Chapter 146: Yin Prevails in the Eastern Palace; the Martial Marquis Shows No Mercy

Another stone fell, and Zhu Jingze began to ponder his next move.

The rain had stopped, but the clouds overhead remained black and heavy, hanging low above them as if they might fall upon the earth at any moment. The rain was over, but the rain clouds remained; for now, they simply held back their downpour. Gusts of wind rose now and then, sometimes strong, sometimes faint, sending the dark clouds galloping like horses.

One by one, green leaves were torn from the trees.

Autumn had not truly arrived, yet the vitality of some leaves was already beginning to fade. One, thin and fragile, was lifted by the wind and carried from the treetop to the window, then from the window onto the chessboard.

Zhu Jingze came to his senses. “Your Highness, I have lost.”

Wei Yuanzhong laughed heartily. “Vice Director Zhu, you lost long ago.”

But Zhu Jingze stared at the board in silence. He had lost, certainly, but the Crown Prince’s style of play had struck him as rather dishonorable.

Wei Yuanzhong studied his expression. “Why do you think I asked you to play a game of chess with His Highness?”

“I do not know.”

Wei Yuanzhong pointed to a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall. “Vice Director Zhu, take a look at this.”

In large characters, it read: “Take from the people, use for the people.” It was written years ago by Li Shimin himself and given to Li Zhi. When Li Zhi heard his son quote it, he was so pleased that he gave the scroll to Li Wei. Wei Yuanzhong was not referring to the meaning of those eight characters. He continued, “Vice Director Zhu, look at Emperor Taizong’s calligraphy, then look at His Highness’s. Which is more imposing?”

Zhu Jingze was baffled. “Censor Wei, what do you mean?”

“In terms of grandeur, can His Highness compare with Emperor Taizong?”

“No.”

“Precisely. You cannot judge a man by his handwriting, nor by the way he plays chess. It is extraordinarily difficult to know a person. Besides, His Highness’s position is somewhat delicate, and our own standing is not especially high…”

Zhu Jingze understood. “Whether His Highness is truly imposing is beside the point. He must continue to be gentle and restrained… The court is undeniably powerful. The disasters we have suffered are only temporary. As for territory, the empire is greater than any in history. As for talent, among the civil officials, men such as Dai Zhide are worthy ministers. Though our generals may not equal those of the founding years, we still have many famous commanders: Liu Rengui, Pei Xingjian, Xue Rengui, Gao Kan, Pang Tongshan, Qibi Heli, Liu Renyuan, and others—each the equal of ten thousand men. Even if… His Highness need only preserve what has been built…”

“But the Emperor is old…” Yao Yuanchong began.

“Each age has its own heroes. When the ruler is upright, the ministers are upright; when the ruler is corrupt, so are the ministers.”

That was precisely why Li Zhi had urged them to support Li Wei. Wei Yuanzhong said nothing. He did not know whether Zhu Jingze believed the Emperor or the Crown Prince to be the more upright. But anyone hoping to become the Crown Prince’s confidant still had a long way to go. Now that Zhu Jingze had grown wary, Wei Yuanzhong dared not pursue the subject any further.

They chatted for a while, until a sudden burst of song and dance came from outside. A eunuch arrived with forty young women and bowed respectfully.

“Your Highness, by imperial command, this servant has brought forty courtesans from the Inner Music Bureau to serve in the Eastern Palace.”

All forty young women bowed to the floor.

Li Wei glanced at them. These official courtesans of the Inner Music Bureau were each exceptionally beautiful, with striking looks and rare charm. What was his father trying to do? In the Eastern Palace, besides the eunuchs, who were neither men nor women, there were only the palace maids. There were ordinary men, of course—the guards who kept watch day and night—but they did not live in the palace. The place was already so steeped in feminine presence, and now these forty lovely young women had been added to it…

Though they lay bowed on the floor, each girl stole a glance up at Li Wei. The people in the room, including Bi’er and Little Wan’er, exchanged bewildered looks.

Zhu Jingze had already risen to his feet. “I must submit a memorial. His Majesty’s action is utterly absurd.”

Wei Yuanzhong pulled him back down. “Is His Majesty a foolish ruler?”

Zhu Jingze shook his head.

“Then would he deliberately want His Highness to become infatuated with beauty?”

Zhu Jingze shook his head again, then asked, “Then why has His Majesty done this?”

Li Wei suddenly smiled. “I understand. You need say no more. I know what I must do.”

He looked at the forty young women. They were indeed beautiful. Though they fell just short of Di Renjie’s two adopted daughters, they were still radiant and alluring. In truth, he was at a loss for words. Being Crown Prince offered few advantages, but a life of sensual comfort certainly seemed assured.

