Fish Meat – Chapter 139
by Little PandaThe Second Year of Zhao Wu
Morning Like Blue Clouds (3)
“Oh? Wei Zizhuo?” Empress Dowager Geng gently lifted the meat soup, holding it in front of her mouth. “Is my brother talking about the daughter of the Wei family, the Sima of the current dynasty?”
“You know her better than I do, and yes, it’s her.”
“I heard from Huaichen that back then, when they eliminated Xie Fuchen and his followers, the Wei family played a major role, and Wei Zizhuo contributed a lot too.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. When Chongjin invaded, everyone knows it was Wei Jing’an, the second son of the Wei family, who defeated them, and then, relying on the emperor’s power, they won a great victory. Wei Lun was promoted to high ranks, becoming one of the Three Dukes, and he controls the military forces of the whole country. And Wei Jing’an, not even thirty years old, was exceptionally promoted to Shizhong, and General of Zhenyuan, which is rare not just in this dynasty but even in previous generations. Empress Dowager, think about it, who holds the most soldiers in Da Yu? It’s not the Li family or our Geng family, but the Wei family.”
Empress Dowager Geng said, “Are you suggesting, brother, that you’re afraid the Wei family might use their military power to elevate themselves?”
Geng Bai squinted his eyes slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Empress Dowager Geng chuckled softly: “Her Majesty and the Wei family are good friends; they have known each other since they were young and grew up together. Lady Wei, to eliminate Xie Fuchen, dragged her half-injured body to the northern frontier, showing great courage, not to mention Wei Erlang (Erlang is a common way to refer to the second son in a family). Wei Erlang is incredibly brave; without him, the trouble in the northern frontier wouldn’t have been solved. If you, brother, are thinking of ‘the birds are gone, so the bow is put away’ (a metaphor meaning to get rid of people who are no longer useful), it might discourage people, and no one will be willing to work hard for us in the future. Besides, there is a shortage of military generals in Da Yu now, and the only one who can fight the Hu thieves is Wei Erlang. Without him, our Da Yu might be in grave danger. That’s why I didn’t have the heart to kill him even though he disobeyed the emperor’s orders and went to the northern frontier on his own.”
“Empress Dowager, getting rid of the Wei faction could be seen as ‘the birds are gone, so the bow is put away’ or as a precaution to prevent future problems. As for military generals, during the Zhaowu era, the population of men grew steadily, and finding someone to replace Wei Erlang within five years wouldn’t be difficult. But our Yu clan’s danger is imminent! If the Wei family hadn’t been eager to reopen the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, I wouldn’t have even realized how loudly they were plotting behind the scenes!”
“Path of Ten Thousand Directions?”
“Yes, it’s exactly the Path of Ten Thousand Directions opened by the previous dynasty. This road starts from the south of Da Yu and goes straight to the mysterious ancient country of Liuhuo in the desert, passing through countless city-states. If we can reopen this trade corridor, we can quickly fill Da Yu’s treasury.”
“Isn’t this a really good thing?”
“Ah! Empress Dowager, you are mistaken. You can’t just look at the surface of this matter; you need to dissect it and see how much mischief the Wei family has hidden within!” Geng Bai couldn’t sit still; he stood up and paced around the room. “If it were someone else, it might be fine, but it was that Wei Zizhuo who secretly went. Think about it, Empress Dowager, for such an important event, there should have been a grand banquet to see her off. But did you hear about it? Did any officials know? No. Why? We have countless capable people in Da Yu, so why send a mere young woman to risk her life? If Her Majesty truly wanted to reopen the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, there are countless better choices. Why use her? She was afraid that if it was revealed, she would be replaced, ruining the Wei family’s big plans, so she kept it a secret!”
The silver spoon gently stirred the meat soup, and Empress Dowager Geng ate very slowly.
“Empress Dowager, you must know, Her Majesty has always wanted to promote female officials during this autumn’s selection, but faced opposition from all the officials. Yet Her Majesty is still determined and wants to use the Path of Ten Thousand Directions as a way to bring Wei Zizhuo into court legitimately. Who knows if this is Her Majesty’s own idea or if she’s been influenced by the scheming Wei family? Though the Path of Ten Thousand Directions is dangerous, what if the Wei family’s ‘witch’ really comes back safely?”
“Are you also against female officials, brother?”
“No! I have no opinion on whether women should be officials, especially since the emperor herself is a woman. It’s only natural for her to want to promote someone she trusts to the court. If Her Majesty were to promote anyone else, I wouldn’t say a word, but not Wei Zizhuo.” Geng Bai spoke firmly. “Have you thought, Empress Dowager, if Wei Zizhuo enters the government again, the Wei family would have three people in high positions, holding significant military power. If the Wei family secretly plots and harbors disloyal intentions, how could we resist?”
