Chapter 694: Bloodshed in the Palace, the Way of a Gentleman
After the emperor’s body was placed in the coffin, everyone knew that his sudden death was closely related to his excessive indulgence, leaving all the concubines in the six palaces feeling threatened. Those with children managed to stay calm, while those without had to pretend to be grief-stricken. The more they realized that the crown prince had returned and Empress Zhang now ruled over the palaces, the more desperate and helpless they felt. They had thought that with the emperor on the throne, they would at least have more than a decade of peace. If only they had known his health couldn’t withstand such strain—who would have been so foolish as to try to control him? After all, they were not young girls who entered the palace solely seeking favor!
In contrast to the other palaces, Changning Palace was eerily quiet, almost lifeless. After Zhu Ning visited that day, only four people remained to serve in the large main hall. Three of them had gone outside to inquire about the arrangements for the funeral, trying to find out if all those who would be buried with the emperor had been decided. All that was left was Concubine Guo and her trusted maid, Ji Xiang.
At that moment, Concubine Guo sat in front of her dressing table, combing her black hair with a jade comb. She was just in her early thirties, considered young among the concubines in the six palaces. Thanks to her diligent care of herself, even those lower-ranking concubines who were several years younger appeared older than her. Gently setting down the comb, she said to Ji Xiang without turning around, “In the past, everyone said that the Xu family of the Wei Duchy was the most prominent family outside the royal family. Now, it’s the Zhang family of the Ying Duchy. But few still remember that during the time of Emperor Taizu, the Guo family of the Wuding Marquisate was equal to the Xu family in terms of achievements, aside from their lower rank. Back then, the Xu family had only one duke, while the Guo family had two marquises.”
Ji Xiang had followed Concubine Guo since she entered the palace. She knew she was clever, charming, and skilled at flattery, and that she knew how to behave appropriately to win people’s hearts. But she had never heard her boast about her family in such a tone, so she was stunned. Seeing Ji Xiang’s surprised expression in the mirror, Concubine Guo smiled self-mockingly.
“My grandfather and great-uncle indeed had remarkable military achievements, but among those famous generals who helped found the dynasty, their contributions were not particularly outstanding. If it weren’t for Empress Ning’s favor with Emperor Taizu back then, they might have ended up like other meritorious officials. Even so, my aunt married the Prince of Ying but, due to having no children, could only watch helplessly as her fief was abolished. My eldest aunt, filled with sorrow, left a letter for her daughter before committing suicide. My grandfather had twelve sons; my eldest uncle married Princess Yongjia, and my third uncle became the Right Commander of the Central Army due to his merits. Yet my father was merely in charge of treasures in the Prince of Liao’s palace. If it weren’t for me being granted the title of Noble Consort, how could my brother have inherited the title of Marquis of Wuding last year?”
At this point, she sighed deeply: “That’s why I say—no matter how noble or powerful a family may be, with its large household of dozens of people, there’s never a single day of peace. I grew up in the Prince of Liao’s palace from a young age and saw the hardships behind the dignity of that princess. I long ago understood that for a woman, only sons are true pillars of support. Thankfully, my wish was fulfilled—I had three sons. But two of them were sickly from childhood, and the only one showed no signs of living a long life. I can’t bear to leave them, but if I stay alive, it will only harm them more…”
At first, Ji Xiang was only puzzled, but now she grew increasingly uneasy and hurriedly tried to reassure her: “Your Majesty, please don’t worry too much. Although sacrificial burial has existed since Emperor Taizu’s time, it has always involved concubines without children. Didn’t Empress Ning die of natural causes? You, at least, gave birth to three sons. Besides, look at Consort Li Xian and Consort Zhang Shun—they both seem quite at peace…”
“They lost favor long ago. Since they were close to the empress, they naturally feel at ease.”
Noble Consort Guo picked up a lacquered rosewood box carved with nine dragons playing with pearls from the dressing table and gently stroked the patterns on it, as if transported back to the past: “The emperor and the empress have been married for many years; naturally, my relationship with him isn’t as deep. All I could do was make him happy, not bind him with rules and rituals. That’s why everyone knows the emperor preferred me. Even though the empress held great power and was deeply respected by Emperor Taizong and the emperor himself, she never truly understood his heart. Only I truly regarded him as my husband, as my sovereign! Everyone says I caused his death. Now, I’ll follow him to be with him!”
As she spoke, she quietly opened the box’s latch and swiftly grasped an object inside with her right hand. Without hesitation, she snatched up the sharp dagger and plunged it deep into her own chest. By the time Ji Xiang’s shocked cry echoed behind her, her consciousness was already fading away.
