All Under Heaven

The calm before the storm (Plot takes precedence1)

Prince of Jing Manor.

There was a man leaning on the soft ta couch, looking rather carefree. In sharp contrast, the middle-aged man sitting on the chair next to him was fidgeting and his face showed great anxiety.

“Teacher, are you feeling better? When you go home, take some panax ginseng with you, these were from Yan… someone gifted them to me.”

Yuan Wei covered his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Today, the people from the Grand Secretariat went into the palace to seek an audience with the Emperor. I was supposed to go with them, but did not end up going due to my illness and instead came over to see you.”

The Prince of Jing frowned: “Teacher should have gone with them, see an opportunity and take action, in case father2 suddenly has a change of heart and decides to send me off to my fief, there will be no one to stop him.”

Yuan Wei did not reply, he was looking rather gloomy, after a while, he finally gritted his teeth and said: “Your Highness, let’s just stop what we’re doing!”

Yuan Wei sighed: “These days, I have not been eating, nor sleeping. I’ve been pondering over things and still believe that this matter is not appropriate. In case, things come to light, we would…..”

“Teacher!” The Prince of Jing cut him off, “We can’t go back now. In case my father dies, those people will definitely support my useless older brother to succeed to the throne. He’s not even the son of the Empress, it’s just that my brothers who came before him all died, so he was lucky in that he was born earlier. Don’t say that I’m indignant, I think there are many civil officials in the court who are genuinely indignant as well!”

Yuan Wei frowned: “Yan Shifan has been executed, those people have practically been cut down to their roots, even if we still have some control over the internal court, there are hundreds of civil and military officials on the outside. What we’re doing is basically going against the entire imperial court, what are the odds of us succeeding!”

The Prince of Jing sneered: “Oh teacher, you are very wrong. For the others, I don’t know, however, as soon as we have success within our grasp, not only will Xu Jie not use the civil officials to attack us, he will even calm the others down for us.”

Yuan Wei was astonished: “What do you mean, do you mean to say that Your Highness and Xu Jie have an alliance?”

The Prince of Jing shook his head: “What alliance? You just don’t understand him at all. Xu Jie is not that kind of rotten old stubborn Confucian scholar, he supports the son of heaven of our Great Ming. As for who will come to sit upon the throne, this is not the most important thing to him. In the last few decades, father has not really done much to manage the imperial court. If it hadn’t been for the Grand Secretariat, this country3 would have collapsed long ago. He is very clear that if san-ge4 and I fight, in the end, it just causes chaos within the imperial court, as he knows that those officials who support me are also numerous. So as long as the overall picture has been determined and it does not affect his position of authority, Xu Jie will be readily supportive of any new Emperor.”

Yuan Wei listened to his clear-headed and logical analysis, but still had some doubts: “But previously, he clearly showed that he was supporting the Prince of Yu, he even sent his favourite student to work for the Prince of Yu……”

“If I were to use one word to describe Xu Jie, it would be stable. The reason is he was able to wait twenty years to get rid of Yan Song, it is all down to Xu Jie going along steadily and calmly. But this word stable is also his flaw. If he was a modest person, then I would be more worried!”

Yuan Wei still thought that something was not quite right, the words reached the edge of his mouth but seeing the way his student was, made him swallow those words back down. He simply thought to himself that he should have taken sick leave long ago and went back to his hometown. At least, in that way, he’d still manage to live out the rest of his life in peace, with the way things were going now, one step out of line and his head would roll, even if he wanted to leave now, it was far too late.

He continued to think it over in his head, and then thought about if they were to succeed, he’d be able to get rid of his own lowly official position, and the position of Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat would surely be his. And at that time, he’d be one above ten thousand. There would no longer be the need to live cautiously and feel awkward and vexed, whilst bowing his head down to Xu Jie, surely?

Going back and forth, one moment being suspicious and the next delighted, it was clear that Yuan Wei was having an internal conflict.

