CH 143

Upon arriving at the Palace of Heavenly Clarity, everyone was brought into a side hall. The eunuch in front of the Emperor said, “Gentlemen, please sit and wait here for a bit. His Majesty would like to speak to the Vice Vizier inside.”

Despite the Ming Grand Chancellor position being re-distributed, and the might of Tang-Song Prime Ministers no longer existing, the Emperor still had to uphold fundamental courtesy towards Tang Fan and them. Had typical officials been visiting, they would have been made to stand outside and wait, but Viziers would need to have seats to sit in and tea to drink.

Still, evidently no one cared about that detail right now. The thoughts turning in each of their minds were none other than what the Emperor was going to say, and how they should respond if asked about the Crown Prince.

Logically speaking, the Cabinet was one unit. There should never have been this scenario of individual Cabinet members being called in to speak alone, yet the Emperor was actually doing it, likely because he knew that no one could come to a consensus on a certain topic. He planned to separate them, put them in order, and break them down in turn.

The grand Emperor Almighty using a method like this on his subjects was both amusing and irritating. If it truly was related to the Crown Prince, though, the Emperor’s actions were understandable.

Seeing the compliant looks of Wan An’s group, Tang Fan grew a little uneasy.

An incense stick’s worth of time later, Liu Ji came out. His expression was odd and unable to be described, but with everyone else here, Tang Fan’s group couldn’t go up to ask.

After sitting down, Liu Ji didn’t look at anyone. Like an old monk entering meditation, his eyelids were slightly hooded, unmoving.

Following him, Peng Hua and Yin Zhi entered in succession. Their times inside were not long — at least, not as long as Liu Ji’s — and they came out a short time later, calm-looking, yet with a smugness.

The eunuch stepped up. “His Majesty invites Solon Liu for a discussion.”

Liu Jian rose, fixed up his clothes, send Tang Fan and Xu Pu a look, then followed the eunuch out.

Then, Wan An said, “Runqing, I heard that you caught a remnant of the White Lotus Society last night?”

“It was no more than a suspicion,” Tang Fan answered. “I reported it to the Brocade Guard. They’ve yet to confirm it.”

Yin Zhi sneered. “Tang Fan, you’re a Solon, yet you have an intimate relationship with imperial troops such as the Brocade Guard? Could it be that you were acting under somebody’s order, and had some other intent?”

Tang Fan was unmoved. “Those are heavy words, Brother Yin. It’s the Brocade Guard’s responsibility to track down and arrest imperial criminals. Me aside, had it been you, would you have covered up and not reported traces of the White Lotus Society’s dregs?”

“I’m just afraid that someone is using public matters for revenge,” Yin Zhi said with a cold smile.

“Where did talk of ‘revenge’ come from? Please explain, Brother Yin.”

The two verbally clashed for a round, then saw Liu Jian come back with the eunuch.

Had Liu Ji’s expression when he came back been described as merely odd, then Liu Jian’s could be labeled as hard to look at. What had His Majesty said to him?

Tang Fan and Xu Pu looked at each other, both a little mystified.

However, Liu Jian didn’t try to make eye contact with them, nor did he look at anyone else, merely sitting down with his chest slightly heaving, as if he had just experienced a draining quarrel.

Seeing that, Xu Pu became a little uneasy, but he could only follow the attendant passing along the message to go see the Emperor.

At that moment, Tang Fan contrarily collected himself, no longer attempted to speak or make eye contact with anyone, and began to shut his eyes in rest.

Yin Zhi had wanted to jab at him a few times, but had to shut up when he saw that.

Xu Pu soon came back. His expression was even uglier than Liu Jian’s, his complexion slightly pale, feet slightly staggering.

Tang Fan opened his eyes. Noticing his out-of-sorts look, he couldn’t help but step forth to lend him an arm.

All of a sudden, Xu Pu grabbed his sleeve and bawled aloud, “Runqing, you have to convince His Majesty!”

Everyone was startled by him to the point that they were slow to react; even the attendant that had wanted to call for Tang Fan was astounded.