Even in death, she would not wait for Empress Zhang to order her to be buried with Zhu Gaochi by virtue of his decree, nor would she show any pitiful behavior! As long as her children could live on safely…
When the news of Concubine Guo’s suicide reached him, Zhu Zhanji was comforting his younger brothers. As the eldest grandson of the emperor and later granted the title of Crown Prince at an early age, he did not live with them but still cared deeply for them. Due to the heat, everyone was drenched in sweat, and the already sick Prince Teng and Prince Wei could barely hold on. Upon hearing of Concubine Guo’s death, Prince Teng fainted immediately, while Prince Liang, born to her, cried loudly. Only the five-year-old Prince Wei remained oblivious. Seeing this, Zhu Zhanji ordered medical officials to be called and arranged for the princes to stay in the palace, while he rushed to Changning Palace.
At the entrance of Changning Palace, he happened to meet Empress Zhang, who had also arrived there. He quickly called out to her as “Mother.” Seeing Empress Zhang staring at the plaque with blue background and golden characters, and knowing well the intricacies of the harem, he felt somewhat puzzled.
“I never thought Concubine Guo would be so resolute.”
Empress Zhang did not expect Concubine Guo to take such a drastic step silently. With a sigh, she was unsure of how to feel. After entering Changning Palace with Zhu Zhanji and learning that the maid Ji Xiang had died by crashing into a pillar while sacrificing herself for her master, she felt an indescribable distress. She stood in the outer room, unable to go any further. After standing silently for a while, she turned to Zhu Zhanji and said, “She was also your stepmother. Go and see her one last time. I won’t go—otherwise, I’ll only feel sorrow. Princes Teng, Liang, and Wei are pitiable. They are all your legitimate brothers. If there are rewards in the future, make sure to treat them well. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve remembered it.”
After returning to the capital, Zhu Zhanji had already heard some rumors and was naturally very dissatisfied with Concubine Guo. But now that she was dead, he had nothing else to say, so he agreed to his mother’s request. Upon entering the room, he saw two shocking pools of blood in the center and corners. Even though he was not inexperienced with blood, he was still stunned. Initially, he had thought Concubine Guo had committed suicide by hanging, but now he learned it was done with a knife. Even though he already held deep prejudices against her, his hatred turned into horror.
“Concubine Guo shall be buried in the imperial mausoleum according to tradition. Ji Xiang shall also be given a proper burial, and her family shall be provided for. After the funeral, Changning Palace shall be temporarily sealed!”
This incident during the national mourning period did not cause much upheaval in the capital. Although Concubine Guo came from a noble family, the Wu Ding Marquis family had already lost its former prominence, and the Guo family no longer enjoyed the fame it had during the Hongwu era. Later, Emperor Zhu Zhanji, advised by his officials to ascend the throne, bid farewell to and buried his concubines with him—a situation far too private to be disclosed to outsiders. Only Chen Wu, who was always by Zhu Zhanji’s side, knew that after returning from the place where the concubines were buried, the emperor did not eat a single bite at dinner and stayed awake all night.
The new emperor granted a general amnesty upon ascending the throne and originally intended to bestow favors on the old nobles. However, since Zhu Gaochi had already promoted all civil and military officials to high positions upon his own accession last year, there were no more positions to offer—even to someone like Zhang Fu, who had no title left, or Yang Shiqi and others, who already held no official posts. Thus, Zhu Zhanji merely rewarded his ministers with newly engraved books and bestowed gifts such as utensils for various vassal states, with the Han and Zhao states receiving the most generous treatment. Due to Zhu Ning’s influence, the Prince of Zhou’s fief was also granted an annual stipend, double that of the sons of the Taizu Emperor.
Amidst this harmonious atmosphere, there were still some discordant notes. Liu Guan, the Left Censor-in-Chief who had been traveling north along the canal by boat, learned of the emperor’s death and immediately abandoned his boat to rush to the capital by night. He finally arrived within the 27-day period of national mourning. Yet, what awaited him was a cold imperial edict: due to years of flooding in the Yellow River, Liu Guan was to inspect the river’s course. He was ordered to set out immediately without delay. Additionally, Liu Jun, the former commander of the Nanjing Jinyiwei, was deemed guilty of grave crimes and should be executed, but execution was postponed due to the national mourning period, and he was imprisoned in the Jinyiwei.
News spread quickly in the capital. As soon as the edict was issued, the Liu family’s residence in Qunli Hutong, which was usually bustling with visitors, became a place to avoid. Everyone could see that Liu Budao, who had endured imprisonment, condemnation, and exile through three reigns yet remained steadfast in the court, seemed truly defeated in this new dynasty. At the same time, Zhang Yue also received his appointment, becoming acting Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief effective immediately.
