Chapter 73
After Emperor Qianxing disclosed his wishes to recall Li Yao to the capital, he discreetly observed Cao Xun's reaction.
Seeing Cao Xun furrow his brow, Emperor Qianxing hesitated and inquired, "Uncle, do you believe it would be unwise for Li Yao to return to the capital?"
Cao Xun, appearing resigned, murmured, "I comprehend Your Majesty's intentions. You wish to position Li Yao in the capital to more easily ensnare him and ultimately rid yourself of him. However, do not forget that he is the son-in-law of the influential Gu family. Should any harm befall him, Gu Shoufu will undoubtedly intervene. If a civil servant were to voice opposition, public sentiment could turn against you, tarnishing your reputation."
Emperor Qianxing clenched his fists.
Currently, the cabinet is under the influence of Gu Shoufu. While it appears he is aligned with the Emperor, in truth, his compliance is superficial. When it comes to significant matters, Gu Shoufu wields his silver tongue to manipulate him.
He desired his mother to agree with him, but he was unsure if she was truly swayed by Gu Shoufu or if she was deliberately aiding him and dismissing him as naive.
Growing somewhat agitated, Emperor Qianxing grumbled, "However, if I were to task Li Yao with combating the Japanese pirates, I fear he would once again achieve great feats."
He deliberately signaled a willingness to compromise, hoping his uncle would affirm a pledge that Li Yao would be vanquished or slain in battle, testing whether his uncle's loyalty lay with the family or his nephew.
Cao Xun fell silent for a moment before fixing his gaze on his nephew and replied, "Then request for Li Yao to return to the capital. Nonetheless, before Li Yao's arrival, the Emperor should find a means to remove Gu Shoufu from the cabinet."
Emperor Qianxing was taken aback.
Handle Gu Shoufu first?
He had contemplated this himself, but his father had esteemed Gu Chief Assistant for over two decades. Even foreign nations credited the restoration of Great Xia's prosperity a century ago to the Chief Assistant. Hence, Emperor Qianxing struggled to fathom how he could besmirch Gu Shoufu's reputation. Therefore, for the time being, he sought to unleash his fury on the Li family first.
Cao Xun elucidated, "Only when Chief Assistant Gu is stripped of his power and you exact retribution upon Li Yao in the future, will there be no one in the court to speak on his behalf."
Emperor Qianxing was disillusioned. It appeared that his uncle had no genuine concern for his beautiful aunt. Each action seemed more callous than the last. He had sorely misjudged this person!
After contemplating this, Emperor Qianxing was ecstatic upon realizing what a dependable and caring uncle he had.
Emperor Qianxing inquired, "Then, uncle, please advise me on how to handle Gu Shoufu?"
At that moment, Emperor Qianxing had already guided his towering and resilient uncle to a chair and sat beside him. He displayed complete trust and familiarity, akin to a pupil seeking guidance from a revered mentor.
Cao Xun pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Gu Shoufu has contributed significantly to the nation and upholds an unblemished record in his governance. The Emperor can seek to expose his personal ethics."
Emperor Qianxing responded, "I comprehend. I have instructed Jin Yiwei to investigate the Gu family. However, their family traditions are stringent. Neither the main branch nor its offshoots reveal any substantial transgressions."
Although the Gu family is not without imperfections, there are no substantial accusations to be made against them.
Cao Xun shared something in his nephew's ear.
Emperor Qianxing immediately erupted into laughter.
*
Emperor Qian Xing, a mere twelve years of age, had to attend lessons almost daily. Aside from the Imperial Academy, Gu Shoufu and other senior cabinet members took turns to provide him with instruction.
However, Emperor Qianxing harbored a disdain for scholarly pursuits. He often spent more time away than in the classroom, leaving Empress Dowager Cao at a loss.
While the young emperor could easily skip his studies, Gu Shoufu and the others had to adhere to their scheduled appointments in the imperial study room.
On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, it was Gu Shoufu's turn once more.
At nearly sixty years old, Gu Shoufu remained in good health, yet the burdens he bore had caused his once-dark hair to turn increasingly gray over the past two years.
The cold wind howled outside, and Gu Shoufu's face was nearly frozen from the biting wind as he trod over to the imperial study hall.
Upon reaching the imperial study room, Gu Shoufu encountered the young eunuch who was known to frequent Emperor Qianxing. Touched by his presence, Gu Shoufu inquired, "Is the Emperor within?"