In all of their memories, Xu Pu had always been a mild man of inelegant speech. He might defend the Crown Prince, but he was poor at arguing with other people, would be cowed quite easily, and typically worked quietly. Compared to Tang Fan, the youngest one at the tail-end of the ranks, he had no sense of existence. This was the reason why the Wan party had agreed for him to enter the Cabinet; a man like him would not pose any threat to them.

No one had expected that the mild man, when forced into a tight spot, would explode.

Faced with his outburst, Tang Fan was unsure of what to say. “Mr. Qianzhai…”

Liu Jian lent Xu Pu an arm, saying to Tang Fan, “Go on, Runqing. I’ll be here.”

Tang Fan nodded at him, quickly following the attendant away.

The Emperor appeared to have lost more weight from when he had seen him a few days ago. Even though General Courts were held every day, with his recent sickness, not going to Court on the basis of his health couldn’t be a better excuse.

“This subject greets you, Your Majesty. May your health be well,” Tang Fan said, bowing in courtesy.

Unless there was a Grand Court meeting or festival, Cabinet members generally didn’t need to bow for such summons.

“You’re exempt from courtesies, Subject Tang. Sit,” the Emperor said, voice a little hoarse, and accompanied by a few coughs.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Amongst the Cabinet ministers, the relationship between the Emperor and Tang Fan was not especially close. When the latter had been elected by the Court for entry into the Cabinet, which the Six Ministries had voted upon, the Emperor hadn’t objected, was all. Following his entry, Tang Fan hadn’t had many opportunities to meet the Emperor alone, as the majority of time, he would have audiences together with the other members.

The Emperor’s impression of Tang Fan could be said as either good or bad; he felt that the man might be highly capable, but not too understanding of how to conduct himself as a subject. Had it not been for his need to speak to them individually today, the Emperor would not have thought to summon Tang Fan by himself.

In a rare instance, the Emperor had a kindly look as he spoke with Tang Fan a long time about unimportant topics, like whether he was getting on well after entering the Cabinet. Someone that didn’t know the inside story might might have been moved to tears by the Emperor’s considerateness.

However, Tang Fan’s expression was grave, his answered within bounds. He had none of the vigor that a young subject would have, causing the Emperor to feel bored. A dry, tedious conversation like this was torment for both ruler and subject.

“The frequently-appearing, unusual phenomena of now; you have presumably heard of it as well, Subject Tang?”

So, the Emperor could finally no longer bear with chatting about everything, getting into the main topic.

It was here! Tang Fan couldn’t help but straighten out his spine. “Yes, this subject has heard, and seen the letter Your Majesty ordered to be passed around in the Cabinet.”

The Emperor leaned forward a bit, looking antsy. “How do you view this, then?”

Tang Fan pursed his lips. “Please forgive this subject for my slowness; I don’t know what you mean, Your Majesty.”

“The Imperial Observatory informed us that the phenomena were all in answer to the East Palace.”

“Your implication being that, the East Palace…?”

The Emperor didn’t feel like going in circles with him. “Heaven’s warnings must be made manifest. We wish to issue a decree of our own faults, and reset the East Palace. What do you think, Subject?”

The conversation coming to this, Tang Fan could not continue to play dumb. Schooling his expression and standing up, he cupped his hands solemnly. “I dare ask, Your Majesty; where has the Crown Prince lacked in virtue?”

The Emperor was a little impatient. Before Tang Fan, that question had already been posed by Liu Jian and Xu Pu, and he was sick of these wheel-like conversations. Still, in order to fight for the Cabinet members to not drag their feet in deposing the Crown Prince, he was obliged to patiently attempt to convince them individually.

The officials of this Dynasty far surpassed all previous Dynasties in defending the eldest-son orthodox. As was known, with how strong Zhu Di had been, he had still failed to depose the Crown Prince in order to establish his favorite, the Prince of Han. The power of the Wan party overtook the Yongle period’s, but the Emperor did not have the power that Yongle had, required to consult the Cabinet for its opinion, first.

“The Crown Prince has been in the East Palace for over ten years, now, yet he has never made any sort of accomplishment, nor gained a reputation of benevolence. Is that not an area where he lacks in virtue? The celestial omens were precisely to have us correct this without delay.”

