Half a Spoiler Chapter 15

After the meeting in Western Yong Palace concluded, Wen Yanran sent her personal attendants to escort the court officials out. She noticed that snow had begun to fall again, and since many of those present were elderly, she ordered carriages to be brought around for them.

Although Zhang Luo had recently been promoted to the post of Left Vice Commissioner – a minor but official position within the Imperial Household Department – he showed no trace of pride. Instead, he behaved like an ordinary palace eunuch, smiling amiably as he accompanied Grand Tutor Yuan and the others all the way to the palace gates before returning.

Though court officials had always regarded eunuchs with contempt and suspicion, Zhang Luo’s reputation was unblemished, and his humble, courteous manner made them all the more convinced that the new emperor was truly endowed with Heaven’s mandate and possessed the virtue of a true sovereign – so much so that even her attendants reflected her composure and restraint.

Zhang Luo did not head back until all the court officials had departed. When he returned to Western Yong Palace, he happened to see Chi Yi heading into the attendants’ quarters to have her meal.

Though the two had not known each other for long, their circumstances were similar enough that they shared a quiet sense of camaraderie and were more at ease with each other than with others.

Zhang Luo walked straight over and lowered his voice to ask, “So, it seems Her Majesty has already had her meal?”

As personal attendants to the Son of Heaven, they could only take their own meals after serving the emperor’s.

Now that the days were shorter, the evening meal came half an hour earlier than in summer. Wen Yanran had eaten a simple lunch and, as usual, would take a short nap afterward, giving the palace attendants a brief moment of rest as well.

Chi Yi swallowed the mouthful of rice and lifted her gaze from the book before her, replying softly, “Just look at the state of the hall – you can tell Her Majesty has gone to sleep.”

Zhang Luo nodded slightly. All the close attendants knew that the Son of Heaven disliked noise; ordinarily they took great care to restrain the palace servants, forbidding any chatter or play within the hall. And when the Emperor was resting, the entire palace would fall utterly silent. Even here, in the attendants’ small rest chamber, people unconsciously lowered their voices when they spoke.

The attendants’ meals were allotted on a fixed schedule. Zhang Luo waved off a young eunuch who was about to serve him, fetched his own dishes, set them on the table, then took up a bowl and chopsticks with a smile. “I’ll eat with Sister Yi – no need to bring another tray.”

Because Wen Yanran required her attendants to study and learn to read, Zhang Luo usually kept a book open even while eating. But today, he had not brought one with him.

Chi Yi also set down the book in her hands. “Just as well – I have something I wanted to discuss with you.”

Zhang Luo replied, “And I, too, have a matter to consult you about.”

The two exchanged a glance, each understanding the other’s thoughts without need for words.

The Son of Heaven valued them both highly – selecting them to serve in the Tianfu Palace and even granting them official posts – clearly intending to cultivate trusted aides from the ground up. Yet as Zhang and Chi’s influence grew, the old palace faction led by the Director of the Imperial Household inevitably began to harbor resentment. It was an old story: whenever new and old powers shifted, turmoil would follow. That would have been manageable had things advanced slowly, but the two attendants’ rise under Wen Yanran’s favor had been far too swift. Even the most obtuse Director of the Household could no longer pretend not to notice their presence.

Zhang Luo suddenly said, “Her Majesty told us to read more books. These days I’ve been paying attention, and from what I’ve read – no matter the dynasty or the age – the scholar-officials have always looked down on eunuchs, treating us as little better than guard dogs.”

Chi Yi gave a slight nod. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Those scholars are bound by moral codes and ritual propriety when they act; you and I are not. To bring peace to the realm, there must be men of virtue to uphold orthodoxy and win the people’s hearts toward the Taiqi Palace – but there must also be hounds who obey only their master’s command, whose sharp fangs can inspire fear. Whoever displeases the master, the hound bites. Otherwise those self-righteous scholars, priding themselves on their virtue, would end up restraining the master instead.”

A faint, cold smile curved her lips. “If we hounds start tearing at each other, it would be one thing to make outsiders laugh; but if those scholars were to see that our master holds no hound worth using – wouldn’t that be a far greater disaster?”

Though she had not been reading for long, Chi Yi’s keen mind had grasped from the moral treatises she studied a sharp understanding of the essential difference between inner-court and outer-court servants.

Had any of the court ministers heard such words, they would surely have petitioned the Emperor at once to have Chi Yi executed on the spot.

Zhang Luo was quite impressed by Chi Yi’s words and said, “In that case, we ought to take advantage of the fact that the tension hasn’t yet run too deep, and take the initiative to ease relations with the Imperial Household Department.”

Chi Yi nodded. “I plan to distribute the hundred thousand taels of reward money we just received among the officials of the Imperial Household Department, keeping not a single coin for myself.”

Zhang Luo laughed. “Sister Yi, did you ask to discuss this with me because you thought I’d be too reluctant to part with the hundred thousand?”

Chi Yi replied, “Of course you wouldn’t be unwilling – but no matter how willing, I should still consult you before acting.”

Having settled the matter, the two finished their meal and went back to reading. When they judged by the hour that the Son of Heaven should soon be waking, they rose and went in to attend upon her.

Because Wen Yanran had once been gravely ill – so ill that she nearly departed this world before even ascending the throne – her close attendants served her with the utmost caution. Before Chi Yi and Zhang Luo entered, they first stood by the brazier for a while, waiting until the chill had fully left their bodies before daring to step into the inner hall.

When they came in, a female official was approaching with a tray of tea, helping the Son of Heaven rinse her mouth.

Everyone in the palace knew that before being named heir, the new emperor had long resided in the remote Tongtai. Even after moving into the grand Western Yong Palace, she had not allowed the sudden improvement in her living conditions to make her complacent. Seeing how composed and self-disciplined the Emperor was, the attendants and female officials serving her did not dare to treat her as a youthful sovereign, but instead grew all the more reverent and solemn.

As Chi Yi and Zhang Luo entered the hall, they could not help but feel a quiet admiration. The new emperor, ruler of all under heaven, could have freely drawn upon the wealth stored in the Imperial Household – yet those who served close to her knew well that her robes and adornments were of the simplest embroidery, her daily dress made mostly of soft cotton rather than silks and brocades. In truth, she was even more virtuous and temperate than the wise rulers described in books. Moreover, the discipline within Western Yong Palace was so strict that not a single servant dared disclose anything about life within the inner court; and since Wen Yanran herself never flaunted her austerity, the ministers of the outer court remained completely unaware. All of this made it clear – her conduct came from genuine conviction, not from any desire to win praise for frugality.