“Eunuch Jin, take them away and see that they are settled.”

The girls were led away in a great procession, but their cloying perfume lingered in the room.

…

Not long after the young women were sent over, Li Zhi summoned Li Wei by eunuch.

Once Li Wei had taken a seat, Li Zhi said, “I had the eunuchs select some courtesans from the Inner Music Bureau and send them to the Eastern Palace.”

“Your son has received them.”

“Is there anyone you fancy?”

After Li Zhi asked, Wu Zetian gave a quiet laugh beside him. It was quite possible that this ill-conceived plan had been her idea. Li Wei replied, “I fancy every one of them.”

“Hm. Why do you say that?”

“They are gifts from Father. How could I not be pleased?”

Li Zhi was at a loss for words. After a moment, he said, “I still do not understand what you mean by ‘fancy.’”

And what did you mean by asking whether I fancied them?

Only after leaving his father flustered did Li Wei answer. “Actually, I understand Father’s intentions. By doing this, Father is telling me that there are countless beautiful women in the world, and that I must put morality and the realm above all else.”

“But will you do so?”

Li Wei wondered whether his father’s gesture was aimed at Di Hao, Di Hui, Yang Min, and Xu Li. He continued, “Your son understands. Though it is said that a graceful maiden is a gentleman’s delight, I believe that beauty is certainly moving, but people are not plants or stones—how could they feel nothing? A minister’s loyalty to his sovereign is a bond of devotion; a child’s filial obedience to a parent is a bond of filial love; a man’s refusal to cast off the wife who shared his poverty, or the mutual respect between Father and Mother, is the love between husband and wife. A ruler should cherish his ministers, and ministers should be loyal to their ruler. Parents should be kind to their children, and children should be filial to their parents. A husband should love his wife, and a wife should remain faithful to her husband. These are what uphold the order of heaven and earth, and of human life. How could I lose myself over beauty?”

“Then what feelings do you have for those women? If they looked as plain as a legendary ugly woman, would you still feel something for them?”

“…”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Cheng Zhijie has a great-granddaughter: strong as an ox, over six feet tall, and rather ugly. She has remained unmarried for a long time, though her character and conduct are excellent. What do you think?”

“…”

“Your Majesty, do not tease Hong’er,” Wu Zetian said. “Though there is no one else in the hall, a ruler’s word is no jest. Besides, it is hardly proper to make sport of Cheng Zhijie’s descendants.”

That brought the subject to an end. Li Zhi then said, “I intend to hold the Great Rain Sacrifice. Before it, I am considering a general amnesty. What do you think?”

“Your son approves.”

“Do not give me a perfunctory answer. I want to hear your thoughts.”

Wu Zetian was not easily fooled, and neither was his father. Li Wei had no choice but to answer, “Marquis Wu did not grant amnesties.”

“Zhuge Liang governed only a small, remote state. His example cannot be compared with that of a great empire. You have made a name for yourself through your benevolence. Why would you say such a thing?”

“Father and Mother labor tirelessly for the realm and its people. I believe that if we show reverence to Heaven in our hearts, that is the greatest sincerity. If Father believes that is not enough, why pardon criminals? If there must be pardons, let upright officials review the prisoners throughout the realm. Those whose circumstances deserve compassion, those guilty only of minor offenses, those with aged parents and no one else to care for them, and those whose cases may have been unjustly decided—pardoning such people would show reverence to Heaven. But to release notorious criminals would not be virtuous; it would only enable their wickedness. Besides, I have seen many palace maids who are nearing seventy and still forced to do heavy labor. They have spent their entire lives shut away in the palace, never once setting foot outside, never even seeing what their own families look like. That is a tragedy of human relationships. If Father is to grant a general amnesty, he would do better to release these palace maids.”

“You foolish child,” Wu Zetian said. “Your heart is always too kind. But do you know that the palace staff is already very limited? No new palace maids have been recruited in recent years. If we release more, how will the inner palace be run?”

Li Wei had no answer.

There were several palaces in both capitals, as well as a number of imperial residences—especially the vast residence at Taiyuan. Maintaining them required enormous manpower and resources. Even cleaning and scrubbing all those palaces every day demanded a great many workers. But it was not only that. Many young women did not do ordinary work at all; they were kept specifically to perform music and dance for the Emperor. Other palace women, such as the consorts, did no work either, and each had numerous attendants to serve them.

There might be ways to simplify things, but the Emperor himself would have to give up many of his pleasures. Li Wei could only say, “Your son was thinking too simply.”

As they were speaking, a report came from outside.

“Urgent news from the Western Capital!”