The Prince of Jing saw him sitting on pins and needles5 and asked him to go home and rest: “No need to worry, teacher. Regarding this matter, there is no need for you to get directly involved, I just need your help in settling those high-ranking officials that are standing with us. As soon as the dust settles, they will be a force that we cannot do without. When the time comes, if we want to pull the majority of the imperial court to our side, we won’t be able to do it without them.

Yuan Wei nodded: “Don’t worry, your Highness.”

Xu Jie led the three of them into the inner hall, thinking that the hall was steeped with a very intense medicinal odour.

The palace was still the palace but it seemed to have grown a lot colder and gloomier than before.

The Emperor was sitting up in his bed, and the person by his bedside serving upon him was no longer Huang Jin but had turned into Teng Xiang.

“This official greets his Majesty.”

Emperor Jiajing looked at the people kneeling before him, there was no change in his mood, but he did not ask them to get up either.

“Please forgive us, your Majesty. We are worried about Your Majesty’s health, therefore, we have requested an audience with you. Seeing that Your Majesty is in good health, this has brought us great relief.”

Jiajing spoke in a very quiet voice, his speech was slow, as if he was exhausted: “My6 loyal Grand Secretaries, I believe that you have not come this time just to check on my health? What is it, is it the Wukou’s invading again or the Tartar knocking at the gates?”

As the senior Grand Secretary, Xu Jie naturally could not remain silent, so he had to be the one to reply: “Please be rest assured Your Majesty, there is peace within and outside of the imperial court. However, we have come today as we have something to ask of Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“Please could Your Majesty think of this country and elect a crown prince!” The four of them said it out loud simultaneously whilst knocking their heads forcefully against the ground.

“Are you trying to force this Emperor?” Unexpectedly, Jiajing did not fly into a fit of rage and instead leaned his head back, his complexion was tired and haggard, that was the effect from long time use of the immortality elixir.

“This official does not dare!”

“You may all rise.”

Looking at the backs of the four heads on the ground, Jiajing whispered: “In a few days, send the Prince of Jing back to De An.”

Xu Jie and the others’ all felt their hearts skip a beat and they couldn’t help looking at each other in dismay.

Doesn’t that mean he is electing the Prince of Yu as his heir?

“However,” Jiajing frowned and closed his eyes, Teng Xiang immediately went up to massage his temples. “I have not been well these past few days, let him come to serve upon me, he actually can set off in a few months.”

Xu Jie quickly said: “Since Your Majesty has already decided, why not immediately write up an imperial edict and announce it all under heaven to give everyone peace of mind!”

He couldn’t understand, he had never seen the Emperor before him dote upon the Prince of Jing so why was he so reluctant for him to leave the Capital?

Jiajing sneered: “What is it, I have already agreed to your request and agreed to let the Prince of Jing go back to his fief. Must you force my son to leave my side, and not even allow him to stay for a few days longer?”

What Xu Jie and the others did not know was that since Jiajing had fallen ill, his moods had become evermore erratic and fickle. In the beginning, when Huang Jin was worried about his health and suggested that the Emperor name a crown prince, Jiajing flew into a fit of rage and demoted Huang Jin to work in the laundry department. Xu Jie had secretly influenced Huang Jin to do this, otherwise, having served the Emperor for decades with meticulous care, why would he suddenly make this kind of mistake?

He couldn’t believe that he had still not calmed down from that incident and now Xu Jie and the others had come to bring up this matter as well, directly aggravating Jiajing and poking at his sore spot.

He had been deeply engrossed in Daoism for many years, and believed himself to be blessed and taken care of by the Dao, and still did not believe that he would have the same fate as an ordinary person who was destined to live and then die. When this day seemed to be approaching, he was incomparably terrified. Therefore, he used any methods and any elixirs and medicines possible, but he still could not stop his health from deteriorating, and in the end, was forced to turn to the Imperial Physicians’ medicines.

But even a great Immortal would be unable to restore his youth. According to Li Shizhen, Jiajing’s health had already reached the point of no return, no one could reverse it. If he had stopped using those immortality elixirs and taken medicine, then perhaps he could still be able to live for another one or two months, but for Jiajing this was like thunder from a clear sky7, so he refused to see all officials, because he knew that these people would definitely ask him to name a crown prince, and this was also another way of reminding him that he was one foot in the grave.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt very tired.