The young eunuch smiled and replied: "Yes, His Majesty has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Gratified that the Emperor was willing to engage in scholarly pursuits, Gu Shoufu entered the room with a smile.
The ambiance within the imperial study room was as inviting as spring. Emperor Qianxing was seated on the divan, engaged in a game of cards with three companions, while Eunuch Wan attended to his needs.
Upon noticing Gu Shoufu's arrival, the three companions promptly rose to their feet.
Originally, there were four companions, but Zhang Hu had ceased attending long ago due to his filial duties, and Emperor Qianxing had not selected a replacement.
Gu Shoufu refrained from expressing any criticisms. He found solace in the little emperor's willingness to engage in diligent study and was mindful that a harsh remark might prompt His Majesty to flee.
Once the four young men were settled, Gu Shoufu commenced his instruction.
Initially attentive, Emperor Qianxing soon revealed his true colors. He either turned to whisper to his companions or openly dozed off at the table.
Gu Shoufu tolerated the former but found it impermissible for the Emperor to sleep. Approaching Emperor Qianxing with a solemn countenance, he called out "Your Majesty" repeatedly.
Emperor Qianxing remained motionless, deliberately feigning slumber.
Finding himself truly incensed, Gu Shoufu reached out to gently pat Emperor Qianxing's shoulder.
Despite exercising restraint, his hand came into contact with the little Emperor's arm, causing Emperor Qianxing to reel back and topple off his chair in an undignified manner. As Eunuch Wan and his companions rushed to assist him, they noticed a few drops of crimson blood glistening on Emperor Qianxing's forehead.
If it had been any other child, their parents might not have paid much heed to such a minor injury. However, the individual injured on this occasion was Emperor Qianxing!
"How dare you strike me?!" Emperor Qianxing seethed, wiping the blood from his forehead and summoning the imperial guards to apprehend Gu Shoufu.
The imperial guards faithfully carried out the Emperor's command, disregarding Gu Shoufu's standing and restraining him.
Gu Shoufu pondered silently. Could he be any more oblivious? The young Emperor had deliberately laid a trap to ensnare him!
Emperor Qianxing sought to escalate the matter by summoning Empress Dowager Cao and the entire cabinet, along with civil and military officials, in order to have Gu Shoufu reprimanded for his disrespect. Disrespect was punishable by death, and Gu Shoufu knew he would not be able to reason his way out of this. He maintained that his only intention was to rouse the young Emperor and resume the lecture.
In all honesty, Empress Dowager Cao and others had faith in Gu Shoufu. However, Emperor Qianxing alleged that Gu Shoufu had forcefully pushed him, and with three companions and Eunuch Wan as witnesses, and the little emperor had indeed suffered a forehead injury, the evidence was stacked against Gu Shoufu. Most significantly, Emperor Qianxing sought to penalize Gu Shoufu.
At this juncture, officials had already recognized that Gu Shoufu had to depart, and their only recourse was to mitigate his charges. Following the earnest entreaties of Empress Dowager Cao and a cohort of civil servants, Emperor Qianxing relented, granting Gu Shoufu clemency for the time being and merely consigning him to retire to his home without facing severe punishment.
As an Emperor, Emperor Qianxing was entitled to accept his destiny and dismiss officials, including members of the cabinet. Gu Shoufu felt very disheartened, yet he had already made such arrangements when the young Emperor ascended the throne. There were myriad matters he could not let go of, and yet the Emperor did not place his trust in him, obliging him to comply meekly with the decree.
Several officials who backed Gu Shoufu sought to levy a resignation ultimatum to the young Emperor, but Gu Shoufu dissuaded them from pursuing this course. Such ultimatums had proved efficacious with some Emperors, but Emperor Qianxing was not intimidated and indeed was predisposed to indeed accept their resignations. What was the point of such a struggle for the officers?
Empress Dowager Cao harbored the sentiment that her son was being excessively impish, attacking Gu Shoufu without consulting her beforehand. Meanwhile, Emperor Qianxing was feeling smug and gratified, unable to neutralize King Li and humiliate Li Yao, but surprisingly found it easy to oust a chief minister. This experience allowed Emperor Qianxing to genuinely savor the benefits of his imperial authority.
It was not a simple matter of doing as he pleased, whether with the cabinet or the royal guard. He would nonchalantly fiddle with the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist, heedless of Empress Dowager Cao's remonstrations.
