage against him, so he felt little gratitude. After exchanging a few perfunctory greetings, he said directly, “Thank you, Eunuch Lu, for forgetting past grievances.”

“The emperor was furious this time and punished so many people. If Eunuch Liu were also implicated, wouldn’t things get even more chaotic?” Lu Feng nodded with a smile, then bowed slightly. “I need to go report to the emperor. I’ll have time to talk properly with you later to clear up the previous misunderstandings.”

With that, he left with Cheng Jiu. While waiting to be summoned in the Eastern Warm Pavilion, he organized his thoughts one by one. Then he remembered the recent thorough reorganization of the Eastern Factory and the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau. His foundation was weak, and he had appointed people from similar backgrounds as himself. Now he realized this might have been a mistake. Those from humble origins inevitably wanted to climb higher, and since the highest positions in the palace were already occupied, it was possible that those he had promoted might try to crush him. As he thought this, he glanced at Cheng Jiu, who stood there with a submissive expression, and couldn’t help but smirk.

This kid might not be entirely trustworthy. Since no replacement could be found right away, it was fine to use him temporarily. Then again, Yuan Fang was indeed capable, and his ideas worked well. Although Liu Yongcheng’s original letter was lost, the two fake letters created now were so convincing that they could confuse people. Even if the real letter appeared, the emperor might not believe it. After all, those two princes already had a poor reputation. It seemed that replacing the Jinyiwei commander might not yield better results. He had been too reckless before; from now on, it was better to win them over.

After a short while, a young eunuch came out and said the emperor wanted to see him. Lu Feng quickly adjusted his clothes and followed inside. Passing through one room after another, they reached the inner chamber, which was Zhu Di’s study where he handled daily affairs. Against the back wall stood a large bookshelf about eight or nine feet tall, filled with various books, while a banner reading “Revere Heaven and Honor Earth” hung on the wall. As he knelt down to pay his respects in front of the large rosewood desk in the center, he glanced quickly at Zhu Di behind him and saw that the emperor was sitting with his eyes closed, having his shoulders massaged by a palace maid. He immediately understood that the emperor was in a good mood and quickly thought of how to report his findings.

Indeed, he detailed the situation of those officials imprisoned in the Jinyiwei prison, but Zhu Di didn’t ask any questions, merely responding with an “um” to show he had heard it. After finishing his report, he hesitated for a moment before softly saying, “When I first entered the palace, I heard news that the Yangwu Bo’s household has reported the death of his wife to the Ministry of Rites—she has passed away.”

“The Yangwu Bo’s wife… is Zhang Fu’s aunt and Zhang Yue’s grandmother?”

Zhu Di, who had been relaxing under the maid’s care, suddenly opened his eyes when he realized what had been said. He remembered that Zhang Yu’s wife had died early, and Zhang Fu had spent many years living with his aunt, Lady Gu. Later, he had even requested multiple times that she be granted an official title in front of him. According to ritual norms, both Zhang Fu and Zhang Yue should observe a year of mourning. Did this mean he had to delay his original plans? As he thought about this, he frowned.

Lu Feng waited for a while without hearing the emperor speak, so he spoke up to remind him, “Your Majesty, since the Yangwu Bo is currently stationed outside, and Zhang Yue’s father is still in Nanjing, it’s fine for the latter to observe mourning, but the former certainly cannot leave. That lady owed great gratitude to the Yangwu Bo for raising her. Now that she has passed away, the gifts from the Imperial Sacrificial Office, as decreed by the emperor, are meant to comfort her family. Your Majesty should decide on these as soon as possible. Additionally, I heard that the Yangwu Bo’s wife had already arranged a marriage for her eldest grandson to the Wu’an Marquis’s family. It is likely that a request for an immediate wedding will be submitted soon.”

After pondering for a while, Zhu Di said in a deep voice, “The Zhang family has a distinguished reputation, and she has made significant contributions. If she truly left such a request, I will naturally approve the wedding during a time of good fortune. As for the gifts, according to tradition, two hundred dan of rice and two hundred bolts of linen should be given. In addition, fifteen sacrificial vessels and ninety funerary objects must be provided—these are all essential.”

Although Lu Feng had anticipated the emperor’s kindness, he never expected the gifts to be on par with those given to previous marquises granted the title of duke. The funeral rites were still conducted according to the procedures for earls, but the offerings were exceptionally generous. As for Zhang Jiu’s marriage, he paid no attention to it, busy considering whether he should also go to pay his respects when he heard another statement from the emperor.

“Besides the officials sent by the Taichang Temple to pay respects, go to the Zhang family’s residence in three days to offer your condolences. Tell Zhang Yue that I am granting him a month’s leave to properly handle his grandmother’s funeral.”

Since the Hongwu era, it had been decreed that, aside from those who were required to observe mourning for their own parents, no officials were allowed to attend funerals, and even leave was at the emperor’s discretion. Thus, already shocked, Lu Feng was even more terrified and couldn’t help but glance up at the emperor. Seeing that Zhu Di had no intention of changing his mind, he grew anxious and quickly agreed respectfully before quietly retreating.

Outside, he took a deep breath, thinking that since Zhang Yu and Zhang Fu enjoyed the emperor’s favor, now the emperor extended that favor even to a deceased person—how many must be envious! However, regarding the incident where Zhang Yue was assassinated at Jiming Post Station last time, he had managed to cover it up in front of the emperor but told the truth in front of the crown prince. What should be done about Zhang Yue?