“He may be the heir apparent, but when all is said and done, he is still Your subject,” Tang Fan answered, “and as one, he must be content with his place, disallowed from exceeding the distinction between a ruler and a subject. It is exactly because of that that he has no accomplishments, as only then can he fully perform his duty as successor. Why are you dissatisfied with that, Your Majesty?”

His meaning being, The Crown Prince achieving nothing is the only correct thing to do. Otherwise, if he put on a high-profile display everyone, outsiders would only know that there is a Crown Prince, not that there is an Emperor. Would that make you happy?

That sentence referenced the Emperor’s internal thoughts without mercy, and clearly expressed his standpoint: I am against deposing the Crown Prince.

The Emperor was somewhat annoyed. “Tang Fan, since you understand the concept of ‘performing one’s duty’, you should know that a ruler acts, and subjects follow. You speak up for the Crown Prince in all aspects — is that a subject’s duty?!”

Not afraid at all, Tang Fan bowed and said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this subject has read the tomes of sages since childhood. Although I cannot claim rich erudition, I understand the principles behind the Heaven, the Earth, the ruler, the relation, and the teacher. The sages did not speak of strange powers and chaotic gods, because the Prime Sage believed that the powers of mortals could not fathom divine will or the supernatural, preferring to never speak of them. The frequent phenomena are indeed a sign of warning, but how can it be identified on the Imperial Observatory’s few words alone? I only fear that there may be another cause. All the land knows that the Crown Prince has done no wrong — this subject hopes that you reconsider, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor shut his eyes.

What Tang Fan said had been the source of his previous hesitation. However, he had now made up his mind, so the other’s plea could not sway him.

Silence was in the hall. Even the young eunuch nearby strove hard to stifle his own breathing, itching to hide his figure behind the curtain.

The Emperor’s poor health meant that someone needed to be attending to him at all times. This eunuch had been selected for entry into the palace in his childhood, his loyalty undoubtable, but that didn’t mean that he wanted to hear this stuff. Word had passed through generations in the palace that the more one knew, the worst they would end up. Had the former Eunuch Huai En not been exiled to Nanjing by His Majesty for stick his hand too deeply into politics?”

A while later, he heard the Emperor slowly speak out, “We plan to establish another East Palace. Would you be willing to draw up an edict for us?”

The eunuch’s heart hung high. He was thinking of how Solon Tang would answer that.

He was also thinking how he would answer if he was Solon Tang.

If Solon Tang’s answer angered the Emperor… even though this Emperor had a better temperament than Emperors of previous Courts, and the results might not be terrible, it was still likely that he wouldn’t be able to remain in the Cabinet, nor would he have another opportunity to enter it.

The eunuch thought that if he was Solon Tang, he might choose the second-best option of not helping His Majesty draw up the edict, but also no longer oppose the deposition of the Crown Prince.

While his thoughts twisted about, he heard Tang Fan answer, “Forgive me. Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”

Oh no! His Majesty was definitely going to get mad!

The eunuch was nervous. He had heard that Solon Tang was typically polished, not as volatile as Solon Liu, so why had he chosen the worse possible answer?

Nobles did not stand beneath teetering buildings — that saying was not wrong.

Nobles ought to pursue fortune and avoid disaster — that saying was also not wrong.

However, he didn’t understand that there were always some things in the world where one knew well that they couldn’t act, but had to act, anyways.

The Emperor was clearly angered, his tone even changing. “Tang Fan, do not believe that just because you have a good relationship with Sui Zhou, we would not act against you to save him face! Liu Jian is like this, you are like this, and even Xu Pu is like this! You all fight over showing the most loyalty to the Crown Prince! Are you hoping that we will go out West as soon as possible, so that you can gain the merit of supporting a dragon?!”

“You accuse this subject wrongly, Your Majesty,” Tang Fan answered calmly. “From beginning to end, we subjects have been loyal only to you, and it is because of that that we must do our duty to advise while there is still time, lest you make a mistake you cannot take back. Think of back when you personally selected the Crown Prince; the harem had few offspring, and when you saw him show up, you must have been very happy. His mother passed young, and the only one he can rely on is you. If even you throw him away, what will he be made to do with himself?”