“If the Wei family wanted to rebel, they would have done so already,” Empress Dowager Geng said. “Why would they save the country from disaster only to rebel afterward? Wouldn’t that be illogical?”
Geng Bai was silent for a moment, then spoke in a voice so quiet it was barely audible: “Emperor Ming once ordered Xie Fuchen to execute Wei Jing and Yu Rangchuan, and to imprison and abuse Wei Zizhuo. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, Empress Dowager.”
Bringing this matter into the open made Empress Dowager Geng’s hand holding the bowl tremble slightly.
The candles in the room flickered left and right, moving without any wind.
Empress Dowager Geng looked at the candle stand and almost broke into a light sweat from surprise.
“This matter…” Empress Dowager Geng hesitated, clearly concerned.
“Even though this happened over ten years ago, Wei Zizhuo cannot possibly forget, nor can the Wei family. Why have they been lying low and hiding their sharpness for so long? Have you considered this, Empress Dowager? Have you warned Her Majesty?”
Empress Dowager Geng put down the bowl.
“We must not let Wei Zizhuo enter the government; it would be best to eliminate her to prevent any further mischief,” Geng Bai said, no longer feeling the need to hold back. “If we set a precedent by letting her become an official, Her Majesty will be seen as a ruler who disobeys the ancestral commands, an unfilial act. Throughout history, both the orders of one’s father and the emperor are not to be defied. It’s not just the emperor; even ordinary people don’t disregard their father’s last wishes. This would be seen as acting against tradition and morality. Forcing this change might push away the public support that was hard-won. Her Majesty has just ascended to the throne; the priority should be to implement benevolent governance to stabilize the kingdom and establish a crown prince to secure the state. Even if Her Majesty wants to promote female officials, it shouldn’t be rushed. I urge the Empress Dowager to advise Her Majesty not to be impulsive. If Her Majesty insists on selecting a female official, I believe it would be better to choose a capable woman from our Geng family clan to assist her. Not only do we know her well, but it also strengthens our Geng family’s position in court. Empress Dowager, wouldn’t that be advantageous for us?”
Empress Dowager Geng knew that Geng Bai said all this to prevent Wei Zizhuo from entering the government. This is because Li Yanyi wanted more than just a female official; she wanted to use the “female official” as a tool to break through the outdated selection system, creating a new system where both commoners and nobles could enter the court based on their abilities. She aimed to gather talented people, ensuring that their skills were used effectively. Li Yanyi had grand ambitions; she wanted an unprecedented golden age, cutting away the decaying practices that had accumulated over Da Yu’s two hundred years.
On the surface, reform seems like a good thing, but for those born with a silver spoon, who were destined for a life of wealth and rank, it was a massive blow. They would no longer have the easy path to power and would have to compete with those from humble backgrounds for positions. This was a great humiliation for them. If the selection system were indeed changed, it would significantly weaken the influence of the powerful noble clans in Da Yu.
Balancing the power of noble families to strengthen imperial authority, while attracting more talented individuals for loyal service, is undoubtedly beneficial for the emperor.
But how could the nobles, led by Geng Bai, agree to this?
Empress Dowager Geng understood Geng Bai’s thoughts, expressing concern for “our Geng family” with every word. Indeed, it was true. However, Empress Dowager Geng was both a member of the Geng family and the emperor’s mother. Standing on either side would neither harm nor particularly benefit her, yet she was caught between two worlds, pleasing neither. In her position, whatever she did, she was criticized from both sides.
The Wei family still plays a very important role, and if someone were to suggest that Huaichen act against the Wei family now, she definitely wouldn’t agree.
Since no matter what she does ends up being thankless and unrewarding, Empress Dowager Geng decided to wash her hands of the matter. It doesn’t matter who wins in the political struggles or how the government is run, as long as her Huaichen remains securely on the throne. Empress Dowager Geng’s thoughts are still focused on the inner palace, with her main concern being the matter of the heir.
Compared to Wei Zizhuo, Empress Dowager Geng is even more wary of Xie family’s Ah Xin!
This Xie family’s Ah Xin absolutely cannot be allowed to stay.
Huaichen has made countless excuses to avoid choosing a consort and establishing a male consort, and Empress Dowager Geng knows very well that it is all because of this woman.
Geng Bai left, and Empress Dowager Geng organized her thoughts, feeling troubled.
“I don’t know what methods this woman has used to enchant my child, making her ignore the safety of the state and delay things repeatedly. If my child doesn’t have offspring soon, in a few years, it might be too difficult to have them. Ah…” The thought of this matter gave Empress Dowager Geng a headache, so she asked an attendant to bring her a pipe of Furong Powder to lie down and inhale. Once lit, she slowly inhaled the curling blue smoke, which was soft and lingering, like a gentle hand caressing from her nose down to her throat and then into her heart, igniting a warm fire. Soon, her agitation was replaced by pleasure, and Empress Dowager Geng lay on the couch, her cheeks flushed, smiling dreamily to herself.
