I request that the Grand Court of Revision investigate the lady of the Cheng family from Jiang-zhou – cunning and deceitful, a great blight upon the realm – and that she be executed.
These words, however, stirred little reaction among the ministers gathered in court.
Even the most shocking statement, when repeated a second time, loses much of its force.
Besides, the call to “execute the lady of the Cheng clan from Jiang–zhou” had already been uttered far too often in the past few days.
What’s more, the Emperor’s questioning of Han Chang yesterday – regarding Feng Lin and Lady Cheng – had spread throughout the palace before the night was over. So when the scene unfolded today, it was exactly as everyone had expected. Feng Lin’s step forward was no surprise; what everyone truly awaited was how the Emperor would decide.
The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged.
“On hearsay and rumor alone, the crime does not warrant execution,” he said.
“Then let the Grand Court of Revision conduct an investigation,” Feng Lin replied at once.
“An investigation without a charge,” the Emperor said coolly.
All the ministers standing below understood – at least for now, the Emperor was taking Lady Cheng’s side.
But Chen Shao’s face showed no trace of joy.
The Emperor’s favor and protection had never been reliable, and were quick to shift. Especially this Emperor – indecisive and weak-willed, as Chen Shao had long since learned over the decades.
Everyone believed his power came from imperial favor, but if that favor alone had sustained him, could he have survived to this day? If not for the solid achievements he delivered to the Emperor year after year, the stacks of impeachment memorials piled as high as a man would have long since crushed him.
As for Lady Cheng, the reason she was under attack now was because her foundation was unsteady. What she could offer the emperor was nothing more than an intangible promise – and it was for that promise that the Emperor currently leaned toward her.
But hope is the most unreliable of things – a double-edged sword.
The greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment.
Chen Shao frowned as he looked at Feng Lin, noticing that the man showed not the slightest trace of fear or hesitation in the face of the Emperor’s words.
“Your Majesty, do you know why I must insist on expelling this lady of the Cheng clan?” Feng Lin said.
This sort of question was one the emperor would never answer, and Feng Lin hadn’t expected him to. He lifted his head and continued,
“Because I must also accuse Cheng Dong, the father of the lady from Jiang-zhou.”
At these words, the court could not help breaking into low murmurs, and even the Emperor frowned slightly.
Was he going to drag others into this again?
Only a few who knew the inside story – Attendant Scholar Gao among them – allowed a faint smile to appear.
“So he finally says it. Took him long enough,” Attendant Scholar Gao murmured to the colleague beside him. “I was beginning to think he’d forgotten.”
“Master Feng has always had an excellent memory,” the colleague replied quietly with a slight smile.
While the two whispered, Feng Lin’s voice continued to sound steadily through the hall.
As Feng Lin spoke, the great hall gradually fell silent.
Chen Shao’s expression, already unpleasant, grew even darker – especially when he caught sight of the Emperor’s face.
So that’s how it is, he thought.
Everyone had assumed that Feng Lin’s fury came only after arriving in the capital and hearing about this Lady Cheng.
Who would have guessed that the root of it all lay here?
This was bad – very bad.
“…Cheng Dong laughed proudly and made no attempt to conceal his boasting of his daughter’s fame – her honor before Your Majesty, her prestige before the common people…”
“…At that time Su Jingwen led the crowd in acclaim, calling upon the Imperial Guards to pour wine for him… the people, astonished and admiring, gathered to watch…”
“…When the onlookers were driven away, they were first angered; but upon hearing that he was Lady Cheng’s father, their anger instantly turned to joy – they even took it as an honor, spreading the news to one another in excitement…”
As Feng Lin went on, the faces of those present grew ever more vivid with emotion.
This Feng Lin – every word of his was a dagger aimed at the heart! He wasn’t just denouncing someone; he was out to destroy them completely.
Even if there had been no past kindness between them – even between strangers – few would strike with such ruthless precision.
No wonder he was called the “Ghost Judge.” Truly, he condemned without blinking an eye.
Chen Shao’s face had turned ashen. He looked up at the Emperor seated upon the throne – and indeed, the Emperor’s expression was growing darker and darker.
“It sounds to me,” the Emperor suddenly said, “that all of this is Cheng Dong’s fault. Why, then, must you punish Lady Cheng? Would it not suffice to impeach her father?”
“Your Majesty,” Feng Lin said solemnly, “who was it that granted her father titles and promotions?”
Of course it was I, the Emperor thought to himself.