“You can go.”

Tang Fan raised his voice. “Your Majesty!”

“Withdraw!”

The eunuch had to step forth and whisper, “Solon Tang, please stop!”

Tang Fan looked up, glancing at the Emperor.

The latter looked exhausted, deep lines at the corners of his eyes. He did not resemble a finely-kept, forty-year-old man, but more like a man of Consort Wan’s age.

A rapidly-deteriorating Emperor made the heart ill at ease.

Tang Fan didn’t bother to stay. He took back his gaze, gave courtesy, then left the place, following the attendant.

Liu Jian and Xu Pu had been waiting nervously in the side hall. Seeing Tang Fan’s figure, they automatically stood, casting their expectant gazes towards him.

There was no need to ask, as Tang Fan knew what they wanted to ask. He slightly shook his head.

They were instantly disappointed.

On the road back, everyone was of different minds, and have different expressions of emotion. Wan An’s group was naturally of light gait and easy speech, which Liu Jian and the rest were heavily dismayed, looking like their parents had died. Tang Fan wasn’t bawling like how Xu Pu just had, but his mood wasn’t any better.

That was because that he knew well that with this much done, the Emperor’s decision to depose the Crown Prince was unflappable.

Within the Cabinet, only Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fan firmly opposed the deposition, but they were of the lowest seniorities. Once Liu Ji agreed to it, a one-sided situation would appear.

And, judging from his display today, Liu Ji likely hadn’t plainly agreed, yet also hadn’t expressed opposition. With his personality, it had probably gone similar Li Ji’s response to Gaozong of Tang’s deposition of Empress Wang for establishing Empress Wu, and he had told the Emperor something like, ‘This is a family matter of yours, Your Majesty. Why bother asking outsiders?’

For that reason, the three of them alone had no way to control the situation at large. Were there no incident, the Crown Prince’s deposition was set.

Something even Yongle couldn’t have accomplished would be realized in the hands of the current Emperor. Tang Fan sighed inwardly, unsure of whether to laugh or cry.

Others did not have his mood of finding joy within the bitterness. Liu Jian and Xu Pu were distracted all day long, and as soon they got off-duty, they dragged Tang Fan away quickly. Wan An didn’t make them stay — the Crown Prince’s deposition was already the theme, and no matter how the rest of them struggled, it would all be in vain.

Also, the Wan party was not without influence amongst the censors. If someone sent a memorial opposing it at that time, Wan An could move the censors to support it.

“Is there really no margin for recovery on this matter?” Xu Pu asked, sighing.

“I’ll go see the Crown Prince right now!” Liu Jian said, pausing in his tracks and turning to go.

Tang Fan and Xu Pu quickly grabbed him. “What can you do if you go there? Ask him to beg His Majesty himself? That will only make people think that he’s having errant thoughts by colluding with officials!”

“Think what, now?! Only the Wan part would flip right and wrong like that!” Liu Jian raged.

“Then that means you can go even less!” Xu Pu said.

“Mr. Qianzhai is right. We’ve done all we can,” Tang Fan said.

“Is ‘doing all we can’ enough to cover everything?!” Liu Jian’s voice was both angered and dismayed, but he was not aiming it at them.

The two sighed, having nothing to say.

Most of society had long sensed the Emperor’s intent, but they still had no idea that he had already made up his mind. His lone summonings of Cabinet members might not necessarily get around until tomorrow.

At times like this, the importance of Cabinet Viziers was shown, because they were in the Pivot of the empire’s power. No one learn news or hold information as quickly as they could, and yet, Tang Fan was not feeling a drop of happiness. He didn’t even eat dinner, hiding away in his study to stare off at his desk by himself.

Until a knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

Sui Zhou was the one to open the door, noodle soup in hand while Wang Zhi stood behind him.

The latter couldn’t wait to open his mouth. “What is even going on? This morning, His Majesty—“

“What did you promise me when you came in here?” Sui Zhou cut him off, plainly displeased.

