Chapter 4: Seeking Fish in a Tree
On the vast Golden Throne Hall, all eyes were fixed on the puppet emperor Ning Chen, only nine years old. His performance the previous day had already shocked everyone—what astonishing act might he unveil today?
Fan Dayou’s gaze brimmed with anticipation.
The Empress Dowager spoke sternly, “Your Majesty, do you have something to say? Could it be that you intend to plead on Fan Dayou’s behalf?”
Ning Chen shook his head and, looking obediently toward the Empress Dowager behind the beaded curtain, said, “No, Your Majesty. I do not intend to plead for Fan Dayou. As the Left Metropolitan Censor, Fan Dayou bears the responsibility to impeach officials, discern injustices, and oversee all circuits as the emperor’s eyes and ears. Regardless of the reasons, falsely accusing a high-ranking official without clarifying the facts is a grave offense and must be severely punished.”
Murmurs rose among those present. Fan Dayou, slumped on the ground, bowed his head in shame.
Zhao Siwen’s face flickered with a trace of satisfaction. He cast a contemptuous glance at Fan Dayou and thought to himself, “So you thought that because you helped the young emperor yesterday, he would help you today? What a joke.”
Only Prime Minister Song Guozhong remained expressionless, as still as a deep well.
Ning Chen continued, “Punishment is inevitable, but I believe the most important matter now is disaster relief and calming the displaced people. The treasury is depleted, and masses of refugees flood the capital. Even the Ministry of Revenue is helpless, and Prime Minister has had to temporarily set aside memorials at the Secretariat.”
“My suggestion is to entrust this difficult task to Fan Dayou, allowing him to redeem himself through meritorious service. This would be a chance granted by Your Majesty to demonstrate magnanimity.”
“If he manages the relief well, his merits will offset his faults and his rank will be restored. If he fails, he shall face multiple punishments. What does Your Majesty think?”
A roar erupted as the court erupted into chaos. Whether eager to see Fan Dayou fall or moved by sympathy, all were stunned.
What was this young emperor up to? It seemed he was pleading for Fan Dayou, but on closer listening, it was quite the opposite!
Disaster relief was such a complex matter that even the Ministry of Revenue and Prime Minister had no solution. Moreover, with the Empress Dowager’s birthday approaching, entrusting an inexperienced censor to handle the relief seemed a death sentence for Fan Dayou.
Even Fan Dayou himself stared dumbfounded at the nine-year-old on the dais.
The Empress Dowager hesitated slightly. “This…”
Zhao Siwen quickly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I support the emperor’s proposal. Let Fan Dayou redeem himself through disaster relief.”
“I second the motion…”
“I second as well…”
Many voices echoed in agreement, yet Prime Minister Song Guozhong still squinted slightly, unreadable.
After some thought, the Empress Dowager glanced at the Prime Minister and then said, “Very well, then let it be as the young emperor wishes. Fan Dayou shall redeem himself by overseeing the relief and calming the refugees.”
“Furthermore, the Minister of Revenue is ordered to allocate two hundred thousand taels from my birthday budget for the settlement of the refugees.”
“Memorial submitted, dismissed…”
After leaving the Golden Throne Hall, Ning Chen quickly caught up to the Empress Dowager’s phoenix carriage.
“Mother!” Ning Chen panted, calling out obediently.
“My son, what else is on your mind?” The Empress Dowager frowned.
“Mother, I have wasted your nurturing these past years, indulging in frivolities. Now I have awakened and wish to take this opportunity with the relief effort to go deep among the people alongside Fan Dayou and contribute. I ask for your approval.”
“Nonsense. How can an emperor go among the common folk to personally oversee relief efforts? Besides, you are only nine!”
“Mother, I just want to help and supervise Fan Dayou. Your birthday should be a time of universal celebration. If refugees still flood the capital then, it would be a disgrace and harm your reputation.”
“You want to supervise?”
The Empress Dowager pondered briefly, then smiled as if having made up her mind. “Very well. Since you are so earnest, I shall grant your wish.”
“Thank you, Mother!”
Watching Ning Chen bounce away, Commander of the Imperial Guards Pan Yu whispered, “Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence, but why did you agree to this brat’s request?”
The Empress Dowager smiled proudly. “Can’t you see? This brat is truly different from before.”
Pan Yu nodded. “Indeed. Previously, he never dared speak at court. I thought yesterday’s outburst was from fear, but today he voluntarily proposed that Fan Dayou redeem himself and even asked to personally supervise. Surely, he wants to win hearts.”
