“Your Majesty, if you so easily forgive Ning Wang for his grave offenses, aren’t you indulging those with sinister intentions of defying the throne?” General Cao’s sharp gaze, as piercing as a blade, swept across the imperial clansmen in the hall.
The imperial clansmen felt uneasy, wondering what General Cao’s words implied. Did he suspect them to be colluding with Ning Wang, or harboring designs on the throne?
They certainly weren’t in line to sit in that position, so why were they being targeted with such grave accusations?
Two years ago, two qinwangs staged a coup, trying to force the previous emperor to abdicate his throne. Many imperial clan members were implicated and lost their lives. Although the coup had ended in failure, it wasn’t completely unsuccessful either, as the previous emperor was angered by his rebellious sons’ actions and passed away. Even the hated Noble Consort Zeng, infamous for being the evil concubine who led the monarch astray, also lost her life in the fire that burned her palace to ash.
With the emperor’s sudden death and no imperial decree left behind appointing the heir to the throne, only two of his sons remained aside from the rebellious qinwangs: the current Emperor, then known as Li Wang, and the current Ning Wang.
Back then, some court officials suggested that since the late emperor favored Ning Wang, he should inherit the throne. The imperial clansmen, however, disagreed and chose to support Li Wang as emperor in accordance with the ancestral laws of succession.
At this moment, an elderly junwang1, who was of the highest generation among the clansmen, stepped forward, fearing that if they didn’t clearly express their position now, tongues would start to wiggle tomorrow, accusing the imperial clansmen of supporting Ning Wang to plot against His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, this old subject believes General Cao’s words have merit,” said the old junwang, his hair white but his voice resonant. “Although Your Majesty has forgiven Ning Wang’s trespass, this matter should not be overlooked lightly, lest others take it as a precedent.”
Who might take it as a precedent, he did not know, but it certainly wasn’t them imperial clansmen.
“What do you mean, grand uncle?” the Emperor immediately stopped his wailing, afraid that his crying might overwhelm the old junwang. By seniority, he had to address this person as his grand uncle.
“Why not strip Ning Wang of his qinwang title and demote him to a junwang? This will give him a severe warning without subjecting him to a harsh punishment.” The old junwang stroked his bread, pleased with his proposal.
“Wouldn’t that be too harsh? Ruijing has been pampered since childhood…”
“Your Majesty!” Seeing the Emperor’s hesitation, the old junwang, as the most senior member of the imperial clan, showed immediate displeasure. “Coddling a child will not help him mature—it will ruin him! And Ning Wang is no longer a child; are you going to allow him to persist in his foolish ways?”
“No, grand uncle, please don’t be angry; don’t hurt yourself,” the Emperor descended from his dragon throne to personally support the old junwang: “As a younger generation, Zhen is grateful for your wisdom. Zhen’s handling of this matter is indeed inappropriate.”
“Yes, yes.” The old junwang felt honored. He reached out to pat the Emperor’s arm, letting out a sigh, “Your Majesty, it’s good that you have come to understand. Ruijing has grown up spoiled rotten by the late emperor; it’s high time he was disciplined.”
“Of course, of course, Zhen will follow your wise advice,” the Emperor nodded repeatedly and even had a chair brought for the old junwang to sit, a great honor.2
The old junwang grew increasingly satisfied with the Emperor, who showed respect for his elders and kindness towards his younger brother. What a fine, exemplary emperor! It’s our fortune that His Majesty possesses a much broader heart than his predecessor!
Thus, through the Emperor’s tearful pleading, Ning Wang was merely demoted from the rank of qinwang to junwang, and his stipend was docked for eight years.
After the court was dismissed, the courtiers saw the Emperor’s red-rimmed eyes and his lonely, forlorn departure, which touched them deeply.
“Sir Zhou,” the Chief Justice called out to the Minister of Justice: “About the case at Ning Wang Manor…”
“Since His Majesty has shown such gracious and loving care of his younger brother, there’s no need to further investigate this case,” the Minister of Justice smiled: “The people we caught and the evidence we found will all be handed over to the Jinwu Guards. As a subject, it wouldn’t be proper for us to make things too difficult for His Majesty, don’t you agree?”
“I see. Thank you for your guidance.” In truth, the Chief Justice was still somewhat puzzled—during the morning court, why had no one directly inquired whether Ning Wang had actually rebelled or not?
…
“I’m so parched!” The Emperor strode into the Empress’ Zhaoyang Palace, picked up a teacup from the table, and drank it dry—his throat was hoarse from crying all morning!
“What have you done, Your Majesty?” the Empress refilled his cup and handed it to him.
“Today, I docked Ruijing’s stipend for eight years and stripped him of the qinwang title. Now he’s just a junwang.” The Emperor said crisply, looking very satisfied with himself, “From now on, when our Heng’er greets him as an elder, he would have to politely return the greeting!”
The Empress’s eyes lit up. “Tell me everything in detail.”
After the Emperor recounted the events, the Empress laughed: “Retreating in order to advance, huh? Well played!”
“I had no other choice,” the Emperor sighed. The late emperor had been indulgent and extravagant, spending money without restraint. After he ascended the throne, he had to deal with empty treasury, apathetic courtiers, hedonistic clansmen, and frontier soldiers with months of unpaid wages.
“Where did you learn this kind of crying trick?” The Empress asked, curious.
“Guess.”
“I can’t guess.”
“Minister Yun’s daughter,” the Emperor said proudly, removing his tasseled crown. “I met that little girl twelve years ago. She’s the one who taught me that a crying child gets the candy.”
“Then you should thank her properly,” the Empress chuckled. Twelve years ago, the Yun family’s little girl was only six years old. To think the Emperor, at his age, would learn tricks from a child!
“I don’t understand young girls’s preferences,” the Emperor mused. The mention of ‘thank’ brought a pained look on his face. “Why don’t you invite her to the palace for a meal? That will show people that you hold her in high regard.”
“The Empress’s favor is worth more than any worldly riches,” he quickly added.
Knowing that his husband’s stingy habit had flared up again, the Empress personally wrote an invitation, asking Fuyi to come to the palace for a small gathering the next day.
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