Wang Zhi very reluctantly shut his mouth.

With that, Sui Zhou set the soup in front of Tang Fan. “Eat first, then we’ll talk.”

“I’m not hungry,” Tang Fan said, looking bitter. Times were he said that sentence were rare.

Sui Zhou acted liked he didn’t hear him. “I’ll feed you?”

“…I can do it myself.” Tang Fan was obliged to take the chopsticks.

The cook’s regard could be gleaned from the aroma of the broth, Tang Fan couldn’t bear to brush off such regard.

Sui Zhou never said much superfluous drivel, because he would often apply it all right into his actions.

Wang Zhi patiently watched Tang Fan eat, managed to wait until the bowl was almost half-eaten, then couldn’t couldn’t hold back anymore. “I hear that this morning, His Majesty summoned the Cabinet members individually to speak?”

Which his temper, that he could wait until now to speak was already remarkable.

“Yeah,” Tang Fan answered.

Wang Zhi stabbed right in. “Was it related to the Crown Prince? What was the result?”

“Even you should know the answer to that. Why the need to ask me?” Tang Fan shook his head, setting down the bowl.

“Why didn’t you stop it?!” Wang Zhi harshly interrogated.

Tang Fan remained calm. “I did all I could; Liu Jian and Xu Pu did all they could, too. Wan An might have promised Liu Ji something, causing him to not propose an objection to this. Since the Head and Vice Viziers have reached a unanimous decision, what is the use of us three’s objections?”

Wang Zhi got up and paced around, unable to hide his anxiety. “Then what should I do now?!”

Tang Fan watched him, internally wondering whether he was having regrets about listening to his advice back in the day, and falling on the Crown Prince’s party. He sighed. “I urged you some time ago to draw a clear boundary with the Wan party. I didn’t expect that it would only bring you ha—“

Wang Zhi waved him off somewhat brusquely, interrupting him. “You don’t need to say that! I want to know your way out!”

“Planning matters is up to humans. Completing them is up to the Heavens.”

All of Tang Fan’s worry and heaviness seemed to have vanished along with the noodles. He took the handkerchief Sui Zhou offered to wipe his mouth off. “I discussed with Qianzhai and him already; if His Majesty acts on his own will, we will all submit memorials of resignation.”

Wang Zhi was taken aback. “What’s the use of that? If you all leave, won’t the Cabinet become even more of Wan An’s echo chamber?”

“That is the limit of what we can do. Do you have a better way, otherwise?”

Wang Zhi had come to find Tang Fan while holding a glimmer of hope. In his opinion, Tang Fan always had inexhaustible ways out of things, really exceeding expectations at times to leave him pleasantly surprised. Still, everything had their exceptions.

In the end, Tang Fan was a person, not a deity. There were times that he was too powerless to do anything, too.

Wang Zhi was utterly disappointed.

Fewer and fewer people were at the Crown Prince’s side. Huai En was no longer in the capital — if these three were also forced to leave the Cabinet, the remainder would not be enough to pose a threat.

As for Wang Zhi himself, he could secretly help the Crown Prince escape, but he could never stand openly against the Wan party like Tang Fan’s group. Sui Zhou’s status similarly restricted him to be staunchly loyal to the Emperor; the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, but not yet an Emperor, ultimately.

Was there no one to stop the Crown Prince’s fate of getting deposed?

Wang Zhi ultimately left the Tang home feeling down.

After sending him out, Tang Fan said to Sui Zhou in self-mockery, “Were it not for me egging him to get close to the Crown Prince, he might be as smug as a spring wind right now, without the need to be so worried.”

Sui Zhou reached out and brushed some hair that had been in his face due to the wind back behind his ear, and said one profound set of words: “You just said as well that completing things is up to the Heavens. Heaven’s might is hard to fathom; how can a mortal or two distort it as they see fit?”

Following this conversation, when Tang Fan was still immersed in dreams in the middle of the night, he was shaken awake by Sui Zhou, and came to learn a bit of news.

There had been an earthquake in Shandong — and it had happened at Mount Tai.