If you want a new ruler, I will give you a new ruler.

Jiajing waved his fingers: “If there’s nothing else, you may all leave.”

Originally, Xu Jie had wanted to ask about issuing an imperial edict, afterall, it was still an empty promise, why not make it official with the jade seal of the Emperor upon the imperial edict. But seeing the Emperor’s mood, he was afraid that not only would he not agree, he would change his mind and the gains would not make up for the losses.

Thinking up to here, the four of them quietly retreated.

Teng Xiang was standing at the side, seeing that they had gone far away, he finally lowered his head and said quietly: “Your Majesty, should I serve……”

He had not even finished speaking when he saw that Jiajing’s head was swaying, the Emperor had already fallen asleep.

The four of them had just left the palace, Gao Gong couldn’t resist any longer: “It was a huge opportunity just now, why did Grand Secretary8 not ask His Majesty to issue an imperial edict?”

Xu Jie fiddled with his beard and slowly replied: “I saw that His Majesty was not looking too well. I was afraid that if I mentioned it, the result would be less than desirable and even send him into a fit of rage and take back his previous promise and then we would have ruined the enterprise for the sake of the basketful9. Let’s take it slowly, there’s no rush.”

Gao Gong was impatient and hearing this made him even more nervous: “If we wait any longer, we’ll miss the boat!”

Xu Jie was still as calm as ever: “Suqing, please watch yourself, we are still in the bounds of the palace!”

Gao Gong knew that he had misspoken and angrily silenced himself, Guo Po quickly stepped in to smooth the situation: “Suqing was just anxious, waiting like this doesn’t seem to be right!”

Xu Jie sighed: “I know that as well, however, hearing His Majesty, it seems that he has already made a decision. You and I all know what His Majesty’s temper is like, the more we push, the less he will comply.”

As these words came out, the other three fell silent.

Due to an unexpected turn of events, the situation of asking the Prince of Jing to return to his fief had been delayed, following the seriousness of the Emperor’s illness, everyone was looking to know who was next in line for the throne. As long as the Emperor did not issue an imperial edict, no one could feel settled. The memorials requesting the Emperor to name his heir were piling up like snow in the Grand Secretariat. But the Emperor was isolating himself more and more, and would not even see the Grand Secretariat, only allowing the eunuchs to transmit his royal decree.

The others thought that the Grand Secretariat might take a foot forward, however because of what had happened last time, they did not dare to disturb Jiajing again, in case he flew into a fit of rage and changed his mind, so they were also unexpectedly tight lipped.

So things just continued to develop gradually under these circumstances.

In the little courtyard, Zhao Su was reading a letter from home, Chen Zhu was sitting beside him, the two of them were looking rather distraught.

The letter was from his mother, Lady Chen, written by someone in her place, bringing news that Maiden Chen who was engaged to Zhao Su had been ill for half a year. Originally, it had started off as a cold but the illness had become more serious and she died last month.

This Maiden Chen was Chen Zhu’s cousin, so naturally, Chen Zhu had also received a similar letter from his family.

He looked at Zhao Su, but didn’t know how to comfort him and could only say: “In truth, my cousin was unfortunate……. Don’t be too upset.”

Regarding a fiancée that he had never even set his eyes on who had just died, to say that he was heart-broken would be a stretch, but he could not say that he was delighted either, since she was a match that Zhao Su had chosen himself. She was from an aristocratic family with a literary reputation, and had a clean background and most importantly, she did not have any connection to the chaotic imperial court in the Capital. If this Maiden Chen had a warm and kind personality, perhaps, it would have been a match made in heaven.

It was such a shame that now everything had flowed away like running water.

With Lady Chen’s letter, there was also another letter from the Clan Leader, Zhao Shenhai.

In this letter, it said that Zhao Jin had failed the Metropolitan Examination. In the end, thanks to Zhao Xiyi’s connections, he now held a teaching position in Jiangsu Province, Shuyang County.