Chapter 124: The Ministers Submit Memorials, An Audience in the Imperial Hall

Li Shoucheng realized the situation was dire. Bruising Ming Chongyan was a minor matter, but having no one to treat the Emperor was a grave issue. Disregarding whether the crowd would point fingers at him, he rushed out, his voice shrill as he cried, "Quickly, let Doctor Ming go!"

In truth, Li Wei had planned this perfectly. Seeing that the commoners had gathered enough stones, he immediately stepped back and played the part of an ignorant bystander; after all, the law could not punish the masses. At worst, his parents might be resentful, but this pestilence had been dealt with once and for all.

The head eunuch and the guards beside the Emperor and Empress lowered their blades. Ming Chongyan immediately fled back to his residence. Li Wei thought it a pity, but after such an ordeal, Ming would not be able to stand up for quite some time. Let it be.

The morning court session began. Ming Chongyan feigned illness and did not appear. In reality, he dared not even step out of his gate; he feared that some would approach him with a handkerchief, ready to splash water to test if his "magical fire" was as potent as claimed, or worse, that someone might be waiting with a rock or a heavy stick to strike him from the shadows.

After the court proceedings were announced, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian took their seats, though Wu Zetian remained hidden behind a screen.

It began.

Every official raised their jade tablet and declared, "I have a memorial to present."

Li Zhi was so furious his eyes seemed to breathe fire, yet he was forced to say, "Speak your minds, my lords."

The memorials began to pour in, detailing how Ming Chongyan was of ill intent and harbored treacherous designs. He had the audacity to subtly emulate Jiang Chong, plotting against the Crown Prince. "Your Majesty, you are brilliant and sagacious; you must see through this villain. Even if he has improved your condition slightly, it is only slightly. Has Your Majesty truly recovered? If this is the case, it would be better to look at the Crown Prince. See how he persists in his physical training? His body was once like yours, yet now his complexion is ruddy, he can ride horses, draw bows, and even neuter Helan Minzhi’s... he is as vigorous as a dragon or tiger. From Di Renjie’s twenty-year-old daughters to the eight-year-old Shangguan Wan’er, he has an appetite for them all." That was the gist of it, though they did not explicitly state that the Emperor, with only one Empress, was likely unsatisfied.

Ming Chongyan’s greatest reliance was not his sorcery, but the fact that he had managed Li Zhi’s illness. However, when compared to the speed of Li Wei’s recovery, he was nothing.

Some directly mentioned Xu Jingzong. "He was once loyal to you, but now that is questionable. Look at Li Yifu—how was he at the beginning? People change, and Your Majesty has spoiled him too much. Now he acts in defiance of morality, insulting the Crown Prince through his grandson. He plots against the Prince, thinking the Prince will not retaliate. In the past, when he, Li Yifu, and Li Ji were debating the establishment of the Empress, he claimed the Emperor’s domestic affairs were his own business and none of an outsider’s concern. Why then does he now petition that the Crown Princess is unfit and must be replaced? Does Xu Jingzong no longer carry the surname Xu, but Li? And what was his intention in introducing this charlatan to the Eastern Capital?"

In the current climate, speakers were immune from prosecution; even common poets dared to tease the Emperor, let alone these high-ranking officials.

Yang Sixuan, in particular, spoke with such tearful sorrow that all who heard him were moved to tears. This was only Luoyang; if they were in Chang'an, the "Crown Prince Party" stronghold, the sensation would have been even greater.

Moreover, this matter differed from that of Helan Minzhi. The Emperor would certainly deal with Helan Minzhi, though the officials were unsure of the extent. But in this case, the Emperor might not only refuse to act but continue to support the villain. Once the specter of witchcraft was invoked, no one could predict the consequences. How many officials had perished in the witchcraft cases of the past? These men feared they might stumble into that very same pit.

Thus, they petitioned with such unanimity that even those with ulterior motives were forced to join in, lest they be met with cold stares later.