Although both the position of Deputy Governor of Ying Tian Prefecture and that of Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief were of the fourth rank, court officials and provincial officials were traditionally different. Moreover, with Liu Guan inspecting the Yellow River and Wang Zhang governing Henan, and despite the existence of left and right deputy censors, they were all elderly officials who preferred to avoid trouble. Thus, although Zhang Yue was only acting in the position, his rapid rise from a young civil official to a high-ranking court official still amazed many. Even cabinet ministers like Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi, who had worked together for years, privately expressed their astonishment.
“Emperor Taizong suppressed you for so many years, and now that Emperor Da Xing is in power, you’ve been promoted on the surface but demoted in reality. How do you feel now?”
In the evening, he took the opportunity to pay a visit to his father-in-law and mentor. After much effort, he managed to have a simple home meal with his mother-in-law. Yet as soon as he entered the study, he was met with such words, leaving Zhang Yue with nothing but a bitter smile. Seeing Du Zhen calmly putting away items on the desk, he went over to help skillfully and sighed again, “Sir, please stop teasing me. I can handle this rank, but I can’t bear the position of Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. Besides, I’m well aware of the emperor’s temper—he certainly won’t let me take charge of the Censorate in the future.”
“Oh, then is it to have you join the cabinet or head one of the six ministries?” Du Zhen asked indifferently. But after a long wait for an answer, he raised his head. “I’m not teasing you. No one in the ministerial or cabinet meetings has any objections. After all, no one is blind or deaf. Even if it weren’t for you escorting the emperor back safely this time, your past merits should have earned you rewards. Still, I think you need to think carefully—once you take this step, it will be hard to go back. I’m just asking you: do you want to withdraw this appointment now, or do you have other plans?”
Zhang Yue had no qualms about playing tricks on others, but he was always honest in front of Du Zhen. Standing before this elder whom he had always respected, he laid out all his previous plans in detail, including his suspicions about why the emperor had appointed him to this position. Finally, he shrugged and said, “Emperor Taizong has indeed slowed down my promotion, but to be fair, I would have advanced faster at the beginning. Without the groundwork I laid later, I wouldn’t be so error-free now. Besides, since sir holds a high position in the cabinet, if I also took control of the Censorate, along with my eldest uncle, even if the emperor isn’t suspicious, others will find fault.”
“The Shen family was worried you were moving too quickly, but it seems their worries were unfounded.” Du Zhen finally showed a slight smile and nodded in approval. “The ministers in the capital cabinet are all experienced and steady individuals who can make decisive decisions. Having you or not makes no difference. The emperor can’t always favor you, especially with the empress dowager around. That you can think of these things means I didn’t teach you in vain. To remain humble despite achievements, calm in chaos, steadfast in the face of fame and fortune, and knowing when to advance or retreat—this is what earns the respect of both scholars and commoners; this is what makes one a gentleman.”
Du Zhen had always admired the ways of a gentleman. Zhang Yue remembered that he had given him those eight words back then, and now hearing these words again, he quickly nodded in agreement. The father-in-law and son-in-law then talked about other matters. When they mentioned the Wan Shi Festival, which would last for most of the year, the door to the study was suddenly pushed open in a hurry.
“Father, brother-in-law!”
The little guy in white looked much thinner than before, but his face was flushed with excitement, and he clutched a piece of paper in his hand. “Just now, someone threw a letter through the door and left. Uncle Yue brought it in for me to take a look—it was from Master! Master said that Brother Wan is safe in He Lin and doing well. He told me not to worry; he will catch that guy and give him a good beating to avenge me!”
Hearing this, Zhang Yue rushed forward in an instant and snatched the letter from the little guy’s hands. There were only a few sentences on it, and he read them in a glance. When he saw the little guy staring at him angrily, he quickly handed the letter to Du Zhen and said with a smile, “I’m just worried about Old Wan. That guy really… It was even Dr. Feng who brought back the letter, yet he himself has no news… By the way, why did Dr. Feng go to the north? How was the letter delivered?”
“Master only mentioned that he didn’t want to stay here and drag others into trouble. After all, doctors outside the Great Wall are in high demand, and he’ll be freer there than in the Central Plains…” Seeing Du Zhen finish reading the letter, the little guy quickly took it back, folded it carefully, and hid it in his sleeve before saying, “The letter was just stuffed through the door. I don’t know how it was delivered, but it’s Master’s handwriting—there’s no doubt about it. By the way, brother-in-law, is my senior sister still okay?”
The mention of his senior sister made Zhang Yue’s face turn pale. Seeing Du Zhen looking at him, he didn’t know how much his father-in-law actually knew, and suddenly his head ached fiercely. Just as he was thinking about what to say, a low voice from outside came through—the voice of Mo Yu.
“Master, someone has knocked on the back door. They say they’re a friend of the son-in-law and have urgent matters to discuss with him!”