Chapter 875: Shifting Blame, Difficulties for Medical Experts

Guo Qin was cautious by nature, so he patiently worked his way up to become Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, yet his prestige was not even as high as that of Zhang Yue, who was half his age. But he hadn’t yet become senile. When it came to selecting someone to go and welcome the emperor, Yang Shiji proposed Yang Pu and Zhang Xin—one was a silent, unremarkable person, while the other was a cunning schemer who knew when to back down. It could be said that even if they stayed in the capital, they wouldn’t be of much use. Realizing he had already handed over the power to select officials in the Ministry of Personnel, he decided that staying or leaving made little difference, so he made a quick decision.

Before Zhang Yue could react, he said without hesitation, “The Ministry of War has a lot of work right now. Vice Minister Zhang is likely too busy to go. I should go instead. However, the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel cannot be completely neglected either; someone needs to take care of them temporarily.”

Zhang Yue knew he couldn’t leave the capital at this time, so he had no intention of competing with Guo Qin. But after hearing Guo Qin’s words, he stopped. Turning his head, he found that Guo Qin was looking at him. After a moment of shock, he immediately understood and pretended to look distressed. “Vice Minister Guo, Vice Minister Feng of the Ministry of War is still ill, and there are many vacancies there. I’m already swamped with work in the Ministry of War—how can I also handle the Ministry of Personnel?”

“Originally, Minister Jin of the Ministry of Justice would be the most suitable to oversee the Ministry of Personnel, but he suddenly fell ill a few days ago, and the Ministry of Justice can’t spare anyone either. As for the Ministry of Revenue, there’s no need to mention it. Since we’re suspending official appointments for now, it’s only about routine promotions. Vice Minister Zhang just needs to report matters promptly without getting involved in every detail.”

Yang Pu rarely spoke so much at once. After finishing, he picked up his tea and said nothing more. Zhu Yong, who never interfered in politics, simply sat silently. Zhang Xin, Marquis of Longping, had his eyes half-closed as if asleep. After looking around, Zhang Yue finally turned to Yang Shiji, only to find that Yang Shiji nodded at him as well.

“You don’t need to go to the Ministry of Personnel either. Have the director of the Civil Selection Department there send you a summary of all matters daily. Review it briefly and send it to the Wenyuan Pavilion. For now, the only goal is to avoid delays.”

The fact that Yang Shiji, who had always been diligent and dedicated, said it would be fine as long as there was no backlog naturally left Zhang Yue with no reason to object, forcing him to agree reluctantly. They discussed matters such as the troops to accompany them, the departure time, and arrangements for the various counties along the way; once everything was largely settled, Yang Shiji stood up and bowed solemnly to Zhang Xin and the others: “This is an extraordinary situation. We in the capital must do our utmost. Please prepare well and be careful on the journey.”

Seeing Yang Shiji speak in this manner, Zhu Yong and Zhang Yue also bowed. The two civil officials and one military official understood the gravity of the situation and agreed earnestly as well. Since Zhu Yong and Zhang Xin still needed to handle military affairs, they left together. Yang Pu returned to the Cabinet first. Guo Jin, seeing this, immediately understood and hurriedly took his leave. Noticing that Zhang Yue was still standing motionless, Yang Shiji smiled at him.

“Wait a bit longer. Fan Hong and Jin Ying from the Imperial Secretariat are coming too.”

After the incident in the Inner Study Hall, the eunuchs were no longer as powerful as they had been during the Yongle era. But this didn’t mean that high-ranking eunuchs like Fan Hong and Jin Ying lost their favor. Moreover, it was inconvenient for external officials to enter the palace, so at such critical moments, these two from the Imperial Secretariat were indispensable. Thus, as soon as Zhang Yue saw Cao Jixiang and another young eunuch hurrying away, he knew they were going to report urgently. He then sat down patiently, following Yang Shiji’s advice.

Finally, Fan Hong and Jin Ying arrived, leaving Cao Jixiang and the other eunuch outside to keep watch. Fan Hong glanced at the Left Spring Court official still taking notes in the corner, then cleared his throat and said, “With the whole city in turmoil, guarding the capital is a great responsibility. That’s why we need to give special attention to Grand Secretary Yang and Vice Minister Zhang. Especially Vice Minister Zhang—besides military affairs, I also want to bring up matters related to the Armaments Bureau. There are eunuchs in charge of places like the Military Equipment Bureau and the Gunpowder Factory. It seems that a crucial place like the Armaments Bureau cannot be entirely overseen by eunuchs; capable officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works need to be sent to supervise it.”

Since Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, had been distrustful of both civil and military officials, he gradually appointed supervising eunuchs to key positions for monitoring. First, there were Huang Yan and others colluding with the Prince of Zhao, then Wang Zhen causing trouble in the Inner Study Hall. Now, although the situation at the Armaments Bureau hadn’t been clarified yet, the corruption there was alarming. Even though Fan Hong and Jin Ying favored the eunuchs, they were also somewhat frightened.