“It was that Lady Cheng who, by flaunting her merits, coerced Your Majesty into doing so,” Feng Lin continued.
Yes, yes, the Emperor thought, that’s right.
After all, he hadn’t bestowed those favors for no reason.
Acknowledging this point, he entirely overlooked the two words “coerce” and “force” in Feng Lin’s accusation – and felt no unease at all.
“How can that be called coercion?”
Chen Shao could no longer hold his tongue. If he let Feng Lin’s blade-sharp words keep cutting like this, there’d be no need for any investigation by the Grand Court of Revision – the Emperor would soon be moved to kill Lady Cheng himself.
“To withhold reward for merit is the same as to withhold punishment for guilt! Would you have His Majesty’s sense of justice and judgment thrown into confusion?”
“Because Lady Cheng’s heart is impure, her very merits become her crimes,” Feng Lin turned toward him, brows raised, and said sharply. “She avenged her sworn brother – impure in intent. She offered the divine arm bow to His Majesty – impure in intent. And look at her now: her father has not even entered the capital, yet he already flaunts himself without fear, taking pride in his daughter and treating the Emperor’s favor as nothing less than his due.”
Excellent!
Attendant Scholar Gao applauded silently in his heart. Were it not for the solemnity of the court, he would have clapped aloud.
Truly, the “Ghost Judge” lived up to his name – every word a fatal blow.
“Feng Lin, you are making reckless accusations!” Chen Shao retorted, his brows lifting sharply.
“Chen Shao, then let me make one more reckless accusation,” Feng Lin stepped forward and barked, “Your eager defense of the Cheng family – is it not favoritism toward friends, treating the realm as your own household?”
At those words, Chen Shao’s face instantly changed color.
Excellent!
Attendant Scholar Gao silently cheered again, his brows lifting in surprise. So this Feng Lin isn’t such a fool after all – he knows exactly where the Emperor’s soft spots are, and he hits them dead on.
First, he claimed that the girl had coerced the Emperor – stirring up the dissatisfaction that His Majesty had already forced down.
Then, he struck at Chen Shao – favoring friends and abusing office. The charge might sound mild, but in truth it was deadly.
All officials under heaven belonged to the Emperor; only the Emperor could grant them rank, wealth, and future.
And what the Emperor could least tolerate was a minister turning his court into a private circle of favors and friendship.
Of course, such dealings were unavoidable – colleagues helping colleagues, teachers helping pupils – it was something everyone understood but never said aloud.
To bring it out into the open, though, was to offend the Emperor himself.
Good, Feng Lin, good!
Bite deep!
If you can drive both that Lady Cheng and Chen Shao out in one blow, Attendant Scholar Gao thought, I’ll make sure you get to stay in the capital for three more years. A dog this useful – it would be a shame to let him off the leash too soon.
“Your Majesty, I accuse Feng Lin of slander and of falsely framing a minister!” Chen Shao, furious beyond measure, bowed and cried out.
Even when faced with impeachment and censure, Chen Shao would never retreat or feign resignation in protest – he would always meet the attack head-on and refute it in court.
The Emperor gave a small smile.
“Master Feng himself said it was mere speculation – nothing to take as truth,” he said.
“I also accuse Feng Lin of insolence before the throne,” Chen Shao pressed on, refusing to yield.
“Master Feng, you are out of order,” the Emperor said again, turning to Feng Lin.
“I am only fulfilling my duty, Your Majesty – there is no impropriety in that,” Feng Lin replied, without the slightest bow of his head.
The two ministers were now openly sparring in court, neither giving the Emperor the least bit of respect. The Emperor, however, did not seem to mind – after all, it wasn’t the first time his ministers had ignored his dignity.
“As for Cheng Dong’s case, the Censorate shall be ordered to investigate,” the Emperor finally said, steering the topic aside.
“Then first have the Grand Court of Revision examine the crimes of the Cheng lady,” Feng Lin immediately followed up.
“A son’s misconduct is his father’s failure in teaching – but I have never heard of blaming the father for the daughter’s deeds,” Chen Shao said coldly.
“If not for that Cheng lady first flaunting herself and deceiving the masses,” Feng Lin retorted just as coldly, “how would Cheng Dong have grown so arrogant as to disregard his sovereign?”
Then, with a sudden edge in his voice, he added, “Just as, were you not holding office in the Imperial Archives, how could your father have managed to buy two private residences here in the capital?”
The entire hall erupted in shock.
Attendant Scholar Gao almost fainted – from joy.