Some even dug up the Helan Minzhi incident. "It was precisely because Your Majesty delayed the decision that the Helan Minzhi case escalated until the Crown Prince was forced to attack the Helan mansion and castrate him, only then did Your Majesty issue an edict, even expressing dissatisfaction with the Prince. Now, someone is trying to harm your son again, and Your Majesty not only allows it but reprimands your son. While a Crown Prince must be disciplined, it cannot be done this way."

"Remember, the Crown Prince is not only your son but the heir to the Tang Dynasty, the Prince for all of us officials, and the future of the Great Tang. Furthermore, the Prince has acted with rare benevolence. Since Your Majesty repeatedly sits by and watches the wicked do harm, if you will not act, we will."

Li Zhi was so enraged that his hands and feet trembled.

Di Renjie and Wei Yuanzhong, standing at the back of the crowd, exchanged glances and wiped cold sweat from their brows. When the masses—no, the officials—were united, their power was truly formidable.

Li Zhi, fuming, said to the eunuch, "Invite the Crown Prince here."

Even he used the word "invite."

When Li Wei was summoned, Li Zhi demanded, "What happened yesterday evening?"

Li Wei answered with composure, "Father, I have said before that Ming Chongyan’s medical skills provided some relief to your condition, which is a merit. It was only right for you to promote him. I even held a banquet in the Eastern Palace to thank him. But that is what a subject should do. To use this as a pretext for wrongdoing is to abandon the duty of a subject. He has not yet cured your illness, yet he has already begun using sorcery to plot against me and my kin. If he were to cure you, who else would he plot against? You did not listen to me, Father. Yesterday, I told Minister Hao that the paths of man and ghost are separate; how can a mortal know them? Thus, the Master said: 'Do not speak of wonders, force, disorder, or spirits.' Is Doctor Ming wiser than the Sage? Although the drought is severe, what does this have to do with you or the Empress? A virtuous ruler does not guarantee an absence of disaster; even during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, there were often favorable weather conditions. You, the Empress, and the ministers have already done your utmost. In the palace, I see you both processing so many memorials daily, and having traveled from the Western Capital to the Eastern Capital, I see the officials working day and night. Therefore, when I spoke with the disaster victims, they expressed only gratitude, not resentment. Why? It is not because ghosts and spirits silenced them, but because you and your ministers have done your best!"

"Well said!" Hao Chujun immediately cheered, his eyes brimming with tears of gratitude. This was a Crown Prince who truly understood the people. The other ministers joined in a chorus of agreement.

Though the words were pleasant, Li Zhi couldn't help but touch his throne; it felt as if it had sprouted thorns, pricking him.

"In the past, when the founding Emperor Taizong discussed with his ministers whether it was harder to establish an empire or preserve it, many said preserving it was harder. It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred to cultivate a person. Even Emperor Wu of Han made many errors in his later years. Even the great Taizong had regrets in his later years. Furthermore, in the fourth year of Yonghui, the rebel Chen Shuozhen of Muzhou was quickly suppressed, but it was not unrelated to the court's pressures. This was because the foundation left by Taizong had been somewhat depleted, and you had not yet fully restored it. But later, you worked diligently, and the world was quickly brought to order. In speaking with the commoners, they believe you are kind, low-key, thrifty, and dislike extravagant construction, sorcery, or hunting—a good Emperor rarely seen in history. Though they suffer in the drought, they do not resent you. Why, then, must you gild the lily by interpreting these events through witchcraft? The people do not need you to interpret them! Once witchcraft rises, how are you different from a charlatan? Moreover, Ming Chongyan is a mere fraud who deceives you and the court, and even dares to say that you and the Empress are tainted by demonic spirits. What is a 'demonic spirit'? Based on the signs from last night, he is the one who is truly the demonic spirit."

Hao Chujun stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, he is no spirit, but a traitorous subject. Please issue a decree to have him executed."

Execution might be too much—the Emperor likely still wanted him to provide treatment—but after this, everyone was determined to stop the Emperor from dabbling in sorcery. That stuff was dangerous; it destroyed everyone it touched.

"You say he is a fraud, but what evidence do you have?"