“But the problem is, this brat is sending a useless censor like Fan Dayou to handle relief—aren’t you effectively setting him up to fail?”
Before Pan Yu finished, the Empress Dowager interrupted with a cold laugh. “Climbing a tree to catch fish! I thought he had grown, but he’s still an immature child.”
“I’m merely indulging him to avoid accusations of harshness. If this goes wrong and he abdicates, it will be justified. Should popular outrage arise, we won’t even have to wait for my birthday.”
Pan Yu suddenly understood. “Brilliant—no wonder Your Majesty allocated two hundred thousand taels from the birthday funds to Fan Dayou.”
“Perhaps we could take advantage while he supervises Fan Dayou in the field…”
Pan Yu made a throat-cutting gesture and whispered, “Rest assured, no one will find out.”
The Empress Dowager glared fiercely. “Fool! I have already promised that after my birthday, he will abdicate voluntarily. If anything happens to him before then, what will people think? What about the scheming princes?”
“Remember, our goal is to make his abdication legitimate and righteous!”
That night, within the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.
Xiao Anzi widened his eyes at Ning Chen. “Your Majesty, you’re sending Fan Dayou to manage the relief and plan to supervise him personally? Isn’t that asking for trouble?”
“If Fan Dayou fails, they will add another charge to your list of crimes…”
Ning Chen smiled carelessly. “You said it yourself—it would only add to my list of crimes on the abdication edict.”
“But imagine if Fan Dayou succeeds?”
Xiao Anzi shook his head. “Impossible. Besides the fact that of the two hundred thousand taels allocated by the Empress Dowager, how much will actually reach the refugees after passing through layers of officials? Fan Dayou is an inexperienced censor with no relief experience. Even with sufficient funds, it would be hard to manage. Moreover, he has already offended the Minister of Revenue.”
As he spoke, he noticed the confident gleam in Ning Chen’s clear eyes.
He paused and asked uncertainly, “Your Majesty, are you truly confident?”
“If we can succeed, then perhaps all the censors led by Fan Dayou will stand with you…”
Ning Chen nodded. “Exactly. I want to unite all forces that can be united!”
“The censors excel at blunt remonstrations. With their support, the Empress Dowager will have to think twice about deposing me!”
“Besides, Fan Dayou is the leader of the current literary circle. With his backing, I will have the support of the entire scholarly bureaucracy!”
Xiao Anzi nodded but remained worried. “It’s difficult, very difficult. Disaster relief is hard, and winning over that old, rotten censor is even harder…”
Ning Chen smiled and added, “Actually, I have even more important reasons for going out.”
Xiao Anzi was about to ask what when a voice interrupted from outside. “Eunuch An, the Empress Dowager is calling for you…”
Xiao Anzi frowned and quickly fell silent.
Ning Chen raised an eyebrow and smiled softly. “So they’ve arrived. Now let’s see your performance, Xiao Anzi.”
Understanding, Xiao Anzi left the Hall of Nurturing the Heart and headed to the Phoenix Pavilion.
“Rise,” the Empress Dowager beckoned him.
“Xiao Anzi, what has the young emperor been doing these past days?” she asked casually.
Xiao Anzi immediately gestured, and the attendant translated, “His Majesty has been preparing birthday gifts for Your Majesty. Aside from court sessions, he has not left the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.”
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction. “Has anyone approached him recently?”
Xiao Anzi gestured again, the attendant translating, “No one.”
“Any abnormalities?”
“None. But two nights ago, His Majesty suddenly woke in the middle of the night drenched in cold sweat. Later, even as he slept, he kept saying, ‘Don’t kill me, don’t depose me, I will obey.’”
“Yesterday after court, His Majesty seemed like a different person. He told me this birthday gift will surprise you greatly. Please don’t depose him; he doesn’t want to be deposed.”
The Empress Dowager was very pleased. “Good. Continue to watch over him. When he goes out this time, you must follow and serve him without leaving his side.”
“And report to me every two days, understood?”
Xiao Anzi nodded, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.
After he left, the attendant said, “Your Majesty, the young eunuch changes every two days. The one on night watch last night also said the young emperor spoke in his sleep like that. It seems he was truly frightened. Could it be why he suddenly woke up, like a changed person?”
The Empress Dowager sneered coldly. “Awakened? More like scared senseless.”