Although they had anticipated this day and everything in the Zhang family had been prepared in advance, when the tragic news finally arrived, the whole family was still utterly overwhelmed. Lady Feng had been suffering from a cold and cough for a few days, and her shock grew even greater when her mother-in-law fell ill; Lady Dongfang had spent a year fasting and praying in her room, becoming very thin, and was still in a daze; Lady Sun was in Nanjing, Du Wan was pregnant, and the other daughters-in-law had never experienced such a thing. Therefore, Lady Wang, who was trying hard to hold back her grief, stayed behind and, with her eyes swollen from crying, began to assign tasks, sending someone to report the news to the Ministry of Rites.

For three days, from the initial burial to the completion of the mourning attire, everything was finally arranged. The family’s direct descendants all wore plain clothing, and the Zhang family’s mansion was filled with cries. Even the servants, thinking of that formidable and kind-hearted old lady, often wept while speaking, and maids like Bai Fang who served Lady Gu even fainted several times from crying.

Zhang Yue wasn’t much better off. Visitors came in an endless stream to pay their respects, and Zhang Xin, his uncle, was exhausted trying to deal with them all. He and Zhang Jiu stayed by his side through those three days. Every time he looked at the memorial tablet, he felt a profound emptiness in his heart. In his past life, he had no relatives, so he couldn’t truly understand the pain of losing them. Since arriving here, although he had witnessed his cousin aunt Lady Deng’s wedding, she was after all only a distant relative—how could that compare to his grandmother’s death?

After forcing himself to endure those three days, Zhang Xin could barely hold on any longer. After all, he had spent five years in that damp and unfamiliar southern land, and now, just a few months after returning, his mother had passed away. Naturally, he was extremely distressed. Since reporting the death to the Ministry of Rites, his home had been filled with mourners, but mostly warriors and few scholars. Almost none of the officials he had been close to in the past showed up—some had cut ties with the Zhang family during his years in exile, while others had been reassigned to other posts. Moreover, due to previous incidents, most civil officials were too anxious to visit the home of someone unrelated to them. Thus, he felt even more frustrated and sorrowful.

“Academician Yang pays his respects!”
“Academician Du pays his respects!”

Among the many nobles who came to pay their respects, these two high-ranking ministers suddenly appeared, sparking whispers among the mourners. Du Zhen’s return to the Wenyuan Pavilion undoubtedly signified the emperor’s continued favor. As a relative through marriage, it wasn’t surprising that he came to pay his respects. But why would Yang Rong come? Zhang Xin, who was thanking the guests, gritted his teeth and was about to go out to greet them when he stumbled and nearly fell. Zhang Yue, quick-witted, quickly stepped in to help him.

“Uncle, let me go greet them. You should take care of yourself too. If grandmother were still alive, she surely wouldn’t want to see you exhaust yourself like this.”

Zhang Yue moved his numb legs, but his steps were still unsteady. As he descended the stairs, it felt as though his feet were floating in the air, lacking any sense of balance. It took him a few steps before he felt better. Outside, seeing Yang Rong and Du Zhen coming together, he hurried forward to greet them with a bow. Only then did he notice Gu Bin in plain clothes behind them. Knowing that Gu Bin needed to observe mourning clothes for three months, he nodded at him, and the butler took him inside first.

“Huanzhang went to Tongzhou on official business and only returned today. I never expected to hear such tragic news.”

Since Gu Bin came from the Gu family, Yang Rongsi decided after much thought to pay his respects. By chance, he met Du Zhen at the entrance of the alley, so he simply went in with him. Wearing green silk clothes, Du Zhen merely said a few words of consolation like “I’m sorry for your loss.” Seeing Zhang Yue’s red eyes and haggard appearance, Du Zhen couldn’t help but sigh. During the four years he spent with Zhang Yue in Kaifeng, though he hadn’t seen much of the Gu family, he could tell from the gifts given during festivals and various arrangements how much the old lady cared for her grandson.

“The person is gone now. As long as you remember your grandmother at all times, she will be happy in heaven.”

Yang Rong and Du Zhen went straight to the Wenyuan Pavilion. This visit was merely to pay respects in their spare time, so they couldn’t stay long. After offering their condolences, they left in a hurry. Zhang Yue knew that Gu Bin was just a probationary censor at the Censorate and didn’t want to delay his duties, so he quickly saw them off. After that, there were still endless visitors, including some of his classmates from the Wuxu examination. By noon, Yao Baoshan, the deputy minister of the Taichang Temple who had been sent by imperial order to offer condolences, arrived as well.

They welcomed him through the central gate, and after the proper rituals, the imperial edict granting compensation was delivered. Two hundred dan of rice and two hundred bolts of linen were a substantial sum for an ordinary official’s family, but what mattered most to the Zhang family wasn’t the money—it was the emperor’s respect and trust. After Yao Baoshan left, Zhang Fu, who hadn’t left the house for three days, collapsed in grief in front of the memorial altar. Eventually, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Cheng who happened to be in the capital, came to pay his respects. Zhang Yue mustered his strength to persuade him to go to the study to entertain the guests, and only then did he manage to send him away.

The whole day was filled with visitors. In the evening, Lu Feng showed up again. Though he was a notorious figure as the head of the Eastern Depot, he carefully chose a time when it wouldn’t cause too much trouble. After bowing respectfully in front of the altar, he took Zhang Yue to the study and explained the emperor’s instructions one by one, ending with an envious remark.

“Normally, for a mourning period, one is given at most three days off for the initial mourning. This time, the emperor has shown extra grace. By the way, I still haven’t figured out anything about the assassination attempt on you at Jiming Post. You’ll have to wait patiently.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yue frowned deeply. Just then, Lu Feng’s familiar voice came from outside: “Young master, people from the Eastern Palace have come to pay their respects. The eldest master asks you to go out and welcome them right away!”