“Since Lord Fan has brought it up, I’d like to say a few words as well. The number of craftsmen under the Military Equipment Supervision Office of the Ministry of Works is far fewer than those in the Weapons Bureau. Yet nowadays, whether it’s firearms or other weapons, both the efficiency of production and the power of new weapons far exceed those of the Weapons Bureau. Why is that? It’s simply because the Military Equipment Supervision Office has a system of rewards and punishments, less exploitation, and the craftsmen have hope, allowing them to report any issues upward. The reason such a serious mistake occurred in the Weapons Bureau and wasn’t discovered until now is obviously because pressure from below was too severe, leaving those above completely in the dark. It’s all about deceiving those above and hiding things from those below—what’s feared most is being so arrogant as to hide nothing from below while those above remain unaware.”

Zhang Yue had already inquired when he went to the Divine Machine Camp with Li Cheng, the chief official of the Ministry of Works, and learned that the Weapons Bureau severely deducted wages from craftsmen and ignored the previous reward and punishment system. He had long been furious. Now that Fan Hong had brought it up, he naturally wasn’t polite. Seeing Fan Hong and Jin Ying look uneasy, he intensified his tone.

“Military equipment is no ordinary thing. Moreover, since the founding of the dynasty, firearms have been given top priority in the military, especially after Emperor Taizong established the Divine Machine Camp. Whether it’s swords or firearms, they are all made by craftsmen. A slight carelessness can turn swords into scrap metal, and firearms may explode. There might even be incidents like last night.”

Yang Shiqi, being a traditional scholar-official, was somewhat surprised that Zhang Yue placed such emphasis on military equipment. But since both were civil officials, he naturally had to support Zhang Yue in front of Fan Hong and Jin Ying, so he agreed with him a few times. Sure enough, Jin Ying also sighed and said, “What Grand Secretary Yang and Deputy Minister Zhang say is true. My family and Lord Fan will also take responsibility. Additionally, there’s the matter of Prince Liang. Although the Empress Dowager woke up this morning, she’s in poor spirits, so we didn’t dare report last night’s incident. But we can’t hide it forever. I just want to ask Deputy Minister Zhang—your sister-in-law is involved in medicine, right…”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yue shook his head vigorously and then said with a wry smile, “That’s not appropriate. Medical skills require years of accumulation. She has some reputation among the women in the capital, but that’s only because she can enter people’s homes more easily than those doctors and imperial physicians. She doesn’t have to avoid anything when examining patients—no need to keep distance like those doctors. But when it comes to actual acupuncture and medication, how can she compare to those experienced imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy? Besides, the Empress Dowager is of noble status. If she’s nervous, mistakes are bound to happen.”

Jin Ying had initially tried a last-ditch effort, but upon hearing Zhang Yue’s words, she backed down. Fan Hong simply shook his head and said, “After all, she became a spy halfway through. If only her master were still here…”
Zhang Yue felt anxious and stopped responding. Yang Shiqi, of course, wouldn’t take such a risk either. Watching Jin and Fan’s expressions, he grew even more worried—even if this matter settled down, if something happened to the Empress Dowager, the emperor would be furious upon his return. As the minister in charge, he would surely bear responsibility, and worst of all, there might be widespread repercussions. But since this was a matter kept secret, he could only remain silent.
Since Fan Hong and Jin Ying had come together specifically, the topic was surely not just about the weapons bureau under the imperial court’s control. After all, the Prince of Liang was now under house arrest in his mansion. Although the Jinyiwei and Dongchang couldn’t act against a prince directly, their subordinates had already captured many people. After a night of torture, they had gotten many to confess. So, after explaining the progress of the investigations, the two high-ranking officials of the Secretariat still had furrowed brows, but there was also a sense of relief.
“Whether it’s the corruption in the Military Selection Department, the plot to bring cotton armor into the city, or the smuggling of gunpowder inside the imperial palace, and even those previous troubles at the Inner Study, there’s now a real reason for them all. But this matter… ah, better not say more. One thing is clear—the Prince of Liang has stopped eating and drinking since he was taken back to his mansion last night. No one can persuade him now. Before the emperor returns, we must prevent him from continuing to harm himself. That’s why we’ve come to ask for your advice. Grand Secretary Yang is the most experienced and prudent, while Lord Zhang is extremely resourceful. Please help us come up with a solution.”
As for other matters, it was one thing, but how could they think of a solution for this!
Zhang Yue felt his head spinning. Yet, those two older eunuchs, Fan Hong and Jin Ying, actually knelt before him and Yang Shiqi, bending so low they couldn’t stand up again! Yang Shiqi pinched the bridge of his nose and said in a hesitant tone, “How about you go take a look during the Yuan Festival? If it works, great. If not, it’s not your problem.”
Even if Yuan Fang hadn’t sent a message through his father, he wouldn’t have rushed back in after barely managing to get out this time. After all, discovering something incidentally was one thing, but actively investigating it was another. So, after quick thinking, he came up with a cunning plan.