Empress Dowager Cao was so incensed that she restrained the urge to strike him: "Fine, you have removed him from office, but who will be your next chief assistant? Do you appreciate who is qualified and who is not?"
An heir could act with impunity within the palace, but how could one play games in officialdom? If inept individuals were promoted and the profound legacy left by the late emperor was imperiled, the son would forever be stigmatized as a "foolish emperor."
Unsurprisingly, Emperor Qianxing had a candidate in mind: "I believe Xia Jin would be an excellent choice."
Certainly, Empress Dowager Cao was well acquainted with Xia Jin. Following the conviction of Hu Bochang, the former Minister of War in July, Xia Jin, who held the position of right minister of the Ministry of War, was promptly elevated to the role of Minister.
Xia Jin naturally possessed certain abilities and had garnered numerous accolades for his service in the local region, but he also had a knack for ingratiating himself with her son. Initially overseeing the Ministry of War ahead of Zuo Shilang, he swiftly ascended to the cabinet due to his favor with the Emperor.
Empress Dowager Cao also viewed Gu Shoufu's connections with the Li family with suspicion. However, despite Gu Shoufu's widespread recognition from the government and people as a remarkable talent, how could he possibly compare to Xia Jin?
Empress Dowager Cao entreated her son not to heed mere slanderous reports.
Emperor Qianxing, on the other hand, mused, "The other three esteemed elders of the pavilion do not merely flatter me. They all merely follow the lead of old man Gu. If I were to select a chief assistant from among them, I might as well summon old man Gu back."
What he desired was a chief assistant who would dutifully adhere to his directives!
Despite already having Xia Jin in mind, Emperor Qianxing nevertheless summoned his two uncles for consultation.
Cao Shao instinctively glanced at his brother. He sensed that his brother's opinion held greater sway in his nephew's mind on such matters.
Cao Xun, who had always been acquiescent to Emperor Qianxing, surprisingly dissented this time, asserting, "Xia Jin is too junior and not as adroit as the other three esteemed elders. It may be challenging to garner public acceptance if he is appointed as the first assistant."
Emperor Qianxing pursed his lips and directed his attention toward his uncle.
Cao Shao remarked, "Brother speaks wisely. I implore you to give it careful consideration, Your Majesty."
Owing to Emperor Qianxing's disposition, he was amenable to heeding suggestions that aligned with his preferences, while dismissing those that did not. Consequently, after a night of "deliberation," Emperor Qianxing promptly issued a decree to elevate Xia Jin to the esteemed position of chief minister of the cabinet.
Cao Xun stood in the main hall and offered a concerned glance at the Emperor.
Emperor Qianxing was well acquainted with the expression in his eyes. His mother would regard him in such a manner - always striving to care for him, ultimately opting to compromise due to her love. She simply would not strike fear in him as his father did.
*
The Emperor desired for Gu's chief assistant to retire to his hometown. Consequently, the former chief assistant, Mr. Gu, had no choice but to pack his belongings and depart.
Gu Qinghe simply resigned from his position and accompanied by his wife and elders, returned home to fulfill his filial duties.
On the day the Gu family departed Beijing, Cao Xun escorted Yunzhu to bid them farewell, with Li Yong, his wife, and Gu Min also present.
Gu Min flung herself into her grandfather's arms, tears dampening Gu Lao's clothing.
Mr. Gu smiled and uttered, "Alright, alright, even your grandfather is weary. His neck stiff from tending to endless paperwork each day. A return to the countryside and gentle movements might lengthen his days."
Gu Min comprehended everything except her grandfather's hurt feelings.
Mr. Gu patted his granddaughter on the shoulder and turned to Li Yong and his wife, remarking, "In trying times, endure what you can. You need not fret over me. When Li Yao returns after the New Year, convey this wisdom to him."
Li Yong responded, "Rest assured, he does not get confused over important matters, and A Min can rein him in."
Mr. Gu nodded, his gaze turning to Cao Xun's countenance.
As the Emperor's uncle, Cao Xun felt somewhat awkward at that moment, yet he maintained a stately demeanor and patiently awaited the old man's counsel.
Mr. Gu smiled, offering no words.
Each person charts their own course. He simply hoped that Cao Xun would not be led astray by power.
The author comments:
Li Yao: You're always asking, who's better, me or him?
Mr. Gu: You are, he's too cunning.