There was only one word in his heart: excellent! Nothing else could even form.
The ever-composed Chen Shao was trembling all over with rage when he heard those words. Just as those beside him feared he might collapse, he suddenly calmed himself.
He stepped to the center of the great hall, lifted his robes, and knelt.
“Your Majesty, I am mediocre and of no use to the court, unable to share Your Majesty’s burdens – thus I am disloyal. Since the age of thirteen I studied outside of home; at twenty-seven I entered official service. Half my life has been spent in toil, never fulfilling my filial duty by my parents’ side. Now I have even brought shame upon my father – thus I am unfilial.”
As he spoke, he bowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
“I, being both disloyal and unfilial, have no face to remain in court. I beg leave to resign my post and yield it to one more worthy, and to retire home to care for my aged father.”
Chen Shao has resigned again!
Chen Shao has resigned again!
At that moment, it wasn’t just Attendant Scholar Gao shouting inwardly – everyone in the court was. Even the Emperor was stunned.
In just a few short days, this was already the second time he had heard Chen Shao tender his resignation.
Indeed, once one tastes the sweet effect of this kind of ploy, it becomes addictive – even the self-proclaimed upright Chen Shao was no exception.
Of course, everyone understood perfectly well that this “resignation” was not truly a resignation, but an act of protest – a way to force the Emperor to take a stand.
Feng Lin had humiliated him so publicly; now, there could only be one of them left in court.
If Feng Lin would not step down, then he himself would.
If he stayed, then Feng Lin must go.
How had a discussion that began with the lady of the Cheng clan in Jiang–zhou turned into the grand chancellor offering his resignation?
The Emperor felt his brow twitch, a dull headache creeping in.
This was precisely why memorials from the censors had to be dealt with swiftly and decisively – otherwise one never knew how far the biting and clawing would go.
And that Feng Lin – truly impressive in his own way. He’d been in the capital for barely three or four days and had already dug up the matter of Chen Shao’s father’s private residences.
Ahem. The Emperor coughed lightly to himself – best not dwell on that.
“Minister Chen, your words are too severe. The realm and your household alike cannot do without you. Your resignation – I will not accept it,” he said, then turned to Feng Lin. “Master Feng, your words were improper and discourteous. You are fined three months’ salary; further judgment will be determined later.”
With matters in such disarray, the morning audience could no longer continue.
The Emperor hastily declared the court adjourned.
“Your Majesty, I beg you to make a final decision regarding the lady of the Cheng clan,” Feng Lin said, stepping forward to block the Emperor’s way – clearly determined not to let the matter rest until he achieved his goal.
It seemed that unless he rendered a verdict today, the Emperor would not be allowed to return to the palace in peace.
All because of that lady of the Cheng clan – not a single day’s quiet since she appeared.
“Baseless words are not enough to convict,” the Emperor said.
Feng Lin pressed his lips tightly together, his brows lifting as though about to speak again – but the Emperor continued before he could.
“Have the Grand Court of Revision investigate and await further decision,” he said.
Success!
As the court bowed to see the Emperor off, Attendant Scholar Gao lightly brushed his hands together, a broad smile spreading across his face. Lifting his head, he glanced toward Feng Lin, who was also bowing in farewell to the Emperor.
Well done! he thought. When we’re back, I’ll drink a toast to you.
Then he turned to look at Chen Shao.
The man who was usually so composed and deliberate was now striding away in haste, leaving the hall in just a few quick steps, ignoring everyone’s greetings along the way.
What a pity. The Emperor still wasn’t ready to cast Chen Shao aside. Even if he submitted his resignation, the Emperor would respond with letter after letter of comfort and persuasion. After repeated refusals, Feng Lin would surely be reassigned outside the capital, and Chen Shao would once again stand proudly in court.
But once it happens a first time, there will be a second, a third, a fourth… Repeated resignations would eventually dull the Emperor’s patience.
Favor fades; obligation wears thin; and sentiment – sentiment is the most fragile and unreliable thing of all.
Attendant Scholar Gao straightened, gave his sleeves a shake.
The beginning of today’s audience had gone as expected – but the ending, entirely otherwise.
One Feng Lin, by sinking his teeth into the so-called immortal’s disciple from Jiang-zhou, had overturned even Minister Chen himself.
To serve as a Censor and make it this far – that was achievement enough.
“It seems,” Attendant Scholar Gao said with a faint smile, “that even ghosts are not so easily suppressed.”