“How about this: let Marquis Wuding Guo Xuan go and persuade him, trying to atone for his faults. After all, they are uncle and nephew. If he can make the Prince of Liang give up his suicidal intent, the Guo family will surely show some leniency.”
Before Zhang Yue could finish speaking, Jin Ying suddenly sat up straight, her eyes gleaming, and forcefully struck her left hand with her right fist. “If that doesn’t work, things will get out of control. Leaving aside the Guo family’s titles, what about him and his other children?”
“It’s good, but we still don’t know if Guo Cong was killed by the Prince of Liang,” Fan Hong suddenly reminded.
“So what if he was? He’s dead now. For the sake of himself and the others, we have to try!”
Saying this, Jin Ying gave Zhang Yue a thumbs up. Without wasting any more time, she bowed and quickly left with Fan Hong. Yang Shiqi, relieved, feared those two might cause trouble again, so he encouraged Zhang Yue a few words like “the capable should work harder” before also leaving at top speed, hardly seeming like an old man in his sixties. Thus, Zhang Yue ended up last.
It wasn’t far from the Jingyi Hall in Wenhua Palace to Donghua Gate; it only took a short while to reach the tall city tower. Before leaving, he couldn’t help but glance back at the prominently visible Renshou Palace in the north, thinking how hard Zhu Ning must have had it these days. If he went to talk to Xiao Wu about what Jin Ying suggested, Xiao Wu would likely agree right away—that girl probably longed to see her sister Ning already—but he couldn’t take that risk. He guessed Zhu Ning certainly didn’t want Xiao Wu involved either.
Treating the royal family could easily result in death if something went wrong! Physicians and craftsmen were rare talents in this era. Physicians held a slightly higher status but were still at the mercy of the powerful, while craftsmen were practically treated like slaves. No wonder folk skills improved over time, but military technologies never recovered.
Exiting through Donghua Gate, then Zhongmen, and Dong’an Gate, Zhang Yue reunited with his entourage and mounted his horse. After traveling a short distance along the fire road, they were stopped. Seeing Hu Qi at the front, his face full of urgency, Zhang Yue felt a pang in his heart and quickly spurred his horse forward. Once the two horses passed each other, Hu Qi lowered his voice and said, “Sir, the captive from last night has been interrogated. Not daring to delay, I went straight to the yamen. Finding you absent, I’ve been waiting around here.”
“No need to say more. Return to the yamen!”

The news of the massive fire in the palace shocked all the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital. The nobles who had been living happily in the newly built gardens on the east and west banks of Shichahai almost immediately moved back to their old residences, except for Lady Wang, her children, and all her concubines, who remained unmoved in their British park home. Their original house was too small, with ancestral halls and other structures located there, so she naturally wouldn’t panic over such a minor incident. Moreover, the ancestral worship ceremony was only half a month away, and one of her pregnant concubines was about to give birth.

Although they hadn’t moved, they were still well-informed about household affairs. Early that morning, Rongshan brought news that the military authorities in the northern city had raided a house in the back courtyard of the Duke of Dingguo’s residence the previous night. By noon, more accurate information arrived: the military authorities had initially thought it was thieves, and the military commander had acted out of ambition, only to discover it was Prince Liang. Though he had been sent back now, the entire military authority was ordered to keep quiet, and the military commander was in constant distress. After some questioning between Rongshan and Lady Wang, however, both fell into a long silence.

Just as Rongshan outside was about to take his leave, a maid rushed in. Seeing that they were still discussing matters, she hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying with a smile, “Madam, someone from Vice Minister Zhang’s residence has come to report that the third young lady is pregnant again.”

Lady Wang, who had been eyes closed in deep thought, immediately opened them. After a brief pause, she stood up, her face filled with joy. “Lady Yue’s daughter-in-law is truly blessed. Go to the storage and pick out some gifts, especially high-quality bird’s nest… Wait, prepare everything first, then get a carriage ready. I’ll go see her in person.”

Everyone in the household knew Lady Wang favored Du Wan, so they didn’t think much of it. Rongshan, though he left right away, understood that although Zhang’s family sending word of good news at this time might seem genuine, there must be an ulterior motive. Given the hierarchy, there had to be a good reason for Lady Wang to go in person.

Anyway, that young lady was indeed fortunate, and what was even more commendable was her skill in managing the household and raising children. Whether it was a boy or a girl, the third branch of the Zhang family’s lineage was growing stronger, which was truly gratifying.