"None! But he dared to call me a fraud. Father, look." Li Wei produced two items, including the handkerchief that had performed so well the previous evening. "I do not know sorcery, and few in this world do. But there are many who know how to use such tricks to deceive. Father, look at this handkerchief: it holds water without leaking a drop. Why is that?"

The ministers were puzzled, and while no one answered, all were listening for the explanation.

"It is simple once revealed: apply egg white mixed with alum to the cloth and dry it, and it will hold water. It is not obvious if one does not look closely." He handed it to Li Zhi for inspection. He figured his father, though angry, was also curious.

"Secondly, refined alcohol burns easily, and the flame is blue, which looks eerie. But the temperature of the burning is low, and because there is water in the alcohol, the water vapor protects the fabric until the alcohol is consumed. Once the alcohol is gone and the cloth dries, it finally catches fire."

He poured some high-proof alcohol onto another handkerchief and demonstrated; no matter how it burned, the cloth remained intact.

After the performance, the ministers began to awaken. Li Wei continued, "These tricks are a form of knowledge. I may not know what Doctor Ming knows, and he may not understand what I know. But one thing is certain: it is all fake and has nothing to do with magic. His five-day fast was a lie; it was simply the time he needed to prepare. Whether he fasted or not, only he knows. Father and Mother, your wisdom is unparalleled, and the ministers are all elite, but you have focused your minds on the Great Way of the Sages and governing the country, so you have not studied these tricks. If you were to study them, you would surpass Doctor Ming ten or a hundred times over. But Father, I ask you: as an Emperor and as ministers, should you govern the country, or should you learn these fraudulent tricks? It is one thing for these tricks to deceive commoners, but for Ming Chongyan to bring them to the imperial court? Once such a precedent is set, the future of the country is in peril. Please reconsider, Father."

Whether or not he reconsidered, even if the Emperor continued to believe, it was useless. If anyone else tried to use such sorcery to influence policy, the ministers would simply kneel at the Meridian Gate.

Di Renjie closed his eyes, thinking that regardless of the negative impact, the pawn carefully placed by Xu Jingzong had been discarded for the time being. Without this psychological suggestion, could Ming Chongyan still improve the Emperor's condition? *Sigh, Your Majesty, this is what you forced upon the Prince.* He dared not voice the thought that he hoped Li Zhi would pass away soon... and this time, the Emperor’s fear and anger must have reached their peak. Before he could think further, all the ministers prostrated themselves, shouting in unison, "Please, Your Majesty, think twice."

Yet, each of them felt a complex mix of emotions. It was not just Li Zhi and Wu Zetian who believed in spirits; ninety-nine percent of the officials did, and ninety percent believed firmly. Because they believed, many had been swindled by similar charlatans, and now they felt nothing but deep regret.

There were other thoughts as well. Pei Juda felt a sense of loss—it seemed the marriage alliance with the Imperial family was unstable again. If Yang Min was not divorced, how could he marry his daughter to the Crown Prince?

Yang Sixuan felt both relieved and annoyed. If he had known this, why bother kowtowing to ancestors? He should have just sought the Crown Prince directly.

Behind the screen, Wu Zetian said, "Your Majesty, let the Crown Prince return."

There was no point in him staying; if he continued to speak, the imperial couple would be left in a very passive position. She was somewhat angry; her son was not a simple person. He had seemed filial the night before, but this pressure had made her and her husband look very awkward.

"Your Highness, I knew you could do it," Bi'er said happily.

He had managed to take down Ming Chongyan. Di Renjie had vowed that the truth would come out in four or five months—not a long time. Although Xu Jingzong was a master schemer, he could not strike that quickly, especially from eight hundred miles away.

He was safe for now. With Xu Jingzong toppled, there was likely no one left in the court who harbored hostility toward him. He could finally relax.

Perhaps Ming Chongyan would not die, but by branding his magic as mere fraud, the man was finished.

However, his father’s wariness of him had deepened.

He felt uneasy; a cunning rabbit needs three burrows. He had to prepare his second one. Lu Ma and Liang Jinzhu would arrive soon. But he was not familiar with them; it would depend on...