“Empress Dowager, would you like another pipe?” You, the attendant standing by, asked.
Empress Dowager Geng slowly put down the smoking pipe, savoring the scent of the Furong Powder for a long time before finally speaking: “No need. I want to sleep.”
The attendant quickly came up to arrange her jade pillow, smoothed the blanket, and lit her favorite incense.
The scent of the incense spread throughout the entire room as Empress Dowager Geng lay calmly on the soft couch. Water splashed into the long cool pool from the square skylight in the ceiling, creating splashes and a cool breeze that helped beat the summer heat. Initially, Empress Dowager Geng found Changning Palace too hot and had always wanted to renovate it, but Li Yanyi didn’t have time to deal with it and asked her to endure it a bit longer, citing a tight national treasury. Later, it was You, the attendant, who came up with this cost-effective and efficient cooling method. Outside the palace, it was scorching, but inside it felt like spring, which Empress Dowager Geng greatly enjoyed.
“You take care of things well.” After a while, it seemed Empress Dowager Geng had taken a nap and woken up, frowning slightly. “Previously, the emperor insisted on removing all the attendants from the Forbidden Garden and replacing them with some Moon-Chasing Guards. Those rough women, who only know how to wield swords and staffs, might be okay for guarding the doors, but they don’t know how to serve people properly. We still need attendants, we really do…”
You, the attendant, smiled. His skin was smooth as if oiled, and he groomed himself meticulously, spending almost half an hour each day just applying powder. If he were like the other minor eunuchs in the palace, this would never be allowed. But You was different; he had served the Empress Dowager for over twenty years, knowing her likes and dislikes well, and winning her favor, something nobody else could replace. In terms of experience and seniority, he was the leader among the attendants. That is why, when Li Yanyi wanted to clear out all the eunuchs from the Forbidden Garden, You was not removed, and he managed to protect himself and a few young eunuchs who served the Empress Dowager.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had brought up the topic, You continued, “Indeed, besides me, who else in the world can serve the Empress Dowager so well? I haven’t done anything else in my life but serve the Empress Dowager. This is the most important thing in the world.”
The Empress Dowager fell asleep, and You stepped out of the room to stand guard at the door. A young eunuch came running up and whispered in his ear:
“The imperial uncle said if things don’t work out at Jianfeng Valley, then take action at the banquet.”
You, the attendant, asked, “The banquet is confirmed?”
“Yes, it’s confirmed to be in front of Zichen Palace. As soon as the person with the surname Wei returns, there will be a grand banquet to welcome and honor them.”
You sneered, “A welcoming banquet, huh? I’m afraid they won’t be coming back. If they want to eliminate someone completely, they shouldn’t blame others for being ruthless.”
A large broken log was blocking their path completely.
Zhen Wenjun and Zuo Kunda returned together after scouting the road and asked the local coachman if there were any other passable routes.
“There is one, but it requires crossing a suspension bridge and taking a detour through Jianfeng Valley.”
“How much longer will it take?”
“It will delay us by an hour and a half.”
“If we try to move this log, it will probably take more than an hour and a half. Fine, let’s take the road through Jianfeng Valley.” Zhen Wenjun ordered all the carriages and horses to take the alternative route, which involved crossing a shaky suspension bridge and traveling less than two miles to reach Jianfeng Valley.
As the carriages and horses were about to enter Jianfeng Valley, Zhen Wenjun, who was at the front, suddenly stopped her horse, causing the others to stop as well.
“Jiyong, did you hear anything?” Zhen Wenjun asked.
Zuo Kunda, beside her, listened and said, “No, I didn’t.”
“Listen again.”
Zuo Kunda still heard nothing, but after a moment, he realized, “Right, in a valley like this, how could there be no sound of birds at all?”
Zhen Wenjun and Zuo Kunda looked ahead and saw that the high cliffs on both sides of Jianfeng Valley were closing in, with only a narrow dirt road stretching through the middle. This kind of terrain is the easiest place to set up an ambush during military campaigns. In the past, during their battle with Chongjin, they used similar terrain to lay iron and then used rolling rocks to defeat Chongjin’s army completely.
An eerie wind blew through the valley, sending shivers down Zuo Kunda’s spine.
Wei Tingxu’s carriage came up, and Zhen Wenjun said to Wei Tingxu, “There may be an ambush above the valley ahead; even the birds and animals have been scared away.”
Wei Tingxu replied, “It seems that the rampaging tiger was also deliberately set up as a trap.”
Perhaps because she had been frequently thinking of Xie Fuchen recently, Zhen Wenjun felt that the person lying in ambush was Ah Xin, who was determined to take her life.
Wei Tingxu smiled slightly, “It seems someone doesn’t want us to return to Runing.”
Geng Bai I hope you Geng die