CH 48

Xu Manor.

“Oh, why do you think that?”

“His Majesty has never liked Yan Shifan, it was just that because of his close relationship with Yan Song, he let them off time and time again. This time, the person that we sent to investigate the Yan family in Jiangxi has found evidence that can prove what has been written in Lin Ruoyu’s1 memorial – Taking advantage of the lofty python upon his robes2, Yan Shifan has nefarious intentions that goes against the morals of an official of the imperial court, defaming the imperial court day and night with the help of Luo Longwen3, trying to confuse the will of the people4…… Every word will touch upon His Majesty’s sore spot, so do we really have to worry about the Yan faction any more?”

He had a solemn expression on his face, he turned towards Xu Jie and cupped his hands together respectfully and said: “Teacher, this is a once in a blue moon opportunity, please do not hesitate.” 

Xu Jie looked at the student that he had trained up with his own two hands and felt another added layer of appreciation towards him: “To be able to make prompt decisions is the key to success. To have such boldness is a good thing…. But, before we have already failed so many times, so this time the arrow must hit the bullseye, we cannot miss.”

Zhang Juzheng was slightly taken aback: “What teacher means is…?”

Xu Jie slowly said: “In a few days, it will be the third month of the lunar calendar. Yan Song has some problems with his leg, at this time of year, because of the changing weather, he will most probably fall ill, and will inevitably have to take some time off. Without him hanging around His Majesty, only then will the memorial be able to be used to its full effect, so we can wait a few days before submitting this memorial.”

Only those who had been in battle with each other for decades could know each other’s weaknesses like the backs of their hands.

Xu Jie understood very well that Yan Song was of an advanced age, so there were many weak points in his actions and speech, plus Yan Shifan was not there to support him, giving Xu Jie the perfect opportunity to strike. If Yan Song had been ten years younger perhaps it would have been harder to know who would be victorious.

Zhang Juzheng had no qualms about his teacher’s plans and was completely convinced, and didn’t say another word about it.

Just as Xu Jie had predicted, a few days later, Yan Song had asked for time off to recover from an old illness. To be at his age and still go into the Grand Secretariat every day was already applaudable, so the Emperor naturally agreed.

The Emperor’s health had just improved but for fear of losing his authority, he was impatient to handle the backlog of the day to day management of government affairs. Xu Jie had correctly predicted the Emperor’s actions and way of thinking and he submitted Lin Run’s memorial.

The Emperor had ordered the three judicial chief ministries6 to work together to interrogate and find out the truth before presenting a memorial of their verdict back to the Emperor.

This was the normal process to trial a criminal, but Xu Jie was incredibly quick to act, he knew that if he didn’t use this rare opportunity to take down Yan Shifan, once the Yan faction recovered their senses, they would immediately fight back, so he made everyone work overtime, and within two days, a result had been reached: Yan Shifan has been found guilty of colluding with the Wukou and plotting to revolt with clear evidence as proof. Please immediately order capital punishment to avoid indignation from the heavens.

This time, Yan Song didn’t even get the chance to enter the palace to save his own son. Yan Song had not even had the chance to react yet when Emperor Jiajing had already agreed to the sentencing.

Yan Song and his son had been in power for almost twenty years, but the judicial proceedings did not take more than a year from the third month to the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, from the impeachment through to the arrest, then the interrogation and conviction, all the proceedings flew by at lighting speed and before one knew it all the dust settled. The Yan faction were not only made up of the Yan family’s father and son, their henchmen, their spies and their followers throughout the imperial court and all that were connected to them suffered the same fate. With the Emperor’s resolution and Xu Jie’s encouragement, everyone else just had to just sit back and look on helplessly as Yan Song was demoted to a commoner, and sent back to his hometown. Yan Shifan, having been convicted of trying to incite a revolt, was temporarily held in the Imperial Prison, waiting to be publicly executed next Spring.

Although, there were many large events during the forty-third year of Jiajing, nothing had been able to overshadow this case. In other words, even though there are many other things, the focus of everyone’s attention was only on this.

The Yan Faction was deeply rooted, there were not that many officials who had not been attached to them in some way. Even high-ranking local officials like the Governor-General, Hu Zongxian had to also offer up gold and silver to show his respect, let alone the other lower ranking officials. So the impact of the fall of Yan Song and Yan Shifan was huge. Not only did the Yan Faction disintegrate, but there were also many people who had old grievances with the Yan Faction, as well as those who wanted revenge or to hold on to their misjustice, whilst there were others who had nothing to do with the Yan Faction but still took the opportunity to settle accounts.

In the eyes of common citizens, this was heaven’s will, finally dealing the corrupt officials their comeuppance, but in reality, even if Yan Shifan was killed, their daily lives would not improve either.

In the eyes of officials, the defeat of the Yan Faction was simply a reshuffling of power. From then on, Xu Jie would replace Yan Song and become the new Senior Grand Secretary, the most powerful person in the imperial Grand Secretariat.

There were those who were pleased and those who were worried.

Just like the Prince of Yu who was currently standing in the personal quarters of Emperor Jiajing, he was not entirely free from worry at this moment.

He secretly glanced over at his younger brother, the Prince of Jing, but saw that the latter was frowning, and a rigid face.

The defeat of the Yan faction did not bring much substantial benefits to the Prince of Yu. He was still the same man who lived day to day with his tail tucked behind his legs, still afraid that if his father, the Emperor, would one day be in a bad mood, and he would be deposed.

As for the Prince of Jing, the Yan faction was supporting him before, and would offer him some money as tribute from time to time, so he’d been able to make a profit over time. Compared to his elder brother, the Prince of Yu, his standard of living was much higher. But now, Yan Song had been repatriated and Yan Shifan was on death row, he had been cut off from his additional source of income, not to mention, he was also worried that the Jiajing Emperor might be angry at him.

The two princes stood in the imperial chambers hanging their heads low, if one wasn’t aware they’d think that the two princes were headed to the execution ground.

In contrast, Emperor Jiajing was taking a nap on the soft bed and then he slowly took his elixir before starting to look over the memorial. During this whole time, he didn’t even glance at the two sons once, seemingly giving them the cold-shoulder on purpose.

The two of them stood tremblingly for more than half a shichen. The Prince of Yu’s mind began to wander, whilst the Prince of Jing tried to suppress his impatience by staring at the tiles on the floor. Huang Jin looked at them and then at Emperor Jiajing who didn’t seem bothered at all. He couldn’t help but sigh secretly. He leaned over and reminded the Emperor quietly: “Your Majesty, the two princes are still standing there…”

The Prince of Yu occupied the status of his eldest son, his main good point was that he was benevolent and kind. But for an Emperor, especially an Emperor like Jiajing, kindness was simply useless. The biggest shortcoming of this son was that he lacked his own opinion and was indecisive. Jiajing would really be worried if he had to hand the country over to him.

On the other hand, the Prince of Jing, he was very smart, as evidenced from his response just now. His manner was very much like Emperor Jiajing when he was young, but this son also has a flaw, he was easily irritable. Although Emperor Jiajing was indifferent to governing the country, he was still a descendant of the Zhu family after all. If he were to raise another Emperor Yang of Sui11, in the future, he would have no face12 to meet with his ancestors in the Netherworld.

As a result, Emperor Jiajing was still struggling to decide.

Due to his unsatisfactory response, the Prince of Yu was reprimanded again. He returned to the Manor with a long face, and then continued to complain about the matter to people close to him, including Zhao Su.

In Zhao Su’s view, Jiajing’s way of educating his sons was very inappropriate.

Firstly, he swayed between his two sons, leaving the position of crown prince vacant for so long. This made the other one hopeful. If it was like the history that Zhao Su knew, the final choice would be the Prince of Yu. But with the Prince of Jing’s vicious temper, Zhao Su wasn’t sure what he might do.

On a larger scale, the imperial court was now watching, waiting for the crown prince to be selected, so that they could pick a side. As a result, the Grand Secretariat had already submitted multiple memorials but the Emperor had never decided, as if he was purposefully toying with them, wanting to keep everyone in suspense.

So Zhao Su took this incident as a typical case to educate Zhu Yijun.

“A ruler must use dignified methods. Take for example the Emperor Yang of Sui, although he was extremely clever and sophisticated, it is impossible for him to govern the country well by simply relying on schemes and strategies to test the will of the people.”

It was a serious crime to make statements and presumptions about the Emperor, so Zhao Su could only borrow the past as a model for the present, and take an indirect route.

Zhu Yijun was puzzled: “But Susu, didn’t you say before that to deal with the bad people, we should be even worse than them? If there are some treacherous officials in the imperial court, what should I do?”

Zhao Su smiled: “I only said not to scheme, but didn’t not say you cannot scheme.”

Zhu Yijun had a sudden realisation.

Zhao Su continued his efforts: “If you have two sons in the future, once you have decided on an heir, you must treat the two differently. You can’t let the other son hold hope, otherwise you will be like your royal grandpa, making your father sad, your uncle can’t be too happy either.”

Zhu Yijun said earnestly: “I understand, like mother now has didi, I am also very sad, Susu, I only need one child in the future, so that no one will take anything away from him.”

“……”

Zhao Su was silent, the heavens must know that this was not his original intention.

But since meeting the little kid, Zhu Yijun, his goal for educating him could also have deviations.

Zhu Yuanzhang, it was never my intention to cut off the offering of incense13 to the Zhu family.

After the morning court held by Jiajing, certain changes were made to the leave allowed to officials.Those who had served in the Capital for three years were allowed to take a leave of absence. Aside from the travel time to make the round trip, they could still have two months of leave. So in the twelfth month of the lunar year, Zhao Su took leave and got ready to go home for the Lunar New Year.

Author Note:

Note: The progress of the plot and actual history are not completely aligned, and will be changed as necessary.

I miscalculated, before he returns home in glory, there are still two things that need to be sorted out, one was this chapter’s Yan faction, and the next chapter there will be an appearance of another character. Next time, I won’t announce it as my plans can’t keep up with the changes….

Translator Note:

There is no chapter summary for this chapter if you were looking for the title – it is literally – Plot development, no JQ14.

This chapter took so long to translate… the history references, the language….

(╥_╥) I’m brain-dead, there is a “mini-history lesson”15, not to do with this chapter just some more discussion about Wanli but my poor brain – I’ll add it onto the next chapter.